Encouraging Polygamy To Produce Excellent Children?

My mum passed away in 2005. I was 51 at that time and my eldest brother was 54. For about 3 years dad remained single. He then married my step-mum in 2009. My step-mum passed away in 2015 and dad followed suit in October 2016. I am so very glad that my late parents had a good marriage all throughout their 55 years together. Even if I did not really share their lives much as I was adopted, I understood their determination, tenacity and resilience as husband and wife and as parents. They had their problems but mum and dad were steadfast in their endeavour to bring up their six boys as best as they could, so that they become good citizens and good members of society. My dad and my step-mum's six-year marriage too was good.
Touching on the subject of polygamy, I just could not ever imagine how I would feel if my dad took a second wife. Regardless of whatever rationale the action was based on. I would feel very betrayed and very angry. My impression of dad would have been severely tarnished. Probably it would have been very tough for me to remain neutral to both my parents. That being said, they must also be, I supposed, polygamous families which are happy and harmonious. Perhaps, I haven't had that much exposure in this subject.

As it turned out, unfortunately, it is two of my brothers, my eldest and the younger brother third in the family, who jumped into the polygamy pool. That, despite my parents strong objection to it. From what I have observed so far, it is quite hard for me to agree with promoting polygamy in order to produce excellent children. In fact it can be the very factor that disintegrate the family. Is it because my brothers are not wealthy? It can't be denied, the burden of managing two or more households would be heavy and stressful. But then even wealthy individuals struggle to maintain family harmony when a man have more than one wives. Let's not name the person, but, remember the well-known businessman who didn't even declare he had a second wife? When he passed away in Long Beach, California in May 2008, the second family was not even acknowledged in the will and had to go through court battles to validate their share of the family fortune. In my opinion, the religious bodies in this country, should have, in the least, voice out their disgust and consternation about  the tycoon who did not practise justice and did not properly dispense his duties as the leader of his family. That is if the religious bodies are really trying to uphold justice as prescribed in Islam. They can curse at ladies who wear revealing clothes or individuals who don't pray. Why didn't they intervene in that court battle? Is the syari'ah court powerful with the poor but powerless against multi-millionaires? After all, they can go after khalwat couples, couples being indecent on motorbikes, people not fasting, a lady consuming beer and they even snatch dead bodies. Are those sins very much more heavy than a man who does not dispense justice to his own family? Are we as Muslims, being too preoccupied with rituals and external appearances that we neglect the importance of a good heart, being responsible, being honest and being kind to ourselves, family members and humanity as a whole.

I think some Muslim men will still marry more than one wives, irrespective of whether some state government encourages them or not. If the state government wants to help men marry another wife, then just say so. Please do not give mindless reasons for that, because, honestly, they are very nauseating, especially coming from a lady. Does it mean that monogamous marriages cannot produce excellent children? Is it quantity over quality? Lets produce as many Muslim children as possible, never mind how they turn out. The other important thing is, what are the many implications after a man practises polygamy. What happens if he fails to support of of his families? What happens if he simply divorces one of the wives? He might just gets tired of her and just choose the easy way out. Has happened before definitely. Is the state government unaware  that a man can just sms the divorce quote? Encouraging polygamy is one thing but what about the problems that might arise later on. How can women be protected from abuse by unscrupulous men. Can the religious authorities be powerful  and make a condition that, for example, if a man is found to be neglecting his duties to one of his family, like not providing for food and shelter, that he can be caught and be imprisoned? Shouldn't a man who neglects his duties be punished?

The general election is looming in the near future. Previously I thought that I just will not go out to vote. What's the point? Such are the state of affairs in Malaysia that I just lose trust in all the political parties. We have a government led by a kleptocrat. We have opposition parties in disarray, forever squabbling among themselves. The economy is down the drain and the country is heavily burdened by debts. We have religious authorities which are arrogant but whose intellectual capacity is embarrassingly very superficial. No, I have changed my mind. When state organs and lawmakers decide on issues like pasted below, without giving proper consideration into the adverse effects, I think must vote. Next polling day, I am going to the polling centre ASAP and I already know which party I am going to vote,

The following 2 articles are taken from The Star. 
I do not comment on the second article as it makes me speechless. However, it strengthens my determination to vote in the next GE. This kind of politician, like in the second article, thinks that the rakyat is all so stupid and that whatever absurd opinion they voice out, they will always still be powerful. They also think that being a Malay and a Muslim will always guarantee them protection from being ousted from power. 


Friday, 3 February 2017 | MYT 11:22 AM
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/03/come-to-kelantan-if-you-want-to-take-on-more-wives-muslim-men-told/#mCwjw544I1C1QOhV.99
Come To Kelantan If You Want To Take On More Wives, Muslim Men Told
BY SYED AZHAR
KOTA BARU: Muslim men who are planning to take on more wives now have another place to go to when getting married.

Instead of going to several districts in southern Thailand, they can now head over to Kelantan where polygamy for the right reason is encouraged.

State Family Development, Welfare and the People's Wellbeing committee chairman Mumtaz Md Nawi said the state government would help men who wanted to get married, irrespective of whether they were bachelors, or were already married.

"This is to encourage the birth of more Muslim children," she added.

"The Kelantan Government will assist those who intend to have more children by taking second, third or fourth wives," said Mumtaz.

"We will give them comprehensive information and counselling to guarantee that the children from these marriages will turn out to be good Muslims.

"This move is also to discourage such husbands from going to a neighbouring country to marry as that would result in many problems including property divisions and the rights of the other wives," she said.

Mumtaz said this to reporters after attending the 17th Disabled Persons' Day that was launched by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob on Thursday.

Mumtaz said the state government wanted to encourage more women to give birth to excellent children.

"It is not for men to take advantage of the policy by taking more wives simply to appease their lust."

She said marriages that were based on lust, and not responsibility, were bound to end up in divorce.

"A responsible husband and father is very important for children to grow up physically and spiritually healthy," she said.

Six years ago, the Kelantan Government created a furore by attempting to give incentives to those who wanted to practise polygamy.

The then senior exco member Wan Ubaidah Omar was reported as saying that the main condition for the incentive, which would include monetary assistance, was for the husbands to inform all the women involved of his marital status and at the same time, make it known to society.

The Star>NationHome > News > Nation Tuesday, 4 April 2017 | MYT 7:41 PM
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/04/04/tasek-gelugor-mp-not-impossible-for-12-year-old-girls-to-be-married/#OaUZuaIKrd5VXwm0.99

MP: Okay for rapists to marry victims, even some 9-year-olds can marry

BY RAHMAH GHAZALI
  
KUALA LUMPUR: There is nothing wrong with a rape victim marrying the rapist, according to a Barisan Nasional lawmaker who even suggested that some nine-year-olds were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.  

Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya, in trying to refute Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Kota Raja), said that some 12- and 15-year-old girls looked older than their actual ages.  

 “When we discuss 12- and 15-year-olds, we don't see their physical bodies because some children aged 12 or 15, their bodies are like 18-year-old women," Shabudin told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

The former Syariah court judge added that some girls who reached puberty when they were as young as nine years old were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.  

“So it's not impossible for them to get married,” Shabudin said, adding that there was “nothing wrong” with a rape victim marrying the rapist as it could serve as a “remedy” to the increasing number of social problems.  

Shabudin said this when debating the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 after several Opposition lawmakers suggested amending it to include child marriages as an offence.  

He said that although rape is a criminal offence, the rapist and the victim should be “given a second chance to turn a new leaf in life".  

“Perhaps through marriage they can lead a healthier, better life. And the person who was raped does not necessarily have a bleak future. She will have a husband, at least, and this could serve as a remedy to growing social problems,” he said.  

Dr Siti Mariah, however, argued that allowing the rapist to marry the victim would not guarantee a better life.  

“I don’t agree with marrying off the victim to the rapist. If the rapist repents, maybe that’s fine, but what if the husband is ‘haprak’ (useless)?” she said.  

Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai) cited two cases of the victims marrying the attackers, and argued that the marriages ended up becoming more problematic, causing more hurt.  

She said that one of the cases involved a 35-year-old man in Negri Sembilan who married a 14-year-old with a disability after allegedly raping her. The man then reportedly raped his 11-year-old sister-in-law and forced his wife to film him committing the act.  

Citing his experience as a judge, Shabudin, however, said that Teo should not generalise the issue as there have been many cases where such marriages did not end in divorce.  

“The girl becomes safer when she is married rather than when she is left alone. Don’t assume they (rapists) remain bad people,” he said.

Teo's motion to amend the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill to include child marriages as an offence was ultimately defeated by a voice vote.

TAGS / KEYWORDS:
Sexual Offences against Children Bill 2017 , Tasek Gelugor MP , Datuk Shabudin Yahaya , child marriage , Dewan Rakyat , Parliament , 12 year old

Adik Comot

Hi everyone! My name is Adik Comot and I am about three. In full, my name is Adik Comot Comel Benjamin. Wan Nyah reassures me, time and time again, that it is never her intention to disrespect or to snub me with the name Comot. It is a typical Malay name for felines with colouring similar to mine. In fact, it is very much a term of endearment for a very much-loved pet. When Wan Nyah was a kid, cats had simple names like Itam, Putih, Belang, Tompok, Kontot, etc. Nowadays cats have names that are long and sometimes quite a mouthful to pronounce. The "Adik" in my name is because I am the youngest of her 3 cats, while Benjamin is our family name. Wan Nyah added the "Comel" because according to her I am quite photogenic in most of my photos. Well, bragging aside, I think I agree with her on that 😀😀 he he he.

      Me, presently. Who would believe that the skinny kitten (image under 

       the third paragraph) was actually me at about 4 months old 

When you are healthy, happy and secured, you will feel great and you will look great. I think that is the case with me, Tam and Mickey. We were originally strays. Just ordinary domestic mixed-breed cats, but we thrive under Wan Nyah's love and care. To Wan Nyah, love and affection, however, should be unconditional and should never depends on looks, physique, breed or how expensive one was acquired. Wan Nyah often tells us that we are forever her kids and she will always love us. In health, in sickness, in youth, in old age, even if we are not pedigreed felines, good-looking or not good-looking. Every week Wan Nyah goes to the pasar malam or to the grocery shop to buy fish for us. She buys quite a lot, like 5kg or 6kg, which constitutes our fresh fish ration for a week. She would choose the freshest of fish available. Strangers would often ask her, if she is berniaga or she is making laksa. When she tells them the fish are for her cats, people repeatedly ask "Are they Persian cats? Bengal cats? The must have been very expensive". Wan Nyah is very offended and pissed off with such remarks as "Kucing kampung je?". The idea that only pure-bred expensive animals deserve good nutrition and tender loving care. Wan Nyah loves her cats because she loves animals, she raises her cats, she bonds closely with her cats and her cats are a part of her family. Being part of her family means her pets deserve the love and care of a family member. Even if she has the money, Wan Nyah would be reluctant to buy her pets, because there are so many strays all around us that need rescuing. Unless of course, the aim is to free the animals from being paraded in glass display cases in pet shops. Nowadays when people ask her the same question about the fish, Wan Nyah would answer "I'm making laksa for my 3 kids".

Well, back to myself, I came into Wan Nyah's life somewhere in the middle of 2014. I was very thin and had a bad case of diarrhoea. While foraging for food, I got separated from my mum and was wandering near Wan Nyah's backyard. She took me in and nursed me back to health. After vaccinating and spaying me, Wan Nyah tried to find a home for me but was unsuccessful. She then decided to adopt me as she felt that I too was meant to be her cat, just like Mickey and Tam. So, Wan Nyah's vow of not having another another cat ever again, which she made after losing her beloved Ben, flew swiftly out the window. Losing a pet is of course very tough, but then that is part of the natural cycle of life. In order to help other animals, Wan Nyah has to accept that reality. She may not be able to help many many animals but at least she helps me, Tam and Mickey and just look at the contentment on our faces nowadays.



    When Wan Nyah first found me


     A very hungry kitten


   After a month, blossoming into a sweet girl
  


     Tam the Cheeky trying to intimidate me

I am quite an affectionate feline. I always love rubbing myself against Wan Nyah every now and then. I would lie down near her when she reads or when she writes on her laptop. Even if she is retired, Wan Nyah likes to get up early because she feels the quietness of early morning hours is very spiritual and suitable for introspection, contemplation and meditation. Around seven, for about 45 minutes, she would tidy up the house and the compound as a simple form of exercise. All 3 of us would follow Wan Nyah everywhere, as she sweeps the compound, waters the grass and the plants, does whatever little gardening in our tiny backyard and tidies up the upstairs 2 rooms. It is also playtime for me and Tam. We would be running, jumping and wrestling one another, just like kittens. Bro Mickey just watches as he is a bit lazy. I am also inquisitive and likes to explore the house and the surrounding. The upstairs rooms have some bookshelves and a lot of boxes which Tam and I consider our playground and our bedrooms during the rainy season. I am not scared to venture into all the nooks and crannies of the rooms. Sometimes I find some awesome spots to relax and to sleep, under the bed, on top of the bookshelves or in some boxes. Mickey claims some of those those spots are his. I pretend I am ignorant and I just go and enjoy that particular corner nonchalantly. Sometimes I clash with Mickey but Wan Nyah always come to my rescue and scolds Mickey for smacking me. Mickey is a bit grumpy at times but when he is in a good mood he would playfully chase me around the house. He never catches me though as I am faster on my paws. Sometimes, a little mania overtakes me, I would be sprinting all around our tiny house from top to bottom, for no apparent reason. These euphoria episodes, lasting about 5 to 10 minutes, usually takes place very early in the morning when Wan Nyah is still asleep.

Where food is concerned, I am similar to Mickey. We are not fussy and we eat whatever Wan Nyah prepares for us. Kibbles are always in the food bowl though I am not very partial to it. Twice a day Wan Nyah feeds us steamed fish to ensure that we have a balanced nutrition. Wan Nyah believes that it is not very healthy for cats to eat only kibbles. The carbohydrate content in kibbles tend to make us fat. So far, me and Tam, we maintain our figures but Mickey is quite chubby. I used to have a rather weak stomach before but the condition is very much improved now.



   Wan Nyah loves doing collage and this is one of our Hari
     Raya cards for 2017 or Hijrah 1438


 

     Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 1438/2017 from me, my siblings
       and Wan Nyah

So, this is my story so far. I have been with Wan Nyah, Mickey and Tam for about 3 years. I adore Wan Nyah and my siblings too. I pray that Wan Nyah will have lots more healthy independent years ahead of her. May she has more than enough money always for the expenditure of the four of us, her health care, her books, her little travels, her donations for other animal causes and her all other needs. May she has the means to foster more stray animals in future as animal welfare is always close to her heart. Wan Nyah considers 2017 as a good year for her and she is very very thankful for all the blessings in her life. The economic situation is indeed very worrying but Wan Nyah says we must not lose sight of the simple things in life that we often take for granted. Me and my siblings pray that many more amazing things and auspicious delightful events are in store for our very beloved human.

Today, Sunday, 18 June 2017 is the 23rd day of the fasting month of Hijrah 1438 and also Father's Day. Next Sunday, insya'allah, we will be celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri. So, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, maaf zahir batin, from me, my siblings and Wan Nyah, to all our online/Instagram/FB buddies consisting of various species, humans and otherwise as follows:

- Chewie, Achor, Tumi, Nunen, Kapas, Lala and gang of Putrajaya Colony, Kak Ain & Abg. Zam
- Casper in Sri Kembangan, Abg. Usup & Kak Farah
- Jibul the Otter, Christmas, Benny, Chot, all the other animals in Chandan, Kak Kin & Abg. Khairi
- Casper, Lela, Lily, Leggy, the 2 new puppies, all the other dogs, the fowls, the birds, the goats,         Along at the chicken farm in KS
- Ek, Adik, Tam the Cat and gang, Mak Andak & Uncle Amir
- Jack and his gang, Kak Ziela
- Chico and his gang in Ampang, Untie Lina

We absolutely adore all of you, Selamat Berbuka Puasa.



        Me at one of  Mickey's favourite spots

Me and My Family (Moi et ma famille)

Bonjour à tous! Je m'appelle Mickey. Mon nom complet est Prince Mickey Benjamin. La publication d'aujourd'hui porte sur moi et ma famille. Jái dix ans. J'habite á  BSS Port Klang avec mes seours et notre humain bien-aimé, Wan Nyah. Mes seours, elles appellent Tam et Adik Comot. Elles ont trois ans. 

Hi everyone! Today this post is all about me and my family. My name is Mickey. Well, my full name is Prince Mickey Benjamin. Benjamin is the surname for all cats belonging to Wan Nyah who is our human. It was the name of her late feline which she loved very very much. So me and my two adopted sisters have Benjamin as our family name. I have the Prince at the beginning because Wan Nyah said I have a bit of a temper at times and I have that "haughty" air about me. Also because of my orange colouring which makes me look a bit princely according to her. Sometimes Wan Nyah teasingly addresses me as "Your Highness" or "Your Majesty". I don't really mind. I believe there should be some hierarchy in a household with more than one cat. I definitely expect some degree of respect from my two younger siblings, as well as from all those rude and unruly cats passing about my territory around our home in BSS.

Relaxing and sleeping are my
two favourite pastimes
Relaxer et dormir sont mes deux passe-temps préférés

Me, presently, the portly gentleman. My latest images.
Moi, maintenant! Je ne suis pas gros, je suis simplement mignon!

I am about ten. I was dumped in front of Wan Nyah's home in late 2010.  About a month after feeding me but keeping me outside on the porch, Wan Nyah decided to adopt me. When she took me to the vet for the necessary vaccination, the vet told her that I was around three at that time.

I was a skinny cat when Wan Nyah first adopted me in late 2010.
Moi, a la fin de 2010.

A few months after being adopted, I looked much better.
J'étais beaucoup mieux, quelques mois après avoir 
été adopté

So, Wan Nyah became my human and I became Wan Nyah's pet in late 2010. I believe the Lord brought me to Wan Nyah in order for me to have a change of fate, to have a much more decent life with a generously loving owner, after being carelessly dumped by some inconsiderate human. On the other hand, I was meant to heal and lift Wan Nyah's spirit. She was very heart-broken after losing Benjamin in middle 2010 that she vowed never to have another cat. The pain and trauma of having to euthanize Benjamin was too much for her. However, I worked very hard at winning her heart, using all my charming, graceful and persuasive personality. Honestly, it was a matter of survival for me as I have to figure out where my next cat meal is coming from. Deep in my heart I just knew that Wan Nyah is a gentle, loving and caring soul where animals are concerned. Truth of the matter is, if she has the means, she would have adopted all the stray cats and dogs around the housing area where we live.

Wan Nyah is besotted with all her cats, especially me.
Wan Nyah aime beaucoup tous ses chats, surtout moi.

For the first four years of my life with Wan Nyah, I was an only cat. At the end of 2013, Wan Nyah underwent Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery on her right knee, because of her worsening osteoarthritis. I was left at the boarding facility for ten days. Very stressful period for me. Usually I would be boarded for 4 or 5 days only, when Wan Nyah travels with her friends or family.  Stressful for Wan Nyah too, as she knew I hate to be caged, but, it was really something unavoidable. Wan Nyah made a promise that if the surgery goes smoothly and she recovers quickly, she would adopt another stray cat to be my companion. It would have to be a female. Wan Nyah feels that female stray cats have very hard lives indeed. They are forever having kittens, litter after litter of them and they have to struggle to scrape a living providing for themselves as well as their kittens.

My first introduction to the tuxedo kitten.
Le chouchou irritant de smoking que Wan Nyah a 
ramené en janvier 2014.

So in the middle of January 2014 Tam Benjamin became my adopted sister. At that time Tam was about 4 months old, a black-and-white tuxedo kitten. Wan Nyah took pains to slowly introduce us and she tried her best to make the transition, to a household with more than one cat, as comfortable as possible for me. I was very curious about Tam at the very beginning, but, she turned out to be a pleasant adopted sister after all. Tam was a good kitten, playful, a bit cheeky but very respectful of me. Always laying down low, always backing away every time I reprimanded her. She just understood the hierarchy in our household, which means I am the boss. That was 4 years ago. This coming October Tam will be four.

These images were shot may be 3 or 4 years ago
before Wan Nyah's retirement. I have slimmed
down a tiny bit because Wan Nyah controls how
much kibbles I eat.

About 5 months after Tam was adopted, a tiny female calico kitten was found wandering alone at the back of our house. Her mum was nowhere to be seen. She was very skinny, tired and very hungry and Wan Nyah didn't have the heart to shoo her away. Wan Nyah decided to foster her until she was strong enough and can be spayed and a home would be found for her. That was how Adik Comot Benjamin became my second adopted sister. What happened was, despite repeated attempts of trying to find a home for her on FB, nobody responded. That despite the fact that Adik Comot was already vaccinated and spayed, ready for adoption. It is indeed not easy to find a home for rescued animals. After a few months Wan Nyah decided to adopt Adik Comot too because Wan Nyah loves her very much and she worries that maybe Comot's potential owner might not be kind to her. Wan Nyah is definitely not rich but she loves her pets very much and takes very good care of them, as best as she can afford. Adik Comot is named such because of her smudgy colouring and because she is the youngest among us three. She is actually about 4 months younger than Tam.

Me and my adopted sisters
Moi et mes seours adoptées

Where I am concerned, I find Adik Comot a little irritating at times. She is really budak tak reti basa. She likes to relax at certain spots in the house, which I have long ago designated as mine. She refuses to bulge even when I have voiced out my displeasure about her conduct. Sometimes I smack her a little, when Wan Nyah is not looking that is, just to teach her a lesson. Sometimes I bite her tail or her legs because she disturbs me when I am about to eat. Of course Wan Nyah reprimands me afterwards. Whatever.

Wan Nyah, our beloved human
Wan Nyah, notre humain bien-aimé. En passant, Wan
Nyah signifie Tante

So, this is the little story about me, my sisters and Wan Nyah. We live in a small house in this housing estate at the mouth of a river and very near the ocean. We live very modestly as Wan Nyah is only a civil service retiree. Wan Nyah is a spinster and therefore there are only the four of us in this house, 3 cats and 1 human. Whatever we lack in material things is being generously compensated with love, affection and tender loving care from Wan Nyah to us and vice versa. Well, that's all for this time. I will continue my story in some other posts as I worry this post will be too long-winded if I continue.

Of Hope and Looking Forward to Life

This poem by William Ernest Henley still touches my heart, despite its
miserable tones and its darkness

Today, Thursday 8 June 2017, is the thirteenth day of the fasting month of 2017 and Hijrah 1438. Thank you my Lord that I am still here. This morning, I can get up all by myself, I can walk to the bathroom all by myself and do whatever I need to do all by myself. Those things might seem very trivial, but I realised there are people who cannot do that by themselves. I try my best, everyday, not to forget these little things. I am glad my Lord, that there is a little hope in my heart and there is this little tiny cheerful tune in it too that looks forward to life. A little warm vibration in my soul tells me every life is precious and that each and every one should cherish his or her existence irrespective of how old he or she is, whatever challenges he or she faces. We live in a culture that worships youth and beauty and we make growing old so terrible and unattractive. Being young, slim and beautiful are pinnacles of modern living. I definitely have more wrinkles, more grey hairs and saggy skin now, but, this is a part of my being on this planet and I choose to experience it as graceful as possible. I must not lie that there were times in the past that I too have viewed old age as the end of experiencing joy of being alive. I still remember one of my former bosses who looked down on me because at that time I was in my early fifties and he was 10 years younger than me. Age is indeed just a number. It should be noted that maturity and wisdom do not characterise age. There are a lot of old people who don't seem to grow wiser from whichever perspective and there are a lot of young people who don't make full use of their youths to learn and grow and they are indeed older than old.

Me,through the ages..... 

To be very honest, I appreciate and value myself much better now than when I was much younger. For example, I have stopped beating myself up for making some bad decisions. To reflect upon it, at that point in time, there was just no other alternative or I just lacked the experience to tackle the matter differently or I was just too impulsive as I wanted to resolve the issue ASAP. Of course, when the consequence of that decision was terrible, you just couldn't help blaming yourself for it. But on the other hand, there were times I made wise choices too and I stood my ground when others tried to sway my decisions. Despite my tendency to worry too much about life, I did manage to stay focused and deal with some adversities. Despite all the stress, the depression and the stumbling blocks, tenacity is a virtue that I can easily identify with, thanks a million trillion, my Lord. Whatever character flaws I have, I can count on being tenacious as one of my strengths.

I have also come to terms with all the painful experiences with my adopted mother. I do not feel that much anger with her anymore. The past is past. It shouldn't hinder my presence and my future from any peace and happiness. I take full responsibility for my life and I have chosen to accept those experiences as part of the growth and learning processes. They were painful, no doubt about it, but they also shaped the person that I am today. Would I choose to live those experiences again, given the choice? No, definitely not, never. They were very tough life lessons but they were a part of me and I'm okay with that now. This particular realisation is indeed something huge for me and, my Lord, thank you for softening my heart a little bit. A few years back, I would not have believed that I ever could write this paragraph! 2017 is a good year for me. My learning curve is going up with this acceptance of my past. Something really major actually. There are still a lot things I need to learn about myself. My search continues my Lord.

Thank you too, for giving me the strength and tenacity to take a better care of my health. I have managed to lose about 10 kg in the space of about 4 months, between May and September 2016 and so far after that, I have been able to keep my weight around 58 kg, which is my ideal weight. It was no mean feat though and thank you my Lord for giving me the resolve and determination to stick to better eating habits and some simple exercise routines at home. My blood pressure is much much better and the dosage of the medication is reduced. It can't be denied that losing weight makes you feel better about yourself, in the sense that it does wonders to your self-esteem. However your weight should not increase or decrease your value as a human being. You still possess your own values, characters and personalities whether you're obese or you're anorexic. Obesity is closely linked to many health problems and thus losing weight has valid reasons rather than just for vanity.

This selfie was taken in about 2 weeks ago. I am about
3 months away from my 63rd birthday.

I am looking forward to the future. I work at trying to keep myself as healthy as possible. I hope I still have a lot of healthy, independent years ahead of me.There are always my beloved pets around to love and to care for, many many stray animals to help, still many many places to go, many many books to read, still a million trillion things to ponder about, a lot of questions still unanswered, time yet to be spent with my siblings and my precious nephews, nieces and friends and a lot of efforts still need to be expanded for my self improvements. I am just a humble pensioner, not rich, not clever and nothing much in terms of spectacular achievements. However, the fact that I can find a little joy in my heart, with what little I have and with the ordinariness of my daily existence, I am very very grateful to you my Lord.