There was a time when quality of life was measured by simple things. A peaceful night's sleep. A clean street. A short journey to work. The chance to spend an afternoon by the sea without worrying about contamination. The opportunity to sit in a public space and enjoy a moment of calm.

Today, those simple expectations are increasingly becoming luxuries.

Every day, people complain about the same issues. They complain about endless traffic, about construction that seems to have no beginning and no end, about the constant noise that follows them from morning until night. They complain about dust settling on balconies and inside homes just minutes after cleaning. They complain about overcrowded roads, beaches and public spaces. They complain about power cuts in the middle of summer. They complain they have to empty the freezer of food that has thawed. They complain when the lights go out again a few hours after they had come back on, and after the freezer had been replenished. They complain about polluted seawater, dirty streets and a country that often appears to have forgotten the importance of looking after itself.

These grievances are now part of daily life. And they are not an exaggeration. That such a large group of residents' associations came together to express growing concern and disappointment at the continued decline in the quality of life in their communities is an alarm that should not be ignored. Residents should not be expected to fight every day simply to enjoy what is already theirs by right: peaceful neighbourhoods, accessible public spaces and respect for the rule of law, according to a statement signed by more than 20 groups.

It is easy to dismiss such complaints as the inevitable consequence of economic growth. We have heard that argument countless times. Prosperity comes at a price, we are told. But must that price always be our quality of life? Must we give up good things because the economy is working? And for how long will the economy continue to grow if the country's set-up - infrastructural or otherwise - cannot keep up with this so-called growth?

Economic success should improve the lives of citizens, not diminish them. It should enable them to live a better life, not wonder why it took them an hour to arrive at a destination when the travelling time should have been half of that, maybe even less. It should not make them look up in exasperation when the lights flicker in anticipation of the next power cut.

People work hard. Families make sacrifices. Individuals spend long hours at work to provide a better future for themselves and their children. Yet many feel that they have less time than ever to actually enjoy life. Instead of returning home to peace and quiet, they find construction works, traffic congestion and constant noise. And no electricity.

Life has become a race from one obligation to the next. There seems to be little opportunity simply to pause, breathe and appreciate our surroundings. Even those surroundings are changing rapidly, often not for the better. Open spaces continue to disappear. Trees remain scarce. Buildings rise one after another while infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Roads become wider but traffic continues to worsen. More people arrive, and public services appear increasingly stretched.

The result is exhaustion.

Quality of life is not an abstract concept reserved for government reports and political speeches. It is something people experience every single day. It is whether they can sleep without interruption. Whether children can play safely outdoors (do you see any children playing outdoors these days?). Whether elderly residents can open their windows without enduring noise and dust. Whether families can enjoy Malta's coastline knowing the water is clean.

These are not unreasonable expectations. They are the basics.

Unfortunately, too often the discussion revolves around statistics, economic growth and record numbers, while the everyday experience of ordinary people receives far less attention. Growth matters, but it cannot become an objective in itself if the environment in which people live continues to deteriorate.

The growing frustration comes from every generation and every locality. It reflects a feeling that something essential has been lost. We have become so accustomed to accepting inconvenience that we almost consider it normal.

It should not be.

No one expects perfection. Every country faces challenges. But citizens have every right to expect competent planning, proper enforcement of regulations and a serious commitment to protecting the environment and public spaces. They have every right to expect cleaner streets, quieter neighbourhoods, reliable infrastructure, less congestion and cleaner seas.

Most importantly, they have every right to expect a government that places people's wellbeing at the centre of national policy.

The pursuit of a better quality of life should unite everyone, regardless of political belief. It is not about ideology. It is about recognising that success cannot be measured solely in economic figures if people are becoming increasingly unhappy with the way they live.

We deserve more than simply getting through each day.

We deserve the opportunity to enjoy it.