Plan

A plan can be simple or extensive. It is better to have a plan than none at all.

Everything in life happens for a reason. Whether or not we understand the reason there and then does not really matter. All that we should know is that every action has its course. Therefore, before taking any action, we should have drawn out some sort of plan.

We can have a noble goal but without a plan, we could be moving aimlessly towards many directions and end up nowhere.

Having a yard is great. Sometimes we have a clear idea of how we want to use the yard but sometimes we are just clueless. Making use of the space for some greens will be ideal but how do we go about it? What kind of plants do we want in our garden? Though we may not have the details now, we should already have a big picture. For example, a tree, a water feature, a bird bath, probably some berry bushes, and a little space for nurturing wildlife.

Depending on the size of the yard, we may or may not be able to fit everything we want in it. Perhaps it would be great to go for some window shopping to check out the options available. Anything that is common is more cost effective. If we want the customized options, we will have to really plan out the budget. Or, we can choose do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.

Getting landscaping experts to do the initial set up of the garden would be hassle-free. We only have to consider doing our own maintenance. While this is the easy way out to transform an empty yard to a tempting garden, we should understand that it only stays as beautiful as we can keep.

DIY projects are always more cost saving but it requires quite an amount of time to setting things up. We may not be an expert in this area but we know everything about the garden we made. We can choose to set up part by part, plant by plant, feature by feature, as and when. We can add on at a pace we can handle. We know the behavior of each plant. We can move them around until they are in the perfect spot. The sweat we contribute give us satisfaction, especially when the garden flourish.

Though DIY projects seem to be ad-hoc somehow, it is really well thought. We have the time to digest each and every part of the garden as it grows in value. Beauty comes with time. When it is too crowded, we can create space. When it is too empty, we can add to it.

Life will be even better if the garden can provide for. An edible garden is value added in multiple ways. Fruit trees provide shade and food. Herbs and spices are natural pest control. Vegetables are able to fulfill our everyday needs. There are several species of edible flowers too that adds to the esthetics of the garden. We can indulge in the produce, we can enjoy the scenery, we can breathe in fresh air, and best of all we know that everything is organic. When we eat what we plant, we will never use any harmful chemicals. We know for sure.

When the trees have grown tall to provide enough shade, we can start to think about inviting wildlife. We can have a featured bird bath with water fountain. We can even add a pond at the bottom for some koi. We can start building a few little bird houses so that lovely couples can nest and raise their young there.

At some point of time, we can even include bee boxes. There are many varieties of bees to choose from. Bees are very beneficial insects. They are responsible for good pollination in the garden while providing us with delicious honey. Having bees in the garden is great but we do have to be alert of fogging times. When it is mosquito season, we have to be extra careful with the bee boxes, ensure to seal them tight. Fogging kills most insects, bees are not spared.

We can have all sorts of ideas in our mind. Whether or not we can see the outcome is entirely up to us. We can aim for any goal that we want. Whether or not we will reach the finish line is entirely up to us. We have the power in our hands, as long as we plan ahead. Somewhere along the way change happens, it is okay. We still have a plan to guide us through to success.

Imagination runs wild. With a little planning, any dream can come true. Act on the plan!

 

To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream. Not only plan but also believe.

Francois-Anatole Thibault (Anatole France), French poet, journalist, and novelist, 1844-1924

Sun

The sun is simply the center of our universe.

We live on this earth that depends solely on the sun to bring us many things that nothing can ever replace. When the sun rises, a new day arrives. A new day, a new beginning. Anything that has happened yesterday becomes history. Whatever that happens now is what creates history. Everything that happens tomorrow can be random or planned.

Every time the sun rises, it brings with it hope. We just wake from slumber. We had a dream. We dream far and wide. We do not know how but we know that we can hold on to that dream. We realize that with hope, a dream can come true. We only need to believe that the universe is working with us, for us.

What is life without hope?

The sun is the source of all life on earth. Perhaps we have not realized. The sun brings with it heat. The warmth that is created makes life possible. Just imagine life where the sun is not present. How are we to live? We probably would need to hide indoors under layers of sheets to stay warm. We probably would need to carry on our shoulders coats of sweaters to stay warm. Life may not even exist.

It is rather easy to imagine life in the everlasting snow and ice caps. The first men have done it, and perhaps we can too. But life will not be easy without the sun. How many have really been? The snow is fair and pure, they are beautiful but lifeforms are scarce. Many lifeforms stay under the snow to keep warm. What are we to make for food? Where do we find variety like we have here in tropical countries? 

Most humans populate areas where the sun is out most of the time. Life flourish the way it should. I am grateful to be born and raised in a country with little natural disaster. My home country is blessed with a large area of tropical rainforest that supports vast species of life. Though unfortunately, many forests are cut down for development to happen, I have set upon myself to build a little haven of my own in the little space I have at home. Perhaps I do not have green fingers but at least I give it a try.

With all the light that we have from the sun, we are able to grow many plants to contribute to the environment. I am an individual that is doing my part. Just imagine if the whole neighbourhood will do their part as well, then perhaps life would be better for everyone.

A little light from the sun, combined with a little shower from the rain, which forms a rainbow. When we strike a balance between something that seems good and something that seems bad, we will reach a destination beyond our imagination. Rainbow is perceived as the most beautiful natural form of light. It contains all spectrum of colours in different hues. Every rainbow is different.

Just as we are brought down with something that seemingly has no values, we may not realize that we are on the way to creating that rainbow within us. Always look at things beyond our imagination. Everything happens for a reason. All we need to do is to embrace it and learn from it.

We can tap into the energy of the sun to bring us to greater places. Just stare at the rays coming through the window and we can see little specks of dusts moving aimlessly back and forth. We should realize that the sun exists for one great reason, which is to energize all there is in this universe. The sun’s energy may run out one day, but never in our lifetime. By then, the human race would have already found other ways to energize life on earth. Perhaps, we are one of the contributors of this invention too. We never try, we never know.

The sun represents power. The land of the rising sun has conquered many parts of the world. We know from history that there were sufferings in creation of all empires. Generations have passed. We are living in peace now. Let us all use our little power with great minds to continuously bring peace to the world.

Let the sun guide us the way.

 

The day, water, sun, moon, night – I do not have to purchase these things with money.

Titus Maccius Plautus (Plautus), Roman playwright, 254BC-184BC

Beauty

Every time the word beauty is mentioned, I have the image of Beauty and the Beast in my head.

This is the fairy tale that I love most. It is the very first fairy tale that Disney decided to make into an animated movie when I was in my teens. Belle, dressed in yellow gown discovering the beauty in the heart of a beast. Beast, the mighty rediscovering what true love means. It is with true love that the spell is broken and everything becomes beautifully crafted the way it should be. A happy ending.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

We are all born different. If we can see through that, we are the happiest person on earth. Life is as such. There are always more beautiful things we see with our eyes and we end up trying to seek the one thing that seem impossible to get. Thus, all we feel is downward energy.

There are many things to blame for the adverse effects of seeking something we cannot find. That man in the billboard is so handsome with six packs. That lady in the banner with a flawless skin and an hourglass body. That child in the video is so intelligent I wish mine would be like him or her. How many times have we done this kind of comparison?

We have to understand that there are some things that are meant to be. We have to understand that self-confidence is what we need to have, not the outlook beauty that we envy all the time.

Men, women, and child. We are all unique.

Six packs can be built but you must have the right tools. Some people expect to magically have the muscles that they want after a week of working out. It is through determination and endurance that people succeed in whatever they do. Nothing comes from nothing. Everything comes from something. It is the attitude towards our goals that let us achieve whatever we want. We have to live up to being responsible to ourselves.

Some people are born with flawless skin and hourglass body while most are not. Have you looked into the diet that you are munching on every single day? More and more people are signing up for facial and slimming courses. Whatever number of products you use on your face or on your body will not show you any results if you are still eating all the rubbish foods. Why not try something more natural? To eat wholesome simple food, right from the farm to the plate. Plant your own edible garden. Taste what nature has to offer. No MSG added.

Every child is an individual. Intelligence in terms of mathematics and science is not all there is. Let your child choose the path he or she wants and you will soon find that they are unique the way they are. There is no point forcing them to be the perfect child you want them to be. It will only corner them to think like you when in actual fact they can be better than that. As long as they are on the path leading to goodness, what is wrong with being a mechanic that fix cars instead of that engineer that build bridges? What is wrong with being the nurse that takes care of the patient instead of the doctor that instructs the nurse around? Every child can excel in their own way if we let them.

There is no point comparing ourselves with other people in various ways. We were born different. We were brought up differently. We have different ambition. We love different things. We are individuals, not clones.

Take a look outside. Every cloud, mountain, plant, animal, river, ocean, and everything else. Everything is unique. Just imagine for a moment. If everything was the same, how would life be? One simple word. Boring!

We always look for alternative entertainment and activities because we are creative people. So why not give ourselves a chance and be that one true person that we want to be. Forget about the perfect person in our imagination. Learn to love ourselves more and we are beautiful from within. People can feel the difference. Let our legacy live on to change the lives of others for the better.

Our body is just a shell we live in temporarily. Beauty is in the soul.

 

The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw.

Henry Havelock Ellis (Havelock Ellis), English physician, 1859-1939

Ginger

Plants have a lot to offer. It is up to us to find out the hidden values.

Ginger is often referred to as the root of a plant. Whatever the part of the plant it is, the benefits of ginger is vast. The whole plant is in fact beneficial and edible, thus used for many types of cooking in Asian countries. It carries with it an aroma so special it is not available anywhere else.  

Young ginger is crunchy and nice to chew on. It is easily acceptable for people who are starting to taste ginger. Old ginger on the other hand is very fibrous and often too spicy for beginners. However, old ginger offers more benefits compared to the young ones. Thus, the Chinese proverb “The older the ginger, the more spicy”. This proverb connects nature with humans. It literally refers to older men are more experienced compared to younger men. It is to advice people to be respectful to the elders, especially in business deals.

Ginger contains gingerol, with highest concentration in the skin. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure the source of ginger we are using. Organic would be a great choice when the plant food is to be consumed whole, without removing the skin. Or, an even better choice, plant our own. It is easy to grow because of its hardiness. It does not require much care in tropical countries. Just prop a few tubers in the ground and they will do their own magic. We can expect to get some good yield after about six months.

This part of the plants has been used as medicine in Asian traditional healing such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda. We can trust the healing properties of this plant as people from totally different backgrounds and countries are using ginger commonly to cure certain ailments. TCM is from China while Ayurveda is from India. Though both countries are from the same Asia continent, if we are to measure the distance in the world map, they are miles away. Hundreds of years ago, it is quite impossible for them to communicate without the help of modern transport and technology.

The point is, if people from faraway lands that have never communicated with each other, can come up with the same conclusion to use ginger as medicine, then they must know what they are doing. We can trust their findings that ginger is a beneficial.

The heat that ginger provides is soothing to the stomach. It helps in gathering gas or wind in the stomach, to be released as burp or fart. Though this may sound disgusting, it is a natural course our body uses to remove excessive gas or wind in the whole body.

Our modern lifestyle is actually quite damaging to our body. We take cold showers after the sun is down and sleep in less than an hour after bath. Our hair is probably still damp when we go to bed. These are all bad practices that we do every single day. It can lead to bloating, inflammation, joint pains, stiff neck, and even chronic headaches. We may not feel it now but as age catches up all the problems will creep in making us miserable. This is not yet including the cold drinks that we take on a hot day, especially the carbonated ones.

Having ginger in our diet helps ease all of the above symptoms and illnesses, and prevent recurrence. Their effects may not show immediately, but they are the long term cure.

Many of us think that putting ginger into our diet is a hassle. If you are keen to keep your health in tip top condition, you will find by all means and ways to do it. There are manufacturers specializing in making ginger easily accessible even to those countries where it is impossible to cultivate ginger. Nowadays, ginger come in the form of powder. Just one scoop a day in the morning is all you need to get yourself going. You can even use ginger powder in soups or mix with other beverages and have it together during meal times.

In the end, it is the effort that matters. Learn to live and grow with ginger.

 

Carrots in winter and ginger in summer, then the doctor won’t have to write a prescription.    

Chinese Idioms, www.yoyochinese.com

Garden

The best way to enjoy life is in a garden full of trees and fruits and flowers.

Everyone perceives life differently but there is no doubt that a garden makes the heart beat slower. This sense of relaxation is undeniably wonderful. Life is so much more beautiful with the scent of freshness in the air and hues that cleanse the eyes.

Anyone can have a garden in the home. Gardens can vary in sizes. Every urban living person is probably used to the concrete jungle. However concrete it can be, there is always room for some greens. Be it a little pot next to the computer screen or the tiny bed at the window sill. A garden is somewhat something that has no rules.

Home gardening is gaining popularity nowadays. Tiny homes become especially interesting with little pots of plants hanging from the ceiling right in front of the windows. All plants need a little sunlight and some nurturing to provide so much more to us humans. With little care, they adapt quickly to the environment. There is a lot we can learn from the little leaves from the hanging stems. They seem so fragile and yet so tough. Never judge a book by its cover describes them well.

Some people have become more creative in way of planting. They reuse kitchen containers and tin cans from the canned food urbanites indulge on to make their little herb garden in the kitchen. This is the best place to have herbs hanging around. Not only they are a pretty sight, they are also conveniently available for cooking. Their fragrance will drive away pests in the kitchen as well.

There are city dwellers more fortunate to have a little patch of soil in front of their houses. With more space, the variety of plants grows wider. Scrubs and small fruit trees can be of great choice. As long as their root system is not too invasive, they can easily beautify the home while providing shade and yield. Not only it is very satisfying plucking fruits from trees planted in our little garden patch, it is also healthy. We know the source. We know it is organic.

Retirement means differently to everyone. Some see retirement as dreadful because they love to be surrounded by people and work. Some see retirement as a chance to finally travel to see the world. Some would like to give back to nature and society.

We have spent most of our lives hustling and bustling without realizing that nature is paying the cost of everything. Perhaps retirement means to have us slow down and return nature a favour. I have a plan to move back to where I was born. This place is neither a city nor a village. It is a town where basic amenities are readily available and yet each house has their own patch for planting. Life in a town is calming. The birds sing beautifully every morning. The main roads are a few kilometers away. The only sounds covering the night are from crickets and bats.

Neighbours all greet each other. They chat about almost anything under the sky. There are no boundaries. When we are travelling, it is so easy to get helpful neighbours to take care of our home. The barter system somewhat exist in town areas. I have a mango tree, you have a mangosteen tree, and we can exchange the yields. This is what urban societies lack and should learn from.

Some who have seen a lot in the world may have even bigger dreams on retirement. Perhaps a piece of land far away from the rest is ideal. Many would seek to migrate to New Zealand for the peaceful life there. Perhaps it would be much easier to adapt to life in home country. The weather is just right. The people talk in the same language.

I have this dream of building a Homeless Sanctuary right in my home country. As the name says, this is a sanctuary solely for the homeless. This is a place for the strays and abandoned, be it dogs, cats, or even humans. The rule of thumb is to have the homeless humans take care of the animals and everyone live in harmony. The green fingers can even start a farm and sell the yield to upgrade the sanctuary. This is a combination of an animal shelter, orphanage, old folks’ home, and much more. It is win-win for all.

Dream big.

 

A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.    

Eleanore Marie Sarton (May Sarton), American poet, novelist and memoirist, 1912-1995