Stop complaining and be more grateful

I was in the taxi with my friends on the way to mall ambasador last night when I saw an old hunchbacked lady sweeping the street. I said to my friend "oh poor lady". Then he told me a story. Once he was somewhere in Jakarta seeing an old lady collecting plastic bottles and glasses. He asked her the price of plastic bottles per kilogram, and the lady said Rp. 2000/kg. My friend asked her again how many day she needs to collect one kilogram of plastic, and she said 2-3 days. The answer surprised my friend, because a lady could live up until now with an income only Rp. 2000 per 3 days! My friend again told me that the lady was cheerful and she still feel that she's blessed by saying that sometimes the owner of warung tegal before closing their stall provide her with food. She herself has a family, but she does not want to burden them therefore she prefers to work.


The story strikes me on the head and stab me on my heart. Couple of days ago, I had a great meal on one of 5 stars hotel in Jakarta. It was indeed satisfactory yet pricy. After hearing the story, I suddenly calculated that the money I spent on my luxurious lunch could support the lady for months!I feel guilty.


I feel guilty not for my passion on food, but for my ignorance upon those who are suffering. I feel guilty not for my dream in having a glorious life, but for my complaints upon -not so bad- misery in my life.


Hearing the story will not make me stop from my passion on food neither stop me on dreaming about having a glorious life and fighting for it. But, as my friend write on his ym status for couple of days, maybe me, you, us, could start to stop complaining and be more grateful for our life.