Merry Christmas To You

What should I say? 😅.... Again, one year has passed. The one year that had bring us a lots of events, happenings and stories from around the world.

But, with all of these "things" did happen and would do so in the future, we always encounter Christmas, in between.., once a year....

People have been celebrated Christmas day since a very long time ago, every year, up until today. Well yes, I think, we all know that so well.. :) The idea is, it's about something which is special to those people who believes, so that as to reminds them about no matter how the world be look like in the past or in times to come, there will be a Christmas day in the midst of every situations. Well yes, it has been existed since ages, many years ago. Therefore, it has been a classic! Once, it was called a classic Christmas!

Now, I feel funny. Suddenly, I think of that Christmas cards are all about classic? 😆. Aren't they?

And, when I think of those Christmas cards, I used to have been collected so many of them in the past, when I was a kid. It used to be my favourite thing to do around Christmas time, where I could find and collect a lots of Christmas cards! Then, I would stick them to the walls, and hung them on the Christmas tree, too!

It happened that when I was young, collecting Christmas cards were no big deal because I had plenty of sources around me, at that time 😜. And, we knew that people used to delivered greeting cards more in the past. They seldom used emails or e-cards.

So, I normally get more cards through mails, either from my family members, relatives, friends, neighbours and even from a company where my dad used to worked there, and also from my dad's colleagues and his friends! 😬. Every year, those people would know that I'm this kid who would love to receive greeting cards from them. Thus, they always love to give, and I always love to receive 😂. Anyway, that was a long time ago. And, a time of me as kid of how I get to know and see what Christmas is all about, at that time 😊.

But now, things have changed. We rarely deliver and receive Christmas cards nowadays. And sometimes, I've missed it a lot! Although, it may be not a popular trend today, the Christmas season feeling is always there no matter how the time have changed.

I think, it's all about the things that we normally can do to be happy, or to enjoy at Christmas time. Well yes, it's all good! But, I only know that I'm more grateful to have received that one precious gift that Christ had given to us from such a long time ago, and yet until today, He is still holding the gift for us to receive. He is willing to give for so long, and hoping that one day, we are willing to receive it. So, are you willing to receive yours? Have you received your gift? And I think, when you do really have this thought in mind, there is no other great joy than this, regardless how the world would be look like today. It's all about those wonderful "things" are yet to come!

Hence, as I get older, this is how Christmas day reminds me every year of what Christmas is all about. It's way too far different from what you had in mind when you were a kid, or younger... :)

Anyway, you may have been thinking that what I have been doing lately, when Christmas is just around the corner.... Unfortunately, I don't have any "Christmas" story for you this year 😂.

Actually, to be honest, I don't have any plans for Christmas this year because, I'm working on Christmas day. Thus, I'm not going back to my hometown this Christmas, as well. Yes, it's all about due to work and, I probably going back hometown only next year!

Anyhow, I managed to just hanging around with my brother few weeks before Christmas. And, that's the last time we both had time to seeing each other before he goes back hometown himself, and leave me here alone. Well, I do feel sad a little but I understand....

So, that is how I'm going to celebrate my Christmas this year! It's Christmas at work... :)

Anyway, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year at home and at work!

Pretty Flowers

It seems that we're going to have this so-called erratic weather over the next few days, or weeks, or months....

People usually say, this is the weather that's warm on one day and then much cooler the next day. In other words, it can be a sunny day and then suddenly, becomes a rainy day on the next day! It's something to do with the natural climate change that's generally happens in my region. Well yes, it's a type of weather that normally do happens towards the end of the year.

During this season, I still remember seeing those pretty pink flowers covered the trees long time ago.... Ironically, I suppose to see the pink tree again but, it isn't there.... I come to find pretty flowers instead!

Actually, I have walked along the same path few times already over the past few days, and had seeing a variety of pretty flowers around in the park. And to my surprise, although we're having this quite erratic weather lately, the flowers are still blooming prettily.

The funny thing is, I eventually decided to take some pictures of those flowers only after few days, and watching them every time, whenever I'm taking a walk around the park 😬.

Actually, it has been raining last night, and I barely sleep. It rains heavily until early morning at sunrise, the next day. But then, few hours after sunrise, the weather quickly feels warm outside. And now, the rain has stopped, but I believe, anything outside covered with raindrops due to the falling rain, interests me more. And I think, it would give a spectacular look for every flowers after I took a picture of them. Well yes, they're truly give us such a beautiful and fresh looking image after the rain!

I guess, that's it! It's purely all about a bunch of pretty flowers that I could find in the park! And, I really don't know.... It's just something that comes out of the blue, and I don't even have a plan into taking any pictures.., at first.... But somehow, it happens that I took pictures anyway! 😅. Maybe, I would like to just say that it's merely about the thing that I would enjoy doing or fun to do. Although, it can be the thing which I'm not doing so often, but still it's all about something that I love doing so, whenever I have the time.. :)

Fortunately, there are not so many people in the park, so I don't feel too shy and awkward while doing those pictures taking...😁. And also, I'm not really a pro in taking pictures! 😅. But, everything looks good, and still I'm happy enough!.. :)

Just Let It Be

When certain things don't work out, what do you do? Are you still thriving to make it through? Or, just let it be?

Well, there are matters that you need to really working on it and you succeed, and that's good! But then yes, there are also some other "things" that you may just let them go. Or, let them be!

So, what are those "things"?.. Well, you may find something like this about these "things"....

Well, it makes sense, right? 😅. I think the idea is, there are some matters that seem always out of our control. Or, they are the "things" that we cannot handle of ourselves. So, what would you do? Well, let them go.... Huh?

Now, you may think that I probably not a type of person who like to take things seriously.... And, I would say something like, "Well, I'm not that worry!" Or, "Why bother about it?" Or, "I just don't care."...? 😬. Then eventually, I would just let go! And then again, you may think those are sound really "bad".... 😆. Well, maybe.... But the thing is, those "things" are for sure will eventually come to make you to have no other choices but, to just let go, or let be.., at the end! And now, it makes me sound even "heartless".... :) Well yes, it's not easy. It's hard! It's tiring!

I'm not talking about you should let go all the things of in your life. Of course, there are indeed, situations that you can settle out or handle successfully in the end. And also, I do know that some people may have different opinions about certain things too. But then, how about those certain "things" that you can't even control of. The certain "things" that sound like, something like this....

You know that, there this matter that you think you can work hard on to, at first, but then it eventually get worse in the end and, heartache?... Or, maybe you're in a situation where you think, you just need to hang on to for quite some times now, hoping that it will get better soon, but then end up, it doesn't go anywhere better?... Or, maybe you think, you're doing the right thing, but then, it creates really bad chaos in the end?... So, when you know that all of these "things" are actually bring you no peace, in the end.., isn't it the time for you to just let go?.. And, let it be?..

Thus, it means that there are plenty of these "things" that you just can't keep to yourself and, you still can't even handle of. Or else, if you won't let them go, or you won't let them be, they would likely going to make your life miserable, in the end. Because, we're not problem solvers every time.... 😅.

Hence, how are you going to do about these "things"? What about, if I just say "Let them be and let them go."... But, "Why?".. "Well, let them be and let God.".. "Make sense?"... In other words, "Let go and let God."..

Because, when you know that you can't handle or can't control certain things, this is the time that you need to invite our God in. It's not just let things be or let things go, but to know that He is God who can handle those things, and even can control everything in our lives. It's something like, if you cannot solve it, just give it to Him! And yes, it's not that easy because everything happens in His own timing. So, you need to just trust Him!.. Well, it sounds easy but it's hard!

The interesting part is, most of the certain "things" are the ones that always occur the most, in our lives. Meaning that, they are the "things" that normally do happen all the times in life!.. And, if you understand it clearly, that "thing" can be something that is very close to you, and it can even get really personal too.

Now, I'm thinking that, when these certain "things" happen, and to allow them occur almost in every area in our lives, including your personal life, do you think God allows them for a reason? Well, I do not know... :) Maybe.... But, I learn that He is God who loves for being part of our lives, and He is interested in your that little "things" in you.

So now, do you think that, all these "things" do happen in our lives, so that we know we can rely onto Him and trust Him into taking care of those "things" for us?... Maybe.... But again, I learn that He is God we can trust, and He is faithful.

Anyway, whatever the reason is, I just know that if you find something is out of your control, just know that let God handles everything for you, including those simple little things in your life... Just let go and let God.. :)

A Photo Did This Thing

Only a few months ago, one of my colleagues have left us. I meant, she resigned from her job to pursuing a new career.

Thus, for now.... We knew, we were in the new normal way of life.... So, no department or ward party. No house party 😬. In other words, no whatsoever farewell parties.... Those activities were all not allowed for the time being.... And yes, we were greatly understood.

Hence, the only thing that we did was, we took photos instead! 😁. Because for now, at least, we had photos and, only photos would keep all the memories for years starting from now onwards... Yes, we forgot things, but photos did not.

Well, we took lots of photos in a day 😅, since she had only few days left before she officially resigned....

Actually, we seldom took photos among ourselves at work, maybe because we were working and busy.. :) But because, that moment was precious for her, hence we were glad to be able to taking photos together.

So again, another more photos we took at the same place or spot, but not on the same day and, at different time.. :)

Actually, there were other people too who wanted to be in the photos as they could keep the memories for themselves. And, that was why, there were few different human being in each photos.., but then, however, it was only just me, sitting there at the cardiac table on one side, few times already 😅.

Anyway, well yes, that was how a life journey was all about. I have learned that my journey and your journey in life was not the same. We might have come across to each other along the way for a period of time, and then, parted ways with one another into our own journeys in life. It was something like, people came and then, walked away.... All because, we had certain goals to achieved, dreams to pursued, plans to accomplished, other commitments, and all....

It did feel sad for a moment as she would be leaving, but that she had a choice and her own journey. And, we all respected her views. Hence, all we could do for her was wishing her for the best!

Well yes, we were not seeing each other again, but the memories that we had would always remained. The only special memories, that only the photos could bring....

Then suddenly, this reminded me about the photos I kept for so long now....

Actually, these above photos were old photos of me when I was working in my previous working setting before I joined my current place of work as for now.

I remembered, it was during my night duty, sitting at the cardiac monitors, observing and monitoring the status of each and every patient's condition in the unit, together with my other colleagues, at that time.

There were these funny thoughts came to my mind, sometimes, when I started to gazing at all these monitor screens that shown all the parameters of each patients. To me, it was not just the bed numbers, the vital signs, or the "waves" and "rhythms".., but it was also all about each and every patient's story.

I knew, it was crazy 😅, but from the "rhythm" itself, it was already given me a hint about that one particular patient's health status. And, the interesting part was each and every patient was different, and they have had their own unique stories to tell. It was like as if, there was a small window attached to it, which that would allow me to had a glimpse to their real life stories. And I thought, that was silly!

Although it was a very long time ago, I still had the same feeling even until today. And also, only just by looking at the photos, all the memories were rushed in into my brain, like watching a movie that was playing at the same time. And, I was surprised that I could remember almost everything very clearly in my mind! It seemed that was how powerful a simple photo could do to you.

I was truly amazed. It was about 10 years ago. Suddenly I felt, it was like just taken yesterday instead of a photo of 10 years!.. Well yes, 10 years ago without masks! With no CORONA!

Those Simple Nice Sayings

I came across to have found a table calendar, while I was sitting at the nurse counter....

Well actually, there were these really pretty nice sayings, or phrases, or words that you normally may found in a table calendar, starting from the month of January until December. It was either you may found it at a side, or at the back of each table card whenever you flipped it over.

At first, I thought, they were just "words" and nothing special. But, as I read through all of them, those sayings and phrases that stated in for every of the month in the table calendar, were all sounded wonderful and pretty interesting!

Sometimes, I did find it felt weird and funny when you suddenly stumbled upon the things that you have never even thought of. Whether, it happened to have come your way, or it was a coincidence?... I really did not know.

However, some of those sayings or phrases were all great, especially in times like these... Therefore, I snapping some photos of each one of them, which I thought the most ideal and suitable for my own self! 😁. Pardon me, if the sayings were too small, or the words were not so clear enough for you to be able to read them. Hence, I would just jotted down some in here instead of reading them in the pictures.. :)

Thus, the first one would look something like this....

Eat Like A Kid

"If adding more fruits and vegetables into your meal sounds ominous, look for *finger food* versions that preschool kids love - baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, grapes, berries, and dried fruits. All of which are nutritional power-houses packed with antioxidants."

This reminded me that when I was a kid, I'm not that really into eating that much, where it eventually had made my mom headache each time, because of my eating habit.., a picky eating kid 😅. Well yes, I am really a picky kid into eating until my mom felt so worried that I might not having enough nutrition which was the most important for my growth as a kid during that time.

Hence, when I saw and read the picture above, I'm so totally the opposite! 😬

Keep Good Company

"The healthiest people are those who have relationships with other healthy people.

Get your family and friends involved when you go for walks or make plans to have healthier meals together. Making healthy changes with loved ones will not only bring you closer to one another, but will also motivate you."

Well yes, we have had more friends to have companied with us, when we were still young because we all liked to play together. We liked to be around with many friends to played games. We knew children liked to play. But, as we got older, we tended to have had less friends, as we only wanted to work more! 😆

Disconnect From Technology

"Have A Phone-Free Dinner Policy. We've all seen how silly those people look sitting around the table at a restaurant looking down instead of at each other, but we've also probably been there ourselves.

Instead of looking at your phone or the TV, use this time to talk about your day, laugh about old memories or find solutions to problems that you may have."

I thought, everyone would have known and agreed about this particular behaviour of ourselves, right? Well yes, there was always a new trend or technology to come from time to time. Well, that was how we lived nowadays... No matter at what place or, at what time or, if you were with other people, we didn't bother that much.., because the thing that seems far more important was looking at the handphone screen, and not at our surroundings.

And I found, it was getting more serious when it happened that the only time my own brother was NOT looking at his handphone was, when he was driving! 🙈

Give Yourself Time To Rest

"It's all too common to keep pushing on with your daily tasks and responsibilities, even when your body and mind are screaming at you to take a break. Spend time outdoors, go for a walk. Views of nature such as sunrise and sunsets has a calming effect which can do wonders to your mind and spirit."

Well yes, after all the hard work, after all the busy schedule, after all the exhausted feeling at the end of the day, and so on.., the last thing that we wanted the most was the time to rest. This was the time where you could do whatever things that you enjoyed the most. From any simple and fun activities to even sleeping!

So, it was funny right? I really didn't know that these simple little things did come my way when I didn't even realize it.

But, the thing was, it was literally happened at the time when I needed it the most!

How Are You?

Well, I don't know whether if there's someone does realize it or not (or, maybe I am the only one...) that, there's this feeling at ease or slightly better whenever somebody have asked something like... "How are you?".., each time?...😅

Don't you think that, it's sort of a "gift" to you and, much more like a blessing when somebody just asked, "How are you?" or, "How are you doing?" or, "How have you been?"..., to you?

It seems, we tend to use a lot more of "how are you?" things nowadays, maybe because of the current situations or the new way of how we live these days.

As we're all already know, we're living in the new normal way of life, where distance plays a major role in one part of it. Apart from wearing face mask, hand washing, good ventilation.., still, we would not forgetting social distancing too.

Now, it's not only about these things that you need to carry out or keep to yourself but, which also means that to cover up a larger, much wider places, or areas, or districts, or states, or even countries.., whole world?.. Why not?... It's not social distancing anymore. It leads to another thing, that's called lockdown. Yes, we normally heard this place lockdown, or that state is in lockdown, or the country is shutdown.... When all these things happened, so does the people. It eventually leads to people living in the distance, away from each other. In other words, we "lockdown" ourselves.

And, the funny thing is, I've had this silly feeling of, as if this "self-lockdown" thing have made us to think about each other more..? I mean, especially when we have our loved ones whom you're not seeing each other for a long time now, as they're living in other places, other districts, or states, or even different countries. And, we can't even travel just yet and that makes all things more difficult.

Thus, by just thinking of the people you love or care about, and then simply asked them, "How are you?", it means a lot to them, I believe. It doesn't matter, as long as they're the people whom you know well, such as your families, relatives and friends or even neighbours.., I think, you would make their day much better, simply by just asking, "How are you doing?".., from far away in the distance....

Now, I do not know about other people but the idea is, I would feel much better and happy enough to just knowing that they're people who can simply asked, "How is your day?".. And, I'm thankful for them, as if they're indeed the "gifts" that have been sent for me, and that I'm blessed.

Anyhow, I come to realize about this thing as it does happened in my own condition too. I think, everyone has gone through more or less the same situations as it's not much different because we're all living in the distance from each other. As for me, I've always noticed that whenever someone is trying to initiate a conversation in a messenger or via a phone call, that person would simply begin with, "How are you?".. And, it's simply just like that! Well, it could happen to everyone who is involved in the conversation, that it seems now, it turned out to be a new trend in times like these.., to me 😬.

Because, in old times, we had this old habit of traveling among my uncles and aunties who living in other districts or states, where they liked to travel back to hometown whenever they have time on weekends. But now, things have changed. They could not travel for the time being, but still able to keep in touch through messenger or phone call. So, each time if they want to say "Hi", they would start asking, "How are you?" instead...

Thus, to those people, whoever you are and wherever you are from, I would like nothing more than to just asking, "How are you doing?"... :) "Over there?"...😊 

Listen To Your Heart

Our nurse manager comes and handed over a thing in a small plastic bag to each one of us on duty and says, "Here, you all may need this...."

So, I open mine and I see.., a pair of earplugs?.. Huh!..😂😂

Well yes, I understand that, there will be some construction works going on soon, anything from drilling to knocking, or whatever it is... It's going to produce a very loud noise, and it's going to be extremely noisy, as well.

Fortunately, we don't have many patients in the ward, except 1 to 2 patients in the room, so that they won't be disturbed by the noise.. I hope...😅.. Thus, it seems we are the one who need to bear with the so-called noise pollution for a while.

Hence, not long after that, the construction works begin and it makes a loud noise.... So now, we need to use our earplugs 😁. And then, when I put on my earplugs, I hear NOTHING!.. It seals my hearing completely!

I see my colleagues are talking, but I couldn't hear their voices. We all just laughing, but then I realize it's because my ears have been sealed by the earplugs. And, all I can hear now is silence! Then, followed by feeling of peace.... :)

While I am in my silence being, I slowly could hear and feel my own heartbeat. And then, I could only hear my footsteps when I walked. Suddenly, I come to realize that, I've never felt my internal feeling along with that feeling of peace, after a long time. It seems all this while, all my internally have been shadowed by all the things and, circumstances that are happening externally. Then gradually, it makes me to slow down and hear my own inner voice.., the deepest voice within...

Now, a funny thought comes to mind, and it reminds me that, no matter how busy you are, or how loud the outside noise you are into, there're times you need to slow down a bit. Well yes, because we are all now living in the fast-paced world that tends to make us feel so aware of our externally, but forget our internally.

Actually, I'm really amazed of how the simple small earplug really can make so much different to my inner being. And, it even reminds me about my own places which I really love and treasure the most, whenever I want to have a peaceful heart.. :)

I think, the most comfortable, quiet and peaceful place to be is just stay at home. So, whenever I'm not working, I just love to stay at home mostly when I am alone. It's indeed a place that I can have everything to myself and forget all about work, including my colleagues too..😆.

Sometimes, it can be so quiet and serene, as if I can talk to myself within or listen to my own deepest voice.

Another one place that I love to be at is the library or the bookstore. Apart from just reading books, the one reason that I really like is the quietness surrounding, particularly in the library. It feels very calm and peaceful to me, not only because of being able to see so many books but sometimes, staring at them (books) is already enough to make me feel at ease or happy at heart 😊.

And, one last place I would love to be around is the cafe. Well yes, I know cafe is not that really a quiet place like those 2 places above, but I still like the soft medium sounds it makes. Well yes, it feels funny but I like it! 😬. It doesn't necessarily have to be a place to read books (although, sometimes I do read), well yes, it's a cafe.., a place to eat!

But, apart from that, I love that cozy surroundings, the gentle sounds of utensils and glassware, feeble sounds of people talking, the soft music, and so on..., are all sounded nice to me 😅. It's just feels relax and warm.

Hence, they're the places that help me to slow down a little in life. There may be other nice places for other people too, but I do think that everyone of us mostly do have our own favourite, or special places in our hearts. A place that can prompt the internal feeling, or the inner voice from inside of you.

Now, I don't know about other people but, as far as I know that being able to listen to your inner or deepest voice internally, in your heart, sometimes, is a way of how God speaks to you. Or, a way of how His Word communicates to you.

We need to stop all the things that happen in our externally for a while, before you can really listen to your internally, right?.. Because, there are times He wants you to slow down, so that He can speak to you. Or, you can hear His voice through His Word.

So until then, slow down your pace and listen....  

He Is Faithful

I'm off duty today... And plus another 2 days extra holiday after that, is indeed a bonus!

So, I'm thinking to myself now that I could just spending my time sleeping in one whole day because of the so-called "fatigue syndrome"...😅. Or, maybe just Eat, Play, Sleep. Repeat..? 😬

Anyway, before I enter into that "sleeping" phase, I'm sitting in the booth inside the park. Now, it's late afternoon and the weather is hot and heaty....

There's nothing special. I just wanted to spend my own free time outside, even though the park is empty and, with no people. It's almost like as if, it tells you that, well this is how we feel right now.... The current situation that we're having right now.... :)

And, in the midst of that warm and heaty feeling, it started to rain all of a sudden. I don't even aware of it. Rain falls in the middle of hot and heaty late afternoon? That's weird... Maybe because it's too so damn hot weather, lately... And, that's all I know... Anyhow, it doesn't take very long but then, it's only drizzling instead.... And, it seems to tell me to wait for a while or, to just stay?...

With everything going on around us right now, I feel like I'm just not going to saying anything but then immediately, I'm reminded that God is good! And His faithfulness we cannot deny.

But yes, there're times I do feel overwhelmed by our surroundings, or the things that we're having or facing lately. It seems that, there's this some sort of a "rhythm" to it where, when things become worse, the flow goes down and, when things begin to climb for the better, the flow goes up.

I remember that for the past few months ago everything looks just fine. Everything started to picked up gradually and people begin to smile although wearing a mask still a must and, a proper hands washing and social distancing still need to do.

But then recently, things changed again. It appears to be hard for everyone and the situation is tough.

Now, I don't know, maybe because it's always raining in the late afternoon when the sun still high up in the sky... So, one day, this happened....

I have no words to say... It's just so awesome!

And, the funny thing is, I remember my colleague is with me when we encountered the view above, and she said, her 4 year old daughter have asked her that whether it is real or not, because her daughter often seeing rainbow in the TV (television) only, that is to her (daughter), it is not real. 😂

Thus, it happened that a rainbow appeared in front of them, one day... Then, her mother asked her, "Are you seeing it now?" Her daughter said, "Yes." Again her mother asked, "Do you see it on the TV now?" The daughter said, "No." Then, the mother goes.. "So?" The child then said, "So, it's real?"...😅

Then, suddenly a funny thought comes to my mind at the same time.... Yes, things changed. It's hard. It's tough. But, there's one that has not changed. He's our God. It's just like a rainbow appears in the midst of the rainy day, it seems as if like, that's how our God works in the midst of our hard and tough times.

He is colourful. He is real. And, He is faithful. And, it's a double rainbow.., meaning it's double blessing too?.. Well, who knows?.. :)

While I Sit Near Window

Let's play "game"! 😂.. Well, maybe it doesn't sound like playing a game, because it's something that you create from your own idea, your thought, your thinking, your opinion, your experience or whatsoever things that come to your mind.... :)

Actually, it happened that when I saw the above picture, it kept making me wonder which then, eventually it led me into creating different scenarios by just looking at it! 😅..

Hence, these were the scenarios that came to mind simply by just seeing at picture above... Or, in other words, what did it (the above picture) speaks to you?

Scenario 1

I just came back home after work. After I had my shower, I felt fresh again.., after a long hectic work.

I came sitting near the window, and I found myself gazing outside straight away. Suddenly, my mind felt free, as if I am finally able to breathe fresh air in a huge space, after all that "life events" or happenings in 12 hours time, surrounded by just only 4 plain white walls, watching lives lying in beds, with some of them need supported by "life" machines, whereas some others were not, accompanied by all sorts of sounds, a rhythm from the machine alarm sound that always became our "music" rhythm of the day....

Anyhow, that was work. And, today's work was done. And, it was enough for today. There were times, I might wonder, what things that I have done good or better for someone today?...

I gave the best that I could. Although, it might be not perfect. I have done my part. The rest would be in His hands, our God. His part....

All I need now was to rest. Today was done. Because, tomorrow will be a new day. A new day with a new story, and again I wonder, what new things are going to happen next? What good things are He, our God is going to do?

And, when I thought of these, I felt excited, nervous, sometimes scary too.... :)

Scenario 2

I'm just sitting near the window, looking outside. I found myself alone as my roommates were all away....

Well, it was our semester break holiday for about 2 weeks have just started. So, for those students whom their families were staying nearby from our campus, would usually went back to their hometown. Whereas, those whose families were staying far from the campus, were just remained and stayed in the hostel, including myself.

This was the time, I usually would think about my family too. My thought about them would come more often, as I'm miles away and seldom went back home.

So, what I did was, whenever I had enough coins which I've been collected and kept until the end of the month, I would definitely made a call to my mom back at home. Or, sometimes, if I had enough money to buy a phone card, I would be so happy to be able to purchased one, and would quickly called back home!

Oh, the thing was, we didn't have cellphones or smartphones at that time. We only had a telephone booth! 😆.. It was a small tall booth with a telephone inside which you have to dialed the numbers first.

And, there was the door which you have to closed it each time whenever you were inside the telephone booth before you could start talking.... :)

Scenario 3

"Did she receive it yet?" I wonder. Now, I'm sitting near my window as my mind went blank....

We started to write to each other, since we were 10 or 11 years old. I was living in town. She was living in rural.

The funny thing was, our letters took months to arrived to each other. It was because, there was no postman. 😂.. Well, the thing was, we had postman in a town but not in a village. And, there would be no postman could deliver letters from town to rural area as there was no proper road. The only main route to the village was by river, which the main transportation was using boats and express boats.

But anyhow, we still could receive letters by sending them through the people who travelled to village and back to town using the express boats! And, it was all free! No postal stamps needed!. 😂

However, after months of waiting, we still received letters, and I'm so happy whenever I received mine. It was special and unique!

Anyway, things have changed. We didn't write letters anymore. That was a long time ago during childhood.

But sometimes, I wanted to write letters again. So, recently I did find few penpals from around the world, but eventually it was not last long. Nowadays, people seems to enjoyed emails more rather than writing letters. Maybe because, emails were fast and instant, whereas letters were slow and sometimes, they got lost.

Anyhow, writing penpals still was great for those who really enjoyed writing a letter. And, there were plenty of penpal websites on the internet if you liked to start one. Or, maybe you wanted to try something different, so why not?.... :)

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Therefore, those were all the stories of different scenarios made simply from just one picture.... I found that it was interesting. So, what was yours? 

It Is A Must

We are living in the world that always makes us feel, sort of "we must", kind of thing, of how we should live our lives. Don't you think?

What I am saying is that, "we must do this!" or "we must do that!"

I come across to have read about someone else's short memo, not long time ago. And, to be honest, I don't really remembered when or how that I could get to learned something from it later. But, it does speaks to me at some point. Thus, it read something like this....

After marriage, to have children is not a must. To not have children also is not a sadness.

Why would we must be happy with the things that through the world's ways?... That is always makes us feel "we must, must and must." (We) must be a rich man. Must be famous. Must have a girlfriend or a boyfriend. Must get married. Must have children.

Then, after all the "shoulds" that we get, are we happy? In fact, there will never be enough. Because being happy is about being grateful.

When it is "Yes, you do have, say thank God!" And, when it is "No, you don't have, still say thank God!" Because as long as we have God, we have everything....💗

There's this a little funny feeling to it but yes, it speaks the truth. And I think, there're so many other things in our lives that you can relate to it too, actually.

Anyhow, to my surprise, suddenly it reminds me into the days way back long time ago when I was still in my studies, years ago. I remembered the day that I had my Sociology and Anthropology class, and there she was, our beautiful lecturer standing at the front facing to us in the hall, sharing her own stories in between lecture. I still remembered clearly that she told us on this....

When you were single, they would ask, "When are you going to get married?" Now, I'm married. They asked again, "When are you going to have children?" Then, now I do have children. Then again, they asked, "When are you going to have second child? or third? and so forth..." But, the most surprising me was, my first ever newborn babies were twins that have made me feel so much blessed to have them, and yet still they asking, when am I going to have the third one, or fourth?.. Oh my...😅

We all just laughed after she told us her story, but at the same time it made me feel a bit sorry for her too.

Now, don't you think that her story too seems to be similar to the one that makes us feel "we must, must and must?"

They say, it's the way of life. Or, they may say, it's how life goes. The world believed, that was life, which already been there in us since we were born, and for as long as we live our lives on this earth. And, it's a must-have in our culture, in our society and even in our history.

Anyway, please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying marriage is a bad thing. It's indeed a blessing! And, I'm either not saying being single is a bad thing. It's indeed a blessing too! It's the same goes to other things like, regardless you're famous or not, being rich or not, things that you do have or don't have, and so on.., there's always a reason to feel blessed with.

Honestly, I can say that to be really feel thankful or grateful about the things that we already have in our lives, is not easy. Sometimes, you feel it's not enough. You want more. You want to be more happy. But, are you?

Of course, our goals are different. And, God's purpose for our lives are not the same but they're all meant to serve the Lord the same. Hence, it would be wise enough to not compare yourself with others, and knowing that He is your God who provides for you, who protects you, who cares for you, and above all who has loved you first!

And, for all of these to come upon you, He wants your part... He wants you to trust Him. He wants you to have faith in Him. Then, let Him to take over.

Because, when we have Him, we have everything. And, that's more than enough!

How COVID Changes Us

Mr. Brian used to has a stable and steady working schedule. He goes offshore to work for about 1 to 2 months, then comes back home after completed his job for 1 to 2 months as well, before he goes offshore again for his next schedule. But, that was a long time ago.... Mr. Brian has been jobless since last year.

To have a secure job position in oil and gas industry for long term seems to be slowly faded, recently. There are a lot of things have been changed in a company, that has made almost everything felt so hard for Mr. Brian. And, it seems it has been even hit harder by a huge crisis which the whole world is facing right now.., that's the Covid-19.

But then, only last week, Mr. Brian has decided to quit his job after taking so much things to consider, before he is 100% sure to let go his job after so many years. Well yes, it's not an easy thing to do...

Anyway, he quits and now he wants to breeding and selling freshwater crayfish or lobster!.. He has been researching about it, and eventually it seems to be a wise business at this time and, he's definitely going to make it work, together with one of his friend....

Mrs. Anne is a full-time housewife. She's taking care almost everything related to the household chores, including into making sure enough food for the family everyday.

Every week, she needs to decide in buying groceries whether from the supermarket or grocery store or wet market. And because, Mrs. Anne is the one who usually buys, so it's not surprising when she can remembered pretty well of almost all the prices of the items that she used to buy for so many years.

She used to say, things were a lot cheaper back then!.., and now getting more and more costly... But, it seems it has been even hit harder by again, a huge crisis which the whole world is facing right now.., that's the Covid-19. It appears food becomes more expensive!

But then, only recently, Mrs. Anne has come with a new idea that, at least, could save her a lot more in spending to buy food. She wants to do gardening! It doesn't necessarily need a huge space. It can be a small place at the front porch, corridor, balcony, or a small space at the kitchen window or, any small place or space that you can find around the house. Or, you may try to create a simple hydroponic system at home!

Well yes, it's obviously will not be able to supply 100% of all the greens that you can find in the supermarket but, at least, it does help a lot in providing the ones which you can grow yourself at home and can save you more rather than buying them....

They are the 2 people whom I know very close. And, I believe they are many other people out there who also being affected by this COVID crisis thing and, it even hurting the entire world so greatly.

So, what does this mean to you?.. I think, to know about Mr. Brian and Mrs. Anne as above, literally, it tells you that they're among others who are now struggling, or carry on to make every effort to find other ways or different methods to be able to continue to put food on the table for their family. But regardless of, it's because COVID or not, we still need to work.

It's evidently this COVID crisis does hit differently and it hits even harder to some others, but still we have to live our lives to keep moving on and, it's not just you.

Apart from just thinking about the worse, why not just taking it as something that is to encourage you, to motivate you, to be creative in the things you do?.. I'm not saying it's easy, yes it's hard, but sometimes, we do find the world has changed a lot now and so our lives too.

Forget about what other people would think or say about you. Just trust a few opinions, but forget the rest. You know yourself better. However, pray for the best for you, hope for the best and, expect the unexpected! :)