HAPPINESS IS . . . .

. . . . MAKING OTHERS HAPPY! That was what happened to me this afternoon at the Melaka Hospital. My club, The Islamic Ladies Welfare Organization (LKPI), was invited to present an afternoon of entertainment for the patients at the hospital. I was put in charge of running the programme. So with some help from friends and my sis (thanks Alang), we put up the one-hour show.

What I want to say here is that, me given the microphone and a large audience, brought back memories of me as an 'entertainer'. Way back when my sisters and I were young, I remember gathering my family after dinner, seated before me in a row and there I was putting up a show, singing, dancing and dramatising, roping my younger sister in the process. There was no TV then, so I was the 'entertainment'. Everybody smiled, laughed and clapped at my antics. I was the happiest one of course, my performance being appreciated.

Then when I became a teacher, it was like sort of performing too, I guess, before my students. I had to think of ways to attract their attention, be a comic at times, dramatising as I talked about the kangaroos in Australia, for example. I could hear chuckles here and there, but it didn't bother me. Again when I was given the opportunity to be a part of a children's TV programme, it gave me the chance to entertain children with my puppets, story-telling and craft works. Happy, happy, happy.

I love to entertain! So that's what happened at the Hospital this afternoon. I was the 'Master (is it now 'Ms'?) of Ceremony'. I cajoled my audience, the patients especially, to join me in singing, story-telling and dancing. At first they were shy. But gradually, they warmed up to the situation and towards the end of the program, they were waving their hands to the tune of 'Sayonara, sayonara until we meet again . . .' It was a delightful scene! Everybody were all smiles, despite having a broken leg, hyper tension and what-not. The nurses before the happening were reserved towards me but as I left, they shook my hands, smiling and laughing saying how much they enjoyed the program. I left the Hospital feeling very happy indeed.

It's a good feeling when you make someone happy. Try it!

Before we started. They were looking at the programmes I distributed. See the lady with the cap? Throughout the show she was animated and brimming ear to ear, displaying her toothless mouth!

Warming up with some light aerobics.

Me trying to make a little boy with a broken leg smile!

Nice to see them enjoying themselves!

I could have danced all night . . . .