Roots and Wings

Beautiful northern sky taken behind my mother's house at almost sundown (6:30pm on Nov 1st) by my Nokia. How I wish my Nikon was with me.

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Part I

I'm now in KL Central killing time to catch my train. Once my lappy was turned on, I was searching for available wireless connection so here I am (connected...). This is my third and last day in KL and I'm really looking forward to be on my own bed.

The presentation that I delivered went very well on the first day and I was really glad about that. The same presentation for another group of participants wasn't that bad too. I guess I can go home and sleep well tonight.

I would like to share in this blog about an interesting person that I met for this particular trip. A taxi man named Mali (HWC560), who gave me a ride from Dynasty to Pearl International. 5pm is always a bad time to hit the road in KL but I was desperate to check-in in Pearl for a good shower and deserved rest. After a few rejected requests, Mali pulled in at the hotel lobby so I asked if he could take me to Pearl. Without hesitation he agreed so I hopped at the backseat. Once inside, I asked him why did he picked me up? He said "kesian tengok abang hulu hilir tak dapat teksi - so saya pusing balik". He turned out to be an ex-video editor with TV3 before decided to become a cabbie after more than six years there. The conversation went really well between us all the way to my destination. It was about life – people etc. He is well mannered guy and very fluent in English. Call him if you happened to be in KL and needing a good ride (Mali: 012-2708915).

to be continued.....

Part II

I am back to my root now. Away from the city buzz and back to my nest. I was reflecting on my experience in KL. Mali made his choice - it was based on job satisfaction. Some says roots connect us to the past and the wings carry us into the future. As far as I am concerned, we can’t have roots and wings at the same time so I chose roots. It gave me a sense of family and connection - a sense of identity, knowing who you are and what you stand for - a feeling of possibility and freedom - a sense of being part of history, part of a community.

Back to my lectures, the audience is people of my age group practicing the same profession and is more advanced in their carrier path. Many have gone to same school, shared the same lecture rooms, and worked together with me. A friend who went to the same college with me 30 years ago sent me this sms later that day after the first lecture. He said “Congratulations for your excellent presentation. You rekindled memories that I’ve not thought for a long time – Afifi”.

Thank you Mali and thank you Afifi. I guess there are times when you can still fly without wings.

Quiet Life!

Four Docs engaged in serious discussion (me and the host hidden)

I am looking forward for hopefully a very quiet weekend, thanks to an almost week long celebration but I’ve finally managed to get some thoughts together about a very interesting gathering with my old-boys group on Tuesday evening. Yep, it’s a bit on the deep-and-meaningful side for me. I blame too much time for introspection. But anyway……

Most that turned up, intelligent and understated. I assumed we’d have the normal chit chat/banter about life and work, probably hear an anecdote or two and I’d leave feeling slightly inadequate by comparison. The power of positive thinking, visualization and attitude really hit a nerve with me.

The argument was that while some areas of my life are more successful than others, this could also be true with my attitudes towards them. If I fed some of the positivity, drive and certainty of a positive outcome, say, that I have about my relationships with my family and friends, into my career or love life, the results would be very different.

I know I’m mostly a good friend and am confident of my friendships and family relationships. While I occasionally fight with my family members, we are always solidly supportive of each other and I would never hesitate to ask them for help. In return, they also ask for help occasionally. And I think it’s this co-dependence and mutual support that makes me feels so contented in that environment.

I hate asking for help from people and showing my vulnerable side (especially when forced to). I suppose because I don’t know their vulnerable side and so feel exposed. But maybe just giving people a chance to be kind and nice is what life’s about. Assuming your colleague is about to side-swipe you are unfair, as even if he subsequently does so, your negativity before the event just prolongs the pain.

Move on. Think positive. I thought!