Here’s what’s more real than the charter vote

And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreen, and some of them are whatever. 

And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying ‘You are too this, or I’m too this’. 

That judgement mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are. – Ram Dass.

There’s one person who doesn’t need to practise it – your mother. When she looks at you, you are a tree in her eyes. No matter how bent or straight; no matter how solid or fragile; no matter now beautiful or lanky; no matter how soothing or intimidating, a mother's eyes see past those things, because they understand why you are the way you are.

This year, Mother’s Day may be somewhat overshadowed by a major political event in Thailand. But don’t let the illusion fool you. Politics is just politics, an art of making us forget that people are probably like trees and we shouldn’t be too judgemental. Nothing is more real than love from the ones we perhaps didn’t think of when the referendum result was officially announced.

As long as you are happy, she won’t care where the senators come from. She will kiss the feet of the most despicable tyrant if that can save you from a terminal illness. She will give away all her freedom if she knows such a sacrifice will liberate your soul.

Pick up the phone. Nothing makes her happier than your voice. Now that we are at it, she’s ridiculously the easiest one to please. Show up unexpectedly and watch her eyes light up. If she seems upset by political news, try to tell her you have had the greatest day of your life, and see if that works.

Give her a hug, it solves everything and means everything. And, to her, it’s worth a lot more than a thousand social medial “likes”. She may pretentiously decline your embrace, but she’s a bad actor when it comes to that, isn’t she?

Devour what she cooks. Empty all the plates. You can always go to the gym later. Remember, eating like a horse and burping disgracefully is better than nibbling at her food while giving her a big compliment. Yes, she’s easy to please, but don’t take any chances with her cooking.

You don’t need to fight for her. That’s the best deal ever. Make no mistake, it’s great to stand for something. The irony of this world, though, is that the one who cares about us the most will never want us to stand for her if that could put us in harm’s way, whereas a lot of us are willing to fight for people who don’t even know we exist.

She may be a political animal, too. She may have voted with great determination on Sunday, and probably joined a mass rally or two over the past few years. 

Her priorities are clear, though. You are on top of her list, without fail and from the very beginning until the very end. Full stop.

Here’s the most important thing: the fact that Mother’s Day comes once a year doesn’t mean that the devouring of the food, the phone call, the visit or the hug have to be just an annual event. The more often you indulge in it, the better. A lot better.

In fact, it’s a bit corny to be watery-eyed tomorrow with the jasmine garland in our hands and the gift basket on the back seat. 

Yes, it’s better than nothing, but we will end up doing more for brand-name supplements and restaurants than the one who truly deserves it, who never advertises that her “day” is coming, and who actually wants you to save the money.

However, if the “tree” chooses to become corny, she will accept it or even appreciate it. Of course, it’s better than nothing and she is so easy to please. With the exception of exam scores, maybe, we can get away with just about anything. Whatever we do, she allows it, like when we look at trees in the woods.