Tagged by Madnessinvain
As I was tagged by Madnessinvain, I will do what is right and not run or cower away but to be true and self reflect my life so far. Having read Mudsters, MiV's and Silent's reflection over the last 20 years, mine is pale in comparison. Nevertheless, we all live a life thats full of trials and tribulations. So here goes...
1985, 20 Years Ago
* I was very much an Americanized Malaysian, living in Washington DC for the past 5 years. My father was doing his PhD, so we (my mom, sis and I) followed along.
* Spoke English like an American, couldn’t speak a word on BM. Prior to living in the US we were also living in Belgium and in the UK. My Dad was very much into academic qualifications.
* Life was simple, Dad went to University, Mom became a hairdresser, my sis and I went to school and spent the whole day at school in day care.
* My parents were still married together. Was close to my sister.
* I had a normal parent-child relationship with my parents.
1995, 10 Years Ago
* I am now in Australia in my final year of University. I was lucky to be an ‘all-rounder’ in boarding school with good results and with even better non-academic representations. Due to this I received a full scholarship to pursue my studies in Medicine. Nevertheless, after one year of pre-med foundation I realized that being a doctor was not right for me. I decided to do Banking & Finance instead. No regrets there.
* Spoke English like an Aussie. After 5 years in boarding school could speak decent BM. Actually got A2 in BM for my SPM. Shocking!
* Life was more complicated. 5 years in Australia and I only went back to Malaysia once. My relationship with my parents was almost non-existent. Mom and Dad have been divorced for 8 years now. Mom had moved to Rome, Italy with her new husband and my sister, Dad remarried too. Didn't get to see my sister for 5 years. Didn't see her grow up. Both my parents had kids. Didn't see them either.
* I worked my ass off in University as a prep chef to make money. I made loads of money. Became a pretty good cook along the way too. Did not live like a student but like a working person. Lived in a huge bungalow with 2 ‘rich’ kids.
* Started doing soft drugs (marijuana and acid) a couple of years earlier during 1st year University. Nevertheless, I still represented University in Hockey and American Football (my proudest sporting achievement)
2000, 5 Years Ago
* I was in the midst of my ‘blurry’ period in life. I was living with 2 other bachelors who were my closest cousins. We we’re living in a condominium in the center on KL. We had loads of fun. Backroom and later Movement were my actual homes.
* Speaking English like a Malaysian now... People can understandlah, ok what?
* I had my own consulting firm with 3 other partners but I was out drunk and on ecstasy at least 4 nights a week. The firm was just a front and a source of cash to finance my wayward tendencies.
* My mom and sister were back from Italy. Relationships with females were on a short term basis. Relationship with my parents were strained. Could barely sit for dinner with my Dad without getting into some sort of argument. My stepmother was the saving grace of the relationship between my Dad and I. She would mediate very well. I also was getting close with my sister again. I also got to know both my half-siblings although both are 18 years younger than me.
* I actually didn’t give a shit about my career or anything else. It was probably out of rebellion towards my parents.
2002, 3 Years Ago
* Made life changes. Amongst other things changed my lifestyle. Late nights, especially on weekdays, were a thing of the past.
* Got my career back on track with a development bank. Pay was crappy but I had to do something or I would have ended up in the gutters.
* I would soon meet my wife to be. She met me probably at my lowest point in my adult life. Was in between jobs and had substantial debts.
* Relationship with my parents greatly improved. Its either they were getting older or I was getting older.
* All in all, a good year.
2004, Last Year
* Improved my career again to where I am now. A commercial bank.
* Tied the knot. Got married to a beautiful woman. Understands me for who I am. Sometimes I don’t even know who I am. We are similar yet different. One of our common friends say that if we were books we would come from the same section in the library.
* I actually consider my relationship with my parents quite normal now. Although I see my parents only on average once a month it is more ‘normal’ when we meet.
* My English has gotten from outstanding 20 years ago to average.
* Life itself is less havoc and more controlled again.
2005, This year
* The highlight of my life so far was born. My daughter. Nothing can compare to what my daughter has brought to my life.
* My daughter has also brought my parents and I a bit closer. Not as close as normal people but closer.
* Trying to get my golf handicap down again. Took too much time of golf. Mind you, I started playing when I was 8 years old. I should be a single handicapper now. Not 16.
* Started this blog. I thought I could never write. I guess I still can’t but I’m trying.
* Careerwise, all is fine. Nevertheless, I still want to get into the sporting industry somehow. I know I’ll be awesome at it.
2006, Next Year & 2015, 10 Years from now (my Hopes)
* I am not one who plans for the long term. I have lived my life on a short term basis but now with added responsibility of my wife and baby. I hope to consolidate my position in the corporate world should I not be in the sporting industry.
* I hope to have another one maybe two kids. Hopefully, one will be a golf prodigy, another a football prodigy. I’ll be happy if one of them becomes a musician. Even if they don’t, at the end of the day if they are happy I’ll be happy.
* I hope that my relationship with my parents improve even further.
* I hope that my English will improve back to its original levels and that I’ll find time to read more books again.
* Most importantly, I hope to have a happy and full life. I see no sense in having all the money in the world but no happiness. I’d rather be middle class and happy.
That's pretty much what were important in those years.
Now.... run J, run... J, I'm tagging you. You're it!! Maybe it will let you forget the stresses in the office right now.
1985, 20 Years Ago
* I was very much an Americanized Malaysian, living in Washington DC for the past 5 years. My father was doing his PhD, so we (my mom, sis and I) followed along.
* Spoke English like an American, couldn’t speak a word on BM. Prior to living in the US we were also living in Belgium and in the UK. My Dad was very much into academic qualifications.
* Life was simple, Dad went to University, Mom became a hairdresser, my sis and I went to school and spent the whole day at school in day care.
* My parents were still married together. Was close to my sister.
* I had a normal parent-child relationship with my parents.
1995, 10 Years Ago
* I am now in Australia in my final year of University. I was lucky to be an ‘all-rounder’ in boarding school with good results and with even better non-academic representations. Due to this I received a full scholarship to pursue my studies in Medicine. Nevertheless, after one year of pre-med foundation I realized that being a doctor was not right for me. I decided to do Banking & Finance instead. No regrets there.
* Spoke English like an Aussie. After 5 years in boarding school could speak decent BM. Actually got A2 in BM for my SPM. Shocking!
* Life was more complicated. 5 years in Australia and I only went back to Malaysia once. My relationship with my parents was almost non-existent. Mom and Dad have been divorced for 8 years now. Mom had moved to Rome, Italy with her new husband and my sister, Dad remarried too. Didn't get to see my sister for 5 years. Didn't see her grow up. Both my parents had kids. Didn't see them either.
* I worked my ass off in University as a prep chef to make money. I made loads of money. Became a pretty good cook along the way too. Did not live like a student but like a working person. Lived in a huge bungalow with 2 ‘rich’ kids.
* Started doing soft drugs (marijuana and acid) a couple of years earlier during 1st year University. Nevertheless, I still represented University in Hockey and American Football (my proudest sporting achievement)
2000, 5 Years Ago
* I was in the midst of my ‘blurry’ period in life. I was living with 2 other bachelors who were my closest cousins. We we’re living in a condominium in the center on KL. We had loads of fun. Backroom and later Movement were my actual homes.
* Speaking English like a Malaysian now... People can understandlah, ok what?
* I had my own consulting firm with 3 other partners but I was out drunk and on ecstasy at least 4 nights a week. The firm was just a front and a source of cash to finance my wayward tendencies.
* My mom and sister were back from Italy. Relationships with females were on a short term basis. Relationship with my parents were strained. Could barely sit for dinner with my Dad without getting into some sort of argument. My stepmother was the saving grace of the relationship between my Dad and I. She would mediate very well. I also was getting close with my sister again. I also got to know both my half-siblings although both are 18 years younger than me.
* I actually didn’t give a shit about my career or anything else. It was probably out of rebellion towards my parents.
2002, 3 Years Ago
* Made life changes. Amongst other things changed my lifestyle. Late nights, especially on weekdays, were a thing of the past.
* Got my career back on track with a development bank. Pay was crappy but I had to do something or I would have ended up in the gutters.
* I would soon meet my wife to be. She met me probably at my lowest point in my adult life. Was in between jobs and had substantial debts.
* Relationship with my parents greatly improved. Its either they were getting older or I was getting older.
* All in all, a good year.
2004, Last Year
* Improved my career again to where I am now. A commercial bank.
* Tied the knot. Got married to a beautiful woman. Understands me for who I am. Sometimes I don’t even know who I am. We are similar yet different. One of our common friends say that if we were books we would come from the same section in the library.
* I actually consider my relationship with my parents quite normal now. Although I see my parents only on average once a month it is more ‘normal’ when we meet.
* My English has gotten from outstanding 20 years ago to average.
* Life itself is less havoc and more controlled again.
2005, This year
* The highlight of my life so far was born. My daughter. Nothing can compare to what my daughter has brought to my life.
* My daughter has also brought my parents and I a bit closer. Not as close as normal people but closer.
* Trying to get my golf handicap down again. Took too much time of golf. Mind you, I started playing when I was 8 years old. I should be a single handicapper now. Not 16.
* Started this blog. I thought I could never write. I guess I still can’t but I’m trying.
* Careerwise, all is fine. Nevertheless, I still want to get into the sporting industry somehow. I know I’ll be awesome at it.
2006, Next Year & 2015, 10 Years from now (my Hopes)
* I am not one who plans for the long term. I have lived my life on a short term basis but now with added responsibility of my wife and baby. I hope to consolidate my position in the corporate world should I not be in the sporting industry.
* I hope to have another one maybe two kids. Hopefully, one will be a golf prodigy, another a football prodigy. I’ll be happy if one of them becomes a musician. Even if they don’t, at the end of the day if they are happy I’ll be happy.
* I hope that my relationship with my parents improve even further.
* I hope that my English will improve back to its original levels and that I’ll find time to read more books again.
* Most importantly, I hope to have a happy and full life. I see no sense in having all the money in the world but no happiness. I’d rather be middle class and happy.
That's pretty much what were important in those years.
Now.... run J, run... J, I'm tagging you. You're it!! Maybe it will let you forget the stresses in the office right now.
posted by Sports Freak at 2:29 PM
<< Home