A few days ago, hungry and temperamental, my family and I went to have lunch with relatives. The food place was crowded as usual. But for the sake of the family, I tolerated. These days I felt that I was stuck in a funk. Simply didn't feel right. When we were sitted, I noticed a family close to our table. A relatively young man, together with his siblings or children. Seriously, it was difficult to tell. But to me, it looked more like the eldest brother bringing his siblings out to eat. His siblings (a 9 year old sister and two 3 to 5 year old brothers) waited restless for their food while feasting their eyes on the big menu displays. Later on, I watched from the corner of my eyes, them eating chicken rice. The responsible sister carefully tucked her younger brothers into their chairs, prepared their meals and cautiously feed her brothers with a silver spoon. Graciously, the spoon moved to and fro from the rice to her brothers' mouth a few times before finally reaching her mouth. It was such a touching and nostalgic sight. Why? Because that sister reminded me of myself when I was her age. Her actions seem to mirror that of mine in my younger years. I could still remember the times when I would change my sister's smelly pampers, feed my brother, sing my sister to sleep, hold my brother's hand protectively as we cross the road... The memories were simply too much. Such a sight of unconditional love and care may appear to be seldom but they do exist.
Soon after, we left and went window shopping. While waiting for my mum and aunts outside a store, a young man who really looked like he could be in secondary school or my age even, caught my attention. He was working as a cleaner in the shopping mall. He looked like such a decent fellow. But what caught my eye was he had a forlorn look on his face that I couldn't help but feel for him too. The way others looked at him and treated him was distinct. Maybe because of his line of work. But why should people be treated differently merely because he's doing honest work? Why are there stigmas associated to certain line of duties and occupations? In this world, there are no small jobs but only small people.
I suppose that is the way humans are. To look down on people labelled as 'lowly' just because...Because society says(or dictates) what is right, wrong, acceptable,unorthodox, weird and etc. Ergo, humans being weak, foolish and easily influenced, conform to the rules stated by society.
Back to the story..The young man continued his work. The forlorn look still on his face. There and then, I whispered a prayer, hoping that somehow life will be better for him and that he'll be happy or happier.
After that incident, I reflected upon everything...I am just grateful and happy to be given a loving family, to be given a chance to love them and be loved by them, to have good friends who are still friends with me even after being exposed to my eccentric ways and thoughts, to have a strong roof over my head, to have clean water and healthy(questionable considering the kinds of sinfully delicious healthy and unhealthy food in Singapore) food, to be able to keep my faith close to heart. The list is simply too long. The Almighty keeps giving me blessing after blessing that it seems countless now. There are good times and bad times when sometimes all you can say is Alhamdullilah. That was the time....And I was out of my funk. I felt right. I felt hopeful. I felt happy. I felt the peace within. Wait, I should really change the 'felt' to 'feel'. I truly feel right, feel hopeful, feel happy, feel the peace within even up to this moment.
And all of a sudden, the world didn't seem that vicious anymore...
~Salam~
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