“Gameela!”

As I sit and observe my youngest playing with his blocks, I notice a repeated pattern in his play. After having carefully crafted a lovely, little building with his blocks, he holds his masterpiece up proudly, looks at me and says, with a twinkle in his eyes,: “Gameela!” (=beautiful). Then what happens in the seconds that follow is what truly surprises me: he very swiftly throws this toy he just put together and the blocks are chaotically scattered all around.

I would always pause at this strange act and wonder to myself, “Why would anyone want to ruin their new masterpiece just like that? Even though they have just made it and are proud of it!”

Then I’m reminded of the numerous times I was on the verge of completing a marvelous masterpiece then abandoned it at the last minute. Many are the times when I had embarked on writing a long-awaited article yet decided not to publish it upon completion. Many are the times when I would have a great idea that never eventually came to fruition. Many are the times when I was about to do a good deed yet took a step backward right before I did it.

I wonder to myself.. is it human nature to do so? Whether the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’, it is part of my little one’s play pattern anyway.. and this is all that matters right now.