The Chair with A Broken Leg

The chair with a broken leg...

There's a chair with a broken leg in the corner of my room. It has been there for as long as I can remember. You may wonder why I'm still keeping it despite its faulty condition. You probably think it's strange or funny to hold on to something defective. Well, let me tell you why I chose not to throw this chair away years ago.

I kept it with me simply because I still find it useful. Maybe not for its intended purpose of sitting but because it can still hold stuffs in spite of the occasional loss of balance. Once the load exceeds the capacity limit of this chair, things will start to topple over.

I've to admit that sometimes, this chair really annoys me and tests my patience. The sharp edge of its broken leg has left several scratch marks on my feet whenever it collapses. Yet, I still pick the fallen things up and place them back on the chair again. All these years, it's never once crossed my mind to dump this chair for good.

You see, this story is not meant to bore you and I apologise if you turn away after reading the first few paragraphs. But what I'm trying to convey is that we, mortal beings are like a chair with a broken leg. Imperfect as we are, we still function as a whole being despite our flaws. And there will be times when we lose our balance in life. We fail to have control over certain things. We drown in fallen expectations of what we're supposed to do, achievements that we're meant to accomplish and goals that we're programmed to set.

At times, we get too harsh on ourselves and we push ourselves beyond our limit, only to realise we are no different from a working machine. When the obstacles get way too rough or challenging, we might succumb to these shortcomings and even break down just like how the broken chair would when the burden exceeds its limit.

So, how can we overcome this? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell us what to do, right? We're after all the master of our life. If your burden is too heavy, simply put it down. Or at least try to reduce the load you're carrying on your shoulders. Like I mentioned, we are beings, not machines. Alright, maybe that's not a good analogy because machines still need maintenance from time to time. But I believe you do get my point, right? =)

If you keep pushing yourself too hard, you'll only end up wearing yourself out physically and mentally before you even know it. I understand that some of you may be frustrated, discouraged even, when you're unable to meet the expectations you have of yourself. Some of us may even be scarred by our imperfections.

Let me tell you this. It is okay, my friend. It is okay to be imperfect. It is okay to be deemed broken once in a while. What's not okay is that you choose to give up on yourself simply because of your defect(s). Look within yourself and evaluate the 'damage' to see if it is repairable. After all, there's this saying that rings "You don't simply throw away something just because it is broken. You fix it."

I hope this quirky story may somehow inspire you or at least let it be a gentle reminder for you to forgive yourself and embrace your imperfections. Nothing broken deserves to be labelled as useless unless there's no better way to fix it any longer. If only you can see past your imperfections, you'll come to realise that you are actually (almost) perfect from inside out. What others think or say about your imperfections don't define you, but the way YOU see them do.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day! =)

Jassie Looi
16th October 2015
12.30pm

Kalyana mitra (spiritual friend)☆

Have you ever met someone for the first time and you just have this urge to befriend that person? Well, I have and this person is now one of the closest true friends that I'll ever have. In life, some beautiful friendships tend to form in the most unpredictable places at the most unexpected time. Try recalling a friend whom you've made when you're waiting for the bus at the bus stand or while you're waiting for the commuter at the subway station. Or perhaps while you're eating alone in a restaurant or strolling in a park. Maybe, in a book store, CD shop, cinema or when you're attending any seminars, workshops or religious events. =)

So, here am I, dedicating a poem which I've composed for my kalyana mitra. Cheers to our special friendship and may it have many more years to come!=)

Kalyana Mitra
Three years ago,
I saw a tall lad in his black Polo,
He was on the cover of a brochure,
All I thought was, 'Mr. Mysterious must be popular.'

I didn't know his name back then,
Until I found his Facebook profile,
I was keen to know more about this man,
Hence, I started on a journey of a thousand mile.

Every step I took,
Wasn't driven by his good look,
But by a force so strong,
That it would be wrong,
To take so long,
To realise it's our destiny,
To be each other's buddy.

Friendship is like a seed,
You have to water it constantly,
Get rid of the surrounding weed,
And it'll blossom beautifully.      

Three years later,
Here we are, becoming closer,
Looking back on my 1st step,
To narrow our friendship gap,
I would say it's a sweet success,
Filled with pure joy and nothing less.

Let's make a toast,
Wherever we are,
Be it the West or East coast,
Be it near or far,
May our comradeship last till our future generation,
And be passed down to our kids and grandchildren!

Dedicated to LZ
Written by: kah yoke
Copyright reserved.
28/9/14, 22:31

The simplest form of joy.

As we grow up, we tend to forget to enjoy ourselves. To find pleasure in the simplest things. We are often too occupied with something which doesn't guarantee a permanent form of happiness. Some of us fail to realise that happiness is found within ourselves.

When we unleash the young soul in us; the child that lies closely to our heart, only then will we discover that life is indeed beautiful in its own ways despite the stormy days which occasionally hit us. It is the experience which we've gained out of adversities that makes us grow stronger than before. Look closer. Isn't that a beautiful reward offered by the life which you've despised and complained so much about back then?

The essence of life lies in the simplest forms. Sadly, in today's world, we are so tied up by various commitments. Our studies. Our work. Our family. And the list goes on. How many of us still remember to indulge in self-care? And how many of us have long denied the pleasure of appreciating beautiful things which pass us by easily everyday from sunrise to sunset?

The blue skies that welcome the beginning of a new day, the scorching rays of the sun that warm our souls, the melodious chirping of the birds that soar above us, the soothing sound of the raindrops as they hit the ground, the orangey shades of the sky as twilight arrives and an occasional bright night lit up by the glimmering stars and the moonlight as we embrace the ending of a day.

Perhaps, we can just listen to the laughter of kids once in a while. That alone is a therapeutic remedy to your soul. Their boisterous belly laugh is truly infectious. Their exuberance fuels the youthful spirit in us. The innocence portrayed in their eyes makes us feel like becoming a child all over again. To relive the days where we were once free from worries.

I'm well aware that life is not a bed of roses. I never said it is. In fact, I disagree with the quote that says 'Life is easy. Why complicate it?' What I personally think is life is anything but easy. We just have to learn to simplify it. To those who have had a wonderful childhood, cherish it and to the ones whose childhood is better off left in the past, seize your present moment HERE and NOW. Carpe diem. ★

Jassie Looi
Copyright reserved.
12.47pm, 3rd September 2014.

Me- time for self-reflection.

It's funny how sometimes when I'm alone, be it in the restaurant, on the street or in the class, I tend to reflect on my life. Self-reflection, I would name it. When a certain song plays on the radio or stereo, I will stop what I'm doing, stare into the distance, start to contemplate the lyrics and ponder upon the similarity between my experiences and the words of the singer.

Sometimes, the advice or wise words from people close to me will also play in my mind like a tape recorder on 'repeat mode'. And that's when I realise there's a logic point or truth behind their advice. You see, sometimes people just give empty advice but sometimes, people walk into your life and advise you on something, something which you would easily brush it off like dust but then one day, that particular advice just rings in your head out of nowhere! I was too stubborn to accept it at one point but hindsight always serves as a good reminder to me that the advice from these people is too priceless that it would be my loss if I continue to be as ignorant as before.

As I'm self-reflecting, I begin to question myself over my choices and decisions. My fears and doubts. I dislike confrontations, really, but this is the time when I confront my actions. And I've come to a conclusion that what made me the person I am today isn't necessarily going to make but will prepare me for the person I will become tomorrow.

I tend to change according to the situations instead of attempting to change the situation itself. Perhaps it's because I'm not really a risk taker. So, do I define my circumstances or do I actually allow my circumstances to define me? There are two sides to view this matter and I guess the verdict is entirely depending on how I look at it without taking other's opinions into consideration. People may mock you, tear you down, judge you or even build you, if only you give them the power to do so. My father used to tell me this during my sophomore years when I complained to him about how much I dislike changes, "The environment won't adapt to you, you have to adapt to your environment." Thank you Dad, if it's not for you, I won't remember this profound statement of yours until today.

I am the kind of person who challenges things when they happen to obstruct me from achieving something which I know deep down my heart that I'm meant to achieve it someday. Die trying or not do it at all. Yes, not ALL things go as planned although sometimes, I've put my heart and soul into doing them. I'm telling this out of my own experiences and I believe none of you out there that hasn't gone through this inevitable phase where the journey of life seems to be the steepest of all. Three words; HANG IN THERE. You will be okay eventually. Just bear in mind that there's always something bigger than your problems, that is the world. There's no life manual that shows you how to solve every problem, you have to discover it yourself. How? By facing it. Accepting it. And then, you will find your way to walk this path which nobody can walk for you. Nobody but yourself. Period.

Interpersonal relationships are something which I still need to improve on. I tend to be exclusive to people who really matter in my life. Ain't sure if this is a good trait or otherwise because exclusive people tend to get hurt easily when the favour is not returned. That is LIFE. It can be quite unfair to think of it but who can we blame? Nobody. Not even yourself. It is normal to get attached to the people we love but we also have to keep in mind that attachment comes with its cost and if you're not ready to pay it, then you shall learn not to let attachment get into your way of living the life you deserve. Complaining will never earn the undivided attention nor the love of that person, so, you can go on and on bitching about this or throw tantrums but at the end of the day, this will never change the cold and harsh truth that attachment is the root of sufferings. How do I know that? I've learned it the hard way though.

Thankfully, I have a bunch of people who are like angels sent to me from the heaven. People who love me as much as I love them or probably even more than I do. When these people come into my life, WE are known as a FAMILY. Yeah, this word does sound simple , ordinary even, but it carries a deep meaning, its depth is beyond any other relationships that you've built thus far.

One may be alone but not feel lonely. But whenever I feel there's something vacant in me, I think of my family. Even though I lack their physical presence here, just the thought of them somehow manages to reenergise me in a way I never thought is possible. It's like I've gained this inner strength from them to overcome just about any adversity or curveball which life has thrown at me. There is nothing, literally NOTHING that can make me feel more blessed than having these personal guardian angels in my life. Just to name a few, they are the ones whom I proudly call as my GRANDMA, MOM, DAD, AUNTIE and SISTER.

Written by,
Kah Yoke
Copyright reserved.
19th August 2014.

Grasp the present.☆

One thing which you have control over is your present. Not your past. Neither your future. Learn to be the artist of your future; let an array range of colours fill your life. Never stay behind the bars of your past. Step out from whatever that's holding you back. You owe it to yourself to be happy and peaceful. Love yourself. Love your life. 

Jassie's quote of the day:

Make your life colourful by living it to the fullest. ☆☆☆☆

Special amigo.

In life, there are variety kinds of people who you'll come across. Some of them will become your friends/ acquaintances while some are just going to remain as strangers. It's a cliché to say a stranger can easily become a friend and vice versa.

Friends are the ones who we usually spend time with. Whether you like them or not, that's beside the point. What I'm gonna share with you guys here today is about SPECIAL FRIEND.

Have you ever met someone for the first time and you just click with that person? It's like you've known the person for a long time. Countless of things to talk and share about. Without even realising, time has passed you by when you're spending quality time with the person. You just feel at home in his/ her company. And when it's time to part ways, you'll feel heavyhearted but you'll leave with a smile and make plans to meet again nevertheless. On your next encounter, you guys will pick up from where you have left off. And the cycle continues. Eventually, you start to get closer with this special friend of yours and you just can't believe how you can actually have a bestie whom you've only known recently! You are thankful that this person has walked into your life and added zest into it. Both of you just feel special to each other, in your own ways. This is what I would call a SPECIAL FRIEND. =)

Ever experienced this situation before? Feel free to share!

Jassie's quote of the day:
You know a friend is special when he/she sees it and brings out the best in you.

Much love,
Jassie
xoxo

THE PRICELESS GEM OF FRIENDSHIP

THE PRICELESS GEM OF FRIENDSHIP

We met for a reason
We parted after a season    
As a new season knocks on my door
I gain a new friend once more.

Some friends came and left
A loss that made me bereft
But the ones who stay
Are the ones who made me gay.

We bicker over the simplest matter
But that's what makes our friendship stronger
We talk almost everyday
Between us, there's hardly nothing to say.

Yet, once in a blue moon
We experience this magical silence
Where nobody talks too soon  
Instead, we embrace this precious essence.

Created by Jassie Looi ©
17:28:38