While I was in the function room, the speaker, a Sarawakian of Bidayuh descent, suggested that we drew the curtain which revealed the sea view outside . He commented that it was such a waste that a breathtaking scenery such as this were blocked from view for the participants inside the room.
While adjourning for lunch time, a friendly lady greeted me and initiated a conversation from investment and banking to food. I would have never been able to engage someone in a lively chat like that. At one point, on being asked a question, I struggled to remember the term `distributors’ but failed, hence embarrassingly covering up my abrupt memory loss with `retailers’, albeit in the business world these words were two different definitions from each other.
Sigh.
It was drizzling in the afternoon after lunch and as I turned my sight towards the view outside revealed by the drawn curtain, I saw a man riding a water scooter, cruising in the turbulent water of the sea.
Sometimes, people needs that kind of adventurous pursuit to really find fulfillment in life, or perhaps a sense of liberation, in an attempt to seek revival of the mind body and soul I guess. I was wondering whether he would somehow find serenity in the rough waves of the ocean.
But as I looked out, the sea view and the drizzles did invoke a sense of calm in me, a welcome reprieve from having to focus on the content of the course being delivered by the speaker.
The following day during lunch break I took a seat at a table where a former colleague was seated. I had not met this person for more than 14 years since I left the firm which I worked as a junior whereas he, in a senior position in another department. He is now attached to a prominent group of company which I reckon must be in senior managerial position. I then looked at him and smiled and he reciprocated while commenting that I had a bigger bowl of soup as appetizer (I had earlier requested for vege meal) but never really acknowledged the fact that he knew me. I on the other hand was shy and a little awkward to introduce myself in the presence of other diners. Perhaps, just like me, his memory was also failing him?
But once in a while it’s fine to wrap myself in a cloak of non-identity, like this.
Upon the conclusion of the seminar, while waiting for my sister to pick me up at the main entrance, I greeted the speaker who was coming toward my direction and he told me that he was catching an evening flight to go back to KL later to Penang to conduct another seminar. I casually mentioned to him that he seemed like a busy person to which he replied not really as he is now retired from permanent employment he actually has more time to pursue things that he would otherwise unable to engage during his full time employment.
I concurred with his statement, adding `its ok to be busy as long as you like what you are doing.’ I like this speaker, in his late fifties he is an experienced and accomplished individual both in his personal and professional endeavours , having himself authored 18 management books and appears as a regular speaker, facilitator and panel chairman at various public forums, workshops and conferences, locally and abroad, yet humble, tactful and thoughtful in approach. I have earlier bought a copy of his books and he was kind enough to present me with another copy of his motivation series for free.
As he boarded a waiting cab and waved me goodbye, I’d wonder the kind of life that would greet me when the time came for me to finally approach the years of retirement..
I’d only hope it would be as fulfilling and enlightening as what the speaker has imparted to me throughout the seminar.
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