A Conversation I Overheard Taught Me the Importance of Gratitude

Be grateful for what you have instead of complaining about what you don’t.

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

I went for lunch at a nearby local restaurant the other day.

When I arrived at the place, the restaurant's owner was talking to a customer who was there with her child.

I ordered my food and kept scrolling on my phone. I could hear what they were talking about.

The customer and her kid (aged 4–5) were having black tea.

She was sharing her life problems with the restaurant’s owner. The conversation went like this:

• Customer: I dream of not having to pay rent and give my child the best life possible. But unfortunately, I don’t see it happening ever.
• Restaurant owner: It’s not just your problem. We (she and her husband) are facing the same problem. It isn’t easy to survive in this town without paying rent. Our income can only sustain rent and basic expenses.
• Customer: My husband also doesn’t earn enough. He doesn’t take things seriously.
  (Note: Many lower to middle-class families in our country still have the men working for their families while the women stay home taking care of the children.)
• Restaurant owner: Why…