Almost There

I grew up in a single parent family. My father left us when I was three and my mother was forced to work for the first time in her life. She had to leave us with our grandmother and travel from our small town call Bentong in Malaysia to Singapore to earn a living. In those days it took her 12 hours to travel to Singapore. From that day on I would see my mother only once a year.

Also from that day onward my two older sisters and I began a difficult life living with difficult mean uncle. We were made to do a lot of housework and take on a work load that most children do not have. We were scared of my uncle though, so we did everything he asked.

My sisters did not have to do the same kind of work that I did. They were both more active and out going, I was the shy quiet younger sister who was always left at home alone. I tried very hard to please both my sisters so they would play with me and like me. I tried very hard to be the good girl for my grandma and mother, so that I could earn their love. For a long time it seems I was living the life of someone else, just trying to survive.

With all I've been through, you would think I would be filled with hate and anger. But I actually do not have any hate in my heart. Often at the end of each day I will think about what I did that day, and dwell on the good things that I am very appreciative for. This is why I want to share my story with others.

For life is never easy for any of us. Each time I feel tired or sad, I will always tell myself 'Almost there''don't give up, just few more steps and I will make it through. I have heard a doctor once say, 'For illness, the doctor can help to cure, but for a broken heart, we must depend on ourselves.'

My last broken heart was in 31 Dec 2002. I was flying back to Malaysia from Shanghai, leaving the man that I once thought would be the one whom I would share my life with. It has been so long now that the pain has faded. The only way I could make it fade was by focusing on the good things in life and forgetting the bad ones. I also practiced the old saying 'Forgiveness is the best cure for broken heart.' That, combined with the attitude of 'Almost There', have given me the strength to keep on my journey and persevere through life whenever there are obstacles in front of me.

Now I have left Malaysia again and am working in Xi'an China. I have a good career that not only allows me to work on something I like, it also allows me to pass on my positive thinking to younger friends and coworkers, as they have yet to see what will become of their lives. I like to encourage them that if they can keep the mindset of 'Almost there', they will do well in life. It takes lots of courage to move on, especially when you are suffering, but if we manage to make it through it will become a story that we can share with others, good memories that we cherish and a good lesson that makes us become stronger.

Submitted by Anonymous

Courage