Do you, remember?

I write this for my fellow Malaysians residing overseas or plan to reside overseas and do not intend to go back home. Please have a read. It's simple and short, but I know the message can be delivered.

Do you remember the first time you cried for something painful, the first time you cried for something joyful, your first hug, your first best friend, or even your first "it's going to be ok"?

Here's my answer. I do not remember. But you know what? I remember the times I cried for something painful. I remembered the times I cried for something joyful. I remember getting hugs from my family and friends. I remember all my best friends. And through all the miseries that I have gone through in my life, I remember hearing the words, "it's going to be ok".

Do you remember the feeling when you first enter primary school? Do you remember the feeling when you made your first friend there? Do you remember how it feels going home, telling your mom and dad how was school?

I remember I was scared of school. I remember pulling my mom's shirt and hid behind her back. I remember her smile, telling me "it's going to be ok". And under the shy and scared nature I portrayed physically, deep within myself, I remember how happy I was, to finally go to school. I don't remember my first friend there, but I remember who my friends were. I remember how it felt, going home telling my mom what I did in school. I remember how it felt, telling my dad which girl I thought was cute too.

Do you remember jumping into the river, and bathe in the cool gentle water under the hot blazing sun? Do you remember the first time you flew a kite, and had troubles with it? Do you remember the last time you went out with a friend, untill 2am in the morning, just to have supper?

I remember jumping into many cool gentle rivers, under many hot blazing suns, and would not come out until my mom shouts at me to. I remember struggling on how to fly the kite, and my dad told me, "不要紧 (it's going to be ok)", took out his fishing rod, and taught me how to fly it. I do not remember the last time I went out until 2am in the morning, just to have supper, because I remember, there were too many a time that I have done so.

Do you remember how you first cycled, fell down, and bled? Do you remember when, on those very hot afternoons, you go out and ask the pak cik,"Bang, cendol satu"? Do you remember on rainy days, when you were stuck outside and under the rain, with no umbrella or shelter nearby?

I remember falling down many times. I remember crying out loudly, and my neighbour took me in and gave me sweets to cheer me up. I remember after school, I will go to the front gate and meet my pak cik, and buy a bag of cendol to quench my thirst. I remember, many times when I was walking outside and it started to rain, I ran, and just kept running, telling myself, it's going to be ok.

These are my memories and feelings that grew from home. And basically, what I want to share, is that overtime as we grow older, we slowly forget these feelings and need to be reminded once in awhile. Overtime as we grow older, we start to run away from our feelings because the grass is greener on the other side. And overtime as we grow older, we start to ignore our feelings, and pursue more important things for our future.

But you know what? It's ok. It's going to be ok. If you can feel the way I feel, start asking yourselves. Do you remember home? Ask yourselves, do you remember your identity? And more importantly, ask yourselves. Do you, remember, Malaysia?

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/do-you-remember-clement-ting/