Doing nothing is not always a bad thing

Eating, sleeping and eating again can be quite addictive and blissful, however, it is somehow rather considered boring, unproductive and to some, a luxury. Just eating with no real exertion has the ability to transform happiness into a coma of sadness. Sleep, oh sleep... how I love the way you lie. When overdone, the peaceful serenity we require every day can easily become a state of destruction. Suddenly, not only will we find ourselves even more tired than before we slept, but also weakened by sleep's deception. How is doing nothing but bingeing all day anything but bad for one? Well, like all things, if moderation is achieved, everything bodes well. 'Doing nothing', has freedom attached to it and therefore being allowed to practice it, is exhilarating. Simple as it may sound, none of us really get to do what we want, when we want, as our commitments and responsibilities take up most of our time in a day. But by indulging in this act of freedom, we fuel ourselves both mentally and physically to go through the dreary routine of everyday life.

You're Our Star Man

To actually hear Steve McMahon say those very words sent shivers down my spine. I never knew how much television could actually make me know people I never met before until I saw them in person. It was like meeting someone you’ve known for years yet it is their first time meeting you.

Million Dollar Feet was a tournament for boys and girls between the ages of eleven to fourteen, creating a chance for the young generation of football enthusiasts to make it ‘Big Time’. Where did I fit in all this? Well, usually before a ‘final showdown’ there is an opening ceremony of some sort, in this case it was a ‘Celebrity Football Match’ that allowed two lucky students from BAC and IACT College to be a part of, through an online slogan competition. Not expecting to win, I casually took part in the competition and the rest as they as is history.

October 23^rd, 2016 was to be the day I would see faces I had only known through television. Excited, I was told to be at Royal Selangor Club by 1.30pm, but I arrived an hour early. As I walked through the place with time to spare, I recognized several faces and to my disbelief, they appeared exactly the same apart from Steve and Patrick looking rather pinkish under the sun. Kicking things off with his usual swagger as a host, Patrick welcomed the guests of honour to give their speech one by one. Saving the best for last, Steve McMahon came up and said something I will never forget, “I wasn’t the best of players, I made myself a player”.

With the sun shining brighter, everyone gathered around the pitch to catch the celebrities in action and I was one of them. Of course I wasn’t a celebrity or anyone notable for that matter, but by the end of the game I felt like one. With only thirty minutes to do what I do best, I knew I had to make my presence felt and with that in mind I seized every opportunity that came my way firing five shots with two of them hitting the back of the net.

By the end of the first half itself, Steve McMahon gathered us in a huddle and singled me out as his team’s star man. I could hardly believe what I heard but as I look back at all the years I spent sitting in front of the television watching him and the rest of the football pundits on show, I know I’ve realized a dream

Wags'ed

What started out as a spontaneous attempt to record a funny incident, turned into a full blown YouTube channel. College students, five of my friends and I loved acting and making jokes. One day we just decided to hit the record button and see what we could do. Little did we know that there was so much we could learn from the whole process of ‘before, during and after’ recording a video. Through trial and error we started to make short videos that varied at length ranging from 2-4 minutes each, based on our shared comical experiences. 

Now in its 2^nd season, two of our close friends have also joined in our little ‘Wags’ed family’, making the eight of us stronger than ever. The question still remains though, why Wags’ed? Well, eight years ago my dog Wags went missing. Wags was such a big part of my life that when he disappeared it changed me. From then on, I decided that in everything that I do, I would put his name in it as a way of acknowledging his impact on my life. Therefore, Wags’ed was named after my dog, and every form of creative expression I produce is a reflection of the person Wags helped me become. 

Lana

Before I had you, I never thought I could love something so deeply that I would actually forgo my needs for yours. With just a pat on your mom's head, you found a home. Had I known your momma was carrying you, I would have probably not been so welcoming. As it turns out, ignorance paid off for a change and before long, you were born. One of four siblings, I'm surprised you didn't crawl your way out sooner. Sharing rashes with all four of your ex roommates, the only thing different about you were your eyes. Grey with a hint of brown, they screamed 'I am for you', leaving me no longer spoilt for choice.

Having separated you from your brothers and sisters, I couldn't help myself but shower you with comforts that even some of us don't get to enjoy. You were difficult at times, with your need for attention invading my need for space. Although I tried to find time for myself, I could always see your tail at the corner of my eye. Never too far away, you were almost in every frame of my life. From scratching the foot of my sofa while I watched TV, to simply lazing around the porch just to stay within eye shot when I swept the veranda.

I remember once I was doing my assignment in the porch with my friend and I was feeling so lost and stressed, that I started to get a little angry, when out of nowhere you jumped on my lap. Frustrated as I was, it all went away the moment you purred into my eyes.

Your constant vigilance helped keep all sorts of pests in and around the house at bay. In many ways, you were like the roommate I never had, tickling my nose with your tiny paw just to get me out of bed for my much dreaded 8 am classes. Never one to admit that he had a thing for cats, even my dad grew fond of you soon after. I’m not sure how, but you ‘scratched’ your way into his heart and brought my family closer together.  

Sadly the old adage was true, as it all came to an end. Tuesday afternoon, 20^th September 2016 will forever be etched in my memory. Come to think of it, why are we able to remember exactly what hurt us but not remember what brought us joy to the point of change? Nevertheless, had I known it was the last day I would see your face; I would have turned the TV off and stroked your chin till you purred in your sleep. As it turned out, I was shovelling the last piece of sand over the ground in which I laid you to rest, pleading with God to offer you solace and that if you were to be born again, you would have a much better life and not suffer a similar fate. Nine lives they say, well you changed mine in just one. 

About Me

Hi, I’m Shashi from Ipoh, Perak and I’m 26 years old. Yes, that’s true. Having been clueless for the most part after high school I only had two things on my mind; dogs and football. Shaping my life, left, right and center I had found my passion while in school yet I was lost. 5 years after leaving my school life prematurely, I joined college and everything changed. Not because it was cool or because I had friends, rather the mode of learning was not one way which enabled me to find myself as a person. From then on I never looked back, taking everything by my stride. Today, I’m in my 2^nd year of degree in IACT College pursuing my studies in the field of Media and although my life of isolation and misdirection is behind me, it remains a place I draw strength from. Not to mention the 5 years of ‘extra sleep’ I gained in solitude is the added fuel in my tank that keeps me energized. 

About a boy

A blinding flash of light is all I see; I can barely open my eyes as I feel the cold grasp of human touch. It’s all a little too much; I’m excited and terrified at the same time.  I can’t seem to understand where I am as I slowly hear a distinct voice, “Thank you” I don’t know what I’m hearing or what is happening but I know I can never go back  to my world.

Soon after, a familiar face is all I see and come to love. It’s strange, I felt safer and comfortable before but now, love is breathing new life into me.  There is so much I want to do, but I’m confined to a pattern I’m powerless to change. What I knew, I thought to be everything, is now something, I know is just the beginning.

Gradually my surroundings start to change, uncertainty lingers but I’m comforted by the familiar face that warms my soul. The need to do things fast starts to exude itself and once I felt the feeling of the wind on my face, I never put on a slipper again.  I begin to see new faces continually and to my horror, they become familiar to me.

One of them even follows me home every now and again, I don’t like it. Having to share what was all mine is something I can never get used to. Despite this new found frustration, I find peace when I’m in the arms of her gentle and strong hands. Every time she speaks to me, the look in her eyes erases all my fears.

Even though I’m no longer in my former world of darkness, I realize that I’m able to visit it the minute I close my eyes. I wonder how I could have lived in that world as now, it scares me. Colours intrigue me and a desire to understand what I don’t, fuels my mind. Every answer I receive creates a new question I want to understand.

Being able to do what I want when I want to, seems a distant memory. Conditioned to a routine that I myself must initiate sees me stumble at every attempt. I start to go against the familiar face I love just so I can do what I want. Why should I have to do anything that doesn’t make me happy? It’s only fair.

Thinking I knew it all, I was walking on thin ice. My inevitable fall, made me realize that my will and doom go hand in hand. As I grow older, I understand my attitude then, didn’t just belong to me, as happiness may be a man’s ultimate prize but it will always be a boy’s only will.