Friends. Prayer. Love.
Forget about money. On its’ own, sex sounds hollow. Food brings satisfaction, but a lone plate on the table gives carviar the equivalence of stale bread. The best restaurant food did not even compare to the moments when I have shared a humble plate of addis (cooked lentils) with Africans, all dipping from the same plate.
As part of my research, I spent a good deal with Africans. These were people whose life is dotted with stories of loss and suffering: they have left families and friends, crossed the desert, some more than once. Many have spent years in Libya, scraping what money they could save in order to take a boat, and try their luck in the Mediterranean. One would think these people – men and women – to be hardened by life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although still suffering, because their present conditions are far from ideal, a meal is still shared, tea is still offered, a smile is always present.
Make no mistake. The three pillars of true happiness is no discovery of mine. I owe this insight to the Africans I have spoken with throughout all these years.
Virtualsoul 