MCO Aide-Memoire 2: Habit - Build Hard, Die Harder~

Assalamua'laikum wbt. & good day,

Today is another day of Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. My working schedule is a bit hectic lately due to numbers of online meeting and discussion that I need to attend. Being in a new department, trying to find the solid ground for me to play is not an easy task; especially when I just virtually report to my new superior and engaging with my fellow colleagues through digital means. Somehow, the real human interaction is still essential but at current moment, adapting to this new norm is a must.

My routine had been quite stable and established after 10 days of this MCO since it was commenced on 18 March 2020. Wake up in the morning, perform Fajr prayer, recite Al Quran, prepare for the breakfast (however, the sequence of these three routine had changed since Ramadhan), tethering my phone to my laptop to download all the emails, disconnect these two gadget to avoid internet data wastage, scrutinize every single email (one of my strength is I read every single information that I have as I believe information is a king), taking note on important information, prepare for reply if needed and wait for my Cash On Delivery (COD) food to arrive for lunch/ ifthar. I decided to buy at least one food from small entrepreneur each day as part of performing my responsibility in running the economy during this unprecedented time. In the end, I believe each of us in this world has at least a mouth to feed, and buying from this small entrepreneur is part of our responsibility in distributing our wealth as well as sharing our provisions.

Putrajaya, Malaysia

Like it or not, this MCO provides us ample time to shape our habit which eventually will lead us to somewhere in a long run. Failure in managing our time and taking the right action to shape the new norms for ourselves may lead to fatal consequences not only to our health, but as well as to our career and well-being. In spite I dislike to do skipping and HIIT exercise, I still motivating myself to do it on every single day because I realized that consistency is always the key in maintaining a good health; on top of selecting the right meals for our own consumption. However, I am also afraid that this MCO may increase my level of particularity as I do vacuum my whole house for almost every single day because seeing even a single hair drop can lead to unnecessary stress to me. I do hope that my level of flexibility will also increase as sticking to one rule sometimes may not work very well in any situations.

This MCO is also another means to test our level of integrity as we are staying inside our own comfort zone; except those who are currently battling with domestic abuse at home. We were actually tested by God in a very subtle way at this moment; as most of us are currently working from home. Not only that, this MCO provides huge opportunity for those who wish to start their own business by having COD’s service of their product and the customer definitely not be able to watch on way they prepared the items. In both situations, the only lifeline that both superior and subordinate as well as the seller and buyer have is TRUST. Trust that both parties will perform or deliver the outcomes or services expected from them excellently. This really reminds me to one excerpt from the book that I currently read, “Strategies of Prophet Muhammad” by Omar Khayyam Sheikh in which he wrote under the chapter of Personality Strength, “Truthfulness and trustworthiness can be considered the minimum foundations of a truly great personality”. Let us sit and reflect, do we have these qualities in us?

Tioman Island, Johor, Malaysia.

Many of us may not have any idea on how long this situation will prolong. Conforming to the decision and direction made by the government is the only choice that we have; in this case, to just staying at home. Staying at home for few days could be easy for some of us, but it also could be a mentally and emotionally challenging for some. The social media is also full with many hoity-toity, and some of the issues are just like a hotchpotch; which in reality do not deserve our time and attention. As a human who had been blessed with brain and heart to assess the nitty-gritty of those, we have to make the right choice while peacefully walk through this humdrum. Let us face this together. KITA MESTI MENANG. We must win :) 

 Till then, have a nice day. Wassalam~

MCO Aide-Memoire 1: Pesan Bapak~

Assalamua'laikum wbt. & good day,

Initially, the current Movement Control Order (MCO) should be ended by last Tuesday. However, considering the number of current active cases of COVID 19 in Malaysia, the MCO is now extended to another 14 days since 15 April 2020. Like it or not, as someone who does not held any qualifications in anything related to Health, I strongly believe that trusting the expertise’s advice is the wise thing to do. Therefore, I have to stay at home for another 14 days in which if this stage is not extended afterwards, it means that I have been staying at my home for 41 days in total, with the farthest place that I have went so far is still within 10 km radius from my current house. OK Zaza, you can be proud of yourself. #piouswifecandidate :P

Although there is nothing wrong and nothing less inside my house, I could not deny that sometimes the desire to go out from home is so strong. Last weekend, after staying at home for 25 days without going out even once throughout the duration, I finally have the courage to go out to run my groceries errand. Being someone who used to dress up for almost every day before this MCO is enforced, I took the opportunity to really dress up although I only went out for about one hour. After all, as someone who is quite paranoid especially when there is a very strong evidence and fact that the virus is easily spread, I am willing to source out all the groceries shopping to trusted runner in my area as well as keep ordering ready-made food and pay for the delivery fees. What is it few ringgits as compared to the risks that we have to take, isn’t it?

In less than 10 days, we will be entering Ramadhan, a holy month where all Muslims are required to fast. This year will be quite different as there will be no congregational Taraweh prayer as well as no Bazaar Ramadhan. Moreover, Saudi Arabia also had announced that the pilgrimage this year is postponed until the pandemic is under control. This year had introduced all of us to the new norms, and this new norms is expected to prolong for few more months until the vaccine for COVID 19 is successfully produced and available for consumption by public. I personally got the mixed feeling as there is a probability that I will be celebrating Eid alone here as there is no sign that the flights to my hometown will be available as of today. As usual, I trust that Allah is basically preparing me for something and if not, this could be another mean for Him to protect me from something.

Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Talking about trusting the Best Planner of All, I could not deny the facts that sometimes, it is very hard for us who are just His creations to understand and fully grasp the wisdom that lies behind every single thing that happened. Most of the times, we tend to rebel or questioning the things that happened until we discovered the reasons for it to happen.

I remembered early of this year, I was planning to send both of my parents for a cruise trip. Somehow, the available date for that trip is coincide with my cousin’s wedding in which as usual, my father will give this kind of thing a priority. Although I am a bit frustrated, I just follow his advice as there is no use for me to proceed registering both of them for the trip if my father is kind of reluctant. He always told me the importance of living in society in which I rarely agree as I believe in individuality. I rarely attend my relatives wedding ceremony as they usually did it during long weekend; whereby I also commonly travel to overseas at this time. Never that I know that shall I proceed with this cruise trip, it will be cancelled as well due to this pandemic. It somehow strengthened my belief to always listen to “pesan bapak” or “dad’s advice”.

During my adolescence, I always asked for RM 20 a week from my dad as my weekly allowance since I am studying at one of the boarding schools in Kuching. He always remind me to keep saving the money although I did it silently. And every single week, I will be given RM 20 as a compulsory allowance that I imposed on him. #whatachild However, as I grow older, I started to realize why he keep reminds me on saving because saving is ultimately important. The moment we are desperate for money, we tend to lose our dignity and integrity. I could not deny the fact that “pesan bapak” is right in this sense and I am lucky because this is the only advice from him that I follow tightly without any argument till today.

Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia.

Since I involved with operations improvement and change management five years ago, I started to subscribe to minimalist life style and avoid hoarding items. I have become a value driven person, not only in performing my job, but also in my daily personal life. Upon transferring to current city, I discovered that I have a lot of things and some of that are never been used. I would say that I had been trapped into typical orthodox Malay culture and custom by having a lot of things in which I rarely use in my daily life during early stage of my career. Hence, I sell off some of the items; especially those that I have not used for more than six months. However, my dad had different opinions. As long as we bought the items in cash, and we can have it without burdening other parties, what is wrong with having lots of items? But being me, I just proceed selling off the items, which included my folded mattress. Never that I know, I am in dire need of that folded mattress since I have a principle that I cannot do any other thing on my bed except a proper sleep at night and I finally have to buy a new folded mattress during this MCO for me to leisure at my living hall. And yes, “pesan bapak” is again right this time. (-_-) But then, disobeying this “pesan bapak” was a bless in disguise as I finally have the courage to go out and take the pre-order folded mattress at the shop during this MCO since I doubt there is available runner that would like to take this job.

Lately, whenever I have a phone call with my mom, I always told her that all the things I disputed with my dad had become a hurtful truth. It is a hurtful truth as I have to experience it myself before I can admit that his advice is somehow true. In the end, as someone that is purely evidence and analytical based, I need all the logic reasons for me to agree, although with my own parents. It is somehow true that most of the children only realized the wisdom of their parents’ advice once they passed their 20s. I am just lucky that my dad is still healthy the moment I realized the significant of all his advice and we now can synchronize the way we think; although I realized that my younger brother and sisters still have some disputes with him on the way they look at things. Looking at this, I just can say, you are yet to reach your 29 years and 12 months old yet. :D

 Till then, have a nice day. Wassalam~

New Definition of Awaited 2020~

Assalamua'laikum wbt. & good day,

The first quarter of 2020 had passed and yes, we had left with another three quarters. Sometimes, I do question myself on what have I achieved so far and how much have I prepared myself for the next stage of life in the hereafter. Like it or not, while each of us acknowledged the facts that we will be leaving this world, we tend to overlook on the preparations needed as talking about death always make us feel stress, afraid and rarely excited.

The whole world had been hit badly by COVID-19, a pandemic caused by Coronavirus. Malaysia is not exempted, and we are currently under Movement Control Order (MCO) since 18 March 2020. The MCO is now in the third stage; and this stage is expected to end by 28 April 2020. Our Prime Minister will do another press conference to announce the needs to either extend or end the current MCO towards end of this stage.

Early of this month, I had officially moved to another business unit within my company, in which I supposed to physically move elsewhere, but end up I just virtually report duty through digital means to my new department. I never thought that my wish to silently moving out after almost 8 years in the same environment is granted this way HAHAHA. It is perhaps a good time to reflect on the needs to be more careful in praying for my wish. :D

Sunset at Kapas Island, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Looking back on the old days that I have gone through since I was young, I never thought that Vision 2020 or "Wawasan 2020" which had been something I look forward to will take me to somewhere back to basic, which is staying at home. Not only that, the MCO announcement made by current Prime Minister TSMY had triggered panic buying of daily necessities among the citizens which in the end bring everyone back to realization that our basic needs in life is so simple and others are just our wants. On top of this, this pandemic had exposed many glamour and famous people to their real self in which I will not share the details here. Being a strong ISTJ person and previously an INTJ, I do take a lot of my time to silently judge and evaluate others. But yes, I know that I am being evaluated and judged by others too, HAHAHA. As long as we keep the sensitive things to ourselves, I do not think judging others is wrong, just that we had wasted our time unnecessarily. :P #silainsaf

I am supposedly going to Japan yesterday and all the arrangements are basically done. However, due to this pandemic, this trip is cancelled and I somehow start to realize the importance of believing in guts. I have not purchase the ticket to KL since I am currently in Sarawak for this trip because I was thinking to just redeem my airline loyalty points since some of it will be expiring this year. Luckily, following my instinct had benefited me financially as I am not going for this trip anyway and therefore, I have not lose anything be it in terms of my money as well as my points. Alhamdulillah.

I cannot deny the feeling of bored during this period as I am staying alone and not able to visit my parents who are staying one hour flight away. Just for info, the Air Asia inter-district flight in my state is all cancelled throughout this MCO but the good thing is they provide refund although the processing time is quite lengthy.  Looking on the bright side, this situation had provided me ample time to pack for my items prior to move to other city upon this MCO is uplift. I also have the opportunity to declutter all my stuffs, enhancing my cooking skill as well as trying my best to do skipping at least 300 times a day. Until today, I managed to do skipping for almost 500 times a day and I am targeting to do skipping at least 1000 times a day. HEHE :P This is also a golden opportunity for me to reflect, rearrange my priority on top of continue reading the books that I have in spite of I still do not have any ideas on where to put  or who to give the books that I have read.

Sunset at Kuala Perlis, Perlis, Malaysia.

After more than 20 days at home, I realized that the following five facts are irrefutable:

• Sometimes, we have to beware of what we wish for. I never thought that my wish to not transfer before Eid is granted this way. Although I am fully aware that Allah must be either protecting or preparing me for something, I am just impressed the way He granted my wish. It is far beyond my imagination.

• A blessed sustenance is far better than a lot of sustenance. This thing is very subtle to be deliberated, but the outcome of a blessed sustenance mostly come in a way we spend the sustenance for the right purpose or giving it to the right parties.

• It is basically easy to know where we are in other’s list of priority. As we are also a normal human, we definitely will make time for things or person that matters to us. Do not trust in other’s justification to ignore us.

• Every person in this earth is given the will to strive for a better life. Factors that differentiate us in having this better life are our determination, thinking skill, thinking scale and our network.

• While both quantity and quality of effort matters a lot, consistency is always the key to success. I would say that I am a total believer of slowly but surely :)

It has been quite some time I have not write. I hope the current MCO will give me more time and determination to continuously write because I believe, writing can enhance ones capability in articulating their ideas and express their emotions in a very positive way.

Till then, have a nice day. Wassalam~