Life has never been easy. It gives lots of challenges in order to teach the meaning of perseverance. Lots of people have braved through and have succeeded in life. Also, lots of people fail to do so. For those who failed, they just need to learn the meaning of life because for those who have succeeded, they had learnt it earlier. Meaning of life as John Campbell said, ‘Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.’ Life is in our hands can be changed according to what we think. Events can be very influential in the changes in living condition, changes in behaviours, and changes in attitudes which then will lead to another level of transformation- changes in life. This is a very important event in my life that has entirely changed my life- the passing of my beloved teacher, the late Mr Abdul Wahab Bin Abu, AMP.
The passing of my beloved late teacher on the 4th of October in 2006 has been a great influence in my life. My living conditions changed. From a very luxurious living to a moderate one. Life had been hectic then- planning for vacations, shopping, etc. I used to buy very expensive things although I could get the cheaper one. Also, I would spend lots of money on expensive food. Now, I will only spend on the things I need and eating at hawker stalls with friends has been great for me. Shopping at night markets and streets has been very enjoying which I now think it is even more enjoyable than shopping in big malls and centres. Further, I can have more time in a day! I begin to understand why Alcott, Amos Bronson said- the less routine the more life. This moderation in living had been always the policy and practice of my late teacher and now I am practising it.
Apart from that, my behaviour had changed too. I used to despise people back then before the passing of my late teacher. Lots of people could not get along with me because I always raised my voice and shouted at them whenever I wished to. Lots of time I would hurl very mean and hurtful words to them. I was easily got angered too. Hot tempered I would say. Most of the time, I behaved like a king and treated my friends like my slaves. If they refused to listen to me, I would scold and yell at them. I did not have many friends then. However, those are all the past. Now, I have lots of friends- true friends that will help me in difficulties. This is all because of the changes in my behaviour. I use lots of sincere words where politeness is my policy because my late teacher was a very polite person and this quality is very much in line with what Clarence Thomas said, ‘Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.’
The changes in attitude of course are the most important of all. Before this, I always thought I could change other people’s opinions, thinking, and behaviours. My late teacher loved to quote Charles Swindoll- ‘The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change the fact that people. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have and that is our attitude.’ I did not even take a slight consideration into those words whenever my late teacher quoted him. Now that he is gone, I begin to embrace every single thing that he had taught and said to me. My attitude towards others changes. I accept how people think and try my very best to adapt to them. The ability to work with people depends on one’s attitude and I acknowledge that.
I cannot really describe how deeply depressed I was when I learnt about my late teacher’s departure. Also, I could not tell at that time, his departure will influence my life with all the changes in me all these years. However, I am grateful and thank him for all the blessings because all these changes in me- living conditions, behaviours, and attitude are towards betterment and positive. May God bless him and all his generations to come.
Disclaimer : The opinions expressed on this essay is the author personal views and do not reflect those of his friends or his foes in any way.
No comments:
Post a Comment