Sometimes there is more to than meets the eye

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Over the last few weeks I have posted articles about kids abusing parents and dumping them in the old age home. However, a friend of mine made me see the other side of the story and his story really broke my heart. A few days ago whilst chatting to me he informed me that he never really had a good childhood and the only memories of his childhood is one of abuse.His mom and his siblings lived in fear of his dad. His dad would hit his mom black and blue in addition to cursing his kids. He was never there to encourage them at school. He would abuse them verbally.The only thing he did was lower their self esteem and made them feel inferior to other kids.. Very often his mom would be walking on the street with a broken nose. The biggest happiness he ever got was the day his mom decided to divorce his dad and walk away. Unfortunately years later his mom got ill and passed away. His dad is still alive and whilst I advised him to make peace he simply replied that he has tried on two occasions to set the relationship straight but the damage has already been done from his childhood days. In his eyes his dad is dead even though he is still alive.

The cycle of abuse continued when he got married believe it or not. His marriage was arranged by a religious scholar who knew the psychological history of the woman that he suggested he marries. In typical Indian fashion, this religious scholar pushed him to marry this woman in the hope that she will get better psychologically. However, due to her illness she was literally abusing him physically to the point where he landed up with internal bleeding. He remained in this relationship for four years until he decided that enough was enough. He divorced her and moved on. We always talk about women and the elderly being victims of abuse but his story really made me see things from a different perspective. Kids can grow up to hate their parents simply due to the abuse they have endured in their childhood years at the hands of their parents who should have been there as their guide and mentor in life and hence may be these same kids have no time for their parents in their old age and secondly men can also be victims of abuse not only women. I am proud of my friend though for rising above all the pain he faced during his childhood years. Today he is a successful businessman with an amazingly bright and bubbly personality. He has an aura of positivity and I applaud him for sharing his story with me.

RUDE BEHAVIOUR---DON'T MESS WITH ME!!!

( http://blue-skytransformation.com/WP/blog/2010/09/the-impact-of-rude-behavior-on-a-business/ - Picture)

So a few nights ago I had one of those "Do you know who my father is" type of patients.She was a a female in her late twenties and was more plastic than real if I might add..The type with tattooed eyebrows, botox lips, enhanced cheek bones and lets not forget the evident boob job. A friend of mine once said that plastic women would not decompose after death 

as their bodies are non biodegradable. I couldn't stop laughing at that remark. Nonetheless coming back to my patient, she came down to the pharmacy to collect her medication with absolute attitude. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of a home does she come from? Perhaps her family failed to instill values and good character into her. Perhaps her family are a mirror image of her.She came to the window and started snapping her fingers at me whilst banging her hands on the counter top.She failed to acknowledge that I smiled at her and greeted her. She started yelling in Arabic first and then in English,"Come on, make quick..hand over my medication. I don't have time to sit outside a pharmacy." At this point, I was speechless and flabbergasted at this woman's behaviour. I told her,"I am so sorry but I do not entertain rude people and I will not allow anyone to treat me in a disrespectful manner. I am not your slave and neither do I work for you. You require my help and expertise. I certainly do not need you.If you have a problem with me kindly go upstairs and speak to the night duty manager. He will send someone down to collect your medication. But I am certainly not dealing with you."...She left the pharmacy hurling out curses and insults at me along with using foul language.After a few minutes I got a call from the night duty manager who was equally perturbed by this patients behaviour. Being the kind person that he is, he sent down a messenger to collect the medication and also apologized on behalf of the woman's pathetic behaviour. It turns out that she was not even a VIP member of society. She was just the daughter of a wealthy businessman and hence in my opinion she made quite an ass of herself in front of so many highly qualified and educated individuals. What I have noticed in this part of the world is that all the "WANNABES" would display rude and shocking behaviour towards other people whilst those individuals who are VIP members of society would always come across as courteous, polite and kind. Many of them would even wait in a queue without shouting out "Do you know who I am or do you know who my father is"...