Mission completed

Friend or Foe

Have you ever wonder about friends? Or the shit stirrers who would jump at any chance to ruin any goodness between two people? Though time is a good judge when it comes to long-lasting friendship or relationship, and all the fairy-tale talks about what matters truly which in reality is about trust. I have learned much about this topic recently, there is a handful of friends I know I trust and love, and taking them for granted made me cherish them even more.

A person's heart is always important because we rely on that basis to safe guard ourselves from ill intent of others and to appreciate those who wish us well.

Can a leopard change its spot?

The title phrase was referred by God to people who are accustomed to do evil and not good. In my years of encounterment, I was privileged to know good and well intended friends. I am aware that no one is perfect though we strived to be a better person each day.

It is perhaps our expectation we have on people that disillusioned our realm of what the 'Borg' would term it as perfection. I have been let down by my own shortfalls, and as hard as I am with myself, I know my struggle to be a better man will only spirial me upwards.

10 years ago, I was driven and a little over my head in terms of goals and ambition. My close friends would have known my potential for growth (and track record) but I was contented taking the back seat until a recent friend pointed out eagerily that I should be the one taking the front wheel.

I admit I have a problem in reconciling inner beauty as to external. I think God has a problem with that too since He is more concern with our souls and heart, but there are shining examples of individuals who have it all. Relatively, you might beg to differ, afterall, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Nevertheless, I am challenging myself to have it all this time. I'll take all your positive feedback and encouragements, and hopefully you will continue to stay with me once I emerged later in the year.

Wish me luck, won't you?

Memory & let downs

Due to the hippocampus located in the medial temporal lobe of our brain (responsible for long-term memory), we all have our fair share of memories, be it good or bad.

As David Gerrold rightly puts it, 'I have memories - but only a fool stores his past in the future.' But isn't memory a way of holding onto the things you love and not necessary the past? Or perhaps a quote taken from the book 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' suggests that an experience is not an experience until you learned from it,

I am a die-hard sentimentalist (thank you very much) which probably explains why my one & only ex and his bf have become two of my best friends.

Recently, I was let-down in two separate incidents that involve memories that I thought were worth keeping... as much as I am disappointed with the intended parties involved, I was truly hurt too. When someone chooses love over friendship, by all accounts, the unwritten rule is a friend would understand. But if words were said in view to disregard and belittle a friend's worth, or worst, deception, I'll say karma to you 'kind' sir...

On a brighter note, there is one memory of a recent past that did put a smile on my face as I lay in bed at night, and to this keeper, I would like to say - thank you for the memory.

judge not and you won't be judge

Of late, I was puzzled. Is there no place for the outcast in our seemly unforgiving society? God knows, we all serve time, be it in prison or the confinement of your room (due to remorse or repent), shouldn't all be given equal chance to start anew.

Unfortunately the system does not allow ex-convicts for full integration into society. Despite the yellow ribbon project, many due to prejudices, have not found their way back to normality.

This is truly disheartening.

I know of many evil doers who have yet to be exposed, they know how to maneuver their way around. As cunning as they seem, I have also seen how karma working its way back at them be it today or the next 20 years.

Hence my heart goes out to those who deserve a second chance in life but have yet to be given one. If only I have the power to make them see what I see, but they don't normally do... and for that, they will only have themselves to blame when they too faced with similar or worst setbacks in life.

An entry about Royce, Des's laksa, Chris & Fann

Its been a while since I logged my last entry, I hope you guys didn't miss me much :P Anyway, last week was a bitter sweet experience for me. On Friday, Royce took a 2am flight to Doha for his 6 months training before becoming a full pledge 'trolley dolly' for the next 2 years on Qatar Airways. So there we were, 10 of us waiting for her majesty, at Coffee Club in Terminal 3, he had to say his goodbyes to his family before joining us.

But it was more like a small gathering for the rest of us. Ha. Another pleasant surprise was Louis turning up to receive his partner, Patrick, arriving from Beijing at the same terminal. And yes, I finally get to see his much-talked-about Cartier ring up-close given by his truly. Ah, love does comes with its perks. :P

Oh, back to Royce! I knew him when he was at a tender age of 17 (now 27). But of late, we have gotten real close. I know one to one contact (platonic) is a prerequisite of any friendship, it goes to show, our friendship survive through the test of time. As he went in, he looked back 5 times to wave and I think I was the only one waving back because the rest were talking among themselves.

Royce and Gavin

Gavin said that he was close to tears when he went in, ah only an ex would noticed details. As I read his last phone text, that I'll be missed, my reply was - you too will be missed my friend, my buddy and confidant!

On a happier note, beside feasting on Des's laksa, I get to meet Christopher Lee and Fann Wong up-close and personal when they visited the showroom last Thursday! Of course I contained my excitement when I greeted them. During that half hour of interaction, I was impressed with their humility and their spoken English. They were going on their well deserved holiday the following day at a place I can't really reveal. Ha. Here's wishing them the very best life have to offer as they journey into their next chapter of life as husband and wife.

Truth VS Hearsay

A grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said: "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is full of selfishness, anger and criticism. The other wolf is full of compassion, kindness and love." The grandson asked, "Which wolf will win this fight in your heart?" The grandfather answered, "The one that I feed." - Col J. Z. Goldstein

As we know, gossips is the oldest and most common means of sharing unproven facts and views on personal lives of others that I never really care much about...

But it is rather disheartening to see some of my closest friends being affected by the seemly favourite past time of others. People should be more responsible on what rumors they are spreading because it can badly affect the outcome of a situation.
There is a difference between an opinion and telling an untruth.

It can be difficult to know when idle gossip crosses the line and becomes far more serious, like defamation of character. The United States Codes have a definition: In short, defamation is false information which "injures" another person, and it considers three types:

You were aware that the information was untrue.

You had reason to believe that the information could be untrue,

yet you did not bother to thoroughly check.

The information was of such a broad, generalized nature that it simply could not be true.

To my dear friends who may fall victims, learn to take everything you hear with a massive grain of salt...