Point

When we want to do something, we have to make it a point to achieve what we want to do. 

It does not matter big or small. It only matters the determination to do it and the sense of responsibility to making it happen.     

Experience

Having known the unknown is somewhat an interesting venture.

Information is precious. Most of the time we only get general information. Sometimes, we do get exclusive information and when that happens, we will feel a sense of pride. How should we treat such information?

There are many kinds of people around.

Some really like to boast. What is the reason for them to do so? Boasting is a form of showing off. Boasting is only for people who are insecure of their position. This cannot be farther than the truth. If you observe the people around you, there is sure to be one or two of such people. Whenever they know something others do not, they will tell it out loud to everyone even though they do not gain anything from such action. It is their way of showing other people they are more superior.

People who do not know them will salute them for being in the know. People who already know them will probably just nod to show agreement but deep down within, they know the person is just merely boasting. Boasters are neither liked nor loathed by anyone. Whenever people want information, boasters are the first to look for. Whenever people want to reserve information, boasters are the last they will inform. This is to safeguard whatever we think is proprietary.

Some people are really quiet. They are great secret keepers. Whatever you tell them, they will just listen. No information ever gets out. It is almost as if everything moves in one single direction. Sometimes, talking to them can be frustrating because they will just take the input and there will not be any output for you. If you seek their advice, you will probably be disappointed. They do not care about how others think of them. They live in the world of their own.

People who do not know them will refrain from even approaching them because they are seen as strange beings. People who already know them will always go to them whenever they need a listener. As a friend, they really know how to keep secrets. There is no worry that they will even accidentally blurt out anything that is important at all. If people want something announced to everyone, they will not seek the help of the quiet because no action will be taken to pass the message.

Most people are a bit of both. We are the commoners. We are neither here nor there. This is a good thing. Because we are the norm, that makes the world balanced. If there are too many boasters, we will have a problem of not knowing who to trust. If there are too many quiet people, we will also have a problem of healthy communication. Everything is about balance and it is great that majority of the population brings balance to the world of information.

Sometimes we do need guidance as to how to determine whether or not such information is proprietary. The person telling you the information has the responsibility of categorizing it before surging anything to you. If you are not told that it is proprietary and that you should not be sharing to anyone, then you will not know which to tell or otherwise.

Secret is a great word in layman terms but proprietary is the rightful word used in the law and order. Many of times, especially when your position is higher in the company, you will be made known to proprietary information, the secrets to why the directors are making such decisions. It is your responsibility to pretend you do not know anything about it in front of your other colleagues or subordinates. Sometimes, you are privileged to join in conversations with big people in the upper world, you will get the inside story of how certain things operate, the secrets to their riches. It is your responsibility to pretend you have not heard of it before in front of all your family and friends. Sometimes, it is hard to keep secrets especially when it creates excitement or chaos.

The higher one becomes, the more experience one gets. Be accountable for your actions.

 

Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.

Rita Mae Brown, American feminist writer, 1944-present

Embrace

The start of a new day.

Every day is a new day. What makes today special from any other day? The whole of Malaysia is feeling it. Today marks the first day of the second wave of panic in the capital city. The whole country has been talking about the spread of the virus again, after a long time of relaxation. Why is there a second wave, some may ask? Will the country’s economy be able to withstand the calamities?

Our country has created history in many ways just within a span of two years. Year 2018 is the year the people made history. Finally, the people have decided that the ruling party is a bygone. Everyone worked together to realize the change that is much needed over decades. Everyone is happy with the results. The opposition party has finally taken over the government.

When change is expected, there is bound to be unhappy people too. Those who are weak emotionally cannot withstand the stress, or rather, they have never had to withstand such high demands of them. They easily jump ship. Perhaps this is just a political game but this has made another change in history. Whatever that the people wanted is very short-lived.

Soon enough, there is another change in the government without seeking the agreement of the people. There was not a second General Election to determine who the people wants to rule the country. Everything was predetermined or so describes by the people who are not happy with the outcome. What is it that we really want in a country that we live in?

Shortly after the change in parliament, we are hit hard with a tsunami of a lockdown. One that affects the entire world, at least we know we are not alone. The economy comes crushing down. Everyone is worrying about food stocks and medical supplies. Everyone is thinking how to solve the issue of insufficient funds in their businesses and wages.

As time goes by, as the number of infected cases decreased, people become more relaxed. We can see the economy slowly picking up day by day. Somehow, comes another turning point. A point where political interest is put above the safety of the people. In such circumstances, an election is held. What happened to the so called Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of not having large gatherings? So here it is. Here comes the second wave. Can the country withstand this second hit?

A handful of people have been self-made millionaires over the period of a month because they have a different mindset. They see opportunity in every crisis. They took the opportunity and they definitely took action. They are a beautiful bunch of people. When everyone is panicking, they are calm. Only the calm is able to see a clear path. Only the calm is able to walk the path.

Who are you?

Most people are just normal people. When we see an obstacle, we will pause and somehow wait for the obstacle to remove itself from our path so that we can move on. However, if you have been living through your years observing nature, you know that the obstacle is going nowhere. You have to take matters into you own hands to find a way around the obstacle.

This pandemic has proven to be a huge obstacle throughout the entire world. It is here and it is here to stay for some time. We can choose to be afraid of it or we can choose to live alongside with it. Are you willing to be afraid your entire lifetime? Perhaps you say that you are not worried of yourself, you are just worried for your loved ones. Then what are you waiting for?

Life goes on. Life goes on no matter what happens. How you want to live your life is in your hands. You can choose to make the difference or you can simply remain in the same spot. One is definitely full of challenges, while the other may seem to be more stable but it also has its own challenges that you may not yet see. If you love your family so much, do what is right for them.

Living is to embrace change.
If you are constantly worrying of the unknown, you are only putting unnecessary stress upon yourself. Use that energy instead to make things better, for something new.

 

Our heart is wide enough to embrace the world and hands are long enough to encompass the world.

Dr Amit Ray, Indian author and spiritual master, 1960-present

Balance

Doing something that is ought to be done a long time ago give the sense of relief.

Sometimes we seem to have too much on our plate and we have to weigh which is more important to deal with first. What is your criteria?

Work? Family? Friends?
If you are put in the position to choose, which will come in mind as your priority?

We each have 24 hours a day, no more, no less. What we choose to do with our time determines who we are. We may not have the privilege to think.

Workaholics are people who put work above everything else. It is as if they are married to their work. Whatever work might be, they are just too busy to deal with everything else. Sometimes, the family supports them. Sometimes, the friends understand them. But have they ever realize that it is not other people’s responsibility to put up with them all the time?

As a workaholic, you might be missing too much in life. Yes. Work is important to put food on the table for the entire family. You may be thinking that you are doing your best to provide for everyone but have you ever thought that they too yearn for your attention? Some parents keep complaining that their children are a nuisance without realizing that it might be purposeful to catch the attention from the people they love.

Some people are simply very close to their family. They are so closely knit that other people might envy the wonderful relationship they have. Even when there is a chance for promotion at work, they would gladly turn down the offer just because they want to spend more time with their family. They are considered the beautiful bunch. They are hard to find, scarcity in the current society.

However, there may come a time when you are torn in between two families. Your family, and your in-laws. Is it possible to create the best outcome in such circumstances? You have to realize that sometimes, giving in too much to the demands of everyone is chaos in the making. You can never satisfy every single person in your family. This is the time for decision making. One with not much choice and is bound to create unhappiness in the other. Every decision has an outcome.

The youngsters, on the other hand, are very often friend-focused. It is everything about their friends. Wherever the friends go, they will want to go. Whatever the friends do, they will want in. Nothing else matters. Everything that the boss says is probably too stressful. Everything that the family says is probably nagging. Everything that the friends say is always right.

Do be careful with the mix. It is always great to meet with new people. It is also rather easy to fall into the friendship trap whereby you can no longer think for yourself because you are too dependent on what everyone else says. You should realize that there is no such thing as forever friends or foe. Sometimes, in certain circumstances, your best friend can be your worst enemy and your most hated enemy can be the one saving you from dirt. Nothing ever is certain.

Have you forgotten another relationship, one that is most important of all relationships?

YOU!

You are always thinking of work, always ahead of what your boss wants.
You are always thinking of everyone else around you, meeting their needs at all times.
How about you?

When was the last time you spent a minute with you for you? Have you been thinking of what you really need as a human being? Do you know what is the one thing that is missing in your life? Is there a time when your mind is totally blank, of the presentation to your boss, of the chores waiting for you at home, or of the outfit for the class reunion this coming weekend?

There are people who would only think of one word, “ME”. But there are also people who have never thought of this very important two letter word. In two far ends, we are all humans after all, with very different mindset. It is selfish to think of yourself all the time but it is foolish not to care for yourself either.

Find the balance between caring for yourself and others. We are all important enough to deserve love at all times.

 

In all aspects of our lives balance is key. Doing one thing too much can cause upset, like the old saying goes, everything in moderation is the secret!

Catherine Pulsifer, author

Deserve

What have you been learning throughout the years?

We have been thought by many teachers along the way to our adulthood. What exactly have we been learning from them? Have they been great teachers? Have we been great students?

Everything happens for a reason and the reason is to help us grow to our better selves. Most often, people love to complain about the situation they are in. Are you that kind of person?

It is time to shift your mind. Think of it as such. Everything and anything around you can actually teach you a lesson. It does not matter whether or not that thing talks and tells you directly the lesson it is trying to teach you. It is all about your own realization. If you observe closely enough and put on your thinking caps, you will notice that everything changes over time. Nobody needs to explain that to you. Nobody can explain that to you. You need to realize it yourself.

Take that light bulb hanging from your ceiling right now. What do you see? At one glance, you probably think it is just a light bulb and it is functioning as a light bulb. Look closer. Observe the difference when it was first bought from the store to now. What is the difference you see? You may not realize but the light may be a little dimmer than before. There is a little more dust collected on it than before. The filament may be a little darker in colour than before. After several years, the filament may have lived its lifetime and the light bulb stops functioning.

What do you learn from the light bulb in your house? It can be bright and shiny when new. It can become old and stale over time. One fine day, it will just stop emitting light. Light bulbs are the icon for the human mind. Most often when we have an idea in our mind, it is like we have turned on the electricity and the bulb is lit. What happens when there is no electricity? What will you have in mind then? What will your life be like then?

Every human is similar. We live, we grow, and there will come a point when we get stuck. This is the turning point. This is the time when we have to decide the next path we choose to take and create. This is the time for change. Change can happen at any point of time but most importantly, change has to happen when you are stuck. If you decide to just stay where you are, you will remain stuck until you are able to see that there is a way out.

What kind of a person are you?

It does not matter how fast you can see the need for change. Most important of all, you really need to take action to change you. You must be willing to do so. When you have decided on the route you want to take, go all in. Sometimes, you may be in total darkness but if you are clear of your destination, light will find you. Somehow, someday, someone may just walk into your life and show you the way. You may or may not know the person at that moment, but it is important that you trust your own instincts.

There will be also people who will try to make believe that the old way is the best way. The stable way is the only way. They may be people you love dearly. They may be people you look up to. They may be people who are always there to hold you when you fall. They may be very important people in your life. Still, your life belongs to you alone. Nobody should have the right to control over your decisions.

What if you do not take action now and you regret later when you see someone succeed?
What if you take action now and you somehow fail to achieve success?
You have to weigh between the two most important questions in your life. Whether or not you will take action is very much dependent on your answers to these questions. Which one is more painful?

Uplift yourself. Learn what you need. Observe what you should. Do what you must. Feel you deserve everything.

 

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha), Ancient Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher, 5th to 4th Century BCE

Energy

How do you feel the first thing you wake up this morning?

The greatest feeling ever is to know that you can take down the day. Today is the day I feel exactly this. Why is today different from yesterday or any other days before this?

Clarity is what makes life.

Everyone goes through events in life that are for growth. Yes. Everyone is still growing one way or the other. Perhaps you are telling yourself that you are done learning because there have been so many things that have disappointed you. You need to know the bigger picture. You have to go through challenges in order to become the better version of you. Or else, you would be stuck where you are.

Just ask yourself this question. Do you love your life now?

If your answer is yes and you have no doubt about it, then you are probably already there, at the peak of your life whereby you feel the greatest every single morning you wake up.

If you would have to think for an answer, that only mean one thing, that you are unsure of yourself. You are uncertain if this is the life you are seeking.

You are not a loser. You are just going through a phase in life. You are not there yet. You have a bigger purpose, much bigger than you can ever imagine. You just need to search for it. Perhaps your uncertainty now is your exact path to making your dreams come true. You will never know unless you travel with the flow. Trust what your instinct tells you. Trust yourself.

Everything happens for a reason.

When someone tells you that you are wrong, take that as a lesson. There is no need to keep the feeling of anger or frustration with you. Everyone has their own opinion on things. Check your facts. If you are certain that you are doing the right thing, it does not matter what others think. You live your own life. You lead your own life. Nobody else can tell you what to do with your own life.

Understand one thing, every opinion has its own explanation. If you believe in yourself, it does not matter what others say. If you believe in others, it does not matter what you have in mind. Take your stand. If you make a mistake, it is okay. We are allowed to make mistakes in life. Most important of all, you have to understand that learning from your past mistakes and getting up where you have fallen is the greatest gift of life. It only counts if you get back up after, not how many times you have actually fallen.

The greatest people that we know of in the past have made mistakes in their decisions before. They learn and they get back up. The most successful people of today have made mistakes in their past. They also learn and they get back up stronger. Who are you? Who do you want to become?

If you fall today, and you get back up tomorrow, you are one step closer to achieving your goals in life. It solely depends on you. What is your take in life?

Life is fair. The universe is fair. The only thing that is unfair is the way you look at life. It is all in your hands. It is all in you. You have the opportunity now to make that change. Are you willing to change? Are you willing to give it all like you have nothing to lose? Are you willing to take what the universe has to offer you? Are you willing to accept the good things coming into your life? Are you willing to believe in yourself? Are you willing to believe that you deserve everything good in life?

Ask yourself these questions. Ask yourself frequent enough until you get the answers. Ultimately, you have to believe that you are worthy to get what you want. I have been enlightened last night by a world renowned and successful speaker and teacher. You have to learn in order to succeed. Risk is a part of life. The bigger the risk, the higher the return. The video was made two years ago and it still has impact on me because words of encouragement is evergreen.

Find the clarity and you will find the energy that lets you take down the day.

 

If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.

Никола Тесла (Nikola Tesla), Serbian-American inventor and futurist, 1856-1943

Organize

What do you have in mind today?

Most people will think of the things that needs to be done today. But have you forgotten about the things that are still undone from yesterday? There are so many things each person have to handle every single day. How do people get by and still have time for fun?

Are you a person who has to scramble through things every single day just to finish a task? How much time do you need to find something you need? How does your desk look like? How anyone lives through their daily lives really depends very much on the person and has got nothing to do with the aesthetics of what our eyes can see.

Some people live great in a total mess. These are called the creative bunch. We may see papers everywhere, totally disorganized and we get a headache but for them, this is their way to higher understanding. If one day, you cleared up their desk, they would have a hard time looking for that one thing that they need at that very moment. If left in a mess, it would just take them seconds. If all organized up, it would probably take them hours if not days, and in some cases, they may not even be able to locate it in their entire lifetime.

Some people need space for clarity. If things are in a mess, they cannot function at all. They need everything to be organized. You will see that their desk is often empty you really wonder how anything can get done. Where are the notes? Where are the “to do” lists? Where are the plans? Everything is just not there for anyone to look for. If someone puts something on their desk, they would be freaked and they immediately want it off. So, they get on is in the speed of light and then leave their desk empty again. There would probably be files upon files elsewhere as long as the desk is empty.

Most people are a little bit of both. You are probably the messy person when you are busy and the tidy person when you have a little time to get organized.

It is perhaps the greatest feeling of all to get things lifted off your shoulders. It makes you feel light. How you want to do it depends on the task itself and how you actually organize its route to finishing. Sometimes, drastic measures are necessary.

Humans are social animals. We need to live amongst other people and get things done together. Even if you are an introvert, there is no avoiding human contact. Even if we are all in a lockdown, there is no avoiding communication between each other. Everything needs to be planned out strategically in order for anything to work out the way it should. Time will tell that if we work together as a team, we are stronger.

A team means there is a leader. The leader is responsible to get things organized and moving. A great leader will plan small tasks for each member of the group. A great leader knows who is best at each task. A great leader gives opportunities. A great leader encourages brain storming. A great leader builds paths for exploration and enhancement. It is all about how well the person can deal with situations in a strategic way.

You may have thoughts that the current situation do not permit any organization because it is ad-hoc and of high urgency that needs to be done this very second. Sometimes, you just need to jump into action before even having the time to think. This happens all the time in stocks and business where decisions a second later can mean a total disaster. It is okay during that urgent time. Have you ever thought what needs to be done afterwards? Most people forget this. Post-mortem. When you have been stripped off your rights to think then, you think afterwards. Can it be done better? Is there another path to take? How to tackle such situations in future? These are all very important information for the entire team so that when you are not there to guide them through, they can function as they should.

Think the way successful people do. Organize your thoughts to help others help you.

 

Once you have a clear idea of your priorities – that is your values, goals and high leverage activities, organize around them.

Stephen Richards Covey (Stephen Covey), American educator and speaker, 1932-2012

Worthy

What do you want out of life?

There are a lucky few out there with their vision very clear from day one. Are you that lucky few or are you still searching for yourself? Some people just settle down with what it is that is presented to them because it is stable. Some people never give up and always asking for more. Some people are a little bit of both, they search then try and they find that it is unsuitable and they halt, then after some time of resting, they will start their search again. Which describes you?

However you choose to live your life is in your own hands. Some people fall and get up again quick. Some people fall and think that it is the end of life. Some people fall and take their own sweet time to heal. Whichever way is chosen is very much dependent on the situation the person is in and how hard did the person fall.

Life is full of ups and downs. It is never a smooth ride. This is what makes life exciting. This is what all of us should be proud of, that we are living a colourful life. It is only through the way of life that we learn the meaning of life. Thus, we all see life differently.

People chasing after their dreams.
These are the people whom are often labelled as the crazies. They will venture all out like they have nothing to lose. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail. Whatever it is, they are very clear of what they really want out of this lifetime. They fall and they get back up bigger and stronger. They learn from their past mistakes. They never ever give up. These are the small bunch of people who will succeed in life because they are always ready to make their dreams come true.

People who have dreams as dreams.
These are just dreamers. They often have big dreams but they do not know how to achieve them. When they learn the way, they ponder upon for so long that the opportunity is gone. They are not risk takers. They are always worried about the effects of failure. They will only let their dreams become dreams for the rest of their lives. Perhaps they would one day achieve their dreams, perhaps not. Perhaps they will regret that they did not chase after their dreams when they had the chance. Do you want to be one of them?

People who just go with the flow.
These are people who love to please. They do have dreams, but it does not seem like their dreams are important enough to be brought out to the light. Most of the time, they are shy to tell about their dreams. Perhaps they do not want to risk being labelled as crazy or idiotic. Whatever the reason, it is not important. What is important is that you know what you are doing. If you think that just living the life that your elders taught you is good enough, then you have already reached your goal. If you have even the slightest doubt about it, perhaps it is time to look into yourself.

People who somehow love to go against the flow.
These are the nuisance bunch. It is not because they like it this way. It is because they have their own special mindset. They might sound wrong at this moment but they may be right in future. Never to condemn any thought. It is all in the mind. What everyone else choose to see as wrong, we cannot make right. What everyone else choose to see as right, we cannot make wrong. Always be open to opinions. Then scrutinize to make decisions. Never ever decide on impulse. Always be prepared with the knowledge needed to live the life that you are seeking.

People who are idolized by many.
These are the lovely bunch. It is not the way they are being born. It is all about being themselves. If you are true to yourself, you will send out the right vibration to the people around you. If you have been in a classroom setting, you will definitely know the person you look up to and the person you can ignore. It is the charisma of the person. It is hard to describe but you just respect the person the way the person is. They are transparent. They are true. They are positive. Do not envy, instead, model upon them.

Which kind of person are you?

Learn to become you. You are worthy. You are special.

 

You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.

John Tracy Kidder (Tracy Kidder), American writer, 1945-present

Research

What is the difference between the successful and me?

We already know that everyone is different. But what is at stake is the difference between each of us. Why are some people always on top while others are always below par? There must be a reason behind every effect that we see.

What do I want out of life?

Some people know how to ask this question while most will just go with the flow. It is only the people who question that will get answers. The universe is vast. Everyone is living in our own little universe but perhaps we do not know that every atom in us speaks of the same language. Most of the time, it is ignorance that cause us to be stagnant wherever we are. There is no one else to blame but ourselves.

If you are a person who is seeking for the bigger purpose of life, congratulations! You are one step ahead of everyone else, who are still living in the darkness of their own limitation. When you dare to ask, you will get answers. Most often, the answers come in very subtle ways. It seems like life is playing you out but it really is just a test, to test if you are hungry enough for that change.

Successful people are always hungry. It does not seem that anything and everything that they already have is enough. It is never enough.

You may feel that you are happy now because your loved ones are safe.
You may feel that you are grateful now because you have a steady job to feed your family.
You may feel that you are satisfied now because you are still breathing.
Has it ever occurred to you that you may be able to do more?
Has it ever occurred to you that you may be able to influence people to better their lives?
Has it ever occurred to you that you can actually make a difference?

The state of being content is holy. There is no doubt about it. Has it ever occurred to you that if you are able to spread your love throughout your lifetime, you will be able to help others out of their own darkness? Darkness does not mean evil, it only means that the person is not able to step out of what they believe to be true and most of the time, the truth is not what it seems.

Truth is only what we believe in.
Truth is only what we are made to believe in.
The truth is, nothing in this world is hard fixed. Everything changes over a period of time. Why not you?

If you are already leading a good life, would it be better to help others live a better life too?

The point is not to influence for the sake of getting famous or becoming a celebrity. The point is to influence so that other people can be as caring, loving, and successful as we are. The point is to make this world a better place through little steps every day. The point is to restore humanity.

You may think that this is the job of the holiness and you are not religious at all. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. Religion is in place because people with great minds have been enlightened and they pass down the knowledge to us. Every religion teaches one thing and one thing only; to be kind to all beings. Anything that deviates from that is probably the opinions of the teachers themselves. Whether or not you believe in the religion, it does not stop you from believing the teachings and yourself, that you are capable of making this world a better place for everyone.

Life is not just about humans. We are all just passing by. We are all just travelers in human form. We only believe what we see and we see to believe. This is the reason why everyone have their own opinion in happenings around the world. It is because we all see things differently. It is also the differences that make us unique. Do not believe everything you read on this blog or any other blogs. Always do your own due diligence.

Research on what is in your mind. Trust that your heart will bring you to your purpose.

 

Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.

Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun (Wernher von Braun), German-American aerospace engineer and space architect, 1912-1977

Reflection

Who am I?

Some people are born with the gift of knowing who they really are, who they want to become, and they have the chance to make their dreams come true. These are probably the lucky few.

Most people, however, either do not know who they really are, or who they want to become, or they do know but they are just not born in the right condition to let them shine. Whatever the reason is we choose to give ourselves, if we dig deep enough, it is usually our emotions that is taking over our mind and controlling over our life.

Have you ever wanted something so bad you are willing to give up anything and everything to get it? As adults, we would probably smile and say that only a child would be as foolish as to throwaway everything he already has in order to pursue something that is uncertain in all ways. Perhaps we would end up living a hell throughout the remaining years in our lives. Perhaps we would succeed and become a notable person in history. People are often bogged down by fear of losing it all.

As a child, you have probably had dreams far beyond imagination. You want to become an astronaut to go see the moon and stars up close. You would probably have built space ships with empty bottles and put a cape on your back to pretend that you can fly to infinity. These are beautiful times when there is nothing to worry about in life. You probably have peers having the same thinking as you do. You form discussion groups and work on projects to make your dreams a reality. You are creative.

What happened to the child in you? What happened to your fearless self?

Over the years, while growing up, you probably have encountered elders telling you of things you should leave behind. Back then, your dreams are important. Somehow, along the way, you need to come back to reality. Your dreams are a total setback and you have kept them locked in the deepest part of you, in a chest with such a huge bolt, it is impossible to unlock it anymore.

You become who you should be. You go to school. You get good results in examinations. You come out to society and you start to work your way up the corporate ladder. You excel in your job. You get promotions all the way up. You find your life partner. You get married and have children of your own. You have a mortgage to pay up. You have your children to bring up. But your dreams have been buried, so deep you can no longer uncover it.

Now your children have all grown to become adults. You are already in your golden years. Your children have children of their own. They are walking your footsteps, to become the person they adore most, you. Perhaps they are living the life of their dreams, perhaps not. Somehow, it does not seem important to have a dream after all. You have your grandchildren to love and show you love. You should be fulfilled.

As age catches up, health declines. You are not in the hospital bed. You have all the time to flash back in your younger days. You talk about those days a lot. You suddenly realize that there is something missing. Despite the happy and smooth life that you have had, there is still a void within. What is that? Why are you feeling emptiness inside when you already have what others say as a complete life?

It is your dreams.

You have been living the perfect life in the eyes of everyone but you are not living the life of your own. You look in the mirror, you see your face but you do not see the truth inside of you.
You look in the mirror, you see your body but you do not see the life you lead.
You look in the mirror, you see everything down to the acne but you cannot see through your soul.
You are you, nobody can change that. Have you been true to yourself? Or are you just merely being someone you are not?

Who is the person you see in the reflection?
Who is the person you really are?

 

Why is my reflection someone I don’t know?

Hua Mulan (花木蘭), Female warrior from the Northern and Southern dynasties era

Intelligent

What is the purpose of life?

Every single being on earth is here for a special reason. If we are talking about this scientifically as a whole, we know that the air composition is as such so that we can all breathe. Plants exist to provide vital needs of life. Animals exist to provide comfort. Humans exist to provide intelligence.

Have we, as human beings, done our part in providing the intelligence that the entire world needs? What is the proof that we have done our part as dwellers of this earth we call home?

Over the past centuries, since the first civilization of men, we have made history in many ways. Great people have created many things for a noble cause. Somehow along the way, we as descendants stray from the initial course of our ancestors. We have our own mindset.

Paper and ink were created for a noble cause. It is to document knowledge and wisdom. In the modern society, paper is used in very much the same ways but we have made it more comprehensive. The human minds have developed in a complicated way. Paper is a must in law, accounting, and also business. Has anyone ever realized that the filing of papers for all purposes have put a burden on the environment?

While everyone is busy having a set of documents of their own, trees are being cut down to produce the paper that each of us need. Then when the documents become irrelevant or overdue, we just throw them out in the trash. Environmentalists are promoting recycling of papers. This is also for a noble cause. How many people are really segregating their trash into separate bins?

Many people keep the papers to use as placemats. Perhaps it is for convenience sake. While this saves them money to buy a real placemats, and saves them time to have to clean up the table after every meal, it is really putting a huge stress on the environment. Soiled papers are usually just thrown in the trash together with leftover foods and plastic containers.

People may start to argue on this matter as paper is biodegradable. Do you really know how paper is made? Is it really that biodegradable? Have you tested it out yourself instead of just believing what others want you to believe? Raw papers are biodegradable over a period of time. But the white sheets of papers that we use in our documentations are not exactly that biodegradable. They are all bleached and most are coated for easy adherence of ink. What is the environmental impact of bleach, coating, and ink from paper that we throw out?

The human minds are always working towards correction of past mistakes. We know that overusing of paper is not the way to go for the future.

Computer and the World Wide Web is created for a noble cause to ease communication and reduce use of old technology. This really is the greatest creation. Just take it this way, there is always pros and cons to every decision we make. We just have to weigh between the two to take action accordingly.

People who are not in the semiconductor industry probably do not know that all electronics have a trace amount of certain hazardous substances that we do not want leaked out into our soil and water. Everyone is talking about lead-free. How many people know that lead-free is just a term used to say that lead is not present over the threshold (limits set by regulatory bodies for safe usage of humans)? It does not literally mean lead is not present. Sometimes, it is just not detected by the laboratory instruments.

We are responsible for the safe usage and handling of all electronic items that we use until the end of its life. Always empty out the data inside and send them for recycling in proper facilities. This may sound like a huge hassle but it is the only right thing to do. One mouse or keyboard may not make a difference in the dump but if everyone just continue throwing out their electronics as regular trash, heavy metals can easily seep in to the soil and contaminate everything from agriculture to fishery. What is safe to eat then?

Humans are the most intelligent species on earth. It is our duty to protect our home and all that live in it.

 

An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.

Victor Marie Hugo, French poet and dramatist, 1802-1885

Responsibility

How do you feel today?

Are you a pleasant person to be around with? Sometimes we think too much of our surroundings that we forget about the most important things of all. Ourselves.

It is not to say that we should only think about ourselves and leave everyone else be. The people around us are important. Many of times we have over expectations of ourselves to meet the expectations of others.

As a child, how often have you followed the instructions of your parents? When we were children, we tend to think all that our parents teach us is correct because our minds are like a blank sheet of paper. Whatever our parents do, we tend to follow. Whatever our parents say, we tend to mimic. It is just natural. There is probably only a handful out there who would have their own mindset at such a tender age.

Back then, if a child talks back to the parents, they would be considered as a difficult child. It is due to the teachings passed down from generations to generations. No party is at fault. Perhaps parents should spend time understanding why the child is behaving as such. May be the child is notorious. May be not. It is the duty of parents to find out why their children act as such instead of just giving them the negative notion that their parents have been using on them over the years. It is not fair to just simply judge based on what we see on the surface.

In the current modern age, if a child talks back to the parents, they would be labelled differently by individuals. Times have changed. The old ways are not always agreed by everyone anymore. Some will still label the child as disobedient. Some will be able to see that the child is hungry for attention from the parents. Some will be amazed how the child can be so intelligent. Whatever everyone else say is not important. It is still the responsibility of the parents to understand why their children behave such a way.

Parents have a huge responsibility over the family that they are trying to build. It is time to realize that, as a parent, you cannot escape being someone you might not be. If you choose to have children with your partner, you have the responsibility over how your children develop. There is no doubt about it.

Many parents these days are just too busy to spend time with their family. Perhaps it is time to ask yourselves these questions.

Are you starting a family because of willingness?
Are you starting a family because it is the right thing to do?
Are you starting a family because everyone else is doing it?
Are you starting a family because it was an unexpected event?
Are you starting a family because you want to please your partner?

The sense of willingness is at stake. Many people just start having a family for the sake of giving their parents grandchildren. Some people just start having a family because their friends all have children. Whatever it is, it is by choice. Nobody can force you to do anything you do not wish to do. Once you have chosen, it is your responsibility to stay till the end.

Whether or not the child is born in the way you want, you are responsible.
Whether or not the child is grows up to be the person you are proud of, you are responsible.

You are totally responsible for your child. Never ever blame your children for keeping you at home, not being able to go clubbing with your friends. Never ever blame your children for spending too much time with computer games when you yourself are on your smart phone all the time. Never ever blame your children for acting out whenever something does not happen the way they want because they are just mimicking you. Never ever blame your children for being closer to your maid than you because you never spend enough time with them. Never ever blame your children for talking back at you as you never keep your promise to them.

It is easy to play the blame game but ultimately, being a good parent is not a job, it is a responsibility.

 

To say you have no choice is to relieve yourself of responsibility.

Patrick Ness, British-American author and lecturer, 1971-present