Yesterday I went to the mall and while in the mall, looking for somewhere to eat or while eating, suddenly it hit me how abundant life indeed is for almost every human being, but how more for me. You see, I have no money left in my bank account so I used my credit card, meaning someone was willing to give me money, even though I don’t have anymore myself. And I only took something like EUR 200.00 while my credit limit is something like EUR 2,500.00, so I could have gotten and still can get a lot more. So I felt rich with my PHP 10,000.00 that I got from the ATM, even though of course I know there are some drawbacks with this thing. But again, that is negative thinking, so yesterday I tried to look at the positive side and I really felt rich, really lived in the moment and I still do. So I got this PHP 10,000.00 from the ATM and realized how much equipment, capital, work, etc., etc. is behind this simple transaction. Because someone has put that money in the ATM so I could get it out. And someone is maintaining records somewhere in a computer to make my Credit Card work. Also people have built those programs and this infrastructure to make that all work. And I had and have nothing to do with that. It all happens without me, without me even really knowing, without me mostly even realizing. And it is not only now, but it also has a long history of people doing things, as those machines and stuff can only be built with metal and stuff, where metal making was invented long, long time ago. And all those programs have been built on other, more basic programs, also long time ago. And the infrastructure like cabling and buildings and whatever more you can think of has also been built, being created over a long time. So many, many people are being and have been involved in this little transaction of mine.
And it goes further, as I went to Jollibee, the Philippine fast food branch similar to McDonalds (well, just the one that I know best, no offense to similar fast food chains). So when I stood in line I realized that everything there was also amazing and that many, many, many people were and are involved in my simple little meal. People had built the building in which this branch is located and someone had decided to open this specific Jollibee branch. And many, many people have been involved, have been working to grow or create the food. That food has probably taken months to ‘grow’, or even years if you think about the cow meat produced for the meat in the hamburger. But on shorter term deliveries have been made to this specific branch and the food has been prepared by the people inside. And I looked at the paper wrapper around my hamburger and realized that had also been produced and someone had folded it around my hamburger.
So I ate and when I left I realized someone would clean up my mess after I left and people would clean the store during or after opening hours. So yes, again many people were, are and will be of service to me, even after I have left, mostly without even knowing, without realizing.
So yes, its really amazing what we all created. And it’s just there and we just use it, mostly without realizing, mostly just taking it for granted.
