A purposeful life

Safruddin, our office boy earns a little over $650 a month. Of this amount, he sends home $500 ( to his parents in Kerala, India) and lives on $ 150 a month ( that includes his food, transport and entertainment). The other day, i was quizzing him about his commute to the office etc..and he shared details about his salary ( i wasnt trying to be nosey i admit)..but he volunteered the information and what i heard shocked me. It also made me feel that he is infact more purposeful in life that many of us are ( including myself).

He has been in Dubai for close to two years and is very clear why he is here. He shared his ambition with me. It is all very simple and clear. No complications.

1) Help his parents build their home in Kerala
2) Help his parents to marry off his younger sister. We all know how expensive weddings can be.

This seems to be his goal in life and mission. And he sweats it out for over 9 hours each day, day in and day out - for a salary, the amount which i normally spend in a week on food, entertainment and commute.

Timeout Dubai also has an article in this issue of a Security guard who works for a pittance, but is proud of the fact that he is able to send money back home and is able to "contribute"to his family. This young man, whose name i forget came to Dubai after several failed attempts to find a decent job, and finally found a "decent" job in Dubai, which takes care of his living ( he shares a single room with 10 other people), and gets paid a pittance. But for all practical purposes, he seems to be happy. Genuinely happy that he is in Dubai and sweating it out in 50 degrees heat; while many of us sit in AC rooms and complain about everything under the sun.

Something is wrong here. Something seriously wrong. I was distrubed for a while when i read this - and also disturbed each time i see construction workers working in the desert heat during the day. While most of us cant stand five minutes of the heat, these workers spend 12 hour shifts in this heat, often for very little salaries. But something keeps them here. It is not the money alone ( though it translates well when you convert Dirhmans into Indian or Pakistani Rupees). There is something more than that. Something compelling which makes them stay here - thousands of miles away from their families, doing what they are doing.

I guess the reason is that they have a purpose. They have a very clear goal in life. For some it could be saving up money to start a small business ( as many Taxi drivers from India and Pakistan would tell you). For some, their job gives them an opportunity to send money to build a home, help with family occassions such as weddings, engagements etc.. and perhaps also contribute to the family savings. This purpose makes everything bearable. The heat, the terrible living conditions, bad food, at times abuse from employers. They put up with everything to fulfill their purpose.

This continues to amaze me. It is surely a sign of character, no less. A positive trait that many of us can learn from. Now, each time i feel like complaining about sharing a flat with three others ( at least i have my own room for myself , i share only the kitchen and the living area) ; i think of Safruddin and others like him - who are not so priviliged and yet carry on, because what they are here for is bigger than their comfort. It is bigger than themselves in many ways.

I believe there is a lesson to be learnt from Safruddin and others like him. A lesson that if one has a purpose, life can be beautiful and enjoyable; despite all the shit. Despite low pay, bad conditions and everything else. It is our purpose in life that really determines the quality of our life, not the paycheck.