This is the easiest writing that I have ever posted. Nothing is from me (except these few words in italics). I wonder who the writer was, but he or she deserves the credit for a great piece of work.
"Hi! this is one of the nicer "lists" that i have received through the Internet. I'd like to add another item: remember to thank the people who have chosen to make you a part of their lives.. so, thanks.. God bless you all!
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, SMILE. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Be true to yourself in every possible way life allows you to.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to _______.
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice Meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 4.
9. Dream more while you are awake. It really relaxes/energizes you.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water... Drink less beer, wine or whiskey.
12 . Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep you young and that's a fact.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD (or inner truth, for those who aren't religious) heals almost everything.
29. However Good or Bad a situation is, it will CHANGE.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to Death!!!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, that means including me I hope...May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door! "
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Monday, 8 September 2008
Teresa Teng - singer extraordinary
I was in Ipoh, Malaysia when I heard my brother-in-law singing a song from Teresa Teng. The next day, I was at the market in the morning when I heard someone singing another of Teresa’s hits. He was a man with a disability and on crutches. Passers-by would stop and sing into the microphone. Tears came to my eyes when I heard that song because it has a touching melody and it reminded me of my late wife as well as the tragic death of Teresa herself. Teresa died of asthma at young age of 43 while holidaying in Chiangmai, Thailand. It is really sad that the world should lose someone at a young age, especially one whose songs have touched so many.
Even though I am of Chinese origin, I was English-educated and do not understand Mandarin. I was totally into English songs.
I only got to hear Teresa’s lovely songs through my late wife, Sue. As a girl, she had been familiar with popular Chinese songs, but somehow in our years together, she had stayed away from them. It was only as she grew older that she started to take an interest in Chinese songs again. She bought some karaoke discs and started singing at home. Then the Teresa “fever” spread to a friend in Adelaide, and the two of them would spend hours singing karaoke when they met up in Adelaide. I got my dose when we are on the road. Soon, the tunes became familiar to me. Often I would ask Sue for the meaning of the songs, and I was always ready to have a few laughs over what she told me. It was hard for me to get to understand Chinese complexity.
When Sue passed away, perhaps as tragically as her idol, the CD’s were passed to her friends, as I thought I had no use for them.
So back in Ipoh, I discovered that my eldest sister is also a fan of Teresa. In fact, she told me that when Teresa died, her (my sister’s) son rang her from Singapore to share the news with her. He used to have difficulty falling asleep when he was four years old and my sister would play Teresa’s songs to get him to sleep.
I once said to Sue that perhaps she should translate the songs into English so that people like me would be able to enjoy the songs. I am happy to report that some of the songs do have English lyrics now and they can be found on the internet. Just do a Google-search. In fact, there is a facebook recording of Kenny G playing one of the hits.
I bought a CD in Ipoh, with the help of my sister who has a little grasp of Mandarin. Twenty one songs, each and every one is beautiful. I have been enjoying the songs every day since I got back to Sydney. The songs bring back sweet memories of Sue. I can picture her singing next to me as I drove from Sydney to the Gold Coast. I would whisper along. No wonder I learned to enjoy the songs. A few hours a day of listening on the road did it for me.
Teresa had a beautiful and melodious voice. She could have sung without musical backup and it would have been nice. In my opinion, she has one of the most soothing voices in the entertainment world, as a result of her gentle voice and laid-back tempo.
Her hits have beautiful melodies. Sadly I do not understand the lyrics. All the same, I enjoy the songs even though I am illiterate. One day, I may learn to sing the songs in Mandarin.
She was very popular in China, her native Taiwan, Japan, South-east Asia and the Chinese diaspora.
I wonder why someone has not turned her songs into a musical. I am sure it will take the Chinese-speaking world by storm. Any entrepreneur out there?
If you have not discovered Teresa Teng, I recommend that you go to the internet and listen for yourself “The Moon Represents my Heart” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_cEeDlop0 (Press Control and click)
Even though I am of Chinese origin, I was English-educated and do not understand Mandarin. I was totally into English songs.
I only got to hear Teresa’s lovely songs through my late wife, Sue. As a girl, she had been familiar with popular Chinese songs, but somehow in our years together, she had stayed away from them. It was only as she grew older that she started to take an interest in Chinese songs again. She bought some karaoke discs and started singing at home. Then the Teresa “fever” spread to a friend in Adelaide, and the two of them would spend hours singing karaoke when they met up in Adelaide. I got my dose when we are on the road. Soon, the tunes became familiar to me. Often I would ask Sue for the meaning of the songs, and I was always ready to have a few laughs over what she told me. It was hard for me to get to understand Chinese complexity.
When Sue passed away, perhaps as tragically as her idol, the CD’s were passed to her friends, as I thought I had no use for them.
So back in Ipoh, I discovered that my eldest sister is also a fan of Teresa. In fact, she told me that when Teresa died, her (my sister’s) son rang her from Singapore to share the news with her. He used to have difficulty falling asleep when he was four years old and my sister would play Teresa’s songs to get him to sleep.
I once said to Sue that perhaps she should translate the songs into English so that people like me would be able to enjoy the songs. I am happy to report that some of the songs do have English lyrics now and they can be found on the internet. Just do a Google-search. In fact, there is a facebook recording of Kenny G playing one of the hits.
I bought a CD in Ipoh, with the help of my sister who has a little grasp of Mandarin. Twenty one songs, each and every one is beautiful. I have been enjoying the songs every day since I got back to Sydney. The songs bring back sweet memories of Sue. I can picture her singing next to me as I drove from Sydney to the Gold Coast. I would whisper along. No wonder I learned to enjoy the songs. A few hours a day of listening on the road did it for me.
Teresa had a beautiful and melodious voice. She could have sung without musical backup and it would have been nice. In my opinion, she has one of the most soothing voices in the entertainment world, as a result of her gentle voice and laid-back tempo.
Her hits have beautiful melodies. Sadly I do not understand the lyrics. All the same, I enjoy the songs even though I am illiterate. One day, I may learn to sing the songs in Mandarin.
She was very popular in China, her native Taiwan, Japan, South-east Asia and the Chinese diaspora.
I wonder why someone has not turned her songs into a musical. I am sure it will take the Chinese-speaking world by storm. Any entrepreneur out there?
If you have not discovered Teresa Teng, I recommend that you go to the internet and listen for yourself “The Moon Represents my Heart” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_cEeDlop0 (Press Control and click)
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Human beings dressed like sheep
It is the first week of spring; still a bit nippy.
I arrived at the train station to find that a train had just been cancelled due to mechanical problems. There was a mini exodus to the train that I was catching. My train was soon packed.
A few more stops and we were standing back to back; human beings dressed as sheep. Woollens and jackets; it became almost unbearably stuffy.
The half hour ride seemed longer than ever.
I can imagine how sheep feel on packed trains on the way to slaughter.
It was a relief for this sheep when it reached its destination.
Baa baa.
I arrived at the train station to find that a train had just been cancelled due to mechanical problems. There was a mini exodus to the train that I was catching. My train was soon packed.
A few more stops and we were standing back to back; human beings dressed as sheep. Woollens and jackets; it became almost unbearably stuffy.
The half hour ride seemed longer than ever.
I can imagine how sheep feel on packed trains on the way to slaughter.
It was a relief for this sheep when it reached its destination.
Baa baa.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Time
This thought came to me the other day when I found myself doing nothing. Time is one of the few things that is free. You may be retired or underemployed but time is there for you to use. You do not have to pay for it. In fact, money cannot buy time. You can’t go out and buy $50 of time. A wealthy person on the way to heaven will not be able to buy another day on earth.
In fact, the rich and famous may have money but they do not have time. Cash-rich, time-poor. They will wish that they have more time but they find that the money is useless when it comes to buying time. So they “work hard and play hard”, another way of saying that they blow their money when they have a chance to enjoy their time. Yet time is free.
Time flies and it seems especially so as you grow older. We go to work day in and out and wish the weekend will come along quickly. While we may want time, we also want the week to go past very quickly. Twenty years of life translate to 1,000 weeks. At the rate we want the week to pass, we will soon run out of time…..in a matter of a thousand weeks.
I once spent a week by myself in a small seaside town. That was the only time ever in my life when I felt that time went very slowly. Well, that’s not quite true. Time really moves slowly when you are in pain, sick and suffering; and you desperately need a doctor to do something for you. One minute of pain is too long; one day of illness is an eternity.
Some people choose to run their own business so that they can have control of their lives and time. But the reality is often the opposite. They end up being more time-poor.
You must have friends who are good at using their time. They put so much into every minute. They will arrive at their appointments, plane, train (or whatever) just in the nick of time. The rest of us arrive a little early for our appointments, read some old magazines, look around, and wait for time. I have yet to conclude which is the better approach to time.
Run the 100 metres or the marathon? Which is the better way to live one’s life?
Time – something that money cannot buy. Some people have plenty of it; others have less.
Now that I have some time…apart from "time", what are the other things which are free? Perhaps I should spend the rest of my life looking for things that money cannot buy!
In fact, the rich and famous may have money but they do not have time. Cash-rich, time-poor. They will wish that they have more time but they find that the money is useless when it comes to buying time. So they “work hard and play hard”, another way of saying that they blow their money when they have a chance to enjoy their time. Yet time is free.
Time flies and it seems especially so as you grow older. We go to work day in and out and wish the weekend will come along quickly. While we may want time, we also want the week to go past very quickly. Twenty years of life translate to 1,000 weeks. At the rate we want the week to pass, we will soon run out of time…..in a matter of a thousand weeks.
I once spent a week by myself in a small seaside town. That was the only time ever in my life when I felt that time went very slowly. Well, that’s not quite true. Time really moves slowly when you are in pain, sick and suffering; and you desperately need a doctor to do something for you. One minute of pain is too long; one day of illness is an eternity.
Some people choose to run their own business so that they can have control of their lives and time. But the reality is often the opposite. They end up being more time-poor.
You must have friends who are good at using their time. They put so much into every minute. They will arrive at their appointments, plane, train (or whatever) just in the nick of time. The rest of us arrive a little early for our appointments, read some old magazines, look around, and wait for time. I have yet to conclude which is the better approach to time.
Run the 100 metres or the marathon? Which is the better way to live one’s life?
Time – something that money cannot buy. Some people have plenty of it; others have less.
Now that I have some time…apart from "time", what are the other things which are free? Perhaps I should spend the rest of my life looking for things that money cannot buy!
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Life's Little Equations
Some famous person said “the meaning of life is the only fortune worth finding”. I still do not know the purpose of my life i.e. I have not found my fortune yet. How do we account for our lives, if at all we want to do that.
For example:
Gave more than you took.
Loved more than you rejected.
Made more friends than enemies.
Taught more from what you learned.
Gossiped less than you knew.
Ate less than you needed.
Bought less than you desired.
Did more favours than disfavours.
Helped more than needed help.
Earned more than you spent.
Saved more than you spent.
Smiled more than you frowned.
Created more than destroyed.
Planted more trees than you cut.
Served more than others served you.
Owned more than you owed.
Made more correct decisions than the wrong ones.
The big decisions were correct; the incorrect decisions were small.
Bought low, sold high, in everything.
Made more correct turns than wrong ones.
Had more new than second hand.
Recycled more than threw away.
Used the heart more than the head.
Discerned more than you saw or heard.
Complimented more than criticized.
Laughed more than cried.
Enjoyed more than suffer.
Hurt less, forgave more.
Gained more than you lost.
Wanted less, gave more.
Tolerated more, complained less.
What’s the bottom line?
That’s for you to add up.
Does it matter? I do not think you can take the score to the next world, if there is one. I have not been there yet, so I won’t know.
Perhaps it is what people will remember you by. Oh, he or she was a good person or a bastard. Memories are short, and history may or may not remember you after a while.
Life’s little equations - just feel good when it is time to go.
For example:
Gave more than you took.
Loved more than you rejected.
Made more friends than enemies.
Taught more from what you learned.
Gossiped less than you knew.
Ate less than you needed.
Bought less than you desired.
Did more favours than disfavours.
Helped more than needed help.
Earned more than you spent.
Saved more than you spent.
Smiled more than you frowned.
Created more than destroyed.
Planted more trees than you cut.
Served more than others served you.
Owned more than you owed.
Made more correct decisions than the wrong ones.
The big decisions were correct; the incorrect decisions were small.
Bought low, sold high, in everything.
Made more correct turns than wrong ones.
Had more new than second hand.
Recycled more than threw away.
Used the heart more than the head.
Discerned more than you saw or heard.
Complimented more than criticized.
Laughed more than cried.
Enjoyed more than suffer.
Hurt less, forgave more.
Gained more than you lost.
Wanted less, gave more.
Tolerated more, complained less.
What’s the bottom line?
That’s for you to add up.
Does it matter? I do not think you can take the score to the next world, if there is one. I have not been there yet, so I won’t know.
Perhaps it is what people will remember you by. Oh, he or she was a good person or a bastard. Memories are short, and history may or may not remember you after a while.
Life’s little equations - just feel good when it is time to go.
Monday, 16 June 2008
The Greatest Loss
To lose a friend is devastating.
But there is no greater loss than someone who shared your life.
Your home, your children.
A glass of water, a plate of food.
Aspirations and tribulations.
Joys and sadness.
It is extremely tough.
You cope, you have to go on.
Make something out of your life.
You wonder on occasions, what life could have been.
Siew Tan (Sue) Cheam – Parit, Petaling Jaya, Cambridge (Boston), New York, Haberfield (Sydney).
Sultan Iskandar School. Anglo-Chinese School.
University of Malaya.
Felda, ABN-AMRO.
Red Cross, netball, long jump, badminton, even diving.
But don’t ask her to swim, jog or golf!
Beauty and brain.
A bundle of energy.
A gift from God.
Packed a lot into her life.
Did things in doubly quick time; fastest wok in town.
Achieved and gave much, but took so little.
The bloody bloody C, five years ago.
She fought her greatest battle, graciously.
Helplessly, we lost her.
We (Han, Olivia and Rachel, Joe and yours truly)
are exceedingly proud of her.
Today would have been her birthday.
She was inspiring. A life to be celebrated and remembered.
But there is no greater loss than someone who shared your life.
Your home, your children.
A glass of water, a plate of food.
Aspirations and tribulations.
Joys and sadness.
It is extremely tough.
You cope, you have to go on.
Make something out of your life.
You wonder on occasions, what life could have been.
Siew Tan (Sue) Cheam – Parit, Petaling Jaya, Cambridge (Boston), New York, Haberfield (Sydney).
Sultan Iskandar School. Anglo-Chinese School.
University of Malaya.
Felda, ABN-AMRO.
Red Cross, netball, long jump, badminton, even diving.
But don’t ask her to swim, jog or golf!
Beauty and brain.
A bundle of energy.
A gift from God.
Packed a lot into her life.
Did things in doubly quick time; fastest wok in town.
Achieved and gave much, but took so little.
The bloody bloody C, five years ago.
She fought her greatest battle, graciously.
Helplessly, we lost her.
We (Han, Olivia and Rachel, Joe and yours truly)
are exceedingly proud of her.
Today would have been her birthday.
She was inspiring. A life to be celebrated and remembered.
Friday, 13 June 2008
Words for Living
I watched an inspiring story from the American ABC last week. (Who says TV is not educational!) It was about an American professor who was given only a few months to live, and what he decided to do during the last few months of his life. If you go to Google and do a search of The Last Lecture, you will be able to read all about it.
One of the things that caught my interest was something that his wife said.
The TV presenter asked her what she tells herself every day, knowing that her husband will be gone soon and will leave her with three young children. Without any hesitation, she said “I have all that I need”. That was her answer. Period.
It was her way of coping with the situation she was facing. It is true that she probably will have adequate finances and a house to raise the children. Plus she can always go back to work at some time in the future. She has three lovely children, relatives and friends to support her. So in a sense she has all that she needs. It is better than thinking about all the uncertainties that she will soon face when her husband dies; better than giving herself a negative outlook.
At times of needs, we need words that will reassure us and give us some hope and optimism; words that make up a mantra, not in the incantation sense but as a way of thinking.
In difficult times, one’s mind can be bombarded by fear, anxiety and questions. For every positive thought, there may be three or four negative counter points. It is important to be able to focus on an important thought (or pattern of thinking) that will stay above all others. Every time, we have some negative thoughts, we go back to our mantra to keep ourselves sane, rational, and focused (on the right things).
Years ago, I had a friend who was a recent migrant to Australia. He found it very difficult to adjust to the new country and I used to re-assure him by saying “things can only improve”. I would like to think that those words gave him hope and sustained him through his difficult days.
When my late wife was fighting cancer, we came up with “do not get ahead of the situation; take one day at a time”. Every time we worry or feel anxious to find out what was happening, we calmed ourselves with those words.
When she passed away, I dealt with it by saying “there are things that I cannot change”. If I could have changed things, she would not have got cancer or died from it, but I couldn’t. I did all I could to give her tender loving care, motivate her through the difficult days, celebrate her good days, talked her through the dark hours, just about everything that one could possibly do, but they all came to nothing at the end. So I have to tell myself to accept her death as fate, God’s will or whatever, without any guilt.
Another mantra that I find useful for myself is “don’t look back, look ahead”. When things seem dismay because of a mistake, there is really no point in blaming yourself or anyone else. Just cop it sweet and move on with your life. No matter how much you may have lost, think “I have life”.
Life has its ups and downs. There may be a few occasions in your life when you will find yourself in a tough situation. I do hope that you will find the words to help you keep going. Talking to others about your problems may allow you to come up with the words that will be meaningful to you. Good luck!
One of the things that caught my interest was something that his wife said.
The TV presenter asked her what she tells herself every day, knowing that her husband will be gone soon and will leave her with three young children. Without any hesitation, she said “I have all that I need”. That was her answer. Period.
It was her way of coping with the situation she was facing. It is true that she probably will have adequate finances and a house to raise the children. Plus she can always go back to work at some time in the future. She has three lovely children, relatives and friends to support her. So in a sense she has all that she needs. It is better than thinking about all the uncertainties that she will soon face when her husband dies; better than giving herself a negative outlook.
At times of needs, we need words that will reassure us and give us some hope and optimism; words that make up a mantra, not in the incantation sense but as a way of thinking.
In difficult times, one’s mind can be bombarded by fear, anxiety and questions. For every positive thought, there may be three or four negative counter points. It is important to be able to focus on an important thought (or pattern of thinking) that will stay above all others. Every time, we have some negative thoughts, we go back to our mantra to keep ourselves sane, rational, and focused (on the right things).
Years ago, I had a friend who was a recent migrant to Australia. He found it very difficult to adjust to the new country and I used to re-assure him by saying “things can only improve”. I would like to think that those words gave him hope and sustained him through his difficult days.
When my late wife was fighting cancer, we came up with “do not get ahead of the situation; take one day at a time”. Every time we worry or feel anxious to find out what was happening, we calmed ourselves with those words.
When she passed away, I dealt with it by saying “there are things that I cannot change”. If I could have changed things, she would not have got cancer or died from it, but I couldn’t. I did all I could to give her tender loving care, motivate her through the difficult days, celebrate her good days, talked her through the dark hours, just about everything that one could possibly do, but they all came to nothing at the end. So I have to tell myself to accept her death as fate, God’s will or whatever, without any guilt.
Another mantra that I find useful for myself is “don’t look back, look ahead”. When things seem dismay because of a mistake, there is really no point in blaming yourself or anyone else. Just cop it sweet and move on with your life. No matter how much you may have lost, think “I have life”.
Life has its ups and downs. There may be a few occasions in your life when you will find yourself in a tough situation. I do hope that you will find the words to help you keep going. Talking to others about your problems may allow you to come up with the words that will be meaningful to you. Good luck!
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