Dryxanne’s Confessions

Few days ago, I attended an event. The event was meant to be exciting, since some very VIPs attended it. But I won’t talk about the details of the events. I just want to talk about what effect the event made on me.

During the event, I looked around, and I realized that the environment, the "world" I was in, was a prestigious, high-level, world-class one. Surrounded by people who have years or perhaps half lifetime experiences, experts in their fields, people whose monthly income were as high as their capabilities, I suddenly felt very low, but felt very excited at the same time, that I was part of the world they share, eventhough my presence is perhaps only a grain of sand in the desert. I could feel the excitement, the buzzing sounds, the feeling of being part of a large group that can proudly say that we do something that help shaping some parts of people’s life globally.

This high-level of life, although not mine personally, can lead someone into forgetting where you come from. Someone can be easily carried away, surrounded by the people with high taste, sophisticated gadgets tagged along, and prestigious networks they have. One could easily start to do what they do, in order for one to make it easier to mingle, to make oneself accepted in the same group. Be it hanging out in the places they hang out, buying things from classy brands they carry in their bags (or their hands), or even considering to act they way they do.

I personally think it would be quite hard to find someone humble in the group, not that I don’t know any, but it’s not many, and I felt fortunate that some people in the group that I know, they are quite humble considering that their income could actually make it easy for them to afford a Gucci bag or SK-II. Without 2nd thought.

But what does it affect me?

It just kind of rings a bell. That I should do something to prevent myself from being carried away. That I should limit myself from spending money on things that perhaps I don’t need but I buy (or plan to buy) just for the sake that those things represent whatever that is assumed prestigious, luxurious, high taste, and hip, just so that I would be considered worthy enough of being a member of these sophisticated people.

And at that time, at that very moment, I instantly thought of YOU. You, someone I know, someone humble. Not because you are rich but you act humbly, but more because of your devil-may-care spirit. I’m sure you’d say, so what if everyone loves to hang out at Starbucks, or EX, or Citos, just so that they can see and be-seen? If that place doesn’t serve great coffee, or have comfy couches, or nice ambience and atmosphere, you’d probably say you’re not going unless urgent or you’re just trapped with some friends and no way out.

I was thinking that you are the type of guy that would buy things out of quality, and things that serve their function, not out of famous brands only, although you won’t deny that certain brands do guarantee good quality (that’s why you picked Nikon). But you’re certainly not the type that would be thinking long to choose whether to buy your shirt at ZARA or Mango or Massimo Dutti ( I don’t think you can even tell the difference between the three, or prefer which one you like), because for you a shirt is a shirt, it covers your body (and keeps you warm), and if a simple, (quite) cheap, Hammer or God Inc t-shirt can serve the function, while being fashionable enough to suit your taste (which is not very complicated, by the way), WHY NOT?

And I thought, perhaps you also think, so what if you are not part of those sophisticated people? Not working in a prestigious company that to some people is kind of pride? Not being in the circle of people who proudly claim to help make things better and encourage changes? Because perhaps you’d think that, although in small contribution, you and your works also take part in that global changes, and without people who work on the deep level and the lowest brick of the pyramid, there would never be a pyramid built to that height.

And at that moment, I was feeling so fortunate that I could know someone like you. Someone whose life has taught me the lesson of being down to earth. Not that you perfectly practice it, but that the way you live your life (partly) has reminded me that there’s another whole different world out there, a world that is virtually and reality-wise being in parallel with this higher ground that I’m in. And that different world is perhaps even more real and more worthy to be considered, and to live in. You reminded me of what it’s like to be always humble, to always remember where I came from (not that I have reached the top of the mountain, but I’ve travelled far anyway…) that I was once everything that is "not possible". And now that I could make some of those become "possible" or "affordable", doesn’t mean that it is justified if I become a snob, or think like one.

You might never realize that the way you act has taught me a lot of things. But reading this, now you know. And I think I do have to thank you for that. And to other people like you that have come to enter (and walk out of) my life. People that have taught me on lessons in life.

And if I have to choose between knowing you personally, or knowing someone from global top management of a highly prestigious and world-class company, I believe it would be quite difficult decision to make.

And I hope you take the last sentence as a compliment to you, and your personality. And also that success in life is not measured only by how many cars or how expensive your watch is, but also on simple things like how many warm, hearty smiles you’ve got from your colleagues you meet today.

And I’m sure you’ve got a lot