Dear Sis,
I have days ago browsed through online news portals for a multi-national corporation and came across your name and position in one
of the articles. I am a little surprised yet happy for you that you are actually holding the position of Head Of Marketing for Malaysia, for I initially thought that you were the Marketing Director for KL’s operations only. Congratulations wow!
But as much as we are happy for your achievement (I have shared the news with Bulat and all) we are also worried of the immense pressures that come along for being the country’s Head of Marketing in a big multinational corporation.
And with looming deadlines and sales targets and other assignments I believe the responsibilities won’t be easy for you, which we could detect during your trips home recently. Ah Chai and Bulat (and even Jimmy) said they could see and feel the strain you have been under and it was being reflected on your face (which prompted me to write this letter). Even though I was not able to detect any I chose to trust their instincts instead.
Just feel like writing to tell you that as much as we are happy for you, we are also equally concerned of the weight of responsibilities that you have to shoulder , and the effect it would have on your general well being, if any.
As much as you can, please try to find time to seek a little relaxation for yourself. Put away the iphone or laptop for a while and immerse yourself for some quiet moments with your loved ones, reading or even exercising or cooking . Try to pause for few minutes in between your work , and take some deep breaths in between. It will help soothe your nerves a little. I tried this method before.
Please do not worry about us. We know how to take care of ourselves, and babu and papa especially. The least we can do these days is to try to make their lives as happy and comfortable in their twilight years , even though we can’t spend as much time as we can with them.
As for me, I am only drawing a decent salary, which is the very basic pay for an accountant, and without much perks. I learn to not compare with my peers for if I do, it will make me feel a little down. But this job is at the moment stress-free and I can devout some time to focus on improving my health (I am easily tired and with back pains these days), and other spiritual stuff to help me get back on the track of living a peaceful life, which I am striving to attain these days. Work is just a tool for me to earn money to pay the bills. I am contemplating on leaving the job once I have enough savings to get a small break before finding a job which will offer a better pay.
You may say I am not ambitious but each of us have different goals in life, and each live according to her/his own ideal and purpose.
I hope with the loan that I have taken up recently, I will start saving money for retirement and right now my monthly income is only sufficient to cover the housing and personal loans, and once the housing loan is fully settled, which I hope in this two/three years time, I may consider getting a car. But right now the car has been and is still faithfully serving its purpose without major issues so its not a problem for me. Please do not buy so many expensive clothes for me I do not need them. I appreciate the thoughts but really I am already happy to get recycled clothes/bags from you. Instead save the money for Tze Ern’s education or your own retirement fund. It will not be cheap to see her go through college or universities.
Being a practicing Buddhist, I have little need and want these days and learn to be contented with what I have.
I may sound grumpy and have been rambling but this is my genuine concern for you, and that of the family too, we do care and pray for you and hope that you take care of yourself, and that at this stage you may try to initiate within yourself to seek and add a little spiritual meaning to your life while getting your ambitions and aspirations fulfilled amidst the cruel rat race environment in the competitive metropolitan city we called KL.
With love,
Apak.
With love,
Apak.
