Who Are We to Judge

Hi there

Believe it or not, this was the meal I had for our last gathering before the Circuit Breaker of which one of the measures was no more dine in but only takeaways. This is a big blow for many businesses in the F&B industry whose main source of revenue is from dine in customers. I've walked around malls to run errands during this first week of the circuit breaker and it's quite a sad state, almost like a ghost town and pretty dark too so most non essential businesses are closed.

So in my previous post, I wrote about how I have been listening to podcast and this is done more during work because I still have to go to my office unless most people who work from home now because I don't have a laptop yet. So with my iPad, I can listen to an hour of podcast with little interruption. The recent one was an interview with a former local TV entertainer who has a reputation of being controversial because he is very outspoken about the other side of the TV industry as well as having a lifestyle not agreeable by most people especially within our own Malay community.

To be honest, it is easy to judge other fellow human beings. Most of us do it and we can either verbalise it or keep the thoughts to ourselves because basically, everyone has their own opinions or things to say. But I liked how the host was not being judgemental while on air and just let him share his viewpoints and give him space to talk. I am sure that they both have differing views from his shocked reactions like when the guest mentioned that he is making money from selling vape in Malaysia which is of course illegal in Singapore and talking about it nonchalantly.

Despite the differences, he still paint him in a good light. He admired him for his bravery to be outspoken on things that people would rather not talk about and standing up for other people who had faced the brunt of the society because of what they had done. He made it clear that he didn't think they were right but he gave them space to share their thoughts without being criticised through his youtube videos.

At some point, when age is catching up, we have regrets in life and some things can't be outdone but let the past be in the past. Instead we can start making amendments from now on even if we take it slow or one day at a time. I am no different either as we start to think about our priorities in life and caring less about other people's opinions. As for the guest, he also knows he can't change the past but through his son, he wishes to make life better and different from him. Im sure we all have our internal struggles because life isn't an easy journey for anyone of us even it seems that that person seems to have it all together. The truth is, people don't share everything.We are still prone to being vulnerable.

So honestly, who are we to judge. Sure we can offer our support when others are in need of it and hopefully, people can change for the better. Ultimately, it is not for us but for them. We can only be grateful for them if they choose to change. When asked for advice for the youth, he only had kind things to say such as the importance of filial piety towards towards their parents and to treasure their family members while they are still around, as he had his own regrets in his life. He had also gone through many life experiences such as tasting the most expensive caviar to having lived in a tent with only $2 in his pocket. So he knows what it's like to go through life at its highs and lows. So he definitely knows what he is saying.

On a personal note, one of the comments that I get at times recently is when people started to share about other people who have complications in having children because they married late, their married children still not having children yet or that they are worried for their unmarried child who is getting older by each year. And then suddenly they thought I took offence to what they said because I'm still unmarried at an age where most people already have with children too. Actually I don't. I just don't get their fixation on marriage and children. It's like we're living in modern times but people still have backwards thinking. Since we're still on the topic of being judgemental, my general hope is that people should be more open minded that people don't need to be in a route in life where most people take.

Perhaps also they wanted to and that for the moment, they haven't been blessed yet with a child or a life partner. We do not know what they go through in life. Some also choose to travel in roads less travelled because its their own life to lead. And then to belittle other people's mission in life to help others just because they're a divorcee. Why is that so. Honestly, people so free ah to talk and spread things because they're too free cooped up at home due to the Covid-19, lol.

Let's do some self reflection, me included and focus all the energies towards our own self development such as to be a better individual to ourselves and towards others. See how  unpredictable life is right now. You should be happy if you get to live another day and being healthy despite how crazy the situation is right now around the world. Be less judgmental and more responsible towards our health and well being for our sake, for our loved ones and for the general public too during this trying period.