Hopeful of a better year
It makes perfect sense to usher in the Year of the Ox by seeking, processing and spreading goodness, says the writer.
ASTROLOGICALLY, my father is an Ox and year 2021 is the Year of the Ox. Astrologers claim that if you arrive at the animal sign of your own birth year, you are offending the Grand Duke (Tai Sui), which brings challenges and problems. My father is clearly ignorant about this, though.
As I wished him Gong Xi Fa Cai on the first day of CNY over the phone, he vigorously declared this year would be a good year for him as it is an Ox year and he proclaimed proudly having celebrated seven Ox years in his life. I quickly agreed wholeheartedly. The belief that my father had about his life was more important than the astrologers’, I thought. If my father believed this year will be good, then good it shall be.
I listen to feng shui predictions at the start of every lunar new year with the curiosity of a cat but I never practise it in totality. I am selective. I remember whatever is memorable and obey whatever is convenient, such as, not renovating the inauspicious sectors of my home.
Sincerely, there is no reason to be overly obsessed or paranoid about feng shui predictions. One astrologer claims feng shui contributes 30%, while diligence contributes 40% to success. Besides, “flying star” feng shui says good energy doesn’t stay and bad energy doesn’t linger, instead it changes every hour.
In addition, having survived many cycles of feng shui, both good and bad, proves that there is nothing I cannot overcome through sheer hard work, stubborn perseverance and plain patience, God willing.
The law of attraction was made popular more than a decade ago when The Secret written by Rhonda Byrne garnered strong believers. I remember reading it for the first time and felt enlightened – reminding myself to be mindful in thoughts, actions and words – although my religious friend wasn’t too keen because the law of attraction didn’t advocate the power of God. “See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil” is the basis for all things good.
People who indulge in selfpity and lament constantly about unfavourable predicaments are chanting negativity and hence, attracting negative energy. It isn’t helpful and in the long term, it causes depression, erosion of self-confidence and eventually, an extreme sense of helplessness and hopelessness.
On the other hand, practising gratitude even for the simplest of things and consciously attracting positive vibes while deliberately downplaying negativity helps in weathering the storm until the dark clouds pass and the blue sky, which is always there, appears again. Remember the hotel manager who sold packed food by the roadside?
He portrayed a commendable fighting spirit in times of adversity. “If I think I can, I am right. If I think I can’t, I am also right. I am what I believe.” Be wise, choose to believe in goodness. One day, my daughter who was studying in Singapore related an incident of her encountering a Good Samaritan. She’d undergone a non-invasive eye treatment. Just a day into the treatment, with a vision still blurry and a plastic bag over her head, apparently she had forgotten her umbrella, she walked hurriedly in the torrential rain to catch an appointment with the optometrist, and she was already late. She was drenched from head to toe. A kind stranger came to share an umbrella with her. Sensing her urgency, he offered the only umbrella to her and then, ran into a store to buy another one for himself. As I listened, feeling anxious at first but grateful later, I reminisced about a similar incident which had occurred about a year earlier. It was pouring in Taiping, the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia. I had an appointment with a corporate client.
After parking by the roadside, I alighted with an umbrella in hand, donned my safety shoes and helmet, and started walking towards the entrance of the factory.
Just a few steps away from my car, under a tree, a stranger was holding a gunny sack over his head with a grass cutter by his side. Obviously, he was trimming grasses when the rain came pouring and, with no permanent shelter in sight, he decided to take temporary shelter under a tree. Immediately, I walked back to my car, took out a spare umbrella and gave it to the man in distress before rushing off for my meeting.
Little did I know then, the simple kindness I offered to the stranger had added to my spiritual wealth and would return to me via the Good Samaritan to my precious daughter. The Universe works in strange ways but what goes around, comes around. Thus, do good deeds, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem, but remember to always safeguard ourselves, first and foremost.
Life is unpredictable and full of uncertainties. Often times, we are unable to tick on all the checkboxes before making decisions but inevitably, choices have to be made at the crossroads. I’d like to think there is no wrong choice, only endless possibilities and opportunities.
An informed decision is as good as the best decision. Positive thoughts that tip on the brighter side reduce unnecessary anxiety and attract positive energy.
A positive mindset makes decision-making less fearful. Sometimes, we must remind ourselves that we are made amid millions of other sperm cells because we are the fittest – we are able beings from the beginning of life – to face any outcome, capable of goodness.
It makes perfect sense to usher in the Year of the Ox with receptors to seek goodness, thoughts to process goodness, and actions to spread goodness, for goodness breeds goodness. Towards a better year yet!