Reliving the past

I was not sure I caught what she said. As it turned out, she was saying 'hello' to me in Tagalog.

“You should learn new languages. I can speak seven languages, even Spanish!” she said.

We met during Astro AWANI's visit to an old folks' home, Pusat Jagaan Al Fikrah Malaysia in Kajang, Selangor recently. The senior citizens were ecstatic that we were there and we did what we could to assist and keep them company during our stay.

“When I was young, I worked as an air stewardess for an airline company. My job granted me the opportunity to travel far and wide. In the process, I picked up a number of foreign languages.”

The old lady sat on the edge of the bed, regaling me with the glory days of her youth.

In between the lines of reminiscing her early life, it was evident that she misses the prime of her youth.

“Many men were attracted to me, but I turned them down. I have never married.” she added with a slight frown.

This was just one of the many stories we have heard that day. Each narrative is very personal and real.

Most of us are living an average life. No matter how unexciting we thought our stories may be, in hindsight, every story offer plenty of learning.

If anything, the elderly at the old folks' home reminded me once again that every life choices plays a part in shaping our lives.

I could not help but wonder, when I reached my golden years, will I thank the younger self for the decisions I have made today? Or will I still be affected by a series of irreversible regrets accumulated over the years of my humble existence?

Sometimes, I shudder to think of how the things I do and choices I have made today will shape my future.

We can draft a lifetime of plans but we can never predict the future.