Too often, we forget the significance of the little things. We always preoccupy ourselves with what the world says is important; paying more attention to the things that “connect” us to the bigger world, but, without us knowing, “disconnect” us from what is truly essential in life. A girl is about to realize all that… and her life is going to change forever.

            Wake up, eat, brush my teeth, get my iPod and cellphone, lock the door, and board the train: that was how she usually started her mornings, but today was different. Because she woke up a little late, she rushed her breakfast, and brought her cellphone and iPod – both running on low battery. “A few minutes late, and the start of my day gets ruined,” she said to herself, thinking about how such a small thing like that could make such a big difference.

            She felt a bit strange without the earphones on and the music ringing in her ears. She started paying more attention to the things happening around her, taking note of even the tiniest details she can observe. Stepping out of the train, into the station, and onto the road, she realized how noisy the world was, how rushed the people seemed, how busy they were, how they talked incessantly, not to each other, but on their cellphones… and she noticed a little boy who seemed lost, alone, sobbing.

            “I can’t find my mommy,” the little boy cried. Seeing that everyone else was too busy listening to their tiny music players or reading text messages or talking on their cellphones to listen to his pleas for help, she hesitantly walked towards him and kneeled. “Umm, I-I’m here to help you,” she said in a soft voice, though not sure if what she was doing was right.

            The boy looked deep into her eyes, wiped his cheeks, and took her hand. With her cellphone on low battery, there was no way she could call the police to pick the boy up, so she decided to just walk with him to the nearest station. With none of her gadgets to distract her, she saw the world as it was: noisy, busy, the people apathetic to others’ existence, basically connected to their little machines and disconnected from what’s happening right in front of them.

            “I’m hungry, could you buy me some of that?” the boy asked in his shaky voice while pointing at a street vendor selling lugaw. She realized that she has never tasted rice porridge before, so she bought some for him and some for herself. She thanked the vendor, and as they walked away, the vendor looked up to the heavens in gratitude: the money she gave her was exactly what she needed to afford some medicine for her sick daughter at home.

            She was unaware of the great deed she has done; all she knew was the rice porridge tasted wonderful. She always passed by the street corner where the woman sold the lugaw, but today was the first time she ever paid attention to the little wonders around her. As they walked the streets, she and the boy encountered a few other things and a lot of other people, and without them knowing, they changed their lives.

            They helped an old lady cross the street, which was nothing for them, but was everything for the woman, who had just lost her only son and was wondering if anybody still cared for her. The boy kicked a ball off of the busy street and onto the sidewalk, saving the kid who was going after it from what could have been a car accident. They passed by a church and heard the priest giving a sermon on how God always makes things happen for a reason… which definitely struck and moved the girl, as if the message was really meant for her.

            Nearing the police station, they passed by a small stall selling clothes, and they saw a woman crying, with a man who held her hands and comforted her. “Mommy, daddy!” the little boy said excitedly as he rushed towards the couple. The girl was a bit reluctant to bid the child farewell at first, but when she saw how happy their little family was to be together again, she felt an unexplainable sort of joy within her… a joy that she would not trade for anything in the world.

            From then on, she lived a life that was more in touch with the real world; a life that assured her of happiness which was simple yet genuine, not extravagant but temporal. In just one day of having nothing to distract her from what was truly essential, she saw the world in a different light, appreciated it more, and changed many other lives in the process.

            Now, look back: how many of life’s little miracles have you missed…?

Text by: Rina Tadiar

Photos by: Me (Anna Melgar)