But with all that's happening around us I just think it's a bit inappropriate. I often ponder as to the pure luck in life that many of us have by just being born in a place that is stable and not scarred by war, conflict, extreme poverty and all such like ills that others live with from their very first days.
I can show empathy and sympathy for others and do whatever small things I can to try to help in any small way that I can but I am aware that I can never really understand what other people just like me really go through just to get through another ordinary day. I have often explained how blessed I feel that I am by being able to be living and working here in Dubai among a people and culture that otherwise I would not have the privilege of experiencing.
I have always been welcomed and embraced in all areas of my life here, I have never had to compromise my personality or think twice about any subject that I want to get into with my friends and colleagues be it religion, politics or social opinion. And through this approach I have learned so much stuff through healthy discussion. One thing I am left with is that fundamentally good people are all the same, we just want to enjoy who we are with like-minded people, live our lives and build whatever future we aspire towards.
Watching the news every day for the past couple of weeks has been really harrowing. The scary thing is that we never seem to have a day where ordinary people just like us are not suffering from some sort of atrocity based on ideology, money or political extremes. The latest situation in the region is just another horrific episode where at the end of the day, it's just the ordinary people who are suffering.
This is really brought home to me because I observe the impact that these events have on people close to me … suddenly the pain becomes very real. I am left wondering what I can do personally and sadly I come to the conclusion that it's not very much.
I can attend the demonstrations to show my support, I can pledge money and possessions that I hope will help somebody somewhere but beyond that, I feel kind of powerless. Sometimes it just comes down to deciding if very simplistically something is just right or wrong… and so much of what happens is just wrong.
It's so easy to be glib about our lives and I am the worst example of it in many ways. I often spend my time writing about my life and how lucky I am to enjoy my days that are full of the challenges of a highly enjoyable career, which allows me some financial freedom, and the ability to have a rewarding social existence.
What I become increasingly aware of is that there are lots of people who surround us who are away from their families, often their children, working very hard for very little reward. There are many people out there, and I am counting some esteemed colleagues in that number, who take the time to gather support for those less fortunate for no personal gain, to bring some sunshine to others.
I salute all of you, your example will make me more active in this area in the future, and I urge all of you to spare a thought and a dime to make the world a better place.
We might not be able to make a big difference but we can all do the best we can.
One Love
