This story tells you a story of an alcoholic father. It brings a different perspective to our lives. This bittersweet story may help to see the world in a broad manner. It tells a story about an alcoholic father, or perhaps it is much more than that. There were brothers. Twin brothers. They grew up with an alcoholic father. He was not only an alcoholic but full of anger, aggression, bitterness, unjust and abuse verbally and physically. Worst kind of example for the two boys. Nothing they learn from him except his drinking habit and abusive behavior. These two brothers watch this unfolds real-life story the moment their eyes could see and the moment their ears could hear. They watched their father’s uncouth behavior throughout their childhood, teenage years, and right after they become adults and moved out to be independent. Unfortunately, their dad never changes with the advancement of age The drinking habit never stops, the bitterness grew day by day. The anger towards the world became stronger and started blaming the world for his never-ending problem.


Many years have passed, the boys are now grown up. Their father is now behind bars for violent crimes not for the 1st time but so is someone else. One of the twin brothers is also in prison for his crimes. One fine day, the mother visited him in the prison, she asked how he ended up like this. Feeling puzzled and uncertain, the son answered he didn’t have any choices as his father is an alcoholic. He blamed his father for all the misery in his life. His dad was not a role model for him, he said and left abruptly. His weeping mother stood and left the place emotionally. 


She was on her way to meet her second son. This twin's life turns out to be different. He was positive and welcomed his mother with open arms. The eager mother asked how his life turned out to be like this. The son said what choices he had seen his father’s attitude day in day out. He eloquently said that he didn’t want his life meaningless like his father. He said he didn’t want to be him and always wanted to be an example for his children.


The moral of the story is no matter what happens to us, the only matters what meaning we give to what happens to us. Ultimately, it will shape our lives and whom we become in the end. Rather than blaming others for who we are and whom we become like the son in prison in the story. All we can see is the negative things illuminating in our lives. Why not for a change we see the negative things in life in a positive outlook as a blessing instead? A negative situation is a strong reminder to seek the betterment of life. Achieving betterment in life is not an easy task. Through a radical change and a strong mind, we can choose to create a better life for ourselves and our family. We can harp on the past and pinpoint others for all the calamities in our life or we can see the good in others and the good in every situation we are, we can set even the hard situation is set to be our own blessings, and we don’t have to wait long to find it. We can be the victim of life circumstances or a successful victory. Furthermore, we can choose to see the negative or the positive vibes in everything we do. It is a matter of choice and our perspectives in life to control things as they are. The question is “what do you choose”? In the current unprecedented time with the Covid-19 pandemic which hitting the world without messy, how do we prepare ourselves to view it positively? The celebrations and festivals have become quiet now; people fall unconscious and dying now; the earth is shaking, and now it is forbidden to go to a feast and celebrate as we used to do. These are some implications of the pandemic. So, what should we do? Sit and mourn about it as it is no sign of disappearing or make use of this time to do something beneficial. It is in our hands and the choices we make. Hope to see a light at the end of the tunnel..


About the author 


Sumati Muniandy is currently an academic lecturer and a writer. She holds her Master’s Degree in TESOL from University Southern Queensland, Business Administration from University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Diploma in TESL from Teacher Training college,Malaysia and Diploma in TESOL from London Teacher Training College. She has written a number of articles on various locally and abroad. She has also presented papers in conferences. Writing is her passion and she writes her real life experiences to inspire others. She believes that everyone has a story to tell.