Happy New Year

It is the first day of the Chinese New Year. I am very happy to receive so many sms from friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues wishing me and my family with the most heart-warming words and auspicious symbols. I am rather reluctant to delete some of the messages from friends who must have given some good thoughts on the choice of words and sentences. These short but powerful messages, from near or far, strengthen our friendships that transcend physical, social, professional or hierarchical barriers. However, I can't help thinking at the same time, of some people who frequently sms me, asking for various helps, somehow or rather, have their batteries running low or at locations with super low coverage, on this auspicious day. I know, or rather I like to think, that they have tried frantically, to reach me but their handphones are just not cooperating too well. (Please do not take this too seriously. Just for some fun to keep up with the momentum of writing.)

Niu-Bull in Chinese just in case someone may be tempted to correct my spelling.

Bonsai

I used to spend much of my free time cultivating bonsai plants in pots of various shapes and sizes. I used to spend hours bending and twisting the twigs and branches of some plants only to untwist and unbend the following day. My lack of proper training and patience often led to the frustration of not achieving the desired result.

One day, I transferred all my mutilated and deformed plants from their respective pots into my tiny garden to let them grow in a more natural way. I did so after hearing someone comparing the stunted mind of a person with a bonsai plant.

Recently, I visited a bonsai exhibition and took some photographs of those plants to further appreciate their beauty during my free time. While I appreciate the beauty of these plants I am also wondering what each of these plants will look like if they are not forced to grow in shallow pots. I can't help wondering at the same time that if a child is placed under overly regimented training that sometimes go counter to their natural inclination, will he grow up to be a 'bonsai'? Another related thought : When will the dilemma of choosing between producing string of 'A's and providing a more holistic education be resolved. When will leaders, while congratulating the controlled and fully residential schools for producing good academic results, also congratulate and thank the ordinary schools for their sacrifice in accepting and educating those students left out from the doorsteps of those prestigious schools? Moreover, some of these 'left-outs' have grown into even bigger and stronger trees.

In some way, I still like bonsai. While I am 'thinking allowed', I am not thinking aloud. I will leave you to your own imagination, if you bother to, to ponder why I still like bonsai.

Mencabar Pemikiran Sendiri

Pembaca yang membaca blog saya yang bertajuk 'Sudah Lama Tak Tulis' mungkin berfikir saya seorang yang kurang serius atau 'main-main'. Mereka yang kenal saya lebih mungkin tak bersetuju. Saya seorang yang percaya bahawa kita perlu sentiasa mencabar pemikiran diri untuk mengelakkan terperangkap dalam pemikiran stereotaip. Dalam dunia sekarang yang begitu kompleks, kita perlu sentiasa mengejar pelbagai ilmu, kemahiran dan pemikiran yang baru melalui bacaan dan perbincangan. Penulisan blog juga satu cara untuk memaksakan diri memikirkan sesuatu perkara atau isu untuk menulis dan serah kepada pembaca untuk membuat kritikan dan komen.

Saya percaya kita mesti sentiasa membaca dan membincang supaya minda kita menjadi lebih tajam dan kemampuan kita melaksanakan urusan harian meningkat. Perbincangan adalah sangat penting kerana melalui perbincangan sesuatu yang kita faham dapat diperkukuhkan dan sesuatu yang kita 'faham' mungkin sebenarnya salah faham.

Kita sering dengan komen 'more of the same' kerana realiti ialah jika kita tidak menambah ilmu bagaimana kita dapat melepasi diri daripada kongkongan 'more of the same'? Bagaimana dengan 'think out of the box'? Bagaimana dapat 'think out of the box' kalau kita tidak sentiasa mencabar pemikiran diri sendiri? Tak mungkin kita mengalami transformasi segera untuk 'think out of the box' selepas mengikut Powerpoint yang diberi oleh pengarah atau ketua pengarah. Apa kata jika kita menyedut Powerpoint itu dan balik ke sekolah untuk memberitahu staf kita : Sila baca dan mulai pada hari ini, semua mesti 'think out of the box'..... Sejak hari itu semua pun 'think out of the box'. Cerita itu pun tamat dan semua pun gembira. Ya?

Sudah Lama Tak Tulis

Sudah lama tidak menulis. Mengapa?
Alasan biasa (lebih mungkin dipercayai):

1. Sangat sibuk.
2. Kurang idea.
3. Lebih banyak keutamaan yang lain.
4. Kurang pembaca (melalui counter blog).
5. Laluan Internet sangat perlahan.

Alasan luar biasa (hanya untuk hiburan Tahun Baru Cina):

1. Tetikus (mouse) kurang berfungsi.
2. Komputer kena virus (masih luar biasa walau pun selalu menjadi alasan mereka yang tidak buat kerja tetapi tetap hantar diskette--yang kosong).
3. Huruf 'A' telah tertanggal dari keyboard komputer. (Alasan memilih huruf 'A' lebih kukuh daripada huruf 'Q' dalam kes ini.)
4. Skrin komputer kena lilin Kristmas dan keyboard kena bunga api tahun baru (1 Januari).
5. Jari-jari beku kerana musim sejuk.

Cukup sebelum pembaca mula naik marah.