At the end of the journey...

CS & CM called out of a sudden today asking for a movie outing in the evening. Our regular meet-up every fortnight has turned to weeks of 3's and sometimes a month due to my busy schedule and also my PhD thesis write-up. Well, since the last time I went to cinema for a movie was during the CNY, guess I ought to pay a little visit to good ol' Leisure Mall today while proving to the gang that I was not being MIA :-p

So I left uni at 4pm right after the meeting with some colleagues and surprisingly, without jam and driving at my so-called optimum speed at 80kmph (yeah I know, it's slow hahaha), I managed to reach Leisure Mall at 4.30pm. Not bad actually.

So off we went to watch "Fast & Furious", just out today but it wasn't a great show. So should you ask me if it's worth watching, it depends. If you like cars and girls in skimpy clothes, then by all means go ahead. As for me, I didn't quite like it and I missed the colourful lit-up cars in the first movie back in 2001. Just a personal opinion from me.

After the show, the gang left for dinner at home and I got to spend some quality time with myself. Just strolling between the two buildings of the complex on my own, and I realised that I was walking way slower than usual today. Took me almost an hour to cover both wings of Leisure Mall. Usually, it took me just 20 mins.

Had A&W for dinner (never know why but A&W has always been my favourite fast food and its Root Beer Float has been my favourite drink all these years). At times like this, once every few months, I have this tendency to sit down by myself at some fast food joints, usually by the glass panels, munching the fries away, overlooking some areas from up high. Just watching the world from my seat can really satisfy my soul. The people on the street, the cars, clouds, sunsets...you know, life in general.

A satisfying meal :-) Oh man, just love the Float....much better than Pina Coladas :-p

Munching away while taking a look at a very important document for the very last time

Watching the world from my seat....no I'm not being kepo :-p

And it's always at times like this that I have a great feeling of being appreciative towards life. The feeling of being lucky to have so many things in life - a happy and great family (love you all :-) ), great true friends (you know who you are and thanks :-) ), a car to drive (albeit it's already 17 years old but is still going strong) and of course my education achievements. All this while, no matter what other people say, I've never looked at myself as a smart guy. To me, I am just a very normal geek who's been blessed with quite some luck in life to be what I am and to achieve what I have at this age. Throughout the years, I have learned to count my blessings and to be appreciative and contented with life when there are still many people out there fighting for a grain of rice to eat. I think all of us should be grateful of what we have.

I know that some people might call this an 'emo' post, but to me, it is through being appreciative and contented that we learn how to value our lives and also to make full use of the time given to us. After all, as the Chinese saying goes, "How many tens of years does one have in one's life?"

Life is short... cherish your loved ones... and most of all, be appreciative :-)

To a happier, healthier and contented life

Mark Gary Ng