Only children know what they are looking for.

Of course I wouldn't have understood The Little Prince as thoroughly if I weren't in Ma'am Lalaine's class. I've always considered it a very witty, almost philosophical, book but I didn't extract so much meaning when I first read it several years ago. Now, it's like a whole new different book that I've read especially when our class got to discuss balance. (Update: Love story pala ang The Little Prince, as in more than just the symbolism of the rose. Gosh, I'm dense!)

Simply put, we need balance in our lives. Balance between work and play, balance between greed and service, balance between theory and practice. Grown ups, the little prince said, are only concerned with matters of consequence. It cannot be helped. But what's important is to not get caught up in the oh so important things such as money, politics or golf in order to appreciate sunsets, rain and drawings which are equally important.

We were supposed to write a comparative essay among The Little Prince, The Pearl, and The Giver. I didn't come to think of balance being one of the concepts that these three share. It really struck me how important this is and how I totally missed it, and I've come to realize I find this specifically important because I am afraid to lose the child in me. Very much so. I'm pragmatic and serious most of the time, and I can't help but think I need more poetry in order to see things not just as they are but also what they can be. I'm afraid of being an unbalanced and messed up grown up.

I'll read The Little Prince again after a couple of years, and I'm really curious what I'll pick up then.

There are endless significant lines in the book but I'll end this post with a classic quote:

 L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.

What is essential is invisible to the eyes.