Three Random Murmurs

Bismillahirrahmanirraheem ~

I seldom write about my personal life in this blog. Today's post is just a random event and thoughts that keep lingering in my head. Sometimes I find that it is healthy to vomit everything you feel on a single paper. It's okay to put on written words rather than conversing with others. It soothe my over-saturated brain.

1. Oil plunge

I worked in O&G sector. In the state of current market, I am anxiously keeping track of the oil price everyday. Economic turmoil - or whatever they call it. There had been 2 years in a row without salary increment. And this has been bugging me a lot lately. Well, actually it's a blessing in disguise for the mass. The industry should adapt to a new system where cheap oil at cheap cost in the future. At least that's what I have been thinking.

2. Invitations

Wedding invitations has continued to flow in. My close friends are gradually settling down with their respective spouses. I truly congratulate them for their marriage. I was genuinely happy. I got another wedding card today, from a guy. There was a quite interesting story about this guy. I knew him from a professional networking site and we changed each other's cellphone number. I thought it's just for the sake of getting better job opportunities (at least for me), but apparently for him, it was not.

The moment he got my number, he called me. I did not pick up. I do not entertain a stranger's call. Most importantly, I have no idea on what sort of conversation will came up afterwards. We end up chatting on Whatsapp instead. We discussed mostly on work-related matters. Only boring and serious matters were on the plate. Well, I thought I had just portrayed myself as a cold person hence he will stop texting me. Guess what, he was persistent. He kept texting even though it's just a mere "Hi". Or this...

Guy: "I am in KL. Just touch down from Labuan. I'm thinking of you."

Me: "...."

Guy: "Let's meet up."

Me: "I'm sorry, I don't hang out with strangers."

I never went 'doki doki' to him ever since my first encounter. Which I can conclude that I have no special feeling towards him. He keep sending me messages; during Hari Raya and other festive season. I copied whatever people forwarded during that time, and send back to him. Guess the cold shoulder treatment worked, he stop texting me. This lasted for half and a year.

Unexpectedly, I got a text from this guy this morning. It was an invitation to his wedding. Glad he'd found his bride. I'm sorry. I don't know why, I feel bad for turning down people even though it's not a crime. 

3. Changing job

It has been almost 4 years I've worked in the same company after graduating from uni. I need some new challenge to work on yet I was so petrified to move on. I am in need of new experience. But the current situation doesn't light so much hope to fulfill my wishes. Oil price is tumbling down every single day. I adored my current workplace due to its flexibility. On top of that, I'll be missing some good friends here. All of them were good people even though you can't avoid a little flaw here and there.

Secebis Za'ba

Bismillahirrahmanirraheem ~

"Demikianlah orang yang merdeheka hati dan berhemah tinggi, sentiasa bergantung kepada dirinya sendiri walaupun masa ia masih budak lagi.

        Kebanyakan budak-budak dari masa kecilnya pun lagi sudah ada nampak bakat perasaan hendak bersendiri dan bergantung kepada kebolehan diri sendiri itu. Jika ia sudah mulai tahu berjalan umpamanya, ia suka hendak berjalan sendiri sahaja, tidak suka didukung atau dipegang-pegangkan tangannya oleh orang kerana hendak memelihara jangan ia jatuh, kecuali jika ia sudah penat. Maka kecenderungan demikian, sayugialah ditanam dan dilatihkan pada mereka. Misalnya jika budak itu jatuh yang tiada parah, maka tak usahlah dibangunkan, diambil, digosok, dipujuk dan sebagainya; biarkan dia sehingga ia bangun sendiri dan diam daripada menangisnya itu sendiri.

        Walhasil kita sangat-sangatlah berhajat mesti menggalakkan perangai bergantung kepada diri sendiri ini mulai dilatihkan diri masa budak-budak pun lagi. Anak-anak mestilah dilatih perlahan-lahan membiasakan dirinya tahu membuat apa-apa sendiri, tahu berusaha sendiri, tahu berikhtiar sendiri, tahu berfikir sendiri, tahu menimbang sendiri, tahu menyelenggara dan memutuskan apa-apa halnya sendiri - hingga akhirnya tahu bersendiri dan merdeheka pada segala hal-ehwal yang berhubung dengan dirinya sendiri. Adapun jika pada orang yang sudah besar, yang tidak ada atau yang telah hilang daripadanya perangai bersendiri dan sifat merdeheka diri itu, kita wajib mengikhtiarkan dengan segala daya upaya supaya perangai itu hidup semula dan kembali padanya. Kerana faedahnya perangai ini amat besar bagi membantu kemajuan diri seseorang, dan dari situ kepada sesuatu bangsa yang terjadi daripadanya kumpulan tiap-tiap seorang itu."

[Petikan asal daripada buku "Perangai Bergantung Kepada Diri Sendiri", mukasurat 22]
[Tulisan Pendita Za'ba, Cetakan 1982.]


Buku ini halus tulisannya. Saya belum habis baca. Baru bab keempat. Namun ada sesuatu di mukasurat ini yang menjentik minda saya. Apa yang saya dapat rumuskan berdasarkan fenomena zaman sekarang:

1. Jangan terlalu manjakan (baca: spoil) anak-anak kita sehingga mereka sukar untuk berdikari. Benarkan mereka merasai kesusahan dan erti kehidupan sebenar. Agak menjelekkan dengan budaya zaman kini bila mana budaya "Saya-benci-saya-viral" semakin menjadi-jadi.
2. Sifat berusaha sendiri tanpa mengharapkan bantuan orang lain untuk berjaya mesti dimulakan dari rumah; iaitu ibu dan bapa.
3. Untuk menjadi bangsa yang berjaya, harus bangkit dengan usaha sendiri. Jangan terlalu mengharap keistimewaan, kuota dan bantuan. Namun, kepincangan dan penyelewengan pemimpin yang terang lagikan bersuluh tidak boleh dibutakan mata dan pekakkan telinga.
4. Perlu berani dan kadangkala agresif dalam mencari ilmu dan kebenaran. Tidak hanya mendengar sesuatu tanpa menyelidiki ia terlebih dahulu.


Entri serius untuk permulaan tahun 2016 yang suram dan kelam, dari segi ekonomi dan sosio-politik semasa.