Unblock the true friendship within the heart

Today's zehao's birthday according to the Gregorian calendar. Yesterday was coincidently as well, to the Lunar calendar. They are close but not so close as to befall on the same day. (He overheard that in one's life, there are the years when the birthday happened to be the same day to the two calendars and how is that possible is mathematical.) This morning he jerks himself out of the comfort of the bed energetically, knowing today's the day, and immediately commits himself to start anew (although he always does, but this time around seriousness and the willpower are however unprecedented), to shed off the old slimy skin like the moulting snake or any insects for that matter. (It is known as ecdysis in biological term, however he's done it mentally.) He commits to himself to be the one he wants himself to be and to do just that, he realises he needs to be constantly aware of his own undertakings, to have a virtual self to the self-consciousness that warns and reminds: "Hey, what do you think you are doing? Are you MAD? WAKE up!" That is when he does mad things.

Today zehao is blessed. It happens that this very blissful day is his gathering with many old friends -not too old but ex-schoolmates. They reunite for a purpose and they know deep in their hearts that this is not only for the pleasure of roaming the shopping centre with friends but also for the significance to the health of the soul - that each one of them is attached to the central focus, friendship, the same way as each thread of hair is attached to the head of friendship. And they are still the growing hair rooted in the head of friendship.

Unblocking the true friendship within the heart requires precision and zehao's struck at the right chord to set the melodies in tune with his friends around a restaurant in Jusco, Seremban 2. The lunch gathering is preplanned as he, as well as the others, loves the way the food are served. He is chatting with a few friends but his minds are not in the mood. "How is the way to make it a memorable day not as anyday else and make full use of my advantage as a birthday boy?" He ponders.

"Come on, you just look in front of you: where are we now? Just clear off the bills to give everyone a bless from your abundant angpows!" zehao's virtual self is knocking over him as saying. And he does what he knows the mind tell, instinctively and willingly.

It is the general reaction that, among thirteen of them, they approach zehao and offer to give back the funds, feeling the impropriety of his action. It turns our that since today's his birthday, the general consensus is to buy a cake! It is not a plan and it is thoughtful. What a surprise and mindful idea that is. And the rest of the day sees him smiling and the true happiness flows with the rest of the day.

Lee Wilkinson once said, "Happiness is time spent with a friend and looking forward to sharing time with them again."

Just as stalactites and stalagmites require the constant drops of mineral-containing water and each other to form the wonder of nature in the cave, friendship requires constant nurturing to keep it fresh and rewarding. Be it a kind act or an attention to what they have to say. Be it the help that is provided. Day by day, as the same for the beautiful formations of rocks a thousand years by a thousand years, friendship can only flourish and be strengthened and strong friendship is a blessing in life.

zehao has learned just that. And he is touched by his ex-schoolmates. He is and always will.

Hear Us Out -A Global-Issues Conference

The motto of this conference was: 'By Youth, For Youth'. I would think that if 'Of Youth" was added, it would be more meaningful. As I thought of the Gettysburg Address, a century and a half ago, by Abraham Lincoln whose famous speech contained the phrase, "...and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish..."

What I learned from this conference was that we live for a cause. A cause that defines our life, a cause that defines our direction in the future. We live for a cause.

Also, opinions are important. We ought to express our opinions to fight for our cause. A cause for the future.

Writing is part of the learning. By speaking, writing, listening and reading, we can live a fruitful life. Also, writing is most of the time not to impress but to inform.

We also need to listen (yes, I mean listen), act and make a change. These three essential elements should go together.

And also a few famous quotes:

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing" Albert Einstein

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe" Anatole France

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" Nelson Mandela

"The earth we abuse and the living things we kill, in the end, take their revenge; For in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future" Marya Mannes

"The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies" Al Gore

The few quotes here reflect the dire global issues that we are facing now. And much more in this challenging 21st century.