岁月不留人

曾经读过一篇文章。文章里说了作者的经验。她和丈夫离开家十三个月、到了世界各地体会人生。他们那十三个月的经验也不必多说、肯定是令人大开眼界。令我印象深刻的却是当他们回家以后的体会。十三个月前、当他们决定放下一切时、有很多的恐惧都飘到脑海中。可是这些恐惧都不再是他们的阻碍了。令我感兴趣的却是他们回到家以后的体会。

周游列国以后的他们、对人生有大大的改观。回家了、身边的一切、或许在某程度上有一些的改变。可能是在于外表上的变化、变美了、变快了、变高了、或各种别的变化。但身边的人、仍然是他们所认识的十三个月前的人。这是因为这两夫妇已改变了。她在想、如果他们不曾作出当初的决定、或许、他们也一样只会有外表上的改变。原来、他们俩离开了、对周围的人是没影响的。影响到的、或许就只是大家的心情。可能会是想念、或者是笑着他们愚蠢的决定、还是羡慕他们勇敢的举动。甚至是根本没任何的感受。当然、对于父母亲来说、绝对是例外、跟别人是不能比地。我在说着的是、除了父母亲以外的人。

这两夫妇要是没作出当初的决定、今天的他们、会是跟昨天的、上个月的、去年的或是五年前的他们一样。对于人生、就可能只有一种看法了。

时间是永远都不会停留。停留的、只会是我们的脚步。

四个月前、当我离开家时、我却没想过我会有任何的变化。两个月后、我回来了。我体会到、那两夫妇所体会的感受了。心灵上、我已改变了。并不是完全。可是、在我的四周围没任何改变的状况里、我却看到另一面的四周围。

我自己的一个小小发现、我竟然不再喜欢看被设计出来的哭哭啼啼电影了。当我想起在我一路上遇到的人、他们所分享的故事和人生的点点滴滴、我说、我该把乐观放在我目前的人生里。因为、在我为电影敲断而哭泣时、外面的世界还有很多生命是在为真正的生活而哭泣。要把快乐的眼泪擦掉伤心的泪水。要是想把眼泪流下、就把那眼泪流的有价值。

I am enjoying the movie, a lot

It's the first day in cinema, here in Kuantan. And I'm glad to have spend the evening with this beautiful movie with my two beautiful friends. The mere two hours must not be enough to tell the nice details written in words, what more to say, the real scenario of the 'Long Walk to Freedom'.

I have now watched the movie before even starting to read it. Indeed, it was bought half a year ago. But I'm now only half way through with Gandhi's. So, some time before I can start the first page of Mandela's. Anyway, I was surprised and glad that this is made into a movie to be shared. No doubt that it will surely miss many nice details. But hey, it's just two hours. Don't be greedy. For details, READ!

Everything's great about this man, the movie, the evening, the experience, the things learn. A very huge BUT this time. BUT, not many seemed to appreciate such beautiful movie (from the autobiography). Yes, A.U.T.O.B.I.O.G.R.A.P.H.Y, sounds b-o-r-i-n-g ya? BUT! N-O! It isn't. It deserves more spectators.

As we walked out from the cinema, there were 10 persons in the cinema, at most. Three of them were us. This is a real story to be told, to be known, to be understood, to be 'alive in our mind'. It is a lesson to be learn. It's a history worth knowing. Wait, HISTORY?! Yes, it's another 'odd' word to have the people's attention. These words have somehow been 'discriminated'. Put the coloured glasses aside. That's when we start to appreciate it - to simplify this concept, try to relate it with the story of '1. The glass is half full; OR 2. The glass is half empty'.

A sentence spoken by Mandela in the movie as well, "Peace is the way". Thus, it reminded me of what I've heard just two months ago:

"There is no way to peace, peace is the way.
There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way"
-As heard from Master Thich Nhat Hanh's talk on 24th Nov 13 in Plum Village-

I will begin reading it soon. Wouldn't be long. Thank you, Nelson Mandela. You've made a difference to many, including me.

Sun-day

Right, the moment when the sun becomes so precious. I've come to love day time so much these days. Years ago, night time is all that I wanted. Today, I love day time. It could be really really hot. But there could be so much fun and things to be done in the day time. There's so much hope, there's so much energy in day time. I guess the meditation is doing me a lot of good thing. In days to come, there could be much more of self-awakening moments and I'm looking forward. Sun-day. Indeed, it's a sunny day. Very misty this morning, without drizzle or rain *touch wood*. Still, it's cold. 

An afternoon in the rain

It's surprisingly cold even though there's sunlight out there. Mainly because that the sunlight doesn't last. Every half an hour or so, the rain came by to visit. When it rained, it was cold. When the sun shines, it's really hot. Now, I need to find the balance in between. And so, this noon, we went to the farm to pick some fresh vegetables for salad. The moment we began to do that, it was beginning to shower! What can I say? When we're already in the rain, I go with the saying by Bob Marley, "some feel the rain, others just get wet". I chose to feel the rain instead of just get wet. Anyway, I think the jet lag is over now. All ready for daily meditation session. Doing better after the first day. Looking forward to more of the meditation session. It's soul healing, inner-self communication and full stop. What more can I ask for. Hello ME, again ^_^

Lost somewhere

It must have been quite some time since I last remember that I was lost, I mean specifically, lost in a town. Now I recalled, I was lost in one of the vineyard area last year. This time round, I wasn't really went lost, but lost 'contact'. The very few things I could do, 1. Walked home and found nobody's home, so sent a very brief SMS, 2. Walked to another person's home, and nobody's home too, but got wifi connection for Whatsapp, 3. Home sweet home (literally). Another experience in town with my extraordinarily limited language knowledge. 

As I was 'lost', I gained something in return. It has been a long long while since I last meditated. And that was what I did this morning. Problem with jet lag, waking up too often in the middle of the night, the body keeps reminding you that you should begin getting active now, it's time to wake up! So, well, I woke up at 6am. All awake by the 'not-so-freezing-yet' cold shower. And meditated for half an hour. 

For once, I controlled my mind again. It's a very beautiful exercise for the mind. Not only I started to notice the rise and fall of incidences and thoughts in my mind, I regain balance in between my mind and my body. But it's a long way to go before my mind can work beautifully again.

For some reason or so, I've gained another 'finger snapping' moment when I grab hold on my camera again. They are so many breathe taking moments or shots capture from the eye of the lens. Come to think about it, it was actually a certain spot of the entire view that was being captured in the way we want it to be. So, whether it's 'good' or 'bad' chosen for the highlight, it's entirely up to us. Most of the time, we chose the 'better' spot for our captions and omit the non-necessary part altogether. 

Photo shooting, we always choose the better spot for highlight. Surprisingly, in life, many of us are focusing on the 'bad' spot for highlight and omit the 'good' spot altogether. Is it merely because mind is not abstract, hence people tend to neglect the good side of it? While for scenery, it's not entirely abstract, but it can be seen and that's the difference. 

A good insight from a few pages read from the book titled 'Straight from the Heart'. Very insightful. Hello 'mind', let's cooperate and form a better 'me'.

My first autumn in my life

After a 24-hour journey, I'm finally back to the airports I'm familiar with. No doubt, the sun is as precious as diamond here, my own thought. With such temperature, there's nothing as good as the warmth of the sunlight. Up to now, everything's quite in place, except for the jet lag. Generally, my first few meals were meals in the plane. Later, with some good stuff, improvised Thai instant noodle for lunch (which should be my dinner back in Malaysia). And for dinner, yummy! Do you know me well enough? Yes. My favourite salmon sashimi! Goodness. Am I dreaming? No. What more can I complain for now. None. 

Of course, there should be some work to be done within the next couple of days, while overcoming the jet lag. 

Last night, yawned all the way from 6pm till 10pm (local time). Managed to sleep by 12am but things that happened next, waking up every now and then. My body was telling me that it's already morning and activities shall begin right now =.=" I thought it was at least 4am at that moment. To my disappointment, it wasn't. It was only 1am. Should really be better for days to come. Anyway, hello autumn! It's completely different when the season changes. Hello meditation. Hello inner self ^_^

Be positive

The first thing upon switching on the radio, television, flipping newspapers and social media, there are probably 60% and above of negative news. Natural disasters, accidents, kidnapping, robberies, abuse and the list goes on forever. While many of us are complicating our life with 1001 problems and issues, they are many out there who face only one challenge, the struggle to live. All that they need is food and shelter. They did not chose to be who they are, but they strive to live. What about us? What about me? 

I've been reading so many self motivating books all this while. And kept reminding myself to think positively. Now that I think about it, why is it so hard for me to be positive? Answers to my questions, are as much as excuses I could give. Life is hard, the world is never peaceful, life has never been fair and on and on. Therefore, I need to have positive mindset, positive conversation, positive people around me and the list goes on forever again.

Come to think about those who have the least, as little as not having enough food to fulfil their daily needs. As far as I'm concerned, I have not come across any article or news that reports on the need for the less fortunate to think positively in order to survive. All that they do is to act to survive. 

Conclusion, sometimes, it's not the thought that counts. Actions matter.

Source from: http://automationclinic.com/blog/on-taking-immediate-action/

The value

Source from: http://fullwallpaperhd.com/free-love-wallpapers-for-desktop/

It was just one hour ago when I saw this statement from the drama I was watching.

"People used to fix the faulty electrical items and keep using it. Now, most people change an item whenever there is new model in the market (regardless if the existing item is still working very well)."

Not long after, I saw another scene from an another unrelated drama. I summarise it as such:

"People used to make an effort to 'save' or 'fix' a broken marriage. Now, more and more people call for a divorce whenever they started to desire for something else than the marriage. A marriage, it was once simpler, without grand wedding day, yet, last a lifetime."

As for myself, I'm still using a camera my parents bought for me 6 years ago. About 10 months ago, the lens began to malfunction. I've left the camera aside since then. Occasionally, trying it out in the hope that it may be good all over again, but it doesn't happen. Well, what can I say. So, I've waited long enough before deciding to get a new lens for it. Until recently, I was tempted to get a brand new camera, and it was one that I 'thought' I'll love to have. But the price doubled the price of getting a good lens. And I was in a dilemma for yet another 5 months. Within these 5 months, I've actually went in and out of the camera shop for up to 5 times to reconsider on my options.

Finally, I've kicked my butt and dropped by the shop once again today. Prior to entering the shop, I looked from outside for minutes. And I turned around, walked, spent yet another 1 hour time to think. Finally, finally, I've bought it. Surprisingly, I'm happy. Much happier that I thought I would, despite of spending a huge sum of bucks for it. So does my camera. I know my camera well enough to get the best shots I could. And my camera understands me well enough, to cope with my way of using it. Simply, loving it.

Question: Is value merely a measurement of money and having the latest model, most expensive item, biggest, most luxurious stuff today? What about the value that is never measurable? Have we move forward, or are we moving backward by being the slave of marketing strategy?

My love for the beauty of nature

There are two ways to live, one is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. -Albert Einstein-

I crave for the beauty of nature. 'There is nothing special', one may say. But it is all about how one look at it and appreciate it. At least, I told myself, it takes one's sincerity to feel and to realise the beauty and importance of one's existence. Most importantly, one needs not seek for recognition from other people to second one's belief (the positive one, of course). But when there is such recognition received, it's definitely a bonus and a blessing ^_^ Stay positive, and have faith on one's belief. 

Another chapter

The event is finally over! And my energy bar went straight to -1% in a glimpse of light once that I have my very first lunch for the 2-day fast or I should say, detoxing? ^.^

Honestly, it was good to be involved in a preparation work but it was awful when one does not get to taste the sweet fruit of the outcome. And this happen to me. It's either one, to be involved, or to enjoy the sweet fruit. It hardly happen to me to be in both situations. Or maybe it did happened, but not that I can recall of any at this moment.

Somehow, I'm glad that my 'turbo' mode has once again been turned on, no doubt that it leaves me exhausted in the end. To overcome this, I just need something else to turn on my 'turbo' mode or to keep myself active all over again. And this is the aim for the moment. Or else, I'll be left in nowhere feeling lost, without direction, and that's definitely not a good feeling.

Of all the things, I'm so glad that I have a team of members with perfect combination, and ever ready to be in assistant throughout the entire event. In daily job, they have been a great team. I can see spotlights shining on them. It will be just a matter of time.

Another thing that I appreciate, are the new people that I met along the way and they have been very helpful regardless of all the last minute arrangement that took place. I can proudly say that I was brought to another new level of last minute solution provider now. With this group of people with many wisdom to share too, things that I do not get everyday, or much. Indescribable.

Last but not least, I met an old acquaintance in the event too. It has been about 5 years since we last met. Towards the end of the whole event, the only word that sticks to my mind, mature. A word that has not been used to describe me for a very long time, once again come back to me. It was in my teenage years when people used to say that I'm mature for that teenage age, but not in my twenties. I think this must be first. Looking at the bright side, it's a compliment ^.^

Source from: http://www.kartoen.be/wp/2008/09/23/holy-trinity/