In a world often dominated by luxury and extravagance, a heartwarming story emerges from a simple slice of pizza and playful bubble balloons, reminding us all to cherish life’s simple pleasures.
A recent TikTok post by @coachaizat has captivated netizens worldwide, featuring a touching moment involving Serena, a Chinese student hailing from Shaanxi province.
The emotional pizza experience
The video, which has since gone viral, shows Serena in tears as she savours a slice of pizza, an act she describes as overwhelmingly delicious.
“It is so delicious,” said Serena in the video.
The emotional response to something as commonplace as a pizza slice struck a chord with viewers, highlighting the profound appreciation for what many consider trivial.
Aizat, the friend accompanying Serena, captioned the video with a poignant message, urging viewers to be grateful for what they have, as everyday things for some are special to others.
“Be grateful for what you have. What may be trivial to us could be special to someone else.”
Serena’s modest beginnings
Serena’s story is one of modest beginnings.
Despite owning an iPhone, a symbol of affluence to some, Serena’s upbringing in a modest family is revealed.
Coach Aizat, a close acquaintance, shares insights into her life, dispelling assumptions of extreme poverty but acknowledging a background far from luxurious.
Her family, he notes, seldom dined out, preferring local cuisine over Western or exotic options when they did. More than her dietary habits, Serena’s upbringing was marked by strict parenting and minimal social interactions.
Aizat’s insights on simplicity and gratitude
In conclusion, Aizat’s message is clear and resonant: gratitude and appreciation for what we have, no matter how small, should be a constant in our lives.
For what may seem insignificant to one, could be a source of immense joy and wonder to another.
“It doesn’t matter how small it is, there may be other people who consider it something big and special.”
How Aizat met Serena
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Aizat shared the story of how he met Serena.
“I met Serena because she joined my fitness class back in June. At first, it was very difficult to communicate because her English wasn’t good, and my Mandarin was even worse. Google Translate helped us a lot!
Despite that, she enjoyed the class and looked forward to it every week. During rest and after class, we would talk, and as the weeks went by, we became friends. I learned that she only attended my class once a week because she wanted to save money and never went outside of Tanjong Malim.
Her life was basically at home and in the university’s library. So, I made a personal promise to take her out someday and show her great places around.”
Learning compassion and self-improvement
When asked what he hopes people will learn from Serena’s story, Aizat emphasised compassion and self-improvement.
“I hope that people learn to be more compassionate towards each other, regardless of race, religion, and country. Show foreigners the beauty of our country and our hearts.
Another thing I’d like to add is to improve yourself day by day, bit by bit. One reason Serena said she was comfortable with me in our earlier classes was that I had some basic Mandarin, which I learned myself during the pandemic.”
A new perspective on life
Aizat also spoke about how his friendship with Serena has impacted his outlook on life.
“Being friends with her brings me joy and appreciation for one another. I never judge a person by their race or religion. I always look into their heart first, and Serena has a great heart despite her rough childhood.
If you see her in person today, she is a very positive, happy-go-lucky girl. You’d never have guessed she had a very rough childhood and teenage years; she even tried to take her life twice before.
Now, she says she has forgiven her parents and understands why they raised her that way. In short, she has made me have a more positive and compassionate outlook on life. Because of her, I also want to work even harder to earn enough money so that I can visit her hometown of Xi’an one day. Serena says she’s very excited for that day to come.”
Social media reaction
The response to Serena’s pizza-eating moment has been overwhelmingly emotional among netizens. Many viewers expressed their empathy and shared their own experiences in the comments section.
One comment read, “I totally understand the feeling. Back then, I never had the luxury of eating expensive food. Pizza and KFC were considered luxury foods in my days. Every time my friends asked to eat those, I would think about my family.”
Another person added, “Sis, please stop crying, because when you cry, I will cry too. I have been through it. I understand.”
A third commenter shared, “The best thing about this is treating people with food and watching them happily savor it. My god, it feels so satisfying.”
Serena’s story is a poignant reminder of the beauty in life’s simple pleasures, a lesson in gratitude and the value of appreciating every moment.
