Another week, another prompt from the Weekend Experience community established by @galenkp . Out of the four prompts, one stood out to me—perhaps because I started writing my journal a few weeks ago, and it's something I often ponder: what are the three things that I have but always take for granted?
The first on the list is something revolutionary that has become part of our daily life, and I believe we can't live without it: the Internet.
The Internet is one of the best things that has ever happened to human evolution. This revolutionary technology was immediately absorbed and accepted by our society, and now it feels like it has always existed. Even I have become so accustomed to having the internet that I take it for granted.
Internet can open a lot of opportunities in education. Since all the educational resources can be found online, almost everything I want to learn can be learned. In fact, just these past few weeks, I started taking a web development course to further enhance my knowledge and add an additional skill that I can present when applying for a job. You can also start learning the skills you want to acquire! There are free courses in YouTube, Khan Academy, and if you’re lucky you can also find free courses in Udemy.
Aside from having access to education, I've also built social connections just by using the internet. Meeting people online now feels normal, but I didn't realize that in the past, you had to go out, spend time, and test the waters to find genuine connections. Thanks to the internet, specifically Hive, I've met and become acquainted with people. Last year, HivePH organized a meetup where I had the chance to meet the faces behind the great blogs I read.
Since I mentioned blogging, the internet has also helped me earn money. Previously, earning money required going out and finding a physical job. Now, I can simply sit in front of my laptop at home and write, which gives me ample time to enjoy my personal hobbies. Besides blogging, there are numerous work opportunities online. If you have a skill or talent to offer, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are great options. You can create an account, showcase your portfolio, and clients might hire you for various projects, all from the comfort of your home. This is actually something I'm planning to pursue after I graduate, as I prefer not having a boss. Who wants to be under their boss, anyways?
Aside from the internet, another thing that I take for granted is my family. I am lucky enough to have a supportive, thoughtful, and caring family. Growing up with parents who are always by my side, who care about what I do, and who constantly think about my welfare, I became accustomed to this support and didn't realize how special it is. I only truly appreciated it recently when I met people with different family dynamics, very different from what I have.
Although sometimes I feel like being too tightly bonded with my family can be suffocating, I try to look on the brighter side. This level of support and closeness is something not everyone gets to experience, and for that, I am grateful.
Last but not least, I think one of the things I am taking for granted is the place I call home. I live in a peaceful residential area, far from worrying that someone might stab me in the back or trespass into our property and steal something. We also live near a barangay hall, a satellite office of the municipal government that maintains peace in our area. This proximity likely contributes to the low crime rate in our neighborhood.
Besides being peaceful, our place also has good access to shopping centers and public transportation. In fact, within a radius of 1-2 km from our home, there are 4 shopping and retail centers, 3 standalone fast-food chains, 2 coffee shops, and various services. So, when you get bored, you can just go outside and find something you like. Additionally, the main highway is just outside our residential area, making transport terminals easily accessible and enabling faster and easier travel to other cities.
If I ever lack the budget to relax or combat boredom, I can bike, walk, or run instead. Our neighborhood is spacious, so I can engage in different recreational activities. Personally, I enjoy jogging around and playing badminton in my free time.
To sum up, these are the three things that I have taken for granted: first, the internet, which undeniably provided me with numerous opportunities. Second, my family, who supported me every step of the way. And lastly, my home, a place that not everyone is fortunate enough to have.
All of us might have something that we currently take for granted. Take a pause, breathe, and reflect. Sometimes, the world moves so fast that we hardly take the time to appreciate what we have.
