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Hello Pangyaos. How are you this 2023? I hope all is well.
Allow me to share two short anecdotes with you. Five years ago, I met these two people while travelling.
The first one is a taxi dispatcher (in front of a mall) in Iloilo City, Philippines, who goes by the name of Apa – undoubtedly a nickname or an alias. His job is to holler at taxis for passengers – like me or you – who are in need of a ride.
When your transport arrives and stops, Apa opens the cab’s hatch for you and sees that you’re seated comfortably inside. He then closes the door, but not before receiving a few coins from you as a token/symbol of your gratitude. I was one of the recipients of this good deed; I needed a ride, and he made sure I got one, hence I was happy to reward him for his efforts.
Such is Apa’s way of earning money; not much in terms of amount, but indeed an honourable and honest way to make a living. I asked around and learned that through this occupation, he is not only supporting a brother through school, but also acting as the sole breadwinner in his family.
Sadly, Apa is afflicted with a form of inborn disability. He could not speak well, nor walk straight, and his eyes couldn’t look in the direction they were supposed to. Yet, he acts like none of these are impediments to his daily life. He continues his fight to live; he faces all the challenges thrown at him. He never ceases to be a responsible human being.
“He continues his fight to live; he faces all the challenges thrown at him. He also never ceases to be a responsible human being”
The second one is an old lady who sells liquid sugar in Chonburi, Thailand. She carries bottles of sweet sap made from sugar palm trees.
Although she’s old, she can hold and balance two loads of a dozen or so 1.5-litre bottles of sap on her shoulder. The lines in the corners of her eyes talk, symbolising a determination to continue working, while the deep marks on her tired hands whisper of her resolve and will to survive.
My Thai colleague spoke with her and learned she has to keep earning money to support a sick husband at home. So, we bought a few bottles from her.
When I observed her closely, I noticed she wasn’t that strong; her hands were shaking, and her knees would need a few minutes to bend slowly before carrying her load again. So, I could only assume that she isn’t so well physically.
Yet, she acts as if these are just parts and slices of life that she must lay aside, because she needs the grit for her fight to live, not only for herself, but also for someone she loves. Like Apa, she also never stops being a responsible human being.
These are two people who have inspired me – much more than any inspirational speaker or lecturer – to face the challenges and hurdles this life propels towards us.
If they – who have reasons to give up – do not despair or surrender, then we (you and I) should be more resilient to live and confront our daily problems. If they – who may seem weak or fragile – are fighting to live and continue to act maturely and responsibly, then we have no reason to crumble and quit when faced with life’s many obstacles. If they – whom some might think are small people through their own prejudice – act so big, then there shouldn’t be any hindrances for us to behave with confidence in our hearts.
Every problem has a solution; we just need to search and find it. If there is no solution, it is not a problem anymore; it becomes part of life that we need to accept.
And while we continue our resilience to solve the problems in life, provided we’re not hurting others in the process, we should be able to live our lives in the manner we want to, accepting other people as they are, regardless of whether they have a different or divergent way of life from our own.
Live and let live. And always be responsible human beings, both in 2023 and in all the years to come.
These two people inspired me five years ago and they continue to do so. I hope your hearts will be stirred and moved too. Cheers, Pangyaos!
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