Rhythmic Yoga Flow

REACH OUT MALAYSIA AND ME

Feexa Nicoll with volunteers  during one of the many midnight runs to feed the homeless on the street of Kuala Lumpur

So many questions that people have of me pertaining to Reach Out Malaysia !  If they know me personally, bole tanya la takde masalah….yang tak kenal pulak buat andaian.  Macam-macam cerita la itu ini but it didn’t bother me because people being people – at the end of the day.  people who loved to assume, would end up looking like an idiot (sorry not able to tone this word down, an idiot is an idiot or orang Melayu panggil bodoh sombong tahap dewata …) so there!  Have coffee with me and asked what you want to know. 

First thing first, me and Pete do not do this full time.   We have a  life apart from Reach Out Malaysia . Reach Out is a part of our lives. I am not the emotional kind to write on  FB status with tears in my eyes of the stories that I have heard or experienced with the street people. Nor will I   exaggerate things to have a more  sympathetic vote  to collect more  fund or popularity. I say things as they are. Straight to the point. Needing to get the job done. Detached is the word. I consider myself like a doctor.  Emotion aside and used it only when necessary.  (Sound like a Gestapo pulak) . But I am not in this because I am answering ‘the calling’ kunun but because of the realization that somebody needs to do it and some things need to be done. Rarely do I talked about it to give a sensational stories unless I was being asked personally to give a talk or something (even then I declined many times)  because of a job or a family commitment.

So much so it is not for the public to know and to own. I would make it sensational in my private moments while sharing it with good friends or my students(in my yoga class). Much to your surprise, I am not doing this as a favor to the homeless people but rather as  a favor to myself . To remind me that I have a responsibility to carry, to remind me to count my blessings, to remind me that regardless how  bad or how hard our lives are, there are worse things that have happened to others.  So if  ever wonder  why  I hardly whined nor cried  and errr  emotionless even, it is because I do it privately in a limited time. I did what I could. If I couldn’t, I moved on.  Redha dengan ketetapannya. Bila sudah berusaha , bertawakkal . If tak kesampaian, tak mengapa mungkin masanya belum tiba….

We are just like any other volunteers, me and Pete donating our expertise to contribute to this NGO . My overused method is infecting others with kindness, everybody is encouraged to do what they could. The smallest deeds count too. Very rarely money is involved unless it has been determined for it to be used to buy food or goods for the homeless. Otherwise no one would get paid or claimed on the things they have done. It is a simple concept. One that doesn’t need a business plan nor a long forecast. One that doesn’t need a group of staff to get things done.

The truth is, we are doing Allah’s work. A simple concept of Tawakkal that everything would only materialized with his commands or with his will (dengan kehendaknya dan keizinannya). Rezeki fakir miskin pun telah ditetapkan olehnya, kita hanyalah penyebabnya.  I am just lucky to be the middle person in between his will and his subjects. You really thought  this could be planned, seriously? You really thought we would know where the rezeki (in this context, food and goodies) would come from - day in and day out for 8 years for the thousands of homeless we served ?? There were many times I didn’t know but one thing I knew for sure, he has  made it possible. The food would  be directed to us without fail Insyaallah. And if it so happened, it wasn’t to be,  so be it.  Then ‘Redha’ took place. Simple.

What do you want to see? Me dramatizing things  as the unsung heroin and crying while telling the stories of the unfortunate ones for you to be sympathetic?  No you would  only be disappointed. Pete and me have gone through the ups and downs of life. We have struggled, we have balanced and they were many times, we felt like giving it all up because of the pressure we needed to carry. While it is so easy for people to say or to bitch about things, no one in their  right mind would carry the  unnecessary responsibilities for us . (Because then they will lose the right to point out when things go wrong) . Easier said than done.

So  you may not have the privilege  to hear the complete story on the things the things that  I have done for Reach Out because I do not have to report to anyone. My conscience is to  Allah. After all, I did it for all his mercies  that he has shown to me throughout my imperfect life. I owe it to him for being born to the life I have  now (and then) -  (Not that it is the best one but nevertheless it is still a life that  I should be thankful fo, r rather than wasting my energy  wanting more)

So nope, my husband Pete does not do this full time. He has a job.  We did this after our working hours. Reach Out has got  not much money in our bank account pun.  We have to use most or  all the money to buy food or whatever necessary for the homeless.  Our  Run Leaders are not paid as well. They too raised food in their own circle of friends and people who support the good things they do.

We don’t own Reach Out. It belongs to the homeless people of  the streets of KL and Klang. We are not owned by the Government or Corporations. We are on our own. We just do it. Because we can.

Operating every day, 365, Reach Out volunteers walk the streets of Malaysia seeking out those who need assistance to make it through another day. 

Feexa Nicoll

Co Founder of Reach Out Malaysia

Footnote : REACH OUT MALAYSIA – AN NGO BASED IN MALAYSIA ( We are operated mainly by the words of mouth and from a private FB Group account)

“ASSISTING THOSE IN NEED SINCE 2008”.

“To implement programmes to deliver relief from hunger, pain, or abuse, dealing with not only the symptoms but the causes of such, through physical On Street Programmes, Awareness Campaigns, Educational Programmes, and relationships with other likeminded organizations, to provide nurture and training to the urban and rural poor and those that are in fear or in need, regardless of race, gender, religion, or culture”.

THE FASHIONABLE ACTIVIST

I work in a fashion,  beauty and health industry . I don't blame it  if people sometimes think most of those who work in this industry are just vain and full with hot  air . They think they are so bagus just because they look good or know this people and that people ... Yup these bunch are just so  insecure and all they did is comparing themselves with others... even I cannot stand them!! Well not all Fashionistas like this la... some are nice like me ...(ehehe)

Reach Out Malaysia's volunteers-at-work

Feexa Nicoll feeding cats during one of the
Reach Out 's food distribution -
we also feed the street cats apart from the homeless.
She is also the Co-Founder of Reach Out Malaysia

President Reach Out Malaysia - Pete Nicoll with Iskandar from Hope Box



Me loves catties !!

Catty ! Catty! Meow! Grrrr ! Ngeowwwwww !!!!

Moral of the story is that some people think there are better than the others. They acted high and mighty with their expensive stuff and coiffed hair or coiffed high -tudung with rambu ramba macam langsir and walked the earth like as if it belongs to them .... who called our homeless friends pemalas, drug addicts and busuk  yadda yadda ... who are so sure that they are the chosen ones to live the way they are kaya with many pairs of shoes...
I have one word for you kesiannnnn ......Because they lack compassion, empathy and passion... they need to be  fake individuals throughout  their life. One word for them ....kesiannnnn......


At night, after I threw my high heels away and put on my jeans, a Reach Out Malaysia T shirt and a pair of sneakers - I learnt how to count my blessings for  having the life I have (regardless how imperfect it is but it is a life I kinda like) - that I am still luckier than those who sleep on the streets. Right now in the country in this month of Ramadhan,  some people up there  thinks we shouldn't help or feed the poor on the streets of KL because we made the city dirty? huh?? You will ask why? Same way I did ....hmmph!

what's wrong with helping the poor? What's wrong to  get-together with your  friends and likeminded people to do what we can to help?

You know why?? People are more used to see bad things being done to each other such as bribery, abused, war, insecurity against kindness etc. They don't believe in compassion  anymore because their inner parts are already infected with  rotten eggs so stinky that they become stinky people... So much so when people do good, they questioned and disbelieved because those are the things they know nothing about....to them everything they do is with agendas behind it ...

I am not implying on anything....Im just saying ...really ...



For a week I have been fighting for Reach Out Malaysia to let us the volunteers to carry on in doing what we have been doing for the past 8 years  in helping the homeless and the poor.... and in the spirit of Ramadhan ... please let me be patience God, I know I wasn't that good lately, been growling and scratching and almost swearing. But I just say nice things  like 'Duck You!' and 'What the Duck'! Sound nicer ....

Okay Im calm, Im calm.... Breath Inhale, exhale ... hey Im a Yoga Teacher so I know how to calm myself down.

Have a great buka today peeps!

Footnote:  https://www.facebook.com/ReachOutMalaysia

FROM HIJALYSTA FEEXA NICOLL'S VIEW : IN SUPPORT OF SHEIKHA HUB

I am guilty as hell. Have been promising myself to blog. To be a consistent Fashion Blogger but I am the great Procrastinator !!  I first came across Sheikha Hub a  few months back in May I think! I was invited to the launching of the Sheikha Hub Brand and the 'Pemilihan Gadis Sheikha Hub' - The Final. On that day I have another function in Mary Kay - Party of the Year.  But I was greedy, I wanted to attend both.  So half way of Mary Kay Party of the Year I changed my clothes from the Rock and Roll  chic (which was the theme)   to being a  Hijabista and dragged my good friend Airul with me to the function at PUBLIKA.

Of course I was late (which is the normal occurrence)  but  we were on time for the Official Launching and the glam walk from the Finalists. They all wore Jovian Mandagie clothes which were simple and nice from the usual bling bling which what I was expecting ....

I admit that I was in the beginning a bit skeptical about the crowd.  Most of my other Hijab Fashionista's fashion function that I have attended much earlier were full of snobbish youngsters and  fashion bloggers who thought that they have made it happen because they had it easy! (They started fashion followers when there were fewer fashionistas so they had the upper hand  in creating their fan base etc etc) . But this Sheikha Hub function was different . Yes I saw the who's who etc but they were  from a mix crowd who have 'been there, done that' - so yup I felt instantaneously at home ....  no snobbish youngsters to snub their noses at me.... ( errr I am young but not that young ...well ok young at heart) .

Well, what was more refreshing,  the Sheikha Hub's crowned girl was an all rounder, intelligent , able to speak in English and not the typical under nourish thin girls YES !! finally the world has changed!!  Being real is more important than being 'in'.

So I did my job interviewing the girls yaddi yadda ....bla bla bla and off I whisked Airul to the nearest cafe for a cuppa coffee and to rest my feet after walking in my 5 inches leopard print high heels ...

With Suzie - The Hijabista Editor

With Nur Farahin Jamsari - one of the Judges 

The pretty Winners!

With Natasha Hudson - Sheikhahub Ambassador 

With  Sheikha's Model Search Winner Syira i

Me and the Finalists !!

A bit about Sheikha Hub:

Sheikha Hub aims to assist entrepreneurs to promote their businesses in Islamic Fashion - via online, on-ground events and educational assistance.

Mission

To provide a platform for Islamic fashion Entrepreneurs via offline(fashion shows, bazaar) and online.
To collaborate and gather the websites offering Islamic retail, trade and consultancy under one roof.
To identify upcoming designers of Islamic fashion.
To provide opportunities for regional and global exposure to the designers and Entrepreneurs.
To help and inspire small and new online start ups to flourish, through our “Give Back” programme (mentor-mentee sessions, forums)
To inspire these Enterpreneurs to be involved in charitable and community work.

I LOVE TO SAY MY SAY ...

I miss saying things here so I will say them soon ... I have so many things to say in  my head that it will burst if I dont blog soon enough!   ...


SO STAY TUNE COZ I WILL BE BACK !!

WHY DID I DECIDE TO WEAR A HIJAB - PART 3

I havent been blogging for a long time ... tried to but failed!  Many times I got stories written all over my head, thinking that I would write soon after, but failed again. So, let me try again tonight and I promise to finish it off! Well, not tonight perhaps but I will continue writing until it is finished. So for those who are reading it and thought, why is this story sort of hanging, it means, I am still in the middle of writing it.

Never mind my grammar - who needs a perfect grammar when your head flows with words - well at least for now ! It has been nearly 20 months since I decided to don on a hijab! Whhaa at? 20 months?? really???
Oh wow, time passed without any warning. The wild child who donned a Hijab - who would have thought? My mom sort of gave up the ideas that I would ever wear a tudung. Well surprise,  Mak! God works mysteriously because I was surprised myself!

Almost right after I wore my first Hijab (I remember it was pink in color with some ornament hanging down  on both sides, I will remember not to give away my first Hijab, I should show it to my grandchildren the historic item) - Okayy dont mean to make a joke out of it but I am funny! really ! many people thought so! that is if  no one pissed me off ! (Okay my kitten Anakin is putting his face on the screen trying to get my attention  - now trying to walk on the keyboard))  That's what cats do - walk on keyboard. Why? because they can!

Ok right after II decided to wear hijab, I inherited Reach Out Malaysia (www.reachoutmy.wordpress.com) and Hijab N The City (https://www.facebook.com/HTC.BY.FEEXANICOLL) - I cant help but thinking that it was God way to pacify or maybe reward me for pleasing him . He knows  me so well, that if I were to be left alone, I would end up paying attention to some stupid reasons on why my Hijab was all over the place. But No! I became a Hijab Stylist and a Fashion Designer for Muslimah contemporary fashion.  me? I thought my hands are far too wild to be artistic but they are! wahoo !! ) Okay it is 1.02 am Malaysia time yawwwwn!!!  I am so sleepy and  I need to sleep and will continue this soon !

Jewel - Hands (Video) - the song that has kept me staying strong

The song that kept me staying  strong long time ago, when darkness engulfed me - when all I have was God.
I wasn't always the way I am now - but I have traveled far ... for those who have come to me for guidance remember this,  I was like you once and all that has guided me through was to do what was right :) :)
"IN THE END ONLY KINDNESS MATTERS, I WILL GET DOWN ON MY KNEE AND I WILL PRAY"
Reach Out Malaysia was born from my wanting for kindness - if you couldn't get it, you gave it first ...




Hands"

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands