Curiousity has caused me to surf on the history or origin of a wedding tradition. To my astonishment, wedding/marriages has been shaped through THOUSAND OF YEARS of cultural roots, ancestry, and religious beliefs. And can be traced alllllllllllll the way back to the time of Adam & Eve.
Imagine from the genesis of mankind, through the purest of heart, a vow was confessed. And as of today, proclaimed in all solemnization, a wedding vow.
"I ______, take you ______, to be my wedded wife/husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."
I recalled attending my close friend's wedding solemnization last year 2007, and these were the exact words that was recited. In matrix sequence, my surrounding came to a halt. Dreaming of me and my destined love one going through the same solemnization? *Smack*! Of course not. It's the vow! The seriousness of that vow hit me. I said "this is no joke! It's a promise of a life time. A 2 become 1 moment where living, growing, experiencing, encountering and decision making are no longer done as an individual, but a pair!!!"
How many of us have questioned that?
1) Will the level of love and commitment remain like that moment, despite going through life's trials and temptations?
2) Imagine yourself at that stage, do you really mean it when you proclaim it?
3) If right now, you're asked to say it to your love one, can it flow out truthfully?
4) Even if yes, would you stay true to it till you return to dust?
I stopped and think......."What seriousness this involves........." Time began ticking again. This time i asked myself, "Does it only apply for wedding vows?" Firm "NO". It applies in many stages of our life too. How about 2 school kid proclaims, "when i grow up i wanna be a doctor to save many lives." The one who stays true to the proclaimation, will become a doctor that he desires. The one who says it out of emotion or happiness, will lose track.
That's why many a times, i thought i'm the person who say what i mean and mean what i say, but when testing comes, i find myself free falling (*smack head* Should have invest in a mirror before i conclude who i am). Don't you all go through the same phase? Oh no no no, I'm the only one who's fits the bill (Diplomacy kicks in). "I proclaim seriously i want to do this!!!", and over the months, i lost track and it doesn't matter to me anymore. A familiar scene?....."that's me".
Throughout these few years, i realise trials & temptations are both good and bad. Good because if you STAY TRUE, it builds you. Whereas the opposite breaks you. As of today, my resolution is always, staying true to my words, and i pray for strength to uphold this vow till i return to dust.
This entry is in your hands now. What's your call?
And as a chorus goes:
There's a race that i must run, there are victories to be won, give me power every hour to be true..... (Song: Keep Me True)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Whitewater Rafting
Read an article on Wikipedia just a while ago. Whitewater rafting. They say its a challenging activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water,which simply means different degrees of rough water, for the thrill and excitement of it.
A raft was the simplest form of man’s transportation in water, made of several logs, planks or reeds which were fastened together to form something like a small floating platform, but now evolves into a sport, being participated worldwide.
And no no no, i'm not trying to blog what has already been publish way before i knew the existence of the world wide web. But as i read on, it speaks of different classes of whitewater.
Class 1: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level: None)
Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)
Class 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)
Class 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)
Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)
Class 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of most all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of luck or extreme skill)
Revelation begins here. In a blink of an eye, i saw myself back when i first started working. The way i fumble, fall, struggle and failing at the simplest things. Yes, that's whitewater class 1 to me. As i was reading the description of class 1, i thought, "hey requires no maneuvering at all! Must be easy.", but look at what happened in real life? Was the easy really that easy for me? No. My standard was way below easy. As time passes, i keep trying relentlessly in every way to get past those waters & rocks, i proceeded to class 2 and then 3, now 4. Supposedly a sport that's exciting and thrill seeking, became heart throbbing and fear gripping to me. Doubt, fear, disbeliefs arise. "Can i clear medium waves...? can i clear bigger rocks...? can i handle sharper maneuvers...?" It's flooding me all over, as my raft capsized again and again and again.....
Do i keep paddling? Or let go of my paddle and let the whitewaters push my raft around bearing the consequences of injury & brokenness? I've reached a path where i have to decide! To keep on paddling or to let go off my paddle. More people say to let go, than to keep on paddling. Of course that doesn't help to remove my doubts, fears and disbeliefs. I am not thinking, i'm following my heart......................................"PADDLE FORTH IT SAYS!" So what if i capsize again, so what if i'm bruise, i know how i've cleared the first 3 classes. I just need more time for the 4th. That's what life is! If i don't clear it, my regrets would always be haunting me!
Few years back i made a decision to live a life that 30yrs later i would not regret living. I have to move on some more. I cannot throw my paddle now. I need to move up again...and again....and again......and again.......regardless of what, i'll keep paddling..............
How does this apply to you? I don't know, i blog, you read, the rest is up to you. But at the least decide, are you gonna keep paddling? Even though the outcome is unknown for now.
I read a quote:
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
A raft was the simplest form of man’s transportation in water, made of several logs, planks or reeds which were fastened together to form something like a small floating platform, but now evolves into a sport, being participated worldwide.
And no no no, i'm not trying to blog what has already been publish way before i knew the existence of the world wide web. But as i read on, it speaks of different classes of whitewater.
Class 1: Very small rough areas, requires no maneuvering. (Skill Level: None)
Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)
Class 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)
Class 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)
Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)
Class 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of most all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of luck or extreme skill)
Revelation begins here. In a blink of an eye, i saw myself back when i first started working. The way i fumble, fall, struggle and failing at the simplest things. Yes, that's whitewater class 1 to me. As i was reading the description of class 1, i thought, "hey requires no maneuvering at all! Must be easy.", but look at what happened in real life? Was the easy really that easy for me? No. My standard was way below easy. As time passes, i keep trying relentlessly in every way to get past those waters & rocks, i proceeded to class 2 and then 3, now 4. Supposedly a sport that's exciting and thrill seeking, became heart throbbing and fear gripping to me. Doubt, fear, disbeliefs arise. "Can i clear medium waves...? can i clear bigger rocks...? can i handle sharper maneuvers...?" It's flooding me all over, as my raft capsized again and again and again.....
Do i keep paddling? Or let go of my paddle and let the whitewaters push my raft around bearing the consequences of injury & brokenness? I've reached a path where i have to decide! To keep on paddling or to let go off my paddle. More people say to let go, than to keep on paddling. Of course that doesn't help to remove my doubts, fears and disbeliefs. I am not thinking, i'm following my heart......................................"PADDLE FORTH IT SAYS!" So what if i capsize again, so what if i'm bruise, i know how i've cleared the first 3 classes. I just need more time for the 4th. That's what life is! If i don't clear it, my regrets would always be haunting me!
Few years back i made a decision to live a life that 30yrs later i would not regret living. I have to move on some more. I cannot throw my paddle now. I need to move up again...and again....and again......and again.......regardless of what, i'll keep paddling..............
How does this apply to you? I don't know, i blog, you read, the rest is up to you. But at the least decide, are you gonna keep paddling? Even though the outcome is unknown for now.
I read a quote:
"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Split Second "Go" or "No Go"
Life is tricky. One moment there is a "GO" sign, another moment it was snatched away by moments of life and replaced by a "NO GO". Just in case there are curious readers, i'm talking about my emotions, our human senses.
Weird it may be, it changes as fast as the clouds. Affecting the clouds are wind, rain, humidity and many factors which is not in my ability to expound *can't find geography textbk*, but surely not as complicated as human beings, or rather me. For me, woah.... it's a load of them, mis-communication with humans which always causes misunderstanding, people's feelings & emotions, daily situations, perception, decisions and many more.
I was driven by excitement after reading a blog link that my GF sent to me. It's a complain entry from someone's blog. For me? I chose to think otherwise, but the heart of the matter is my soul urge to vent my discontentment, anger, complaints, thinkings & everything inside me on a blog. I was thinking, "woah, this is so cool man, maybe i should revive my blog and do something about it. Anyway it's a free space for me to voice out my soul, who cares who reads it. It's My Space anyway". So i shall blog down moments of my life that affect me from today on. Read it and think whatever you want, or benefit from it. Something touched your hot button? Punch some sandbag and move on. But I'll make sure i cover those mines tactfully. <- See! I'm a diplomat at times. My title(Who Moved My Wanton) came as a revelation while i was having my buffet dinner with my dear at Quality Hotel. Oh i tell you, that place is one of my favourite dinner spot because the variety of dishes changes everyday. Happen that they served fried wanton on the day i was there. Was queueing up for it and when it's my turn, the chef came and removed the tray. I literally jump up and shouted "Who Moved My Wanton". Waited for a while assuming they are doing a refill, but my wanton didn't came out after all. Tell you man, i almost lose my appetite that very moment. Suddenly my mind recapped a scene of me reading a book at borders titled "Who Moved My Cheese". I wanted to laugh and cry, laugh because i never thought the analogy in THAT book would happen in reality & especially in my life! Cry because i realise, "hey, life gotta move on!" Not only on this wanton issue, but many other life's enconter. Later on i laughed again, caused i found my next favourite dish, teriyaki chicken. *LOL* Now you see, Split seconds "Go" & "No Go". For the benefit of those who has never read "Who Moved My Cheese" before, I've copied a sypnosis from wikipedia. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who Moved My Cheese Sypnosis:
Who Moved My Cheese? features four characters; two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two little people, miniature humans in essence, "Hem" and "Haw", live in a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans paired off, travel the lengthy corridor searching for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor in "Cheese Station C". Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese slowly becoming arrogant in the process.
One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left but they are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands "who moved my cheese?". Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both head home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, nixes the proposal.
Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese, blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again knocks down the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C, the humans remain without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw begins laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.
Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall and, after thinking about it, begins his journey. Still with worry, perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search, Haw finds some scattered cheese and continues his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a let down, an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's new mindset allows him to again enjoy life; he has even begun to smile again and is realizing "when you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.
Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese to his friend's dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Still going deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall, hopeful that his friend will be aided by them in his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N. Abundant with cheese, some varieties strange to him, he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. Pondering a return to his old friend, Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:
Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese
Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
Monitor Change
Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old
Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese
Change
Move With The Cheese
Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again
They Keep Moving The Cheese.
Cautious from past experience, Haw inspects Cheese Station N daily and explores different parts of the maze to prevent complacency from setting in. After hearing movement in the maze one day, Haw realizes someone is approaching the station. Unsure, Haw hopes that it is his friend Hem who has found the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Version:
Change Happens (Wanton Moves...)
They Keep Moving The Wanton
Anticipate Change (Should have grabbed some before it was moved.)
Get Ready For The Wanton To Move
Monitor Change (Should have guessed so, cause the tray is half empty already.)
Observe The Tray Often So You Know When It Is Getting Moved
Adapt To Change Quickly (Thank goodness never brood over it, else won't find teriyaki chicken.)
The Quicker You Let Go Of Wanton, The Sooner You Can Enjoy Teriyaki Chicken
Change (Good thing didn't sit & wait long.)
Move With The Buffet Spread
Enjoy Change! (Stuffing myself with teriyaki chicken.)
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of Teriyaki Chicken!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again (Then i hv hokkien mee, mix curry vege & barley + icecream for dessert.)
They Keep Replacing Those Dish.
Oh hey, i'm not blogging to advertise on the book(Who moved my cheese) or quality hotel porridge buffet. It's just a penny of my thought, not just on my wanton being moved, but on life's unpredictables. I'm moving on man. "Go" or "No Go", i chose "Go".
Weird it may be, it changes as fast as the clouds. Affecting the clouds are wind, rain, humidity and many factors which is not in my ability to expound *can't find geography textbk*, but surely not as complicated as human beings, or rather me. For me, woah.... it's a load of them, mis-communication with humans which always causes misunderstanding, people's feelings & emotions, daily situations, perception, decisions and many more.
I was driven by excitement after reading a blog link that my GF sent to me. It's a complain entry from someone's blog. For me? I chose to think otherwise, but the heart of the matter is my soul urge to vent my discontentment, anger, complaints, thinkings & everything inside me on a blog. I was thinking, "woah, this is so cool man, maybe i should revive my blog and do something about it. Anyway it's a free space for me to voice out my soul, who cares who reads it. It's My Space anyway". So i shall blog down moments of my life that affect me from today on. Read it and think whatever you want, or benefit from it. Something touched your hot button? Punch some sandbag and move on. But I'll make sure i cover those mines tactfully. <- See! I'm a diplomat at times. My title(Who Moved My Wanton) came as a revelation while i was having my buffet dinner with my dear at Quality Hotel. Oh i tell you, that place is one of my favourite dinner spot because the variety of dishes changes everyday. Happen that they served fried wanton on the day i was there. Was queueing up for it and when it's my turn, the chef came and removed the tray. I literally jump up and shouted "Who Moved My Wanton". Waited for a while assuming they are doing a refill, but my wanton didn't came out after all. Tell you man, i almost lose my appetite that very moment. Suddenly my mind recapped a scene of me reading a book at borders titled "Who Moved My Cheese". I wanted to laugh and cry, laugh because i never thought the analogy in THAT book would happen in reality & especially in my life! Cry because i realise, "hey, life gotta move on!" Not only on this wanton issue, but many other life's enconter. Later on i laughed again, caused i found my next favourite dish, teriyaki chicken. *LOL* Now you see, Split seconds "Go" & "No Go". For the benefit of those who has never read "Who Moved My Cheese" before, I've copied a sypnosis from wikipedia. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who Moved My Cheese Sypnosis:
Who Moved My Cheese? features four characters; two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two little people, miniature humans in essence, "Hem" and "Haw", live in a maze, a representation of one's environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans paired off, travel the lengthy corridor searching for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor in "Cheese Station C". Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese slowly becoming arrogant in the process.
One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left but they are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. Leaving Cheese Station C behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands "who moved my cheese?". Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both head home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, nixes the proposal.
Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese, blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again knocks down the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C, the humans remain without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw begins laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.
Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall and, after thinking about it, begins his journey. Still with worry, perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search, Haw finds some scattered cheese and continues his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly disappeared, but has dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a let down, an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's new mindset allows him to again enjoy life; he has even begun to smile again and is realizing "when you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.
Uncompromising, Hem turns away the new cheese to his friend's dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Still going deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall, hopeful that his friend will be aided by them in his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N. Abundant with cheese, some varieties strange to him, he has found what he is looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. Pondering a return to his old friend, Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes:
Change Happens
They Keep Moving The Cheese
Anticipate Change
Get Ready For The Cheese To Move
Monitor Change
Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old
Adapt To Change Quickly
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese
Change
Move With The Cheese
Enjoy Change!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again
They Keep Moving The Cheese.
Cautious from past experience, Haw inspects Cheese Station N daily and explores different parts of the maze to prevent complacency from setting in. After hearing movement in the maze one day, Haw realizes someone is approaching the station. Unsure, Haw hopes that it is his friend Hem who has found the way.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Version:
Change Happens (Wanton Moves...)
They Keep Moving The Wanton
Anticipate Change (Should have grabbed some before it was moved.)
Get Ready For The Wanton To Move
Monitor Change (Should have guessed so, cause the tray is half empty already.)
Observe The Tray Often So You Know When It Is Getting Moved
Adapt To Change Quickly (Thank goodness never brood over it, else won't find teriyaki chicken.)
The Quicker You Let Go Of Wanton, The Sooner You Can Enjoy Teriyaki Chicken
Change (Good thing didn't sit & wait long.)
Move With The Buffet Spread
Enjoy Change! (Stuffing myself with teriyaki chicken.)
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of Teriyaki Chicken!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again (Then i hv hokkien mee, mix curry vege & barley + icecream for dessert.)
They Keep Replacing Those Dish.
Oh hey, i'm not blogging to advertise on the book(Who moved my cheese) or quality hotel porridge buffet. It's just a penny of my thought, not just on my wanton being moved, but on life's unpredictables. I'm moving on man. "Go" or "No Go", i chose "Go".
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