Sparkling eyes build the world
To start this blog, I can happily share with you that this is the first blog of many to come written from my cutely small travelling laptop or tablet attached to a keyboard, whatever you like to call it. I received this gift from my family because I graduated in June and because I am leaving to discover the world, to see the unknown and to further figure out what I expect from life. Travelling is so much more than seeing things, it goes deeper, it is more intense and profoundly changes the idea of being. I feel privileged to be able to discover the world I live in. One month more and I am off to India ones more, but this time without a return ticket. Together with my boyfriend we are flying to Trivandrum in the South of India where we plan to buy a motorcycle to start our journey through Southeast Asia.
Am I an experienced driver? Not at all, but I am willing to learn every step along the way. Up till now I simply love riding. It has become a moment to think, relax, observe and feel the world surrounding me. One of the new joys I discovered is the effect I have on small children when I ride along. Tiny faces filled with surprise followed by a huge smile. Often calling out to their mother or father, “Look, a girl on a motorcycle!”. If they can muster up enough courage they sometimes put their hand in the air and wave to me. If I then in return put up my hand to greet them, their eyes start to sparkle like little stars and my heart makes a little jump of happiness. Incredible how such a small interaction can change so much. Nothing can ruin the day after that. Even idiots riding along seeming quite eager to get me killed and forgetting about the existence of their direction indicators. I know I should not judge, maybe they are in a hurry, maybe something life changing has happened to them, maybe they are in pain, but still, I find it one of the hardest things in life not to judge them. Everybody has an untold story and a reason why they are the way they are, so who am I to judge? Life is so much more beautiful if we look for the best in each other instead of the worst and yet, the latter is often so easy. Nobody is perfect, everybody has that day that things aren’t as they want them to be, we all make mistakes, but that is only a small part of life. A tiny chapter amongst thousands of others, twisted together and splitting up again. By judging we separate in us and them, while through understanding we come closer to each other and are able to build towards the future. I am not saying it is easy, I am simply telling you it is worth the try. At the end we are all built of the people who broke us down and helped us up again. And who knows what may come if we try building together? Some will call me foolish, and maybe they are right, but I believe that small acts of caring can make a change. A smile to a stranger, a random hello, sparkling eyes, enthusiasm, all small things that can make a difference. Like a small pebble that changes the course of a river and a small act of kindness that may change the course of somebodies life, slowly, unnoticeable, but still there.
