Wanted vs. Unwanted

Well, it's been awhile since I last had anything to say here in my blog or rather my second 'home'. I've been busy with studies, club and also certain personal issues that arise recently. Anyway, this time around, something very interesting popped out in my mind. Can we actually draw a difference and/or set a mark on what we want and what we don't want? What I actually mean from this is, we may want a lot of things, but have we ever considered the outcome and consequences from what we want? Have we ever weighed in and wondered if those unwanted issues, if any, ever arises, would we be happy and would we be able to deal with it?

1. We want a car so badly, we go and get a loan. Loan is payable say in 5 years time. We enjoy using the car, because it's convenient, saves time and also a little because we can actually have a rather higher 'status' in society. What we don't want is that we have to make payments every month, from the salary we get. Let's face it, if we had the money to get a car, do we need loans? Maybe we do, and that wouldn't be the problem but there's always two sides to look at right? I'm looking at a more realistic and practical point of view. Of course with no interest charged from the banks, we would opt for loans but then again, there are always two sides to look at right? One being able to afford and one maybe not so lucky. So, wanted = car, unwanted = extra burden every month.

2. Credit card. A very useful item that we can use without fear because we just need to swipe it and put our 'John Hancock' and we are virtually rich beyond our own imaginations. Of course again, there are people who know their limits and use it sparingly and there are also a whole bunch of people whom just can't control and will use it as an unlimited supply of cash. Well, before these people know it, they will only end up being able to pay the minimum and sooner than later, a letter of demand from the law firm will be sent to their humble adobes and that's when trouble starts. So, wanted = convenience of use of unlimited cash flow, unwanted = having to realise that by the end of the day, what is credited has to be paid and not being to able to pay will result in terrible circumstances.

3. Let's get to something more interesting. Say, change of a government (no particular country in question, just a general discussion). Changes are needed and changes will happen. The only problem here or rather the point of contention would be again what is wanted and what is unwanted. In certain countries, it is reasonable to say that a change is unavoidable and it's good as it brings in different ideas and methods of ruling. It also enhances the idea of democracy and a fair policy of administration. However, when we think deeper, doesn't the above seem very theoretical and we are missing out on the grey areas.

Changes are needed, definitely, but at what expense and cost? Say an organisation and/or government has been there for a number of years and it has been carrying out it's duties in a manner that is not agreeable by the minority and it has come to a time where the people are beginning to feel uncomfortable, leading an effort to change these administrators. One fact that we can't deny is that policies has been there for a long time and for a new group of people to take over the administration role would mean a drastic change. Now, these drastic changes promised and/or manifested would definitely seem to be the best of it's kind and is to suit the entire nation or country. It would seem that finally someone can give us what we want and what we have been fighting for all these while, maybe say fairness and equality.

Perfect ending to a perfect start? Hmm... Well, let's take things further. In life and in everything we do, is there really a thing called fairness and equality?? It's a known and accepted fact that when one wins, another loses. If we are to fight for equality and fairness, it would basically mean that in the past, we ain't getting them right? So, when we really do get these fair and equal rights and stuffs, wouldn't that mean that someone who has been taking advantage all these while has just lost something?? We are saying that we want equality and fairness, but how could it be fair if someone has just lost something when we won? Is that fair??

Don't get me wrong, I am not taking sides. What I'm trying to do now is to induce a discussion based on logic and common sense. Ok, back to previous discussion. Say we got that equality and fairness that we fought for in the first place, do you think it will end there and then? Someone has just lost something, like we lost it before, that's why we are fighting for it now. So, wouldn't common sense tell u that those who have lost it would end up fighting for what they think belongs to them, which have now been taken away? I am not saying that equality and fairness ain't right, I am just saying that don't you think that the fight will never end?? It's mainly because now we are at the losing end, and we want to win, which means that the other party who is winning now, will lose. Can't it come to a situation where it will be a draw? The equality that we seek in the first place is only on name equal but based on what I have just said, it's actually a win-lose situation.

For equality to strike, there are mainly two ways:
a) Everyone gets something;
b) Everyone gets nothing.
My opinion on this would be for everybody involved to get nothing and start afresh from the beginning. Yes, it is definitely argued and accepted that by doing this, those that have benefited all these while are losing something as well but by losing this, it would bring equality to live because now everyone has nothing to fight for and everyone is to start from the beginning and 'may the best person win'. If we are to allow those that have nothing in the past to get something now, it would mean that equality is only a mere fiction because now everyone has got something to fight for and as we all know for a fact, one is never enough. It would then turn out to be a fight for who gets the biggest share for giving and/or performing the biggest effort and sacrifice, which can hardly be judged or justified. Therefore, starting from fresh, where everyone gets nothing would see the best option.

Next, what matters to me may not matter to you and what is right for me may not be right for you. This is very true when it comes to discussing about issues on changes, because what is happening now may suit me and if it changes, it might end up suiting you and not me. So, how can we say that we can achieve fairness here? Fairness and equality happens when everyone and anyone gets treated the same and no matter what happens suits everyone. I may agree with the way things are carried out now but may not if a change is to come. Sometimes, promises can be made and it does seem very convincing but then again, when we really think about it, can these promises really be materialised?And, looking at the bigger picture, now that we already have so many disagreements that leads to uproars and discomfort, imagine if a drastic change is to really materialised? Wouldn't the uproars and discomfort be more severe than before? Are we ready to face it and can we stand up for the better once those discomforts are over? So, wanted = change of government/administration, unwanted = unnecessary uproars and/or unachievable fairness/equality.

From what I have mentioned above, I can sense it now that not many or maybe not even a single person out there would agree with me but let's be objective and think bout it properly. I am not saying that a change is not good, but wouldn't a change from within be more appropriate? Are we saying that just because we are not satisfied with the way things are now, we are getting another party and/or individual to come in with the hope of changing things? No matter what we say or do, it will all remain a hope. Yes, arguable, there's at least a hope, but a baseless one will get us nowhere. Hope based on words uttered are not hope per se.

The other thing to be remembered is that, 'An eye for an eye, makes the whole world blind'. I ain't saying that fighting for what is right is not a good thing to do. It is good only if we weight the cost and its expense and work towards it in a controlled manner. If even before a change may come, so many discomfort is already happening, picture a time when the change really happens. A change can come but it has to be by someone and not anyone. We are not desperate. Since we really want a change for the better, let's make sure it's for the better and not just simply do it cos we WANT to do it and forget bout all the UN-WANTS. The possibility of risking something for what we think is right, does not blend well with our dreams and hopes in the first place, which is to create and enhance fairness and equality. If we really WANT to achieve that, we have to make sure that nothing is at risk and nothing and no one shall be sacrificed in the path of glory. Glory is only when we can achieve it without having to lose not only a single battle but also not a single body. That is the ultimate glory. If we are to lose, risk and sacrifice something or somebody along the way, I shall say by the end of the day, even if we win, it shall be no win to shout about.

Question to ponder, "If there were 100 people, and one of them carries a deadly disease, which can spread, resulting in the death of the other 100 people, you at the mercy of killing this one person, would you do so?"

I shall reveal my answer in my next post. In the meantime, if anyone has any comments, feel free to leave them yeah. =)

Sometimes, we may only focus at getting what we want because we feel it's right and let me tell you, I do agree it's right but only to a certain extent. We may and we shall fight for what is right, only and only if we weigh the consequences properly and say to ourselves, 'Look, they ain't much that we can't handle nor can't tackle. No matter what happens, we are ready for it and we can take it up'. If so that is the case, then so be it, we shall fight for what we WANT. Let's not forget then, whenever there is something or someone which we WANT, there is always something or someone that we UN-WANT or rather DO NOT WANT.

Truly,

CK

It Got Me Wondering...

Can A Family Man With Salary RM3,000 Survive In Malaysia...!

Let's do some simple calculation here.

In Malaysia, the average family income isRM3,000 /month (where father works, mother doesn't).

I understand there are many families whose monthly income does not reach RM3,000, but, to make things simple, let's take RM3,000as the figure. Ok lah, right?

Okay, let's start rolling with a family which has Papa, Mama, 1 daughter and 1 son. Ngam-ngam ....

Calculation starts...

Electricity and water bill: RM100
(No air-con, No home theatre, No water heater ... ok?)

Phone bill ( Telekom): RM100
(Internet streamxy RM68 + land line RM25 = RM93, round-up to RM100 la)

Meals for a happy family: RM775
(3 meals on RM25/day 4 persons. Forget about makan in restaurant ya)

Papa makan / teh-tarik during working hrs: RM155
(RM5/day, RM5 ... can eat what?)

Car repayment: RM400
(A proton saga aeroback, 7 yrs repayment)

Petrol (living in city, traffic-jam) :RM300
(go to work, bring son to school, only can afford one car running. NO YET CONSIDER PETROL INCREASE 40.8%)

Insurance: RM650
(Kids, wife and self. Forget about insurance la..no money to pay, lets drop it)

House repayment: RM750
(low cost housing repayment for 30 yrs, retired still have to work to pay!)

Tuition: RM80
(got that cheap meh? i don't think so)

Older children pocket money @ school: RM20
(RM1/day, eat bread?)

School fees: RM30
(enough ah?)

School books and etc: RM100
(always got extra to pay in school)

Younger children milk powder: RM50
(cannot have the DHA, BHA, PHA one, expensive)

Miscellaneous: RM100
(shampoo, rice, sauce, toilet paper, saman, etc)

Oh wait!!! I have to stop here, so...
No Astro,
no movie @ cinema,
no DVD,
no CD,
no toys
no computer,
no KFC, no McDonald,
no insurance
no jalan-jalan makan angin (vacation)
no chit chat on phone with grandparents, and etc...
nothing breaks down for repair
Let's use a calculator to total up... WALAO EH! Shit!RM2,960already...

EPF belum potong, income tax lagi........ oledi RM2,960 ....

How to survive lah tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian ???

Our Deputy Prime Minister asked us to change lifestyle?

How to change? Don't eat? Don't work? Don't send children to school and study?
Besides that, I believe in Malaysia population, there are millions of rakyat Malaysia which still don't earn RM3,000/month! !!
What is this? Inilah Malaysia Boleh...Sorry... it should be Malaysians Boleh, because we're still alive and kicking!!

Our politicians must be mad!!!!

No wonder so many Ah Loong around lah....

Thanks to LH for this as well. Cheers mate... =)

CK

Life - Interesting or Unpredictable?

Imagine this question posted at you. Yes, you. Think bout it properly... Now, what will your ultimate answer be? Is life interesting or unpredictable? Given only these two choices, what will your answer be if you were asked to give a definite answer? Can you give one? You can?? Tell me, how did you come to that conclusion (post in comments...). With that said and done, kindly scroll down, read on and tell me if you agree with what I have to say as my point of view.

Given that choice of answers. I would be dumb-founded and definitely won't be able to give an ultimate answer. This is simply because, life is both interesting and unpredicatable. It's interesting because its unpredicatble and its unpredicatbility makes it interesting. Sounds rather confusing huh? Its simple actually. Life that has been planned out well and all, won't be life. LIFE stands for Life Is For Enjoyment. Imagine a situation where you already know what's gonna happen next. Can you then possible enjoy that moment when it really comes? You'll be expecting it and when it comes, no more surprises, no suspense, no nothing. Long story short, it becomes pure dull.

In addition, LIFE is short. Yes, many people come up to me and say, 'Yeah, life is short. Does that mean we can do everything and anything like there's no tomorrow? Does that mean that we can live life like we are gonna die the next minute?' Well, my answer to them would be, YES and NO. Yes, because we do not know what's gonna happen next in life. It is undeniable that even as I am typing this blog out, I could possibly not have the chance to post it. As we walk our everyday life performing things that we go out to do, we are exposed to so many dangers and uncertainties that may arise anytime of the day.

Sounds convincing huh? Well, hold your horses as here comes the NO part. No is because as much as fate is an essential aspect of our lifes, it does dictate the way we should be, what we should be doing and also how we should be doing it. We lead our own life and what we are in this life, depends what we do and how we do it. This has got nothing to do with fate that has been pre-determined. We can change what we are and what we have. The theory is very simple, as mentioned by my good buddy, Dinesh, "If you were fated to be a gardener for the rest of your life, are you gonna let it be that way or are you gonna change it?". Well, it just shows that as much as life may be fated in a way, we are the ones who have power over our lifes and we control them, therefore, we shape our lifes into what we want them to be.

So, should we then lead life like there's no tomorrow or lead life like we are to live forever and we have all the time in the world to enjoy? Well, we have to always have balance here. This leads me back to my original question. Is life interesting or unpredictable? I guess its the way we lead our lifes that makes it interesting, which means that at times we should really live our lifes like there's no tomorrow. I mean, what's the meaning of life if we are not here to enjoy it? We should make everyday of our life as interesting as the one before and plan for a more interesting on ahead. The part of life being unpredictable means that we should maintain our lifestyle and make sure that we save some for the days to come. We can never be sure of what's gonna happen next, can we?

I guess what I am really trying to say here is this. Life being so interesting and unpredictable has much to offer us. We can never understand life's real intentions until the day we near our time. We live life day by day thinking that something good or bad will happen and most of the times, it just turns out the other way round and we are left with nothing much to say. We just cant expect much nor less. It comes to us as a surprise at times and leaves without leaving a note. These are things in life that we look out for, either for good or bad.

Therefore, we should really cherish what we have now. Its no point going back one day saying, 'I should, I would and I could have'. It makes no difference by that time. What's left then is pure memories and nothing else. Memories are only meant to be kept and there's nothing we can do to revive those memories.

Well, life has much to offer. All its unpredictability makes it all the interesting. We shouldn't be wasting time thinking of things that we are not even sure of. Thinking about what's gonna happen tomorrow when we haven even passed today. Thinking about what's gonna happen to someone else, when we cant even be sure of what's gonna happen to ourselves. We should let life move on as it should and we should just play along. Lead life as it is. Though the many challenges it may bring, these are just interesting parcels of life that we have to endure. Who said everything was easy? If everything was so easy, I wouldnt have to crack my head thinking bout my exams, which will strike me in exactly two weeks time. God will help those who help themselves. Well, I sure do hope God can first help me to help myself. Hahahaha...

I guess all said and done. Life is both interesting and unpredictable. So, never give up on life. Even if we are on the verge of breaking down, hold our heads up strong and move on with life.

"We will never have anything to lose, only everything to gain."

Well, I guess I will have to continue my life then. Got so many other things to do. Revision is one the many important things I have to focus on now. Hope to make it through my exams. I wouldnt wanna disappoint my loved ones who have all the confidence in me, especially my 'special one'.

As the saying goes, 'We live only once. Lets live life.'

Living life,

CK

Meaning of My Life

Everyday of my life begins with a very simple breakfast, followed by a long but rather quick journey to college. Classes will start everyday without fail, and before I know it, I am on my way back home, where I'll have to continue with my studies (more importantly now as exams are nearing in May). This is basically how things were for the past one year or so.

It wasn't until very recently that I found a very special person that brought a change to my life. This very special person not only brought a change (as mentioned in my previous post), this person also gave me a meaning in life. Gone are the days where I only have my family, friends, studies and club whom were there to fill my time and advance daily without fear of boringness nor without meaning.

Now, not only do I have this person to always be there for me, SHE has also given me a meaning in life. SHE is the meaning of MY LIFE. I look forward to the start of every brand new day now. Every morning is a brand new exciting start for me. I always look forward to what new areas will we venture into, what new happenings that would bring us closer to one another and most importantly, looking forward to the day when she would finally be mine.

I have never felt so motivated before in my entire life. Studying had always been a mountain-climbing task for me, but now no more. I sit down in front of my study table everynight without fail, go thru a few chapters and prepare myself for my upcoming examinations with one thing in mind. Do it right, do it good!

Gone too are the days where I feel so dejected, bored with life and see no reason in continuing my long and winding journey. Yes, obstacles has always been there as life is never perfect. There are times where I admit, I have done things so seemingly wrong that I really regret in the end. Well, I really hope that thru this post, SHE could understand my wrong doings and forgive me.

Whenever things do not work out the way it is supposed to be, I hope that YOU could let me know, discuss about it and find a solution that will make things better for the both of us. Many a times before I have said, and I shall say it again; 'There is only one way for us, which is forward, to a place where we could both be happy together for the rest of our lives'.

P.S. Not trying to impose any stress k?? I remember everything I said, don't worry... =)

With Love,

CK