I am not sure if it’s still the case but Readers Digest magazine used to have a section called "Drama In Real Life".

As a teenager, this was the first thing I would read before anything else.

If I could have, this would have been my tagline:

"Welcome to Drama In Real Life, where unbelievable true stories of love, loss, survival, and incredible coincidences come together to inform, entertain, and inspire."

Readers Digest thrilled and educated me for years.

Regrettably, this blurry picture is the best I could find of the cover of a 1980’s edition:

Meanwhile, other types of recurring dramas persist in life as well.

Most of the time, there is little value in them.

There is usually nothing exciting, knowledgeable, or worth talking about.

But they persist and scream from everywhere.

In our homes, workplaces, and society.

They are largely driven by media, either from the owner’s own mouths or a combination of gossip and the potency of social media.

A witches’ brew.

I’ve always assumed that people were prone to such behavior because they were bored, for whatever reason their lives had become dull, and their daily routines reduced to meaninglessness.

But according to clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Kromberg:

1. "Drama queens” often crave attention and validation, and exaggerate their emotions or problems as a way to get that need met." This ties into issues of self-esteem and a desire to feel important.

2. Some individuals struggle to regulate their emotions, leading to heightened emotional expressiveness and dramatic behavior.

3. Others adopt dramatic behavior as a coping mechanism learned from their upbringing.

All of the above seems to fit the likes of our beloved politicians in the high-stakes political arena.

Their latest shenanigans in the media are a testament to this fact.

All this dramatization achieves is polarization, misinformation, and a breakdown in trust among people.

Unless this is what their intent was all the time.

Here is a piece of advice from me:

Which is why I was pleasantly surprised by this Hari Raya Aidil Fitri (or Eid Mubarak as it is known elsewhere) advert from KFC.

A hint of philosophy, nostalgia, and longing entwined in the ever-changing passage of time.

Maybe if there is something that needs to be said, it should be along these lines.

Enough of the dramas and the politics, whether in our homes or elsewhere.

Even the congratulatory messages from some of the religious leaders I received sounded hollow, repetitive, and lacking substance.

The advertisers are doing a better job!

Maybe our leaders could take a leaf out of the marketers’ books.

Earlier this week, we received a visit from my first cousin and her husband who reside in the UK, whom we haven't seen for quite some time.

One of the topics that inevitably arose was the current state of the country and its future direction.

I am neither a political scientist nor an economic expert or a sociologist.

From a layperson's perspective to save Malaysia, we need:

• Competent leaders with integrity.

• To revitalize the education system.

• To revisit the Rukunegara principles.

• To eliminate meaningless slogans and political theatrics - “dramas” in other words.

Wish us success!

In the meantime, check out this video from RHB.

Based on a true story.

Till next time,

Take care of yourselves and all that you hold dear.

_Jude