What do you always see everyday?To be fair, I will answer first. I go to work everyday, I always see the pollution emitted by the motorcycles and the jeepneys. There were new buildings built everywhere and I thought what will happen when there’s suddenly a shortage of cement. I bet Manila will be uglier than before as it will be filled with gray, empty shells of concrete.

It is quite easy to ignore the simple things in life. Big things are definitely bigger and are noticeable. Or am I just too busy thinking about something else?

I admit, I can only see the big things and in a negative way. Manila is now fast becoming a world-class city, thanks to the improvement of the infrastructures yet I think about cement shortage. Poor me, I never even considered that before a building is built, materials need to be secured.

I need to look at life differently.

Wayne Syer said “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

He’s right, things around me cannot adjust according to my preference. They are lifeless, or if they have, like people, surely, I am not that important to adapt to my wants. I am the one who needs to change.

I think this can be applied when looking for happiness. Happiness cannot adjust for me, I need to look for it.

Maybe, smoke belching isn’t too bad, it adds color to the wonderful Manila skyline. After all, Manila loses its identity without the gray cloud hovering on top of it. I love Manila. Loving this city means loving who she really is.

As for the buildings, cement is abundant anyway. No need to worry. Someday, I may live in one of those buildings, so the more buildings there is, the more choices I have.