Hadapi Dengan Senyuman

Yesterday's NST features Mariah Lika, whose life reflects the typical lives of the people in the Jakun (Orang Asli) community in Rompin, Pahang.

She has 5 children, 4 of which are still in school. Her home is simply made from old planks and roofed with zinc sheets. Her husband's monthly income is only RM350. Their entertainment comes from only a small screen tv which operates on a generator, which also lights up their humble house. Her 23 year old eldest son who did not do well in school earns RM400 per month (much of which he gives to his family), working as a rattan gatherer. He aspires to help his family for the sake of his younger siblings in hope that they will be better of than him and their parents.

Despite their difficult life, Mariah is determined to give her children the much needed education, and when asked whether she has anything to complain, she merely giggled and told the NST reporter, "Tak adala hidup susah. Biasa je ni."

Many of us I believe (including especially me) complain to even the most trivial matters. One wise man once said, hidup ni seperti sebuah lanskap. In my own interpretation, bila kita berada dalm lingkungan lanskap tu, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the river, the flower always seems prettier at other landscapes. We fail to recognise the very own landscape we're in. Cuma bila kita keluar dari lanskap tu dan melihat keindahannya dari kejauhan, only then we'd learn to appreciate the beauty of the landscape we have.

"Tak adala hidup susah. Biasa je ni." Suatu anekdot yang mudah, tetapi amat menginsafkan.