Lessons from the Butterfly

A young boy was sitting in the meadows one fine day, lying around feeling helpless and small. For a young boy like him, he felt insignificant and unimportant. The elders were always given priority and respect. In a way, he felt worthless.

Suddenly, a beautiful white butterfly fluttered by, and after some zigzagging maneuvers, it finally rested on the outstretched palm of the young boy. The boy took a long look at the butterfly, and suddenly an idea hit him. He was going to use the butterfly to show how intelligent and important he is. He was going to prove the villagers wrong. The boy smiled.

He used his other free hand to cup the butterfly in. After securely trapping the butterfly in his cage of fingers, the boy stood up and made his way to the house of the village’s wisest person, an old man with white beard that reached his knees.

I will ask the man to solve my riddle, he thought. I will ask him to guess if the butterfly in my hands is dead or alive. If he says it is alive, I shall put my hands together and crush the butterfly thus proving him wrong in an instant.

But if he says the butterfly is dead, I shall open the palms of my hands and let the butterfly fly free. Then he too would be wrong, he smiled with satisfaction at the brilliance of his plan. There was no way both one of the answers are right, and they will be convinced of his intelligence.

The boy finally reached the wise man’s house. The old man was outside, as if waiting for his arrival. And the villagers, curious to see the encounter between the two have begun to gather in a small crowd outside the man’s house.

Eager to prove himself, the boy asked the old man to guess the question he had earlier rehearsed. The old man was quiet for a few moments. The villagers have begun to whisper in doubt and that made the boy smile even more at the thought of his future victory.

“But my son,” the old man said suddenly, standing up to grasp the caved hands of the boy.

“The answer lies within your hands,” he said, looking deeply into the boy’s eyes, offering the boy a gentle and sincere smile, as he softly caressed his caved hands.

The boy was startled. The villagers’ have fallen silent too.

In my hands, he thought. It lies in my hands.

And he raised his arms high above his head, and put his hands apart, releasing the white butterfly, that fluttered away freely into the open skies of blue.

Bordering humanity

When Dr. Eric Berne, a psychoanalyst meets with his patients for the first time, he neither smiles nor shakes their hand in greeting. He believes that when you first meet a patient, you do not know his state of mind and well being good enough for you to empathize and offer him a smile. He could be suffering, from pain or depression, and that smile you offer him might make him think you have no sensitivity about his feelings, especially if he is dysthymic. And he justifies the handshake as an act of intimacy, and intimacy can only be developed between individuals who are connected to each other.

On the contrary, Dr. Berne ends his sessions with a smile and a handshake. He justified, by then, you understand the person enough through your clerking for you to establish an understanding of his current situation, and this mutual understanding allows space for intimacy to develop, thus a handshake is appropriate.

Psychology is an interesting field. There is no right, or wrong. 

Dr. Berne thinks his method is in accordance to his understanding.

I on the other hand disagree.

A smile is the prologue to all conversations. A depressed patient, presenting with lowered mood and unhedonia might find it a challenge to his already low self appraisal if you do not appear to appreciate his presence. Therefore a smile and the beginning of a session does not necessarily mean you do not feel his pain. It just means that "Hey, lets work to make things better."

Touch is crucial in the establishment of trust and sincerity. From this deep trust, intimacy ensues. Being intimate, is a state of pure sincerity and honesty. Therefore, it stands to reason that when you are completely open with your patient, he feels a need to comply to that openness, thus enabling you to dissect his soul to the core, finding the roots of his problems and helping him escape the suffering.

The only reason I'm bulls*itting psychology here is, Dr. Tulpin, my psychiatry teacher, is a MASTER in the art of manipulating minds, I tell you. So as it is, one he makes his mind on what is right and what is wrong, he definitely tries and succeeds in making our opinions falter. Sometimes I think he's a genius. And all geniuses are weird, secluded and maybe a bit egoistic. 

But he's an excellent teacher all the same. =)

Arguments VS Fights

These two words aren't the same, are they? Just because you argue,doesn't necessarily mean that you are scratching the face of the other person, or pulling at his hair, or even knocking the air out of him, does it?

An argument is an intelligent clash of ideas, in which two parties strive to prove the truth in their beliefs. However, intelligence comes with the ability to reason, and with that comprehension follows. And when the right reasons are brought forward, even the strongest ideas can collapse, but a sound mind will be able to accept it all the same.

As the Russian saying goes, 

All truth is derived from arguments.

A saying is not a saying for nothing, you know.

Wrapping up my temporary vent-out session, psychology aids in understanding people, that I agree, but human beings are too complex for you to structure them, they way Freud did. That is his assumption, and in my opinion a mirror of his sexual desires.

Humans are also too diverse for you to group their needs like Maslow and Jung.

Yes, I agree, that these borders make Psychology and Psychiatry seem more like science rather than philosophy, but lets not forget that, every person is unique and reacts in their own unique way. Lets not compartmentize people, coz face it, if we do, we are using an immature defense mechanism, compartmentalization.

The world is in a myriad of colours, lets not look at things in black and white. =)

repostingfromnabscozireadthruheroldpostscozimissher

What have you been doing recently?
-napping in the evenings! o.O

Do you ever turn your cell phone off?
-nope. although no one really calls, theres no real need to switch it off.

What happened at 10am today?
-discussing inner illness image with tulpin (psychiatry lecturer)

When did you last cry?
-watching chronicles of narnia a few days back. (the rat was so freaking cute!)

Believe in fate/destiny?
-emotionally - yerp
-ideally - thats a load of crap

What do you want in your life now?
- I want to be a good doctor. =S

Do you carry an umbrella when it rains or just put up your hood?
-umbrella. i tend to buy coats WITHOUT hoods.

What’s your favourite thing to do on the bed?
-sleep. and i hate it when I lay awake in bed. grrrr~

What bottoms are you wearing now?
-Chick ave green tracks

What’s the nicest things in your inbox?
-Messages from huda every friday<3

Do you tend to make the relationship complicated?
-Yeah. coz i think im crazy and difficult. sigh....and i wonder why im still single..

Are you wearing anything borrowed from anyone?
-as if i can fit into borrowed clothes from my roomies....TT.TT

What was the last movie you caught?
-Black Swan. that chick is nuts. period.

What are you proud of?
-Cliche, but my family.

What does the oldest text msg in your inbox say?
- "wslm. aku miss kat hang. hg duk raya kat sana leklok. jgn lupakan aku di perantauan ni. hehe. miss ya!"
i think that was qilah!

What was the last song you sang out loud?
-TVXQ, Before u go. changminissofreakinghot.

Do you have any nicknames?
-I have an adjective used t describe me, and its "amusing". o.O

What does the newest text say and from who?
-From SMSA president. i hate work, but i respect the dude. dang..

What time did you go to bed last night?
-1 am =)

Are you currently happy?
- ok-ish

Who gives you the best advise?
- Papa for motivation, Mama for spiritual guidance, Nabs for comfort, Ecah for relationships and shopping =)

Do you eat whipped cream straight from the can?
-will not even think of trying


Who did you talk on the phone last night?
-sadly, no one. im a single lady, duh~

Is something bugging you now?
-uh-huh. *nods*

An answer to the cliche

My latest obsession

If you feel it’s a burden that all my senses are focused only on you, I will leave now
If I made you suffer ’cause I couldn’t control my feelings, I will go now

Leave instead of change?

I was afraid that like a “hook”, you might fly away from my side
I couldn’t say “phew…” and rest even for a day

And me? Have I no fear too?

I didn’t know then that I was hurting you with my foolish obsession
Just know this before you go; that I am a man who only wanted to love you

There is more to love than blind preoccupation

So stupid was I, an idiot, a scumbag who couldn’t even protect you
If you stay beside me ’till the end, you’ll be more heartbroken, you might fall

And so you let me go?

It’s a good thing that someone who will set you free will come to your side, will come to your side
I’m not gonna make any more of trivial excuses, don’t look so sad

You assume I need another.

With my mouth shut, I only wanted to wish your happiness; I am not that man (for you), no
With a puff (of air) in the cold wind; I warmed up your cold hands

When you say that confidently, my heart has already shattered

Deep within my arms, after a year, we had our first kiss
I gave myself to you, I always do

As was mine too. But you failed to notice, you were 

too indulged in your ideas of pain and hurt

Just know this before you go; that I am a man who only wanted to love you
So stupid was I, an idiot, a scumbag who couldn’t even protect you

You never uttered a word, how was I to know?

If you stay beside me ’till the end, you’ll be more heartbroken, you might fall
It’s a good thing that someone who will set you free will come to your side, will come to your side

The person who set me free was you

Thank you for giving me happy memories; you go on and don’t remember, forget everything
Don’t look at me with worried eyes, I’m fine

This is not worry, this is despair

Someday all my heart’s wounds will be cured
Someday I will meet a nice person

You already have, I can see

Forget!

Forget?
Yeah, forget everything and hurry up and go!
Before I change my mind and hold onto you

Then hold on to me..

Out of habit, I might call you without knowing
hello hello hello hello

But you didn't

Missing you crazy, even if I’m at your door, be cold (just ignore me)
Just know this before you go; that I am a man who only wanted to love you

And maybe I was a woman, who only needs to be convinced

So stupid was I, an idiot, a scumbag who couldn’t even protect you
If you stay beside me ’till the end, you’ll be more heartbroken, you might fall
It’s a good thing that someone who will set you free will come to your side, will come to your side

I'm still angry, and hurt.

Forgive  me for not looking you in the eyes.

And wishing you happiness.

Because I wish you'd hurt, at least as much as I do.

A chatter of Love

" Dear Kc i know u're not online tp nk bg tau this morning i woke up late 10am sbb lepas subuh sambung tdo. I heard pa working at the back porch as usual his routine cuci dekat fish pond tu. Since i was late kelam kabut mandi. When he came up dia tanya sedap tdo ma? I smiled...then he said tdo ma....enjoy your sleep n bangkit lewat sbb nnt dah start kerja x leh bangun lewat dah...tengok le bagus punya husband....x marah bangun lewat....suruh enjoy tdo...mana nk dpt mcm tu? therefore antara ciri2 suami kenalah cari mcm pa..hehe...sometimes i feel very lucky...he's so tolerant tentang prangai kita....esp kc n fn, if i marah u all, dia mesti marah mama...he doesn't want to make u all susah hati ke...he'll do anythng he can to try please ev one.  kat langgar pun mcm tu...tok ckp nk g pumpong, jom gi pumpong. Lastly ma x de idea nk bangkang dia so i end up ikut aje dia sbb dia slalu try to entertain kita...begitulah coretan pagi tentang ciri suami yg baik...ehm..ehm "

Someone once told me, that there is no love that lasts forever. He said that all thats left after a few years of fiery passion, is responsibility. True enough, that is not the first time I've come across such ideas. Some even told me that after some time, you get addicted to the company. Its not so much as the same fluttering endearment that you feel within, its just the comfort of the having someone familiar.

I'm an idealist.

Truthfully speaking, I do not comprehend how two people can live with each other for so long. In the end, they cease to become a person, instead they are fused and linked as one; a unit. For me this union kills a person's identity. He/She simply cease to exist.

I believe, I stand corrected.

How can I utter those words when the model of Perfect Love was in front of my eyes all along?

Silently growing stronger throughout the years.

Nurturing, protecting what is dear.

Love in its true essence spells Ma and Pa.

Their union did not kill their personality, instead they complemented each other. They are the polar opposites of the same magnet.

Ma and Pa is Love.

Unwavering. Pure. Eternal.

I now know true love exists. So perhaps now, I am more enlightened to find mine.

Someone who falls under the shadow of my father.

A strong man, both physically and spiritually. I think it is appropriate to say that he is the one person I look up to. His words are the only words that can motivate me. Since I was young, I refused to go to any motivational camps or talks of the sorts. I find them annoyingly shallow, unreal and fake. The only words I succumb to and knock sense into this head on mine are those of Papa's. And it hasn't changed for the last 24 years.

He has humble origins. From a poor farmer's family. And he worked his way up, my Mama an essential pillar of strength in his journey. And he is now as close to the top as a simple man can get. We are not filthy rich, but I dare say my sister and I have never been denied of anything we had requested, save they are a necessity.

He's not stern or overbearing. He's cheery and jovial, open minded and accepting. Yet his morals are deep, his principles clear, his Faith undivided. He's like a large willow tree, deeply rooted into the ground, providing shade, protection and shelter. Yet unmoving, no matter how hard the wind blows, instead the leaves whip back in defense. 

I wonder if such a man exists anymore. I told Mama, that Papa's species is extinct. She got the last one.

Lucky her. =)

Eat Pray Love

This is where I forgive myself.

Watching “Eat Pray Love” late one night got me thinking, that thank goodness, I’m not the ONLY messed up soul walking this earth. Apparently, so is Julia Robert’s Liz. I practically laughed out loud when Liz whispered to Steven that night that “I don’t want to be married.” Against the splatters of the rain on the windowpanes and the soft shadows illuminating the folds of the shared bedcovers, I was caught in between a sense of familiarity and empathy.

It is true when Liz said that she wasn’t a part of the life she was so busy orchestrating. She was too engrossed in painting the image of that perfect life, that she forgot to put herself in it. The preoccupation of an idea does not necessarily mean that you want it. Liz was engrossed in the idea of a perfect life, which she believed to be true due to projections of the human norm. But somewhere in between, she doesn’t even know what she wants anymore. All she knows is that she isn’t happy, and she wanted to end that misery.

Imagine waking up next to a man you call husband or lover, and not even remembering the reasons you love him. He looks familiar, but at the same time, you feel like you are staring into the eyes of a stranger. His touch is warm but there is no comfort. And everything between you and him is like a rehearsed play, a routine of thoughts and actions.

Believe me, that feeling is scary.

That was why I loved the movie. It was as if I was reliving that 6 months period of hell. It was as if I was watching my own life being brought to life in front of me on screen. I felt that my eccentric actions were justified by the fact that, I’m not the only person who thinks like Liz. 

I just happen to be the only one among my friends.

I loved the places she travelled to. I have been to 2 out of the 3 places from the movie. And they were as beautiful as I remembered them to be. I was just glad that I shared those memories in Rome with a dear friend and in Bali with the company of my beloved family. And I plan to share the beauty of Taj Mahal with a lover. =)

If there is anything I’m thankful about after watching that movie, is that I have a Faith to adhere to. Humans are such mere insignificant beings, that if we had nothing to hold onto, then all these sinister thoughts are brought upon us more easily.

I am thankful that I do not have to travel the world to find balance. I find balance within the practices of Islam.

I am glad that unlike Liz, I didn’t have to give up everything I have in order to find God, because I believe that he is within me. God doesn’t want us to give anything up for the other; He says that Heaven and Earth coexist. And He paved the road to balance through a human so perfect and beautiful, Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), who preaches the words of God, lying within the lines of the Holy Quran.

I’m thankful, that unlike Richard and Liz, I did not need misery to lead me to God.

So, in contrary to the collective opinions of my peers, yes, I loved Eat Pray Love, for it led me to believe, that it’s okay to be different.

Time, it tells the truth from lies

She woke up to the chills running across her toes. Beneath the red knitted socks, she could still feel the icy coldness of her skin. Turning around on the small single sized bed, she saw snowflakes illuminated against the orangey light of the lamp-post outside the window.

Forcing herself to get an extra pair of socks, she dragged herself out of bed only to find herself bumping into the two open volumes of Anatomy atlas, that were lying open on the floor.

She mumbled a soft curse, before picking them clumsily up, piling them onto the already messy table. Bio-organic chemistry textbook, stacked upon an open page of Biology book and the General Chemistry lecture notebook was pushed aside, as if forgotten.

Her face screwed up in annoyance. It was the weekend, and she was stuck with so many things to cover, she wondered if it was even humanely possible. Giving up on the pair of socks, she sat up in bed, hand phone in her hand, staring longingly into the wallpaper of her parents, smiling back at her and sighed inwardly. How on earth did she end up here?

She woke up the next morning to a cramped neck. She had fallen asleep on the table again. Stretching her neck cautiously, she groaned when she saw the time. It was 6 am, and also time to get up. Although it was still pitch black outside, she would have to leave in an hour. Chemistry classes took at least one and a half hours to get to, minus the walking distance through the snow.

She let out a frustrated sigh when she heard the soft splattering of the shower being run. The toilet was occupied, which means that she would have to wait for her turn. That would take another extra 10 minutes. Picking herself from the chair, she moved to the fridge for a mug of milk. She hated swapping breakfast slot over shower, but she had no choice. Time was ticking.

Putting down the pen, she stared down at the empty answer sheet. She hated Physics more than anything else. It just didn’t make sense. She looked around as the others handed in their answer sheets and headed out for lunch before the lecture that afternoon and wondered if it was alright to forfeit this test and retake it next week. Deciding against any chance, she scribbled last minute everything that she had inside her shriveled brain.

Walking back home, she dodged the speeding figures heading towards the hostel and puffed an indignant sigh of protest. They were racing for the stoves at the pantry. There goes any hope for an early dinner, she thought as she reached inside her pocket for a packet of whole-wheat graham crackers from this morning.

And that was how her days went by.

5 years later

The alarm rang at 6am and she found herself kicking off the covers as she made her way towards the shower. It is usually empty at this time of the morning, as everybody grew lazier for an early start of the day. It left her time for a leisurely shower and ample time for breakfast later.

Drying off her hair on a smaller towel, she emptied a sachet of coffee pre-mix into her jumbo sized white mug, pouring hot water in it to a tantalizing aroma of hot coffee. Smiling, she sipped her coffee as she flicked her Samsung to life, tuning into CNNmobile for a brief sweep of today’s news and weather forecast.

An hour later found her snuggled warmly into her neckwarmers as she braved through the morning mist and snow, heading towards the subway, high boots protecting her legs and warm gloves keeping her fingers from numbing to the cold.

Thanking the patient for his cooperation, she went into the lounge to get the case report for her patient. Finding it easily on the rack to the side of the room, she grabbed her bag as she made her way towards the benches to examine the anamnesis closer. Stashing her stethoscope into her pockets, she started to jot down notes on her notebook. The Russian cursive no longer a bother as her eyes grew accustomed to it and the language no longer a hassle as her vocabulary grew throughout the years.

Stepping into the lecture hall 5 minutes later, she greeted her colleagues above their noisy chatters and whispered gossips. Skipping lunch for a chocolate bar and water, she too joined into their conversation as she caught up to the lives of Spartiv’s elites.

Picking up grocery from the market across the hotel became more of a habit than a necessity. As she asked for a portion of chicken breast, she wondered what to cook for dinner. The kitchen was empty in the early evening. That was the time she liked to cook. Free from the rush and hassle of her other 8 housemates. Chopping up the ingredients effortlessly, she threw them one by one into the pan, almost automatically. Half an hour later, dinner was done. Stir fried vege and ayam masak merah with rice.

Later that night, she was facing her laptop, an open volume of Harrison’s Internal Medicine next to her. Clearing up some facts online, she hummed in approval as Wikipedia satisfied her curiousity. Grabbing an empty A4 paper on the printer, she began scribbling notes to the accompaniment of her iTunes, on shuffle.

That was how her life evolved.