Every Day Is A Special Day

Don’t save something for a special occasion. Every day of your life is a special occasion – Thomas S. Monson

Every day of our life can be special if we allow it to be. We don’t have to wait for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day or Christmas. We just need to live in the moment and appreciate all the little things that happen each day.

We are so often caught up in chasing our dreams and goals that we forget to enjoy each moment. We always wait for that day when things will become special for us but when that day comes, we feel let down and the cycle begins again.

Ever since my retirement over three years ago, I have been trying to live a life that is more meaningful and fulfilling. But I tend to get bogged down by distractions and end up procrastinating.

It takes a recent health scare to jog me out of comfort zone and start doing things that I should have done long ago. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to my niece Dr Angel Lim for putting things in the right perspective for me and encouraging me to embark on a lifestyle change to improve my health. I do morning walks, drink less sugary drinks and cut down on red meat.

I started my morning walks with my son Leslie over two weeks ago and have been doing it every day unless it rains. On weekdays, we start out at 5.30am and on weekends we hit the road at about 6am. While most of our neighbours are still in their slumber, we are already doing our brisk walks. I learn to appreciate little things like the calls of birds, the croaking of frogs, the sounds of insects, cool and fresh morning air, the beauty of the morning sky, and the smell of grass. Indeed I have got attached to the kingfishers staying in our area and I always look forward to see them during my morning walks.

I enjoy having a leisurely breakfast of kolomee and kopi o at Hock Kopitiam in the Marina Parkcity area. I have become a regular customer and it is a great way to start my day. Something as simple as a kolomee and a kopi o can add colours to my day.

Even eating kompia hot from the oven adds to my enjoyment of my day. Though the kompias in Miri are not up to the standard of those in Sibu and Bintangor, I still love them. Indeed I like hot and crunchy kompias more than pizzas. Like I said earlier, simple things can make our days special.

Some of my friends like to ask me how I spend my days.  They always assume that my life must be boring with so much time on my hands.  Nothing can be further from the truth. I engage in many activities and time just passes so quickly every day.  You need to have some hobbies to make your life more meaningful and special.

I enjoy photography. It has given me countless hours of joy. I may not be great in photography but that is beside the point.  I just love to see the results of my photography outings. When I love some of the photos that I have taken, it makes everything worthwhile and adds a touch of specialness to my day.

Reading has been a hobby of mine since young. The joy of reading is probably incomprehensible to someone who doesn’t read. But reading has allowed me to open my mind, to improve my English and to transport me into a world of adventure, thrills and suspense. I read fiction most of the time though I do read non-fiction especially books on investment, cryptocurrency and blockchain and some Christian literature. I hardly read autobiographies but I am currently reading the autobiography of Robert Kuok.  Robert Kuok’s autobiography is quite an interesting read and I am amazed at his achievements despite seemingly insurmountable odds he encountered not only in Malaysia but also internationally. Each book that I read adds some oomph into my life. Make your day special and pick up a book to read.

I enjoy writing blog articles and poems. I am not a polished writer but I always feel a sense of accomplishment each time I finish an article or poem.  Writing forces me to use my brain so it is actually great exercise for my brain. There is an idiom that says an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. There may be truth to that idiom. So keeping my mind engaged in healthy activities is helping to keep the devil away, haha!

Music really adds colours to my life. I enjoy a whole wide range of music ranging from heavy metal, rock, contemporary pop, hip hop, rap, jazz, alternative rock, folk, new age and some Christian music. Apart from the enjoyment, I find music can be soothing and therapeutic, helping to lower my stress level. Music can add sparks and contentment into my life, making my days happier and more pleasing. As I am writing this, I am listening to Rolling Stones. Life is good!

Movies can be a great way of escapism. After watching a good movie, I often feel life can be beautiful.  Whether the movie is a comedy, a tearjerker, a suspense thriller or a musical, it can touch me or inspire me in some special ways.

Have a good sense of humour. Learn to laugh at your mistakes. Appreciate the jokes shared by your friends. As author H.G. Wells put it, the crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow.

I do a bit of selling on Ebay. My Ebay heydays were in 2010 or 2011 when I was not only an Ebay Powerseller but also a Top-Rated Seller with 100% positive feedback.  During that time, I sold lots of gold coins and stamps that generated quite a good income for me.  I am selling mainly currency notes now but the market for such notes has seemingly shrunk and with prices taking a beating. Whenever I get messages that someone is bidding on my Ebay items, it gives me a sense of thrill. It is an announcement of money coming soon. Cha-ching!

Taking an afternoon nap is a great way to recharge. With retirement, I can truly enjoy the luxury of a good afternoon nap.  Of course I try my best to get 6 to 7 hours of sleep every night.

Catching up with old friends and schoolmates is something I look forward to. Meeting up with friends over some drinks or meals can bring back so much fond memories of bygone days. Of course nothing beats school reunions where I get to linger with old schoolmates and teachers.

With social media invading our life, we need to exercise caution to protect our privacy and identity. But I have to admit that I love social media especially Facebook and blogging. I get to interact with friends on Facebook, sharing bits and pieces of my life as well as jokes and a healthy dose of gossip. No matter where my friends are, I can start a chat with them instantly as long as they are online. Compared that to those days when our only mode of communication was the snail mail as communicating by telephone was far too expensive then. I will be the first to admit that I am a bit addicted to Facebook but I’m loving it!

Of late, I find that one sure way of getting into a bad mood is reading political news on some moronic politicians or Facebook postings by political “macais” who try to sow racial and religious discord. These piss me off with their racism and their sheer stupidity.  So I try my best to steer clear from such news or postings.  Life goes on better when I stop reading such news.

Do little acts of kindness.  This brings you not only joy but you will end up with happier, more grateful people around you.  The little positive things you do for others often reverberate back to create positivity in your own life.

Be generous with your smile and thank you.  Do make it a point to compliment others.  Sincerely express your appreciation by saying thank you.  The two simple syllables pack a lot of positivity and impact.

Every day can be special. It truly can. Take time off to smell the roses. Visit the tamu to buy some fruits. Go watch the beauty of sunsets.  Be mesmerized by the wonder of rainbows. Be sincere when saying sorry for something you have regretfully done. Have a hot shower on a cold day. Play with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews and little kids. Say a little prayer whenever you feel like doing it. Go sing your heart out at karaokes. Play a game of golf. Do some gardening. Discover new trails when you go hiking. Try your hand at fishing. Visit the library. Attend a concert. Call your loved ones. Go shopping. Sit on a beach and watch the waves roll in.

Life is in the details. Enjoy the little things because one day you will look back and realise these were the big things. When you connect the dots between all these little things, they add up to everything and life seems fuller and more satisfying. The little things become the cornerstone of our days, creating the life we live. They contribute to the canvas of our life so let them paint a masterpiece. So be mindful of the little things happening in every moment of our life. As Rudyard Kipling has said, delight in the little things.

Every day offers an opportunity to start afresh. What happened yesterday is history.  Don’t get stuck in the worries of yesterday. Tomorrow is not here yet so don’t worry about what tomorrow may bring. All that counts is today. Let today reign. Focus on the now and make today a special day because once this day is over, it ain’t ever coming back.

Never let your past shackle you. We cannot undo things that we have done. Don’t let your past interfere with your destiny! Break free from the incapacitating victim mentality and harness your potential and start shaping your life.

When you really take note of little things, the birds seem to sing merrier, people seem to smile more and the flowers smell nicer. Life is a matter of perspective. When you view the day positively, it suddenly becomes a special day.

All of us will leave a legacy. The important question is whether it will be a positive one or a negative one. Why not make it a positive one?