The following post which I posted in my other blog HERE this morning has a very deep message which is most relevant for everyone. As the other blog has a different set of readers from unplugged, I am reposting it here with the hope that you can share your response after reading it. Sometimes, life is so much more beautiful when we look at it through the eyes of children who are blind to race, expectations and plunge headlong into life with all their innocence, exuberance and naivety, ready for all its challenges. Once we grow up, it is a different story, or is it because it is a choice that we make? Enjoy this beautiful tale....
BUILDING SANDCASTLES
Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.
A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it. And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.
All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.
Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic.
A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.
All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future. Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.
Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.
Yet that is where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.
As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home.
The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified. He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.
"It's my castle," he defies.
The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs...
I don't know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud. Salute the process of life and go home.
-Author Unknown-
We all have dreams for Malaysia, for ourselves and our loved ones. How do we want to build our dreams?
Please leave a comment to share your thoughts. Thanks! Enjoy the rest of the evening.
17 comments to HOW DO YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR SANDCASTLE?
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Boleh Man No one is perfect from the start. A diamond is just a hard rock until it is cut and polished.
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Unknown Dear Cat-in-Sydney
SO sorry for this late response. Me feeling sad today cos my girlfriend has been diagnosed with the big C.
:-( *tears*
Another one has been diagnosed with P.A.N.
:-( *tears*
Sighs....what you wrote is so true...childhood days - those carefree times are the best!!!
Take care and keep safe and healthy!
Salam
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Unknown Dear Anon @ 7.33pm
I am very good at that too :-) and am too idealistic for my own good :-(.
Take care and God bless.
Cheers
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Unknown Dear Boleh Man
How true! It is those who have gone through rough patches in their lives who come forth shining like gold, glittering like diamonds with genuine sincere hearts.
Take care and God bless you.
Cheers
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Anonymous Is building a castle as difficult as building a nation like our Bolehland?
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Unknown Dear Anon @ 9.12 pm
When building a castle, the King would commission the best artisans, architects and experts who would give nothing but their best.
In Bolehland, do we have the best leaders in nation-building and are their efforts the best for the rakyat or otherwise?
Sighs. The answer is obvious.
Thanks for such a thought-provoking question.
Take care and do keep in touch.
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Crankster That was very profound for an idealist at heart who is growing jaded and cynical at discovering what the world can be like.
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Unknown Dear Crankster
I have always regarded you as one of the brightest young ladies I have met in Malaysia and tonight, you have shown me that even after 16mths since we first met, you are brighter than ever with your sharp comment and observation :-).
Yup - I have grown quite cynical after watching each episode of drama, comedic tragedy and repeats unfolding before my eyes...but hope is something that I still have - that one day, more Malaysians will rise to the nation-building effort which cannot be left to leaders alone.
Take care and God bless you always.
Shalom
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Anonymous Where a boy loses his innocence, it is replaced by lust and greed as he becomes a man.
Where a girl loses her innocence, it is replaced by love and compassion as she becomes a woman.
Sorry guys, please don't shoot me.
StraightTalking
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Unknown Hi StraightTalking
:-) You sure live up to your nom de plume haha!
Love your comment.
Take care and thanks for stopping by!
Cheers
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InjusticeSistem After reading dis article....i really wanted to be poetic n artistic n idealistic n characteristic n etc etc....but u noe what?
Da 1st damn thing tat came to my mind is da sea is UMNO/Malay n dey want us to build castle so dey can take n enjoy our fruits of labor...
It may not be relevant, but tat is how i f*cking feel....more so especially dis time of yr wen we r filing our INCOME TAXES!!!!
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Anonymous Dear InjusticeSistem,
To me, these people are like piles at afflict most men. Until and unless we surgically remove them, you'll just have got to live with the bloody pain and discomfort.
The surgeon is waiting at the next GE. :)
Cheers!
StraightTalking
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Unknown Dear InjusticeSistem
Life is tough but it will toughen us and we will come out of this more than conquerors. Let not bitterness be in your heart...It is so important to be joyful and hopeful...but not blind hope :-). Take care and may God bless you for your honesty! That is a fantastic trait you have there.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
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Unknown Dear StraightTalking
Excellent comment!!! Love the analogy and the prescription :-). Take care and have a lovely evening.
Cheers!
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ahoo Some people see things as they are and ask why ? Let us dream of things that never were and say why not !
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. - Eleanor Roosevelt.
Decision is the spark that ignites action. Until a decision is made nothing happens. - Wilfred A.Peterson
Let us not be distracted in any circumstances in sowing the seed of change. Surely, in due time this seed will germinate and grow to be a tree that will bear much fruit. For every thought is a seed and if we don't sow the thought of change, then we will not reap the fruit of change !!!
Cat-from-Sydney Aargh...if only those kids knew, they wouldn't want to grow up. purrr....meow!