Thai opinion: Don't forget to expect something from yourself

[webfact]

STREETWISE
Don't forget to expect something from yourself
Achara Deboonme

Expectations always run high when the New Year is approaching.

BANGKOK: -- It's natural for all to expect improvement in this and that. The expectations of each person differ, but one similarity is that we all expect others to deliver.

Money is the main focus at this time, and most Thais anticipate a better economy next year. And it should indeed be better, judging by the low base of about 1 per cent this year. But we would be wise to heed the Bank of Thailand's warning: The headwinds are strong.

Risks to our exports persist. More buyers for Thai products will be found, however, if US policymakers continue with policies to sustain economic recovery. But that depends on euro-zone countries being able to successfully negotiate another tough year, plus demand in China and Japan picking up.

Risks to our tourism sector are also high. The first nine months of this year saw visitor arrivals at only 17 million. Last year's total arrivals were 26.7 million, meaning Thailand had to draw at least 10 million visitors from October to December to prevent a fall.

Meanwhile, after a huge plunge in net profits over the past 12 months amid political turbulence, Thai AirAsia might now hope for a better year. Likewise, hotels in the country can realistically hope for an upturn, as their average occupancy rate in the first three-quarters of 2014 was only 52 per cent.

Risks persist on domestic demand. Major Cineplex, which operates 70 per cent of cinemas nationwide and upped its profits by 20 per cent in 2013, must also be hoping for a better year. Its net profit for the first nine months this year suggests it will end up with a slower growth rate for 2014.

On top of that, political stability is the key. If the situation remains as in the second half of this year, will the Bt260-billion stimulus programme be enough to boost the economy?

Expectations are high and might even be excessive, given that they rest on the actions of a large number of influential people. We also need to expect something from individual laymen.

I guess all Thais share the basic hope that everyone, regardless of race, religion or political views, will be happier this year. Evidence that this is a fundamental dream we all share can be found in the number of "happiness" surveys carried out over the past few months. As long-desired political stability returns, the degree of happiness should automatically rise.

Individually, some of us are expecting Thais to show greater compassion to one another. Would it be too much to expect that drivers could pay more attention to pedestrians, so that crossings in Thailand are no longer "killing fields"?

While asking that others deliver on our expectations, we could also ask ourselves what we can do in return.

I was heartened when I accidentally overheard a conversation about plans to provide lunch for homeless women at a government-funded home in Pathum Thani. Other shelters have received similar calls, bringing hope to staff and carers who struggle by on limited budgets.

Meanwhile companies have flooded newsrooms with press releases highlighting their philanthropic activities - like scholarships for needy students and books for remote schools. But new forms of insensitivity have also been apparent. Many of us have complained about restaurant wait staff being unable to communicate well in Thai. Often migrants, these workers might have only just enough Thai to get by, leading to misunderstanding. That "Asean language" bothers some of us, but our impatience might shrink if we pause to consider that everyone needs to make a living. As well as migrant workers, there are the many "invisible" people born in Thailand but not afforded citizenship and the benefits attached. These people also have dreams and expectations, but without citizenship they are denied good jobs and even rights of ownership.

Thais are famous for their generosity. We witnessed it during the great floods in 2011 when citizens poured donations into the affected areas. Some took to boats to deliver emergency relief to people trapped in their houses. But after the floods, how many of us made the link between severe changes in weather patterns and our everyday habits of consumption? How many sought to cut their energy use or to recycle waste? Generosity should also be extended to our environment, shouldn't it?

A small change in our collective attitude is all it takes to make a better world, especially when each one of us can be a spokesperson for that change through the social media.

But, like any powerful tool, the Internet can be used for ill as well as good. It draws flak for all the bad language used by teenage netizens and, especially, the negativity spread by adult users.

On Sunday, amid shock and worry over the missing AirAsia jet, some social-network users were quick to question the pilot's ability. Informed that the experienced Indonesian captain had clocked many thousands of hours of flying time, their next question was whether that was enough. Witnessing all this has helped shaped my own New Year resolutions.

It's easy to expect others to deliver our hopes and expectations. but we must also take individual responsibility. If we can't be true to our own resolutions, how can we expect others to meet our expectations?

We could begin by welcoming in the year with hope and good wishes to all. I do believe that, if we smile first, we will nearly always get a smile in return. Try it as a resolution for greater happiness all round in 2015.

Happy New Year!

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Dont-forget-to-expect-something-from-yourself-30250929.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-30

[maidee]

ahhhhh new year wishes, how long do the empty words & promisses last ?

[Songlaw]

The words and promises usually last as long as the empty vessels upon whose ears the words and promises fall. The point of the article is that we are not one body. Thailand is comprised of individuals, each of whom bears the responsibility for monitoring and enhancing their own actions. You cannot legislate either kindness or common sense. These qualities can only be learned by others through observation. While modeling the behaviour you wish to see in others, keep in mind that not everyone will be either willing or able to reciprocate. At the risk of supporting the corporatists, "Just do it." Perhaps better said, "Do it anyway."

[Strangebrew]

I elect to remain the same so as not to disappoint myself .