SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

It was almost a tradition for them to return with their husbands and children to the same little apartment house on a slight rise above the sea, where in the evenings they breathed in the scent of the pine trees and listened to the waves of the sea and the distant laughter of the tourists.

Their days were peaceful and full of simple joys. Mornings were spent on the beach, where the children ran along the shore, picking up pebbles and building sand towers that the sea kept knocking down. Afternoons were devoted to sunbathing, rest and long conversations that there was never time for at home. And as the sun began to turn the sky orange, Durđica prepared for her favourite part of the day - an evening walk into town.

Pakostane has always been full of life. Souvenir sellers were showing off handmade bracelets, the smell of baking pancakes and popcorn mingled with the sea air, children played on interactive games while their parents waited nearby, occasionally watching them anxiously or laughing casually. Durđica always walked her children to the games first, and then they chose something sweet - a sugar foam, ice cream or a colourful helium balloon.

One evening, there was a particularly long queue for the sugar foam on the seafront. The air was warm, the smell of freshly grilled fish was in the distance and people gathered around the stalls as if everything was happening in a slow, pleasant rhythm. Even Durđica stood in line with her two children, eagerly deciding which flavour to choose this time. In front of them stood a boy, maybe seven or eight years old, wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon character on it and a slightly washed-out swimsuit. He was clutching a few coins, which he counted over and over again.

When it was finally his turn, he confidently held out his hand with the coins to the seller, but it was clear from the first glance that there wasn't enough money. The seller kindly but firmly told the boy that he was missing a few coins. The boy's face changed instantly. His eyes filled with tears and his lower lip quivered. He tried to wipe his eyes with his sleeve, but the tears just kept flowing. People in the queue looked at him, some with pity, others with embarrassment, but no one stepped forward.

But it is. Something in her heart awakened - perhaps a childhood memory, perhaps the simple thought that every child deserves a sugar foam. Without thinking long, she leaned towards the shop assistant and said, »Please add another foam. I'll pay.«

The boy looked up. »Really?« he whispered, as if he was afraid to believe it. The girl smiled kindly at him, »Of course. And you know what? Pick another balloon - the one you like best.«

The boy looked at the balloon stands. At that moment, his shoulders straightened and his eyes lit up. »That one!« he said, pointing to a large red helium balloon in the shape of an engine, almost bigger than him.

The seller tied the balloon around his wrist, and the boy cried out loud for the first time - but this time with happiness. The balloon rose slightly, and the boy held it as tightly as if it were the world's greatest treasure. »Thank you... Auntie...« he barely squeezed out. His voice trembled, but this time with joy.

She put her hand on his shoulder, »You're welcome, little one. Enjoy.«

A few minutes later, his parents came running to the stand. They were worried because their son had disappeared from their sight. As the boy excitedly told them what had happened, the parents turned to Durđica, who was standing a little in the background. The mother approached her first; with a smile and warmth in her eyes, »Thank you, really... Thank you so much. You have made his evening. And us too.«

And so, that evening, something was born that lives on today: friendship. They met, talked, exchanged contacts, and spent almost every evening for the next few days. Children played, parents chatted. One moment of kindness built a bridge between two families who would never have met otherwise.

Later that evening, as Durđica sat outside her apartment and listened to the sound of the waves, she thought how small her gesture really was. A few euros. One sugar foam. One balloon that had created so much: a smile, a memory and a new friendship.

And then she realised something important: Helping your fellow man is like a pebble thrown into the sea. It may be tiny, but it creates ripples that spread far beyond - into hearts, into relationships, into the future. That night, she knew she had done something good. But she got more than she expected: proof that kindness always finds a way back. Yes people need each other. And that the world becomes a better place every time someone does something kind - not because they have to, but because they can.

Zala Krupljan, 19. 11. 2025