Eli is 24: Looking back and Planning Ahead

Birthdays is an anniversary that signifies that God had blessed and being with us since we're born till today, and now I'm already 24 years old.

Years before, what I normaly do on my birthday was just celebrate and party. I never even bothered to look back and reflect on my past nor planning ahead. After years I realized it was unwise not to reflect what I've did in my past and plan ahead.

Looking back now...
For over the past 12 months, I have learn a lot of life lessons and experiences which are both bitter and sweet. These life lessons and experiences has indeed significantly changed me from someone who I was than the years before.

I can consider it as a critical phase of change in my life.

I could say it was the bitter experiences that has gave me the wake-up call. It wasn't anything easy to swallow but amzingly it has thought me loads of valuable life lessons.

Just few days after my 23rd birthday I was shadowed by depression which was caused by my failed relationship. I hit rockbottom and it was really hard. Guilt, sadness, anger and despair haunts me day and night.

As the day goes by, again "time" has proved itself as a good healer. Wake up, it's time to rise and get back up on my feet again. I realized that I would get worse off if I am not going to change because the world is a constant change and life is going on.

So I began a quest to search for the "cure" of this misery. What I needed next is a road map which can guide me along this journey. No doubt it is the bible that has guided me and my favourite readings are from the book of Proverbs. These ancient poetry thought me wisdom and discipline, and also gave me knowledge and purpose. I would recommend you to read the book of Proverbs weekly or even better daily, and I promise you it will benefit you a lot.

I've also went for a self-improvement seminar. It's a seminar about the development of self which requires me to EXPLORE, DISCOVER, that govern my thoughts, feelings and action, and lastly to CHANGE.

Another amazing thing happened, I've started to stuff my book cabinet with self-improvement books. It wasn't any big collection like what you see in the library because I spent most of my time reading online materials such as blog which are easy to find, locate and of course free. There are millions of self-improvement blogs out there in the space of blogosphere but these are my favourites and recommended reads:
1. Zen Habits
2. HELLO, my name is BLOG
3. LifeDev
4. Michael Hyatt
5. The New Man of Action
6. Motivate Thyself
7. Goodlife Zen
8. Eli Shares

Through these I have learned to look deeper into myself and discovered many faults. Not only in relationship alone but also in other factors such as habit and attitude.

"The GREATEST discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind!" - William James

It's a moment of decision to re-shape myself. Every mistake or problem that I did in the past won't part, but what I can do is to learn from it and find a way to repair and improve. To behave in the same old way over and over, and expecting different result is just crazy.

Self-improvement ain't a 1 day or 1 year journey though, so don't expect things to change just in a click of fingers. You can't conquer Rome in just one day!! Self-improvement is like re-programming yourself through repeated action just like how a footballer practice and harness their scoring and passing skill.

"If you do not by force program yourself positively, by neglect you get programmed negatively." - Napolean Hill

Looking forward and planning ahead...
I could say that I'm lucky to be born around the middle of the year. Why? Compared to those born early and end of the year, I have the opportunity to checkup my yearly goals that I've setted up, in the same time improvise them.

Though you can do the same thing as me, checking up your yearly goals in the middle of the year but for my case, I consider it as special. Just like when you set goal on new year's eve - you're charged up with motivation.

So far, honestly I've just successfuly accomplished one goal only - watching Sarawak FC in action. Last couple of weeks, the result of my 1st semester final exam has been published out and thank God I passed all the papers. Another semester to go and I'm looking forward to pass all the papers and get a better result.

How about the other goals?
Thinking back earlier this year I was on streak of hype full with passion and motivation. I was more organized and focused back then. But as the days goes by, month after month, the fire of passions slowly burned out.

I'm back to square one again. The fact is, it's not hard to get started with all of the goals which I have setted. It's maintaining what I have started is the where I failed. Staying motivated is indeed quite a challenge.

What is my next plan?
As you can see,  everything falls into a circle. Staying in the same circle won't help me to move further on. Just like doing the same thing but expecting different result. Isn't that just insane?

Right now, I need to climb up from the bottom again and get back on track on what I have started. I loose track with my goals because they're out of sight which equals out of mind. I should write them down, not only in my blog post but put them and paper and stick it on the wall. Just like a constant reminder, it will help me to stay focused and motivated.

Staying motivated takes practice, but it is a skill that everyone can learn. Although I could just see some small changes in my life at first, but this is an incentive for me to tackle more and more goals, and the more changes I would see in my life.

If I can change my life, you definately can change yours too. No matter what situation you're having right now, you have the power of choice to change.

The future is in you own hand.

Irau Aco Lun Bawang 09 - Do' Ruyud :: Part 1

It has been three years since I moved to Kuching, and for the first two years I didn't go back to my hometown, Lawas, to celebrate the rice harvest festival - Irau Aco Lun Bawang (translate the Lun Bawang Fest).

Photo courtesy of Sektor Kebudayaan

My stay in Kuching has brought me to experience my first ever Gawai Dayak celebration - both urban and village style. Back in 2007, Sarawak hosts the National-Level Gawai Dayak open house and I didn't miss the chance to see it myself. It was undeniably a grand occassion, even the prime minister and the Agong (King) was invited.

On the other hand, Irau Aco Lun Bawang is uniquely different compared to the Gawai Dayak. It is more about the Lun Bawang itself. Thousands of Lun Bawang from the district of Lawas and other various places such as Brunei, Indonesia and Sabah will be gathering in the small city of Lawas.

This 3-days fest showcases much more comprehensive events like the Bamboo Band performances, traditional music performance, traditional dance, traditional sporting competition, handicraft exhibition and tradisional costume beauty contest. Also not to forget the modern sports competition like football, badminton, volleyball, golf, etc. and also Lun Bawang music band performance.

Football

The irau this year has marked a history in my life. It happened to be my first involvement in the irau's activities, representing Lun Bawang Kuching football team.

Although being in the team is something so exciting but it isn't any honeymoon either, running around the pitch for 15-minutes under the unforgiving hot sun in the same time making an attempt to outclass your opponent is indeed a very big challenge.

Wait... Only 15 minutes?!!

Yes, I spend most of my time on the bench cheering my mates but I can consider myself lucky too, I was given the chance to give a shot in the final match. Being a substitute, I know that I only have 50% chance to play and it's kind of a emotional experience.

After I was introduced into the pitch, I started to feel the heat of the game and the sun as well. The weather was so hot until the saliva in my mouth dried up!! To think of my mates who got fried up for 90-minutes, I can't complain much when they slacked up a bit and became sloppy. It was just unbearable.

In the game, I've just managed to do few passes and runs, and I even almost scored the winning goal in the final minutes. In fact I've screwed it up, I should have just pass the ball to the striker who is well positioned for a shot on goal.

 Photo courtesy of CNN

I was hoping for a great "debut" as the like of Fedrico Macheda where he scored the injury time winning goal for Manchester United. Lesson learned, make sure you're good enough to perform an action before you execute it, which also means - MORE PRACTICE.

The game ended up with 1-1 and then proceeded to penalty shoot-out. This time, luck isn't on our side, we lose the penalty shoot-out by 4-2.

Despite of the lose another history was made. For the past 10 years, Lun Bawang Kuching never reached the final stage. What to say bringing a cup back to Kuching?

This year, we reached the final and brought a smaller cup. Next year, we aim bigger - lifting the championship cup.

Hattrick: Lun Bawang FC

Photo courtesy of Republik of Mancunia

After watching Sir Alex successful achievement, I felt bit excited and wanted to manage a football club of my own. Of course in reality, it won't be possible since I don't have that much experience in the football world, but I can of course do it virtually.

I've been playing Championship Manager series and FIFA Manager series for quite a long time. It was indeed a great game but one thing the game lack is that you don't play with other human manager. Which I think will make the game more fun and challenging.

So I Googled up for "Online football manager game" and to my surprise there are a lot of them. Being offered with a lot of choices and I chosed the best 2, Hattrick and Manager Zone, to compare which one is much better. After a week of playing, I personally prefer Hattrick than Manager Zone because I was dissapointed with Manager Zone's poor gameplay system. Infact, Hattrick is the first online football management game.

I named my club Lun Bawang FC and currently playing in the 5th Division, which is the bottom division in the Malaysian League. It's a long hard road to climb up and reach the top table, everything will depend on long term strategical plans and of course luck.


Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

For those who likes football management out there I would recommend you to play Hattrick. Live up your fantasies and lead your own club to the top. But please support and play in your local league.

Hatrick for Manchester United

 Photo courtesy of the Republik of Mancunia

Manchester United has again being crowned as champion of England for 3 consecutive years and they're not just only champion of England, but also Europe and the world!!!

Thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson's brilliance management where he led the team to win the title and in the same time leveled Liverpool's record - A record which they are dying to protect.

Photo courtesy of Neil Jones from sport.co.uk

United had only 7 titles when Sir Alex became the manager of Manchester United and now had won 11 titles under his reign, which then equalize the Liverpool's successful 18 titles record.

The glory is unacceptable and a disgrace for the bitter Looserfools and the most interesting part is that they still boastfully claim that they are the champion of England even though they never won the title since 1990. Well, it's a trophy-less season for them again, but they have 28 reasons why they should be proud of their 2008-09 campaign. At least they have something to cheer about.

Photo courtesy of dailymail

But there's nothing to cheer about for Rafa Benitez, everything is bitter for him, he refuses to congratulate the most successful manager in history but instead ranting and talk nonsense about Sir Alex and Manchester United. Such a pathetic, unprofessional, and childish manager. I can imagine that those Liverpool players and fans will suffer mental breakdown if he stays longer there - You'll never get bitter alone.

Hatrick for Manchester United, Hatred from the Liverpool boss.

Do You Have a Pet? I've Adopted a Pair of Panda Dwarf Hamster

 I used to have a cat, dog, bantam chicken, scorpion and gerbil before but now they're all just memories. My favourite choice of pet is dog because they're men's best friend, but since I spend most of my life living in government housings, I wasn't allowed to keep a dog as pet.

Another problem is that my mum doesn't like me to have a pet due to some health issues that they may cause. Both me and my mum have a sensitive nose (allergies).

She'll happily give away my pet to our relatives or her friends and only discovered that one of my mate has gone when I reached home (you know how I felt).

If you ever still remember, in the 90's, cyber-pet console was once a big hit. It was very famous that almost every kids in town has one, and I don't want to be left behind so I bought myself a cyber-dog. I was so excited, at last I have a "dog" of my own,  I can play with it anytime and bring it anywhere I want!!!

Photo courtesy of Thoughts from the Edge.

It was quite fun at first, I though I won't be lonely anymore but after a few months I realized that something was missing. The problem is that you can't create mutual relationship with a digitalized pet, which is the main reason why you keep a pet.

So it has been awhile I don't have a pet and I really love to have one. Last year I've bought 3 gerbils as a birthday present to my ex-girlfriend but then she decides me to keep it because she have a lot of cats - wasn't a good idea too because I didn't prepare a proper cage for them.

Anyway, it was my first experience having rodents as pet. I've already spent most of my money to buy them so I can't afford to buy a proper cage. With the lack of knowledge about their behaviour I put them into a plastic basket. This is when the "The Three Gerbils Prison Break" series begin.

So I borrowed my uncle's aquarium and used it as their new home. It just solved the problem for a few weeks until they found a new route to escape. It's the wire netting on top of the aquarium, they jump to the net at bit it off - they're gone again!!

Although I did found them, put the back into their cage, replaced the wire netting with a card box with holes, bought them threadmill to play but in the end destroying it which then I remove from their cage, they still managed to escape.

It was a bad experience for me, but I did learn a lot from them. They're so persistence on their escape, don't wanna be held "captive" and find a lot of way to solve their problem if one of their method failed. I think they did inspired me on my "escape from the engineering course".

I've learned from my past experience with the gerbils, so this time I've decided to adopt either hamster or guinea pig because they can't jump and doesn't have "bite-what-you-see" syndrome - I did my research.

So I went to Satok Night Market browsing for hamsters and guinea pigs. I thought of adopting a guinea pig at first but I didn't placed a book, it was sold out the next day when I came with cash. I didn't bring cash during the browsing session, this is to keep me out from the tendency of impulsive purchases.

Since there's no guinea pig breeder in Kuching, it was imported from Sarikei, I have no choice but to wait for the next batch and proceeds with my other option - to adopt hamster.

I decided to adopt the Panda Dwarf Hamster. It wasn't any ordinary hamster that you always see in the pet shop. Their size are much more smaller and they're way more cuter and adorable!!! I was informed that hamsters will be okay without a partner but I don't want it to be lonely so I bought a pair. In the same time having the thoughts of breeding the hamster.

I named them Mickey and Minnie. Welcome to the family.