A few words

I'm leaving today.

Thanks everyone who met up with me and organised everything. I think summer this year was definitely unique in many ways.

I think we've all entered the phase and the big M will be the hot topic for the next several years. Who's getting married, who has kids, whose wedding was grand, who's leaving Singapore, salaries, flat buying and government bonuses.

So before you all forget, even though I am in Melbourne, I still want an invite to your wedding even though I may not be able to make it!

Other than that, be good, take care of yourselves and May Allah s.w.t. bless you always my dear friends.

I read this article in The Straits Times yesterday. It was written by Tom Plate, an American journalist and he shares his view on Singapore. It was an interesting read indeed, one that evoked a number of emotions. At some parts I laughed heartily at his words, some I never even knew until I read this article and the rest left me pondering. Of course I have my own views, but I could not help but resonate with some of the things he said. I thought it would be an appropriate topic to end my stay in Singapore once again.

Here it is (it's a long read but I promise you'll enjoy it). Just click on it.

This column on Singapore, are you sure you want to run it? By Tom Plate, 15th January 2007, The Straits Times

Before I go ( just a few words for my friends),

For the broken and suffering,

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ K.G.

Don't forget to enjoy nature,

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair ~ K.G.

Don't doubt yourself,

Love and doubt have never been on speaking terms. ~ K.G.

One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving. ~ P.C.

Heal and try again,

The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love. ~ P.C.

Have a little faith ok, things will work out.

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. ~ K.G.

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. ~ M.G.

Prayer always helps,

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. ~ M.G.

Have a little empathy,

We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path. - P.C.

And my very own,

Don't get stuck in the past. It never changes.

See you in Melbourne InsyaAllah!

K.G. : Kahlil Gibran, P.C.: Paulo Coelho, M.G.: Mahatma Gandhi