Holiday

How often do we take holidays?

Holiday brings joy to people all around the world. Whether young or old, it does not really matter. All that matters is everyone enjoy their time off from whatever they have to deal with day in day out. Everyone needs a holiday every now and then.

People see holidays differently in all walks of life.

Students love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending classes to attend to and the constant homework and examinations they have to crack their heads to handle. Having a holiday means they can just leave everything aside for a short while and enjoy the fun activities with peers.

Workers love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending workload to attend to and the constant pressure from management to come up with new ideas to grow the company. During holidays, they are free to have some long awaited family time.

Entrepreneurs love holidays as they can have a break from the never-ending challenges they face each day. Somehow, whether or not it is a holiday, they tend to always think of means and ways to better lives. They have big dreams that they want to make come true. Their body may be relaxing at a spa, but their mind is always on drive mode. Every little thing that they observe can be the turning point in their life. They are always determined for change and improvement.

There are also people that have a different opinions on holidays.

Hardworking people, especially in the sales line, love working on rest days and public holidays because they get double and triple pay for working while other enjoy their days off. Some people may see them as money-minded but they really are opportunist. They take every opportunity as is and make the best of it. They are usually the ones who are more successful in career than others.

Business owners, especially in the retail line, love holiday seasons because it brings upon them more income. When everyone is on holiday, more people are more willing to spend. This is the best time to make up for any losses in slow months over a year. The best holiday seasons are usually at the end of the year, around November and December. This is the time people all around the world travel with family and friends. When there is movement, there is always prospect to grow economy.

Lately, most of the world has been on lockdown due to a little virus. Everyone is practicing social distancing. It seems like everyone is on holiday, or so we thought.

There is opportunity in every situation. Some people are gaining popularity, some people have decided to start a side hustle. Whatever we had in mind over the years but have no time to start because of our responsibilities and commitment, we now have a little time to think over. There have been self-declared millionaires in the short span on a few months.

Some people had been having a harsh life running from this market to that market selling vegetables. They no longer need to do so during this period because everyone is doing live sessions selling online. The internet is the way to go. Everyone should explore on the possibility to do something new, to provide value to others in an innovative way. This is a great time to explore our capabilities, everything we are worth.

Some people may just loiter in their own mind that they are stuck at home. While it may be true to a certain extent, why not use this time creatively. If we are to take 30 minutes a day to imagine we are somewhere else, we would have gone for a short holiday of about a week in a year. With technology, we can visit places we have never been to or have no means to get to. We do not need the skills to climb mountains or the courage to dive into deeps seas. We can already see the world in videos shared by people around the world.

Look at the bright side. We can be on holiday everyday if we choose to.

 

A holiday is an opportunity to journey within. It is also a chance to chill, to relax. It is when I switch on my rest mode.

Uppalapati Venkata Satyanarayana Prabhas Raju (Prabhas), Indian actor, 1979-present

Bottle

Bottles come in many shapes and sizes, colours and functions.

The first bottle that we encounter are the baby bottles we hold in our hands when hungry. They have the best shape of all bottles. They used to be made of glass, which is really heavy for the small hands. Now, they are mostly made of plastic. They are much lighter and the shapes and colours become more attractive. Over the years, as people discover the dangers of plastic, parents are moving back to the safer option, glass.

As time goes by, we make new discoveries and decisions that change our lives for the better. We only look forward.

We can relate the life that we are living in to a bottle.

When we are born, we have no choice but to be the little fish living in the bottle. Our parents choose the contents they want to feed us with. We can be fed natural foods like worms and moss or we can be fed manmade granules which is supposedly compact with nutrients. Everything that our parents feed us with is the best we can get.

As we grow, the little bottle can no longer contain us. We overgrow and overflow with knowledge and choices. Which is better?

Perhaps we feel that being protected is still the best choice. We choose to live the way our parents tell us to, the safe way. We choose to live the way our teachers guide us to, the correct way. We believe that the elders are more experienced and they know what is best for us, or so we think. But what do they really know about us? Whose life are we living for?

We may feel stuck in one way or the other. May be it is time to shape ourselves and learn to be someone we really want to be. There is no point living the dreams of others while setting our own aside. In the end, we are the one walking ourselves till the last breath. We cannot expect anyone else to be there with us, though it may be wonderful.

Life may challenge us to the brink of giving up in whatever we do. However way we choose to live, there will always be events that arise against our wishes. At that point of time, we loathe them but when we quiet ourselves, we will find a way to go through or around them. Either way, we get past the challenge and move forward. There will come to a point when we pause and reflect back, we will understand that the past challenges we have been through are inevitable to growing us to become who we are now.

Life is not coated with sugar. Even if it was, sugar is versatile. It hardens when cool and melts when warm. It can be shaped, and coloured as to how we want it. It can be as pure and clear as glass or as fragrant and tasty when burnt. It can be dissolved and mixed to become something extraordinary. For the sweet toothed, sugar is a need. Whenever the person feels happy or sad, the first thing they will think of is dessert.

Lately, motivational speakers have created a way to make people understand the way of life with just a bottle and the contents in the bottle.

If we look at a bottle, it is in a fixed shape and size but what it contains make a huge difference in its function. We put stones in it to the top, and it seems full. We throw in peppercorns and observe that they fill in the voids between the stones, and it seems full. We add fine sugar and find that they even fill in the voids between the stones and peppercorns, and it seems full. We pour in water and find that it fills up all voids between the stones, peppercorns and fine sugar, and now it is really full. Overtime, we notice that fine sugar has dissolved into water. Some of the peppercorns will float while some stay submerged. The stones have not altered a bit. If we are to keep this bottle capped over decades, there may or may not be any further changes.

We have many choices. We can be the stone, the peppercorn, the fine sugar, the water, or even the bottle. Studying how objects behave in different situations and ponder upon them, and we will be surprised how it can change our mindset in life.

Whether we want to be the bottle or be contained in the bottle, is entirely up to us.

 

Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all others were making ships.

Dusan Simic (Charles Simic), Serbian American poet, 1938-present

Chance

Giving others a chance is clearing space for ourselves.

We are not alone in the world. There are many other people out there who come and go as we live through life day by day. Sometimes we do judge a book by its cover. While this may not be good practice, it does happen and it is okay. However, we should always keep in mind that what seems to be may not be what it actually is.

Some people are very fast at learning and taking action while others may be a little slower in catching up. Does that mean the person is useless? Obviously not. People are born differently and definitely will grow at a different pace. We cannot measure a person by comparing with better people. Everyone is special in their own way.

Often, we jump into conclusion that if the person do not understand now, the person will not be successful in future. Who is to tell? Nobody can predict the future. We can only plan for the future. Perhaps it will be more challenging to nurture someone less into somebody of caliber. Everyone should be given equal chances at life.

Everyone is talented, in their own ways.

Giving is a gift. Chances arise not only to humans but also animals. We have graded animals for their family and species. We see each one differently. We tend to have a preset mind for all of them.

A lion is majestic. A tiger is dangerous. A hyena is cruel. A crocodile is vicious. A shark is mighty. A piranha is fast. An eagle is bold. An owl is wisdom. A bat is vampire.

A giraffe is tall. An elephant is humongous. A squirrel is furry. A whale is enormous. A dolphin is joyous. A clownfish is Nemo. A dove is freedom. A swiftlet is little. A parrot is chatty.

These preset thinking have been embedded in us since the day we are born. The message have been brought down for generations. While some of the information related to us may be true, not all are. We should have our own thought to decipher information as they come by. Being observant is the best way to change our mindset.

Some people just do not like animals. Not because they have had bad experiences with animals. It is just that they have been told by their parents that dogs bite, cats have fleas, rats bring disease and much more. Have their parents encountered such ugly side of animals? Most probably not. They have been told so by their parents too. This is a vicious cycle. It is never-ending.

We, as individuals, should have our own way of thinking. We can be good children to our parents but we need not follow in their footsteps. We can always path our own manner to seeing the world. There are so many things in the world worth our attention. Animals have lived their life differently from us. There is much to learn from them.

When seeing a dog, we can learn their happiness, friendliness, and loyalty. They may bite but if we are kind to them, there is no reason for them to bite. Just give them a chance to proof that they are worth a piece of your life.

When seeing a cat, we can learn their agility, boldness, and confidence. They may be arrogant but they are just the way they are. They may have fleas but if we clean them and nurture them, they have much to teach us about our life.

When seeing a rat, we can learn their determination, strength, and intelligence. No way is the end. When they are locked in a room, they will find all means and ways to get out of the room. They may carry diseases but who does not? We are all diseased in one way or another.

We are always afraid of things that we are unsure of. There is no point in pondering on things that we have no control over. Give ourselves a chance. We should find out what we are worth, what we are good at, and live the life that we want to, not the life that others wants us to. Live our own dreams, not the dreams of others.

Everyone deserves a chance at life.

 

All we are saying is give peace a chance.

John Winston Lennon (John Lennon), English singer, songwriter and peace activist (the Beatles), 1940-1980

Important

What is important now may be something different in future.

Time changes everything. We live through many events in life and there is no way we can tell what is going to happen tomorrow or the day after. We could be successful this very minute and everything changes the next. Most importantly, we cannot estimate our lifespan.

As a child, the most important people in our lives are our parents. They are our heaven and earth. They are the sun and moon. They are the people who take care of all our needs and we thought it would last to eternity.

When we are schooling, we get to meet with many other people. Teachers and friends. We end up categorizing friends. Most are just friends, there will be some best friends (BF) and one best of best friends (BBF). We can tell our BBF all sorts of secrets because we trust the person with our heart.

As time goes by, however close we were, we might part ways. It could be for a simple reason as we are accepted into different higher education institutions. We find it hard to adjust without our parents and friends. It seems to be easy for everyone else to adapt but we find it difficult as an introvert to find people to talk to. There could come a time when we feel totally alone.

Perhaps it is just normal that our mind shifts to something else more important. The classes, the results, and that graduation day. We hope to get first class honours as that is the highest acknowledgement from the university. We want to be recognized for our efforts over the years of studies and thesis. Back then, everything is paid off with a piece of certificate.

With good results, we have many choices placed before us. We are wanted by all top employers. There is no need to apply for a job. We get to choose. This is of utmost importance because it brings our parents pride. Everyone else is the norm, we are the genius.

Is this all that is important? Good education, good grades, good job?

There are many rebellious people out there and they are doing great in life too. We may not have read the history of all successful people but even with some, it is good enough. Education is to give us a head start. Education enables us to learn to read and write. It is a tool, not the “everything” there is. Even with minimal education, people can be successful.

There are people out there with high qualifications but are not doing anything that is important at all. They think that their life revolves around educating people. They have the mindset that with education, they are more superior compared to others. They rarely listen to people of lower education than them.

There are people out there who were probably dropouts or had very minimal education due to various reasons. They are known worldwide for their success and contribution to society. They make their names famous by who they are, not what they are educated with.

Parents may argue that education is inevitable for their child. There is no doubt about that. Education is very important but education is everywhere. It is not limited to the classroom setting. Every living person or animal can be a teacher. It is up to the child to observe and learn from all the teachers in the world.

We may see a plant as still. It is alive but seems lifeless to our eyes. If we are to set a camera to record the life of a plant from seed to tree, there will be much to learn. A seed is so tiny. It can be easily washed away with water or eaten by birds. It is with the right condition, a seed sprouts into a seedling. It is tiny and fragile. The sun can burn it. Tiny insects can eat it. Even we may mistake it for a weed. Determination pays off. The seedling goes through all challenges that life brings it. It roots down and grows up. Its roots grow deep and keep sturdy. It nurtures itself to provide. It provides food and shelter for all the seemingly unrelated beings that come by.

We may be tiny but who can decide our significance to the world?

 

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

Abraham Lincoln, President of United States of America (1861-1865) who is famous for abolishing slavery, 1809-1865

Discipline

This word brings about mixed feelings in everyone.

I remember when I was schooling, everyone is more afraid of the discipline teacher than the headmistress. It makes me wonder now. Why? We should be afraid of the headmistress more because the discipline teacher actually reports to her. She is the highest ranking personnel in the whole school. She is like the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school.

Back then, the headmistress is only seen during assemblies. As students, we never ever need to visit the headmistress’s office unless we are the top student or the worst of the lot. Perhaps it is because she rarely comes into contact with students, we look up to her as a leader.

On the other hand, the discipline teacher is always around. She is a regular teacher that looks exceptionally stern. Whenever teachers or prefects encounter difficult students, the discipline teacher will be there. She is the problem solver.

I remember my parents telling me their discipline teacher held a cane in their hand when doing their rounds in school. Though we never see this anymore because of human rights and possible child abuse, there should still be some kind of control over the students. It is to prevent unwanted situations from happening.

Many parents nowadays spend little time with their children. Technology is created to ease our livelihood, not as a tool to keep children from disturbing your so called important meeting. Nothing can ever replace play time or chat time with your own children. We want our children to learn from many aspects but we also should teach them the little knowledge that we have about life.

Having a mother who was an experienced teacher in both public and private schools, I have heard many stories. There is a huge difference between children from poor and rich families. The way they act and express themselves are on two total opposite ends. This is not to condemn any person on the upbringing of their children. There is no right or wrong way to doing anything. There is only the best approach we hope to provide for our children.

Children from poor families are either very keen to learn or have given in to the condition they are born. It is up to the teachers to guide them on the right path. Sometimes, it takes more than the role of teachers to make them understand that they have a choice. Communication is of utmost importance.

Children from rich families are either very outspoken or quiet to the extreme. Some may even act out just to get the attention of their parents. While it is great for children to experiment on things, there are situations that should be regulated. Parents have the responsibility to listen to what teachers have to say about their children. Rich parents sometimes do not realize that their words have thorns.

There is no point telling teachers that you are highly educated when you do not act like one. There is not point threatening teachers that you will sue them for pointing out your child’s mistakes. There is no point forcing teachers to apologize to your child or you will pull out the funds for that new school hall. The teachers are just doing their part in guiding your child. It is your duty as parents to nurture them to be the person who is responsible to building the future world.

Discipline is an essential act.

Perhaps we have been misled that discipline means living like a soldier. It is far beyond that. We need to be able to plan how we want to run our lives. We can be doing many things at once but if everything is completely jumbled up, we will end up in confusion.

Living a great life takes effort. I am living up to my own challenge now. To wake early and write an article out of the first word that comes to mind. I love writing and have always wanted to write but have no idea what and how. Recently, I have been meditating every morning and this whole 1NE Journal thing came to mind. I have decided to celebrate my determination for fifty days in a row. On the fifty-first article, I have shown the other creative side of me.

This blog is to illustrate to everyone that discipline reaps satisfaction.

 

For me, the martial arts is a search for something inside. It’s not just a physical discipline.

Brandon Bruce Lee (Brandon Lee), American actor and martial artist, 1965-1993

Love

How deep is your love? This song has been playing in my head for at least an hour now.

Love comes in many forms. It can be given or taken. Some people are just born with the life that everyone dreams of. They seem to be loved by people everywhere they go. Some are not so fortunate. They have been the ones giving but never getting anything in return.

Whether or not our family is perfect, it really does not matter. We should be grateful for having parents and siblings around us when we are growing up. We may have had fights between siblings for something as small as that beautiful pen or big as the estates of our parents. Everything that we have, we should be grateful for. There are some out there who have been abandoned or orphaned the day they were born.

Humans love to compare between each other. We love to look up to people who are more privileged than us. While this is good for aiming for a better life, we need to strike a balance between what is realistic and what is mere jealousy.

We may be having family members who are always fighting over everything under the sky. While we want to have a peaceful life, we should look at each family member as an individual and also collectively. There is no point comparing with our friends and neighbours. Everyone has their own way of communicating with each other. Having arguments all the time may be better than just keeping silent of all misery.

Just imagine we are a rubber band. It will last longer if it is stretched and let go every now and then. If it is continuously stretched and keep on being stretched, there will come a time when it can no longer withstand the stress. It will break. There need to be space for letting go of all the tension. That space may jolly well mean arguments between family members.

It is always better to let everyone know what we have in mind rather than making people guess. Women have a tendency to make their partners guess. No matter how well their partner may know them, sometimes the guessing game goes overboard. When that happens, we are often not satisfied and say to our partner that they do not love us anymore.

Men, on the other hand, are generally more straight-forward. But there is a problem with them too. They have a thing about being the bread winner of the household. Perhaps it is ego. Perhaps it is just the way they have been brought up, to be responsible over the family. Sometimes, we do feel that men are not such great lovers anymore after marriage. And so, problems arise.

We should understand that relationships move both ways and changes as time goes by. The fairy tale beginning during courtship will soon end when the relationship is brought to another level. After tying the knot, life begins in a different way. While keeping promises is important, we should also prepare for changes to happen. There could be that new home, living with in-laws, having children, and much more to take into consideration. If we are not prepared for these, some serious problems could arise.

If love is what brought a couple together, then love should bring them further. With love, all difficulties can be conquered. With love, we grow better.

But let us not forget the most important person we should love.

Life is as such that we are too busy to remember the most important person in our lives. Self-love is something that we should practice every minute. Whatever anybody says does not matter. All that matters is what we think of ourselves. The only person who will take the last breath with us is none other than ourselves. There is no doubt about that.

So why spend all the time loving somebody else but forgetting to love ourselves? Anybody can steal our heart and disappear forever from our lives. Why are we spending all the effort loving everyone else but not ourselves? Why do we always put ourselves last? We only live once. Make it meaningful.

It is only when we love ourselves, we are able to spread love to the world.

 

When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

Paulo Coelho de Souza (Paulo Coelho), Brazilian lyricist and novelist, 1947-present

Hiccup

Hiccups happen and are often not welcomed.

We do not know how they come by and why they are here. We just know that it causes unpleasantness. We want to rid of it soonest possible.

Some people say that we eat too fast. We really should be chewing on our food, crushing them to a size that is easily broken down by the gastric juice and enzymes in the digestive system. Somehow, we like to rush on things. Perhaps it is generally because we are so used to the fast life of urbanites that we tend to neglect our health.

Hiccups are here to warn us of our hurried meals. We have a habit to gulp and swallow large chunks of food within a minute because we still have that presentation to complete before the meeting five minutes away. Time does not seem to be on our side. Information is abundant and we do not know which ones are useful. We incline to scrutinize every little detail to the point we do not get enough rest.

Bear in mind that we should slow down a little when we are given the signs. We are humans after all. Even machines need down time, to reset. Why not give ourselves some time off to rejuvenate? Even if our mind is clear, our overworked organs need a well-deserved rest.

All we ought to do is to listen to our body. When hiccup happens, we should sit up straight and breathe in deeply. Hold the breath in for a few seconds before slowly exhaling. Repeat the slow breaths several times and we will find that the hiccup just goes away. It is as easy as that.

When the mind is calm, everything positive will come.

We are living our lives the way we are used to. Everything seems wonderful. Family is great, home is cozy, friends are helpful, and etcetera. Everyone seems to be living the life they enjoy most.

One. Just one small virus and the whole world turns around.

Now, everyone is talking about the new norm. What is the new norm? Is it about wearing masks everywhere we go? Is it about implementing social distancing? This is perhaps the biggest hiccup the world is facing right this moment. It all started with one irresponsible act, or so it seems.

While I may be one of the few to say this out loud, there are many that agree with me. This is the way Mother Nature teaches her children. We have been living in ignorance for centuries. We have been stuck with a mindset so strong that led us to believe that we cannot make any changes to the lives we are born into. We are the working class people.

We strive for good education in great universities. We climb the corporate ladder thinking we are leading a successful life. We control some people that are less crafty than us. We spend our hard earned money on vacation to various countries thinking that we are more superior to those who have never been out of their homes. We treat animals less than how we would to fellow humans.

Perhaps this pandemic is here to teach us a lesson. We are all dwellers on earth. We should live responsibly and sustainably. We share this home with all beings and we are no superior species. We might think that we are the best but there is always someone else better somewhere out there. There is no point comparing between individuals. It is time to put aside all differences and work towards a better future. We may not live to see the results but at least our children benefit from them.

This is a great time to change our old thinking. Everyone can make a difference. Every little action goes a long way. We are individuals that are important in our own way. Nobody else can replace us. We are who we are. When something bad happens, it is always great to just sit back and think forward. There is no point thinking over and over on how it happened. It is worthless to blame.

When hiccup happens, it is time to slow down. Reset, and we are good to go.

 

There’s no such thing as im-POSSIBLE, Hiccup, only im-PROBABLE. The only thing that limits us are the limits to our imagination.

Cressida Cowell, English children’s author, 1966-present

Cookie

A cookie can fill us up or make us hungry.

What is the first impression you have on a cookie? Mine is a simple edible piece of round shaped food. If I was a kid, some chocolate chips would brighten my eyes. Cookies are great for people of all ages. There are cookies for every walk of life.

Plain butter cookie tastes finest. They are the newborns. They are the potential. They easily adapt to new environments. They simply melt in your mouth. They cheer you up.

Then the bakers get innovative. They add in colour, taste, texture, nutrition, and even make the plain cookies into various shapes and sizes. Everything turns from plain to interesting in just a snap.

Having too much of cookies may create boredom. We soon add in other things that complement the cookie at hand. We feel like we are on cloud nine.

Soon enough, we come to realize that we had too much cookie. It is time to tone down and get back to the basics, the classic plain round shaped butter cookie.

Life is like a cookie.

When we are born, we are like plain butter cookies. We are adorable, and everything nice. Whatever we see, it is always beautiful. Whatever we learn, it is always new. We are so naïve we can make everyone an idol. The voice of our parents is music to our ears. Every time the sun rises is a new day for an adventure. We only know love and love only creates a huge giggle that brightens up everyone around.

Time passes. We begin to have our own thinking. We learn to walk. We begin to talk and understand what the adults are chatting about. We become inventors of our own imagination. We experiment on everything that interests us. We feel special. We are the most important person to ourselves in the whole universe.

Children have dreams beyond imagination. Sometimes we may think that they have gone overboard by thinking that they can become millionaires at the age of six. Perhaps it seems impossible for us, but if the child is determined to do it, they can and they will one day. Though it may not be immediate, it is possible. Anything is possible.

We are living in this era where information is abundant. We can just type on a search engine to find videos created by people around the world. How many do you think are created by children? Children now are very much different compared to when we were young. These days, they are more active, outspoken, and dare to face challenges, more than we ever did.

However great the childhood may be, everything will become history one day. As time passes by, we grow to become someone else. Our ambitions change.

As adults, we have gone through many ups and downs in life. We think we have more experience than others. However equipped we may be, there are always more to learn. Stop and listen! Everyone is different. Everyone would have been through different occasions in their lives. Even if they have been through similar instances, they may have done things differently. It is only when we are open-minded, we can learn even more. Sometimes, we can learn a lifetime’s experience in one day.

Words of wisdom from someone with great insight is worth more than a million dollars. Very often we just look at one point of view and think around that same point over and over without realizing that we are stuck. Feeling trapped is good. It means that we are able to see the problem. It would be even better if we are able to find a mentor to lead us to the right path.

Having tonnes of life experience does not necessarily mean that we have learnt. Some people are just too arrogant to admit that they have made a mistake. What is wrong with making a mistake? Everyone makes mistakes every now and then in life. It is not how often we make mistakes. It is how much we learn from our mistakes.

By the time we age, we will realize that nothing else matters. The time is near. It only makes sense that we go back to where we started. Become a child once more.

Be the simple buttery cookie.

 

Today, me will live in the moment, unless it is unpleasant. In which case me will eat a cookie.

Cookie Monster, Sesame Street

Hole

Holes exists everywhere, whether or not they are visible to the naked eyes.

If we are to look under the microscope, we will realize that almost all things that we hold and see have spaces in between each linking atom. As smooth as we see or feel, there will be weak points everywhere. It depends very much on the strength of the links to determine if these weak points will grow in size and end up creating a hole.

Since we cannot avoid holes, why not just live with it?

Very often we see a hole as a void in our lives. We are not born perfect, but at least we do not have a hole in the heart. When I was young I thought a hole in the heart means a hole through the heart created by a cupid. It was only after I went to school that I understood it literally means a hole inside the heart. This is a condition in the person that could create many health problems.

As complicated as it may sound, we should be thankful that we are given a chance to live a great life. We may have been through some events that break us. Just look on the bright side. At least we have a complete heart, why not live whole-heartedly?

We should dare to love, even if it hurts. We never try, we never know. Who is to tell if the love we now feel will last forever or will end in sorrow? Nobody can tell. Nobody will ever know. Why not just give it a try? Give your heart out never expecting anything in return. It is the expectations we set that often let us down. If we do not have any anticipations, nothing will let us down. 

A hole can be deliberate or incidental.

The clothes we wear have holes that can be seen if we look closely. This is so the cells in our body can breathe. We feel comfortable in such material. Just imagine if we have plastic bags for clothes. We would probably feel stuck in sweat and restlessness.

The pots that we use for our plants all have holes underneath. This is to avoid stagnant water clogging inside the container. Even the roots need breathing space for proper growth. Though they need water to survive, overly drenching them will cause them to suffocate and rot.

Holes are important for drainage. There are holes within the floors and walls of all constructions. We may not be able to see but they are important for the building to function properly. We need to ensure nothing clogs up or we will have to find alternative ways to get rid of waste water.

If we think of holes as a negative element, we will always encounter them. One of the most dangerous hole is a pothole. It may seem like a small little pothole but if left untreated, could be a major disaster for the next passerby.

In the path of life, we may encounter many dips and dents along the way. Some are negligible. But if we make an effort to understand the cause of it, we may be able to amend it before it spreads like a plague. All we need may be as simple as putting some fillers to smoothen the way.

Of course there will be some holes that are concealed. It may be hollow inside but still looking sturdy externally. We can swiftly glide through to the next level in life and forget about the emptiness within. Or we can choose to take life step by step and enjoy the space given for the mind to grow.

Sometimes, we stumble upon a hole so enormous it seems impossible to make it to the route on the other side. This is the time for us put on the thinking cap. We either stay put in the current situation or build a bridge across. Wooden or golden, now or within the year, straight or diagonal, nothing matters. As long as we put in the effort, we are sure to get somewhere. Whether it is the end of the rainbow or the beginning of another challenge, at least we tried. We give ourselves a pat for successfully crossing this hole.

A hole is motivation to move forward. Live to the fullest!

 

A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), American writer, 1835-1910

Straight

A straight line is measurable to a certain extent.

The one thing that seems to be straight all the time is the ruler. When we want to draw a straight line, we will always look for this type of stationery. When we want to measure the length of the line, this piece of simple yet complicated tool comes in handy. But we will never bring a ruler out everywhere we go. Is it that important to measure every little thing in our life?

Babies, as naïve as one can be, are the most straight-forward beings we can ever find. When happy, they will laugh. When hungry, they will sound. When uneasy, they will cry. Their mind is a blank sheet of paper. It is us, as adults that complicates things. A baby has simple needs, we are the ones who dress them differently, find fancy ways to feed them, and use the latest technology to keep them calm. In actual fact, a baby only needs us to nurture them to be a pleasant person. Everything else does not matter.

While life may be a struggle for children, it is part and parcel of growing up. Learning is a process. We need not control the path that the child chooses. We only need to guide them to stay calm in all situations. We need to let them understand that there are many paths to choose from. There is no right or wrong. It is the matter of learning how to get through to the end-point.

In our day to day life, we encounter many different people. Who are the people that we always choose to stick to?

Great leaders are straight to the point. All they do is to tell us the gist of what they want us to do. How we want to do it, is entirely up to us. They already understand that there is no fixed way to doing things. As long as the target is achieved, all is good.

There are also the total opposite of a good leader. They go beat around the bush telling us how we should get there but the final destination is never clear. They are control freaks. They only want people to follow their instructions without arguments.

There is a third kind of person that everyone choose to look up to. They are icons of wisdom. They may or may not be alive, but their philosophies live till eternity. They understand that life is simple. As simple as it is, the path may be straight or bent. Getting through obstacles is part and parcel of life. They convey their messages through words of wisdom.

The one phrase I keep telling myself day in day out is from the wise Buddha. I am not a religious person. I do not pray to any statues or deities but I do believe in one thing, be kind to all life. “Mouth speak good words, Heart think good deeds, Body do good things.” Ponder upon this and you will find that life is easier than what seems.

We probably have come across all three kinds of people in our lives. Some greatly affect us while others, just passerby in our lives, we never even realized they have been there. How do we judge which person is the mentor we seek? How do we know which event is the breaking point? Will we know right at that moment? Perhaps.

While life is simple, it is up to our mind to sieve the messages life brings us. We live in the era where information is abundant. Everyone talks about everything under the sky and even beyond infinity. What is important to ourselves? Only we know the answer. Nobody else can answer the question on our behalf. We are all different individuals.

Perhaps the first thing we should all concentrate on is to sit up straight. We are in the sitting position most of our lives. It is of utmost importance that we are able to sit up straight. When the posture is right, we breathe better. When oxygen level is right, we think better. When mindset is right, we do better.

Challenge to sit up straight today and feel the difference.

 

Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.

Helen Adams Keller (Helen Keller), American deaf-blind author, 1880-1968

Chatter

Learn to quite the mind.

I remember having a t-shirt, long-sleeved, with a red telephone on a pole and the wordings Chatterbox on it. I do not remember how long I had it for but I do remember I liked it a lot. Perhaps it was because I was so talkative my parents literally labelled me as a Chatterbox.

There is nothing wrong with being talkative. A chatty child may be talking a lot of nonsensible words or broken sentences but we can never tell if this is a gift. Children have a clear mind. They are the future. It is only right to nurture them to become an outspoken person. With positive thinking, the child now may be the Tony Robbins in future.

While chatter is a good thing to many, it can also be something that others despise. There are people who only talk about imaginary events happening in their lives. Perhaps it would be great to make into a movie but it is not so great to point fingers and make others look bad. We all live our own lives. We are at no position to bad talk about other people just because they do not live the way we expect them to.

Complaining about others with pointless views is as good as killing the person. Some people just enjoy making fun of others. While it may be just for a good laugh but we have to be sensitive enough to understand if the person is okay with our jokes about them. People nowadays face more stress and end up being depressed without any symptoms. One wrong joke about the person and we will regret for the rest of our lives.

This is not to deter anyone from being opinionated. It is just a reminder that we have to be responsible for every word that comes out of our mouth.

I remember seeing a very interesting short animation. A bird was feeling a little sick on the ground. A cow ate grass nearby and dropped dung over the little bird. Though it smells horrible, the dung kept the bird warm and safe from harm. It took the bird a little time to heal and when all is well, the bird made its way out. Upon seeing the bright day after hiding under dark for some time, the bird is delighted and started singing. A hungry passing by cat noticed the happy bird and ate it with no mercy.

Lesson of the story – when shit happens, it is not always bad. When we are in deep shit, it is time to stop and learn. Just lay low, keep quiet, and prepare ourselves for the days to come. There is no need to announce to the whole world that we just got out of shit.

Humans are not the only beings that chatter. Many other animals can do that too. The birds outside have been chattering the whole morning. I do not understand their language but I do know that birds are great divas. They light up my day. They bring love and joy to their surroundings.

No matter how happy birds make me feel, there are always people that think otherwise. There are people who would complain about anything under the sky. I have heard people say that the birds are singing way too early, as early as four in the morning. They are light sleepers and it is difficult for them to get a good rest. While many think that this may be just the way they are, I feel that there is a reason and a solution for everything.

We have to be patient enough to spend time understanding ourselves. Most often, we are too hard-fixed on our daily lives we think that life is as such, that there is no way anything can be changed. If we are to open our minds, there is always a different path for us to choose from. It may not be laid out nicely with golden bricks. It may be a rough off-course trail. If we never try, we never know. We may find a rainbow at the end of the path.

When we are calm within, all the chatter in the world mean nothing.

 

We live in such an age of chatter and distraction. Everything is a challenge for the ears and eyes.

Rebecca Pidgeon, American actress, 1965-Present

Take

We can take anything we want. It is our choice.

Take CHANCES, make changes!

In life, we encounter many opportunities every single minute. Perhaps we may not see it as a chance to excel right then but if we are to look in the right direction, we will be able to understand that life has much to offer. Often, we only look at the problems we have at hand and ignore all the wonderful things that are placed upon us.

We love to dwell in the past or in our current situation. What is the point? What are we living for? Life is too short to just stay in the same spot.

Many people only concentrate on what others say. How often do we pay attention to our inner-self? That little voice inside of us is so soft it is often unheard but it is our true self. We can listen to opinions of others but we have to pay attention to our own first. We need to decide ourselves how we want to live our life. Nobody else can decide for us.

Take ACTION, create our own path!

We can learn all wisdom there is in the world but it all means nothing if we do not take action. We spend our whole life learning from our own experience and the experience of others. Perhaps it is time to let our guards down a little to learn from our mistakes.

We always only celebrate the success of others. What we need to understand is that success do not come overnight. Success only go to people who takes action.

We can be born rich. We are given all the wealth in the world. We inherit a kingdom, thanks to our ancestors. What are we to do with all the riches? We can choose to spend every penny we have or we can build another empire that belongs to us, entirely. We can choose to expense off for our favourite things or we can make others’ lives better.

We may not know what we want to do yet. Perhaps it will take longer for us to realize our true dreams but it does not really matter at all. Colonel Sanders only founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) past sixty. Most of us would think our life is as is, hard fixed, if we are not successful by the age of forty. While this may be true for the norm, can we be the outstanding?

Nola Ochs set the first record for being the oldest graduate from college at the age of ninety-five. Where there is a will, there is a way. If we want something really bad, we will find all means and ways to get it. Regardless of the situation we are in, the age we are at, all that really matters is determination and courage to take action to move forward. There is no limit to what we can do. The limit is what we have in the mind. Stay open-minded, let all opportunities enlighten us, and take action.

Give KINDNESS, Nurture LOVE!

Most of us are extremist. I have a reason for saying so. There are a lot of people who are very good at taking while others are very good at giving. We are living in two extreme sides of the world. Those who love to take will even take what does not belong to them while those who are kind enough to give often have nothing much left to their last breath. We are living in the real world. We have to strike a balance between the two, take and give.

Perhaps Robin Hood has set a good example in this matter. Most say it is just a fable but every story has a lesson to learn. While a person may be balancing between taking and giving, the extremists may only see the harshness or the kindness side. Very few will take the time to understand both sides of the story. Therefore, it is not important how others see us or what others say about us. It is only important what we contribute back to society and nature.

The art of taking is giving in return.

 

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (Eleanor Roosevelt), First Lady of the United States of America, 1884-1962

Universe

The universe is at large, we are but a speck of dust!

Yes, we are that minute in the universe. But we somehow like to magnify problems that we are facing, making them so enormous we are unable to solve. Is there really a problem that we cannot solve?

Everything happens for a reason. This is what we should all remind ourselves daily. Nothing ever happens without any reason at all. Though we may not be able to see the reason now, there will come a time when we finally would understand the true meaning behind everything there is.

The little tasks that we have to deal with every now and then. The people we meet. The events that happen in our lives. They are all to build us, to improve us, to nurture us to become our better self.

Everyone is different. There is no point comparing with each other. Instead, compare ourselves then with now. If we are to pull ourselves out of our current situation and become an observer, we will find that we have changed.

Change is inevitable. We should embrace change. At times, we may sway a little to the dark side and end up making wrong decisions. We then find ourselves tumbling downhill like never before. Everything we do seems unacceptable. It is okay. We are human after all. It is not how hard we fall, it is how fast we get up to face challenges again.

Every human makes mistakes. What is important is to let go, never to dwell and blame anyone, especially ourselves. Learn from the past and make a better future. This is the utmost important practice everyone should adhere to.

Change for the better.

Live the path of truth. Be true to ourselves and everyone else. We may not be able to please everyone, in fact, we can never please everyone, not in our family, office, amongst friends, let alone the entire world. Everyone has their own opinion. As long as our decision is what we think is right, we are on the right track. Most importantly is to never harm another being. Even better, to be able to lend helping hand to those in need.

Everyone has their own dreams, they could be similar to ours but never the same. It would be perfect if everyone has the same dreams as ours, then the world would be better. Life is simple, but not as simple as that. Just imagine if everyone is to compete for the same things, what would happen to the world? We do not need to look far. If everyone in the family only wants to use that same cup, can they take turns or will they fight day in day out?

We can never tell what the future will be but we can always work toward a better future. Variety is what we have. Creativity is what we are born with. We just need to use them to guide our path in the right direction heading towards our dreams.

Our dreams will come true one way or the other. Sometimes may be exactly the way we dreamt of but most of the time, there is a twist somewhere.

I have always wanted a German Shepherd (GSD) for a dog. We now have a miniature GSD lookalike and act alike in our home. He the size of a Corgi but his entire outlook, intelligence, and energy is exactly like I imagined. This dream of mine came true in a subtle way. The universe knows that with the little space I have at home, a full-sized GSD would be too much. Thus, this little loyal creature makes the perfect match for me. Thank you.

I am grateful I have been given a gift. The gift of life.

We only have one life. We should all cherish the one life that we have. Though the universe is colossal but we each have a universe deep within us. All beings have a little universe within. We just need to find it, tap into it, and bring it out to the light. We are the energy that can bring life to the next level. We have to be willing to do so.

This is our life, our universe.

 

The universe had to fall apart into dust first to become its majestic, incredible, infinite self. What makes you think this breaking, this trauma, this destruction, won’t be the making of a more powerful you too?

Nikita Gill, Poet and writer