Reading Response Journal: The Little Prince

Nur Hasanah Binte Osman was a classmate of Yvone Koo. But I didn’t meet her in person until after four or five weeks into the semester. She was pregnant and was about to give birth when classes began in August 2009. So we made use of distance learning to the hilt.

When Hasanah did come to class in person to join her classmates, she blended easily and took part actively in group tasks. It seemed as if she had been there all the time because she had followed the course outline diligently and had done all the required readings and the learning tasks via our electronic learning platform.

I knew she was a competent student, but her sincerity and honesty were more admirable. In this reading response journal, she has a most intimate conversation with the little child in her.

“Something to Do, Something to Love,
Something to Hope For”

by Nur Hasanah Binte Osman


I discovered in this book that life is simple and the:
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” – Joseph Addison

Truthfully, reading this book made me feel sad, disappointed and even made me question my actions in life. Am I like any of the characters that the prince mentioned? Is my love like that of the prince? Am I a good friend?

In this Reading Response Journal, I will illustrate the turmoil that I went through still searching for my answers and like the prince, I would “ . . . never in (my) whole life give up on a question once . . . I’ve asked it” and through this seeking journey, I discovered the “. . . secret, very simply: you can see things clearly with your heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Entry 1: In the Eyes of Grown-ups

“But the answer would always be: ‘That is a hat.’ In which case I would not talk to that person about boa constrictors, or virgin forests, or stars. I would place myself on their level. I would talk about bridge and gold, about politics and neckties. And the grown-up would be very pleased to have made the acquaintance of such a sensible fellow.”

Adulthood is a state of mind. Being an adult, most of us are trapped with our busy schedules and we become rather narrow-minded and single track-minded. I was taken aback when I first realized this. Nevertheless, when I looked back at my actions and reactions to my pupils and children, I had to agree.

There was an incident when I jumped in anger because a child had brought an empty can for his ‘show and tell’ activity. I did not want to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was only later that I realized there was a story behind the empty can.

As adults, we constantly make the mistake of rushing through our daily chores without stopping to think and see the beauty that children see. My little girl always points to a cloud to tell me stories of the animals formed in them. She always needs to explain to me in detail, as written in the Little Prince, “ Grown –ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for children always and forever to be giving explanations” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, p6 ) .

I have to be more of a child.

Entry 2 : Looking with our Hearts

“If someone loves a flower, of which there is only one example among all the millions and millions of stars, that is enough to make him happy when he looks up at the night sky. He says to himself: “Somewhere out there is my flower.” But if a sheep eats the flower, it’s as though all the stars have suddenly gone out! But I suppose that, too, is of no importance!”(Antoine de Saint-Exupery, p 27)

I am often guilty of not loving with all my heart. At times, the selfish side wins over the better side of myself. I forget what is more important as I rush through my days. Only lately, with my newborn baby, have I discovered this love again. I realized the things that are more important in my life.

My family and friends are important to me. However, I have been taking them for granted. Work and daily tasks had seemed to overtake all that I truly love. I’d forgotten about my passion. As a teenager, I was an active community volunteer. It made me happy. Now, I suppose, this passion had taken a step back. It is sad, when our priorities have changed.

Life has to be simple as stated, “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” (Confucius) If only we could see the beauty in the flower like how the prince had loved it.
If each one of us cared enough for the things that are truly important, this whole place would be different.

There would not be any concern for a dying planet. Children would not be abused. Hunger and poverty would be minimized. Humanitarian activities would be everybody’s job. Then we would be like the prince, “ . . .his loyalty to a flower, to the image of a rose, which shines inside him like the flame of a lamp . . .” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, p 77)

I have to love the simple things in life.

Entry 3: Time and Friendship

“One only ever understands what one tames. People no longer have the time to understand anything. They buy everything ready-made from the shops. But there is no shop where friends can be bought, so people no longer have friends.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, p 69)

This insight truly stood out for me. Friendship had been important as I was growing up. My friends were the ones I laughed with and confided in. I used to spend a lot of time with them. They were the ones who were always there by my side and were the ones who kept me warm on cold days that life has granted me.

I came from what most would say, a dysfunctional family. My father had two wives. My mother blamed us, her children, for her misery and arguments were a norm in my daily routine. It was then that friendship warmed me. It was also then I spent most of my time with friends.

It is disappointing that now I have to even check my schedule to meet up with those friends of mine. Talking about investing time on friendship? Perhaps, like what was mentioned by the fox, I no longer have friends.

I have to hope. . .