inspirational moments

backdated to 5th July 2007

HB took us out for lunch after the graduation ceremony, as a "farewell-from-school-but-welcome-to-the-profession" kinda thing. and over lunch, he spoke to us again about our dreams and our aspirations... and related to us his whole history as an OT. but this time round, there was something surreal... something in his voice and tone that spoke directly into us... he was not an educator... rather he transformed truly into the mentor and wise sage that we have come to appreciate in the three years of learning under him... and he shared precious words which will remain with me throughout my life.

in his sharing, he recalled how he never once needed to think about money. all he thought about was fulfilling his responsibility to his profession, and to his clients... and somehow... the money came to him without him needing to look for it. this reminded me of the concept of karma and blessedness in the vocation... that goodness will be rewarded with goodness as well... and that God is not blind or unjust. In Islam there is the concept of intent. if one intends to do good, then one will be rewarded with goodness. and it just echoed in me, that how despite not being Muslim, HB carried in him traits which were worthy of emulation.

and HB also said that its never about the money. he had the opportunity to earn a lot of money - in fact he was asked multiple times to give lectures at international conferences, which he would be given an honorarium for. HB would always return the honorarium to the committee as a donation. And he urged us to continually seek the presence of those elder and more experienced, and to renew our spirits and commitment to the profession through constantly engaging these pioneers, and to recharge our tired/burnt out mentalities.

HB also spoke of his own mentor, Tsuyoshi Sato Sensei, a japanese OT who recently passed away. HB was awarded with the Sato lecture award at the recent Asia-Pacific OT Conference, and it was indeed an emotional moment for him. And as he spoke, he reminded us of the situation that we were in, and that mentorship should be two-way, and that the need to continually mentor and be mentored should be a part of our nature... and inadvertently he offered himself as one who would help us along that path. I was honoured that he chose to use my snippets as opening and closing segments for his inaugural lecture. and indeed i am inspired by him to achieve more for myself and those around me.

wish me well.