not just looking up

my parents might not be the smartest ones in terms of educational transcripts or the riches but they are rich in love, morals, life skills. i'm going to talk about the life skills part. this is the part where your parents teach you to overcome challenges and obstacles. they include, break-ups, failures, rejection and what not.

when i was young and naive i always get jealous of friends having better GameBoys and toys than me and what not. i wasn't aware that my parents cannot afford all of them and that they have been providing me with whatever they can afford. it was then when they tell me that i shouldn't always compare myself with those people happier or those having better lives than me. at times, i should pause and look at those who are less fortunate. as a kid, i felt this was a stupid excuse to write me off and through the years of schooling i realised the sense in the advice they gave more than a decade ago. therefore, i'm here to share in hope of helping some of you when you feel small.

before that let's talk a little about the human nature of looking to those doing better than you. in school, we tend to look up to those smart people who get consistent good grades. in work, we tend to admire those who are rich and need not worry much about daily expenses. well, doing these aren't bad for look to them at least you have an aim and target.. something to get yourself working hard to strive for higher grounds.

that aside, why should we look the other direction as well? think about those who doesn't have internet to read this post. think about those who struggle to get food on the table daily. think about those who isn't experiencing the security you are experiencing now. then you will realise how rich you actually are. wealth is not measured by money. that is why i am now really thankful for the advice my parents told be years ago.

let's be a little cliche and end off this post with a thought provoking quote pertaining to this issue. the quote is from a legendary French football player..

"i once cried because i had no shoes to play football with my friends, but one day i saw a man who had no feet, and i realised how rich i am"
~ Zinedane Zidane