I am now a legit 36 years old! Thanks to Mak and Ayah for all the food galore – Laksa, Nasi Ayam and Durians. I try not to upload the pictures as sometimes I feel like such sharing would offend those who have been missing their own demised parents. Gasp! Last year, I celebrated my birthday by doing a spiritual journey to Seoul, South Korea during Ramadhan. It feels surreal to even reach the Year 2020 when my childhood was all focused on this year as Malaysia under Tun Mahathir had launched Vision 2020 in 1991. Thus, Malaysians were encapsulated with the ideas that Malaysia would be a modern nation by the Year 2020 – which was not impossible; if it wasn’t for the 1997 financial crisis and other global threats. I really hope I could finish my thesis write-up by this year or next year. The clock is ticking, really!
A 36 years old. Can I still use the name “childlike” for this blog? Haha!
Today also marks the 76th day of Movement Control Order (now elevated into Conditional) which is set up due to COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, we are at the fourth phase of the MCO and so far, Malaysia has done very well! Alhamdulillah and kudos to the Ministry of Health! It is during this very time that we feel VERY LUCKY that we are Malaysians and I heard that hundreds of Malaysians who are residing abroad are planning to “come back”. Well, who am I to question such – but I guess other average Malaysians could not contain their disgust as well. But then still, even after all the “Malaysia-sucks-while-countries-abroad-are-better” comparisons, Malaysia still opens her arms. Politically wise, Malaysia is having another dark period involving subsequent drama of Sheraton Move. I used to be very candid in my blog about politics – perhaps I will write more once I am back to Batang Kali, tomorrow – with Rifqi.
Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, our national unsung hero during this COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you Dr and to all Malaysian health practitioners!
The feud. Muhyiddin Yassin Vs Tun Mahathir. I will write on this in upcoming entry, Insya ALLAH.
So far during these 2 months of MCO, I have completed two articles and I have been corresponding with my supervisor, Prof Muati through WhatsApps and emails. We have been sending the two articles to various Rhetoric Journals but so far most of them are futile missions. Still, never lose hope. If the current submission do not crystallize, we would try the local ones. I hope that these two papers would get to be published although I already have one paper published last year. The first paper is on Ustaz Azhar Idrus’s rhetoric and the second one is about Muhyiddin Yassin. Hopefully, they would be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Tedious. But hey, every academic experiences this. Publish or perish?!
Becoming 36 years old seems surreal. Yes, although I don’t really look like my age; the reality is as the reality does. I still have another 4 years to go prior to becoming a 40 years old! Haha! But I actually like growing older. I realize that the old cliche expression that “age makes you wiser” is true. I have noticed some changes in the way I think and the way I speak in comparison to my then-self 10 years ago. I have also become more realistic and practical – although deep down that inner childlike positivity still keeps me energetic! I know that even after securing PhD, it is not going to be easy to penetrate the university to become a Communication Lecturer especially with the recent pandemic. Still, I rather focus on the PhD first. Amin. Hopefully, everything is going to be OK.
Amin.
On whole, I think the essence of now as a 36 years old is that Shahrill Ramli embodies that sense of being grateful. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for my parents. I am grateful for my career. I am grateful for my financial independence. I am grateful that ALLAH SWT has been kind to me although as a plain human, I do sometimes led astray, away from the Path. But I think, the struggle is real and no harm’s done to keep improving myself from my setbacks. Amin. A letter from Shahrill Ramli to Shahrill Ramli; dated 1st June 2020 @ 36 years old.
In The Mind Of A Childlike 
I congratulate you on your 36. I can’t but rejoice that you have found your way. Has it ever occurred to you that what you do for life is not what you are destined for? The truth is that many people are unhappy with what they are doing, but they think that they have no other choice. But this is not true. The universe has a plan for us all. However, not everyone knows where to look for this ultimate goal. I don’t know whether you believe in astrology or not, but I want to recommend an excellent article at https://horo.io/ about how astrology can help you find the meaning of life.
Hey Shahril, I have enjoyed reading your UPM PhD blog posts. Currently I am in my third semester of PhD, in the faculty of forestry in UPM. So far, have already completed the 3 required papers and 1 is already confirmed to be published, the remaining two ongoing checks with my supervisor. Going to prepare for my CE now to commence in when the 4th semester starts. Your post about the CE helped me prepare what to expect, as I am currently writing up a short summary of my project as requested by my professor. Quite far-fetched to think as of now, but hopefully all goes well so that I can graduate by the 5th semester.