C'mon, you can't miss what you never had<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The company I work for used to provide its
\nsenior employees with a very entertaining R and R program. We
\nwere given the opportunity to spend two weekends a year at a
\nbungalow on an island resort.<\/p>\n
Recently, when business turned bad, the management decided to
\nterminate the lease of the bungalow. Unfortunately, they axed the
\nperk just as my family's turn came up.<\/p>\n
We had been looking forward to a great vacation. My oldest son
\nhad asked his friends to join us. Our youngest had bought new
\nskin-diving gear. And my wife had shopped.<\/p>\n
The termination of the trip caused every one to complain.<\/p>\n
\"How dare they do that to us,\" my wife rattled. \"They should
\nhave waited until the end of holiday season. Everybody in the
\norganization needs the resort for a vacation.\"<\/p>\n
\"No problem,\" I tried to console my family members. \"We don't
\nhave to depend on the company all the time. We will go to the
\nisland anyway.\"<\/p>\n
\"How?\" demanded my oldest son.<\/p>\n
\"I can afford to pay for the accommodation and all other
\nexpenses,\" I answered defiantly.<\/p>\n
\"It's not the same,\" complained my youngest.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, it's not the same,\" my wife added. \"We're used to
\nstaying in the bungalow the way we like it. We took pride in it.
\nNo reservation, no regulations, and we were free to bring as many
\npeople as we wanted.\"<\/p>\n
Disappointment also stormed through the office. Every one
\ncomplained about the decision.<\/p>\n
\"That's not fair. They're not supposed to cut expenditures
\nthis way,\" protested Andy, as if he owned 50 percent of the
\ncompany's stocks. \"I'm going to bring this matter to the
\nattention of head office in New York.\"<\/p>\n
\"We're going to miss the sea breeze, the deep-sea fishing, and
\nthe snorkeling,\" others grumbled.<\/p>\n
The only person that didn't complain was Pujo, a supervisor.
\nHe is an ordinary guy who isn't obsessed with modern activities.
\nWe always refer to him as a poor soul who never has fun. All he
\nknows is work. He spends every vacation in his hometown in
\nCentral Java, getting together with villagers.<\/p>\n
\"Not my cup of tea,\" he always replied when asked why he
\nturned down his trip to the bungalow.<\/p>\n
Now with everybody complaining, I tried to find out how he
\nfelt about the situation. \"I don't know about you guys,\" he said
\nin his usual tone, \"but I personally don't miss a thing.\"<\/p>\n
\"Lucky you,\" I said sourly, thinking that he didn't have a
\nsympathetic bone in his body. He seemed to be oblivious to the
\nunrest around him.<\/p>\n
\"Not that I'm selfish,\" he continued knowingly. \"But, c'mon, I
\nhave never known how it feels to be at a luxury island resort.
\nThat's why I don't miss it. You never miss what you never had.\"<\/p>\n
Instead of going to an island, I decided to drive my family to
\nmy hometown in West Sumatra. Along the way, I began to think that
\nPujo was lucky. He didn't know much about the good things so he
\ndidn't miss much. His way, there is not much room for
\ndisappointment. I wish my family could adopt his way of life. The
\ntrouble is, we have known too much.<\/p>\n
-- Carl Chairul<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cmon-you-cant-miss-what-you-never-had-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }