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Often times we only get to realize the value of something until they are no longer part of our lives. When we have them everyday, they can feel so normal and not much of a big deal that we barely even notice them. It is only when something changes that we begin to understand how much those little things meant to us.
Let me use electricity to sight a distance. I remember when I newly reported to my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) as a corper. The accommodation I was given had light for over two weeks straight without blinking. I remember a friend of mine coming over and seeing me operating my phone while the battery was below 10% and he asked me why I wasn’t charging it. This is because down to 2% I was confident that the light would still be available for me to charge. My friend kept on telling my roommate and I how lucky we were to have such constant power supply, but to me it didn’t see like a big deal.
The day the power went out and there was no sign out it for a few days, that’s when I began to realize the importance. That’s when I knew there was heat along but due to the fan which was powered by the electricity we had no cause to feel the heat. That’s when I began to understand why some of my contacts that I send messages to on WhatsApp in the day time reply me towards the evening. Not because they were busy but because they had to struggle to find means to charge their phones.
Another instance is in the area of data connection. While my roommate was still with me he had this router which he did unlimited data subscription monthly. At first it was like the best feeling ever. But later on, it started to seem casual. Streaming videos all day, updating your apps, downloading things of large file size didn’t seem like anything. Until the day came when he had to return to his family house and took along with him the router. That was when I remembered how purchasing data can be expensive.
These are just personal experiences. It can also stretch across to some of our family members and even friends. We might not know how priceless the little moments we shared with them are; moments like having a talk with them, sharing a meal, or having them check up on us. Yet those moments can become the memories we miss most when distance or time gets in the way.
We often take things like that for granted and instead focus on things which are not really relevant like comparing our lives with people who seem to be doing better, or the things that are not going well at the moment, and in the progress we neglect the ones that are already going well and overlook the things and people around us that we are privileged to have.
Now, I’m not saying appreciating what we have does not mean we should stop wanting more. We all have our goals we hope to achieve, and there’s nothing wrong with trying to improve our situation. But I think there should be room to enjoy the present while working towards a better future.
Most times we don’t really need much like we think we do. Just being healthy, having a decent meal to put in your belly, and being able to spend time with people you care about can be the best give we can ask for.
Some people that we envy or compare our with have some of these things missing in their lives but we won’t know. We shouldn’t have to wait until something is no longer a part of us before we recognize its value. Maybe we should pay attention to the seemingly little things while they are still part of our lives.