Autograph and Endorsement

Yesterday I received something in the mail from Jack Lavanchy in Switzerland. The President & founder of PADI Europe sent me a photo personally autographed by Hans Hass & his wife, Lotte Hass. It is truly an honour to be granted this request made during the time I spent convening on the formulation of ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standards on Diving in Vienna, Austria. Jack & Hans are both 90 years of age.

Hans significant achievements and advances have made him a pioneer for both scuba divers and the environment of the ocean. Authored books & made even more documentaries of the ocean, he has received a string of awards in his lifetime, making him the most celebrated living legend while Jack founded PADI Europe 25 years ago & spreaded the dive community to Maldives, parts of Egypt, the European countries excluding Scandinavia and Great Britain as well as French West Indies.

Although the rescue has taken up much of my time, the surrounding issues deserve an equal amount of attention as we believe we are approaching only the tip of the iceberg. People like to take sides because they only see what’s on the surface. Dig deeper, my friends, that’s what I’m trying to say. If one is compelled to defend one’s action in the press, there must be enough going-ons to get their goat. Too afraid of the truth that might bring down the ORG. That has never been our intention but some people see it fit to work in the background to collaborate & evict Sabrina from her farm. We know who it is & I don’t need to rant nor rave because evil-doers will have their day.

I’ve come this far to be a trainer, an educator & an ambassador for Malaysia in the international standards (ISO) for diving, I know what I stand for. I didn’t get here overnight. I didn’t get up the ladder by resorting to underhanded tactics nor by sleeping with people in power or coveting people’s husbands/property/status/position. I’m not self-righteous nor would I impose my principles upon others but people who act dumb when confronted with an act that they have committed just speaks volumes of who they are.

I will continue my profession as an instructor as I’ve received many enquiries on when I will resume my classes but this doesn’t mean that I will neglect the rescue. It’s what puts food on the table for me (and Rufus) and realistically, the rescuer shouldn’t need rescuing right??? (Jon & Lynn, I love your apple cakes, thanks for feeding us on our missions!!!)

I conduct private swimming & water safety lessons, alternating between my diving classes. Sometimes I’m commissioned to write about a destination when I travel so that pays my bills too. I’m not a broker who has made millions in the stock market & can sit around to be a lady of leisure. Heck, I can’t even sit still! Thank God for the might of the pen keyboard!!!

Money is only a means of to live & by no means, the only way to everything in life. At the time when I left my cheating fiancé, I was down to nothing but God saw me through it all. My dad always told me this when he was alive, it’s not a shame to be poor but it would be a shame if you sold your soul to get rich. Since I’ve committed everything to God, I have never been lacking in anything. All praises to Him. And like the autograph that I’d received from Jack yesterday, living my life in truth is an endorsement of honour which would keep me grounded in my principles for as long as I live.