[My Musing] Who Would You Rather Be: A Grown-up or a Child?

I would like to share to you today an excerpt taken from one of my favorite books, The Little Prince (by Antoine De Saint-Exupery).

source

Grown-ups love figures. When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters.

They never say to you, "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies?

Instead, they demand: "How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?"

Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything from him.

If you were to say to the grown-ups: "I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof," they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all.

You would have to say to them: "I saw a house that cost £4,000."
Then they would exclaim: Oh, what a pretty house that is!'

Just so, you might say to them: The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep.
If anybody wants a sheep, that is a proof that he exists." And what good would it do to tell them that?

They would shrug their shoulders, and treat you like a child.

But if you said to them: The planet he came from is Asteroid B-162," then they would be convinced and leave you in peace from their questions.

They are like that. One must not hold it against them.

Children should always show forbearance toward grown-up people.

But certainly for us who understand life, figures are a matter of indifference.

---

This piece of writing bites and gives me chuckles. 😃

How easily do we veer away from what really are essential to us. We get carried away by the busyness of life: the demands and deadlines at work, never-ending situations in personal and social life, financial goals, world problems, distractions from all forms of media and so on and so forth. But we feel we should not stop; in reality, this is life is all about, it is what the world is doing or making us do!

source

And so, we want to get things done: meet our goals, pay our bills, shop more, invest more, travel more, accept more projects, meet new people, more income, etc.

We tell ourselves, "How much have I already have? And how much more should I gain?"

And if we are not careful, we might fall into a trap to be individuals who just get things done! Then, we grow old.....😧

A Short Story

I know one man who has been working overseas for more than a decade now. Back then, he wanted to work abroad because he had dreams to live more comfortably, buy a dream house, buy his car, earn millions and travel. And so he did!

Just months ago, I had a chance to talk to him and he said, "If not for all the bills that needed to be settled, I would like to go home to my hometown to live simply. I just like the slow-paced life. I want to enjoy my time walking by the seashore, have a good laugh and share stories with friends I grew up with."

For two consecutive years in the past, his closest relatives: his aunt and uncle passed away one after the other. He did not have a chance to see them alive for a decade. It was devastating for him.

source

When he talked to me, I could feel his remorse, the loneliness , the sadness-- it was like life has passed him by while he was busy achieving his goals in those fleeting years.

Truly, there is so much in life that needs our attention. Let us be careful though to balance being a grown-up and being a child. For little do we know we might unconsciously or consciously neglect the meaningful matters in our life.

Growing up is fine, but I do not want to grow old. I want to embrace the child-like heart in me always!

I do not desire to be a grown-up who not only counts the the fruit of a tree-- i especially want to smell, appreciate the color, share and savor it!

Treasure life.
Love life.
😊🌻💗