With Jun at one of the coach learning workshop

Suddenly everything in my life just stopped for a moment  upon hearing  the shocking news that my dear friend and fellow coach from our Coach Academy  had passed away on 29th Dec 2011. 

The coach community really lost one of its bastions of someone who really epitomize what a coach is and should be.

I am putting aside my traditional message at the end of the year to write a blog on Jun  who deserves this attention  more than anything else.  She is someone I will always admire, respect and adore as a person of immaculate character.    

Although highly intelligent and very successful in her chosen consultancy work, she remained humble, positive, caring and a keen learner who was always in search of knowledge to be better and better as a coach and person.

Becoming a coach was something very compelling in her. I knew that all along but never knew it was so much more until I heard that even in extreme pain she went through the final examination so that she got through the last hurdle to be a certified coach.  She didn’t want any pity and she wanted a level playing field even though she was “handicapped”.

Although she took about 2 years to complete her coach certification, many would have given up a long time ago if they were in her condition – fighting cancer, studying and taking on more than a full time job in Indonesia.  Her strength and determination were really extraordinary. If this was all about mental strength, then she was really a champion who deserved a gold medal.

My biggest regret was that she couldn’t make it for the graduation in October this year. If she had, that would have been her biggest reward.

 
The coach community will always remember her for her contribution to the e-coach community called Coach Loop that she helped to set up. This is her legacy to us.

Farewell, Dr Jun.. You have fought a good fight. Rest in peace.

We know that God will reward her. She died fighting strong. Today, on 31^st December 2011, is her funeral, where we bade her goodbye. She ended an era, and begin an eternal one in heaven.

Good bye, Jun. Till  we meet again, may  you  be in eternal rest in the arms of God always.

I actually planned for 2011 to happen in the way I wanted. About 75% of them came true. To me, destiny is not about things happening by chance, but when I want it to happen the way it is to be. Of course, it did not fall so well in place like a jigsaw puzzle, but I must say that the overall plan came quite closely to what I had wanted to happen.

Relaxing at  MACC Coach Camp 2011

Of course, I have so many people to thank for.  Top of the list is God. His hidden hands have guided me on the right path through this year. I know without Him nothing would have worked for me. I want to thank Him for this, good health to carry on, and my family’s support all the way.

I must not also forget all of you out there.  You all have been my great support and inspiration. Without you too, my plans would never have worked out. You could identify with my dreams, so I was not alone. But most of all, you gave me your support and help, so I didn’t have to carry them all on my shoulders.

Riding into the future on my trustworthy bike all charged up

Because of you, you have helped me reached the self actualization level of my life.   Certainly, I am a much fulfilled person in many ways now. Growing older in age is not that bad after all. I can see the light much clearer than in my earlier years.  I know I am a late bloomer in life.  Most importantly, many good things have started to happen in bigger and bigger ways.

Thank you to you all.  May you have a blessed year in 2012 and beyond!