I have been very amused by attitudes of various people surrounding me.Still am though now I know that I am also one of those who can be easily misunderstood (really?!!) as having an attitude.
The dictionary definition of Attitude - position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action or emotion..Which means we all do have an attitude towards everything happening around us, towards all people we interact with. But is now synonymous with having "airs" about things,being snooty.
Oh! the different attitudes I come across on a daily basis. "We drive a Benz ( implying yours is inferior) I have OCD .I cannot bear to see a thing out of place.( three maids slogging to maintain the household when madam chats on the phone.) I have an allergy for anything synthetic. I can only wear pure silks or cotton." Yes,I'd love it too though I really cannot afford to have allergies! I also observe that all these attitudes come when there is affluence. I have never seen people who keep an immaculate household in an one bed room tenement, boasting of their OCD though they have the same rights as the ones who do.
And there are the "boss"s wives.I remember one of my friends, who herself was a boss"s wife, commenting "We have a Managing Director but no Mrs.Managing Director"! I was specifically requested to entertain my " boss's" wife, play some " games" with her at the club and lose by a few points always! Oh NO, I could not do it.So remained a weed in her presence.Airs, airs,she made it clear that I was unwanted. But there could have been a general gosssip that I had an attitude ! I heard that some gossiped that I was friendly with only fair skinned people because of my friendship with an English woman who felt comfortable with me because of the ease with which I moved with her .She would kneel on the floor to talk to my little daughter. She insisted that she would sit on the floor and eat on a banana leaf during a family function. She particularly liked when my kids called her "aunty".But my Indian "boss"s wife never let me feel comfortable enough to let my children call her "aunty"
And the modern timers -boys and girls .Putting on airs about their "self made" status .Forgetting or not bothering to acknowledge the sacrifices their middle class parents had to make, to bring them up without any complex that they are not on par with their peers. Yes, the affluence that the present generation has ,their parents could not dream of. There are no airs now, about driving fancy cars,not really because that is a way of life .My nephew once told me "We all drive Lexuses & BMWs. But when no one had cars, mama drove a Fiat and I used to brag about it to my friends in school"Everything was hard earned,we had to slowly build up resources to achieve our dream projects.And through those struggles,children were brought up ,giving them all the necessary equipment to provide them the necessities and luxuries later in life .Many youngsters do not understand the hardships their elders faced.To repay loans,mortgage,save for the daughter's marriage,for the son's education, their own basic needs .They remember all that their elders could not give-fancy gadgets, heavy pocket money,grand holidays.I remember a cousin telling me "I want to give my daughter the best.When we went to movies our parents thought too much about buying us even pop corn.I'll take her to a posh restaurant after movies" I could then only remember my uncle doing two jobs,leaving at 6 AM to return at 11 PM daily, carrying lunch and always eating cold dinner.Just so that his kids could eat well,dress well,get educated. Did my cousin not remember?Or now too high up in life( where uncle placed him) to have no regard for what his father did for him? Now when they own a posh apartment,drive around in the cars of their choice,go abroad for holidays,the struggles of their parents to give them what they got,is totally forgotten.Attitude towards parents- what do you know? we are self made. This I think is the worst,unforgivable attitude.
I have my attitudes.I do not envy those who have more.What is more ?No one can take away the contentment I have had in my life.I walk with my head high about the way I have conducted myself, always fulfilled my duties to the best possible capacity .When one or two out there put on airs about their superior status, I am not really convinced.My life with all the ups and downs ,has been mine only.Today ,I am what I am because of all the people I came across in my journey so far.My life has been fruitful because of the experiences .I have been shaped by love,jealousy,apathy,kindness, sadness, care.All sorts of emotions have made me understand other people better.So I am snooty.I am superior in my outlook on life. .I do have an ATTITUDE!
