Is it payback time yet?

Which is correct – the older you are, more stubborn you get; or, the wiser you get, less patience you have?

Either way, they both are in my thoughts for these couple of days. I prayed hard for patience to face my grandparents but I don’t think I asked God wisely. Why? Because my grandparents are driving me off the wall so badly I think I should get a job sooner rather than later.

Let’s start with yesterday – Yati (my domestic helper) didn’t cook lunch so I decided to get takeaway chicken rice for Grandpa but I didn’t realise they were closed until I went out. So I bought mixed rice for him instead. He argued with me, telling me it’s too much and suggested I should share with him. I’ve already gotten something else for myself, so I told him it’s fine to chuck the leftover away. What happens here is how stubborn he is over the few cents of leftover rice. It’s different times now, even I know how hard it is to earn but if you couldn’t eat anymore, you shouldn’t just keep it for no one else – it’s impractical.

Then came today, I decided to go for my morning walk and got home a bit before 9am. Grandma was missing from her bed – yes, I was frantic – and found her upstairs arranging the bed sheet and pillow covers in the cupboard. I had to drag her down and explained to her over and over how dangerous it is for her to walk by herself, especially up the stairs.

Next came Grandpa, who wanted to be the hero he was – like what, 10 years ago? – trying to take matters at hand. He thought he’s able to fix our faulty door lock and asked me to help him open up the whole thing. Voila, he was able to open the thing but he couldn’t fix the actual problem behind the lock. So what did we get out of it? A very angry human, me, and two pairs of dirty hands with stains as stubborn as the old man.

I seriously have no idea what struck me to write this with such vigorous attitude but nothing could comprehend how I felt staying with them. Please don’t get it wrong, there are good times but I guess it’s human nature to remember each and every fault, rather than all the goodness being done.

I continue to pray for patience and I promise to start doing Pilates daily to improve my breathing so when times like that comes, I know how to lower my blood pressure. Breath in – breath out – breath in – breath out.