Following my stint at Sembcorp Industries, I leave with happy memories, and also some important values learnt.

Though my time there was short and admittedly boring, on another perspective, I've pondered upon what I've observed and seen and have realised some things.

Last Friday, lunchtime was as normal. Eat and after that played a few rounds of cards. I was somewhat aren't at my best on that day, looking that I feel guilty for not being able to go to Solat Jumaat despite the fact that I was currently at the middle of an industrial island whereby the only way out back to mainland is by the company bus which comes only at 5.

But that doesn't mean I should feel less guilty about missing out on Friday Prayers.

So on that day, I just sat and played, though my heart's not in it and my mind is busy wondering about other things.

It was then that I pondered upon the saying of : "Its not about what cards Life decides to deal to you. Its about how you play it."

Why that saying? Simply because I was playing cards, and as usual, pondering about life.

That is when I began to sat up and observe the other players, how they play their cards. And at the same time, take more notice of my own moves.

One can learn alot just by being there. Their facial expressions, from the sullen looks given when dealt with lame cards, to the joyous looks when dealt with winning cards, you can tell alot about the person. And of course those whose expressions are the same, whether they're winning or not.
These are the ones who gave nothing away, keeping their cards close to them, playing it very close. Being this way makes them unpredictable, negating others from being able to anticipate their moves.

But even more that can be derived from is the way they played their hands.

Some of them go in hard and heavy, going in with all guns blazing right from the start, putting in every hand that they can muster until they can't. While the others are those who often wait patiently for the right moment where they suddenly come out with an unbeatable hand.

There are some who win because of the hand they're dealt with. Those lucky ones are often given big numbered cards, or given cards which are able to play combinations which are hard to beat. And there are those who are given very lame cards, cards that are low numbered and often unable to play good combinations.

But yet, many a times I've seen those with lame cards emerging victorious from the match, more often than not the person who's fists are thrusted up in the air, aloft, along with a face filled with joy and of course, amazement at winning a match that he should have by all rights, lost.

One wonders, how. How could he win?

Simply put, either by a mess up by one of his opponents which he capitalised upon, or by sheer will and geniousity.


Now, lets put that in perspective of life itself.

Life is not about what is given to us. Its about what we make out of it.

Like the famous saying, "When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade out of it."

or my own version of it, "When life gives you a good kick, stand back up and revel in the pain and anger.For nothing beats the power of the Dark Side."

or the other version, "When life gives you shit, take that shit and make fertilisers out of it."


In other words, its simply means to make the best out of what life throws at you. Doesn't mean it looks bad, its going to turn out bad. Any obstacle in life can just be something that will teach you instead of impair you.

There are, some of us who in life have not been as fortunate as others have been. Or in other words, were not dealt with cards that look kindly upon them. Some have resigned to this fact and chosen it as their fate. Thus, they lie dormant and refused to move from that, claiming that this is the fate that God has deemed for them.

And of course, there are those who strive to make full use of the cards they are dealt with, no matter how bad they are. They strive hard to make it through out of sheer will and a desire to overcome. There are those who made it successfully because of their sheer geniousity while there are those who made it because of a lucky break.

Because that is what its about too. Taking our chances when it comes in front of us. We can choose to wait for a better chance, or we can seize the first one that comes along. In my opinion its best that the first chance is seized, simply because there is no guarantee that another chance might come along, let alone a better one. Just keep in mind never to regret your choices made should that better one come along when you've already taken the earlier one

As you see, with just a game of cards, alot of things can be derived from it. Only if one decides to think upon it. So, how do YOU play your cards?
=)