Four truly meaningful days

By Chuah Bee Kim is an NST journalist

TRIBUTE: It’s time to reflect on the significance of Labour Day, Wesak Day, Mothers Day and Teachers Day this month

IN May, there are four special dates to remember -- Labour Day, Wesak Day, Mothers Day and Teachers Day.

No one is likely to forget Labour Day, today, as it is among the 11 gazetted public holidays and one of the four compulsory public holidays.

Ideally, every individual should allocate eight hours for work, eight hours for rest and eight hours for sleep, but how many workers actually get to stick to a 9am to 5pm routine?

Not those in the medical field, insurance profession, boys in blue and, certainly, not those in the media.

Most people spend so much time developing their careers and businesses that they lose sleep over work-related issues and neglect recreation well as spending time with the family.

Recreational parks and green lung were created to promote a healthy lifestyle but how many of us have the discipline to head to the park, bring our families along and enjoy the simple act of walking amid fresh blooms and green grass?

How many of us are guilty of taking work home and spreading the stress associated with squabbles and conflicts at the workplace and spread the unhappiness among our family members?

So, make sure you enjoy Labour Day as it is a special holiday mooted to toast workers. All workers deserve the honour.

Another public holiday is Wesak Day which falls on Saturday, though some offices will not observe it as it isn't listed as one of the five compulsory holidays.

Buddhists will gather at temples and monasteries on Wesak Day to celebrate Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away.

There will be candlelit processions with the offerings of incense and joss sticks. Devotees will also offer food to monks and nuns.

Next comes Mothers Day, a special day which gives us the opportunity to express our appreciation to our mums, who certainly deserve some pampering.

Mothers are normally the ones who nurture the family unit. So, it is only appropriate that we show our mothers how much we appreciate the role that they play.

This year the day to pay tribute to mothers falls on May 13. But, children should not only show their love and respect for their mothers on May 13 but on every single day of their lives as a mother's love knows no bounds.

Lastly but not least, Teachers Day, which falls on May 16, is another important day to mark in your calendar.

As teachers are instrumental in shaping children's future and character, it is vital for students to show their gratitude to their teachers.

Buddhists celebrate Wesak day to mark the birth, enlightenment and the passing of the Buddha.

A teacher watches as a visually-impaired student types on a braille machine. Pix by Roslan Khamis

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Four truly meaningful days

TRIBUTE: It’s time to reflect on the significance of Labour Day, Wesak Day, Mothers Day and Teachers Day this month

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