Saturday 26 July 2008

My half full glass...

Sometimes when I look at my glass I think that it is half empty. It is only human, I guess. I read about jetsetting people and their lifestyle, their entourage of helpers and aides and thought hard (with self pity fast setting in) and then I look into my mug of Aik Chong teh tarik, yes, my mug is indeed half empty.

But as the teh tarik settled, and with its sweetness still lingering at the back of my throat, I thought – no, I DO have my fair share of life’s blessings.

I’ve read about celebrities and their personal trainers, those hunks with rippling muscles who make sure that the celebs are in good shape and I realise, hey, I too have a personal trainer.

“Mama, I’ve prepared the treadmill (read: cleared the coats and jackets hanging on it) and you should start at 3 and slowly move up to five for about half an hour. I have also downloaded some songs on the I-Pod (read: Alleycats with some of their fast numbers) so that you can enjoy while you are exercising.”

There you go – a personal trainer sans rippling muscles. The same one who makes sure that I don’t slide into a Cleopatra reclining position after a meal, especially dinner.

People have personal financial advisors. I have a few around me who have an interest in my financial affairs. They take a keen personal interest in the state of my bank account almost on a daily basis and especially so at the end of the month.

Mama, says one poking her head into the room, do you have any money?

Mama, says another looking deep into my bag, do you have any change?

And I shouldn’t really be complaining because I have always had a resident dietitian/nutritionist and a physician all rolled into one.

Eat the vegetables, he says. He’s the same one who reminds me ten times a day to take my vitamins and garlic pills for all kinds of ailments, and carefully wraps them in foils for me to take on long journeys away from home. No Maggie mee, nor tuna chunks or farmed salmon. And no anything with colourings and suspicious looking E numbers. He scrutinises all food labels at supermarkets before putting them in the trolley.

My in-house fashion gurus need only to raise one perfectly plucked eyebrow or a tsk-tsk and a click of the tongue to send me scurrying off to change from my usually drab black/brown attire to something less black/brown.

And that is not all – I have my very own GPS trackers: Mama, where are you? Where exactly are you? If you are anywhere near Boots, can I have shampoo, contact lens cleanser, etc, etc…

So, you see, I am truly blessed!

But what about you? Is your glass half full or half empty?

69 comments:

D said...

hi kak teh!

Away I've been, but I do hurry through your blog entries!

Hey!!! Grown up kids do those to their mummy too eh? Aiya... and i was thinking, when are these kids of mine going to grow up?

At the mo, I so feel that my glass is half empty. I know, I know, psych the head. Sometimes, I get soo sick of tired of fighting! But, when we give up, we lose faith, no? Keep well Kak Teh!

Kak Teh said...

D, I have been so busy, but then I hear you say, when are you not, kak teh! Well, miss our chats but am sure you are enjoying comoanies back home. And your sis must be happy to have you around.
Ya, grown up kids with grown up problems!!

D, i do have my half empty glass days- we need to top it up, often. Keep on fighting D! You have it in you! See you back here soon.

Honeytar said...

Hello Kak Teh... been ages since I last drop a line here!

I can continue writing abt the glass here but I'm afraid it's gonna be an entry on its own. ;-)

Anyway... I love brown! Light brown, dark brown & if one day I get to paint my bungalow (*cough cough*), it will be brown, dark brown, light brown, terracotta brown and everything brown. Pakai baju brown & take pictures of my brown collection.

You are blessed indeed. We are all blessed in our own way... :)

Honeytar said...

ps: & I LURRRRVEEEEE the new colour of this blog !!! ;-)

Kak Teh said...

honeytar, yes, its been ages since i last saw you! Brown is so autumn and so defines the time of my life! hehe!
thanks for dropping by....bila lagilah boleh jumpa?

Anonymous said...

HELLOOOOO ZAZKY!
how are you doin? i truly enjoy reading the syair dolu2,,, my goodness.. so poetic and lomantic! :P

Hope you are doing good.
I am semi settled now with Chris in Melbourne... Though he is actually in Austria now for 5 weeks. You take care now..

lotsa love,
mMi

ZABS said...

Salam Kak Teh,

Bertuah mempunyai ramai pembantu peribadi yang betul2 menyangi dan mengambil berat. Bukan kerana dibayar untuk berbuat demikian, tetapi ikhlas untuk kebaikan, kelesaan dan kesihatan orang yang disayang. Alhamdulillah.

Pi Bani said...

I tak pakai glass lah Kak Teh, I pakai mug... :)

I don't have financial advisors or GPS tracking system like the ones you have, but my "clients" are enough to remind me how blessed I am.

Kak Teh said...

enomizzzz!!! I still cant get over that my emi is a married woman now! Thanks for the visit and take care - have not seen you at rantauan. Salam to Chris.

Yes, syair is so beautiful and am so obsessed with it. I'll grab any chance to talk about it.

Keep well and tell me what you do in Melbourne.

Kak Teh said...

zabs, Alhamdulillah, begitulah hendaknya. Dulu-dulu kita yang jaga makan pakai dia orang kan? Sekarang nak lintas jalan pun dipimpin. Rasa sungguh dewasa sekali! :)

Pi Bani - yes, we are all blessed in our own little way. Just that sometimes we tend to look at other people's greener pastures, fuller cups/glass/mugs and do not appreciate what we have, kan?

Anonymous said...

Oh my days seem to be more than THREE QUARTERS full at least! ;)

Couldn't ask for more, though I very much want too (our own house, better job, more income, yadda, yadda...). What we have is very good indeed, and I think our good fortune, Kak Teh, is in recognizing this. :)

Kak Teh said...

kenny dear, three quarters full is very good indeed and you are right about recognising what we have. So often we are like the dog with the bone, looking at his own reflection in the river.

Pak Tuo said...

hehehe....couldn't imagine at this age you on a leotard dear.

Kak Teh said...

pak tuo - dont stretch your imagination it might do irreparable damage! hehe! and whoch part of the entry suggests that i am in leotards? Its your over active imagination pak tuo dear.

Anonymous said...

Salam Kak Teh,

You are truly blessed! Sometimes, it's easy to think our glasses as half empty when we think other people have full glasses :-)The truth is, we don't know what they are drinking - could be a full glasses of bitter medicine. . .

Farizah aka anakmelaka

Kak Teh said...

farizah aka anak melaka, thanks for the visit and thanks for giving another dimension to this half empty half full glass. I;d rather have a half empty glass of syruppy thing rather than a half full glass of poison!!

Sunfloraa said...

Salam Kakteh

I think you're lucky that your "entourage" are doing it out of love rather than because they are on your payroll. That way they won't be putting poison in your half full glass ;)

I guess I just have to constantly remind myself that I am lucky that my glass is only have empty/half full. Some people really have empty glasses.

Of course I often hoped that life could be better, but I think we are lucky that we are surrounded by people who genuinely love us :)

Sorry I missed you this trip. Insyallah next time ada rezeki jumpa lagi. I had my own cobwebs to clear. I do apologize.

Kak Teh said...

sunflora - yes, I have my entourage! Never thought of it that way. And true - half empty, half full, much better than really bone dry empty!

Ms B said...

kak teh dear,

I dont need an entourage. I just want someone who fits the bill and thankfully, the lil one does. *smiles* How much does it cost me? priceless...

Seeing her smile, hearing her voice, her hugs and kisses, makes it all worth it.

We are blessed for having each other. The rest are just bonus (she keeps pushing her mummy to work harder).

ps: I've changed my name. B for Birkin i.e. Hermes Birkin. for me to strive harder.

NorAiniJ said...

Ma’am – I quote your comment left on my “The Missing Piece” entry which says “…there will always be a missing piece in life - no matter how small. and we keep on looking for that piece and forgets to enjoy all the other pieces that we have…” I try hard to live by that mantra ma’am.

I like what FarizahB said, yes very true, we don’t quite know the taste/content of the obviously full glass these lucky celebs, vvips, etc. For all we know it could mostly make up of poisons… scarry…

Anonymous said...

Komen Pak Malim, kucing ray yang alim.

Kak Teh, boleh tak saya minta susu segelas, kata Pak Malim sambil makan ketupat palas. Tak kira lah gelas penuh ke separuh, kata Pak Malim sambil memegang paruh. Eh, kucing ada paruh ke?

Kadang2, saya fikir gelas saya pun separuh, kata kucing ray sambil memegang paruh. Orang lain hidup macam best saja, kata kucing ray sambil duduk atas meja. Amat sukar untuk bersyukur di atas pemberian yg ada terutama ada masa-masanya kita rasa begitu murung, kata Pak Malim sambil memakai baju kurung.
Tapi,bila saya melawat hospital dan melihat ramai org sakit dan sedang bertarung nyawa, saya insaf bahawa nikmat pemberian yang sering diabaikan (taken for granted), ialah nikmat kesihatan, kata Pak Malim sambil memeluk orang utan.

Kak Teh said...

Ms B (I'll have to get used to this new name) you have everything rolled into one sweet young miss! You are blessed and anyone can see that radiating in your face!

NJ, ah, yes! I remember the missing piece and it is not unlike the half empty/half full glass, eh?

Pak Malim,
Kadang-kadang teh minum setengah, kata kucing kak teh termengah-mengah,
:enih baik setengah daripada tak ada langsung, kata si tabby sambil kena usung!

Anak Mami said...

heh, klaka la Kak Teh ni...

yeap, I'm rich and famous.. in my mind!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Just count your blessings Kak Teh - your glass alhamdullillah is half full - wait when your siblings have gone - it may always be empty - working with the elderly over here in Uk their glassess seem empty all the time - all the money in the world could not bring the joy and happiness of human companionship -evey soul and being in this world may it be Donald Trump ot Posh Spice or Bill Gates all have problems- happiness is relative - enjoy life and just be syukur - as for the celebrities - dont compare with them compare with the have nots and you will feel glorified and blessed by God Almighty

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh
Just got back from Istanbul, and the first thing Azura commented was "Abe, you have funny smell and bulging belly". That's a comeuppance reality check which shows the immediate damages highlife (too much sheesha, and the Ottoman cuisine; Turkish bread dipped in kuru fasulye - kind of luxurious baked beans), milk pudding, manti, dolma, baklava and the ubiquitous kebab) can do.

Watched the DVD that I took on the Bosphorous cruise. True enough, the windswept batik shirt reveals my not too flattering you-know-what. If only the SONY high definition gadget can produce sight, sound and SMELL.
aMiR

Berisman said...

Dear kak teh,
I smile reading your posting.It reminds me of my youngest son when he was 8 years old.He wanted something which I didnot want him to have it.I told him that I don't have the money.He said: That is not a problem,just go to ATM machine and get it.He must have thought that if someone needs some money,all he needs to do is just go to ATM and draw some.OMG-that is how the mind of a child works.I hope that is true and parents like me can buy anything what we want.

Nazrah Leopolis said...

my glass pulak, lately, asyik terlepas and tumpah.hiccups are part of growing up la kan?

On exercise,my morning power walks always end up at the kopitiam involving one kopi o peng,free flow of kaya toasts and long distance phonecalls.


takde chance la nak slim and svelte.

Kak Teh said...

anak mami. LOL, we are all rich and famous in our minds!! Take care.

ANon, yes, syukur alhamdulillah but I dont know what you mean about working with elderly in the UK and also when siblings go away - anyway - thanks for kind advise. I dont live with siblings and I dont work with old people.

Kak Teh said...

aMiR, our children are our best critics and advisors, kan? And they can be so cruel too, well, cruel to be kind.
I have always wanted to go to Istanbul...one day!

berisman aka Pak Adib, your story reminds me of us when we were small. When our parents claimed they didnt have money, we said, there was always the buku 555! That was the ATM in those days. The magic book!

Kak Teh said...

nazrah, yang tumpah tu biarkan saja. Not meant to be and tak ada rezki - ataupun untuk buang apa yang tak baik. Then you refill the glass.

Hey, enjoy singapore while you can and then at least you can look at the pix and smile while you are out there in the deserts!

MA said...

As for me, glass full ka, separuh ka, isi air ka, isi pasir ka - I am just thankful that the glass is mine!


I always keep a check and balance to keep me in place. Jangan sampai jadi manusia yang tak bersyukur. I looked at those less fortunate than me to give thanks to what I have. I look up to those with lots of extra to know that the sky is my limit.


One man's meat is another man's poison.


I never wanted anyone else's glass. I am just happy with mine. Half full ka, half empty. Tak kisah.


:-)

melayudilondon said...

alamak kak! I can so terbayang your children saying the above tau. heheheheh.

Mama Rock said...

kak teh, kalau ikut kan always waht to think it as half empty...but the sceanrios which you re-told in your entry macam dejavu :) so i believe it's half full now :)

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh
Abe is Abang lah, not Abah. Both of you must go to Istanbul, perhaps to celebrate your wedding anniversary. When my children get married, I will advise them to have their honeymoon there.

P/S Do not do the Malaysian thingy and bring cups of maggi mee to istanbul. Trust me, they will be left unopened and untouched. LOL
aMiR

Anonymous said...

me?

oh darn! i'm looking at my half full glass of coffee (with self pity fast setting in)... ;D

anedra said...

half full, half empty, they say depends on whether u'r an accountant or an engineer. As for me ..I'd say "AT LEAST THERE'S SOMETHING IN IT!!!". We are indeed blessed in our own special ways! And my cousins!!! They're so sweet! Dah rindu, hantarq la sorang dua balik!

Kak Teh said...

MA, ya - you are right - at least the cup is ours. another way of looking at it. but MA, having written all that, albeit with tongue firmly in cheek, I know I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

Melayu in London, yes my entourage can be very strict. wait till yours grow up - they will want to control your life.

mama rock, I bet you can relate to most of them. Ohh, when we meet up next at Little Penang, we will both mull over our half full glass , promise?

Kak Teh said...

aMiR - ooooops, re Abe!

as for istanbul, that has been on the must do list for so many years!! No, no maggie indeed.

mekyam, oh no, not you too! quick have an instant refill!

anedra, one is heading your way. am already feeling the tight knot in the stomach!

Nazrah Leopolis said...

ok ok i stand corrected! anak pak zain has just given me a new glass. and it's very nice! tra la la!

Cherry said...

mine is overflooded ... banjir , but my glass is a small size one.

Kak Teh said...

nazrah, Alhamdulillah! Nasib baik ada anak pak anuar! What about anak pak tarudin? tak ada dengar khabar? kalau ada yang itu mungkin melimpahlah gelasmu, Insyaallah! Congratulations.

cherry - aaaah, but that's a good sign too!

Kaktiny said...

salam kakteh..

saya kengkadang rasa penuh.. kengkadang rasa kurang.. tapi sykurlah sbb ada juga dari takder langsung.. (jgn terlepas dan terpecah dah gelas tu.. habuk pun tarak..)

dan kekadang jeles gak tgk org punya yang penuh dan caawan yang cantik..

tapi sekali lagi.. saya bersyukur, saya pun ada gelas.. and it is TOTALLY MINE.. kan Kak Teh kan..

Anonymous said...

Kak teh *hugs*
Bila mau bertandang ke tanah melayu ini lagi?
My glass is almost always empty since it is so hot here.
Macam mana pulak tu no?

Kak Teh said...

kaktiny, biasanyalah tu - kekadang penuh, kekadang kurang! kalau tak, kita tak akan appreciate masa2 penuh tu, kan?

mar, dua tiga hari ni di London ada heatwave, panas betul. Macam kat Malaysia pulak. Insyaallah, ada rezmi memang nak balik, tapi mahal sangat tambang sekarang ni. Lagi pun nak tinggalkan kucing susah. hehe! I bet your little girl has grown to be a young lady!

Lydia Teh said...

Kak Teh, you've changed the font to white! That's so soothing to the eyes, thank you. This is a nice piece. It's a matter of perspective - there'll always be someone better off than us, and those worse off.

Mior Azhar said...

Salam Kak Teh,
What a delightful entry!!! My daughters would almost always ask "Bapak dah dapat gaji? every time.

hehehe

wonda said...

What a blessing! Lots of white chocolates for me to "eat" on your post. Thanks. It's easier to read them now.
I wonder why I am always the one to remind my family members. Perhaps that's the cause of my absent-mindedness. Remembering things for others that I can't remember things for myself! My jug needs refilling! Been busy lately too.

wanshana said...

It's pretty subjective - this half-full, half-empty glass, eh?

I guess one's glass will always be full when he bersyukur with whatever he has, and of course happy with his achievements and yet tries his best to achieve another.

Even if he cannot achieve it, he is still happy because he has given his best. And for that - his glass will always be full, and he would have a bonus top-up to his glass when he's surrounded with love.

And I'd like to think my glass is full and overflow with the bonus for now. Syukur alhamdulillah :)

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh!!!

After I read your post, I must say my cup runneth over. Otherwise, I would have thought it is half empty too.

You know, I have been staring at AG's book in Popular Bookshop, took it, hold it, think about it, wanted to buy it, but put back because I always have that half empty cup fears. Must finally get it the next round I browse in the bookshop.

Kak Teh said...

Lydia, it is so easy to see other people's over spilling glass and not appreciate whatever there is in ours. That's just human nature - but we do have to constantly remind ourselves to be thankful.

meor, hahaha! that sounds like us when we were small. Pak's pay day was always a big celebration - it meant a trishaw ride to the cinema and the night out wont be complete without eating the moi soup by the longkang!!! hahaha , i cant ever imagine us eating there now!

Kak Teh said...

wonda, all our jugs need refilling from time to time. You are doing well - I have seen certain encouranging fillings in your glass since I first 'met' you! You are a real survivor!

wanshana, I think we need to have both, if not we will never appreciate the good times, the blessings etc., kan?

lilian, aaah yours is definitely brimming over! Just see that cute smile of your little one and that's enough to be thankful for.
and yes, go and get GUiT!!

Anonymous said...

Full. I have been very lucky. I think it's great that your children are very health-conscious. We still get funny looks from people our age (who should know better!) who come to our house and discover our sugarless drinks and low-salt cooking. Food tastes soo much better when it's natural flavour is allowed to shine through without being slathered with too much salt, artificial flavourings and that horror of horrors, MSG!

Kak Teh said...

kenakelayan, salam - what a wonderful surprise to see you here!! I suddenly thought of our chanced meeting at KLCC earlier this year!

Yes, i think people are getting to be more health conscious now. My husband has nt taken sugar in his tea for years, the children are into less fried food now - and msg??? hmmmm banish the thought. It is not even allowed past the front door together with The Sun, The News of the World...hahaha! same category of banned goods.
Take care.

jaflam said...

Slam Kak Teh,
You are blessed with beautiful family that cares and doubly blessed for being contented with everything that God has given you.

If we live within our means and cares for others, I guessed the blessing from God will be plentiful.

Jo Kontan said...

Salam Kak Teh.

Harapnya Kak Teh sehat sokmo.

Niii kira melencong sket.

My h/p is 1/10th filled with Alleycats. Bila sampai bilik hari tuu, baru teringat, terlupa nak tanya.

Kak Teh nak sket tak ?. Next time, kalau ada rejeki, while doing Little Penang with MRrrock, boleh muatnaik pakai Gigibiru.

Sehat Sokmo Ya.

IBU said...

Salam Kak Teh

A lot of times I tend to sigh when I've got not much choice to choose from when buying shirts or sneakers for my boys. Ohhh... bestnyer kalau ada 'girl', boleh beli all those pink and colorful frocks and shoes. But it's also been whispered into my ears (especially by chinese friends) how very "ONG" I am to be blessed with boys.

Sometimes I jovially criticised Ayah for being ohhhh-so-not romantic - y'know, no candle lit dinners (except kalau blackout !!), no surprise bouquet of roses, no solitaire diamond ring for our umpteenth wedding anniversary (err... the date clashes with road tax & car insurance renewal, so competing demand la... hahahaha!!!). But I have a friend whose ever so romantic partner yg pijak semut pun tak mati left her for someone half his age.

Thinking about those two above are good enough reminders for me that it's okay even if my glass is half empty, at least I still have another half remaining which is safe, healthy & halal for consumption :)

demonsinme said...

ASSALAMUAALIAKUM MADAM KT:

I wish I could tell you how my glass is, but, for as long as I remember, I don't have any glass to be filled.

Even if there is, the water always seems to be spill and spoilt by my own stupidity.

___________ooOoo___________

I HATE TO LOVE YOU

-o0o-

Time fails not to spawn great romance,
tales of greatness that the heart enhance,
just like how the swans in dance,
maketh a mad man die in trance.

But be wary O those who glance,
at the beauty of those that bring you trance,
tales of love have hidden lances,
that will pierce your heart giving you no chances.

No matter how great is the love we have glance,
be known you of the truth behind the swan's dance,
the purity that love enhance,
hids the ugliness of lust flounce.

Making hurt weigh more that a thousand once.

___________ooOoo___________
oo(O)oo

J.T. said...

Hi Kak Teh

I am taking a break from my break to visit you (and some others). This was such a delightful post. I was thoroughly entertained. Wish I could write as flawlessly as you do. :) *Better stop looking at my half-full glass.*

Got to get out of my chair soon to sweep the garden. I may not have a gardener to do it for me but at least I have a chance to notice new weeds, blooms and strange tiny poop (I live out in the country side so it is anyone's guess what creature left it there). :D

Alang said...

Assalamualaikum Kak Teh

I always look at my glass as half empty and by doing that I’ve ended up changing jobs.. hahhaha

After started working with a new company, I look at my glass as half full and felt better than before.

After looking at the obstacles as challenges, half full instead of half empty, life is more beautiful than ever.

But, I do have half empty glass moments. Half empty still be part of life..

High Power Rocketry said...

I love the template : )

Chahya said...

Hi kak teh!
Half empty glass tu is like "aik???dah nak habiss?" or "eh?? bila masa habis separuh ni?..."

Half full glass is like "Hmmm...ada half space lagi boleh isi...*raised eyebrow*" hehehe...

So pilih lah...hehehe

Anonymous said...

When I see a glass half empty/full, I wonder where the waiter is :)

Kak Teh said...

jaflam, thank you for kind words. I know your glass is more than half full and you are blessed. Alhamdulillah.

Jokontan, did you say Alleycats??? I will get Gigibiru, Gigi kuning or in whatever colour for our must meeting at Little Penang for this important mission.

ibu, you know what? I used to have those moments too - but let us remind ourselves once in a while about the content of our glass.

Kak Teh said...

demonsinme, awww, dont be too hard on yourself. If you spill a bit, why not just pour it all out on yourself nd feel refreshed. Then enjoy filling it up again.

hey JT thanks for making time to visit me. Am sure yoru garden is looking delightful now. Mine? well - we just had someone to clear the rubbish. I have yet to venture out and plonk a plant in.

zuraini, dont worry, we all have our half empty glass moments. Its a reminder of what we dont have during the times that we have. Betul tak?

Kak Teh said...

r2k, thanks - long time no visit, eh?

chahya, hahaha - yes, that's the spirit!

diz the former waitress, you had me rolling on the floor. How very true...but then, just when you want a refill, none of the waiters would look your way. In those days, at the place where ypu used to wait on tables, waiters/waitresses couldnt wait for the glass or the plates to be empty. You look away and the glass/plate would be gone!! They dont make waiters/tress the way they used to. So, come back - all is forgiven.

Salt N Turmeric said...

Kak Teh, I dont wanna sound goody-goody but i am thankful for my life. yes i drool when i look at those gucci bags and choo's shoes but they dont make me miserable. michael would let me buy them if they make ME happy eventho we cannot afford them but that only brings me back to my senses. lol.

in the case of either the glass is half-full or half-empty, if it was full and i drank half then its half empty lor! lol.

Kak Teh said...

salt & tumeric, that is so sensible. of course we drool at a lot of things that we cant afford and as for me, kalau menangis air mata darahpun tak akan dapat if the object of my desire tu tak bermanfaat - kalau nak pakai sekali dua. I admit i do have choo's but those were gifts from the master craftsman himself. Kalau nak beli - tak terdaya dan tak apa kalau tak ada pun.
Let's say we can replenish our glass if and when we want to, kan?

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh
The TV3 Buletin Utama coverage is annoyingly half empty.
aMiR

Kak Teh said...

aMiR, i have been flitting back and forth reading abt developments re: Permatang Pauh - gosh, u'd think the results are out. and the campaign is even fiecer today.