Running the world.

As I sweat, I feel the cool breeze.
As my feets are losing control, I feel euphoric.

I can feel the pain, like stones crushing my shoulders.
Needles going through my bones.
Electricity flying into my heart.
Feel like stepping on shattered glasses.

But my mind is strong, pushing me to the limits.
Pushing me onto a world, where pains are just enemies.
Enemies that can be defeated, by determined minds.

As I run through these roads, these trails, I can feel it.
I am a King.

So, I'm joining the dark side of the force.

And hey, I'm loving it already.

At least this side gives me an opportunity to put my thinking cap on.

Now you can call me Darth Shuk-Ee-Sal.

"A dangerous path you have taken, young sith", "For I shall find you, and kill you.." whispered some of the Jedis out there.

Oh, here's a picture of the other Siths, my companions now:

May the Dark Side guide me always.

Running Spirit.

I can't run fast and long lately, sebab my knee macam sakit.
I can feel my knee screaming, beg me to stop running and go home to my bed sleep or something.

I just realised I'm addicted to this. This whole running spirit. I enjoyed the runner's high.
I realised running is my way to escape. A sense of escapism in life. So I changed my mind-set.
I don't run because I want to be free, to fly with the birds etcetera, etcetera,

But to live. To feel human.

So I left. I left the agency. I left the industry.

Off to another journey. May Allah bless this new adventure.

Bismillahirahmanirrahim.

I wrote a poem for the wonderful people at Lowe and Partners Advertising Agency. Below was what I scribbled in an email to everyone in the office:

"Hi,

I love writing in BM, so here’s a farewell poem for all of you wonderful people:

Lima candra bukannya lama,

Cukup tinggalkan kesan di hati,

Andai takdir untuk kita bersama,

Janji bertemu walau di pentas mimpi.

Eddy and Wan: I know, its lame. But it’s from my heart.

And I think that’s the most important thing to do in our life. To say it from our hearts.

With love,

Shukri Saleh / Little Shuk / Small Shuk / Shukri without the room"

Scrolling down my Facebook wall, my non-Muslim friends have conveyed their uneasiness on some of the things that we are not allowed to do as a Muslim. I understand that the Malay society has actually adopted the culture of 'hentam-menghentam' and 'menghukum' but now I notice something is terribly wrong:

Muslims are now being condemned and labelled because of the things that we should not do. We are being laughed because we defend our set of conducts, our way of life, our deen.

May Allah protect us all.

A new year, a new journey.

2014 meninggalkan kita.

It was a great year greatly accompanied by many devastating events for us Malaysians.

For me? It was as epic as it can get. Sent my first resignation letter for my first job in NagaDDB only to send another after 4 months of working at Lowe and Partner.

It the midst of finding light to my life - I decided to leave the advertising industry, forever if not only for a while. It was a great experience twas an exhausting one. 

2014 was the year I started to run seriously. Started to improve my speed and distance - preparing for the upcoming races. It was the year I started to take a good look at how I consume foods for a healthier life. It was a year of great outdoor adventures - hiking, trail running, rafting, jungle trekking.

Faced life with my love. We dah together for almost 3 years. And my love towards her has never been stronger.

Its the year my sister got pregnant. My first anak buah is now 2 months old! Alhamdulillah.

2015?

New career as a Marketer. Start saving more. Travel more. Learn more. Run more. Love more.

Bismillah.

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.