Saturday, April 07, 2007
Imagine, upon home, you simply said, "I'm home."
Your mum, or whoever at home, smiled and probed, "How's your day?"
I rather get envious whenever I see such scenes in Korean and Japanese drama, and event the American series. Yet, I believe most local children, upon home from school, even before they say, "Hi", they are 'greeted' with, "How much you got for your spelling (tests/exams)?" or "How much (classmates) get?" It seems to be undeniable phenomenon since perhaps our generation. Sometimes, ridiculously, when the child returned from work or school, the parents made this 'random' comment, "Why are you home so early (late)? You sure to go out later." It is your fault for being home late AND still your fault for being early.
I believe that what a child often looks for are acknowledgment, encouragement and appreciation.
When a child makes a one-mark improvement in exams, he hopes that his parents will acknowledge the improvement, encourage that he will definitely be able to achieve better with his capability and, with a bit of luck, appreciation for his effort. Something simple --- his favourite dish, ice-cream, snacks or even stickers. Anything that he can regard as a sign of appreciation, encouragement and acknowledgment. Anything, but, "Can't you do better?", "Even (whoever) did better than you" or "What kind of result is this?" and so on... ...
Another fault.
When your sibling(s) is(are) home late, you are blamed for meeting up your 'long-time-no-see' friends the next day. Anyone to enlighten me on the correlation?
More often than not, the stingy-ness in making positive comments affect the mood of not only yourself but the ones around you as well. Try this. Greet your family members, "Good morning!" and see what their reactions will be.
When you are greeted, "Good morning" by the bus drivers, what do you do?
Is it their responsibility to be polite to you to this extent? Is it ever a responsibility? Is being polite ever a burden?
I do find people's life melancholy when I board the public transports (bus, trains) in the morning and all I see are people with the same 'dread' expression. For once, I thought that was so unanimously imprinted. They make life looks really monotonous, even though they are the ones who are likely to say, "We live in a fast-paced society."
Fast-paced = monotonous = dread. Figure that out.
Life has to be more that that, even daily routine that majority of us face. Taking an-hour bus journey to school, I have the habit of tunning in to the FMs. The DJs are ever so lively to put a smile on my face, sometimes giggles. But I guess the preparation starts earlier. Before leaving my house, I will check that everything on me is in place, smile, make it a point that whoever at home knows that I am leaving and goodbye. Seeing neighbours who you know, you greet. If not well-acquainted, at least smile.
It's all these little things we do that affects our day and people around us.
What goes around comes around.
It's that simple.
Habits start young.
Setting the culture is so important.
Notes taken.
