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5 Reasons Why We Singaporeans Should Pause And Count Our Blessings

This article was originally on GET.com at: 5 Reasons Why We Singaporeans Should Pause And Count Our Blessings

Being good at complaining is essentially what most, if not all, Singaporeans are capable of. From the scorching weather outside to how crowded the MRT train is, many of us have much dissatisfaction to air all day, everyday. Also, it doesn't help when we're all so caught up with the daily demands of life stemming from work, school, and family and an increasingly competitive society.

Besides striving for the much-needed work-life balance to help us remain sane, perhaps all of us could take a breather to reflect and calm ourselves down. Here, we at GET.com share with you 5 reasons why Singaporeans should pause and count our blessings.

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5 Reasons Why We Singaporeans Should Pause And Count Our Blessings

1. We Have Our Loved Ones Close To Us, Literally

Unlike people in other many nations who have to leave their homes and families to look for gainful employment in other cities or countries, Singapore's small size means that we can work in any part of the country and still return home to our loved ones after a long day outside. Since our economy is doing well, it is possible to find a job or run a business here at home, so we don't have to emigrate to some country thousands of miles from home in order to survive.

I don't know about you but I can't count the number of times my family has been my pillar of support that has provided me with love and comfort despite all my shortcomings. That's something I'm very grateful for. After all, love and acceptance are some of the best things in life that money cannot buy, ever.

Do you always look forward to going back home whether or not you've had a dreary day outside?

For me, home is where I feel most loved and most at ease because I get to spend time with my parents and older brother, catch up on my favourite TV programmes and books, and lounge around the house wearing a ghostly-looking facial mask, without having to worry about anyone judging me.

2. We Have More Than We Think We Have

Many of us are more privileged than we think we are; we have access to the glorious internet, clean potable water running from the tap, education, HDB flats, HDB grants, condos, healthcare, cars, yearly overseas vacations, jumbo childcare centres, Chanel bags, atas restaurants and so on.

But of course, not everything is as perfect and idyllic as we would like it to be, but that's the same for other countries. Everywhere in the world, both good and bad policies prevail. At the very least, we get to enjoy social order and head out there at midnight for supper without having to worry that somebody is going to rob us, right?

Also, who can forget our invincible little red passport that takes us to many destinations around the world sans visas?

Sure, some countries like Australia and Myanmar require Singaporeans to apply for visas (and here are 8 countries that Singaporeans require visas to enter but probably don't know). But compared to citizens of almost every other Asian country, travelling really is a breeze for us.

3. We Have Opportunities

Singaporeans are blessed in that we are given opportunities to equip ourselves with skills, education and the chances to develop, achieve, excel, lead and nurture.

Although it is always better and easier to be rich than poor, we can't deny the fact that every Singaporean gets to go to school regardless of race, language, religion and (most importantly) wealth, just like what our national pledge proclaims. In many (if not most) of the world's countries, money still has a lot to do with your educational opportunities.

Singapore is largely meritocratic, so success really boils down to our own discipline, merit, and perhaps a dash of luck and a few good connections. Having the right mindset to create chances for ourselves and always better ourselves no matter how old we are plays a part, too.

Yes, not every kid has to attend the most expensive preschools, enrol in endless tuition classes and enrichment classes in order to do well in school.

If anything, many of my peers and I from middle income families didn't have any of the above-mentioned input and we still turned out pretty okay. We are armed with degrees from local universities and are earning a living now.

4. We Are Lucky To Be Shielded From Many Natural Calamities

What else can I say but we're indeed really very fortunate to be free from natural disasters like massive floods, shattering earthquakes, frost bitingly cold blizzards, raging tornadoes, spewing volcanic eruptions and so on.

In case you don't already know, we are considerably safe from destructive seismic activities because Singapore isn't located on or near any major active geological fault lines.

Additionally, I reckon all of us should be thankful that Singapore is not in a war-torn state. We have to give thanks to those in service and the government who've always sought to constantly maintain and enhance diplomatic ties with other nations big or small, developed or developing, agree?

5. Children Are Not Left Behind In Singapore

Unlike the 100 million left-behind kids in rural China as reported in the news, little kids aren't left in the lurch here in Singapore.

It was underscored in a Straits Times report in May this year, the left-behind children in rural China often live in abject poverty under the care of their grandparents as their parents seek work in China's cities. Getting an education is difficult for many of these children, regardless of China's enforcement of 9 year compulsory education.

Here in Singapore, the Ministry of Education pushed for Compulsory Education in 2003 where under the Compulsory Education Act, a child between the age of 6 and 15 has to attend a national school as a student on a regular basis unless he or she has been formally exempted on the basis of being a child with special needs; a child attending a designated school; or a child who's home-schooled. Failure to comply will result in penalties meted out for the child's parent or guardian.

And since we've briefly mentioned about special needs kids, are you aware that more children have been diagnosed with developmental problems in recent years? It's comforting to know that if you have a child with special needs, they will not be left to fend entirely for themselves when you are no longer around to care for them.

Here are 5 programmes with financial subsidies for special needs kids that might come in handy for someone you know. Also, here are the top 3 things our government can do to help special needs kids in Singapore besides shining the spotlight on this group of people in our community in newspapers.

Additionally, parents might want to check out the various child care and infant care subsidies available for them that will help defray a fraction of the cost of raising a child so that your financial burden is lessened. These subsidies are really helpful, since everyone knows how costly raising a kid can be in Singapore.

What do you think? Share your comments with us below!

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