09.09.09

Just like last year's 08.08.08 which was also set as the date of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, 9 September 2009 (or simply 09.09.09) is the day that people all over the world go all out to commemorate a date that will only appear in the next millennium. That is the next time you see this dates will probably be in 3008 and 3009. Actually, for the next 3 years, dates that appear in this order can still be observed. Namely, 10.10.10 (10 October 2010) , 11.11.11 (11 November 2011), and 12.12.12 (12 December 2012), but the significance that these dates hold will be a matter to be told at a time close to the date.


The 9 September (09.09.09) is publicised as an auspicious date, for the number nine signifies longevity in Chinese belief. Due to this belief, couples choose to solemnise their wedding on this very auspicious date. Just a point to ponder, is the Hungry Ghost Festival over? If it isn't then this date will fall in the Hungry Ghost Festival month which the Chinese deem taboo to wed in this month. Then the situation would be one of : "To wed or not to wed?"


This whole fengshui thing has made people of all walks of life lose all their senses. Everyone believes that they can alter and tweak their lives by outsmarting God and his plans. Believing that an expert can help them change their future altogether by choosing a date where all things good fall perfectly into place to carry out their important events like wedding, opening ceremonies, delivery dates (labour date) and moving dates (when to move in or out of place) and by pass the inauspicious dates altogether.


However smart one can be, no one can outsmart God. For He is the one that created you. Everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason. Be it a success or a failure, it is a lesson to be learned. From our achievements we learn what ought to be repeated in future if a similar situation occurs, whilst for failures we learn what ought to be avoided or ways top overcome if encountered in future. Choosing an auspicious date does not imply that the future will be brighter. We are responsible for our own actions and it is not the date that is responsible for what good or bad that happens in our lives.


Being wed on 09.09.09 does not imply that the marriage will last forever. The determining factor of a long lasting marriage lies in the couple themselves and not the date they wed. A date is just a date for us to remember something that took place on that specific date in history. If the person that you choose to spend the rest of your life with has an unfaithful nature,no matter which auspicious date you choose to be wed will not change the fact that this person will stray at some point. A tiger will never lose its stripes. Similarly, a pumpkin can not be transformed into a watermelon just by painting stripes on it.


However, these dates (09.09.09 & 08.08.08) does proof to be a useful marketing gimmick. Every trade and business make use of these widely publicise dates to escalate their sales and earn big bucks from it. Truth behold is that everyone believes in fairytale and happily ever after, whether we admit or not. It is not wrong to have this belief, but it has to be to a certain extent. We need to be rational in life, knowing how to separate fact from fiction.


Anyway, congratulations to all the wedded couples that choose to tie the knot on the 9 September 2009. May your marriage be everlasting. For those who did not tie the knot on this date, this does not imply that your marriage will be short lived but it proves that you have your mind over your heart.