Are you happy?

“Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.” ― Dalai Lama

COMMENT

I went to the bank yesterday to settle some financial matters. There was quite a crowd there. Most were elderly. Realising that there were 12 or more people ahead of me, I sat down quietly in a corner.

As I chuckled away while entertaining myself with 9gag on my handphone, I overheard an “uncle” two rows away, harshly explaining the banking procedure to be followed to his (I presume) wife.

“You just go there, give him this slip, that slip and the two books with your IC. Tell him you want to take out RM500 from this account and deposit RM200 into that account.”

“Which book to withdraw and which one to deposit?” asked the aunty.

“Withdraw from that book lah! You think this book got money to withdraw ah?”

The aunty scratched her head, “So I just give these two papers and these two books, is it?”

“Yes! Can remember or not?”

Embarrassed, the aunty looked around the waiting area through the corner of her eyes. Her embarrassment only grew as she realised that most eyes were on them.

A moment later, the sixty-something-year-old aunty rushed to the counter, alone. As she pressed her thumb on the ink pad, the uncle decided to join her.

“What’s taking so long?”

“I’m just getting my thumb print…,” she explained.

“Ok ok just do. Just do. Be quick!” he urged while glancing at his watch. “Remember. Withdraw RM500, deposit RM200.”

“I know…”

“I know, I know….tell you ten times only then you know!” the uncle’s voice grabbed everyone’s attention once again.

Hanging her head low, the aunty quietly took her bank notes, account books and receipts and walked out behind her husband. Her face showed no emotion whatsoever but it spoke a thousand words.

Somehow watching the elderly couple made me feel sad.

How could two people, who decided to share their lives together, end up this way? Why was there so much anger and frustration directed towards their other half?

How could being together all these years fail to bring about better understanding, respect and trust? Why the need to taint the sacred relationship they shared by making their partner feel less worthy?

Sadly, this isn’t an uncommon scenario these days. I have witnessed many similar, pointless arguments out in public. Nothing is gained except embarrassment and heartache to both parties. Lately, it seems to be affecting more and more couples, irrespective of their ages.

Why?

Could it be the result of the challenges couples face in the environment we live in today?

Could it be the struggle to survive through our economic meltdown?

What I clearly sense is that many of us are getting depressed and easily irritated these days. It is so evident by the way people behave – on the road, at the mall, at the workplace, school – pretty much everywhere!

Looks like the quality of life is decreasing by the day. People are just unhappy. And no one is doing anything about it.