We Had Less, But We Felt More

When I was a child,

my uncle once gave me a small bird.

Nothing expensive.

Nothing rare.

Just a little bird

I could hold in my hands.

And for me

it was the greatest joy.

I remember how light it felt.

How carefully I held it.

How something so small

could feel so big.

That little bird

stayed only a few days.

Then it flew away.

But the feeling never left me.

Sometimes I realize

that it wasn’t the bird

that made me happy.

It was the way I was able

to feel happiness.

And I wonder…

Is that part of us

still alive?

Are we giving the next generation

real values,

or are we just filling them

with presents?

Because sometimes

it feels like

we have everything…

but still feel empty.

— Fuerpa Slow Journal