“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”
— Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
Being proud is acceptable as long as it does not go to the point where one is full of oneself. Celebrate achievements and milestones in a person’s life – no harm in this. Just do not be vain.
“No truth can cure the sorrow we feel from losing a loved one. No truth, no sincerity, no strength, no kindness can cure that sorrow. All we can do is see it through to the end and learn something from it, but what we learn will be no help in facing the next sorrow that comes to us without warning.”
— Haruki Murakami (Norwegian Wood)
Read here for previous published post on Coping With Loss ….
JK Rowling on the other F-word — “Fat”:
‘Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.
I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…
I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’
‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’
What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!
I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.
— J.K. Rowling
I am guilty of this sometimes. I am so used to saying someone looks great first then comments about other matters. I try not to mention about a person weight..I do when they comment. Some people expects a compliment that they have lost a lot of weight (or a little). I have to do better…
It is only Monday…
Teacher’s Day is celebrated on the 16th of May yearly in Malaysia.
In my opinion, being a teacher in Malaysia today is a challenge. We have an education system that is “fickle” and placed unnecessary burdens on teachers and students. We have a society which majority transfers their the responsibility to educate and nurture their children entirely to the teachers. And I have absolutely no idea why.
I would prefer to write about the incredible teachers I know. This year I want to talk about a lady whose name is Wan Sahibul. She is a teacher and my friend. We went to Taylors College and has reconnected in the last few years. We live in different cities and the last time I met her was circa 1984. We have stayed connected through Whatsapp. My friends and I called her the “Superwoman”. She teaches the normal subjects in school and so much more. She sings, dances, plays the angklong, teach swimming, field sport, bowling and other things which I cannot remember. I do not know where she gets the energy. I have no doubt that she inspires her students.
So this Teacher’s Day, I would specifically want to celebrate her. I wish you the best Wan Sahibul…May you continue to inspire your students. May you be blessed with good health, wealth and happiness. May Allah grant you Jannah for doing what you do.
“The mediocre teacher tells.The good teacher explains.The superior teacher demonstrates.The great teacher inspires.”
Picture credit Wan Sahibul FB
Que Sera Sera 