Respect during Ramadan

I have to say that I always enjoy the Holy month of Ramadan. Even though it's pretty much business as usual for me, it's nice to see others getting a bit of a break from the long hard slog and life slowing down just a little.

But what should be a time of reflection, forgiveness, tolerance and kindness towards one another, very often turns people into more selfish human beings.

There's enough information well in advance to the start of Ramadan, so I cannot fathom why you still see people wearing skimpy clothes in shopping malls, sneaking food and drinks in public and other disrespectful behaviour. People crying because they can't go and have a sundowner drink - what you can't give your liver a break for just a month? You know it'll thank you in the end.

Being on the roads, you take your life into your own hands even more than usual, as people drive like maniacs once they've finished work and the 45 or so minutes before Iftar are the most deadly - I can't count how many accidents I've seen so far. Wouldn't it be better to make it home safe and sound, rather than not at all? Plus queuing traffic goes much faster when others don't push in - patience is a virtue, or so I've been told.

Then there's the lavish Iftar buffets all the hotels put on, trying to out-do one another. Sadly people tend to eat with their eyes and even more so when they've been fasting all day, so the sheer amount of food that goes to waste is pretty disgraceful. Aren't we supposed to be feeling solidarity for those less fortunate? Who don't even get one daily meal? Yet I've seen people piling their plates high, then leaving half of what they've taken - it's such a shame.

This is a time for reflection, to be thankful for what you have and to think of those less fortunate. I do hope well all remember that at some point.

Losing respect and self-respect

I do have to wonder about people and their actions sometimes and their inability to see how it makes them appear to others. It's all very well having an 'I don't care attitude', but when others do care and the fact that there seems to be zero thought for others, consequences or the potential hurt involved for third parties, I do have to question what sort of people act like this?! Plus it's so easy to label other people with tags, but did they ever stop to think what people are starting to label them? Probably not!

It's all very well to throw caution to the wind to get your jollies, but when those actions pose a threat to yourself and others, then sorry it's not acceptable by any means. Sadly, however, some people just won't be told, they'll never learn until it comes back to bite them someday in the future, in which case I would say they don't have a reason to complain or seek sympathy.

Some people seem to have no moral fibre, which leads me to question how much self-respect they have? When you act in such a manner, all you do is attract like minded people and then sit and wonder why no one good ever comes into your life! I know how this works, been there, done that, bought the T-shirt many moons ago.

The saddest part is that some don't realise how much others lose respect for them, don't want to be around them and view their actions as beyond despicable. In which case I guess the only thing to do is create some distance.

It's incredibly sad and selfish and some people really need to stop and take a good, long hard look at themselves.

Lack of respect for relationships

Just a short blog update and more of a rambling thought.

I don't know why, but one thing I notice with many people in the UAE or Dubai in particular is the lack of respect for the relationships of others. I'm talking about the girls who actively take on the challenge of trying to go after an attached man, or the guys who'll message you for a booty call knowing full well that you're seeing someone. Relationships can be hard work, especially if your partner works away for certain periods of time and that seems to give others the green light to try and tempt you away, but why would you? Unless of course there's something wrong in your relationship.

But you've spent the time and effort to get to know someone, you're happy together, you see it going somewhere, so why do certain people not respect that fact? I see it time and time again and have to wonder about the mentality of a person, that would actively try to encourage someone to cheat on their partner. Is it seen as a challenge? Do they have issues meeting people? Are they relationship failures? Or is it something more sinister? Whatever the reason, it's still not acceptable.