Simple Details

In the eyes of a civilian the world swirls into a combination of the big things around him; the buildings, the large fields, fancy restraints and busy streets are just some of the common ones. However in peering through the eyes of a soldier you may see many different things. In that large building one might see a hiding spot for the enemy, or in that field a mound to pause behind, and in the streets memories of bombs exploding upon the innocent may flash by. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front, the author tries to convey a strong feeling that the citizens of the world take more for granted than they think they do.

It’s something we all know we do. It’s those things that you never realized that you possessed until they were gone; it’s the simple details that make up a large percentage of life that we as people tend to pass by without even a glance every day.

So once in a while a reminder is presented to cherish what you have because it may be gone tomorrow. Whether that reminder be in something tragic, like a death or a mere slip up. With that as human beings it is easy to think about what we have, but how long does that lesson really last? Is it ever a constant effort to maintain a connection to the realization of what you actually have? Sure, everyone can be thankful for their family, and home each day. The problem lies in understanding the importance of the little things. Because it is not the home that matters, it’s all the little details that go into making it your own, protected, haven to return to each day. The soldiers in the novel didn’t have something to recognize as their home and with that lacked a lot of the big things that are available to civilians. Therefore they took advantage, and found great enjoyment from the little things that were available to them but too little for the average person to realize they possessed.