To me, moments of realizing life span from many different things. I can recall that I was particularly excited about my 13th birthday. I was a ‘young’ one for my grade and having my birthday in the summer always made me feel special. But after my 13th birthday celebration, I changed. Sure, I had received several more presents that day and my cousins even managed to make it to my party but I still felt the same. It was the point at which I realized that a birthday was just another day and nothing more. Even though I had realized such a thing, I did not know how to interpret it then.
       Now, I view my birthday with gratitude that I am alive and the birthday presents are merely things that ‘go with’ the day. Two years ago, when I turned fourteen years old, I still remember that I was extremely happy. My family in Taiwan was gathered around me and they were clapping. The room was dark with excitement and only candles shone brightly, reflecting everyone’s smiles as they watched me make the traditional birthday wish. The thing was, I was so intent with the way things were at that moment that I forgot to wish and blew out the candles without thinking. While my mother patiently lit the candles again, my aunt asked me what I was going to wish for. “If I tell you, how will it come true?” I replied, but I had to say that that was a good question because I had no clue what I was going to wish for. The last few years, I had wished for materialistic things that would cost my parents a fortune, as the spoiled little child I was. Quickly, I ran through my head the likely options. “What should I wish for?”
       After thorough scrutiny, I settled on one wish and blew out those candles, satisfied. Right after that, I cut the cake and I served everyone in age descending order. The cake tasted different than usual even though it was the same old ice cream cake. As I bit into the cake, I looked around me and felt extremely happy that I had wished my family health and happiness. At that point in time, I knew how much I cherished my family, and I also knew how much they cared about me and was grateful for their company and love. My family had given me so much that the wish I made was a small unspoken act of gratitude in comparison. I knew that if I could tell my parents what I wished for, they would be pleased to know how much I had matured. It was a wish that I made from the bottom of my heart.
      I would not say that I completely understand life since I have only lived a little over a decade. But, for sure, I realized how wonderful life was, how much I loved my family, and how reluctant I would be if I should leave them some day. This change in me was so genuine; it was as if I was struck by lightening and woke up, realizing how important my family was to me. The new feeling came with my growing maturity and I feel lucky to have been enlightened. I have also learned that it is hard to cherish each and every one of my family members because I squabble with my siblings and parents sometimes. It’s a bad habit but deep down, I still love them. At least I now know that cherishing my family is a very important thing in my life.