The Next Wave Experience

It's been awhile since my last post. Was doing all kinds of part time job during those period. I became a runner and helped people queue at JPJ to pay their road tax, represent a company to sit for PKK exam ( I got RM100 for that and when they saw the test result was outstanding I got another RM50 consolation).  Added all that with my last savings...and my son's piggy bank (I felt ashamed of myself having to...em..well, let's put it in a nicer word, loan..yes, having to loan it from my son's piggy bank.) Yeah, I managed to get the money ( & loan) to fund my air ticket to Kuala Lumpur for what I believed would be a life changing event for me: The Next Wave - New Age Instant Wealth Strategies by two of my idols, Shaun Stenning and Vince Tan.

Been logging in to Air Asia web everyday...every 8 minutes, hoping to get the cheapest airfare. Nahh...to my dismay, the fare was like RM514 and that's only one way!!  If I were to buy that ticket, how am I suppose to return home when all the cash that I had in hand, was just a mere small amount of RM600??   Still, I logged in everyday and checking the site every 8 to 10 minutes. They didn't change the fare, it's still the same RM514!!. I am no immortal, I still need to buy food to survive and live for 4 days at least. Well the duration of the event was 3 days, and that 1 extra day I must stay alive to figure out how and where to source some more money.

The event was just 2 days away and there I was in a small town called Inanam, somewhere in the nook of Kota Kinabalu, feeling helpless.  I had the guts to purchase the event's entry ticket when I clearly knew I do not have any extra funds to spend for a trip to West Malaysia. But I told myself, hey, by hook or by crook I'll get myself there. I can't let this opportunity go by just like that just because I don't have enough money to buy a return ticket? Not giving up just yet, I surfed Malaysia Airlines (MAS) website (surfing the internet has always been my passion) very much aware that MAS has always been 70% dearer as compared to Air Asia. I clicked on MAS Get-the-Deal anyway. Aaarrrggg..!! I literally screamed outloud, I can fly to Kuala Lumpur and back to Sabah again after the event! My RM600 can get me a round trip ticket! No second thoughts... I bought the tickets immediately at a handsome price of RM428 round trip. After so many nights of frustrations I slept soundly that night, and I thought I was smiling in my sleep.

The day finally arrived. My departure for Kuala Lumpur was one day ahead of the event, on the 16th of September, 2010.  This is a gazetted holiday in Sabah state, so school is out. I still have some balance of cash after I purchased the air ticket, so I took my 2 sons for a dim sum breakfast (they love dim sums) in a decent coffee shop in town. Gave them the Do's and Dont's while I'm away. Both my sons acknowledged the rules..with a cunning smile on their face..hmm..

I went to the airport 3hours before the scheduled boarding time. Was sitting there waiting for time to board the plane. It didn't occur to me that it's passed the scheduled boarding time. And the plane I was supposed to board haven't even touched down Kota Kinabalu Airport. I started to hear waiting passengers complaining about the flight being delayed. Seeing these people frustrated and being told our flight was delayed had no impact on me. What matters most was, I'd be attending the Next Wave event the next day!

Old and Lonely - Do we care for our elders..?

DAILY WE read and hears so many heart-rending cases of murders of senior citizens, children sending their parents to old age homes, children misbehaving or ill-treating parents and throwing them out of their houses. Their progeny seem ashamed of their parents nowadays.

Why is this happening? What is the fault of the parents? Is this their fault that they have become older now, or their fault is that they have wasted their entire life for their children by meeting their needs and expectations, giving their children everything they have ever wanted, from sending them to schools to helping them in being self-dependent? Or the fault of parents is that they have loved their children so much? And so good is the result, that senior citizens are getting out of it. Instead of receiving love of their children, daughter-in-law and grand-children, they are getting humiliation, negligence and disrespect. This is seriously very saddening and disappointing.

Did parents ever teach their children to forget their moral values, respect and love for them, when they become old? No, they have never taught this. Parents can never even expect this from their children. The feeling of being ignored by your loved ones kills from inside. And this is especially true during festive season, when they see other senior citizens who are overjoyed welcoming their children home, along with their spouse and offsprings to gather around for the special occasion. 

This is the condition of senior citizens nowadays. Children have forgotten their moral values, culture and even love for their parents. Or maybe they have become so busy in their lives that they do not have time to take care of their parents. Even Children in-laws have forgotten their duties, responsibilities and obligations towards their parent in-law. How saddening to see these values have gone to almost non-existent in our once so beautiful culture.

Or, ARE WE waiting for them to open up and tell just how sad and lonely they felt during celebrations?

People who do these things with their parents, are building up their future also. Children learn from parents and in future they will surely be facing same circumstances as of what they are doing to their parents. Because, whatever you do comes back to you one day.

Hmm.... I think I'll just stop here. But before that, please take a moment to review what has been mentioned earlier. Let us not wait for our parent to ask. Let us be the one to make the move, and be with them...for they won't be around forever...

I think -- Spring Into Shape (song- Eye of the tiger)

GET FIT, RIGHT NOW
This is the best time of year to get into shape, with the warmer weather and longer days provide more opportunity for an outdoor exercises in the evenings. And if you want to achieve results, then set yourself manageable goals. For example, if you are an aqua baby, push yourself to do an extra laps each time you swim, or if you prefer hearing the pounding sound of your feet (yep...i meant running) in your local area, then extend the distance each time. By increasing the targets you'll progress all the time.


STAY MOTIVATED
It is vital to know what keeps you motivated as tendency to skip working out is high when you hit a lull as you push yourself with more intense goals each work out. Compiling a great heart pumping playlist that's full of new, exciting and energetic tunes may do the trick - it'll keep you going that mush longer.


GET MATEY
Working out with a friend can be a helpful way to stick to a fitness routine and makes you turn up for every training session. Pair up a game of badminton or tennis, or even get a team together for a friendly match of netball or futsal. You'll improve your fitness levels and strengthen your rapports amongst friends too.


CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Try out new fitness classes, or better still get into a completely different type of sport to keep your mind and body in good shape. Sticking to the same exercise routine can be dull, and actually cause your body to become exercise resistant, so it's harder to stay in the best shape.