Challenge thyself ...

... to something ye ain't ever done before and ye shall reap bountiful.

Or so I would like to think. This time it's a real challenge. Well... I feel this time it will be different. My entire life, I've always been so super positive until I fell a long long distance. Then I became the opposite. This time, I believe I've learnt a great lesson which will always temper my extremes and remind me to be moderate. No doubt I have much more to learn but I am very thankful that in all aspects of my life, I've always been lucky to be given many many chances to learn and to grow. Given many opportunities to learn about a great many things ranging from those philosophical in nature to more pragmatic issues of our daily life.

Recently many things have been happening around me. I only wish I could have done more if I had grown up faster, earlier and be able to do the things I wish I could. However, I am not going to sit here and let regret pull me down. That has never been my nature. ;-) Just that there are other factors which pull me down, slow my growth but not regret. Yes I do regret, but I do not let it bog me down. Well, there are some who will definitely disagree with me but I believe what I say is true. Just that I have a very very big mouth which likes to complain... a lot... loudly... constantly... annoyingly. =)

Another day in my life. Life goes on as usual.

Dr. Mahathir, in person

I was at MPH Midvalley on Sunday enjoying myself browsing through a plethora of books when suddenly a commotion occured near the main entrance. At first I just ignored it as it doesn't seem to involve me. However more and more people seem to be enthralled by some incident or person at the entrance and it piqued my interest. So I amble over to see what was the matter.

Lo and behold, our beloved ex-prime minister, Dr. Mahathir was there. Everyone was crowding around him wanting to take his signature and to take photos with him. Well, I then decided rather wisely to just go back to my books. At that stage, I really really wished to just go up to him to shake his hand and thank him. However seeing the poor man swamped by the public stopped me from doing it. Alas, all my efforts to keep away came to nothing when he just popped up next to me browsing at some of the bestsellers on display.

Obviously the crowd followed along. He stood barely half a metre away and I was so so tempted to just say hi and thank you and to shake his hand. I so so wanted to but I stopped myself from doing it. I do not know what came over me. Maybe just some insane part inside wanting to seem cool and not so flustered as the rest of the crowd was who were running around like little school kids at their first party. Anyhow, I missed out an awesome opportunity to thank the great man personally.

However, no regrets. I am happy to be able to say I have seen him 'up close and personal' ;) so to speak. Where ever you are, what ever you do, Dr. M, here's a heartfelt thank you and good luck to you. The brief moments you spent with us did touch many of us Malaysians. I am proud to say I am a Malaysian first, foremost and always.