Give It Up

Priority Seats: Give up your seats for those who need it more than you do.

I abide by this rule because I truly think these people deserves the seat more than I do. Being an able young man, standing for a few stations isn't going to kill me. But I have had a few bad experiences which caused me to think otherwise.

1. As usual, I will sleep on the morning train ride to work. Periodically, I will wake up and see if there are people who needs the seat more than I do. So one morning, I saw this elderly man standing in front of me. I signaled to him that he can have my seat. But he turned to me with a hostile face and said he has stood long enough and don't want the seat. People around the elderly man were looking at me in a weird manner. Imagine my embarrassment despite my kind act to offer him the seat.

2. This morning, I gave up my seat for a pregnant lady who didn't even bother to smile or say a simple "Thank you". This is not the first time I experienced this. Not that I am hard up for that, but I feel that Singaporeans need to be more gracious in manners.

A friend told me to 'give and not to expect return'. Can you work for a company for free? Will you donate all you have to a poor person? Will you give up one of your kidneys to a complete stranger? Will you give one of your eyes to a blind man?