Flash Back Friday - Simplicity
"Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means." — Koichi Kawana, architect of botanical gardens
Bakersfield, CA - I remember what my daughter said one day while we were taking on the scenic routes of Bakersfield, California with Manong Roger, during our first few days in the U.S.
"Why do we keep driving around?" she asked.
It did not matter to her that she was riding in a Mercedes Benz - a luxury vehicle. It did not matter to her that to ride in a Mercedes Benz is a privilege few Filipinos get to experience. It did not matter to her that she was seeing the interesting parts of Bakersfield, California - her new home for the next couple of years. For her we were just driving around.
Reflecting on it, I do see the wisdom in her comment. To her, to drive around in a luxury car does not hold meaning especially when the scenes are just whizzing by. What she wanted was to immerse herself in the experience of being in the place. For me, I was excited that I was riding in a luxury car and being driven around the city.
Refocusing now on things at hand. We often do not find fulfillment in the simple things. We want something bigger, better and faster and fail to recognize the beauty of simplicity.
I remember how life was in the Philippines - how we were maximizing the effects of the minimal things we had.
Life in America? I still can't tell. I need to get down and experience it first. The driving around will soon stop and I need to get down and take on what is ahead. What I hope to achieve is to maximize the effects with the least means possible. How to do that? I still have to discover it. Anybody want to help out?
(Posted May 6, 2007)
Bakersfield, CA - I remember what my daughter said one day while we were taking on the scenic routes of Bakersfield, California with Manong Roger, during our first few days in the U.S.
"Why do we keep driving around?" she asked.
It did not matter to her that she was riding in a Mercedes Benz - a luxury vehicle. It did not matter to her that to ride in a Mercedes Benz is a privilege few Filipinos get to experience. It did not matter to her that she was seeing the interesting parts of Bakersfield, California - her new home for the next couple of years. For her we were just driving around.
Reflecting on it, I do see the wisdom in her comment. To her, to drive around in a luxury car does not hold meaning especially when the scenes are just whizzing by. What she wanted was to immerse herself in the experience of being in the place. For me, I was excited that I was riding in a luxury car and being driven around the city.
Refocusing now on things at hand. We often do not find fulfillment in the simple things. We want something bigger, better and faster and fail to recognize the beauty of simplicity.
I remember how life was in the Philippines - how we were maximizing the effects of the minimal things we had.
Life in America? I still can't tell. I need to get down and experience it first. The driving around will soon stop and I need to get down and take on what is ahead. What I hope to achieve is to maximize the effects with the least means possible. How to do that? I still have to discover it. Anybody want to help out?
(Posted May 6, 2007)
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