Thursday, January 20, 2011

Apa Khabar?

How do we translate this phrase - Apa Khabar? How are you? Maybe... what about literally? Apa = What? Khabar = news? What's the news?

There's a story about a big prison where the inmates morale were really low. The Commander of the prison knew how demoralized the inmates were, but there's little room for him to do anything to improve. Despite this, one day, he called everyone to the center court and made an announcement. "INMATES.... today, I have a couple of news for you - but one is good news, and another is bad news - which would you like to hear first?"


"THE GOOD NEWS!!!" answered the crowd. "Okay..." said the Commander. The good news is, today, everyone of you will get a new underwear". YEAY!!!! YAHHOOOO!!!!! HURRAYYY!!!!! Shouts of joy roared from the inmates - of which many have not had a change of underwear (i.e. not more than 1) for years. After the commotion died down, someone asked - "so Sir, what's the bad news?". Without answering directly, the Commander pointed to different persons around - "You, give your underwear to him. You, change yours with him, you - with this man here" and on and on he went.


Well, true, each person DID get a new underwear, didn't he? But then the Commander didn't say it's BRAND new, did he?


It's like that most of the times isn't it ?- a good news is somehow, always linked to a bad news. And vice versa.


Like this little girl - the bad news is, she lost all the hair - but the good news is, she's on the way to full recovery from Leukemia.


It really depends on the perspective from which we are looking at things... May we all have insights on both the good news and the bad news that we do not loose focus our balance and our hope.

4 comments:

  1. you're yin-yang-ing things. and this put me right in the mood to find the balance. something like what my brother will call 'put on your black hat'. aku terlampau optimist bah sekarang ni.. what with all the excitments

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  2. bagus ni post. bikin aku reflect.

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  3. happy to hear she is recovering... i experienced a cousin with leukimia. It was really tough for him to face it and for us to see him struggling for life.. it actually tampar myself to be thankful for a life that i have now...tapi, slalu tul mumbling... *kabushh!!...i kick myself!!

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  4. Togs - recently, an ex colleague passed away. But I told my ex colleague after I found out, that he's in a better place (i hope), and we're the one yang still suffering down here - terus kena tegur - don't be so pessimist. Allow yourself to grieve and be sad for a day. Aiks!

    Ppong - yeah, goot to sometime reflect kan? How good a good news is, really depends on... how bad the situation was before that. Vice Versa.

    Night - yeah, I was honoured to get to know this beautiful brave girl kat Kuching Children Cancer Ward. She's a Penan, no language spoken, but I am in awe of her strength.

    Let's let's let's forever keep reminding ourselves on the good things we have in life guys!

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