I learned from my research projects and hands-on experiences as one of the champions for Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI) & Global Sejahtera that “The process of becoming more whole or more authentic involves connecting to parts of ourselves from which we've become disconnected. Mindfulness, vulnerability & authentic, are ways we enhance self-awareness, enabling us to become more connected to ourselves and others as well as communities." Remembering who we are, is an experience as a return to who we were meant to be; becoming a whole person is a homecoming, as if we're returning home."
So, when accompanying my wife, Zarina for a nostalgic journey to her hometown, Kuala Kangsar, is an emotional security and wellbeing of enhancing act. It is to touch base with her spread roots, not just her parents and relatives. I subscribed that reconnecting with our childhood neighbors of more than 60-70 years ago can involve celebrating traditions, learning about ancestors and engaging with cultural practices. After years of living in urban capital city, we are really excited touching base with the family of Mak Wan with 22 children. One of her son, Jimi has successfully raised 12 children and 17 grandkids.
During his childhood and teenager days, Jimi was a talented musician with a blend of skills as a handicraft man. He has served Malaysia Airlines in 1980-1990s attached with the Engineering workshop in Subang and upon retirement returned back to his hometown, Kuala Kangsar and settled down for good.
A committed parent & grandpa, Jimi said, “Children are vulnerable, so we protect them. Children need nurturing and guidance, so we put their needs first. These are basic, human instinct. But today we are getting childhood all wrong, simultaneously overprotecting and under-protecting. It's human to fall in the playground & hurt yourself: it's human to be lost. If we overprotect our children, we inhibit their development, mentally, physically, and emotionally.”
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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