After over a year of silence...I am back.

Dear readers and fellow mankind,

It's been over a year of complete silence on this Blog. I am thankful that I am back here.

Yes, I still have Alopecia Universalis and I always have this instant connection whenever I see, read or meet someone else with the same condition.

I couldn't help but to share this post when I came across this today.

We as Alopecians will continue to live our life to the fullest and whoever out there who also suffers the same condition like I do or Tommy...you are not alone and never will be. Reach out to any of us if you are having a tough time.

Here's the post I'm sharing...

Brave little kid Tommy! Truly an inspiration!

Congratulations to Disney's Frozen for bagging two Oscars Awards.

Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel & The Roots sing "Let It Go" (featured in the animated film "Frozen" and won the Oscars Academy Awards for Best Original Song)

It's been ages since I last blogged. The song "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen animated film captivated since I last watched it. Frozen also recently just past the USD 1 Billion world wide gross, making it the second-highest grossing animated film after Toy Story 3. 

Notable animated-films which Frozen surpassed include The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Shrek 2, Ice Age...etc.

So, have fun watching it :)

God bless.

Joshua

Hope everyone's 2014 so far so good :)

The original version from the film.

Part 2 - 10th Christmas of a Remarkable Journey

I would like to dedicate the song "The Heart of Christmas" to all my loved ones (You know who you are) and to all out there who are trying to find the meaning of life again, trying to discover hope again and trying to believe in love again.

The Heart of Christmas

"The Heart Of Christmas"

I’m gonna make a wish this Christmas
I’m gonna say a little prayer
I’m gonna stop here for a moment
Before the moment disappears

The world’s in a hurry this December
City streets and shopping malls
I wish we could slow down and remember
The meaning of it all

Wherever you are, no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it
Don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas

Let’s make it feel the way it used to
Let’s find that wonder of a child
You can see the magic all around you
Come on, and open up your eyes

You can find it in the warm embrace of your family
Or calling up a long lost friend
You can even find it in the eyes of stranger
When you reach out a helping hand

Wherever you are, no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it
Don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas

In the shadow of a steeple
In a star that lights the way
You will find Him in a manger
The heart of Christmas has a name

I’m gonna make a wish this Christmas
I’m gonna say a little prayer

Wherever you are, no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can and cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it

Wherever you are, no matter how far
Come back to the heart, the heart of Christmas
Live while you can, cherish the moment
The ones that you love, make sure they know it
Don’t miss it, the heart of Christmas

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Christmas is a time when all of us should be reminded on all things that truly matters in life.

Let's light a candle,

for peace we pray for every nation,

for joy we pray for every child

for faith we pray for every man

for hope we pray for the world

for love we pray for every heart

My Christmas Tree 2011

Lin's Christmas Tree 2011

Lin's Christmas Cake 2011

My window decoration Christmas 2013 (At night)

My home decoration (Christmas 2013)

Blessed Christmas to everyone and to all people that God loved so much that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that who so ever believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Come back to the Heart of Christmas which is Christ our saviour.

Joshua

Part 1 - 10th Anniversary of a Wonderful Journey

Hi everyone,

1st November 2013 is a significant milestone in my journey of life, as it marks the 10th Anniversary of the beginning of a remarkable chapter of my life.

I have Alopecia Areata since young and then it rapidly developed to Alopecia Universalis within a several months just before my 17th birthday in 2001. The hair on my scalp fell off significantly (>90%) followed by my eyebrows, eyelashes, arm hairs and the rest is history.

It was extremely tough to deal with the sudden massive hairloss psychologically and socially as I retreat myself in the comfort of my house and a baseball cap whenever there is a need for me to go outdoor. I never know why I loss my hair, never know that there were people out there who shared my condition for almost two full years until 1st November 2003.

1st November 2003 was the day when I first discovered and officially get in touch a wonderful group of people sharing my condition on a support website called "Alopecia Areata Support Community".

From the online community I've met a group of wonderful people where the seeds of friendship were planted into our hearts and lives.

From then, friendships have been blooming like spring. Many thousands of miles have been traveled to spend quality time together including special events like, group gathering, wedding, New Year's celebration and Christmas Day.

Sunflower is symbol of my friendships and it has been my favourite flower since. The Lord has been kind enough bless my life with so many people that has never fail to touch of my heart many times.

There is so much share on this milestone and days till Christmas 2013. A very special Christmas indeed as it marked the 10th Christmas together in spirits and thoughts with my friends from all around the world.

Joshua

My love for the flower began when one of dear friends Dotty sent me some sunflower seeds from the United States.

This teddy is named "Josh". It reminds me of a very dear couple of my life- Uncle Wilf & Aunty Kath. Aunty Kath has since gone home to be with the Lord in 2012.

GE13 (PRU 13) This is it! (Ini kalilah). Return home and vote for change...

This is it! It is time to return to our motherland and vote for change.

Ini kalilah! Baliklah ke tanah air kita dan mengundi untuk perubahan.

It is an uphill battle, but nevertheless the force of change is strong and will be courageous to bring the nation to greater heights!

Ini merupakan satu pertandingan yang susah, tetapi dengan semangat perubahan yang kuat dan berwibawa akan membawa tanah air tercinta kita ke arah yang lebih hebat!

Spread the news, share the message, ignite the hope and spark the change!

Sebarkan berita, kongsikan mesej, barakan harapan dan cetuskan perubahan!

Launching Barisan Nasional's Janji Ditepati 2.0

BN Chairman PM Najib Razak has ended his Jelajah Janji Ditepati / Promises Fulfilled tour in Pekan, Pahang last evening on 23th March 2013.

 

Now, it is time to launch the BN's Promises Fulfilled 2.0 series (Janji Ditepati 2.0) to present what also BN has promised and delivered.

 

 



 

true version of

Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan

 

Before GE 13: BR1M diberikan, KR1M ditubuhkan

After GE 13: AES dinantikan, GST dilaksanakan

 

trust me, this Promise will be fulfilled if BN wins GE-13

(percayalah, Janji ini akan ditepati jika BN menang PRU-13)

 

These are also what they have fulfilled in the past years:

 

Disgusted by the conduct of Sharifah Zohra Jabeen

An undergraduate student, Bawani from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) asked in the student forum:
"Why Malaysia can't have free education from pre-school to university first degree?" (She provided example with countries like Argentina and Cuba).

The speaker at the forum, Sharifah Zohra Jabeen answered:
"Don't equate Malaysia with other countries, if you equate Malaysia to other countries, what are you doing in Malaysia? Go to Cuba, go to Argentina, go to Libya, go everywhere." 

in which the speaker Sharifah added a statement refering to Bawani:
"Every human in here has had education, and today I am very sorry that somehow you have proven that you the very least of pendidikan [education]..."

Sharifah then gave a vast examples of problems faced the animal kingdom, cattle, goats slaughtered, sharks killed for their fins and asked Bawani:
 "Have you ever fought for animal rights?"

Sharifah add on:
"If you are not happy, you are very much suitable to go to another university!"

Happy New Year 2013!

Happy New Year 2013 to everyone. Major cities across the world celebrate the arrival of 2013 with a big bang, extravagant party and fantastic fireworks display. The scale of celebration across major cities like Sydney, Taipei, Hong Kong, Dubai, Paris, London, New York, Rio are ever increasing with a hope of a better year. Hope is not measured by scale of New Year's celebrations but by the true meaning of life that each of us live daily for the next 365 days of 2013.

Perhaps to some of the earth's 7 Billion human population, the feel good factor kicks in at 00.00 1st January 2013, and to most, it is just another ordinary public holiday and ordinary day and to some, they continue struggle to meet ends need of food, shelther and a good night sleep, and some fighting off for their lives on bed.

Let all of us put greater hope and faith in 2013, that we are able to see more in ourselves the image of a loving God as we are all created in His Image. Just as the moon shines brightly reflecting the Sun's mighty light, may we also better reflect God's love in our lives.

Let all of us make a universal New Year resolution to love God better, love our neighbours better, love the poor and the needy better and love our loved ones better. Be lovers of peace, justice and truth and shun hatred, lust and greed.

As for my fellow Malaysian citizens, 2013 will be a year of hope, a hope to see a better country, a more secure future. A year to ensure that leaders that embrace justice, accountability, transparency, democratic values and corrupt-free practices to lead our nation to greater heights.

May God Almighty bless each of us a stronger will to love others better and bless each of our lives with love, compassion, faith, peace and hope (& some good doses of laugther every now and then ;)

Joshua

In Loving Memory of Kath Ashton



Words can never described how much Aunty Kath had touched my heart within these 7 years of friendship. When words of her passing into heavenly realms at 10.15am, 28th September 2012, my life has darkened, dark black as in a cave, but soon enough a light of hope shines into that "cave" just as the ressurection of Lord Jesus on the 3rd Day after His cruxcificion, beaming a powerful hope that Aunty Kath is in heaven and enjoying the wonderful presence of the Lord and the saints now. Her words and encouragement never fails to move my heart to tears. I miss you really much Aunty Kath, till we meet again in heaven.

Thoughts and prayers are with her beloved husband Uncle Wilf and family and friends. (((HUGS))) to all of you.

Joshua

Quench your real "thirst"

It's been a while since I last posted something. Work has been keeping me occupied most of the time, but being working over-time or stressed about it does not help in finding true satisfaction and fulfilment in life. At the end of the day, a healthy relationship with God is all that matters in addition to healthy relationships with people around us.

I'll spare the audience of this blog  from Malaysia and its political situation at the moment, and share with all of you an article will touch each of our hearts and search for a true meaning in life.

Joshua

Celebrating the 10th Year of "Hairlessness" Part 2

In my Part 1 "Celebrating the 10th Year of Hairlessness" blog, I briefly talked about my alopecia and also re-tell and re-explain what Alopecia Areata is. However in the blog posting, I would like to talk more about my journey with Alopecia Areata (AA), not my entire life journey but more or less the summary direct to my alopecia journey.

As again I have AA since young but it remained only small patches of hair loss which could be "hide" by keeping longer hair. However, AA takes a turn to its most severe form "Alopecia Universalis" or AU on November 2001 when I was a month away from my 17th Birthday. So at my 17th birthday, my hair loss no longer happened only to the scalp as it progress to other parts of the body, from legs to arms, to eyebrows...etc. and the last to go was my eye lashes.

Now at 27, I am still having AU but there are a few strands of hair scattered here and there, so technically speaking, I am not 100% hairless...hahaha.

2001/2002 at 17. Being an alopecian (a person with alopecia) at the end of my high school years was tough, many of my friends were lost and do not know what to say. While I remained in a state of shock waking up every morning seeing clumps of hair on the pillow, losings clumps during shower and seeing the progressive baldness in the mirror, I stayed determine to complete my high school examination. While I displayed a strong personality at school about my ever "growing bald spots", I have not only invited stares and talks, nicknames like "baldy, baldness, monk" also surfaced. At the age of 17, one is not only concern about his/her studies, arguing with parents but also discovering the wonders of the "birds and bees", obviously the exploration of the wonders of the "birds and bees" has to be stopped abruptly at the dawn of AU (and it was really automatic). There were happenings at school and school assemblies (when I started wearing a baseball cap to cover my baldness) that remains "dark histories" in my life that I myself would not want to revisit at this point.

After I graduated high school and while waiting for a place in college, I just kept my feelings, disappointments and bitterness while I find comfort and strength in poetries, computer games and of course my pet dog, I could walk my dog for hours in the dark before going home.

Also at that point, my journey in faith has begun to take "root", it has been all "growing on the surface" when I first accepted Christ at the age of 11 or 12. "Almost" daily personal Bible reading and prayer has also started to happen, but guess what? Eventhough I want my hair back, I hardly pray for hair and I do not really know why I did not. Other areas of life had taken a turn for the worst, and so my journey with alopecia universalis began with God and my pets (animals). You'll be suprised that I trained my dog to wait till I say grace to thank God for the dog food!...hahaha.

I no longer spend time with my usual highschool friends, I don't go out without a baseball cap, my social life completely broken down until I gained entry into university to study a pre-veterinary science course which I "had to" social with my classmates. Except for occasional thoughts and covering my baldness (with a few patches of long hair here and there) with a baseball cap in class, or in the public, I turn "numb" towards my alopecia and "enjoyed" my time in university (which the environment has been less hostile to me compared to my final months in highschool)....until October 2003.

wait for my third blog posting...:) on what happened in October 2003 that changed my life forever...

Have a good day everyone

God bless us alll

Joshua