Sunday, March 29, 2015

Cross-Fit #154 We may not have everything

The past week has been a dark one for many of us.
It has been a time of mourning and remembering our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
I guess it was a surreal moment for me when the news broke out on Monday.
Like many, we were probably just waking up or on the way to work when we heard the news.
It took me a while to really come to terms with it.
Initially, it was, right, yeah he passed away.
Then it sort of hit me.
Gosh, the one whom founded the country has passed away.
We owe way too much to this one person.

I have never really met him before, I didn't know so much about him there and then.
In fact, I hardly knew much about his life or his accomplishments.
I knew about what he did from the textbooks but since I was a kid I never really understood the real relevance of things.
Boys being boys, always fixated and glued to my playstation, I really couldn't care less
But why, why was I somehow affected?

Honestly, without his doing, we won't be where we are today.
I won't be sitting comfortably and typing this post out.
I won't be living in a nice home driving my car to the box every other day.
Honestly, I probably won't even have started Innervate to begin with.
Not just that, but well, City Harvest Church probably won't be around too.
We really do owe alot to him.
I've come to feel a sense of gratitude and appreciation towards him and all that he has done.

As thoughts, memoirs, blog posts, messages and news reports pour out online.
I guess this one is coming a little late after the entire funeral.
I suppose I wanted to take some time to really think about it and let the entire week run its course.
I read about how LKY was a leader that did the right thing, might not have been the nicest but had to be done at that time.
I hear of how he is a loving husband and a caring father who, regardless of how busy he is, comes to his family when there is a need to.
Watching videos of lessons that can be learnt from him and brought into our lives make me think of my own too.
I read quotes upon quotes about how he governed the country, how he thinks of politics and how he lived his life.

Perhaps the most impactful moment was during the funeral. Hearing the last eulogy of Lee Hsien Yang and having him share stories about his Papa showed one thing.
That above all
Mr Lee Kuan Yew loved and loved bravely.
Not just the country but also his family.
Never once did Lee Hsien Yang call him Mr Lee Kuan Yew but always papa and how his grandchildren would always always call him "yeye"
When the last horn was sounded and we placed our fist on our chests reciting the pledge and sing the national anthem, it was a moment of reflection.
That he fought for us.
He spent his entire life, fighting for us.

So what can I say?
I guess these inadequate words won't be enough.
But Thank You Mr Lee Kuan Yew for everything.
From being our PM to SM to MM.
For being someone who is the pillar of the country and our guiding light.
I will wake up tomorrow having what I have because of you.
Waking up a proud Singaporean means a whole lot more now.
As one of spokesperson for the funeral said, "I might not have everything in the World but I have more than most, because of your life long labour."
That is something to be thankful for.

We always say in CrossFit, to keep track of your PRs, to keep track of your progress.
But beyond that, take some time to look back and be happy with where you are, right now.
Because that is sometimes gonna be the drive that makes you thankful, grateful for what you have.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew may have passed on but his legacy will continue.
His life will not be forgotten, he will live as Singapore continues to prosper.
It is up to us to live a life worthy now.

He has fought for Singapore. he has lived his life for Singapore. He lived his life for others.

It is up to us to continue the legacy.