Sunday, July 27, 2008

WALK!

Assalamualaikum...

Last Sunday, as i told in the last entry, the 'Walk for Life' program was held, organized by Tesco for MAKNA.Conclusion first: It was a good program with a lot of fun, and definitely worth all the hype.

So full of spirit, me and my good friend, Mullah; we were there, at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa since 6.40 am. The air was cool and steady, and the sky canvas was still dark in colour, but there we were, breathing hard while finding our way to the starting place - hmm, i didn't know the lake was really big until that very morning!

Later, we were joined by another of my good friend, Alias; and together we went to settl our registration and get our t-shirt. The program started at 8 a.m sharp, and for 4.5 km after that, the three of us joined another thousands of other participants, walking slowly at first before picking up our paces towards the end, a little sweaty but still full of energy.

It was a piece of cake - the walk i mean - because what we really did was... walking! But, that was where the fun came from. All around us, life was at its brightest and to its fullest. People were talking and laughing like there was nothing to worry about in this world.

We can see parents with their youngs, some with strollers, and some with their small kids on their shoulders, all having a good quality time as families.

We also can see friends, all in groups, talking and laughing while taking pictures, clearly enjoying themselves in each other's company. That, still not to mention couples, school's representative, community groups, and so many others that make the numbers of the participants - in my estimation - nearly 5000.

Overall, the whole program was like a huge social event, which would be even better if you brought along all your families and friends with you.

I have this one thing in mind; that for the next event like this, i will urge all my friends to come with me and just enjoy ourselves, just as you should do so too...!





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Friday, July 25, 2008

Walk For Life (MAKNA)

Assalamualaikum...




This Sunday, TESCO will organize 'Walk For Life' to raise awareness and money for MAKNA (Majlis Kanser Malaysia).

This program is not only for raising money fro cancer causes, but also to encourage the public to stay fit and healthy by encouraging exercise as a vital part of cancer prevention.

You can register at any TESCO Hypermarket by only RM10.

The details are as follows:

Date: 27th July 2008 (Sunday)

Start time: 8.00 a.m.

T-Shirt Distribution: 6 a.m onwards

Venue: Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Tapak A


Make a difference in fighting cancer, one step at a time!



Wednesday, July 23, 2008

There's this one proverb...

Assalamualaikum...

There's this old Persian proverbs that i wanna share with all you guys. As much as i impressed with the message, i also equally impressed with the poetic and melodic language. Enjoy...

He who knows not,
And knows not that he knows not,
Is a Fool, shun him.

He who knows not,
And knows that he knows not,
Is a Child, teach him.

He who knows,
And knows not that he knows,
Is Asleep, wake him.

He who knows,
And knows that he knows,
Is Wise, follow him


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Friday, July 18, 2008

101st: my first ever entry - revisit

Assalamualaikum...

Today i feel like going down the memory lane to my first ever entry for AidanZ.
Call me sentimental.. cause i kinda am, you know.
So, bear with me okay, cause this entry is like a memorabilia for me..

Assalamualaikum

This is my first attempt for my own blog...
Wow, isn't that wonderful?
(I can't help it, but at this time, i close my eyes, take a deep breath, and after that, slowly exhale... very slowly - just to savour the moment!)

Okay, (i opened my eyes) now i've got my own blog.
What do i do with it?

Hmmm, well, i'll figure it out later.
But one thing for sure,

It will be personal,
And it will contain almost everything that happened in my life.

I'll put my heart and soul into it.
From deep inside of me...
To the width of the world around me...
Joy and sorrow,
Happiness and misery,
Hopes and frustration,
The journey of my life...
And others around me...
Can be seen, clearly... and transparently...
Through my eyes.

'Till next time,
Z


Huh, it's really comforting to know that i still stay true to the course of this blog. i just hope it did at least a little good to other people if not as much as it did me.

Thank you,
AidanZ






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100th: Be healthy and stress-free..

Assalamualaikum...

(This is the 100th entry for this blog. Always the positive, i take it somewhat as my personal achievement. Wow. 100th! I certainly wouldn't believe it the first time i set up this blog April last year - although with almost 6 month sabbatical, hehe. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mullah and Kulan for helping me with this blog not long before. And of course to all the regulars that keep coming and visit. Thank you guys. Hmm, macam celebrity lah pulak. Already looking forward to the next hundred...!)

Not so long ago, i talked about wanting to expand my circle of friends. 2 circles actually, which i personally called: tennis-buddies, and gym-buddies.
Alhamdulillah, i could say the circle keeps growing now, especially the gym-buddies circle. In fact, from the so-called circle, come these facts that i want to share with you here...

The followings are the fitness tips of how to boost your energy.
When you mixed with a really hardcore gym guy, that's what all you will listen to: Take more protein and less carbohydrate! Take carbohydrate only when you're about to go to gym! Take supplement to strengthen your muscles! Or take protein supplement 30 minutes before work-out and 15 minutes after that! And so many other 'take this' and 'take that' of the things you never even knew exist before!

Well, that's the gym-hardcore, which i still am not.. yet.

But i don't want to talk about the gym here. i'm here to share something that i hope will make you and your day better. Hopefully, it will help increase the quality of your life too.

10 energy-boosting tips:

1.
Go to bed by 10.30 pm every night. The body rejuvenates itself better before midnight than after midnight.

2.
Get up at the same time everyday. Your body works best when you follow a routine. It is actually better to get up at the same time every morning even if you go to bed late.

3.
Get plenty of sunlight. Try to go outdoors for some time everyday. Even looking at the sun throughout a window helps!

4.
Get 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity five times a week.

5.
Eliminate or greatly reduce sugar from your diet. Sugar wreaks havoc on your blood sugar levels and causes energy highs and slumps.

6.
Eat breakfast. It takes three to five hours to convert what you eat into fuel for the body. If you do not eat breakfast, you will be running on empty for the rest of the day.

7.
Take a five-minute energy break every hour or 1 1/2 hours. Get up. Walk aroud. Do eck rolls. Take five deep breaths. Refocus.

8.
Avoid caffeine. It is a drug. It will give you an energy boost but it will also drop your energy levels like a hot potato when its effects wear off. Caffeine will also affect your sleep.

9.
Drink plenty of water. Have 8 to 10 glasses a day. Dehydration is one of the main causes of fatigue. 10. Think positive. Negativity affects your mood, job performance, physical appearance, health and even the others around you. Optimistic people are likely to be healthy, energetic and successful.

Lastly of course, always pray to Allah for the strength and guidance in every way and in everything we do.

May we become a better person, in and out, mentally and physically, in this world and after...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Lagenda Elfarren

Assalamualaikum...

Alhamdulillah, yesterday i have the first meeting with an editor from Arus Intelek Sdn Bhd about a possibility to publish my long-kept-with-not-really-excellent-review fantasy book, Lagenda Elfarren...

It's been a new experience for me, just by meeting with somebody that has actually shows interest in my writings. And what's more, it was also very comforting - and still very much is - to hear from somebody else's mouth that my book can be considered as okay and even has potential to begin with!

And what's more important, the slight chance of maybe being published, lifts my spirit to get back to my writings and to improve myself more on it.

Even if things didn't work out the way i want, i will still remember this feel-good-feeling to keep me going in this thing i've come to love so much and try much harder in the future, InsyaAllah...

Meanwhile, i will savour this little triumph with joy and full gratitude to Allah The Almighty...

AidanZ




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Wednesday, July 9, 2008

What is our legacy?

Assalamualaikum...

What is our legacy?

The above question came to me more than a month ago.
At the time, i was in Borders Bookstore, The Curve, immersing myself in a couple of new-released books, fully enjoyed my quality time alone there...
I have this habit of taking 2-3 books at once and bring them with me to the sofa, even though i'm pretty sure i will read only one.
So, at the time i happened to take this one book titled "Three Cups of Tea" with me. What makes me took the book at the first place is because of its striking cover: Three young girls at the age of about 9 years old, sit together while each reading a book. All three girls are wearing tudung, and they have the air of innocence on them that makes us wanting to hug and protect them at the same time.

The writer of this book is the one who i want to talk about; Greg Mortenson.

In 1993 Mortenson was descending from his failed attempt to reach the peak of K2. Exhausted and disoriented, he wandered away from his group into the most desolate reaches of northern Pakistan. Alone, without food, water, or shelter he eventually stumbled into an impoverished Muslims Pakistani village where he was nursed back to health.

While recovering he observed the village’s 84 children sitting outdoors, scratching their lessons in the dirt with sticks. The village was so poor that it could not afford the $1-a-day salary to hire a teacher. When he left the village, he promised that he would return to build them a school.
And return there, he did!

Fast-forwarded years later, and after several life threatening events such as threats from fellow Americans for helping Muslim children, a fatwa from an angry Islamic cleric for educating girls, and 2003 Afghan firefight between opium warlords, he succeeded in his mission - to build the Muslim children a school!

And he didn't stop there. Today, Mortenson had set up over 60 schools and as a result over 25000 children had been educated.



And once again i want to emphasize here that those children are Muslim, and that Mortenson guy is not!

I don't have to ask this, but still i couldn't help myself not to: How in earth this one non-Muslim guy, can sacrificed everything in his life and endangered himself, just to help those Muslim kids? Where are we? Where are the other Muslim?!

This Mortenson guy leave a strong legacy behind him. A legacy i doubt i can top in this life, but nonetheless give me a challenge and inspiration to do something good and worthy for the world.

Let's together make our presence felt, even in the smallest sense. Don't be like what 'pepatah melayu' said, "Datang tak menambah, pergi tak mengurang"

Allah creates each one of us unique in our own way. Let's explore it and use it to do some good in this world! Let's face Allah in the Judgement Day knowing we had use our ability and gift to help others and help the world to be a better place...!



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Monday, July 7, 2008

And The Champions Are...

Assalamualaikum...

Wimbledon finished early this morning (local time) with a new men's champion emerged replacing 5 time defending champion, Roger Federer.

Rafael Nadal, a claycourt specialist won his first Wimbledon (grass) title when he defeated Federer in 5 set thriller: 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(7-5), 7-6(10-8), 9-7, in a 4 hour and 48 minutes match, the longest match in Wimbledon history.

Huh, such was the intensity of the match, i still got the headache when i went to sleep at about 3 am this morning...

On the women's side, defending champion, Venus Williams defeated her younger sister Serena Williams, 7-5, 6-4, on Saturday to win her fifth Wimbledon title.

Both the winners got 750,000 pound sterling (about USD1.5 million) each, and also become the member of the exclusive All-England Club there in London...

The champions are as i predicted, and i particularly very pleased with my favorite player, Nadal for ending the reign of Federer, although i was a little bit disappointed with my other favorite, Sharapova for crashing out on the second round...

Good luck to them, and borrowing Nadal's line when he wanted to lift his spirit during the match,

VAMOS...!!!

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Tuesday, July 1, 2008

The Gift - The Present.

Assalamualaikum...

"Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery. But Today is a Gift. That's why it's called the Present."

That is from a movie i saw recently. And i couldn't agree more.
As i always told myself; learn from the past, plan for the future, but live your life fully in the present.
If people asked me, i would say, the first two are the recipes for SUCCESS, but the last one is the recipe for HAPPINESS!
Ask yourselves: Did you give yourself chances to enjoy this life, NOW, rather than LATER? Or you're so BUSY sacrificing your present for the unknown FUTURE?

Or maybe the real question is, DO YOU LET YOURSELF TO BE HAPPY?!

The Key:
Do things that would make you happy! Things that would make you appreciate this life better. And that would make you feel grateful to ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY, because you are still breathing in this beautiful world, still living your precious life, and still have the time to getting immerse in all the goodness in it.

Life is short...
You may never get a second shot for anything you missed NOW...
So, let's together.. take a breath.. and start living our life...!


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WELCOME BACK!

Assalamualaikum...

A little bit late here, but still i want to say Welcome back to Malaysia to Shu, Lan and my niece Tisyia...
I hope to see you all soon as i can't wait to see Tisyia...

Bye
Uncle Z


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