By Rakan Diab

To the reader of this article, a few simple words “Farmville is deceiving”. This ridiculously addicting Facebook game that I love, gave me the wrong impression about harvesting crops.

A click and you harvest….oh boy! How far from reality is that! Lucky for you, I’m here to uncover the hard truth.

This past weekend, my family and I went to our hometown Ain Ebel to harvest this season’s crop of olives. We started Saturday morning and quite frankly, I never knew that mornings could start this early!

I kicked out the Sandman to start my day and just to let you know, that guy is cranky at dawn. First things first,  I chugged down a humongous cup of coffee that could wake up a hibernating chipmunk in the middle of December and I was off.

Upon arriving, an amazing feeling of self satisfaction hit me. The land I was walking on was actually my family’s and I suddenly became so understanding of feudalism; I really don’t know why.

Anyways, after that the real work started, and the harvesting began, life became a little bit more difficult.
Long hours under the sun, sweating , getting dirt all over myself, receiving various cuts, and add to that numerous occasions of life threatening falls, yet I wouldn’t trade that for the world! I was working on my land.

Shocking! I know, I can’t believe I’m saying that either.

Several times during the day we were able to take breaks, and in those 15-minute lapses of work something amazing hit me. I didn’t think about my troubles for a second that day!

School work was the last thing on my mind and worrying was a thing of the past. As the strange aura of calmness suddenly took over me, I began enjoying the simple things in life. Whether it was the smooth breath of cold air or the amazing site of nature’s generosity; I was surely happy. Or it was simply a sun stroke. I really don’t know and I surely don’t care.

Here is what I brought back with me: nature would never turn you down, give it your best and it will return the favor. Take pride in working in it and most important don’t sell your ancestor’s legacy because it’s not just a piece of land, it’s your identity.

You could also find Rakan at Rakan@patriotismatitsbest.com