On my recent visit to Kenya, the place that I loved the most was without a doubt the Masai Mara. Despite all the exciting and adrenaline-rushing scenes I witnessed there, one stood out like a sore thumb. One that, to my surprise, no one else seemed to give a second thought to.

During our entire stay, the Masai people there caught my attention. You may think that this wouldn’t be unusual considering their ostentatious attire, but it wasn’t that. It was their smile. The same smile reached their eyes and lit up their entire face. The same smile that compelled the grumpiest of people to smile back at them. This same smile had me wondering: one can’t even begin to fathom all the struggles that these people have endured; all the problems that come knocking at their doorstep. We wouldn’t know because they disguise it so well. We wouldn’t know, because it is under all the layers of beautiful smiles that you see their inner spirit. But they can’t afford to let their guard down. Can't afford to display their vulnerability to the world. It impresses me how well they manage to deliver a festive and jubilant facade.

Upon thoroughly reflecting, a very shameful thought dawned on me. How we blow things out of proportion and end up upsetting them. How we stress about the most trivial things and ruin our entire day. It is in those times of distress that I remind myself of strong individuals like the Masai, who continue to stay happy even when life gives them a thousand reasons not to.