Yes we should be thankful for what we have, but we should not put the less fortunate down further by comparing ourselves against them and use their plight to make ourselves feel good.

Also any "comparison" is only meaningful if it is done in the context of where you live. If you live in a high cost city like here, earning only S$2k pm and supporting a family of 4 puts you close to the poverty level. On the other hand, the S$2k pm will provide a family of 4 living in a village in Indonesia or Thailand a very comfortable life. In this sense, people in those countries although earning less could actually be leading a better and more comfortable life than a family living here with higher pay.

Even a family with a household of $5k pm will find it a struggle here especially with the children going for higher education.

I grew up in a poor neighbourhood. Although we were poor, we didn't feel it so acutely then because everyone else was equally poor. In our estate only 1 or 2 families had TVs and cars were few. Nowadays, children compare mobile phones, talked about their holidays overseas, have maids to do their chores, driven to and from school etc. The children from less well off families will feel the difference more starkly. Their parents will feel it too when their children start to ask for those thing that their friends have. This is the reality and it does not away by telling ourselves that there are millions of destitute in the world.