Letting Go

I had this housewarming gift in the form of koi fishes when I moved into this house. In fact, those koi stayed in my house for about 2 years before we shifted in. I love to spend time sitting by the pond, feed them and yes, just enjoy relaxing moments, observing and sometimes I would day-dream ... yup, thinking about life as a fish, for instance. By the cascading water fountain, I would sometimes sit for hours and feel the breeze, the calming effects of nature relaxes me. So, no doubt, I grew to be rather fond of my koi.

At first, they would panic whenever my kids are around, playing 'fish catching' or dipping their little feet into the pond, wading away. Ha ha ... that would certainly make any live beings in the water look for hiding space ya. Anyway, soon, they became used to the noisy crowd and the occasional chaotic environment especially when the children got adventurous and would literally swim in the pond!

Then one day, the friend who gave me the koi made a request. This friend had just shifted into a bungalow, done up a big pond and felt that my kois are too big now for my small pond.... I was upset but I braved myself to say 'ok' and when the day came for the koi to move out, I thought I could handle it. Alas, I broke down and cried. I just didn't realise how strong was the attachment I had for those koi. At first, my friend took only the 3 bigger ones. Then, I noticed that the rest just didn't want to eat and I thought, OMG, they are depressed! So, with a heavy heart, I got my friend to come and pick up the rest of them ... with only one request : that may they be well taken care off, feed well and live happily in their new pond .... metta ^_^

When the kois were with me, this friend of mine would come and visit sometimes. Many a time, this friend would comment on how precious and valuable the kois were, which somehow, made me feel uneasy. I felt as though I "owe" this friend of mine something even though, as per Chinese customs, I had given this friend an angpow, signifying a note of thank you in return.

Of course, this friend also bought me some smaller koi in exchange, however, those died within the next day. Perhaps, it's fated to be that way. In the end, I bought some medium sized ones from Sentul Koi where they were having a clearance sale. Thank God, these survived and seem to be happy in their new home, feeding well and my, you should see them swim ... speed is their name! Alas, I am thankful that I let go, cos now, those koi in my pond are truly mine and they are growing up to be such beauties!

Healed

14th September, 2009 - Wow!!!! That's more than 3 months since my last post here. Oh well, looks like I have a lot to catch up, so I think I'll have to engage the reverse gear! Ha ha ...

All is well, now that last Thurday morning the eye specialist performed a surgery to scrap off the epilatum layer of my injured right eye and had to rest at home with a patch, spotting a One Eye Jack thingy. So glad that it is healing well. Went to work after 4 days' of complete rest, although I had to force myself to just work for less than 4 hours. Thank God for this beautiful world ya ^_^

A close friend quoted : our eyes are our window to the world, gotta take very good care of them! How very true, certain things we really took for granted until the unexpected mishap happens.... Ever since my eye injury I tried not to strain my eyes too much, especially when it comes to facing the computer screen! (but then, what to do? I needed to face it in order to earn a living leh... sigh...) Diligent application of eye drops and eye gel helps, sometimes in the middle of the night where the excruciating pain just inflict ifself onto poor unprepared me! Just couldn't understand it. For 2 weeks, all seem to be well and suddenly the pain just appear out of nowhere ... and it went on and on until I finally got to the 3rd doc who explained to me in plain English. Aiyo ...

Anyway, it's with a sigh of relief, really, that I made the decision to cure my eyes once and for all with this surgery ^_^

Never Work Again

28th June, 2009 - We took a the AirAsia flight to Singapore on the 24th, stayed at a backpackers inn on Joo Chiat Road called Betel Box, right in between the night clubs. Nice little place where we bunk in double deckers together with my 2 sisters cum best friends as well as 5 other girls who came and went. For SGD23 per person per night, it's really a cozy place, no complaints. Came with breakfast too ... with free-flow of bread, assorted jams, fruits and coffee. All in all, had a rather satisfied 5 days' stay.

Why Singapore again? It's the Never Work Again seminar, the fourth one from the T Harv Eker's Quantum Leap package. My girlfriends used to chide me for getting "conned" into parting with hard earned money .... should have used the money to put as down payment for a car or even a house, something like that. Ha ha ha ... maybe it's the mid-life crisis thingy where I am standing at a cross-road, something of that sort ^_^ Oh, by the way, I managed to sell a complimentary ticket for SGD1,000 .... so okaylah, got some money back, thanks to 2 friends. You know who you are ^_^

Anyway, at least for a change in the way I think and exposing myself to a lot of new ideas and opening up my mind, it's just one of those things that happen to interest me, giving myself a pinch, a wake up call perhaps? Hmm.... Just not for everybody huh, certainly not for many people my age, my gender, my culture? One thing for sure, this learning is much better than obtaining an MBA lor ^_^

It sure beats attending the seminar by myself. I have 2 like-minded sisters who are just as keen and I find that as I embark on this journey of pursuing the never ending financial education, I have also created a special bonding with my sisters.... Not many sisters are as close as us, certainly not many who would share the same interests ya. In fact, on numerous occassions, people actually commented on how they envy us! Yeh! Good to know huh. I count my blessings in this respect every now and then. Metta.

When I shared some of the information or news relating to these seminars, many would cringe and many would reserve their comments albeit thinking that I am idiotic enough to be listening to craps, yadi yada yade ....

Here's to our next financial education journey .... The Warrior Enlightenment Camp in October 2009! AH HOI!