Tag: lucky number 9

Sarah Yap and Students at CSUN Present Lucky Number 9 to Malaysia Consul General

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Sarah Yap and Students at CSUN Present Lucky Number 9 to Malaysia Consul General

Sarah Presents Lucky Number 9 to our Host; Consul General Raja Saiful Ridzuwan Raja Kamaruddin at his beautiful home.

Sarah Yap and students at California State University, Northridge on my behalf of Malaysian author Rina Tham presented Lucky Number 9: Journey of a Rubbertapper’s Daughter to Malaysia Consul General Raja Saiful Ridzuwan Raja Kamaruddin and his wife who hosted a tea with
for the Malaysia Prime Minister, YAB Najib Razak, Foreign Minster, Anifah Aman and the Malaysian Association of Southern California (MASC) president Wee Tee Loh and guests.

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Sarah presents Lucky Number 9 to the Malaysia Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman

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Malaysia Prime Minister YAB Najib Razak holding Lucky Number 9 with students at California State University, Northridge (CSUN)

Excerpt: Lucky Number 9

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Excerpt: Lucky Number 9

“Everyone wants a perfect ending. But over the years, I’ve learned that some of the best poems don’t rhyme, and many great stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end. Life is about not knowing, embracing change, and taking a moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.”
—Ritu Ghatourey

Life is a million moments; that’s been ingrained since birth. But these situations, these occurrences, these stories that end up as memories can vary greatly in degree and impact. I was faced with another big moment in 1984: I was leaving home.

I was terrified, truthfully. I didn’t have a realistic dream any longer, just a destination: Kuala Lumpur. I wasn’t certain of the kind of work I would find, or of my skills, which were average at best. Mother assured me I was wrong about that. She said it’s not all about brains and solving equations; it’s about honesty and the desire and ability to work hard. She said I had always gotten straight As in those departments. That helped. Then she said that I’d better have some fast fun before I get down to the business of living, of surviving, of facing my unknown destiny head on. It was a time to celebrate my accomplishments thus far, and take a breather too.

The money in the red envelope from my father, aunts and uncles, other relatives and elderly friends of the family wasn’t enough for college, but it was something…. And so I did what other kids did. I went backpacking!

Excerpt Lucky Number 9: Journey of a Rubber Tappers Daughter

Sanmu Middle School in Fuzhou, China Receive Copies of Lucky Number 9

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Thank you so much to Mrs. Minfeng Chen who visited the welcoming atmosphere of the Sanmu Middle School in November. Her visit to the school brought back memories of her own carefree youth. Along with the principal, the school’s English teacher and librarian Mrs. Chen distributed copies of Lucky Number 9 to the excited students.

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Sanmu Middle School is a prestigious and highly ranked private junior high school in Fuzhou. (http: //www.fzyz.net). Sanmu High school’s English teacher Ms. Fuxue E (Fuxuee) read Lucky Number 9 and very much appreciated it’s positive energy and fighting spirit. Ms. Fuxue recommended that her extracurricular students read it.

Members of the Snamu School eagerly look forward to Rina Tham’s visit to Fuzhou in the near future.

Rina Tham With Honored Guest Baza Guru Rinpoche, and Composer Russ Landau Hosts Book-Signing

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Rina Tham With Honored Guest Baza Guru Rinpoche, and Composer Russ Landau Hosts Book-Signing

Topanga author Rina Tham and her family, along with honored guest Baza Guru Rinpoche, and film and television composer, Russ Landau, hosted a book-signing of Tham’s inspiring and motivational memoir, “Lucky Number 9: Journey of a Rubber Tapper’s Daughter” with 100% of the proceeds going to Yoga Gives Back to support programs for mothers and children in India.

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The open house featured music by world renowned Sitar and Tabla Maestro, Rajib Karmakar Ji, and Vineet Vyas Ji on Tabla.

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“Lucky Number 9” is the compelling story of Rina Tham’s impoverished childhood in the jungle of Malaysia.

Her philosophy is that if you live with your heart open, fear becomes an adventure. “In many ways, I had less than most, living on the rubber plantation, saving pennies for food, fighting for floor space by the window, never seeing Father, tapping trees at dawn with Mother. Then there was my arm, it brought panic….” Read how Rina overcame poverty, debilitating health issues, many other dramatic challenges and how her ultimate triumph over such adversity has resulted in a deep desire to give back to the world.

“My intention and goal today is to put this book in the hands of a girl, boy, woman, man, anywhere and especially in the isolated communities deep in the jungles of our God-given world. That would be a start,” Tham said. “This is my gift to share because I care for and love you all. It is my passion to give back.”

Rina will soon be traveling to India, Bhutan and The Pacific Rim to promote her book. If you would like Rina to be part of any special motivational programs—especially for children—you are encouraged to contact her directly at rina@rinatham.com

32X0248-300x213Rina would like to thank her husband Dr. Marshall Bernes, best friend, Chief Janitor, and supporter. Mr. Lance Roberts, owner of Froggy’s Fish Market. Ken Atchity, Lisa Cerasoli, Chelsea Mongird of The Story Merchant and Youth Ambassador, Autumn Porter of Yoga Gives Back.

Finding a New Dream

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Finding a New Dream

I didn’t get the job with the airline…

I glided from the seat, which was directly across the table from my lost destiny, out the double doors, and into the sun. I was momentarily blinded by its brightness. A strong scent awakened my senses and refocused my vision. I opened my eyes. There, all around me were an abundance of flowers, birds of paradise: Strelitzia. They were thick along edge of the building, framing both it and the pathway up to the double doors. I hadn’t noticed them on my way in. Odd. They’re my favorite flower. They are so unique, and they smell like the color purple, rich and dense. My pain was gone. Not the physical ache in my left arm. It would be years before that discomfort—a twisting feeling like someone was wringing it out like a wet towel—would fade. The pain that had caged my heart…was gone. Seven years. It took seven years to let go of my dream. You see I didn’t have a backup dream. Being a flight attendant was my destiny, and there wasn’t a dream to put in its place. It’s understandable not to let go.

Part of me thought that I had been strong and gone down fighting. I held onto the vision that I believed to be my future, even after I knew it was gone. “Don’t cheat. Don’t steal. Stand tall. Keep your dignity….” My mother’s voice was always there, the voice in my head, guiding me.
Had I? Kept my dignity? Can dignity live alongside delusion? After seven years, I realized; no, it cannot.

I still didn’t have a backup plan. I confessed my truth: I had clarity, but I was jumping without a net just like when I bungeed off a small platform into the Victoria’s Falls. The free falling was nuts. It felt like suicide. As soon as I hit the water and plunged back up, breathing was so laborious that I thought I was going to die, which caused me to instinctually scream at the top of my lungs. I continued to bounce, spin, and swing under the bridge until I literally ran out of screams. Looking back, letting go of my destiny and grabbing onto faith for the first time felt most synonymous with the bungee jumping into Victoria Falls.

“Okay. I’m ready.” I whispered to myself, and to the sun, and to the beauty around me. “Maybe the easy route is not in my cards. I trust you. I know you.”

My new dream must be to work hard, just work hard. And see where that takes me. Maybe the easy route is not flying on top of the world and serving beverages with a smile. Maybe it’s right here in my backyard. Maybe it’s somewhere else. But one thing was for sure; I’ll never know unless I let go. I placed one, final request upon my soul: May Thy will and love act upon me.

My eyes closed dry and easy that night. And I let go.

Excerpt from Lucky Number 9