Head up, nose down

Growing up as a first-generation kid, I’ve always known I was different from my peers. I looked different from everyone, didn’t speak their language and hardly understood anything for that matter. I didn’t practice the same religion, didn’t watch the game every Sunday, or knew any of the music people were always saying they grew up on. 

Being different made me feel as if I didn’t belong. (How cliché did that sound.) There was always the taunts about my ethnicity, which I even knew at my age was wrong. I’d like to say that I’ve always been mature for my age. Starting when we were young, my father had always instilled a considerable amount of discipline and modesty in me and my family. Every night we’d have to be at the dinner table or we’d be in trouble (home before dinner, always!) We’d also have to learn proper etiquette, such as no elbows on the table, don’t use your own utensils to touch the communal platter of food, etc. We’d also learned many life lessons from him, the kind that doesn’t come from pencil and textbook but more hands and sweat. It’s the kind of wisdom that’s shaped only by a soldier’s repertoire. There was one quote that always sticks out in my mind: “You were given two ears and two eyes but one mouth”. I’m sure some of you have heard this but I still try to pay heed to this saying, which means that you should listen and look twice as much as you speak.

Couple this mantra to my naturally-shy and observant behavior, you could say that I pick up a few things from people. This is why I’m always surprised (and to be more frank, exasperated) when I hear others talking about the superficial and unworldly, like how they have to wait a week before snatching up the latest product with an apple on etched on it. It’s never about material possessions or physical appearance: these things fade. Like some crazy trend. Like relationships. Like anything. That’s why it’s important to know who you are and your place. I’m not exactly sure where I’m headed with this right now, but I just hope there are more people out there who realize the same things I do. I guess what I’m trying to do is to spread a message of humility for this week. Try not to brag about how many followers you have on Instagram. Learn to appreciate everything for its worth, and not just when it’s gone. 

And actually help people instead of hoping they’ll fail.