and we think we have problems?

i was in Pekanbaru about two weeks ago, my supposed hometown which i barely knew, having left the place when i was a mere child. we were having breakfast at one of my parents' favourite noodle shop where i saw a young boy of about twelve or thirteen serving us noodles. he had one of the most pleasant and sincere smiles i have seen in a long time. and despite being bossed around by the more senior servers, he continued working with a slight skip, optimism shown on his innocent little face. that's one cute boy, i told my mom. as usual, my dad knew everyone in the shop. he asked one of the old-time servers about the young naughty boy who used to work in the shop and was told that he had gone off to set his own little shop. good lad! said my dad. i knew he had it in him. my dad always had a soft spot of young little rebels like that. sort of reminded him of his young self. i guess you sort of live vicariously through other boys like that when you have three daughters. anyway, back to the little boy. the server told us that this boy came from one of the villages at selat panjang, "one of the neighbouring boys" he said. mom said that it's common practice for children in those villages to start working at an early age, without much schooling. it's a tough life for them in there, said mom. and yet, when you look at him, there seems to be little grudge or pain written on his face, unlike us city folks who moan and groan about our hard day's at work or that bitchy boss or colleague or client we have to face. come on. who has got a bigger problem? at least we've all had our education. our salaries are enough not only to sustain our basic needs, but also to satisfy our whims and fancies. and boys like him? they can barely make ends meet, and even have to send money back home for their parents and siblings. there are so many people like him, and they are closer to home than we think. so whenever i start moaning and groaning about the problems i have, i look back and think of that boy, and in an instant, my apparent problems become miniscule, and i start reminding myself again of how blessed and lucky i am.