Bearings

A week back or so I stumbled and found a handphone on the bus while on my way to the gym.

Upon inspection the phone was pink in color, and had a baby photo as its wallpaper.

I reckon it was some new mummy who accidentally left her phone while she was trying to alight.

Of course I returned it to her after my gym session. I just need to wait for the phone-call via the frantic mummy, and indeed she was.

I calmly liaise with her a meeting point, and passed the phone to her afterward, much to her delight, with her baby in tow.

I’m not trying to blow my own trumpet here, but if it was the younger me who found the phone I admit I wouldn’t have returned it.

I must confess I’m not too proud of myself when I was a kid.

I stole, I trespassed, I fought, I vandalized, I basically create havoc with my bunch of similar troubled friends wherever we went on our stolen bicycles.

But with time, comes the Hard Knock of Life and the life-long lessons it entails.

Time also weeds out friends from foe, and the just-friends to really-genuine-friends.

For many of us, our moral compass very much depends on who we hang out with, and so far my bearings have improved over the years as I got to know some great people who are my closest confidant now.

Also National Service is a great turning point for so many youth, who became adults as they passed-out. Burden with new found responsibilities and discipline, I’ve to admit the two years plus spent there was well worth it … of sorts.

So kids get your bearings right, and parents, know who your kids are hanging out with. Providing a roof over their heads and meals are not enough, get involve in their life.