Open your mind and heart...you can "Invite Freedom Home" [2/3]

"But the mist was still hovering all over the swamp. At long last, I saw the silhouette of a man by a bridge but I wasn't sure; he was not moving at all. 

Was it really a person? Was it my imagination? 

When I got nearer, the figure began to move ahead, it was indeed a man with a small bag. I was so relieved, I finally found someone to ask for direction:"Am I heading towards the village of Lumbini?".  He nodded his head, phew, I was on the right track after all."

He was so firm with his decision of going to Lumbini although the bus was fated to stop at Kathmandu. Without thinking twice, he took his own path, chose the less travel path to reach Lumbini.

I was in a blur mode when he mentioned that we should follow our heart. Without a goal or plan? After continue to the book, I understand what he means by saying that we must plan something. After completing the planning decision, we do not need to worry about the outcome but enjoy the flow. That's what the author, Tham Chee Wah said in his latest book, "Invite Freedom Home".

How did I apply it in my life yesterday?
It was a rushing day yesterday. After came back from school, brother got to go to the hospital for his medical appointment.

He was supposed to leave the classroom at 1pm but he was so scared to be scolded by teacher. So he remained silent. So mother waited until 2pm like that. Anyway we finally reached the hospital but brother forgot to bring the appointment card.

"Why you forgot to bring!?" I raised my voice at the counter.
"I forgot to bring. Let's place the urine test into the basket first." My brother was panicked but later he cooled down and decided to do it.

Well, the nurse at the counter saw the sibling-commotion and spoke nicely to us. Thank God she was a patient person. Anyway, I kept calm myself and said:" We come for brother's appointment. Since the registration process was done, all we need to do is to wait."

Around 6p.m, brother's number was called. Brother, uncle and I waited for hours but we did not complain about it. It must be hard for a 13-year-old boy to sit down for hours without making noise for the first time.

Max loves the cover of "Invite Freedom Home"

What did I do for that 4 hours at the hospital's clinic?
I was walking to the brochure section. Whoa, the first brochure I took was "Mata Merah". Oh yea, yesterday was the first day I got this sore eyes early in the morning.

At least, this brochure reminds me to use clean tissue or soft clothes to wipe my eyes twice a day. And I felt better. But I did go to the 1Malaysia clinic at night.

Then my eyes were glued at the big televisions screen because "MedikTV" was aired. I am so proud of Malaysia for producing a program which raises our awareness of health in a simple and attractive way with graphics that simplify the message.

I saw a old man. He was so happy-go-lucky. He waited for hours but he did not complain or showed moody face. Instead, he went to others' seats and talked to them. He was a easy-going person. I was sitting far away yet I can feel his happy aura. Strong happy, friendly aura. That's when I know that a happy person can attract people to stick to him!

Anyway, I did not know that brother and I got a chance to talk to this happy man when all of us were waiting for a letter from the doctor. It was a nice conversation A brief yet unforgettable conversation.

Because I open my heart and mind to go with the flow, I have a chance to

1. Learn about taking care of the sore eyes.
2. Keep abreast of the importance of eating healthily, doing exercise from MedikTV.
3. Realize that being happy can makes the atmosphere a happy place.

As the author said:

"Relax. Relax into everything in life and know that it is Ok."

I was in a heart-cage...now I "Invite Freedom Home" [1/3]

I was actually living in a cage in my own heart for months last time. I did not realize it.
All I knew was that I was living in a normal life with the only difference: Mood that pulls me down from the peak of a mountain. Until I realize I need to find my freedom now by reading his book.

What's "Invite Freedom Home"?
It's a very good book written by local author a.k.a a Toastmasters International member named Tham Chee Wah.

I almost 'missed' to see it on the shelf of Popular. Thank God my never-give-up spirit helped me. Tham Chee Wah also mentioned "All you ever need to do is to remember and say 'Yes!' to what shows up".

"Invite Freedom Home"
This book shows me that when we are so eager to chase Freedom, we must never forget Discipline too. The left and right brain are brothers! That's how the author can achieve his goal, living in his own world with discipline to remembered.

He shows me that we can achieve freedom now, by setting our heart free without waiting for the perfect time to achieve freedom. We will never know when is our perfect time too. Why not start to love every single moment of our life now?

Me with the book bought from Popular.

How I "Invite Freedom Home" to my world?

1. Follow the heart to lead us to inner peace
To live in a peaceful way is freedom.  We don't need to find peace only by going to the spa, shopping or even watching movie. The author has found his 'peace' when he found a exit way to the horror running experience.

My World:
The presence of Max was so unpredictable. There are people who thought life is going to be tough and miserable without happiness now. Somehow, we are so happy with the presence of Max until I realize that it is a 'Peace' to be with him.  I am no more alone. The burden is a peace.

2. Trust our divine hint...it is a talent
We don't really need to plan every single thing, follow every single plan that we have planned. Sometimes, setting ourselves free for some times. Of course, when we found the hint, we must practise it to make it a 'talent'.

You see, the freedom of choosing what we love can be a talent when we put in the ingredient of discipline.

My World:
I always love piano...and I got my first baby toy piano at the age of 6. Without knowing notes, I bough music books with numbers written on top. Never did I imagine that I got to attend a piano class when my family moved to our hometown 5 years later.

The moment I wished to learn piano, my new classmate invited me to join her to a piano lesson. Now, I get to play any song that I love and mix and match it as I wish on the black-and-white key.

3. Love what we do, do what we love now
The author said that we can get a rest when we are tired, even rest for a year. But the rest must be a thing that we love to do...finding our true identity, searching for the things we really love to do when we are 'resting'.

My World:
I thought my cousin made a silly decision by resting for a year from her degree life. Never did I know that I too got to rest from the degree life for almost a year too.

People think this is crazy, wasting my time from going to the working world a year slower than my course mates. Somehow, I learn so many things in this one year! I learn that:

• Sharing food is the most wonderful things in the world
• Give myself a chance to believe in people,let them help me when I face problems
• Thankful for everything I have. So many things I've seen when I was in and out of hospital for 6 months.
• Always spend time with the family

"Invite Freedom Home" doesn't just want us to find freedom only. 

It also helps me to realize I got so much freedom that I did not realize I have them in my life.

Follow the heart and do what we love now.

The Boscombe Valley Mystery with awesome lessons

Book Cover

It was love at first sight to read my brother's form 1 novel entitled The Boscombe Valley Mystery. It's about the famous detective named Sherlock Holmes.

Story?
It's about a murder case of McCarthy. Many thought that James McCarthy a.k.a the son of the deceased was guilty of murdering his late father.

However, the famous detective in the town, Sherlock Holmes thought that a simple case had complex story which we did not know yet.

At the end, we knew the murderer was a long time enemy of McCarthy.

Why this book is interesting?

1. The story is transformed into comic form *My lazy brother loves to read it too!*
2. There are some exercises at the end of each chapter *We can recall the story better, faster and easier*.

Comic form :)

I always love the fact that some stories or movie can teach us good lessons in real life.  For example:

1. Be more observant 
Sherlock Holmes is an observant master detective.
He knew the suspect was a tall guy based on the big footprint near the lake.
He knew the suspect was from his origin country based on the code gave by McCarthy before he passed away.

Real Life:
I knew a friend who was good in observing. She was not sure which was my house. But, based on the type of clothes which were dried on the clotheslines.

2. Be more understanding
Dr. Watson received a telegram. He was unsure whether to meet Holmes at the railway station since he did not want to leave his job.

Luckily, his wife was very understanding. She asked him to go to meet Holmes and left the job to other colleague.

Real Life:
Mother is a understanding wife. She never say anything when daddy always works at other states apart from Malacca.

Instead, she takes good care of the family at home without letting daddy worried.

3. Keep the promise
Holmes promised Mr. Turner that he would never let anyone read the letter of Mr. Turner as long as James was found innocent.

Holmes kept his promise till the end of the day. He never let Alice Turner to read what was written in the letter of her late father, Mr. Turner.

Real Life:
I faced minor problem last year. My lecturer said he would help me. Although I did not reply the message for a day, he still kept his promise on the next day.

That's how I get to start a new life again.

The Boscombe Valley Mystery's Lessons:

1. Be more observant
2. Be more understanding
3. Keep our promise