The other day in the plane, looking out the window at night, seeing KL lit up made me realize how much electricity we use. Which got me thinking about how different life would be without it, something we utterly take for granted. Imagine a life without electricity: no computers, no phones, no TV, no fans, all the things we take for granted.
It highlights the difference between abundance and scarcity, too. When the toothpaste tube is still new, it’s something you don’t think about. But when you’re reaching the end, you’re thinking, how long can I make this last? Do I really need that much?
Then I started thinking about all the things we take for granted in life. We take life itself for granted.
Like when I wake up every morning, I don’t think, “Oh, shit, I’m so glad I’m alive.” I don’t even think about it. Instead, I think, “Fuck, why do I have to get up?” I’m not thankful that I have work to do, things to look forward to; a purpose in life.
I wake up simply because I have things to do. I take for granted the ability to do them: to drive to the office, speak to people, make decisions, and carry out my tasks. I don’t consider that I could be someone without those abilities or things to look forward to, because it happens all the time, and I never stop to think about it.
I realized I used to take for granted things like my safety before I was mugged. It took me years before I felt safe to walk the streets with headphones on again.
And it’s not just personal abilities. We take for granted that the buildings beneath our feet don’t crumble. It would be strange, but not impossible, for the building I’m in to be leveled to the ground. Where would I go? How would I escape?
We take for granted our ability to breathe, to see, to read, to control our hands. To type, to write, to move, to talk – everything. It can all just disappear one day.
What I’m trying to get at is this: we take a lot of things for granted, and that’s not a bad thing. We just have to be cognizant of the fact that we could lose any or all of those things at any time.
I guess now that I’ve put it down into words, I’ve acknowledged what I’m thankful for, and I’m glad. That’s probably enough. No point worrying about every single thing. I guess there’s a balance.
Like my favorite chicken rice store in the neighborhood. Over the past year, he was constantly moving locations, closing and reopening his shop in different spots, some better than others. He finally caught a lucky break with a spot in a decent kopitiam.
He told me the kopitiam owner had invited him and given him a good rental rate. The spot was perfect: tons of tables, a roof so people could eat even when it was raining, and a healthy ecosystem with other stalls, but no other chicken rice. Plus, the drinks were handled by the kopitiam.
Dude was super happy about moving there. I don’t remember exactly how long after he moved, but it must have been only a few weeks: I saw him, fine and dandy, on a Thursday. Two days later, I read the news of his passing in a community Facebook group.
Apparently, he passed out while setting up the store one morning and died on the way to the hospital. Sad news. The chicken rice stall still exists, life goes on, but not seeing that man there to greet me every time I go for a meal reminds me that life can end in an instant, just like that.
As the plane landed safely, I thought to myself: people always assume they are never the one in the 0.000001% of people to be in a plane accident, like me.
But worrying about the uncontrollable; the plane crashing, or life itself; does no good either. It’s entirely out of your control.
Why waste the energy worrying when it makes absolutely no difference to the outcome? Might as well focus that energy on what you can change.
And be glad for the flight you’re on. You’re going on a holiday, after all.
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