Today, I consider myself the luckiest man alive.
The most fortunate thing in my life is not the education, the stardom, or the wealth I have achieved.
The most fortunate thing in my entire life is to have been born a Thai especially during the reign of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The King of all kings.
I could have been born somewhere else and some other time. What were the odds? See how lucky I have been?
When I was 15, my kind English teacher Mrs.Hopkins ( If I remember her name correctly) gave us an assignment, to write an essay about "Your Idol and the reasons why."
Having just arrived in the US for only a few months, my English was still horrible. I was not able to speak, listen, or write English well at all. I was horrified by the assignment but I was, however, crystal clear about the idol that I wanted to write about.
It was not Dr.Martin Luther King, Einstein,or Gandhi. It was definitely my King whom I wanted to write about. I remember I worked really really hard trying to make it great. It was so stressful at the time. We had about 1 month to complete the assignment.
Finally, I finished it. Handed it. A few days later, the teacher came back with our grades. This was almost 23 years ago. We didn't have email then. It was still on good old papers. She handed out papers back one by one until it was my turn.
As she handed my paper back to me, she smiled and said "Your King sounds wonderful, Paul!" I smiled and replied proudly "Yes, he is ma'am!"
If my spoken English had been better then , I would have replied "the word Wonderful doesn't even come close ma'am."
How could anyone describe a man who thinks of others' well-beings before his own? A man who is so wise yet so humble. A man who always led by example and not words. A man who worked so tirelessly and selflessly for 70 years and for the people who were not even related to him, 60 millions of them!
If we truly love H.M and really think that he is our father, don't just say it but "live" it. He always taught us to be good and do good. To be united and love one another. To put of the country first.
Let's show him that we really listened when He taught us. I think this is the best way to remember and show him how much we love and respect him.
He alone has gotten Thailand this far. Imagine if all of us do the same, how great will this nation be?
#luckiestmanalive #proudtobethai
#wroteintears
#dogoodfortheking #love#alwayshave#alwayswill
