When Elizabeth was in elementary school, there was a girl in her class who admired her. Here we are going to talk about the girl's mother, whom I'll call Abby. I will compare her to Hailey, my present neighbour.
Both Abby and Hailey come from well-to-do families. Abby's father founded a successful building supplies store while Hailey's father used to run a railway supplies center. Years ago, before automatic promotion, students who failed the Grade 9 public examination could not continue in the public schools. Both Abby and Hailey failed their Grade 9 exam. Both went on to attend Accounts courses and ended up working in the Accounts Departments of their fathers' businesses.
Abby became a Christian and married a good looking but rather poor husband. Hailey adopted a Buddhist faith with a living founder. She too picked a poor husband who happened to come from across the sea. Both Abby and Hailey have siblings who have more than one degree. Both found it difficult to get along with their respective mothers and siblings once their father passed on.
At this point the similarities ended. Hailey has a very positive attitude to life and she has made many good friends wherever she goes. Abby has a tendency to be needy and drains whoever who befriends her. When I was living within walking distance to Abby many years ago, I used to dread walking past her house. Once I was standing at her gate talking to her, it was difficult to detach and leave.
I haven't met Abby's daughter for years. From her Face book account, my daughter said that she was still running after her illusive idols. It is significant that Hailey who has accepted her lot in life has a daughter who is self-assured and is rather popular among the children of her parents' Buddhist friends.
From the comparison I see that it is not what past we have that determines our future. But rather how we accept it, make use of all we have to the best of our ability and continue to look at the positive that matters in the long run.
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