Singaporeans are quite good at complaining. It's almost like a national pastime. But I suspect we have another national obsession that we may not want to admit. Many of us are also very prone to comparing. Unlike complaining though, comparing is less socially acceptable these days, no matter what form it takes. So much of the comparing we do is done quietly in our own heads, or even subconsciously without us realising. We may be happy with our jobs one moment, but when we meet a friend who is earning a better living, a thought enters our heads that maybe we need to make more money. A student may be glad that she received a certain grade, a hard-earned improvement. But the joy may be eroded the moment she finds out that her score is below average. Such is our propensity to compare that the reverse also takes place. We complain about cost of living in Singapore, that everything is so expensive. But the moment we cross the causeway, we spend like no tomorrow and feel like a million ...