my SECOND year, SECOND sem, SECOND week

Being motivated by the challenges and the theme of the new year, I welcome the first Monday of 2011 with high spirits. It is a new day and another new week. After a relaxing and lazy first week and just before the engine begins to accelerate in the third week, so this week, the second week, I dedicate some precious time to write this sharing. There are some lessons, thoughts and outcomes I obtain from these five days but here I would like to highlight nothing but one incident that really reminds me to APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE and BE CONTENTED.

Yesterday (6th Jan), I went for a football game. After absent from football for more than a week, it is a torture to a football fanatic like me especially the FIFA and Football Manager are no longer in my laptop. You can’t imagine it unless you are a football crazy. As usual after the warm-up session, all the players were divided into two teams. It was an ‘El Clásico’ as one of my opponents was wearing the Real Madrid jersey while a teammate of mine was wearing the blue-and-red of Barcelona. The match eventually started.

It was drizzling but no one would care about it. Everyone was involved in the passing and eyeing for the opportunity to score. Unfortunately, my team was a goal down in the early stage. As a striker, the pressure and the urge to level the match began to intensify within my body. All of a sudden, I could feel the fighting spirits and the never-say-die attitude possessed by the likes of John Terry and Steven Gerrard fueled in my body. I made more runs and involved myself heavily in the attacking move of my team. Soon, we managed to stir a comeback by scoring twice. But I feel guilty to my teammates. I was disappointed with my poor skills as a player. I knew we would have scored a few more if I did not miss some chances upfront. The match continued and a few goal scoring machines in my team operated and more goals were soon followed. We kept terrorising the opposite defence and although I scored no goal, at least I did contribute a little to some of the goals scored.

‘WTF ! WTF ! WTF !’, one of my teammate shouted in annoyance probably because I had spoilt his goal scoring chance due to my wrong silly move. What an insult and humiliation it was ! However, the game still on and I couldn’t bother that much. In my mind, nothing came second to the team’s victory. Surprisingly, my efforts ware awarded when I finally bagged four goals at the latter stage of the game. In fact, I did consider that as a marvelous achievement for a lousy quality striker like me who missed more chances than scoring. Perhaps the WTF words had made me stronger. I could notice that all the goals I scored were produced from powerful strikes. As soon as I netted my fourth goal, I had no choice but to leave the pitch as I got a muscle cramp.

Albeit putting in a satisfying performance, however I was still angered with my poor playing skills and my failure to create more opportunities for my teammates. I questioned myself, “Why others can play so well but you can’t? Why?” Whenever I ask myself the very same question, I could not find myself an answer. What I do is improving my next game but most of the time, I fail which subsequently prompting me to ask myself this question again.

Later when I was having my dinner, somebody appeared in my sight. His left leg is handicapped. He could not walk properly like an ordinary person. Slowly and painstakingly, he walked towards my direction before he sat on the chair near the table opposite to mine. All of a sudden, the clock seemed to have stopped ticking but lots of thoughts flashing through my mind. I felt like I have been lectured for a moment. At that time, I realised how lucky I am. At those seconds, I forgot things like winning, scoring and stopped blaming myself. It was like waking up from a stupid dream and learning a valuable lesson. I thank God and my parents for giving me a nice pair of legs. Without them, I can’t even touch the ball or run on the field chasing the ball. As a person who loves football more than anything else, it’s hard to imagine how terrible the life would be. What else can I ask for? Isn’t the God has given me everything? A proper body, a good looking face and no physical defection. They are among the greatest assets God give to us. Human are greedy animals, they ask for more, demand for more and crave for more to fulfill their incessant desire. They seldom appreciate with the things they have got. Those things are so basic and simple yet they are so fundamental and essential. I remember there is quote which read, “When you are complaining about your shoes, there are people who don’t even have leg.” It is so true.

At the time of writing this article, a day has passed but the impact remains strong in my mind. It strengthens my belief and principle that it’s my responsibility to help the unfortunates. That’s why when a friend recently asks me what is my dream, without hesitation I reply him, “… But I have one ultimate one, that is to establish a foundation (I call it IRD Project) and help the poors across the globe especially those poor region in Africa. I want to give them DREAM and HOPE and a CHANCE to change their destiny.” Yes, I am not joking. I am serious and I do mean it.

So friends and those whom I love, be appreciate and thankful to what we have now. We will definitely live a happier life if we learn to appreciate and be contented. The world is beautiful and our lives are colourful, don’t let the bad desires and greed to destroy it. Also, do appreciate and love the people around us !