Learning begins with simple observation and courage to experiment, make mistakes, and correct what isn't working.
This valuable wisdom is something I've always remembered from the touching Thai commercial movie “Pineapple”.
I watched the video long time ago, but its resonance unexpectedly returned when I found myself surrounded by pineapples during my grocery shopping at traditional market this morning.
Compelled by nostalgia, I couldn’t resist searching for it on YouTube to watch it again as soon as I got home and was done with some house chores.
The video left such a lasting impression on me that I still remember it vividly to this day. The beautiful background music, perfectly complementing each scene, really added to its memorability.
Based on true story
“Pineapple” is a short film based on true story of a 7-year-old girl and her extraordinary single mother.
Despite never having attended school, the mother raised her daughter in an equally extraordinary way.
Using unconventional teaching methods, the mother instilled a courageous and imaginative mindset in her daughter, motivating her to continually pursue different ventures. This upbringing led the girl to grow up as an independent and dependable individual.
Their inspiring story all began with a pineapple.
Start of remarkable journey
Achara Poonsawat, known as Nin, grew up without her father and found inspiration in her mother.
Nin's mother made a living by selling fruits in a cart. Despite lacking formal education, she became Nin's guiding light, teaching through example and encouraging her to find answers by asking questions.
Living in poverty, Nin's mother understood her daughter's self-restraint when it came to indulging in things other children enjoyed.
One day, when she noticed Nin gazing longingly at children buying popsicles, she thought of an idea to cheer her daughter up. That night, she secretly prepared a pineapple, shaping it like a popsicle and placing it in an icebox filled with ice.
The next morning, she gave the pineapple “popsicle” to her daughter and asked her how it tasted. Nin's face lit up with a smile, and her mother knew her effort had paid off sweetly.
Nin found the pure and fresh pineapple treat surpassing the appeal of store-bought popsicle. She savored it with delight, considering it one of the most delicious frozen treats ever made.
Inspired, an idea popped into Nin's head that she immediately proposed it to her mother - to sell the pineapple “popsicle”.
Though it surprised her mother at first, she gave Nin all the support she needed. And so, Nin's adventure of selling pineapple “popsicle” began.
Equipped with a small icebox containing the pineapple “popsicles”, she set out to the traditional market, hoping to help her mother and earn extra money...
A mother’s love
Since Nin had no prior experience in selling, her first attempt naturally ended in disappointment as no one bought her pineapple “popsicle”.
With teary eyes, she showed her mother the pineapple “popsicles” inside the icebox, now filled with melted ice water.
Seeing her daughter whimpering, her mother offered comforting advice: to observe how other vendors in the market sold their goods.
Motivated by her mother's guidance, Nin returned to the traditional market the next day and keenly observed how vendors successfully sold their goods.
After spending some time doing her observation, Nin, now armed with the newfound knowledge she had just acquired, excitedly returned home and diligently prepared everything she needed to sell her pineapple “popsicle”.
From that point on, she easily attracted people to buy her pineapple “popsicle”, and her efforts paid off as she was able to buy herself a bicycle, which she used to assist in selling her goods.
One afternoon, as she rode her bicycle to offer her pineapple “popsicle” to eager children, she suddenly noticed her mother watching from afar with her cart.
It became clear that her mother had actually been observing her all along to ensure that she did well - a testament to a mother's love wishing for her daughter to grow strong and independent, knowing she would always be fine even when she wasn't around.
“Sarnrak” by AIS
Unfortunate children like Nin, who have incredible potential, are at risk of having their talents go down the drain without someone to help them. That's where Sarnrak comes in.
Sarnrak is a scholarship program initiated by AIS (Advanced Info Service), one of Thailand's leading telecommunications companies.
I initially mistook AIS for a life insurance company because of the emotional impact of the video they produced. But after doing some research, I discovered that they are actually involved in the telecommunications business.
Sarnrak scholarship program is part of AIS's corporate social responsibility efforts that reflect their commitment to making a positive impact on society and promoting equal opportunities in education.
Its main aim is to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged students who demonstrate academic potential and a strong commitment to their education, by offering them financial assistance that covers various educational expenses, including tuition fees, books, and other related costs.
The word “Sarnrak” itself translates to “love” or “affection” in Thai, perfectly capturing the program's mission to support students and prioritize their well-being.
AIS collaborates with educational institutions and organizations to select deserving students and provide them with the necessary support to pursue their studies.
Achara Poonsawat or Nin, who appeared in the “Pineapple” video, was one of the recipients of this Sarnrak scholarship until she completed her Bachelor's degree in 2013 and became a teacher.
I managed to find a picture of the real Nin with her mother from Google. Sweet, aren't they?
Learning from Nin to observe
In the video, little Nin showed us how quickly she could learn just by observing. And there's a good reason for that.
It's not just her determination to learn something new, but also her ability to “listen” and hold back judgment. These qualities are essential when we're trying to learn something new.
Learning requires us to empty our cups, allowing space for new knowledge and understanding to flow in.
When we say we're observing something, it means we're taking on the role of a spectator, watching from a distance without interfering or getting too involved.
As spectators, our task is simply to watch without getting caught up in anything else. And adopting this role can truly help us curb our tendency to judge, which would greatly reduce the distracting noises and create room for the insights to come in.
I wonder if this is what people mean when they refer to “active listening”? Maybe not entirely accurate, but it's not entirely wrong either.
Whatever they call it, this is why Nin could learn something from just observing, without anyone directly teaching her what she didn't know before.
More than just copying
Learning may start by simply observing and imitating, just like what Nin did. But it shouldn't stop there, or else we'll end up being mere copycats, and that's no fun.
The world needs more innovators who can push boundaries and bring about positive change, not just people who copy what’s already there.
Observing and imitating can be a great starting point when we're not familiar with something. But the crucial step is to go beyond that: we must innovate and make it our own.
To achieve this, we need to cultivate a critical mindset by constantly questioning and seeking answers that resonate with us, much like how Nin was encouraged by her mother.
And this responsibility falls on us alone; it’s not something our parents, teachers, or anyone else should do for us.
Hurdles to jump through
Throughout the journey of seeking these answers, we are bound to encounter various challenges and come across different types of people. These experiences can be both enriching and demanding.
In certain instances, we may need to invest time in interacting with specific individuals, whether virtually or in person, in search of hints or insights.
However, there is one principle I always keep in mind when choosing whom to build relationships with: staying away from self-proclaimed leaders, experts, gurus, mentors, or whatever they choose to call themselves, who dismiss disagreements with their teachings without a second thought.
Presenting themselves as very nice people and open to diverse opinions at first, this kind of individuals will grow bitter once they consider we've appeared smarter than them.
One of the biggest red flags I use to recognize such people is when I hear them say something like, “Just follow exactly what I told you, and you'll achieve the same success as me.”
These individuals won't contribute to our growth; instead, they become formidable obstacles blocking our path. Their aim is to stifle our critical thinking and assert their superiority over us.
I've had my fair share of encounters with these self-righteous people, especially in online settings, and it hasn't always been pleasant.
They would either embarrass me with their comments or quickly block me when I asked questions they couldn't answer or expressed thoughts that contradicted their views.
Luckily, their quick dismissal spared me from getting caught up in their drama and wasting more time on their worthless "teachings".
These individuals are too busy upholding their fake image, and they lack the genuine care for their followers or students.
There’s huge difference between those who genuinely care for others coming to them for guidance and those who are only concerned with projecting a fabricated image of superiority.
We would be able to see their true color after several interactions with them.
Anyway, staying away from such fake people not only saves our time, but also keeps us sane and stay motivated.