- Julia Figueiredo

Young people claim we're getting old. Old people laugh, saying we still have plenty of physical vigor and productive strength, and that every experience is worthwhile. Enlightened people always recommend reflection and that everything is a matter of balance. Philosophers insist that there are things that aren't worthwhile and that, to identify what is, we must delve into self-knowledge. Psychology asks what we feel with such experiences and simplifies things: the answer lies within ourselves. Religion urges us to be optimistic and to face chaos with perseverance and courage. Society shoves our obligations down our throats, and statistics say that if we don't produce, we're useless! The clever advise going abroad to live the life we deserve. The witty say that if there's love, it's worthwhile; otherwise, let's stay put. Complicated!

Faced with this complex range of opinions, I prefer to summarize my belief in the phrase I read today: "When gratitude truly invades your life, the little things become important." This even applies to things that might not be worthwhile.