Friday, September 21, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Food For Thought...
At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name isMildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from
Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano
lessons-something I've done for over 30 years.
Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical
ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have
taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what
I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby.
Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him offfor his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!)begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said
that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano.
So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons
and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As muchas Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed toexcel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces
that I require all my students to learn.
Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and
tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always
say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed
hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his
mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged
car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.
Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about
calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had
decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped
coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!
Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the
upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me
if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for
current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did notqualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him
to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf .... I've
just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him
to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was
something inside of me saying that it would be all right.
The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed
with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the
program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a
finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at
the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance
through my "curtain closer."
Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been
practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes
were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an egg-beater through
it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why
didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this specialnight?"
Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he
announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was
not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the
keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimoto fortissimo...from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that
Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so
well by people of his age.
After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and
everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I
ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard
you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? " Through the microphoneRobby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf, remember I told you my mom was
sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And
well, she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard
me play. I wanted to make it special."
There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from
Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into fostercare, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought
to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my
pupil.
No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy, of
Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who
taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in
yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know
why.
Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.
Des Moines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano
lessons-something I've done for over 30 years.
Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical
ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have
taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what
I call "musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby.
Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him offfor his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys!)begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said
that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano.
So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons
and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As muchas Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed toexcel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces
that I require all my students to learn.
Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and
tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always
say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed
hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his
mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged
car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in.
Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about
calling him but assumed because of his lack of ability, that he had
decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped
coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!
Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the
upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me
if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for
current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did notqualify. He said that his mother had been sick and unable to take him
to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf .... I've
just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him
to play in the recital. Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was
something inside of me saying that it would be all right.
The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed
with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the
program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a
finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at
the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance
through my "curtain closer."
Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been
practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes
were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an egg-beater through
it. "Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why
didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this specialnight?"
Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he
announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was
not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the
keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimoto fortissimo...from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that
Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so
well by people of his age.
After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and
everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I
ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard
you play like that Robby! How'd you do it? " Through the microphoneRobby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf, remember I told you my mom was
sick? Well, actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And
well, she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard
me play. I wanted to make it special."
There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from
Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into fostercare, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought
to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my
pupil.
No, I've never had a prodigy but that night I became a prodigy, of
Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who
taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in
yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know
why.
Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
In the 1500's
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water...
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.
Getting quite an education, aren't you?
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old...
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat...
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring? Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.
These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water...
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a thresh hold.
Getting quite an education, aren't you?
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old...
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat...
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring? Educate someone. Share these facts with a friend.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Cow Corp. stories
TRADITION CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.
AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when the cow drops dead.
A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them
World-Wide.
A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk
themselves.
A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.
An ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch and forget about the cows
A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.
A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment and high bovine productivity.
You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.
AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.
A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at RM0.06 per litre. Then
midway through, you raised the price to RM0.60 or you cut the supply. When
the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want
RM1.20. The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk
that comes from recycled cows or the cow urine instead. Your two cows
retire together with the Prime Minister with all the shit around him.
A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.>
One cow-peh and one cow-bu.
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.
AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when the cow drops dead.
A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and
produce twenty times the milk.
You then create clever cow cartoon images called 'Cowkimon' and market them
World-Wide.
A GERMAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk
themselves.
A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.
An ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You break for lunch and forget about the cows
A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5,000 cows and none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.
A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment and high bovine productivity.
You have the newsman who reported on the numbers arrested.
AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.
A MALAYSIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You signed a 40-year contract to supply milk at RM0.06 per litre. Then
midway through, you raised the price to RM0.60 or you cut the supply. When
the buyer agrees to the new price, you change your mind again and now want
RM1.20. The buyer decided you can keep the milk and they go look for milk
that comes from recycled cows or the cow urine instead. Your two cows
retire together with the Prime Minister with all the shit around him.
A SINGAPOREAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.>
One cow-peh and one cow-bu.
Monday, May 14, 2007
How did Mother's Day begin?
I just found this article by chance, some Yahoo advertisement about Mother's Day...
Mothers (most of 'em anyway) are great. They're loving and selfless and will stand behind their kids no matter how damning the prosecution's evidence. For these reasons and more, a woman named Anna M. Jarvis started the Mother's Day tradition in the early 20th century.
Ms. Jarvis, though never a mother herself, was extremely devoted to her own mom. After the elder Jarvis passed away in 1905, Anna began seeking ways to honor not only her own mom, but all mothers. She started by organizing a Mother's Day Memorial Committee at her local church, but that was just the beginning.
Over the years, Jarvis wrote letters and gave speeches pushing for a national holiday. Alas, the vast majority "fell on deaf ears." Still, Jarvis pressed on, and by 1909, "forty-five states, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico observed the day." In 1914, a resolution was passed by Congress and approved by President Woodrow Wilson, declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The holiday has been around ever since.
It's worth noting that Jarvis wanted to keep Mother's Day from becoming commercialized. Obviously she wasn't able to do that, but you can still celebrate the way Ms. Jarvis intended -- skip the overpriced flowers and just spend a little time with Mom instead
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Mama you...
Its was exactly a year ago that I recieved an email from Sher. It was a poem fit for Mother's Day, written by her friend. (Hope you dont mind sher? :) She said "It kind of hits chords you never knew they might because it's so so honest..." Well, I think so too ;p
Mama you raised me right...
From the cradle of your arms you taught me love
With every tear that i shed you showed me that
sometimes real men need to cry
for it is in their weakness they will find strength
Your very essence flows through me,
nutured in a perfect womb
4eva a part of me as i chart a path in this life
safe in your endless prayers and never failing thoughts,
i love you 4 always, my queen - the best part of me...
As we write our 'mother - son book'
there have been pages of hurt and pain
but they conclude with chapters of our unfaltering love
our endless bond - fashioned from Heaven
I may be gone for many seasons
but from you i am never far
for i feel u with every beat of my heart
and face the tomorrows guided by the foundation that you lay
preparing for the struggle of being a better man and triumph
of making you proud...
because Mama you raised me right.
Mama you raised me right...
From the cradle of your arms you taught me love
With every tear that i shed you showed me that
sometimes real men need to cry
for it is in their weakness they will find strength
Your very essence flows through me,
nutured in a perfect womb
4eva a part of me as i chart a path in this life
safe in your endless prayers and never failing thoughts,
i love you 4 always, my queen - the best part of me...
As we write our 'mother - son book'
there have been pages of hurt and pain
but they conclude with chapters of our unfaltering love
our endless bond - fashioned from Heaven
I may be gone for many seasons
but from you i am never far
for i feel u with every beat of my heart
and face the tomorrows guided by the foundation that you lay
preparing for the struggle of being a better man and triumph
of making you proud...
because Mama you raised me right.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Will I....??
It's 1am. 32 hours away from yet another Dental Materials test. What is wrong with me? A wasted weekend, a wasted monday night and another wasted cup of coffee. Where have you been Mr. Motivation? You elusive piece of s***!! I've only briefly seen you in my early secondary school life...you left as quietly as you came. Hold on..am I in self denial?? Am I making excuses to comfort myself, blaming it on "motivation"? Hmmm...maybe I am, maybe I'm just plain lazy...why is it that everytime it's close to exams or when the results come back to mock me, do I feel like this?
Sure, India has been a wild experience, a simple life. It's no where compared to KL, unless you were born in the late 40s. Oh how beautiful KL has become, with a humble home at the junction of Lorong Jarak. Its only two and a half time zones away, about 1/6 away around the world. But thats no excuse. I'm not the best student here, not even in my small class. I want to be, but reality is I cant go with this kind of attitude. In fact, I'll never get anywhere in life with this kind of attitude.
It's nothing to do with motivation. Since primary school days, we've been told to wear our uniforms neatly, keep our hair short, dont talk while the teacher is teaching, finish your homework, sleep early, wake up early, line up upon entering class, bow when you greet a teacher etc. Then you reach secondary shcool, pretty much the same, keep your nails short, keep a gel-free hairdo, dont sleep in class, dont skip class, and the list goes on. Its the same for scouts or any society for that matter, 10 push-ups per missing item of your full uniform, 10 push-ups per minute late to fall-in. And if your lucky, frog jump round the 'tapak', yipee!
Why go through the torture? Why do we follow stupid rules? Why must we always listen to the Penolong Kanan Hal Ehwal Murid? Fear of public caning? Hmmm...no no. I guess one word can sum it up. Besides academic reasons, discipline completes the word "education". Its one thing that I've never really aquired. I've obeyed, but thats it. The message was always clear. Even at home it was clear, my father's stern face will I never forget. It has occured way too often...
Discipline doesnt exactly hit the right spot. Its self-discipline. All those years of education, I've only managed a handful of As...which has all been forgotten and might I add, quite useless at this point of time. It doesnt matter whether you come from Catholic High School or SMK Pulau Ketam, it's how much you absorb and aquire at the end of it that really matters. Its what makes you persevere in the future. Its the "stuff" that matters in life. Not to mention when your doing a course like BDS or MBBS or any other course I presume.
Still which brings me back to my age old complain...Why won't I study? I mean, I have what I need, and I have what I want (almost...). A nice laptop to use, a nice table, a chair, a lamp in a single, spacious, fully air-conditioned room. Loads of maggi mee in my larder, pineapple tarts, oreos...and oh, not to mention a temporary new roommate from Perak...haha. (He's sleeping btw, using my extra blankett too!)
SIGH...
Here I am typing this entry, my book is still staring at me. Its mocking my laziness damn it! Look, its doing it again! You know whats my problem? I complain too much...my father had much tougher times when he was a student, and he doesnt complain at all, in fact, he doesnt like to talk about it. But look where he is now, and he didnt get there by complaining. I respect him wholely, and I'll be glad if I become half of what he is, rather, what he's made out of. People say I look like him, thats about the closest I get to being something like him. I'm proud to be his son, and to have brothers whom I look up to. I know I can be among them, I'm not that far I think...
Right now...it all begins with this stupid green book in front of me. It's not too late to stuff what I need to know for the coming test. Oh I will do it. I'm somewhat a rebel...but mostly a rebel for other non-important things. Not this time though...I've studied the chapters before, I can do it again. I have to tame my inner demons, show them who's boss. It isnt easy being far away from home, I guess it makes you more mature, but only if you manage to battle through it. The reward is more than just a certificate or knowledge or character.....it's blissful wisdom....
SIGH
This clearly isn't just a class test, whatever it is...I will get it right this time....will I...??
Sure, India has been a wild experience, a simple life. It's no where compared to KL, unless you were born in the late 40s. Oh how beautiful KL has become, with a humble home at the junction of Lorong Jarak. Its only two and a half time zones away, about 1/6 away around the world. But thats no excuse. I'm not the best student here, not even in my small class. I want to be, but reality is I cant go with this kind of attitude. In fact, I'll never get anywhere in life with this kind of attitude.
It's nothing to do with motivation. Since primary school days, we've been told to wear our uniforms neatly, keep our hair short, dont talk while the teacher is teaching, finish your homework, sleep early, wake up early, line up upon entering class, bow when you greet a teacher etc. Then you reach secondary shcool, pretty much the same, keep your nails short, keep a gel-free hairdo, dont sleep in class, dont skip class, and the list goes on. Its the same for scouts or any society for that matter, 10 push-ups per missing item of your full uniform, 10 push-ups per minute late to fall-in. And if your lucky, frog jump round the 'tapak', yipee!
Why go through the torture? Why do we follow stupid rules? Why must we always listen to the Penolong Kanan Hal Ehwal Murid? Fear of public caning? Hmmm...no no. I guess one word can sum it up. Besides academic reasons, discipline completes the word "education". Its one thing that I've never really aquired. I've obeyed, but thats it. The message was always clear. Even at home it was clear, my father's stern face will I never forget. It has occured way too often...
Discipline doesnt exactly hit the right spot. Its self-discipline. All those years of education, I've only managed a handful of As...which has all been forgotten and might I add, quite useless at this point of time. It doesnt matter whether you come from Catholic High School or SMK Pulau Ketam, it's how much you absorb and aquire at the end of it that really matters. Its what makes you persevere in the future. Its the "stuff" that matters in life. Not to mention when your doing a course like BDS or MBBS or any other course I presume.
Still which brings me back to my age old complain...Why won't I study? I mean, I have what I need, and I have what I want (almost...). A nice laptop to use, a nice table, a chair, a lamp in a single, spacious, fully air-conditioned room. Loads of maggi mee in my larder, pineapple tarts, oreos...and oh, not to mention a temporary new roommate from Perak...haha. (He's sleeping btw, using my extra blankett too!)
SIGH...
Here I am typing this entry, my book is still staring at me. Its mocking my laziness damn it! Look, its doing it again! You know whats my problem? I complain too much...my father had much tougher times when he was a student, and he doesnt complain at all, in fact, he doesnt like to talk about it. But look where he is now, and he didnt get there by complaining. I respect him wholely, and I'll be glad if I become half of what he is, rather, what he's made out of. People say I look like him, thats about the closest I get to being something like him. I'm proud to be his son, and to have brothers whom I look up to. I know I can be among them, I'm not that far I think...
Right now...it all begins with this stupid green book in front of me. It's not too late to stuff what I need to know for the coming test. Oh I will do it. I'm somewhat a rebel...but mostly a rebel for other non-important things. Not this time though...I've studied the chapters before, I can do it again. I have to tame my inner demons, show them who's boss. It isnt easy being far away from home, I guess it makes you more mature, but only if you manage to battle through it. The reward is more than just a certificate or knowledge or character.....it's blissful wisdom....
SIGH
This clearly isn't just a class test, whatever it is...I will get it right this time....will I...??
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Closer to home...
Story 1
It was a dark and rainy day...in the afternoon to be exact - typical KL weather. I was waiting for the car at the lobby of KLCC and saw the usual string of people queueing for taxis. A white-haired man, probably in his 60s, rushed out under the rain to a taxi with his hand covering his head, opened the door and asked the driver if he was going his way.
My first impression was "kiasu"!! But after what seemed to be a successful arrangement, the man closed the door, and signaled to his wife, who came immediately. He waited for her patiently under the rain until she came, opened the back door for her, waited until she got in and closed the door. Then he opened the front door for himself and got in...I think he was a true gentleman. I mean, he could have easily signaled to her to come and get into the car first!
Story 2
A van approached a church and stopped his vehicle, as if waiting for someone to come. True enough when my aunt came out, she was approached by a stranger with a stack of 50sing dollar notes. Quite a thick stack to be exact.
He said " Aunty, aunty...here take this money!!" Startled, my aunt clutched her handbag tighter, recoiled and declined the money.
"No aunty! you must take it...last time you helped me and gave me some money, now I've become rich...you see, I bought this van."
"It's ok, you can keep it, I dont want your money", still shocked..my aunt left in a hurry.
It was not until she reached home when she began to think about that man. Strangely, he looked vaguely familiar. She gave it a little more thought, and realised that she did help a man once while she was at church. She remembered giving him 30dollars or probably more, many many years ago.
I suppose small actions and gestures can make a difference. I'm sure that old couple has had a successful marriage even after so long; and that stranger probably has a changed life because of someone felt generous that day. Whether its between family, or stangers...think. Just think of the difference you can make, if you bother...
It was a dark and rainy day...in the afternoon to be exact - typical KL weather. I was waiting for the car at the lobby of KLCC and saw the usual string of people queueing for taxis. A white-haired man, probably in his 60s, rushed out under the rain to a taxi with his hand covering his head, opened the door and asked the driver if he was going his way.
My first impression was "kiasu"!! But after what seemed to be a successful arrangement, the man closed the door, and signaled to his wife, who came immediately. He waited for her patiently under the rain until she came, opened the back door for her, waited until she got in and closed the door. Then he opened the front door for himself and got in...I think he was a true gentleman. I mean, he could have easily signaled to her to come and get into the car first!
Story 2
A van approached a church and stopped his vehicle, as if waiting for someone to come. True enough when my aunt came out, she was approached by a stranger with a stack of 50sing dollar notes. Quite a thick stack to be exact.
He said " Aunty, aunty...here take this money!!" Startled, my aunt clutched her handbag tighter, recoiled and declined the money.
"No aunty! you must take it...last time you helped me and gave me some money, now I've become rich...you see, I bought this van."
"It's ok, you can keep it, I dont want your money", still shocked..my aunt left in a hurry.
It was not until she reached home when she began to think about that man. Strangely, he looked vaguely familiar. She gave it a little more thought, and realised that she did help a man once while she was at church. She remembered giving him 30dollars or probably more, many many years ago.
I suppose small actions and gestures can make a difference. I'm sure that old couple has had a successful marriage even after so long; and that stranger probably has a changed life because of someone felt generous that day. Whether its between family, or stangers...think. Just think of the difference you can make, if you bother...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Inevitable Love; elusive Death...
Doesnt make sense? No? A paradox perhaps?
Love and death, love and lost...they're all similar in one way or another. They could both tear and wear and rape the strongest of hearts. Cruel, cold and agonisingly long. So why cant it they be interchagable? They both make you feel crushed inside, both take a long time to get over, and they somehow make you reflect on yourself. When one falls out of love, death appears more of a reality; When one dies, love naturally fades. They seem to dominate our emotions, make you feel smaller on the inside and sadder on the outside...I must say that of all the feelings, these two have to be king, afterall they are the backbone of most of our problems.
Sure, love can be a bliss, but for how long? No one can tell. Forever? Bullshit...thats not true love, that becomes security. You wont leave because you might not find another half just as good or better, or worse, you leave becuse you did! You're afraid to confront you're friends or family. You dont want to feel the agony of a breakup/divorce. You're afaid of what people might talk of you, of what they might say, and of what they might think. You dont want to face the questions of "Why Why and Why?" Secretly, you're not confident of yourself, can you live alone without him/her? Who's gonna support me/the children? Will I lose half my property if I were to divorce? Get real...most of us are hypocrites, we're lying to ourselves. Is love really that "pure"? Think about it carefully...you know the answer. I'll tell you what love is, love is cruel...it draws you into that pool of all those "impurities", in exchange for a sense of pride, "...I have a boyfriend, I'd do anything for him; my girlfriend is the sweetest little thing I know etc..." (is that so?), in exhange for occasional butterflies in your stomach, in exhcange for being treated with a special kinda attention, in exhange of a pretty-looking face....Bah!!
Like love, life is temporary. Death comes whether you like it or not. It probably is another form of so called "love". It affects your emotions negatively, it just gets you. Death of a family member or someone dear to you is a very sad thing to happen. But of course some deaths, to a certain extent, like love, is not truly genuine. Do you honestly think the people running orphanages or old folk's homes gives a damn if one of their inputs have died? Well, maybe some..but I can gurantee that if they were within their power to do/get anything they wanted to in life, they certainly wouldnt settle for that job. We've heard of they saying, "Where there's a will, there are relatives." People moan and people cry at a funeral..if not, what would others think? You're here for the food? Or just to show your face? We're all selfish and are moved/pressured into doing things. Guys flirt because they want attention, or girls to think them funny. They play on pity for attention, which ironically, makes them pitiful.
Go ahead and feel offended, I dont really care.. death sucks, love too. If you are, it simply means that you've never really seen the full side of this world cuz you've been just too comfortable with your life. It is full of hippocracy, and predators. I do believe you're aware of everything, but ur just lying to protect yourself. Dont.
Death sucks. Love too. Obviously, I'm mildly affected by these two plastic scenarios, which is probably why I'm over reacting....Sherry died this morning. She wasnt shown as much love as I'd like to admit, none the less, she did make a difference in my life. I pray she finds her way and hope our paths will cross again. May she rest in peace and with all my love...
Saturday, March 24, 2007
kaput...
I realised how important the internet can be, but only if you really need to use it. Going without an internet connection for more than a month, especially having to plan a freakin' holiday or booking a train ticket, plus nauseating exams, can be considerably frustrating...
Oh well, dont take things for granted!!
Jeers!
Oh well, dont take things for granted!!
Jeers!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Founder's Day...
Towards the end of his life, although still in comparatively good health, he prepared a farewell message to his Scouts for publication after his death. It read:
"Dear Scouts - if you have ever seen the play 'Peter Pan' you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possible, when the time came for him to die, he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of goodbye.
Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over. I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have a happy life too.
I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness does not come from being rich, nor merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.
Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.
But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. 'Be Prepared' i this way, to live happy and to die happy - stick to your Scout Promise always - even after you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you to do it.
Your friend,
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
V for Valentine's
Every year on Valentine's day, there's always going to be someone that doesn't have anyone to tell them that they love them. Every year on Valentine's day, someone will be sitting at home alone with no one to care.
Then there are those people who have someone on Valentine's day, someone to hold, someone to love. Sometimes the ones who are lonely see the ones who are not and wish they had that. So I'd like to share these string of words on this Valentine's Day...
The day of love draws near,
Time for love and flowers,
Fancy candlelit dinners,
Staring at each other for hours.
The day of the lovers,
On a Wednesday this year,
More suicides occur,
As this dreadful day draws near.
Oh Valentines day,
Cruel Valentines day.
Why do you taunt me,
With your melting candy hearts,
And your paper "I love you"s?
With your sugar coated lies,
That taste as sweet as hate.
Watching lovers cuddles,
Just deepens the pain.
"I'm a nobody, I have nothing to gain"
Some miss their ex,
Some have lost all hope,
"I'm not beautiful"
Then they overdose on dope
So many couples,
Everywhere you go.
And here you stand alone,
Nothing but sadness,
Comes from your eyes
On Valentine's Day.
It's supposed to be a happy day,
For most people it probably is
But not your kind of day.
So when with your other tomorrow,
Forgive those who whine,
Remember not everyone
Has their own Valentine.
You have no one
Standing next to you,
You're all alone in the world.
Then you see
All the happy couples,
In love and holding hands.
It makes you sick to see them,
Thinking you aren't worth the time.
You just want the day to end
That's the way life goes.
Nothing good for you
This Valentine's Day...
We'll be waiting in the shadows,
We'll be waiting for a sign,
We'll be praying to our Gods each night
To bring back our Valentine!
Then there are those people who have someone on Valentine's day, someone to hold, someone to love. Sometimes the ones who are lonely see the ones who are not and wish they had that. So I'd like to share these string of words on this Valentine's Day...
The day of love draws near,
Time for love and flowers,
Fancy candlelit dinners,
Staring at each other for hours.
The day of the lovers,
On a Wednesday this year,
More suicides occur,
As this dreadful day draws near.
Oh Valentines day,
Cruel Valentines day.
Why do you taunt me,
With your melting candy hearts,
And your paper "I love you"s?
With your sugar coated lies,
That taste as sweet as hate.
Watching lovers cuddles,
Just deepens the pain.
"I'm a nobody, I have nothing to gain"
Some miss their ex,
Some have lost all hope,
"I'm not beautiful"
Then they overdose on dope
So many couples,
Everywhere you go.
And here you stand alone,
Nothing but sadness,
Comes from your eyes
On Valentine's Day.
It's supposed to be a happy day,
For most people it probably is
But not your kind of day.
So when with your other tomorrow,
Forgive those who whine,
Remember not everyone
Has their own Valentine.
You have no one
Standing next to you,
You're all alone in the world.
Then you see
All the happy couples,
In love and holding hands.
It makes you sick to see them,
Thinking you aren't worth the time.
You just want the day to end
That's the way life goes.
Nothing good for you
This Valentine's Day...
We'll be waiting in the shadows,
We'll be waiting for a sign,
We'll be praying to our Gods each night
To bring back our Valentine!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The Law of Seed...
Take a look at an apple tree.
There might be five hundred apples on the tree, but each apple has just ten seeds.
That's a lot of seeds!
We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple trees?"
Nature has something to teach us here.
It's telling us: "Not all seeds grow. In life, most seeds never grow.
So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."
This might mean:
You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job.
You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.
You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, one car, one vacuum cleaner, one insurance policy, or a business idea.
And you might meet a hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.
When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed.
We stop feeling like victims.
We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.
Laws of nature are not things to take personally. We just need to understand them - and work with them.
Basically,
Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds.
When Things Are Beyond your control, here's something that you must NOT DO so as to avoid misery in your life:
You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be.
You must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave.
Then, when the world doesn't obey your rules, you get angry...
That's what miserable people do.
On the other hand, let's say you expect that:
Friends SHOULD return favours.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest.
Your best friends SHOULD remember your birthday.
These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen ;) So you end up frustrated and disappointed.
There's a better strategy. Demand less, and instead, have preferences. For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:
"I would prefer 'A', but if 'B' happens, it's OK too!"
This is a change in mindset. It is a shift in attitude, and it gives you more peace of mind...
You prefer that people are polite... but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day.
You prefer sunshine...but if it rains, it is ok too.
To become happier, we either need to
a) Change the world, or
b) Change our thinking.
It is easier to change our thinking.
It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the problem, tha is the problem.It's not what happens to you that determine your happiness. It's how you think about what happens to you...
There might be five hundred apples on the tree, but each apple has just ten seeds.
That's a lot of seeds!
We might ask, "Why would you need so many seeds to grow just a few more apple trees?"
Nature has something to teach us here.
It's telling us: "Not all seeds grow. In life, most seeds never grow.
So if you really want to make something happen, you had better try more than once."
This might mean:
You'll attend twenty interviews to get one job.
You'll interview forty people to find one good employee.
You'll talk to fifty people to sell one house, one car, one vacuum cleaner, one insurance policy, or a business idea.
And you might meet a hundred acquaintances just to find one special friend.
When we understand the "Law of the Seed", we don't get so disappointed.
We stop feeling like victims.
We learn how to deal with things that happen to us.
Laws of nature are not things to take personally. We just need to understand them - and work with them.
Basically,
Successful people fail more often. But they plant more seeds.
When Things Are Beyond your control, here's something that you must NOT DO so as to avoid misery in your life:
You must not decide how you think the world SHOULD be.
You must not make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave.
Then, when the world doesn't obey your rules, you get angry...
That's what miserable people do.
On the other hand, let's say you expect that:
Friends SHOULD return favours.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest.
Your best friends SHOULD remember your birthday.
These expectations may sound reasonable. But often, these things won't happen ;) So you end up frustrated and disappointed.
There's a better strategy. Demand less, and instead, have preferences. For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:
"I would prefer 'A', but if 'B' happens, it's OK too!"
This is a change in mindset. It is a shift in attitude, and it gives you more peace of mind...
You prefer that people are polite... but when they are rude, it doesn't ruin your day.
You prefer sunshine...but if it rains, it is ok too.
To become happier, we either need to
a) Change the world, or
b) Change our thinking.
It is easier to change our thinking.
It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your attitude attending to the problem, tha is the problem.It's not what happens to you that determine your happiness. It's how you think about what happens to you...
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Human relation...
This was narrated by an India Air Force pilot to IIT students on special seminar for HUMAN RELATION...
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet Airways.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of your parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet Airways.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of your parents.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The paradox of our time...
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom...
We spend more, but have less, we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom...
Monday, February 5, 2007
Points to ponder...
* God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
* Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
* There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
* Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
* Do the math. Count your blessings.
* Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
* Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
* The most important things in your home are the people.
* A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
* He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
* We do not remember days, but moments. Life is moving too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
* Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
* It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
* Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage.
* The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle --it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
* Life is uncertain; eat the dessert first.
* Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
* Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
* There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
* Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
* Do the math. Count your blessings.
* Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
* Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
* The most important things in your home are the people.
* A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
* He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
* We do not remember days, but moments. Life is moving too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
* Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
* It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
* Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage.
* The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle --it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
* Life is uncertain; eat the dessert first.
* Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Proactive behaviour...
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were aloving couple and the boy was the gem of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open.He was late for office so he asked his wife to cap the bottle and keep itin the cupboard. His wife, preoccupied in the kitchen totally forgot the matter.The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle fascinated by itscolor and drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant foradults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital. He died.The mother was stunned! She was terrified how she was going to face herhusband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the deadchild, he looked at his wife and uttered just five words...
QUESTIONS:
1. What were the five words?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWER:
The husband just said "I am with you Darling".The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There was no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keepthe bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
MORAL OF THE STORY
Sometimes we spend time in asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.
QUESTIONS:
1. What were the five words?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWER:
The husband just said "I am with you Darling".The husband's totally unexpected reaction is a proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There was no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he had taken time to keepthe bottle away, this would not have happened. No one is to be blamed. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears. And you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
MORAL OF THE STORY
Sometimes we spend time in asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.
About faith...
Those who have great realization about delusion are wise. Those who are greatly deluded within realization are sentient beings.
To travel with the unawakened makes the journey long and hard and is as painful as traveling with an enemy. But the company of the wise is as pleasant as meeting with friends. Follow the wise, the intelligent, and the awakened. Follow them as the moon follows the path of the stars.
To travel with the unawakened makes the journey long and hard and is as painful as traveling with an enemy. But the company of the wise is as pleasant as meeting with friends. Follow the wise, the intelligent, and the awakened. Follow them as the moon follows the path of the stars.
A story....
Here is a little story...that teaches a lot...
A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. "What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!" So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."
CAN YOU GUESS WHAT WAS THE BREAK DOWN???? The man sent a bill that read:
Tapping with a hammer. ............. . $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap..........$ 9, 998.00
Effort is important , but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference
A giant ship engine failed. The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. "What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!" So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."
CAN YOU GUESS WHAT WAS THE BREAK DOWN???? The man sent a bill that read:
Tapping with a hammer. ............. . $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap..........$ 9, 998.00
Effort is important , but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference
Monday, January 22, 2007
Paradigm Shift, A situation
Imagine you're in London 's Heathrow Airport. While you're waiting for your flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box,put them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies. Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of shortbread cookies.
As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely.
He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take, he takes one.
Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue eating the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in half, and gives half to you. After he's finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.
You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies -- still unopened.
Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake. Now what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view.
Is it time to change your point of view? Now, think of this story as it relates to your life . Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening. Think outside the box. Don't settle for the status quo. Be open to suggestions. Things may not be what they seem. Unless and until, one realize about the fact, no one will change his/her view of thinking in spite of lot of external factors.
........Every Point has 3-sides; Your Side, My Side & The Right Side.To understand either the Other's Side or the Right Side, one needs to leave His/Her Side......
As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely.
He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take, he takes one.
Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue eating the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in half, and gives half to you. After he's finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.
You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies -- still unopened.
Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake. Now what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view.
Is it time to change your point of view? Now, think of this story as it relates to your life . Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening. Think outside the box. Don't settle for the status quo. Be open to suggestions. Things may not be what they seem. Unless and until, one realize about the fact, no one will change his/her view of thinking in spite of lot of external factors.
........Every Point has 3-sides; Your Side, My Side & The Right Side.To understand either the Other's Side or the Right Side, one needs to leave His/Her Side......
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
About love...
A relationship is like a rose,
how long it lasts, no one knows.
Love can erase an awful past,
love can be yours, you'll see it at last.
To feel that love, it makes you sigh,
to have to leave it, you'd rather die;
You hope you've found that special rose,
'cause you love and care for the one you chose...
how long it lasts, no one knows.
Love can erase an awful past,
love can be yours, you'll see it at last.
To feel that love, it makes you sigh,
to have to leave it, you'd rather die;
You hope you've found that special rose,
'cause you love and care for the one you chose...
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