Today, I finally got Fahrenheit's new album which was officially released worldwide on 4th January. Since I pre-ordered it, I also got the gifts that came with their second album. Yes, I am very happy today to get it. I had actually listened to some of the songs already as they were played over the radio and could be accessed from the www. I loved their songs as their voices appeal to me. What is important is their music and voices helps me to relax and I can listen to their songs over and over again.
As a matter of fact, I was talking with one of my good friends, Tuan Haji Ahmad Hasnin, on the subject of happiness. He cited one male teacher whom we both knew who went all out to earn money. He worked so much and was so obsessed with the idea of making money that he did not have time for things. Well, Tuan Haji commented that that fella would most probably regret one day for not living life to the fullest but instead concentrated on gaining material wealth. Besides, he could jeopardise his health by his actions. Besides, making money, that particular teacher does not do much exercise. What my friend was telling me to do was to practise moderation in life. Yes, we have to work hard but at the same time we need to stop to smell the roses. Take time to enjoy and to relax. In a way, my friend was trying to hint to me to not overwork. Last year, I sort of went overboard. When I took over the post of resource centre supervisor at the beginning of last year, I had to do a lot of "damage control" work. You see, my predecessors did not do too good a job as all of them had not much training as resource centre teachers and the records, stock and management of the whole place was in a mess. I had to re-do the stock and a lot of other paper work; so much so that I only slept about 2 - 3 hours a day. I was also at the computer for at least 5 -6 hours daily as I was also the media teacher. I started getting dark rings under my eyes.To top it all, I also headed the English Language Department. I went to work at 7.15 a.m. and only went home at around 5.00 p.m. as there was so much work to be done. I even brought work back home to do until the wee hours of the morning. Well, things got so bad that I almost blacked out while I was driving from Ipoh to Sitiawan during the weekend. I was seeing stars and had to stop the car by the roadside. Tuan Haji Hasnin was the one I called since he is the one I have known the longest in school (both of us graduated from universities in England in 1995 and reported for duty in our present school in July that year). He told me what to do and I am sure if I got any worse, he and his family members would go to my aid. Anyway, I managed to make it back to Sitiawan and when I went to the doctor's it was found that my blood pressure had shot up. That was when I started to hit the panic button and decided to take things easy. Of course, I got an earful from my friend and family members. The administration was kind enough to ask another teacher to take over the English Department to give me some breathing space.
Nowadays, I limit my Internet time and also make sure I go to bed by 2.00 a.m. at the latest. Also, I try to walk and jog during the weekends and also exercise. I learn to relax by watching K-dramas and Taiwanese dramas. I don't like the heavy stuff that features all the gang fights, killings, hauntings and bloodbaths. Listening to songs is also another pastime of mine. During the weekends, I spend time with my family members. We go out for meals and do other activities together. In short I am learning to stop and smell the roses.
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