Every time I encounter a situation outside my control and I’m baffled or frustrated, I try to breath deeply and think positive thoughts. I used to count to about 50, not 10 like most people, and in different languages so to delay reaching 50. Evidently, there’s research to show that positive thinking may help to yield a longer life span based on a healthier mental state and thus, contributing to physical well-being. Even if it doesn’t, logically you can deduce that it at least will counter some of the factors contributing to an early death, such as air pollution and second hand smoke which are ubiquitious in Bangkok. So I’d like to think anyway.
Positive thoughts has really been key in my survival in Bangkok. Like the other day when I nearly twisted my ankle and scratched my right foot when I walked passed a cable pole in the middle of the sidewalk. It was an awful Thai conspiracy. The uneven sidewalk involuntarily guided me into the pole, which was cemented in the middle of the pavement. As I screeched to a halt to avoid smacking into it headon, my right foot ended up scrapped by the sharp metal wires hanging loosely at the bottom of the pole. Tiny specks of blood squirted out from the right sandal. Prepared to curse the Thais for constructing such a moronic pavement and laziness for not putting the cables underground, I decided to breath and thought to myself, this is the reason why God gave me two feet instead of one and the blood is to remind me of how lucky I am that I have two feet and brought plenty of antibiotics from the States.
On a different day, I decided to sign up for Chinese lessons. I paid a Thai school for Chinese lessons and after attending two classes and realizing the class was not suitable for me, I asked for a reduced refund of my fees. The teacher informed me that not only was I not getting a refund but I actually owed the school money as I did not pay the entire amount upon signing up for the class. As I slowly counted (in Chinese) to 100, I smiled at the teacher, and said, perhaps we can find another way to use the money I paid. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was only two lessons and I only just paid her 80% of the tuition two days earlier. Thinking positive thoughts and forcing myself to smile, I thought to myself, poor woman must need the money more than me and besides, I am contributing to the local Thai economy.
More often than not I’m walking along the main road, Sukhumvit, and inhaling the smog and pollution emitted by the many public buses, taxis, trucks, motorbikes, and street vendors. When I arrive at my destination with a slight headache and smelling like I’ve been working in the factory, I always tell myself, bless the Thais for their driving skills and not running me over today.