A couple of months ago I told you about my dream in a blog post. My precious little dream that I had so cruelly locked away in a little dusty jar, lid closed so tightly you'd need a screwdriver to open it. But I did. I did open the lid and I took the leap of faith, out in the wild and unknown world of commercial TV. It is a strange world that doesn't make any sense to me. What you see on TV, naturally, is totally different from the reality. Mostly, we sit around waiting for things to happen. And we walk. A lot. My friend called me during the shooting and asked me how it was going. I told her I will be a pro at walking after this competition. I might not sing any better, but I'll sure know how to walk. They are shooting us from every possible angle, walking here and there, it all seems silly. So far away from the what I came here to do. But I do not despair, I knew my dream would need a lot of work and I'll walk a week straight for them if that's what it takes.
Waiting...
It all started when I was a kid. Like any other kid, I'd pick up my moms
hairbrush and sing in it like it was a microphone, stand in front of
the mirror, waggling my hips to the beat of an imaginative beat,
performing to an imaginative audience who was imaginatively chanting my
name like a choir. I decided I was going to be a rock star.
After waiting (and walking) for many, many, many hours, it's finally my turn. It only takes a few minutes and then it's over. A few minutes and I'm on the tram on my way to the train station to catch a train with my mum and her husband. It feels surreal, like it didn't really even happen. But it did. I am reminded of this when I see myself on TV a few months later. It's the strangest feeling, and not one I particularly enjoy. I'd rather turn off the TV, not watch it at all. Nonetheless, I do watch, together with 630 000 others. The amount of messages and Facebook comments overwhelms me. It's crazy how people get involved, how they want me to succeed. Even people I've never met. It is one of the nicest feelings, people caring even when they have no reason to do so.
There's just something about drinking cognac out of a plastic mug. On the train. With your mum. After performing to four hard core musicians...
This all happened a few months ago. A few days from now, on Friday 7th to be more specific, it's time for the next challange, the next leap of faith. It will be the second time I get on the stage in front of the judges, but this time only one person will make the cut. My coach, Mira Luoti, is (or I guess was since the band did their last show only a few months ago) part of a well known Finnish duo called PMMP. She alone will decide my faith, she alone will decide whether I continue in the competition or not. The pressure is on, but I must say it's not half as bad as I would have thought. I must say, this time around my heart is not beating quite as hard, my hands aren't shaking and my head feels calm. Why?
Team Mira! <3
I have already gotten far more from this experience then I ever thought possible. I have met people I would otherwise never have met, done things I would never have done and learned things I would never have learned. There is a strange feeling of serenity to the situation, regardless of the craziness of it. For me the most important thing are the people, and no I'm not talking about celebrities. I've never been one to much care for if someone is famous or not. People interest me more for who they are then for what they do. Some people interest me also for what they do, but "moviestar" or "rock star" is usually not of interest. The people that I get to share this experience with are remarkable. There is something very special in a room with 20 singers, all singing the same song while someone plays the guitar. The variety of voices, notes and sounds is enchanting. Or partying with new found friends at the sleazy karaoke bar. Smiling till my cheeks hurt. It all sounds like a cliche, but I don't even care. These people are my family, even if just for a few days. In a way I have already won.
But how will the story end? Will it end at all? Below you can see a glass. This time not a plastic one. Only one question remains, and that is whether it is a drink to celebrate or to numb away disappointment. Stay tuned and I'll let you know!
There has been a video going around on the internet where a group of singers remake an old Finnish song called Olen Suomalainen (I am Finnish). It is a classic song known by pretty much everyone. No harm in that, right? Except the people in the video and the people singing the song are all Finnish citizens, but with roots all over the world. From Peru to India, Finnish citizens of differing colors, races and history are displayed. It is such a nice thought, much like the Coca Cola Super Bowl commercial America The Beautiful I commented on a few weeks back. In that post, my intention was not to bash out on Americans as, sadly, racisms is as evident in Finland as it is in the states. However, I now realise it is easier to point out the weakness of others than the weakness of oneself. It is not always easy to be proud of ones origin and descent.
You can have a look at the video below.
The sad part is, watching the video, as ever touching it was, I already knew what was waiting. Some people would love the concept for showing that Finland looks different today than 50 years ago. What was seen as Finnish half a century ago, may have changed. On the other hand, others would hate the video. When I read the comments about the Coca Cola commercial, I was filled with a rage and frustration so intense, I hardly got any sleep. This time, however, the story is quite different. I feel tired, exhausted even. I feel pity. I almost feel indifferent. Wow, that's when I realize something is wrong.
We must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. - Boondock Saints
Edmund Burke said "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing". So back to basics. The ever so brief feeling of indifference is trashed, thrown in the corner like an old rag.
I can honestly say I'm Finnish, no question about it. I was born in Finland, as were my parents and their parents before them and their parents before them. Proud to be I might add. Finland has had great publicity during the last year with headlines such as If you want the American dream, go to Finland or What Finland can teach America about education. Naturally, there is a down side to the story and not everything is wonderful in Finland, but I'd say it's a pretty great place to live (if you don't consider the 6 months of winter). Simple as that, I'm Finnish and proud of it. One comment to the video above was the following
Kuinka vaikea on ymmärtää, että kansallisuus ja kansalaisuus ovat eri asia? - Slumnigga
Translating into: How hard is it to understand that nationality and citizenship are two different things? I think about this for a while and realise I agree. I am going to use the Finnish definition of these words (based on legislation), as the English definition of citizenship and nationality may differ a little from country to country. Citizenship (kansalaisuus) means a member of a state with all the rights and duties it entails. For example, with a Finnish citizenship you have the right to work, vote and live in Finland. On the other hand, nationality (kansallisuus) refers to the national identity or ethnicity. So if I was to move to Germany, I might get a German citizenship but I would still be very much Finnish. This is quite clear and so I agree with Slumnigga.
When all is purple, there is no black or white. Holi festival in India. (photo by Callum Lynch)
Citizenship and nationality are two different things, fact, but does it mean that one rules out the other? I am a Swedish speaking Finn, however, I am also Finnish. My native language of Swedish does not make me any less Finnish. Can it be that people that move to Finland may actually identify themselves also as Finnish, even if perhaps not the same way that Slumnigga would like? Will immigrants not adopt some traditions? Will they not learn the language? Will they not identify with the people living here? Cultural diversity, is it really such a tragedy? Is our culture not strong enough to be able to take it if a few ethnically different individuals say that, they too, are Finnish?
The lyrics of the song also calls for controversy, as a guy called Kai so kindly points out. On täällä elämä raskasta työta, translating into "the life here is hard work" which obviously is funny as we all know NO immigrants do ANY work. The only thing they do is collect income support from social services. They (meaning these god damned immigrants) live like social bums, collecting tax money earned by hard working Finnish citizens. Bastards. They think they can just come here and do nothing? Get everything for free? Sure, some people do. That is the down side of a well-functioning social safety net. However, "some people" are not immigrants. They are as much Finns as they are other nationalities. Not only Somalians take advantage of the system, but also the earnest and honorable Finns do this.
My Indian friend Rathan. Bastard lives in Finland collecting all income support known to man. OR then he is a smart guy that studied at a Finnish university, currently working on India related projects, bringing Finland some of that much needed tax income.
It is very dangerous to identify a person through ethnicity. To put people in boxes depending on their skin color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or any other number of so called ethnic traits. Statements such as "I hate Russians" or "all Asians look alike" will not make you sound very smart. As Tommy Lee Jones put it
Ethnic stereotypes are boring and stressful and sometimes criminal. It's just not a good way to think. It's non-thinking. It's stupid and destructive. - Tommy Lee Jones
You can't hate Russians. There are 140 million of them, you cannot tell me that you hate them all, can you? I must say, I despise some of the things that are happening in Russia, but still, if I would actually say that I hate Russians, it would mean that my world would be 140 million poorer on people that could be my friends. That's a pretty hard cutdown. Not to mention all the people I would have to unfriend on Facebook, good lord. I can also not say that all Asians look alike. You know why? Because they don't. They look as alike as do whites. I can't say I hate muslims, for it is not religion that defines people, or people that define religion. The actions of some cannot be pinned to a religion, religion alone does not make decisions. People do.
I hate Russians. Especially this Russian guy called Maxim. While I'm at it, I might also just hate the Norwegians. Like this girl called Jeanette. That would be why my shirt says I <3 U ;)
They say Finns are honest and hardworking people, but I will let you in on a secret. It's not true. Not all Finns are hardworking, not all Finns are honest. Not all Finns stab their wife and drink vodka all day long. Not all Finns love the sauna. Not all Finns can stand winter. Not all Finns lack rhythm. Not all Finns own a Nokia and love to go fishing at their summer cottage. Sure, some people do, but not everyone. Ethnic stereotypes are boring and stressful and sometimes criminal. Do you really want to let stereotypes determine what you think of someone? Are you really ready to let go of all that control?
I guess what I'm trying to say are these two very simple things
#1 Don't be indifferent.
Being indifferent to evil is just as bad as being evil. We need to care about the people around us, also the people we do not know and have no obligations too, because it is all of our obligation to care and to not be indifferent.
Below a video of Johannes who is caught out in the cold without a jacket. Would you help him?
And how about the next one based on a true story. Eila is old and sick, wondering around town aimlessly. She is found dead. Frozen to death. Would you help Eila?
Indifference makes all the difference. Don't act. React.
#2 Prejudice is so 1997
Who would you be if you were only the sum of stereotypes? If you don't wish to be defined solely by ethnic stereotypes or by what music you listen to, think about that the next time you see a turban and think terrorist.
He look crazy to you? Well, he's crazy enough to figure out black holes. Stephen Hawking
I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road. - Stephen Hawking
And a bonus one, just because I can
#3 Love the haters
Love beats hate every time. Smiling will get you further than shouting. So smile, god dammit, just smile!
There are some things that I just can't wrap my head around, or actually I guess there are a lot of things I can't wrap my head around, but some things are particularly challenging. One of these particularly challenging things is hate. Hate is unbelievably unnecessary and frankly quite boring. Life is so much more fun when you're laughing.
Super Bowl was a few days ago and yet again the world kept its breath as the biggest companies spent a few million on a 30 second ad. Coca Cola decided to make a statement with a new version of the anthem America The Beautiful. If you haven't yet seen the commercial, go ahead and take a look below.
I wouldn't do cart wheels over the commercial, but it's a decent one. Meanwhile, Coca Cola tweets, quote
The only thing more beautiful than this country are the people who live here
Nice thought, Coca Cola, I'll give you that. You may not be my favorite company in the world, well frankly, which multinational company is? But this commercial is nice. Might even make me go get a coke. Zero of course, I'm on a diet after all. Never ever in my mind could I have imagined the outrage this commercial could produce. Never ever in my mind could I have imagined the amount of hate it would awaken. A friend of mine shared this hideous article that made my eyes bleed and my heart stop. I know not even half of you will actually click the link, so I'll save you the trouble and shamelessly borrow some of the material in it. For example, Tristin here decided to offend about 20 % of the American population, if you believe CIA's statistics that 79.96 % of Americans are white. Minus of coarse the 1.7 % that is Jewish. Although, I do not know how many are terrorists, CIA did not list that group of people in their statistics.
Naturally, Mexicans are not American. They are Mexican. Also, I am not certain what "American" means. Is it the same thing as American? Anyone? Well if you thought Tristin's choice of words were a little over the top, you are going to love Beth. She seems to think that American is actually a language.
Way to go Beth. Really showed off your intelligence there. Especially as America does not have any official language. Also, one of the languages in the commercial was actually that of native Americans. Continuing, Robert here actually believes that America The Beautiful is the national anthem (even though it is the unofficial national anthem, last time I checked the national anthem was still the Star-Spangled Banner).
Oh, and Super Bowl didn't make that commercial honey. Coca Cola did.
So we have stupid, stupider and, lord have mercy, stupidest. I hope you realize that America is a blend of people that immigrated from various places. There are not many Native Americans. That is, as Coca Cola would put it, what makes America beautiful. After reading the list of offensive language and clear hatred toward anyone who isn't white and speak American, I started going through some more posts of people outraged by the commercial. I know I shouldn't, but it's like a drug. My hands start shaking of anger, my pulse races, I find myself cursing to the computer screen. Did I mention this is totally healthy and normal behavior? I found a ton of outrageous comments about Coca Cola promoting Islam (in what way is Islam bad) and the commercial being offensive (to whom may I ask) and other motivating stuff. I got so frustrated, I even hit the Like button. Because of you haters I now Like Coca Cola.
Even some politicians (republicans) thought the commercial was not appropriate and naturally tweeted about it. Todd Starnes, host of Fox News expressed his love for the commercial by tweeting
Todd "I only speak English" Starnes.
I only speak English
Well Todd Starnes, I speak Swedish. I speak Finnish. I speak English. I can get by in German. I even know a little bit of Khmer. How. Is. This. A. Bad. Thing. I can communicate in your language while you cannot communicate in mine. Well good for you, you do realize this does not improve my idea of you at all.
#ToddStarnesOnlySpeaksEnglish
As a Swedish speaking Finn (about 6 percent of Finns have Swedish as their native language and Swedish is one of two official languages in Finland) I have gotten my fair share of hateful comments, much like the ones about speaking English in America. It hurts. It also hurts when a Finn asks me if I cheer for Sweden in an ice hockey game (mind you, cheering for Sweden would be the most unpatriotic thing you could ever do). You show your ignorance asking that question. I am Finnish, after all. The hate towards Swedish speaking Finns is strange. It roots in misunderstandings, misinterpretations and lack of knowledge of Finnish history. We have a lot to thank Sweden for. We were a part of Sweden for over 600 years, there was no Finland then. Instead of accepting our past it seems some are trying to fight it. Instead of sharing a laugh with our neighbor, we hate them and make fun of them. Where is the hate coming from? And frankly, given the choice, I still think most Finns would choose being a part of Sweden over being a part of Russia any day.
#WhereIsTheHateComingFrom
Well, back to Coca Cola. Did I already mention that besides Mexicans, terrorists, Jews and niggers, the commercial also showed a gay couple ice skating with their daughter. It was the first gay couple to be seen in a Super Bowl commercial I might add. What an outrage, just offensive really, considering the woman who wrote the anthem was most likely gay herself. Oh the irony. However, Coca Cola is not the only company to take a stand. I read an article on much the same topic in the Daily Finance that tells the story of some of these companies. For example, The Gap made a beautiful ad with a Sikh man. Unfortunately, people thought it would be a good idea to write hurtful comments on the ad.
Picture Robert Gerhadt
Obviously, comments such as Make Bombs and Bin Laden are utterly ridiculous and only shows you know nothing about Sikhs. I have not yet met a single Sikh who made bombs, and I've met a few. Also, I believe Bin Laden was a Muslim, not a Sikh (no offense toward Muslims intended). Now because of the outrage and the comments, The Gap chose to change their Twitter cover to the ad. Cheerios made a commercial with a family of three. A black man. A white woman. Outrage. YouTube had to disable the commentaries for the video as it got so many spiteful comments. You can watch the commercial below. Can't say I blame them, this commercial is ridiculously offensive!
#MakeAStatement
I realize my Liking Coca Cola also has a dark side to it, for Coca Cola is the number one sponsor of the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Fuck
No matter what direction I turn, there is hate. For some reason Russia has decided to hate homosexuals. The public is asking Coca Cola to take a stand with the Winter Olympics, to tell the Russians to get their shit together. Well I agree, only Coca Cola just made a stand and look were it landed them. I won't even get in to the Olympics, that's a whole new post in itself. I even saw a picture of Putin without a shirt that, allegedly, was in a hotel room. I must not smile, but that really is hilarious.
Google takes a stand. The Rainbow Olympics.
I will not bash companies or people any more than I already have, but a serious question remains: Where does the hate come from? I cannot wrap my head around why people hate Muslims, Jews, Christians, Non-believers, blacks, whites, Hispanics, homosexuals or any other "type" of people. Do you not see that we are all the same? We all breath with our lungs, speak with our mouth, see with our eyes, touch with our hands, feel with our senses, love with our hearts. We all have a religion, may it be to believe in a god with a monkey head or to believe in no god at all. We all have a home, may it be the dirt under our feet or a gold castle. We all have our origins, may they be growing up and living in the same small town or traveling from one place to the other. We all have dreams, may they be to climb the highest mountain or to build a home for a family. We are all the same. Look past the shell and you will see it.
We are all just people trying to get by our daily life. Getting up in the morning, going to work, going to school, working on the street to make enough for food. Show each other respect. Learn tolerance. If you dislike something, fine. But don't bash out about it. Why hate when you can love. Why cry when you can laugh. Why not just live and let live. Give others the benefit of a doubt. Give them the respect that they deserve as human beings. Don't be afraid, but learn. Don't talk behind a back, but talk to a face. Don't be a jerk.
Oh, I almost forgot. Thank You America for your prayers. Thankfully she is no longer the president. Oh, and she is married. To a man. If it makes you feel any better.
A few days ago I saw a talk show, hosted by the almighty Sarasvuo (a well known Finnish businessman), presenting Arman Alizad as one of the guests. Arman told the audience about his experiences in Cambodia, a touching story with videoclips from his show were he travels and puts himself in uncomfortable surroundings. This got me thinking about my own time in Cambodia and I realised I have yet to tell you about my experiences. Experiences that changed my life.
Cambodia offers visitors plenty of beauty, one example is Ankor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world
Before I continue my story, I would like you, dearest reader, to make yourself a cup of tea and strip yourself of all prejudice, relieve yourself of all stress. This post is not aimed to make anyone feel sad or bad, but simply an honest attempt to share a time in my life that touched and shaped me in a way no other experience ever have, and probably ever will. It is a careful attempt of lessons learned, so sit down and enjoy the ride.
When I turned 20, I suddenly realized this world makes no sense. What is the meaning of life and what good does my existence do? With all the wisdom of a 20-year old, I decided that I was to do something. Anything. My goal was to help someone at some point with something. If I could do that, my life would not have been in vain. Pretty deep for a 20-year old, I admit, but then again the world looks different at 20 then it does at 27. I found an organisation online called The Centre for Children's Happiness. It is a Cambodian orphanage run by a Cambodian man, who himself was an orphan. Or is. I guess that is something you can never grow out of. So I decided this was the place I was going to go to bring some meaning back in my life.
The purest kind of joy
This orphanage takes in children mostly from a waste dump in Phnom Penh called Steung Meanchey. Around 2000 people live at this waste dump, collecting garbage that they sell to make just enough money to make it through the day. Or not. They go through the burning rubbish to find a plastic bottle or peace of aluminium to sell off. Most of the children at the orphanage come from this godforsaken place. I visited the waste dump a few times my self. I don't think I need to further explain the smell of burning rubbish, air so thick with smoke it hurts both lungs and eyes, children literally walking in shit, barefoot. You all get the picture of hell on earth, you all have an imagination after all.
Lesson # 1 Poverty is a concept that can vary depending on the surroundings. Selling garbage on a waste dump is poverty. Living of social services can also be poverty, but the difference is quite striking.
Now if history is not your thing, let me recap the history of Cambodia for you. It starts with the Khmer Empire at around 800 AD and continues with king this and emperor that. I don't really much care for this part. In the mid-19th century, it became a protectorate by the French and gained independence in 1953. However, the interesting, and heartbreaking story, starts in 1975, when the Khmer Rouge (the Red Khmers) with Pol Pot as their leader, took Phnom Penh. Basically the idea was to torture and kill all educated people. Robert Kaplan, a well known American journalist said "eyeglasses were as deadly as the yellow star" as they were seen as a sign of intelligence.
Skulls organised by gender and age at the Killing Fields. These were real people.
Real people murdered by the Khmer Rouge
It is estimated that roughly two million were killed during the genocide. That means the Khmer Rouge killed around a quarter of the population. Two million of their own. For wearing glasses. The era gave rise to the term Killing Fields, or mass graves. Just outside Phnom Penh you can find one of these mass graves turned in to a memorial. Walking around the now lush field, you can still see peaces of bones and clothing sticking out of the ground.
Lesson # 2 There is more cruelty in this world then I could ever imagine. Doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers. All dead and buried. I have lived through no war, no genocide, no tragedy. I have lived a sheltered life and know nothing about such tragedies.
So far we have genocide, waste dumps, orphans and extreme poverty. If you don't feel depressed enough, do not despair, there is more to come. Below you can enjoy part of an episode of Madventures, a Finnish travel show produced by Riku Rantala and Tunna Milonoff.
The video gets interesting at around 2.20, when the boys find themselves at Steung Menchei, aka godforsaken place. In case you feel you don't have time in your busy life to look at this video (no, not trying to guilt trip you at all), I'll write down one comment from this video.
- Who the fuck has the nerve to say that the rich western countries could not, and should not, help more? Do something about this already!
In case some of you didn't catch that, I'll repeat it
Who the fuck has the nerve to say
that the rich western countries
could not, and should not, help more?
Do something about this already!
Now set down your warm cup of chamomile tea and take ten seconds to think about a good explanation, just one good explanation.
One. Two. Three. Four. Oh fuck it. Did you think of one? No? You know why? Because there is none.
We live in a society where 38 percent longer lashes and two times the softer skin is the bed time story. A society that praises a big salary and encourages us to buy more useless shit we don't need from stores that should never exist in the first place. Pardon my language, but what the fuck? Do you really think 38 percent longer lashes will help the children walking barefoot through burning shit? If you can afford a TV, if you can afford a car, if you can afford a roof over your head, please explain how you cannot afford to help?
Still enjoying that nice cup of chamomile tea?
Lesson # 3 Helping others is not a matter of resources. It is a matter of time and care.
Now let me ask you, have you ever gotten a birthday present? I have gotten many. I can even remember a few of them. Especially this red bike I got once. It was a really nice bike. I learned a lot of things at the Cambodian orphanage. One thing I learned, from a twelve year old, was that she had never gotten a birthday present. She cried when she got a watch for her twelfth birthday. Another thing I learned was that a boy had hiked from the countryside with his baby brother to live at the waste dump after their parents died. He was eight when that happened.
Would you rather drive a BMW than that old Toyota? Still lacking that iPad?
Let's forget about the godforsaken place for a while and travel back to circa 1490. All of you know the Vitruvian Man, a drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci. It depicts a male figure and is based on the correlations of ideal human proportions described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius. The ideal body, supposedly, should be eight heads high. Imagine this. Already the ancient Romans knew what the ideal body should look like, eight heads high. A body so ideal, every inch is perfect. Every stray of hear, every muscle and every vain. All perfect. Now turn on your TV, or actually don't, but imagine the commercial you see when you do turn it on. Fast cars, posh clothes, dyed hair, wrinkle free faces and cream for the ones that are wrinkled. You can buy beauty, you can buy success, you can even buy bigger tits. Anything your heart desires, you can buy.
Up to a 65 % lift. Don't just apply, style your lashes!
It is better to be beautiful than to be good. But ... it is better to be good than to be ugly.
- Oscar Wilde
Now lets go back to Cambodia. Erase the big tits and imagine these black haired darlings, playing games with old shoes and sticks. One girl, Srey Leah her name was, she hardly knew any English, despite my brave efforts to teach her. Everyday she would come up to me and ask the same question with her jentle girly voice: Cecilaia, teach English today? And every day I would answer her: yes, teach English today. One day she came up to me with something in her hands. It was a peace of paper. But it was not any peace of paper. It was a beatiful peace of origami paper that this young orphan, that owned hardly anything, gave me. I almost fell to small peaces of origami paper right there and then. My throguht choked, my eyes filled with tears. She then ran off, picked up a shoe and started playing the same old game the children played every day. I still have this peace of paper. I've held on to it for over seven years, cherishing the memory it resembles to remind me of what really matters in life.
The things you own end up owning you.
Wise words. You could think these words were said by a very wise man or woman. It is in fact a movie character, Tyler Durden, but I guess you already knew that, smart as you are.
Lesson # 4 Stuff is useless. Beauty fades, dumb is forever.
May I remind you, this post is not intended to make anyone feel sad or bad. Before I depress the living bejesus out of you, let me tell you there is hope. There is a glimmer of goodness left in this world.
The thing about happiness, that mothers, teachers and old wise men will tell you, is that it cannot be bought. Much like love, friendship and other useless crap we are taught do not matter if you have 38 percent longer lashes, happiness too is not tangible. It does not come in pink wrapping and cannot be bought by the pound. Also, it is not dependent on tangible things. See the kids in the above picture? I guess they are hard to miss, I made the picture extra large. Srey Mom, the girl in the red shirt, had only just arrived at the orphanage when I came to Cambodia. She had no parents, no siblings, she owned nothing and she did not have 38 percent longer lashes. What se did have is joy. Love. Happiness. Friendship. Dreams. Hope.
So lets wrap it up. Cambodia, orphanage, children playing with old shoes, fast cars and bigger tits. What does this all mean? The thing that happened to me in Cambodia, as I resently told someone, was that I came back a happier person. Why? Because my happiness is not measured in materia. I am not happier or less happy if I can buy this or that, not to say buying shit sometimes feels really good. The thing is, once you are stripped of everything, once you have lost the ideal body and your lashes are no longer 38 percent longer, once you stop letting your job or your chateaus and chandeliers define you, all we have left is what is in our hearts.
Strip yourself of prejudice, releaf yourself of stress. Let go of the things that never really mattered anyway. That one peace of origami paper defines me. It has defined me since that day and will keep on defining me till the day I draw my last breath. I will continue to cherish it for all that it is and all it is not. My lashes are not 38 percent longer, but my happiness and love are 100 percent bigger, stronger and faster. How 'bout that sales pitch?
Lesson # 5 The things you own end up owning you. Don't let them.
