Testimony of life in Singapore - part 3

 I advised my kids decades ago, never try to go for those whatever star, or scholarships and get tied down eventually in jobs they do not like, while serving their bonds.

Thankfully, my kids knew their limitations, found their niche, and like what they are doing today. My eldest son graduated with a life science (toilet paper) degree, a practically useless piece of paper, suitable probably for a teaching job only, which I realistically advised him to go into, but he went into the insurance sector instead, and by upgrading himself, is now doing reasonably well as a financial adviser. At 42 years with two kids himself, he is still hitting the books to upgrade.

My younger son, a rebellious kid, dropped out of NTU after enrolling in an engineering course, something he later found to his potent dislike. My wife and me were devastated, learning he had dropped out of his course. He landed his first job as a croupier at Resorts World Sentosa, and managed to secure a marketing diploma and a marketing degree, all financed by Resorts World Sentosa, with deep gratitude to his employer by me and my wife. He is still at his job in marketing, now doing relatively well in his position after promotion, after almost 15 years with the Resort. He loved his job and that is what is important.

Both my kids, unlike me, are not rolling stones, and we always advise them that they should do what they love to do, and not just look at the extra monetary rewards just by changing jobs, which they may later dislike.

I was in a different situation though, changing five jobs, facing traumatic situations, just looking for a better reward to cope with cost of living in an evironment of low salaries. My kids are now earning reasonable salaries and do not need to follow my footsteps of job hopping. Moreover, with daughters in laws also working, they are surviving relatively comfortably, besides supporting us monetarily. Every cloud has a silver lining and likewise, every dog has its day.

I always remember the quotation by Will Rogers - 'Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people that they don't like'. And Thomas Jefferson's equally pertinent quote - 'Never spend your money before you earned it.' Watching today's young, I do not know whether Will Rogers or Thomas Jefferson were right or wrong for them to emulate, but certainly right for me to follow.

I earned a pittance in my days compared to today's young, but through thrift and good money management, easily financed and put my two kids through University (although the younger one was disappointing in his dropping out of his engineering course). Looking back, it was more a blessing in disguise, as he is doing probably better monetary wise than some engineers, and in a job that he distinctly loves.

Pity me if you like, I never even own a bicycle, not to talk of a car. Life is a matter of cutting your clothes according to your cloth. Living within your means is one recipe for being happy. Wealth does not equate to happiness. Possession only brings temporary happiness, and there are always subsequent new things coming out that always brings new desires to be fullfilled.

And always remember, we came into this world naked, and will leave equally naked. We can never take what we accumulated in this life along with us. When alive, we can only sleep in one bed as Arsene Wenger said, and can only eat so much, although the filthy rich can eat better food, but not necessarily healthier for their well being.

Anonymous