Tag - Takeaways of 2007
Since I am still juggling blogging with other chores around the house, I decided to go with another tag. Zawi of Life As I See It encouraged me to try this one titled "Takeaways of 2007", initiated by Jaflam of Jaff Point. This tag is about sharing 3 takeaways from 2007.
Last year was a year filled with blessings, challenges and moving (twice!). We left Germany after six years. While it was sad to leave a lovely country that’s so rich in history and culture, I was glad to return to our own house. Before the year ended, we moved again. Luckily, this time it was just one hour away. We did not have to deal with customs, immigration and the whole nine yards. So, what did I learn or experience last year that was significant enough to be etched in my memory?
Firstly, people come into my life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. This lesson is somehow taught to me every year. While it is still early to say who will be my pals for a lifetime, I would like to believe that the ones whom I know now will remain till death do us part. The ones who were there for a reason or a season waltzed into my life to be there with me through certain phases in my life or to teach me valuable lessons. One thing I observed from a seasonal pal's actions in 2007 is that there is no need to try and prove one’s worth to the world. The world will see one’s worth through one’s genuine deeds. This seasonal pal also affirmed my third observation.
Firstly, people come into my life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. This lesson is somehow taught to me every year. While it is still early to say who will be my pals for a lifetime, I would like to believe that the ones whom I know now will remain till death do us part. The ones who were there for a reason or a season waltzed into my life to be there with me through certain phases in my life or to teach me valuable lessons. One thing I observed from a seasonal pal's actions in 2007 is that there is no need to try and prove one’s worth to the world. The world will see one’s worth through one’s genuine deeds. This seasonal pal also affirmed my third observation.
Secondly, it is easier to deal with the hard times when I focus on the blessings I have. It is easy to complain that life is unfair to me or that other people are luckier than me during challenging times. Dwelling on those thoughts only sends me spiraling deeper into self pity. However when I focus on the blessings, which I take for granted, life is not that bad at all.
Lastly, everyone has a purpose in life. Not everyone is meant for the boardroom. We still need people to do those “it is a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it” kind of work. Apart from those jobs, we need people to carry out dangerous work like climb poles to fix things so that they can help deliver conveniences to our homes such as electricity, telephone, satellite TV. We still need factory workers to help produce things for consumers. We need support staff to help bosses with their selective hearing and memory (whoops! my apologies to bosses out there), and work through ungodly hours to meet deadlines. We also need stay-at-home moms and dads to take care of their families. Just because someone is not "up there", it does not mean that person is not ambitious.
In short, everyone is important in this life, not just the man or woman sitting on top of the ladder. For every man or woman sitting comfortably on top, there are many more people holding up that ladder for them.
40 comments:
Very well written JT!
I love the part of having pals all along and it is true that we need so many people to assist us in our life...
Have a nice Sunday !!
Ah, without the men/women on the street, nobody would be able to sit on top of the ladder!
I personally feel more comfortable down on the street instead of on top of the ladder. If jatuh from the ladder, boleh mati oooh....
So let me just be amongst the gurkhas. Errr... that doesn't mean I'm not ambitious, does it?
Nice one JT :)
The 2nd and the 3rd, I have experienced it in my life. No matter what kind of situation we are in, there are always reasons, and there are always bright side in it.
Have a nice day JT :)
Your reflections are excellent and meaningful, Jacqui. You chose admiringly to embrace the inner values of others and recognized that not everyone is born equal but we all have our rightful place on earth and exist for an individual reason. I hope I am one of your pals for a lifetime. :)
Congratulations on a second successful house move. Is Peanut liking his new quarters??
j.t,
The waiting is over now. I am glad that you have managed to find time to do this tag. Thank you for sharing your takeaways. Someone somewhere may find the llessons from it as useful.
Part 3 of KB is posted. Lets see if some of the pictures can rekindle your memory of KB.
Thank you so much for the 3 Takeaways....I am keeping them for myself. hahahahah....
Hello Theodwyn
How have you been? So glad to see you here.
Thanks for your kind words and for dropping by. Take care and all the best in your future undertakings.
Hello Sarinah
No man is an island, right? :)
Hope you had a good Sunday. Take care.
Hi Pi
I agree with what you said. The sad part is some of them up there demand to be treated accordingly and forget the man/woman on the street who support their lifestyle and position.
I believe everyone is ambitious. It just differs with each individual.
Hello Akmal
It is all about attitude - remember you had a posting on that subject?
Sometimes it is easier said than done trying to see the brighter side of things when the going gets tough but it is possible with the right attitude. And yes, there is always a reason for everything.
Thanks for your thoughts. You have a nice day too, Akmal.
Hello Rita
Thank you for your kind thoughts and words. I consider you a lifetime pal and hope we will remain that way as long as we both shall live. :)
Peanut loves the slightly bigger space in our new home. Every now and then he runs from one end to the other for exercise. haha
Anyway, our neighbour has horses so it is quite funny to watch him growl at the horses from afar (behind our fence). I bet if the horses get closer, he will run for his life. :)
Hi Zawi
I dropped by your blog last night but I did not have time to leave a comment. It did leave me hungry, though. :) I will be back to read the Foods of Kelantan - Part 1, as well as KB in Pictures, Part 3.
By the way, one picture that rekindles my memory the most is Bates Dispensary. It is wonderful to see that clinic is still in existence.
Thanks Zawi. :)
Hi Nyonya Penang
That's funny! :D
That word "takeaway" reminds me of the time when I was on holiday (back home in Malaysia) and I dropped by a Dave's Deli to order something "to go" (the term we use over here in the States). The person at the cashier could not understand what I meant by "to go" when I asked her "could I have my order to go, please?". She went, "huh?"
So, I said, "ta-pau".
And she replied "oh! take away ah?" :D
I said, "yes, take away!" ;)
She answered, "Say lah, take away."
:P
dear JT,
i so like the last sentence - this is especially so with our country leaders. without people like us, do u think they will be up there?
i dont think so!
Dear KC
You are right. Most of our country's leaders take their positions for granted. Maybe yanking them down the ladder (in the next GE) will teach them some humility. ;)
Helo JT,
Thanks for sharing the takeaways...:)
Very spot on..especially the one abt 'not many ppl can be at the top' part.
There was one time i had a conversation with my Uncle's foreman (sand quarry), he said he envy me...i said "why so?"
He said "cause u get to study, and go outside the country."
Then i replied him, "i also envy you, you can get to do things with ur hands (mechanic), which i can;t. If my car breaks down or any equipment break down, i know nuts about it. And when i bring to people to fix it, i would not even know whether they are 'slaugtering' me with the charges or whether they are fixing the right thing"
Each one of us has their purpose.
I also mentioned, when i was in overseas...the garbage collector are proud of their work and not feel despair.
Can u imagine everyone is born to be lawyers and other professionals?
Who build houses, who helps to take our rubbish, who helps to fix cars and factory equipments, etc.
His reply.."never thought abt that."
On another note: have posted another clip.
"In short, everyone is important in this life, not just the man or woman sitting on top of the ladder. For every man or woman sitting comfortably on top, there are many more people holding up that ladder for them."
those words are so true. when ppl on top of the ladder forget abt the ppl at the bottom, thts wht we'r getting now, RERUNS! lol.
Hey Jacqui,
I'm truly amazed.. how can our experiences, thought processes be so similar.. You won't believe this.. I'm also half way through writing my learnings from 2007 :) My takeaway from the reason, season, lifetime story - focus on what I have over what I lack. :)
Hi JT, nice post, makes one reflect too.
For me, everyone is important...YOU, who came into my life with memories similar to mine, I mean of Sugee cakes and, well, you know. My wife, or the cashier at Shell where I pump gas for my gas guzzler car, etc....
or a stranger giving me a smile and wishing me 'good morning, how you doin'? in the elevator.....
And "for every man or woman sitting comfortably on top, there are many people holding up the ladder for them"...how true, JT.
I have had the experience of sitting at the 'top'...and it was the people I employed who put me there. They held up the ladder, lucky did not let go, ha ha.
Those days I prefer to employ people with experience rather new graduates, or put a new graduate under an experienced person, understudy so to speak...and I have employed people who can't even speak English well, let alone write three sentences of a report, but who cares, they know what I want, they can do what I want,...I take them, to help hold the ladder for me.
Yes, everyone is important, everyone is on this earth for a special purpose....
You have a nice day, JT, Lee.
This piece is so worthy to be a reflection in my life too, sis! Thank you for sharing.
You wrote it beautifully. It touches my heart. God bless you sis.
Hello Nightwing
That is something I have always observed and I guess, I could say just like lesson #1, it is affirmed to me every now and then through some people's words and deeds.
You shared your views very well with your uncle's foreman. :)
Take care, Nightwing and thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Hi Princess Farina
That's a good one - "we get reruns". And what happens when we get to many reruns (for example on TV)? We say "oh crap!"
So, when people on top of the ladder forget about the people at the bottom, the end result - "crap-ology". :D
Hey Rashi
Dare I say "Great minds think alike?" ;D
Look forward to reading your takeaways. Just bear with me if I am a little late visiting your blog. Take care, Rashi.
Hello Lee
I think it is wonderful that although we were born in different decades, we have similar memories (well, almost all...)? :D
Re everyone is important, there is an example of how much I respect this particular boss and his view of how everyone makes a difference. When came time for a company trip, two sales consultants in the office were not happy that the boss included the support staff. They said that they are the ones who brought in the money for the company, so they should be the ones who get the all-expenses paid trip.
When the boss got hold of this, he told the consultants that without the support staff, their work would not have been completed and money would not have rolled in. He said that everyone has a role in the office and everyone counts. :)
Thanks for your kind sharing. You keep well, Lee.
Helo JT,
Have posted another clip..:)
Hello Dalilah (Raden Galoh)
Thank you for your kind words. God bless you too, sis.
Take care. :)
Crap-ology indeed. i dont kno how much longer i can take it. tsk tsk.
Hi Jacqui,
Amen to all three...=)
First:
I have been blessed to have met so many people who have touched my life...Some I just met for a few minutes, some merely second, while others, for a long time...But, they all have an impact on my life, whether I realise it or not...So for that, I am thankful...
Second:
One reason why I volunteer in the hospital, is a reality-check...It is a constant reminder to me that no matter how bad things are for me, there will always be people out there who have it a whole lot worse, and for that realisation, I am humbled...
Third:
Yes, everyone has a purpose on this Earth...Sometimes we forget, but when we do remember, we remember how small we actually are...And for that, I am humbled and thankful...
And I am thankful and blessed, to have known you, Jacqui...=)
*Hugs*
Hi JT, just noticed you an Aquarius, me too.
How you doin'? Busy with your new residence?
And how's Peanuts? Chewing the shoes or carpet? No, I guess he must be well trained by now.
You have a nice day, JT, Lee.
jt, hope the weather where u are is treating you better. Its freezing here and the scorching sun of malaysia doesnt seem to bad now in comparison. This is by way of telling you, I am back in London.
Hi Daphne
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind comments. Appreciate it very much.
I am thankful we met and am blessed to have you in my life. *hugs*
Hi Lee
Ah! you are observant. Yes, I am Aquarius too and I am a few days away from adding another year. :)
I am little busy on some days but am pretty much settled. When I do any form of house work, I find the hours are just flying by. When the evening comes around, I just don't feel like doing anything that requires thinking. That is why I cannot seem to devote much time to blogging in the evenings (when I am a little more free).
Peanut is being a good dog. He learns quickly what he not suppose to mess with in the house. :) He does not chew on things around the house except the bones we buy for him.
Thanks for dropping by again, Lee. I will try to visit your blog soon.
Hi Kak Teh
Wow.. what a difference in weather for you. I used to feel the same way too when I had to endure the bitter cold in Germany. Suddenly the sunny and hot weather in Malaysia did not seem too bad. :)
We have been having some rain over the past few days. Everytime I think the ground is dry enough for me to do something outside the house, we get another shower. I figured I will just wait and not do anything with the garden until April. (an excuse to proscrastinate). :)
Thanks for dropping by to let me know that you are back in London. Although Malaysia is home (and we will always miss it), I am sure you glad to be back in your own home.
JT,
This is a good piece.. very well written. It makes me feel so humble as I can relate to all your points and did my own reflection. Thanks for sharing with us.
Dear J.T,
Now only i have time to drop by here. Sorry for the long hiatus. Will come abck again to read the entire post ya?
Take care
Hi J.T.
I want to wish you a very Happy Chinese New Year. Hope you are doing fine and little Peanut is not driving you up the wall yet. :)
Take care,
Dawn
Hello Nana
Thank you for the compliment and kind words.
Maybe you would like to share your reflections in your blog. ;)
Don't worry about not being able to drop by here. We all get caught up with stuff in our lives. :)
Take your time. After all blogging is supposed to be fun, not a chore (reminding myself too that it is so. hahaha)
You take care too.
Hi Dawn
Thanks for the CNY wishes. Hope you are enjoying yourself despite being away from Malaysia.
I am doing okay. Peanut is being a good doggy. He is a little more independent these days, thanks to the doggy door. I don't need to take him out when he needs to "go". ;)
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