Gratefulness is the key to happy living

By Aruna Lolani 01 September 2017, 12:00AM

Happiness is not found in material things.

Etea’i Salema of Safune, Savai’i believes happiness is when one is contented with what he has -- little or much. 

The 47-year-old is married to a woman from Faleula. That is where they are staying with their five children.

Mr. Salema sells crops and barbeque for a living and with that, the money he earns is more than enough for his family.

“I have a market stall in front of my house and I sell barbeque there on Saturdays and everyday other day is for selling crops.

“I used to work but I stopped working when I realised that $150 a week wasn’t enough for my family, so I came back to work in my plantation and do my own little business like making barbeque, which makes enough money for what we need and want.

“I know the kind of work that I do now may not seem enough to some people, but I’m telling you that it’s more than enough.

“I have ten acres that’s covered up with my plantation and that is for taking care of my family.

“A lot of people have plantations but they are not making use of it, they are just leaving it to go to waste.

“And another thing, I know people are complaining about the cost of living but I think the cost of living has nothing to do with the way that we live. We have everything that we need right here from our lands and from the sea. I think people are just lazy sometimes, too lazy to work and so used to the habits of depending on money from their families overseas.

“I believe we all have the courage and the will to find ways through the difficulties of life because there are always ways to make things happen.

He went on: “My children are still in school except for my eldest, who is only 17 years old.

“He is now staying behind to learn about the work that I’m doing because he’s also interested in folllowing his father’s footsteps.

“It always feels good to know your children are learning from you and I think that’s the beginning of a bright future.”

By Aruna Lolani 01 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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