THE LAST HOURS OF 67

The large industrial fan is spinning incredibly furiously to cool what seems an impossible task. The sun is blazing with all its might on this Thursday 5.30pm evening. There is no indication that it is going to let up anytime soon.

As we, Jeannie and I sit here, at the Nanking coffee shop (otherwise known as a restaurant) waiting for our placed orders for our dinner and drinks to be delivered to us, we do our own thing – she on her phone doing everything office – liaising with colleagues, marketing and advertising people, and everyone else – work related.

I was hoping to whip out my phone and get cracking on this essay – which was beginning to form in my mind. However, the strap of my Bellroy bag kept releasing itself from its loop on the right side of the bag. It was a bit of a fumble to get it back in its loop.

So, in my eagerness of whipping out my phone (picture movement at lightning speed), I moved  at a much slower speed…slower than you can imagine.

And so here am I…or is it I am, writing and hoping to put some thoughts down. At the same time, basking in the last hours of being 67.

I am not too sure what it is, whether it is because I am older than I was just now; or whether it is due to my writing, blogging, researching on a subject or bit of news that I find essay writability, things… life seem different. Very different.

For instance, I got on to the idea that a moment…that is (i.e.) one single moment is more than just that. Most people would define a moment as a sort of a flash in the pan,…quicker than a second. I say, “What’s the hurry?”. People say, “Stop being in a constant rush. Take time to smell the flowers”. I say, there is more time in a moment than you think. Live it. You owe yourself that. We owe ourselves that.

We are made to believe that our lives are in a rush…rushing for this and rushing for that…if not, we will be late. Being intelligent people, we get it. However, there are those who think we need help. And we do…most of the time. Hence, the introduction of A. I. (Artificial Intelligence). Help us get things done faster…to save time…for what?

Have we decided what we are going to do with all the free time we save each day, since we’ve got the latest in technology to make our lives bliss? Maybe, just maybe, we have to go for courses to learn how to live the free time that we have additional each day.

Hang on…when did you last check to see if you have gained free time each day? Maybe, an hour a day? Three hours a week? Or with that supposed time we have saved with modern technology and other help, we’ve cramped in more stuff to do?

The point is, Life is worth the living.
Live it.
Don’t discount the value of the moment, second or minute.
There’s so much to live.

Now, to get back to my food. My Sarawak Kolo mee (1) looks delicious. And the Coca-Cola in an ice-filled glass, thirst quenching. Jeannie’s finished her tou sa pau (2) and teh o kosong panas (3).

NOTES:
1. Sarawak kolo mee is an iconic Malaysian dish consisting of springy egg noodles tossed in lard, shallot oil, and light soy sauce, generously topped with char siew (barbecued pork) and minced pork. In Subang Jaya, there are several highly recommended local spots to enjoy this savory, authentic specialty.
2. A classic Chinese steamed bun featuring a pillowy, soft, and slightly sweet exterior packed with a rich, smooth red bean paste filling. wikipedia
3. Hot black tea without sugar refers to a hot tea brew served without any milk, creamer, or sugar. This drink is commonly served in local Mamak restaurants or coffee shops by steeping a tea bag or tea powder in hot water.

A boat made from a 3-D printer. The wonders of technology.

YOUR FUTURE SELF

YOUR FUTURE SELF IS
IN THE VERY NEXT MOMENT AHEAD,
THAT IS YET TO COME.

DON’T WAIT FOR MOTIVATION TO START YOUR FUTURE.
RECOGNISE THAT MOTIVATION IS FROM WITHIN.
RESPECT YOUR FUTURE SELF ENOUGH
TO ACT EVEN WHEN THE FEELING ISN’T THERE YET.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

A MARK OF MERIT

BECOMING BETTER JUST TO PROVE OTHERS WRONG
IS A TOUGH AND LOSING BATTLE.
IT WILL WEAR YOU DOWN.

HOWEVER,
WORKING TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE AND HONOURING YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL IS A MARK OF MERIT.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

Photo by Kolleen Gladden on Unsplash

SOLID RELATIONSHIPS

TRUST PEOPLE WHOSE FEELINGS REMAIN THE SAME EVEN WHEN THE TIME CHANGES.
THE TEST OF TIME REVEALS THEIR TRUE CHARACTER. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN SHARE
AND TOGETHER,
BUILD THE FUTURE YOU ENVISION.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

BRAGS THAT GO UNBRAGGED

YOU HEAR OF MANY PEOPLE WHO HAPPILY BRAG OF HAVING STOOD WITH THE GREAT, SOME EVEN RUBBING AND “WILLINGLY BRUISED” SHOULDERS WITH THEM.

THE BRAGS THAT GO UNBRAGGED ARE THOSE WHO STOOD WITH THE BROKEN; MANY-A-TIME NOT HAVING TO DO ANYTHING, JUST BEING WITH THEM IN THEIR HOUR OF NEED.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

IT ISN’T OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER

THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR GONE.
YOU’RE BEHIND ON YOUR GOALS AND NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU SET OUT THE YEAR WITH.

YOU SUDDENLY HAVE ALL THE “REASONS”
ON WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED.
YOU ARE LEANING HEAVILY ON QUITTING,
WHILE YOU’RE AHEAD INSTEAD OF
RUNNING THE REST OF THE RACE.

YOU CAN START AGAIN…NEXT YEAR…MAYBE.
YOU WILL BE BETTER PREPARED (YOU TELL YOURSELF).

THE RACE, i.e. THE YEAR IS NOT OVER!
IT ISN’T OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER.
YOUR REASONS TO QUIT ARE JUST EXCUSES.

IT’S NOT HOW WE START THE RACE
BUT HOW WE FINISH THAT MATTERS.
⚠️KEEP PUSHING!

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

THE “NOW” MOMENTS

DON’T CRY OVER THE PAST.
IT HAS GONE, NEVER TO RETURN.

DON’T STRESS OVER THE FUTURE, IT HASN’T ARRIVED… YET.
GIVE IT IT’S TIME, IT WILL.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DWELLING TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PAST,
OR / AND
WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS; YOU PROBABLY WILL BE MISSING OUT THE PRESENT –
THE “NOW” MOMENTS.

START PLOTTING THE STEPS OF THE PRESENT BY
WRITING YOUR STORY OR
PAINTING YOUR PICTURE.
LIVING YOUR LIFE IN THE PRESENT IS
SOMETHING ONLY YOU CAN DO.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller