An memorable evening with Datuk J

I have just came back from one of the most amazing dinner ever. I've been having doubts lately of my future and how much I am worth to the organisation that I am working with - which is something that I believe is directly proportional to my worth to our nation, Brunei Darussalam.

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The consequences of hearing the first hand accounts from the MERCY Malaysia or the Malaysian Medical Relief Society) link president & founder, Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, or fondly known now as Dr. Jem, strangely has an equal and opposite reaction on me. I never felt so young (read: hanching), so sheltered, and yet felt so strangely more semanggats, more determined to continue on my mission - to help others be more successful in their careers, in BAG Networks, or wherever my path will take me.

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However, most of all, strangely, it makes me appreciate MEN more in my life.

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Dr. Jem speaks very fondly of her other half, Datuk Dr. Ashar Abdullah - whom she exclaims to be more like a romance partner and bestfriend than a husband. She recalls that it was him who pushes her to establish MERCY. He supports her all through the 37 years that they've known each other and continues to encourage all the intiatives that she's doing. An amazing woman needs an amazing man.

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Comparing this with my own life, I realise on the long journey for me to be the next amazing woman, I have had support from amazing men in my life as well. There's Babah, the temperamental 7th son of the river, from whose loins I sprang, picks and sends me to places that I need to go to amongst others; David Abberton, the most positive manager in the world, mentors and guides my career in BAG Networks to where I am today; Mr. Shakh, who has done so much for the company as well, and whose signature causes much celebration every month on the 25th ; Rimey, best officemate whose support and tireless guidance never cease even after I left the tech team; and lastly, Awangku Izham, who is always, always there to pick up the broken pieces and to make me whole like no one else could.

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I think it's interesting that the IWD - International Women's Day - a day to celebrate achievements of women could also be seen as a day to celebrate the succesful union of Adam and Hawa. After all there is a man in every woman, and every man comes from a woman.

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Unity 2007.