Taking care of everybody in the society

I was traveling home from school today, and I made new discoveries today. Well, its not exactly new, its just that I haven't been observant enough. After my frantic attempt to rush for the train, I proceeded slowly to the head of the train where it was usually less packed. Walking halfway, I looked ahead and realised that the head of the train was quite packed so I decided to stay put somewhere in the middle. I stood in the middle of 2 cabins and I realised there was a corner with the handicap sign on it. At that moment, I was wondering how often it was used. At the next stop, 2 wheelchair bound individuals boarded the train and the space served just right for them. A few stops later,  another wheechair bound boarded the train. I do not mean to show any form of discrimination, but the increase in these shows that SMRT has really made an effort to provide convenience to everyone in the society. As they boarded and alighted the train, I realised that there was no need to make any extra effort for them to move around. Also, the lift was right usually right in front of near the door to facilitate their traveling. After I alighted the train, I proceeded to take a bus home. During the bus journey, I overheard a father telling the daughter, "Look, there's a lift for the overhead bridge, unlike ours." (From there I assumed that they were not Singaporeans.)

After giving it some thoughts, I realised that the pavements and transport system in Singapore had really put in effort to integrating everyone in the society. I think these things come to us Singaporeans as something that should be there, but has anyone realised that there are still many countries in the world who do not have these facilities?

Recently, my aunties brought my grandaunt to Bangkok. My grandaunt, being in her 70s, is not as agile so for long distances, she has to rely on a wheelchair. When they came back, my aunt remarked, "The roads were full of bumps and holes and their train stations is very high with no lifts in site." When I talked to my grandaunt, she said the same thing and she added on, "At the airport from the departure hall, they were very helpful to wheelchair bound people and provided much help all the way up to the seat." These words now hit me hard. For healthy and fit people like us, that little convenience might not seem significance for us, but for some, it might have served them well in more ways than it could have.

I think sometimes we keep demanding for more of what we don't have and we have also forgotten to be grateful for what we already have.