What do we wish for? Money is an easy guess. Most ask for health and happiness, others request some peace of mind. But strength, that is something we often overlook.
Yet strength is indeed what we’ll need to walk through every day of this new year with grace and with love. Strength of conviction to do what is right (by us and by our loved ones). Strength to survive when the going gets tough, and to thrive in spite of it all.
Strength to be who we are, to accept and embrace it with our whole hearts and honest joy, and to go on and soar.
.
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Copyright © 2011 Kenny Mah Ying Fye. Photograph by Bonifacio Pontonio.
Thanks to Jemima for reminding me of this.
Kenny Mah believes in the good in people. He has been blogging for over ten years. No, his hands aren't tired. Yet.
Having strength is harrrrrd though – It means being the one who is willing to be the bigger person/ make big sacrifices.
Having lots of money is so much easier. ;P
@J the chocoholic: Well, anything worth having would be hard-going in the beginning… but I can’t imagine anything more satisfying than the feeling one gets from not being weak anymore, from becoming a better version of oneself.
The strong ain’t just strong on their own; they become strong from those around them, and give strength back to those good folks too. No one’s weak who’s not alone.
But. Having lots of money would be a nice add-on. Can’t argue with that. *winks*
Think I need patience :)
@Paul: We all could do with a lil more patience, bro… especially with KL’s traffic jams.
(How’s Miri though? I’m guessing less, uhm, jammy?)
Wise words, my dear… and I can’t agree more. Strength, sometimes is really very hard to muster.
@Pureglutton: Yet when we do muster it, the path may not get clearer but our resolve to move on shall overcome all difficulties.
It will be a great year, for we are strong and we are resolute. *hugs*
strength is indeed an important ingredient in the stew of life! :))
@rokh: The STEW of life? Oh dear, this and all the food-focused tweets today are making me very, very hungry. Time to break fast and have me some lunch!
Hainanese chicken rice, anyone?
Completely agree, Kenny – don’t forget, grace not to clobber the stinky tofus and Rafflesias along the way.
@Spindle Girl: Haha, yes. Indeed much grace is needed to abstain from clobbering the “stinky tofus” and “Rafflesias” we meet along the way.
You’re as strong as your greatest strength.
You’re always stronger than your weaknesses.
Your strength is always real.
You are never weaker than your strength.
Only you sometimes forget.
This was from one of my posts in 2007. We just need to remind ourselves from time to time that we do have strength.
Have a good weekend, my friend. :)
@jemima: May we never forget, then. Thank you, my dear. You’re always an inspiration. Have a restful and rejuvenating weekend!
i suppose strength includes perseverance, which is a trait i value more. but ok, that’s more of a theoretical thing, and not particularly practical. i read recently that aquarians (which is what i am) tend to get engrossed in abstract debates and lose sight of real-world doings. so i’m gonna try not to fall into that trap here :D
@Sean: Damn. I’m an Aquarian too. Does that mean I get engrossed in abstract debates and lose sight of real-world doings? Say it ain’t so!
true! I need the strength to help me survive these 1.5 yrs of my study. Suffering from idea drought and projects overloads! Goodness!
@kyh: Man, I don’t envy you that one bit – I’m totally happy to have left my university and school days behind me! Keep strong, my friend!
well, there’s this line i found online: “The Aquarian philosophical and spiritual bent may be dangerous in that it can drive the subjects into an ivory-tower existence where they meditate on abstractions that bear little relevance to life.” i think u’re safe so far, since u practice what u preach (or so it seems!) :D
@Sean: Maybe what it means for me is merely that I’m spending far too much of my time with those university professors and professorees (hence the “ivory-tower existence” bit). And I spend even more time going through their ideas and research proposals (hence their “abstractions that bear little relevance to life”).
Gosh, that does make me well better! Hooray!
ahhh, so your destiny was indeed written in the stars. according to the zodiac, aquarians are most compatible, romance-wise, with gemini and libra, followed by aries, sagittarius and other aquarians. has that proven true in your case? :D
@Sean: Oh indeed it has! I’ve certainly dallied with my fair share of Geminis and Libras, a couple of Aries here, a Saggitarian there… My fave of the lot would have to be this devilish little Cancerian though. Heh.
Miri? WHat traffic :P
@Paul: True also. I could walk blind-folded across them Miri roads and reach the other side quite safely in one piece. What a lovely little town! Hehe.
wah, i guess some things AREN’T written in the stars after all. aquarians are supposed to be LEAST compatible with cancer. this is what the zodiac-watchers claim about an aquarius-cancer relationship. read it and laugh, and be glad that you’ve proven them all wrong :D
“Fun-loving Aquarius will be too unpredictable for a vulnerable Cancer. The Cancer is usually more open and steady than Aquarius who inclined to find new adventures. Aquarians love to share their life stories with the world while Cancer is satisfied to concentrate on personal obligations. Cancer have a conservative taste; Aquarius taste are usually the opposite. The Cancer’s needs can’t remain unsatisfied. Aquarius tends to exempt him/herself from the emotional requirements. They are able to find common language in bedroom for some time, though they will not sustain this partnership in a drawing room for a long time.”
@Sean: “They are able to find common language in bedroom for some time, though they will not sustain this partnership in a drawing room for a long time.”
*guffaws*
A “drawing room”? What century is this little piece of quaint relationship wisdom from? The 17th? Hehe.
And my Cancerian partner’s taste is conservative indeed… if you consider Louis Vuitton and Prada “conservative”, hehe.
Totally Agree. Strength makes everything possible.
@Prodigal Lulu: Yes, more long-lasting in certain areas too, help it does. Ahem.
haha, is this the hidden meaning that you try to point out.
@Prodigal Lulu: Let’s just say everyone will have their own interpretation of what strength means. Hehe.
i suppose with strength, it will also build up our courage too and becomes less fearful.At times, negative events that happening around us may weaken us, we become vulnerable but as long as there’s there’s this strength within us, we will be okay and safe.
@lena: Aye. We may weaken but never completely. For, as you so rightly put it, there is this strength within is and it’s more than we could ever imagine.
We are strong, even when we know it not.
..and totally agree on your last line..the strength to accept who we are, accept and embrace it..then we will able to walk with pride!
@lena: Pride. That’s the bonus, isn’t it? That’s what we have, not arrogance, but real pride in what we have achieved and how strongly we believe in ourselves.
With strength comes responsibility. Strength comes in different dimensions. From brute force to internalized strength.
strength. mmm. i myself wouldn’t have chosen this one either; but it’s so true about what you say.
* don’t wanna be quite as bulky as that stencil-dude, but a few more muscles would never go amiss!
@carpe diem: Let’s aim for the internalized one then, and say No to violence, yeah?
@mr sekimachihato: I’m with you on your “a few more muscles would never go amiss!” suggestion. Would be nice, sighs.
We decided we’d make this our Year of Taking Charge, didn’t we? So I guess, strength is a key element in taking charge.
Funny how timely your posts tagged “inspiration” are. =)
@Michelle: Don’t you agree that simply by taking charge, you feel stronger? There is strength simply in motion, in decision, in taking action.
Hooray for inspiration!
Strength is a plate of dark, piping hot, aromatic Hokkien Mee topped with crunchy fried lard, fried shallots and strips of pork loin. AND some belacan chilli to go with it as well. I always feel bigger, faster and stronger after eating it. :)
@Nic: Gimme some of that strength now! Uhm, please? Hehe.