.: Fair And Equal :.

What's fair isn't necessarily equal, and what's equal isn't necessarily fair.

But something I wonder what happens when fair isn't fair because it isn't equal. Something I'm just trying to comprehend of late.

Food for thoughts?

.: Mitch Albom :.

A few Mitch Albom quotes which I would like to share from my recent reads. I highly recommend these three books (of which I have completed). The reads really make you reflect alot about my life. Am moving on next to Five People You Meet In Heaven.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
- Mitch Albom : Tuesdays With Morrie -

“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. an alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”
- Mitch Albom : The Time Keeper -

“Tell me about your family," I said. And so she did. I listened intently as my mother went through each branch of the tree. Years later, after the funeral, Maria had asked me questions about the family - who was related to whom - and I struggled. I couldn't remember. A big chunk of our history had been buried with my mother. You should never let your past disappear that way.”
- Mitch Albom : For One More Day -

“When a baby comes into the world, its hands are clenched, right? Like this?" He made a fist. "Why? Because a baby not knowing any better, wants to grab everything, to say the whole world is mine. But when an old person dies, how does he do so? With his hands open. Why? Because he has learned his lesson." "What lesson?" I asked. He stretched open his empty fingers. "We can take nothing with us.” 
- Mitch Albom : Have A Little Faith -

.: Ridin' On That Midnight Train :.

I’ve been taking the train to and fro work of late.

And there was this particular incident that made me quite mad early that morning.

A lady, probably in her third trimester, boarded a semi-loaded coach of the KJ LRT line.

Nobody, and I tell you, nobody was kind enough to give up a seat for her.

Fine, I will exempt those elderlies, which mind you, are not many as most of them are already standing up.

And I will also exempt the ones that dozed off.

And I will also give in to those who did not notice her (who could have missed a fully pregnant woman is beyond me, but whatever).

But there was this particular lady, who just stared at the pregnant woman, yawned and started playing with her phone.

How rude! I stared back at her, hoping that she would have caught whiff of my angry stare, or I was hoping that somehow, telekinetically or magically, I would be able to get the message through her. Alas, no such luck. I was contemplating telling her off, but I felt it was not right to victimize her as others sitting are equally guilty. I saw her picked her bag, and left when the train coach doors open.

Oh good, the pregnant lady has a chance to sit. I saw her slowly making her way towards the seat. And zoom came running by, a perfectly able woman, like a hungry vulture, and plonked her bl**dy a** onto the seat.

OH MY GAWD!

From thereon, I’ve learned.

I boarded a relatively empty train back home that very same day, and sat on one of the seats. The next stop, KLCC, many passengers came in. I saw a lady handling two small toddlers walking in with both of her hands hold each of her kids. I stood up, tapped her on her shoulder, and offered her my seat. The lady sitting next to me must have felt bad and also quickly got to her feet and offered her seat to the lady with kids. She was reluctant to accept at first, but after I insisted and told her it was dangerous for her two young one to stand anyways, she ushered the two kids to sit.

Sometimes, I suppose, you must make someone in the situation ‘feel bad’ about it first, and if they have any decency left in them, to do the same.

And if there’s an empty seat in the train – take it. So that if and when there’s someone who needs it more is seen at least you have control over letting that person have that seat.

Ugh. Just one of those pet peeves that really gets to me.

.: First Step :.

Take the first step in FAITH.

You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

.: Financial Goals :.

Having financial goals scares me (ironically), not because it's relatively easier to achieve them - as compared to my fitness goals, but it's because of the ok-so-I've-made-it-what's-next moment.

I told myself that I was going to achieve a certain level of income (salary) before I hit the big 3-0, but with God's blessing, I achieved that goal when I was a few months short from turning 27. Then, I just don't know what I should push myself to achieve next.

I look at the consolidated net worth of The Husband and I, and sometimes I wonder if we push ourselves too much, or is it possible for us to achieve even more than that?

So, I guess, what I'm really about to say is that I am to commit to one financial goal for the time being, which is to achieve a million ringgit in net worth (all my assets, less out all my liabilities) - solo i.e. without the Husband's numbers. And because all goals should be SMART, the T being time-bound, I hope that achieve this state by 30. A million ringgit is no biggie - people half my age have already raked in millions and millions of dollars anyways. But it only translates to two years of me working hard and making the capital work hard for me as well.

Let's just see if it's even remotely possible.

.: New Year, Old Goal, New Goal :.

With regrets, I would like to report that I have not achieved my 2013 resolution of 365km in a year.

But, I am not giving up just yet. So this year, 2014, I am rolling forward last year's goal in addition to a new goal this year, which is both fitness & health related.

So, firstly, to run 365km for the year.

And secondly, to have at least 365 eat-clean meals, which actually means at least once a day I have something clean for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Eating clean is not a diet, merely a lifestyle choice, one I hope to maintain not only for the year, but throughout. It's not really that difficult, I will just have to eliminate processed food & preservatives. So it'd be loads of fresh veges, fresh meat (no more sausages & ground burger meat) and whole wheat & grains.

A little like Paleo diet, but as mentioned, is not a diet, it's a lifestyle.

Wish me luck! :)