Just because...

(Writer’s note: The first draft of this blog also first appeared on a piece of Damai Laut’s Swiss Garden Resort & Spa writing pad, written during one of the many presentation sessions throughout the 3-days Strategic Planning Session a.k.a. SPS)

There was this one cute heartthrob I met during the SPS. Tall, evenly-distanced brown eyes, not-so-straight nose, spocky-like ears and a really nice smile. I noticed him right after the bus arrived at the hotel, and he appeared to be waiting for the very same bus, greeted a few people I didn't know. However, when I did not see him during the first presentation session later that night, I thought he might be with another group and not ours.

The next day though, he was seated not far from me in the second session, so I realised that he was with my office's group after all. I later learned that he’s an engineer with the Water Supply Department. (Since I’m in the Communications division, I didn’t know that many people from the Water Supply Department or the Sanitation Department, save for some girls I interacted with and met in Puspanita’s meeting.) It went without saying that I was rather pleased to have a ‘catalyst’ to prevent me from ‘tidur duduk’ throughout the SPS.*winks*

Noticing my sudden interest, a friend seated next to me asked, “Are you interested in him?”

I was surprised to be asked such question – I had no idea whether Mr Heartthrob was single or not, whether we share anything in common or not, whether he was a nice person or not… All I knew was just that I liked looking at him. That was all.

Just because I like one guy’s look, it doesn’t automatically means that I am interested in him. Maybe I would welcome the opportunity to know him better, but with guys, it is often better to stick to the old saying – “don’t judge a book by its cover”.

Just because I approve of a guy’s sense of dressing and I appreciate his physical attributes, it doesn’t necessarily means that I would like to be with him. After all, I went out with cuter guys than Mr Heartthrob before – but after getting to know them, I decided that they were not worth it. With guys, it is more important to know him first before I can decide whether or not he’s worthy of being admired and respected. It is more important to know how trustworthy, honest and sincere he is, rather than entertaining the thought of how cool it would be to be with someone good looking. After all, sooner or later, good looks faded, but virtues often remain.

Physical attributes are just what seem to be from the outer appearance, where else what counts more is what is inside a person. Because the most important part of a person is his or her heart.

That’s what counts most.