Ask any woman and she will say that chocolate brings her happiness. Ask any man, and he will say, happiness is a rising bank balance. Ask your child and happiness is freedom from school. Is ignorance really bliss? It is no coincidence that the happiest people around tend to be those untethered by responsibility. They are usually the young, and most often it is those lost in a world of their own imagination.
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Once I had some furniture delivered to my home in India. In the state of Kerala, I was informed, there are union workers who made it their prerogative to unload any truck that passes the junction where they sit drinking tea, and smoking cigarettes the whole day. Ten hefty men outside my home came forward and asked for Rs 2000 to unload my furniture. It was a ridiculously high amount for a few pieces. Was I happy? No. The truck people were asked to step aside and the Union stepped in. No one could argue with them. So haggling was the only way around things and we all agreed on Rs 1000. Were they happy? Sure! They got a huge amount of money for doing almost nothing. The unfairness of it all made my blood boil and happiness almost went out the window. But then I was given another perspective. The Union’s forceful way of unloading trucks secured their bread and butter. You just have to give in and be pleasant. In the end it works for everyone.
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Women all over have such an enormous responsibility on their shoulders to keep the home peaceful, keep their men happy, and their children in good standing. As mothers, we teach our children to treat every human soul with respect and regard the human race with dignity. If our children are abusive to strangers, to animals, or disfigure public places and properties, it really reflects back on the parenting they received from us. And invariably our children always look up to us to be an example to them. Recently two men in their business suits abused a cashier at a money exchange, and I was furious at their crude behaviour. I didn’t have the gumption to stand up for the simple cashier. But now I wish I had.
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A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to see young men and women from the UAE wearing “ I love UAE’ tees and walking up and down the Champs Elysees. I wanted to greet them saying, “hey, I’m from Abu Dhabi too”. I was tickled pink to see them eating shawarma, and suddenly I felt a connection.
By Marien Oomen
