Repost: Make time for people to make life more meaningful

I have a on-and-off habit of reading columns from THE STAR although the news reports on the front pages are like so WTF at times, but NOTHING nonsense from the columnists lah except from one particular dude from PEMANDU. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Anyhow, amidst the mind-freezing thesis writing and read-also-dun-understand articles scanning, I make it a point to read something which I find nutritious for my thoughts; such as MUSINGS by Marina Mahathir, A BRAVE NEW WORLD by Azmi Sharom, A WRITER'S LIFE by Dina Zaman, and a few to name. Today leh, ngam ngam I wanna try on some other columnist's work and I found this: SUNDAY STARTERS by SOO EWE JIN.

I find it enlightening for me, so I would wanna share with tha... eh... since when I sounded like I am writing for people to read pulak. Anyhow... Please enjoy lah.

Make time for people to make life more meaningful

I HAVE not worn a watch for the past 30 years. But I am a punctual person.

My friends comment that I am foolish to arrive at any appointment, especially wedding dinners, by the stated time when it is obvious that Malaysian time rules the day.

Some say time is a precious resource in our very busy world and take great care to demarcate portions of the day to specific tasks that guarantee the best returns. So, by their reasoning, time spent with anyone that does not add value to their lives, be it their reputation or their bank accounts, is simply wasted time.

But time actually makes no distinction between the rich, powerful man and the ordinary man in the street.
So it would not be correct to say that one person’s time is more important than another. We are, after all, blessed with the same 24 hours in a day.

I suppose the mass media creates a scenario where the time of the rich, powerful, famous and the infamous seems to take precedence.

Because we are interested in their stories, the newspapers chronicle their lives for mass dissemination.

But each of us, in our limited time here on earth, also have our own stories to share. How we spend that time has its own value for us, and also the people around us.

The most happening event last Saturday was Bersih 3.0. Some were there, many were not. But an event like this has consequences in all our lives, whether we are present or not.

It should cause us to reflect on the future of our beloved country and whether we have given more to the world than we have received from it in our lifetime.

Are our words and actions making a positive difference to our society?

At the workplace, are we seen as mere economic units critical to the bottom line of the company or as real people whose time and talent are truly appreciated?

In our neighbourhood, are we always in a rush or do we find time to chat with our neighbours?

And we will learn the hard way that we can never turn back the clock when we hold back saying thanks or sorry to a loved one until it is too late to do so.

Recently, I was confined in a 4ft by 6ft room for one hour to undergo a medical examination. Because of the radioactive dye that had been injected into my body, I could not be exposed to others.

In that one hour, time took on a different meaning. My friend asked why I did not take in my tablet to surf my time away. Simple, there was no WiFi.

So how did I pass the time? Well, I started remembering all my friends going through various medical problems. It was a fairly long list.

But through reflection and prayer, I was able to count my blessings. Away from the madding crowd, we see people in a different light.

I went in at 9am and came out at 10am. The clock still marked it as one hour but my passage through time is different.

In that one hour, I had a lot of time to think of others.

I guess the secret to living in a busy world is to slow down and make time for people.

There is much wisdom in the saying that “we should love people and use things, not use people and love things”.

I believe if we do so, time takes on a whole new dimension, and life becomes more meaningful.

Yes indeed. LOVE PEOPLE! MAKE TIME FOR PEOPLE!

Initially I wasn't really sure if I should meet Hebi tomorrow for dinner or not, but right after I read this column, it reaffirmed one of my principles: ATTEND TO PEOPLE FIRST, FOR WORKS CAN ALWAYS WAIT (BECAUSE WORKS ARE SIMPLY NON-LIVING.)

Last time when Hebi was rushing for his final year project, he didn't meet me for 2 weeks and I already cannot tahan already. Since now it is my turn to face this sort of situation, I would make time for us, bullshit the CIBAI thesis. End of discussion! Shower!