My Cousins

i grew up in a big family & considered myself blessed to have a bunch of young cousins who have made my 'teen-hood' enjoyable. i stayed with some of them as my grandma is the caregiver after she retired in her 60s. She's one of those who are on my Admired List. Someone who could look after 6-7 granchildren at one go, without a maid...

Well, my cousins have all grown up quietly...i meet them occasionally at my grandma's place or at some special occasions. They grew so fast...my time seems to have come to a standstill where i thought they were still in their primary level. Now, some of them were already in their teens with some in the upper primary. The youngest ones I have are still at nursery level. Time really flies... ...

It was when i stopped work that i had the opportunity to really get to know some of them. When i was working, i had always wanted to take leave during the Jun hols to go outings with them...but was never able to due to work. But now, finally i had the chance & am thankful for it. i am indeed very happy to know that my cousins have grown up well, especially so for one of my cousins.

My mum told me one day about the converstation between my cousin & her parents over birthday presents. As her birthday falls during the exam period where everyone would be busy mugging for exams, her birthday would sort of be forgotten by her schoolmates & thus she'd receive no birthday gifts from them. Her parents felt that it wasn't fair for her as she has always given gifts to her friends on their birthdays but not the case when it's her turn and remarked that she was 'stupid' or rather simple-minded.

To her parents and my mum's surpise, she gave a reply which to me, was rather touching. How I wish I could have a daughter like her. She said that she had given the gifts to her friends willingly & even if her friends don't reciprocate, it's alright for her as it would be pointless if her she were to receive gifts that were not given with their hearts... ... How many of us would treat others the way we would like to treat them regardless of how they treat us in return?

Many of us grew up learning the 'practical' things in life. Everything should be fair even thou we all know that it is an impossible rule. Yet we still try to hang on to that believe. Sometimes we get blinded by our negative emotions that we react negatively, causing hurt to others, without realising that we get hurt ourselves by our own negative responses. Of course it's easier said than done but i suppose by making an effort to be more conscious of our feelings & our reactions may help to make us make a more conscious decision to our actions. Human egoes are just some things that i wish we were born with less of it. They thwart our perceptions at times.

A simple reply from my cousin had made us re-check our values in life. and what really matters.