• Home
• /
• Lifestyle
• /
• Letters to WKND Editor

Points Of View

A space to share your feedback. Over to you.

Best Letter
Lending Trouble
The article examining Dubai's borrowing culture ('Can You Lend Me Some Money?', Aug 28) was not only delightful to read but quite thought-provoking. The timing was perfect as well, as many expats have just returned to the UAE from their home countries and are hard up for cash! To top it all, it's 'back to school' time. So it is indeed the season for borrowing!
"Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend," is the advice old Polonius gives his son as he embarks on his journey, in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Countless people whose friendships have been ruined at the altar of financial exchanges would vouch for the truth behind these words.
Though it would be ideal to not borrow and live within one's means, it is next to impossible for many people to do so. Life often turns out be a balancing act bet-ween income and expenditure. With the advent of credit cards and loans for just about anything, sometimes people remain in debt for the major part of their lives. To add to that are the odd loans that you take from friends, relatives and colleagues to get through the month, to meet rent, school fees, deadlines, etc.
While it is not wrong to seek help from friends, it would be advisable to return the borrowed sum with the same zeal. This doesn't happen very often and the lender is left feeling cheated. Most people find it hard to 'ask' for the money lent and wait endlessly for the borrower to pay it back.
It would be prudent to ask for a 'pay back plan' while lending big amounts, even if it is to our friends and relatives, as the article suggests. It's our hard earned money and we have every right to do so. We need to inculcate sound finance management skills and ethics in our children too, to build a healthier community based on mutual trust and support.
Congratulations on your winning entry, praveen m! We will be in touch with you shortly.
Shine or Fade Away
Will being the daughter of a famous father - also from showbiz - help debutant Athiya Shetty become a overnight sensation and get a firm foothold in the glamorous world of Bollywood, or will she have to prove her mettle on her own? (Showbiz Daughters, Aug 28) Well, no one knows what's in store for her.
They say star kids are born with silver spoons in their mouths. The name, fame, and respect their parent(s) have garnered help them make a grand foray into the celebrity world, and even if their first film sinks without a trace, they are not written off.
On the contrary, aspiring actors from non-film background face insurmountable challenges and obstacles to stay in the race.
Does it mean it is a cakewalk for star kids? Not exactly. Many star offspring, in spite of getting a spectacular, dream launch vehicle, have not been able to carve a niche for them-selves. Hence, most stars try to keep their kids, - especially daughters - away from the arc lights, for they know how ruthless the film industry is, and how making a mark is a herculean task. Along with drop-dead gorgeous looks, talent and dedication, one also needs that X-factor to make it big. The famous Kapoor girls, and the Sinha lass have made their presence felt, been appreciated by the masses, delivered a string of hits and grabbed many awards.
But this is Bollywood, where success and failure, ups and downs, and highs and lows walk hand-in-hand. The fickle and transient world of light, camera, action.
Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi
 
Being Influential
It's amazing how the ability to influence or be influenced by someone can change lives. It's something that happens so naturally that we sometimes do not even notice it!
I was indeed influenced by your article The Power of Influence (Aug 28). The article clearly helps us identify our own influencing style as well as those of others. Now, we can be cautious while dealing with people whose influencing styles we have identified, because we know what to expect from them and how to deal with them without getting carried away by the decisions that they want us to make. Also, we can deal with them by mastering their style, so that we can communicate with them in the way they understand best. So, here's to encouraging ourselves to learn new ways to understand and influence people. And wknd. magazine - you influence my life every week. Thank you for that.
Mustansir K., by email
 Looking Forward
It's interesting to learn that retirement planning is much more about than just getting one's finances in place for life after work (Are You Prepared to Take a 30-Year Vacation?, Aug 28). After regular monthly income stops coming in, taking the time out to travel and making plans along with your spouse or partner is important, as you certainly don't want to be left with nothing to do after retirement! It is also a great idea to start planning in advance as it gives you something to look forward to.
Roy D'costa, by email