The Quality Of Life

I am sure we hear it very often … the quality of life. People always say that we must strive to have a better quality of life.

So how do you get a better quality of life? Now, one thing for sure is that you have to spend. BUT, there are also things that give you a better quality of life that money CANNOT buy.

And for those that can be bought … it DOES NOT mean that when you spend BIG, spend MORE and spend OFTEN ... then you will get better quality of life than other people who have less.

Quality of life?

What is your idea of a better quality of life?

A big house? Big cars? Expensive taste? Branded luxury items? Exotics holidays? Party at exclusive clubs? Millions in the bank?

Someone told me, that better quality of life means 喝饱吃醉 every day with 大鱼大肉 🐟🦐🦀 and a few bottles of branded whiskies on the table. THAT, they said … is the meaning of better quality of life.

OK, there is no right or wrong, true or false or “must do” and “must not do” here … how one define the qualities of their lives is entirely up to that individual … just live the way you think is best for you.

I live the way I wanted to … the way that I worked so hard to achieve. I think I have very good qualities of life now … some that I managed to build and maintain, some that I can afford and some that I continue to acquire as I live and learn every day.

What are my qualities of life?

Look, it might not be like yours or you may not think this is the quality you wanted but like I said, every individual has their idea of what his/her quality of life should be.

My quality of life is very first my HEALTH … now, for people at my age, don’t fall into the lure of advertising slogans that say your health can be like what you were when you are in your 30s … no, it will not be. It is only natural that you will lose some of your physical and mental abilities when you aged … you cannot change the law of nature. Don’t worry about it if there is no sudden or serious changes.

So what is healthy to me?

At my age, my idea of healthy is be active, be mobile and be alert. I try to be able and capable for as long as I can be. Of course there will be some aches and pains on the joints, muscles and tendons but as long as it is nothing serious or grave … I can still enjoy some activities, light sports and mental engagements.

So, to be active, mobile and alert is one of the better qualities of life.

Next, my home … let me emphasize, MY HOME, not my house ya. My home is where I spent most of my time in. I said this before and I will say it again … it is a place that I want to go back to, AGAIN and AGAIN.

It is where I am very close to my loved ones and yet enjoy the privacy and the retreat when I wanted some time for myself. It is where I feel most comfortable in. It is at my home, where I am most at ease, with those who live and interact with every day.

My home is what make my quality of life better.

My other quality of my life is that I still have ability, the opportunity and the resources TO LEARN.

My interest in Chinese history started many years ago … those days, due to the limitations of books, translations, time and resources … I did not go very far in my research of the vast Chinese history. Now, with the luxury of time, the convenience of the internet and the vast resources of ebooks, online publications as well as media platforms like Youtube, FB and Instagram … I have learned so much and I still have so much more to learn.

I travel not for photos … been to France a few times and I have not got a photo of me at the Eiffel Tower but if you ask me about what I learned about France, I can tell you about Napoleon, the French revolution and the wonderful things I saw in the Louvre museum. As well as the interesting culture that I have learned from asking many ordinary folks about their lives and living in France.

Was in Egypt many years ago … again, I did not play baccarat at Casino Royale but I was down inside one of the chambers of the big pyramid of Giza and was at awe in front of the golden mask of King Tut in Cairo museum. Maybe if the opportunity arise again, I hope to go learn more at the new Grand Egyptian Museum.

I like to learn … as a matter of fact, I just signed up for music lessons. Bought my first Kapok guitar many years ago … but music did not go far beyond that. Now, I am not just trying to play instruments but go further to also learn and understand music, to use music and to make music.

You see, I can still learn … more importantly, there is still so much to learn. From simple things like a new recipe to the mysteries of aliens in the vast universe and galaxies … there are new things, new discoveries, new inventions that I can learn every day. Whether it is history, music, science or mysteries … learning is one way that can definitely improve my quality of life. 

Look, there are other ideas of how to make the quality of my life better … it can in my belief, my understanding, my approach and my thinking. Maybe it is not the same as what other people have in their minds. That is absolutely OK … the objective is the same. We all want a better quality of life … just different ideas and ways of thinking and achieving what and how the quality of life should be.

What is better for you?

The year is ending soon … just a few more days to go and I am glad that a new year is coming and I think there are better things to look forward to.

I am looking forward to better days ahead … now, I am not sure what better means to others, people have different ideas of what better should be for them.

What is a better for you?

To some people, better means more. Others may think that better means bigger. There are many who think that better means expensive. Of course there are other meanings of better and how you want to make your life better is entirely up to you.

I have a different idea of what is better for me. You see, I don’t have the so called better things that many of my peers have … the big houses, the expensive cars, the high end brands, the luxury holidays and the “sikit atas” lifestyle.

I don’t have the ability and the financial resources to afford this concept of a better living … I cannot compare with my peers in this concept.

My approach to the concept of a better life is about what I DON’T HAVE.

Huh?

You see, at my age … it is not what I have that is important. Whether it is a big house or expensive cars or luxury brands … that is not my idea of a better life.

It is what I DON’T HAVE that makes my living better … heart diseases, stroke, Parkinson, Alzheimer, diabetes, liver and kidney failure, cancer, arthritis, obesity … last but not least, vision and hearing loss.

At least not yet lah … 🙏🙏🙏😉

I take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year and may the new year brings BETTER days to all.

Sounds like it … feels like it … looks like it but it is not IT.

I go into the forest almost every week … normally I will be at the trailhead at about 6.15am ... I start very early to avoid most trekkers that will arrive when the sky lights up.

I like to trek alone … yes there are some cautions to trekking alone so I have to be extra careful.

Last week, like before, I trekked into the forest but when I reached my first resting point, there was already a trekker there. Quite unusual, I was always the first one there for as long as I remember.

We greeted each other. As soon as I sat down, he walked over and started a conversation. The first few exchanges were quite general … “where are you from” … “how often do you come here" and blah, blah, blah.

Then he asked me … what shoes are you wearing? "Trekking shoes" ... I said.

“What brand is that? I have not seen this before” … he asked.

And before I could put down my water bottle to reply him … he started talking about his shoes.

“This is Salomon” … he told me while lifting up his leg.

I looked at his shoes and nodded … gave him a 👍. He talked about the design … I cannot remember what about … something on the fitting and shape. Then he went on to tell me about the trekking shoes he has at home … if I remember it correctly, he said he has eight pairs of them and mentioned several brands names … all “canggih canggih” brands.

From what I can see … he must have invested quite a fair amount on his trekking gears … the backpack I saw was one of those I cannot afford.

I listened … told myself give him a few more minutes and then I will continue with my journey into the forest. Then he asked again (very curiously) … “what shoes you are wearing?”

And again, before I could reply him, he said …”you know, I don’t wear this kind of shoes, it bad for my trekking … you better change your shoes also”.

OK, that was it … I have to make a move before he start talking about the singlet I was wearing and loose old khaki shorts that was hanging from my waist. So I made an excuse and left … I speed up a bit to make sure that I will lose him if he is behind.

Look, albeit his boastful tone and manner … maybe his intention was good. Maybe to him, good trekking shoes and gears must be from Salomon or Karrimor or some famous brands.

But what he must understand is … not all trekkers can afford expensive brands like him … so, maybe things that are not good enough for him … is good enough for others.

Let me tell you what I wear into the jungle. First, an old singlet … that I have accidently stained while washing. It is still wearable, so might as well use it for trekking before I turn it into table cloth. After that, I will look for another old singlet and the process repeats.

My trekking pants? It is an old pair of discolored khaki shorts with loose rubber waist band, got a big hole in one pocket (have to remind myself constantly not to put car keys into that pocket) and weathered with permanent stains due to frequent contacts with mud, soils and dirt from the many treks into waterfalls and forest reserves.

What about my trekking stick? Well, it is just a long straight branch that I picked up during one of my trips to Gunung Angsi many years ago. It is also my phone/camera holder … just use a long rubber band to tie the phone onto the stick and poke it into the ground and bingo!!! … an instant tripod.

I don’t use those retractable aluminium trekking pole … you know the ones with a little compass at the top? Why? A very experienced trekker once told me … those metal poles, they attract lightning. Yes, seriously … during thunderstorms, if a lightning hits a tree and you are standing near the tree with that kind of metal pole … well, very likely you will be fried.

OK, the most important question … what shoes do I wear? I did not get to tell the guy last week … so let me tell him now (if he gets to read this one day).

Is it a Salomon?

Well, it sounds like it, feels like it, looks like it … but it is not IT.

My pair of 傻老文

I call it "傻老文". Pronounced “sor low mun” in Cantonese. A cheap pair of imitate I bought online at just under 40 bucks and some more wait until the 11.11 sales on Lazada to get another 5 bucks off.

Tak bolih pakai meh?

You see … people boast about their possessions … that is absolutely OK. Of course everyone like to show that they are successful and they deserve to enjoy their successes

But don’t tell those who have less than you that what they have is not good enough.

I know a guy with a title in front of his name … one time he boasted about the luxury cars he has in his garage. He said to me and a few others at a gathering … “anything that is less than 500k is not a car” … now, to him a car have to be 500k or more.

Yes, some people think I am driving this

Then I want to ask … what are most of us driving then? Buffaloes and camels?

 

Live NOW!

I posted “Don’t live in your past” October last year … a year has passed and I want to add a bit more to it.

OK, the past is important to us, made us what we are today … we are a product of our past but DON’T BE A PRISONER of it.

Like I said in the previous post … as much as we cherish the many good memories of our past, remember the good old times, think about the happy moments and reminisce about the various chapters of our lives … don’t live in your past.

Live now and look at the present.

You may have done 50 marathons around the world … but now, as age is catching up, you don’t have the physical ability to do it anymore … then talk about what other physical activities that you can do now. Talk about the ping pong game that you are going to play with your friends today … maybe it does not have the same glory of a marathon but at least that is something you are living and doing now. You don’t have to keep harping about the glories you once had, trying to live that moment again ... you can’t, it has passed.

Maybe you have traveled the world for 30 years … you probably have hundreds of photos you want to show to everyone … well, I am not saying you should not. I am sure you must have talked about it for 30 years already and shared a lot of photos too … so maybe that is enough. Why not talk about some other places that you may want to go today … maybe not as exotic as those places that you have visited … maybe it is just a local temple in Seremban but hey, that is something new to talk about … isn’t it? Rather than repeating what you have told people for the last 30 years.

You was once a CEO of a huge MNC … you have successfully handled big mergers and acquisitions and brought the company to the top of the corporate world. You used to have the influence and power, calling all the shots … but that is all in the past. You cannot live those glories again ... you left the corporate world and no longer have the authority … so, sit back and enjoy the gardening time you have now, your morning walks or spend time with your spouse at the groceries.

You see … at times we came across an old photo or listened to an old song or tasted an old recipe that may bring back some good moments we had … it is good to share those moments every now and then … it is good to reminisce these past moments and it is perfectly OK to talk about it. 

Don’t wake up every morning searching folders for photos of your past glories … using them to show and tell stories of how good you were, how fantastic you have been and how well you used to be … trying to live and talk as if you are still in that time, at that moment and enjoying that glory.

As we grow older, there are plenty we can still do within our ability and capability … well, it may not be as glory as what we did before but that is OK … it doesn’t has to be. The fact is, many things in our lives CANNOT be as good as they were then … so, let the glory past go and live our lives adapting to things within our capability now, learn to do new things that is relevant to our present and talk about what we are doing at the moment.

I think we all can reflect and reminisce on our past while continuing to move ahead with our lives. We can move with our past along our side and still see where we are heading … but don’t be surrounded by our past (good or bad) to the extent that we cannot see (or refuse to see) what is coming.

Don’t hold on to your past too often, too strong and too close to your chest … let it go and you will be able to open your arms to embrace the present.

 

Who am I?

The money is mine but it is not me.

The house is mine but it is not me.

The car is mine but it is not me.

The company is mine but it is not me.

Titles in front of my name but they don’t define me.

Many things around me, they are mine but they are NOT me.

So, who am I?

My temper … that’s me.

My health … that’s me.

My behavior … that’s me.

My thinking … that’s me.

My knowledge … that’s me.

My experience … that’s me.

My opinion … that’s me.

My idea … that’s me.

My understanding … that’s me.

Now, who are you?

 

Do what you like to do … not what you think people will “like 👍” to see you do.

Some people like to run … I mean they really like to run … you see them participating in many running events, be it a local marathon or community fund raising sports or enrolling in virtual running events which are quite popular during these lockdown periods.

I admire these people … they share photos of their passion for running and maybe they get a lot of “likes 👍” encouraging them but these people run because they really LIKE running not because they want people to “like 👍” their running.

As a matter of fact, many of them cannot run far or long … many cannot even complete a marathon so they will participate in 5km or 10km categories so they can enjoy the camaraderie of the participating runners and more importantly, the running.

My point is … if you like to do something, just do it ... even if you can’t do it well. You do it because you like to do it … it does not matter whether people will “like 👍” it or not.

Don’t worry about what people will “like 👍” … if you are only telling stories or experiences that you hoped that people will “like 👍” … then you are not living the way you truly are … you are just living how you think people “like 👍” you to be.

We all have different thoughts and ideas to share or experiences and stories to tell … just share and tell it the way you like. It is OK if your jokes are not funny to others, they may not be able to relate to what you want to express. So what if your home cooking photo is not appetising to other people … they are not the one tasting it.

Never mind if your bicycle is not as “canggih’ as those of your cycling friends … they may not understand the sentimental value of it and maybe people may not like the stories you tell … well, it did not happened to them.

So, live your life the way you like, tell the stories that you like, share your experiences that you like, do what you like to do … not what you think people will “like 👍” to see you do.