Growing up in a rather strict Christian family environment, my siblings and I were granted minimal access to TV and radio. At that time, “internet” wasn’t even part of our vocab, so as kids, our form of entertainment included:

1) Main getah (jumping “rope” made out of rubber bands)

The “rope” is woven by rubber bands and is used to challenge one’s ability to jump over it, as the height gradually increased with each successful attempt. Not recommended for people with hairy legs.

[Photo credit: http://flourbasic.blogspot.com/2014/01/lompat-getah-aka-zero-point.html]

2) Hopscotch

I believe this was a universal form of entertainment for most children born before the 90’s and requires no further explanation.

[Photo credit: http://goodtoknow.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/111/00000c81d/218d/Hopskotch.jpg]

3) Batu tujuh (translated literally as seven stones)

Better known as “batu seremban”, the idea of this game is to flick one stone up while sweeping as many of the remaining ones before catching the stone that had been flicked. A quiet game of balance, speed and agility. A variation of this game uses tiny square rice pillows instead of stones.

[Photo credit: http://syahdinabatrisyia.blogspot.com/2013/06/batu-seremban.html]

4) Guli (marbles)

A border is set and players aim to hit their opponents’ marbles out. A non-violent game of strategy and accuracy.

[Photo credit: http://guliroket.com/contact/]

Sure, there was a host of other activities that proved to be truly amusing to us back then (waaaaaaay before the age of iPads and touch-screen phones). I remember playing with fighting fishes, flying home-made kites, congkak, jumping ropes and my ultimate favourite…

ttp://www.contengconteng.com/2013/02/badminton-berpagar.html

…playing badminton over the house gate. Classic.

As you’d probably guess by now, TV was a treat; and even more so when you have your church Pastor as a dad. A disciplinarian at that, mind you.

I remember having a 30-minute daily allowance to sit in front of the TV. That meant that I had to choose wisely. Very wisely.

You can imagine the dilemma I faced as a child, when my favourite shows like MacGyver, Nightrider and Airwolf were showing on the same day as cartoons like Voltron, Care Bears, Jem and Thundercats.

Then there was Transformers. Remember this?

This is a must see for all my older heads who no about the original cartoon

Now that was the Transformers I grew up with. #nostalgia

In 2007, thanks to Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg, the first live action film of Transformers was born. Every 2 years since then, a new installment to the movie was introduced, bringing us to Transformers: Age of Extinction, released 12 days ago.

Despite being the worst-reviewed film of the franchise, Age of Extinction still proved worthy of some valuable leadership lessons.

In this movie, our all-time hero – Optimus Prime – proved that great leaders create loyalty, so much so that an Autobot actually said,

"You just want to die for the guy."

"That's the kind of leader you die following." - Crosshairs

A few of my favourite quotes from the movie:

Rule? Don’t make it sound so harsh. It’s wisdom. -Cade Yeager

At times, we tend to misinterpret valuable advice from leadership figures as rules, especially when they prevent us from acting according to our impulses. Never do something permanently foolish because you are temporarily upset.

I’m doing things out of my league. -Cade Yeager

In life, if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything. Successful people willingly do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do. Don’t be afraid to push yourself to extend the boundaries of your capabilities.

You gotta have faith, Prime. Maybe not in who we are, but who we can be. -Cade Yeager

Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come. We are destined for greatness. However, that path to greatness requires effort and effort is only effort when it begins to hurt. Don’t give up.

Focus! Stop talking! -Shane Dyson

Stop talking and start doing.

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Let me know what you think of the movie! Meantime, have a wonderful day ahead super people! Thank you for inspiring this post!

Those who know us well enough will concur that #babybaby and I are one of the most boring young couples you could ever find.

Well, for starters, we’d pick home over a night out, movie in our living room over the cinema, bottled water over any form of alcohol, shopping for gadgets over clothes. Perhaps that’s why we ended up marrying each other. *laugh* Perfect, right?

I believe we can actually count the number of times we’ve been out to the movies with 10 fingers. Or less. This is over 2 years, mind you. So yes, we have a lot of catching up to do.

Last Friday we contributed one more finger to our movie counter through a date with the mutants via the highest-grossing film in the X-Men film series. Besides the fact that it raked in USD310+ million in just the first seven days of release, I must say that this seventh installment in the X-Men film series left quite an impression on me, a layman.

X-Men: Days of Future Past.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST - Official Trailer: The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from "X-Men: First Class," in an epic battle that must change the past -- to save our future.

While I leave the proper review of this engaging movie to the X-Men purists, I’d like to share 6 powerful leadership lessons I learnt from Charles Xavier during my 131 minutes with the mutants. :-D

Logan, I was a very different man. Lead me, guide me, be patient with me. -Charles Xavier

Always be remember and be grateful to the leadership figures in your life who chose to see past your immaturity and focus on your potential, making you the leader you are today; be it at your workplace, your social circles or even your home.

I’ve been trying to control you since the day we met, and look where that’s got us. I have faith in you. -Charles Xavier

There couldn’t be a clearer definition of management vs. leadership. Leadership 101. Are you a manager who tells people what to do, or are you a leader who nurtures and empowers others?

Enough ripples and you change time, for the future is never truly set. -Charles Xavier

Never discount the small things that make the big difference. Every decision you make today will affect your future. Never do something permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset.

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” –Vincent Can Gogh

Your best is enough. Trust me. -Charles Xavier

No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress as a person or a leader, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying. Remember also, that when values are clear, decisions are easy.

The greatest gift we have is to bear their pain without breaking and it comes from your most human part, hope. -Charles Xavier

Leaders are dealers in hope. As a leader, your job is to keep hope alive. Never give up on the people you love, no matter how unlovable they might be at times.

“The man who can keep his focus on what he wants can achieve it without feeling the pain it took to get him there.” –Dennis Devader

Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, it doesn’t mean they’re lost forever. -Charles Xavier

Failure is never final. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come. Like John Maxwell once said, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”

Thanks for reading! Have you watched the movie and are there any lessons or quotes you'd like to add? :-D

The transformation of Transformers