What would be my three most valuable possessions...? I asked myself that question after seeing the new initiative from the Three Challenges community. Well, I saw that post accidentally this morning but I had a meeting with another teacher in the school so the question could come back again just later, after I finished the tasks we had to do and before I go back there to work. Still, the question hasn't become a lot easier and with the limited time I have today, I will have to kindly ask my brain cells to work dexterously.
As the first step, I tried to determine the criteria that give value to us, to our possessions and things that surround us. Should I pick the three most expensive things I have at home for this challenge? This could be a valid criterion but what about the sentimental value that makes some items so special for us? What about the tools we use that later can bring us economic well-being, aren't they also very valuable possessions? In this case, my piano would be the first pick, of course. My scores, books, the car I use every day to get to work... But these objects can be replaced with other, newer ones so I disqualify them right now!
Who gives value to things are we and our perception, which can change over time. Or not, but for me time plays a huge role in this exercise of picking my three most valuable possessions. Past, present and future are visiting now this space.
Past - photos of my ancestors
I would not be what I am today without my past and my ancestors. My family and their ancestors could be traced down to a few generations, with the decisions they made and the circumstances they found themselves in - it all in one part determines what and how I am today. We were born with some physical and mental qualities and behavioural traits as part of our inheritance. What will we do with those elements in our lives is another thing, but we can't deny our past. Hence, the first very valuable possession is the selection of photos I have of my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, to always remind me about my past.
Future - a lock of my son's hair
Our children are our future. I mean in general, as the young generations will stay in this world after us, to progress and constantly improve (hopefully). And also, in a personal way - my child is my future, he is the extension of my life. He carries my and his father's cells; he carries the genetic information heredated from us in his DNA. He received the mixture of our talents and physical appearance, he also learned our behaviour patterns, traditions, language, and habits. He will lead his own, independent life in just a few years from now but for us, parents, he will always stay our little boy. This lock of his hair, when I cut it for the first time is a very well-kept treasure. Yes, it is one of my most valuable possessions.
Present - my passport
My passport allows me to live in the country of my residence right now. But even if I had to leave this country tomorrow, for whatever reason (urgency or my own decision) and I could take just a few things with me, my passport would be one of the items to take. It would allow me to move freely through to countries that are members of the European Union and settle down in any of them if I would like to live there. Starting over from scratch is not easy of course, but having a legal way to try out living in a different environment, language and traditions adding your own knowledge and skills is a valuable possession, isn't it? Even the photos of my ancestors and the lock of my son could be kept between the pages of this passport.
If you liked the idea of this initiative and would like to share with other Hive users what are your three most valuable possessions, check out the invitation post and feel free to participate. It is not easy to pick just three, but it is doable. 😅
