Ketetapan.

Life is fragile. Life has no certainty. There will come a time, life would feel surreal, uncertain and very difficult to be continued. Some may want to end their life or breakdown when life gets too difficult.

Only after a jolt, a feel that life might slip away, ironically, you would want to go through life til the end. You would accept the challenge... the continued repeat of obstacles and challenge.

Life ain't a game. It doesn't have a restart button when life ends. The second chance or revival of chance to relive life is the most precious. Sometimes, it isn't about the end. It is about learning what happened. Finding the formula/solution to a reoccuring problem... because, that is what living means. To learn. To improve. To trust. To let go into the wind and have faith.

Today, 8th March 2014, marks a bleak history to the Malaysians and many families and friends, whom had board the airplane Boeing 777 (MH370) to Beijing. The airplane went missing from the blip after 1 hour take off from KL.

My facts aren't all accurate, but this is not about facts... it is a note, an entry, to remember this day.

A reminder that life is precious. It may continue... it may surprisingly end. Whether in good ready way.. or abruptly.

Take a page. Say a prayer. Appreciate the present, the second... the moment. Because once it is gone, you are not getting a restart button. So cherish, savour, look, feel, understand and think.

Let's pray for the lives of the passengers of MH370. The strength for the families and friends to go thru the days and nights.

Let's be sensitive to each other. Let's put ourselves in their shoes. Let's not be a jury and judge. Let's not speculate. Let's lend an ear and a shoulder. A hug. A smile.

This entry is not a happy note. But it is a reminder that... in the end, we are human. Bound by Him and His ketetapan (His Fate). And when we come to realize this, we will remember to be supportive of each other.

It is... was... not a pleasant day for everyone. Let's pray, to whichever God we believe in... for #MH370.

Ketetapan. #prayMH370

Obstacles.

The surprise came. Right before the trip. Right before the day, I turn 32.

In all frank and honesty, I was anticipating for it to happen. The obstacle. The reason for me to be pulled down. The reason to break me. The dreams were strong. The signs. It was intuitive.

It came.

No amount of money or saving can help at this point. It is just pure emotional strength and faith. It was the believe I had. I didn't question the reason... I didn't asked "Why me?"

Still, it was torturous. Six days without proper confirmation. Six days of constant pull ups from spiralling. The hardest six days of my life. Well.. somewhat hard.

Tears rolled everytime I looked down. When I am alone. When I face Him. But, I told Him, I accept this. I accept the obstacle. It is time. I need to grow.

I will fight, I told Him in confidant. I know He knows.

Funny how it felt right facing my fears... acknowledging the obstacle. I understood the reason, and it was a reason I needed to hold on to.

This time around, I fought with positivity. A brave front. A smile.

Six days ended. Confirmed. Not as terrible. It is just an obstacle.

But... it gave meaning to life again. I felt the jolt. I felt the need to stay colourful. Be vibrant. Work hard to find my happiness... my balance.

It's an obstacle. It will be tough and difficult but it doesn't mean it cannot be done.

"Just because you burn, doesn't mean you're going to die. You gotta get up and try... try... try." - Try, Pink

"He shall not burden a soul more than (a soul) can bear." - Al-Baqarah 2:285/6

Today marks a week from my birthday. I am not ready to talk about my obstacle in detail. Cukup that I know it will be tough.

This is a happy reminder. A note to self. You can do this. This isn't your first battle/obstacle... and it will not be your last.

I won't ask/wish it away because that is cheating (like a life's cheat code)... but I wish for a reminder every now and then. Just a sign to remind.

At this point... and hereon... I am greatful. Syukur. I am still able to understand.

#2014happynotes #reminder

When life gives you a fast one

Perception is a the key. When you perceive something to be difficult, it will continue to be difficult.

In my experience, it is easier to give up or let go because it is difficult or tough. It is easier to be looking for faults than find solution.

Forget what is good and hold on to the bad. Remind ourselves of the sadness rather than the happier moments.

Very easy to cloud oneself with negative emotions or memories than being brightened with positive outcomes or experience.

Because, it is easier to have life to blame for the shortfalls and the not reacheable expectations than looking closely to oneself as a limited human being.

For example, a housing loan. Monthly payments for the loan can burn an income. There are times, if not discipline enough, will miss payments or perhaps be short of cash after payment.

Rather than feeling bogged down, focus on the payment being an assuarance of a roof on your head. Find the dear things about the house or the surrounding that made you decide on getting a house.

I, for one, am glad I have learnt to appreciate that roof over my head. Although, there are times where it feels near to impossible to survive the month, but it feels good to have a roof over my head. Our head.

The place we got was at nearly 200k. Which means the housing loan is quite a bit... but, the plus side is that it is now valued higher. It was a fairly good investment move.

Last Saturday, as I was walking at the pool area of the condo... the scenery and serenity reminded me why I had decided to purchase the home. It was comforting and it was a place to call home.

As I said earlier, it is easy to perceive everything is difficult, hard or troublesome. But if you take the time to sit and breathe in your surroundings, you will find that - it ain't that bad as your mind perceived it.

So, when life throws you a fast one... remember to look at it at a different light. It may turn for the better.

Sarah Kambali