The Lonely Apple With A Mission

I still remember the day when I was selected from a bunch of others, felt a notch special, wanted, and distinctively segregated from the rest.  The next I knew, I was transported to another camp before I met with a bunch of familiar faces who have all been shortlisted to travel.

It was a bumpy ride, totally pitch-dark and awfully crowded, nothing quite close to first-class travel but it was alright.  They say it is always the journey that counts, and fair to say, I was too busy minding my own mission:  I was going to change somebody's life - loud and proud.  

I could still recall vividly the very skillful hand that picked me, the same hand that brought me home.  Home to me - has always been cosy but I would say it was rather spacious on day 1 until I woke up the next day and found a few new friends: the relatively small-built G. Kiwi brothers - Golden and Green;  a friendly chap named Orange and a not-so-friendly, uppish lady with a gorgeous smell nonetheless, named Mango.  

We all got along pretty harmoniously until 2 days later, stingy Mr. Pineapple and the almighty Durian decided to join the bandwagon.  Didn't leave us with much room to manoeuvre after their occupancy as one would imagine, and that was when frictions and conflicts began.  Everyone tried to flex their muscles and emerged just that bit taller and more convenient than the rest of the pack.  I wasn't too bothered, I chose to stay low because I was too busy minding my own mission:  I was going to change somebody's life - no matter what.  

Last-in, first-out - we learned that's how the world has been operating isn't it, at least it applies to the airline's baggage claim systems anyway. Mr. Durian came last and was the first to be chosen.  The next day was uppity Mango followed by good old Orange.  I continued to stay low profile, not that I wanted to, but dear Pineapple was shielding me from most of the day light anyway.  The next morning came and Kiwi brothers went, and so as Pineapple. 

Why wasn't I the chosen one?  

Isn't there anybody out there who loves me?  

Just when I was reciprocating my own echoes, I discovered a few bruises on my waistline and one big bruise at the top too.  Goodness gracious, when did that happen?   I shan't be chosen.  I can't let them do that.  I wanted to be the first they picked, but I know it was all too late then.  

"Please don't pick me...." I shouted with all my might, yet the boy couldn't hear.  

"Oh mother, the apple doesn't look good enough to eat, don't think I should have it," said the boy.

"Do me a favour and chuck it into the bin please, would ya? " said the boy's mother.  

Just as I thought that was the trashy end of it all, the fact that I would be rotting to death with some garbage I refused to communicate with - namely plastic bottles and chicken bones, a bright beam of light was shone and I was picked up by a hand with short but strong fingers.  Immediately - half of me was gobbled down - in I went into a hungry man's oesophagus.  

Living has meaning when you have something to do; someone to love and something to look forward to.  

Apple waited for how many days?  Six, I think.  

That was her mission completed with contentment - she did changed somebody's life at the end.  

Let Us All Be Teachers

I didn't realise but I seem to have written a number of blog posts that were dedicated to school life, to teachers in particular.  I guess one possible explanation is the fact that I was fortunate enough to have a happy childhood in school days - bullying others rather than being bullied; scored just enough points to get past without being scolded.   

Flaunting.  Yes.   

My friend, who grew up to be a Mathematics teacher, recently showed me a letter that one of her students wrote to her.  It was a letter consisted of nothing but real number of thanks, natural number of appreciation to the nth degree, a rational note - that was quite touching indeed. 

The theory behind was a complex but a common one - we all have teachers that we adored, right?   I remember acknowledging some of mine at my head-girl speech in the graduation ceremony: the teacher who brought out the artist in me, the trainer who showed me how great an athlete I was and the headmistress who convinced me to rethink my scorn for Mathematics in case I might want to pursue the field of architecture.  Well, this mumbo jumbo's life could have changed drastically - if her Mathematics teacher then was as good as her little friend here!

So let me think....when was the last time - I - received praises?  OK, here we go.

I can still remember how I felt when I got a little sticker when I did something good as a child; a mention from my teacher at the school assembly; a professor in university who put up my assignment telling everyone that it was the standard he was looking for.  And oh yes, that marketing proposal that got buy-in from the management.  Alampy got a little embarrassed, sure I did, but it also made my heart leap for joy it did. 

What made these teachers so exceptionally memorable was because they respected us as individuals, they understand individuality and that they didn't care too much about how good we were but how much we have progressed and for that alone, we owe it to these great teachers. 

The fact that we have left school donkey years ago doesn't mean we can't continue to thank them.  We don’t have to be perfect to be influential and we certainly don't have to be a teacher literally to teach.   

Just like any one of those great teachers you so adore, our job is not to be the keeper of knowledge, but an encouraging vessel to pass it on, and my motto remains:

"The world is my classroom, each day is a new lesson and everyone I meet is my teacher."

You can, by all means, tell someone something but he's bound to forget; you can, nonetheless teach someone something and that he might remember, but you can almost always get someone to learn by engaging them with your own inspiring stories.

Well done to another school year.  Salute to all you brilliant teachers out there!

Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

I bummed into a friend today and I appreciated how very casually she reacted when I told her I am no longer in the cafe business - only after getting my feet wet for 9 months. 

I mean, it was probably just me feeling a bit embarrassed stating the very short-lived fact.  Me - appearing as if I started out towards a big goal, told the entire world I was all for it, then at the end, I didn't make it to the finishing line.

Guess what.  At any given point, I was allowed to change my mind.  And I did.

Just because I didn't reach the final goal of running it profitably, it didn’t mean I failed.  After all, I was the one who chose the goal in the first place.  It was arbitrary and no one could have stopped me from choosing a new goal halfway - and only when I was half way through, did I understand neither failure nor success was a destination I wanted.  It was all about making the right decision, at the right time and enjoying the moment and the outcome of being decisive.   

But then even though it was pretty darn obvious that making a big change at the seemingly right time seem beneficial and everything to be gained, it was tough making that choice.  I did worry.  I worried sick that the uncharted territory of the future was too much for me to behold.

And then I have another friend who told me she has started up her own business after god-knows how many years she has been pondering and that she felt absolutely amazingly relieved after she has made that decision.  I was so proud she did it and was real glad I constituted towards a tiny fraction of the ability to inspire her - despite my lack of success in running mine.   

If there's anyone out there sitting and waiting and totally freaking out in life because you are about to face something huge and unknown - tell you what - you should really be giving yourself more credit than that. I mean what's the worst case scenario that could happen to you?  Come on, it ain't that bad and I am sure you have enough courage to trust yourself and crush whatever that is clouding you. 

I did it.  And it opened doors to something brilliantly amazing.  I am so sure it can happen to you too - not if you ain't really giving it a go, there should be no stopping you. 

Managing Relationships

I winced through my blog and realised I seldom write about love relationships - a topic that is tender to many.  Most probably because I am guilty of writing in vacuum, I have forbidden them from entering my blog.   

  

Nonetheless, two friends conversing recently has prompted the need to write what I am going to say and I am parking this piece under the "Investments" label, simply because it IS pertained to ROI - return on investments.  

Every so often, you would hear a friend complain about a fading love. 

"My once lovey dovey scenario has somehow vanished and lost in passing time.  Do you think I've picked the right person?"  

"What constitutes as "right" anyway?"  

"Do we know?  We don't, but I seem to think that time has bleached the love we once had and hence we became lazy."  

"No.  You are wrong.  If you think about it, love grew pale the minute you guys became lazy."   

Some people tend to constantly look elsewhere for a better one when things aren't working out.  We tend to miss out the fact that we can actually work on the existing relationship.  

I am thinking this can be exactly the reason why many people prefer to be jumping in and out of relationships rather than tying the knots - simply because they have the impression that marriage can make couples complacent and lazy!

Picture this, if a married couple with kids cannot be arse to sweet talk, to listen with a heart or to install surprises every now and then - just because they now got an extended family to attend to, it ain't rocket science to figure out this kind of marriage isn't here to stay for the long haul. 

And the notion of keeping up appearances in a marriage for those without kids calls for an even higher regard - you can't blame your short temperament on the kids - 'cos you have none.  At the end of the day, it is really down to the two of you to work things out.  

The Beatles once said "Can't Buy Me Love."  There are a number of ways to invest and not all of them have to do with stocks or bonds or real estate.   The effort you put into improving yourself is an investment, and the way you use your time to cultivate a relationship is also an investment.

Make love or make peace - do whatever you have to do tonight before your investment turns sour.  Might be wise to have a drink while you do it.