5/01/2025. Sunday.
Sunday is always special with kids coming home and having some relaxing time. This weekend Una flew in from Kucing and this morning she had some brief moments joining my morning walk.
Having a walk in the morning has become our routine.Alhamdulillah
At the Surau, people came in for Karnival komuniti SAK. A fundraising activity to fill up Surau’s tabung. Everytime talking about Surau I would reserve myself from being over— overreacting, for example. All my life ,surau has been my place of refuge. I seek solace at the place like this surau whenever things going tough for me. So being attached to one would see me excited and that sometimes led to overreacting. Over time I would get trapped into its internal conflicts and often will end up disappointed. Lessons have been learnt so many times but due to my own passion the same mistakes keep happening. I guess that is my life and will keep at it until I die. The thing is that I found some interesting things in the process like new friends, sense of belonging, sometimes inspiration, self- confidence ,self-respect and challenges.
At this surau @SAK, I found something more intriguing—— freedom. As a retiree, I am free from work commitments so no more 9-5 stuck in the office . Each day I could spend more time at the surau; when everyone else was busy. Doing things like gardening, mowing lawn and cleaning the high growth around the surau.
Freedom also means I do things without expecting any return. I don’t expect people to pay me or respect my effort or acknowledge my presence in any way. With little money I have, I could sponsor a meal so a few of my new friends could enjoy and have a laugh. The happy and positive energy always helps to make my day utterly meaningful.
Laman Barakah a joined effort with Hj Zin and a few others
Some chillies, aubergines and ginger in polybags
Still working on the irrigation system
Alhamdulillah people don’t judge me and I try to smile to everyone— like a new kid in the class. This freedom is so precious to me that I always check myself not to be too smart, too important or too aggressive. Holding on to myself is the key and use my experience to survive. Reminding myself that you have got nothing to lose anymore.
Joining the surau community to clean the streets and cut down over grown trees in the area.
Sunday afternoon – the weather was fine so we drove off to Shah Alam to meet our dear Cikgu Ash’ari. He is now 84 years old and looking as healthy as ever. In the late 70s, he was with us in SMS Kelantan in Pengkalan Chepa. I forget what he taught us but something like Sejarah or Bahasa Malaysia. During his teaching days in SMSKel, a lot of incidents happened and it was unfortunate for him to face those events .It seemed that they dumped everything on him and left it for him to resolve it. Yesterday, he revealed everything together with the names and the time it occurred. I was speechless because I know the feelings and the emotions involved. he was beyond tough but spectacular dude that had nothing to fear.
Now I know what my teacher was like; his hard work was nothing but a pure love for his students. Yesterday he narrated the stories of the past like he was in the class. His soft voice, words and exclamations went right into my heart and begged for my understanding and empathy. If only we could turn the clock, I would like to see this person run the school again. The young ones would be in safe hands.
