I’ve always felt like life was only about productivity. About getting things done and being useful. I remember reading a quote a few years years back which prompted a question about this. “We’re programmed to prioritize productivity. So when a person is no longer productive in a way we expect him to be, the way he expects himself to be. What value does he have left?” I really thought productivity was all that matters. After all, anyone who doesn’t work is considered useless or even a burden to society. Correct me if I’m wrong. But recently something changed my mind. What if there is more to life than just being productive? A week ago, my grandpa was admitted to hospital and he’s been in quite a critical condition since then. Gramps barely able to move and talk, everyone in my family has been taking so much time to visit him and spending entire nights just sitting there right by his bedside in the hospital in case he might need something. My grandpa is no longer productive and yet his family is willing to sacrifice so much to be there for him. I honestly don’t think it has anything to do with him always having been there for us and now us giving him back. He still has value not because we owe him but because he is our elder and our father. We respect, treasure and love him. Somehow you don’t need to give to get back when it comes to family and relationships. As humans we are designed for love and it will forever be one of our greatest attributes. Maybe a person’s value isn’t delimited by their productivity? Maybe productivity is the least of what truly matters when it comes to value? And maybe family and human connections are what truly give value to a person’s existence? I have yet to figure out the answer to this question but one thing I learnt from looking at the bond between my grandpa and family is that there is so much more to a human being’s value than just his productivity. What do you think?
Instagram: @colorsofhk
Comments