The Four Series

People talk about mid-life crisis. Yeah. 40 is middle age for a normal human nowadays, if we die at 80 la. But looking at the scenario, mid-life crisis perhaps could start way earlier, say 36. My late father died at 72. And I don't remember anything about him having crisis at 36, or was I plain ignorance. But, 36 is still too young right? We haven't done that. We haven't done this. Too many things to do. Too many projects down the pipeline. Too little time.

Well, perhaps those are the things that I felt a little. It's ticklish. Not much of it but the thoughts came and go and sometimes stayed tingling floating in mid-air for awhile. What should I do in the next 10 years? I can plan, say for the next 2 or 3 years, or perhaps max 5 years but not 10 years. That's 50, man! Yeah. I can still run, bike, swim or hurdle over the logs on the trails but do I have the strength at 50? What should I plan now for the coming years? What should be my diet? Should I run Bukit Aman to Hartamas every week to stay healthy? Will my knees survive? Do I have the time and commitments to do? 

I don't see myself working "makan gaji" at 50. OK perhaps that sounded a bit poyo but paid salary I can live with, but not facing meetings and senseless clients and local authorities. I worry that these play god people will face the dark side of Anakin Skywalker. I dunno. It's just a thought. People told me that what I do now was written and my destiny. But, who knows, with the slightest, tiniest thought of doing something else might sprout something happier :]

I don't want to make a fuss out of it but it's good actually to sometimes see life at our own perspective and better still jot it down. 40 years is a very long time dude. Some are short lived not to see 40. New generations perhaps have the knowledge and plushness of having to be ready by the time they reach mid life. Financial freedom. Assets. Successful carrier. Me, plain old bloke scratching here and there just to make ends meet while at the same time trying to be a champion (in my own way la). Maybe more like spark plug jenama Champion la kot. Hehe. Kasi bakar lebih.

Anyway, talking about champion, I got a gift from a fellow comrade today. Bestest gift for me to sit down with a cup of coffee by the window on slower mode days. Inspirational. Thanks Nik! Banyaknya buku aku nak baca. Nanti jadi macam Syah pulak :]

VS

OK. Time will tell. And let the Big Guy decide what's best for me. Amin.

Birthday always come with wishes. Apparently my birthday come close this year to the month where Muslims perform haj. Millions of of us from around the world gather at Mecca as part of our religious obligation. Malaysia alone sends off about 30,000 pilgrims from all walks of life. Young and strong, old and weak, single, married, grandparents, engineers, teachers, pensioners, etc.

Not missing the sensation, my neighbours were also granted their wish to join the fulfillment. I started noticing invitations through our surau to attend tahlil and doa selamat for the soon to be pilgrims. I started attending every now and then, and until last night how I realise that performing haj should be my next project. InsyaAllah.

Another gift from a friend who shared this. It was a prayer from Nabi Sulaiman a.s.:

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says,

 "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.

al-Ahqaf 15