There is something in our life which is nobler and more supreme than fame; and this SOMETHING is the great deed that invokes fame.
I feel, within me, a hidden power that wishes to dress its nakedness with a beautiful garment of great deeds.
This makes me feel that I came to this world, to write my name upon the face of life with big letters.
Such emotion accompanies me day and night.
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must but DON’T YOU QUIT!
Success is Failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit -
It’s when things go wrong that YOU MUST NOT QUIT!
| Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen) |
| Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ‘97… wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are NOT as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you. SING. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. FLOSS. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. STRETCH. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of CALCIUM. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own. DANCE. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good! Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. TRAVEL. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen. p.s - these lyrics kept me up all night! what about you? |
When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend.
Whenever I was "bad," you’d shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" — but then you’d relent and roll me over for a bellyrub. My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together.
I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.
She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" — still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.
Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."
As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch — because your touch was now so infrequent — and I would’ve defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.
There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.
Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers."
You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind — that this was all a bad dream… or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room.
A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.
She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I’m so sorry." She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself — a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place.
And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
A Note from the Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters.
Anyone is welcome to distribute the essay for a non-commercial purpose, as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice.
Please use it to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.
adapted from Jim Willis 2001
It is a mystery why we fall in love. It is a mystery how it happens. It is a mystery when it comes. It is a mystery why some love grows and it is a mystery why some love fails.
You can analyze this mystery and look for reasons and causes, but you will never do anymore that take the life out of the experience. Just as life itself is more than the sum of the bones and muscles and electrical impulses in the body, love is more than the sum of the interests and attractions and commonalities that two people share. And just as life itself is a gift that comes and goes in its own time, so too, the coming of love must be taken as an unfathomable gift that cannot be questioned in its ways.
Sometimes, hopefully at least once in your life - the gift of love will come to you in full flower. Take hold of it and celebrate it in all inexpressible beauty. This is the dream we all share. More often, it will come and take hold of you, celebrate you for a brief moment, then move on.
When this happen to young people, they too often try to grasp the love and hold it to them, refusing to see that it is a gift that just as freely, moves away. When they fall out of love, or the person they love feels the spirit of love leaving, they try desperately to reclaim the love that is lost rather than accepting the gift for what it was, then loving on.
They want answers where there are no answers. They want to know what is wrong in them that makes the other person no longer love them, or try to get their love to change, thinking that if some small things were different, love would bloom again. They blame their circumstances and say that if they go far away and start a new life, their love will grow.
They try anything to give meaning to what has happened. But there is no meaning beyond the love itself, and until they accept its own mysterious ways, they live in a sea of misery.
You need to know this about love, and accept it. You need to treat what it brings you with kindness. If you find yourself in love with someone who does not love you, be gentle with yourself. There is nothing wrong with you. Love just didn’t choose to rest in the other person’s heart.
If you find yourself someone in love with you but you don’t love him back, feel honored that love came and called at your door, but gently refuse the gift you cannot return. Do not take advantage; do not cause pain. How you deal with love is how you deal with yourself. All our hearts feel the same pains and joys, even if our lives and ways are different.
If you fall in love with another, and he falls in love with you, and then love chooses to leave, do not try to reclaim it nor to assess blame. Let it go. There is a reason and here is a meaning. You will know in time.
Remember that you don’t choose love. Love chooses you. All you can really do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it alive in you. Give it to others who deem it poor in spirit. Give it to the world around you in any way you can.
There is where many lovers go wrong. Having been so long without love, they understand love only as a need. They see their hearts as empty places that will be filled by love, and they begin to look at love as something that flows to them rather than from them.
The first blush of new love is filled to overflowing, but as their love cools, they revert to seeing their love as a need. They cease to be someone who generates love and instead become someone who seeks love. They forget that the secret of love is that it is a gift, and that it can be made to grow only by giving it away.
Remember this and keep it to your heart. Love has its time, its own season, its own reason for coming and going. You cannot bribe it or coerce it, or reason it into staying. You can only embrace it when it arrives and give it away when it comes to you. But if it chooses to leave from your heart or from the heart of your lover, there is nothing you can do and there is nothing you should do. Love always has been and always will be a mystery.
BE GLAD THAT IT CAME TO LIVE FOR A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE.
If you keep you heart open, it will come again…
~ Anonymous~
Good morning People of Planet Earth!
Yup, am bored again with time to kill. Felt like blogging a little, so here goes. Kinda weird blogging my thoughts not knowing who else other than me will read it…. haha. But never mind, weirder things have happened in life. So, hakuna mattata!
Japan - The Land of the Rising Sun. Have always loved Japan and the Japs. They have a very unique culture. The way the speak is always so exaggerated.. with their Nehs and Ahhs and Ka’s…. haha. It’s like you’d wonder they’d never seen a baby before! Japan seems to be a dichotomy of both tradition and futurism. They are steeped in ancient culture with all their traditions and yet, they are also the only country that I know of that actually has an annual festival that celebrates the Male Reproductive Organ aka The Penis!!! Yup, can you believe it??? An entire festival to celebrate the Penis aka the Cock aka Mr Woody aka watever names you can think of. It’s kinda gross to see little children licking and sucking on ice lollies and eating red bean cakes made in the shape of a penis on this occassion… weird. But hey, that is the Japanese for ya! To them, the male organ is symbolic for reproduction which also means prosperity for them. Hence, they celebrate the penis (literally, a Cock Festival! hahahaa) as a symbol of prosperity and that may every Japanese have many descendants to come. Cock. =)
Wonder if Singapore Govt will ever allow such a cock festival when the IR comes? Hmm, maybe we should have a word with Kok Tay and get him to propose such a festival for Genting in time to come? Cultural exchange. Hehe. Singapore too, has its fair share of ironies and contradictions. At the same time, it is supposedly to be a society steeped in Confucian values since LKY advocated and based his ruling system on largely Confucian values and yet, Singapore is one of the most modern and open societies in Asia. They abhor prostitution and legally it is not acceptable, yet they designate Geylan as a red light district where prostitution reigns. They don’t recognise gays or allow gay marriages, yet according to certain very credible reports, Singapore has now one of the largest gay communities in Asia. All underground. Sometimes aboveground in a pub called Taboo. And with gays, you get lesbians. It’s so sad and heartwrenching when you come across a hot babe, only to find she is lesbian. I wonder if the pain is equally bad for the women when they come across a hunkilicious good looking man who is gay??? Hmm…
I once asked a lesbian, why did you turn lesbian? Is it bcos of too many heartbreaks with men or were you born lesbian? Too many painful experiences with men, most of them would reply. Hence, to them, men are all bastards (funny, how many Singaporean men think that all Singaporean women are bitches too. Haha… really puzzles and amuses me sometimes the way they behave)!!! So, how would hooking up with a woman help? The gals would normally reply, "Oh, I don’t like men anymore cos they cannot be trusted! Women are better lovers." I asked her, "But what has trust and love got to do with gender? Are you saying that women are incapable of cheating and betraying you like a man could?" She said, "Yah." But guess what, a few months later, when I had the chance to catch up with this gal-lesbian friend of mine again, I asked her, "So, you still with that gal fren or you gone straight?" She said, "Broke up already. She met a Mexican woman at a bar at Emerald Hill one night when I was away from Singapore and she kissed and made out with this woman".
Me: "How did you know?"
She: "She told me when I came back from the trip."
Me: "And what did you do? How did you react?"
She: "I was furious lah, of course! Then, very sad. Cried a few days…"
Me: "Sorry to hear that. Hope you’re feeling better now. I hope you now see that women are equally as capable of cheating and betraying as men. So, gender has nothing to do with whether a couple breaks up or not. In short, gender won’t give you a better love or better relationship. It all depends on the person you are with and their value system. That’s why it is a myth that gals think turning into a lesbian will give them better love or better lovers cos men are bastards. You just didn’t happen to meet the right one. So now how? Still continue to be lesbian or try men again?"
She: "Nah, I think I will stay away from both men and women for a while. Maybe get myself a pet."
Interesting how many gals have this notion of thinking that if they are with a woman, they will not be hurt. And, this is the ploy that butches use on the androgyneous (not sure if spelling is right but this refers to the female party of the lesbian who can swing both roles, butches are the males, whereas femmes are the absolute females in the lesbian relationship) to "con" gals into entering a lesbian relationship with them.
Oh well, guess that’s enough blogging for the time being! I wonder how you’re doing…..
According to the seed that is sown,
So is the fruit you reap.
The doer of good will gather good result,
The doer of evil reaps evil result.
If you plant a good seed well,
Then you will enjoy the good fruits.
LIBRA
Libra woman mostly has an egg oval facial shape. She has a nice smooth skin and a good figure. She will spent so much efforts to keep her skin clean and pretty. She can be easily allergy to cosmetic and make up, but taken care of her face and avoid wrinkle is her hobby. She is good at it and tend to look younger than her age.
She can be very naughty like a little boy, but yet fully 100% woman. She looks nice in either Jeans or night gown. She thinks woman is equal to man. Sometimes she can think faster than you, but she will not leave you far behind. She will try not to make you feel like you are competed or defeated in any games she plays with you even she is winning.
She is a little flirt even she has no idea what she wants. She can not decide what to do, and what not to do, so she can not set her schedule very well in all cases.
She is gifted with how to dress, and how to match her dress. She likes to dress in black and wear perfume. She likes a mild flowery scent.
In any argument, she can really argue. She can argue for hours, and mostly win the argument. If it is not a serious argument, she could argue and once a while give you a smile also. She will make a good politician, because she can tell which party will win the election.
She always has a good reasons ,even she likes to contradict herself. She cannot decide what is right and wrong for her, because everything has a good side and a bad side. Woman in other Zodiac might not care what other people think, but Libra woman care what other people ,or what you feel as much as her own feeling.
She can adjust to her environment very well, so at work she will be at the ladder up. She likes team work in doing things. If you ask her for help or advice, she will help you except if she does not like your guts. She can change you and make you think you change by yourself without her influence.
Good side of being with Libra woman are she never interfere with your privacy. She will not make you loose face in front of your friends. She evem cares about how much money she has left her or your bank account, She will never forget to let you know how much she cares for you.
She thinks taking care of the house is a woman job and she can do it well. But if you expect a Libra woman to fear you, then you are wrong. She is a strong woman even she looks at you with that sweet innocent pairs of baby’s looks and may lose to you (let you win) in a few poker games.
If she is the one you are after, then go step by step. The best way is using her friends to introduce you to her. Do not make her feel or treat her like a bubble head. You have to move forward towards her with confidence and security. Show her that you are a kind , polite and a real gentleman. Be a slow hand or else you might get smack!
SHAKE IT OFF
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later,the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up!
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. Life’s too short!!
Enjoy Your Life ; SHAKE IT OFF!!
Cracked pots
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole
which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and
while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water
at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily,
with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his
master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,
perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was
ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to
accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what
it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by
the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you." Why?"
asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" I have been able, for these
past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side
causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of
my flaws, you have to do all of this work,and you don’t get full value from
your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked
pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I
want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they
went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the
beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out
half its load, and so again it apologised to the bearer for its failure. The
bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your
side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have
always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower
seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the
stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these
beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the
way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Moral:
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But it’s
the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very
interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they
are, and look for the good in them.
There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you!
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember
to appreciate all the different people in your life!
Or as I like to think of it-if it hadn’t been for the crackpots in my life,
it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting..
Thank you all my crackpot friends.
