Being Grateful

Over dinner, my friend did not pass the bread to me. She said, “You don’t eat bread, right?”

She was right and she was wrong at the same time. Yes, I tried to avoid eating plain bread because I did not find it healthy.

She was also wrong because I actually enjoyed eating bread. In fact, when I was young, my nickname was ‘Loh Ti Kia’ which to my friends meant ‘The Kid Who Loves Bread’.

I came from a very poor family. We ate rice as staple food because rice was and until today is still cheaper than bread. 

If I had the chance to eat bread, it was a luxury. So, I would savour every crumb of it 

Hence, my nickname.

I am better off than my friend who was a vegetarian. Why? Because his family was poorer than mine and they could not afford to eat meat.

Even when he could afford it, his body just could not get used to it. He was unable to enjoy consuming any form of meat – even if he wanted to.

My friend, please do not grumble over what you have lost, be grateful for what you have left.

Do not envy others for what they have, be grateful for what you have already been given.

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

Life is FUNtastic!

Question: How can we become more thankful and grateful about life?