I'm Not Patriotic

"Maybe your country is only a place you make up in your own mind, something you dream about, and think about. Maybe it is not a place on the map at all, but just a story full of people you meet and places you visit."

Akhirnya, negara kamu hanyalah sebidang tanah yang hasilnya dimamah korporat.

Tidak patriotik, kerana aku ingin keluar.

Tidak patriotik bila apa yang aku inginkan hanyalah pengalaman dan memori.

Apa yang aku sudah buat demi negaraku yang tercinta selain membayar socso dan cukai?

Tiada. Aku selfish begini.

Kerana akhirnya, hanya pengalaman dan memori yang aku dambakan.

Apabila negaraku cuma diisi dengan lambakan fitnah.

Apabila semua orang membenci, mencaci dan menggasari.

Apa yang aku sudah buat demi negaraku yang sebegini?

Tiada. Kerana aku selfish begini.

Pegi mati dengan korporat-korporat jijik.

Row, Row, Row Your Raft!

It's amazing how immerse into the great outdoors one can be.

It all started from simple hikings.

To all those epic hikes.

The emprised waterfall canyoning.

The agonized runs and races.

And yesterday, the cardinal rafting adventure.

The almost 3 hours rafting journey through the river in the dense forest was amazing, with its class 1 to 3 cascades. Fell into the mighty river twice; 1st - from the mighty blow of one of the cascade, 2nd - at the end of the journey when all of us flipped the raft - went floating for a minute or two till the river banks.

Next adventure: Trail Run.

I Don't Owe the Advertising Industry Any More

I was running around in the office, my advertising agency office.
My heart beats so furiously - at the same pace of my brain being bombarded with problems upon problems: juggling campaigns, rushing FAs, attending training, etc etc etc.

I was with one of the copywriter, a friend (J) who noticed something weird.

J: Dude, kau macam tak ok.
Me: ...................................
J: Muka kau biru.

I ignored him, and started running back to the main meeting room, to continue the training with my fellow group mates. And one of the mates (R), dah mula perasaan that something was really wrong with me.

R: Shuk, are you okay?
Me: Just having a weird headache.
R: Shuk. Muka you pucat. Pucat sangat.

And that was it. I felt it coming straight to my head. Straight to my lungs and fragile heart.
I can't breathe. My mind went hay-wire. All of the problems seem to be conjugated, creating a huge barrier that blocked my heart and lungs.

I was gasping for air.

That was the first time I collapsed because of work burden and depression.
I will not let this happen again. I will be happy. Let's change our life to a better, passionate life.
People will call me coward for leaving the industry. I love Advertising. But I don't see myself happy doing it any more. I don't need to sacrifice my happiness for my bosses, for my clients, for my colleagues. I don't owe them anything, any more.

Across City Centre.

It was a night to be remembered. I decided to run at night, not my normal 5 -6km runs, but a complete 15km run across Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Running the final 10km alone at night was an epic journey for me. 

But although I was 'free', I felt pain clinging on my left foot. Determine to complete at least 15km of running, I dragged myself, running through the streets around KLCC, Bukit Bintang, Masjid India, Kampung Baru, and finally back to Jalan Ampang.

When I reached the 15.05km mark, rain started falling. "Aku lari bukan kerana 6-packs, aku lari untuk push my human spirit".

I run with #salomonrunning shoes - City Trail.

I used #nikerunning app to track my runs.

Berlari kita

Bagi aku kaki manusia ciptaan Allah sangat menakjubkan.

Mampu tahan impak demi impak - internal and external.

Orang kata susah nak mula lari - Masya Allah sakitnya bukan perit lagi.

Tapi Allah kurniakan satu lagi kebolehan - adaptation.

Selingan: Kalau dalam Advertising Agency, perkataan ni yang paling Client suka guna untuk hentam kreatif yang guna visual konsep yang sama untuk medium yang berlainan.

Slow and steady - kaki kita terima impak-impak dan lama kelamaan proses adaptation menjadikan kaki kita lebih kuat. Lari tidak akan jadi lebih senang, tapi kita yang jadi lebih kuat. Lebih kuat untuk berlari lebih lama dan lebih jauh. 2km, 5km, 8km, 10km, 15km, 21km, 41.2km, 50km, 80km, 100km.

So start now. Start tonight and unleashed the strength that Allah has bestowed upon us. Just run now.

One of the most inspiring TV series that showcase the stories of professional runners of Salomon.
Get inspired. Start running now. It will change your life.

Salomon Running TV Season 3

The industry is getting sicker and sicker. Dark inspirations and aspirations are upon us. Its hard to focus and mistakes are common now. I need to move on, my heart squall, or we shall never find peace.