50th Years of Independence

Today, Malaysia is celebrating 50th years of independence.

May all Malaysians continue to live in peace and harmony and have a fair and equal chance of success.

A happy birthday to Malaysia!

Some Questions for Malaysians to ponder

• Do you appreciate the meaning of Merdeka?
• Are we more united after these 50 years?
• Is everyone really being treated fairly?
• Are we experiencing a brain drain? What are the causes?
• Is there really a fair opportunity to education, employment and business?
• Why is there still discrimination?
  

“Any discrimination, like sharp turns in a road, becomes critical because of the tremendous speed at which we are traveling into the high-tech world of a service economy.” - Clarence Thomas

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." - 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)

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• Learn to Tolerate One Another
• Personal Perception
• Build A Good Relationship
• Be a Good Friend
• Always Be Nice

Lack of sleep kills

Worst Traffic Accident
An express bus overturned on Malaysia's main highway on August 13, 2007 tearing the vehicle's roof off, flinging seats into the air and leaving at least 20 people dead. The worst traffic accident in the history of Malaysia was due to the driver who may have fallen asleep at the wheel. - CNN.com

“Sleep is the best meditation.” - Dalai Lama

Sleep is essential
People who fail to get enough sleep after a long day at work could be putting their lives at risk, according to scientists. Research carried out in Australia suggests that the effects of sleep loss can be similar or worse than the effects of drinking alcohol to excess. - BBC News

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” - Ovid

Why Sleep is important?
A good sleep is necessary to help us to maintain good health and enable us to function at our best. You can’t focus and pay attention or respond quickly if you don't have enough sleep. A lack of sleep may even cause mood problems. In addition, a chronic lack of sleep increases the risk for developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections.

Research has also suggested that sleep loss may increase the risk of obesity because chemicals and hormones that play a key role in controlling appetite and weight gain are released during sleep.

A comprehensive new handbook from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains that sleep is not merely “down time” when the brain shuts off and the body rests.

“A well-spent day brings happy sleep” - Leonardo da Vinci

"The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep." - Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NKJV)

Serious problem
Nowadays, Kids and teens are not getting enough sleep because they are watching too much TV and playing computer games. And we too are not getting enough sleep because of blogging. Indeed computer games, online chats and bloggings are fun. However, we ought to make sure we have enough sleep. Otherwise we are killing ourselves.

What do you think? Do you have enough sleep? If not, what is taking away your sleep time?

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Be a great teacher

Nowadays, not many want to be a teacher. Besides, some teachers are not doing a good job in school. Many school teachers prefer to give their best effort in tuition class. That’s why tuition centre has become so popular nowadays. Anyway, this world really needs a lot of great teachers.

Different kind of teachers

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward

Elements of Great Teaching

"A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron." - Horace Mann

"Teachers who cannot keep students involved and excited for several hours in the classroom should not be there." - John Roueche

“A wise teacher makes learning a joy.” - Proverb

"Professors known as outstanding lecturers do two things; they use a simple plan and many examples." - W. McKeachie

Values and Price to pay

"Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more." - Bob Talbert

"No man can be a good teacher unless he has feelings of warm affection toward his pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what he himself believes to be of value." - Bertrand Russell

He who ceases to learn cannot adequately teach. A good teacher is one whose students surpass him and makes him increasingly less necessary. The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.

Do you have great teachers? What do you like about your teachers?

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Don't beat the traffic! - Be Careful

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.

Watch the man on the left walking, crossing the road where there is NO car. It is so obvious that the coast on the left is clear and safe to cross. Any person would see it as safe...however, only God knows!

Take nothing for granted, not even for a split second! Be grateful for every living minute.



Whether you're the pedestrian or one of the drivers, we can come across this situation on the road almost daily especially when someone is trying to beat the traffic lights.

Source: e-mail

Believe It or Not! The guy escaped alive!! according to the Snopes.

Remember, you are a role model. Your children learn by example, so you should always practice safe driving techniques around them, including wearing your safety belt, paying attention to the road, following traffic laws, and treating other drivers with respect.

Let's remember to appreciate and treasure each day, because we don't know how many we're going to be given.

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Awaken your potential!

"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability." - Zig Ziglar

We are all born with potential. The potential for greatness actually lives within each of us.

However, many still do not realize of those unique potential of body, mind and spirit that he or she possesses. Sometimes, we just don't know how great we can be! What we can accomplish! And what our potential is!

"No matter what the level of your ability, you have more potential than you can ever develop in a lifetime." - James T. Mccay

To be successful, it is very important to know where to set your focus. The key to unlock our potential is continuous effort and be improvement-conscious. To unleash your potential, you need to get rid of your false beliefs.

"Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential." - Anthony Robbins

"To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan... believe... act!" - Alfred A. Montapert

Do find out how and I hope you can live up to your full potential.

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Be the first to say Sorry

"An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything." - Lynn Johnston

Many find it hard to say sorry because they have to admit that they are wrong. However, apologising is essential and the only way to resolve issues.

Be the first to say Sorry. When you realize you've made a mistake, make amends immediately.

Don't be afraid to say "I am sorry." Remember to say sorry when you hurt somebody.

Say 'SORRY' at the right moment. A Sorry at the right time can bridge many misunderstandings. If the other person is still angry, they might not be ready to hear it. Also take note that a mumbled apology may leave you worse off than before.

There are many ways to apologize. Here are some examples:

"I'm sorry I lost your Music CD."
"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"I'm sorry for all I put you through"
"I'm sorry I hurt you. What I did, I regret"

"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past." - Tryon Edwards

What do you think? Do you have any tips on how to say sorry?

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Personal Development

“The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself.”

By spending time in personal development, you can learn to become more productive and effective at work and able to maintain focus on what really counts in all aspects of our life. You will definitely do better if you have more control of your own actions and emotions and able to stay motivated no matter what situation or environment you’re in.

“The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for.” - Oscar Wilde

I have been tagged by Life Reflection. This Personal Development List meme was started by Priscilla Palmer with the objective of compiling a master list of Personal Development blogs that we feel can benefit us in our growth process.

Each person who participates are to put up a list of their 5 favorite personal development bloggers, and then let Priscilla know so she can compile a master list.

Below are sites Priscilla listed that I find very useful:

• Aaron Potts at Today is That Day
• Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer
• Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com
• Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives
• Karen at Journey with Water Learner

And here is my top 5 blogger list:

• Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness
• Surjit at Gurushabad
• Honman at Open Your Mind to Prosperity
• Killeris at Attitude, The Ultimate Power
• SJ Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

“If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.” - Brian Tracy

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Beware of Pride

“Pride is pleasure arising from a man's thinking too highly of himself.” - Baruch Spinoza

We all do need to have a reasonable amount of pride in order to have a good self esteem. However, having too much pride can cause us to be full of ourselves, self-centred and become arrogant.

"Who never admits wrong loves pride more than facts. He is lifeless who is faultless."

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV) -

"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.'"

A healthy dose of pride does have its value because it fuels pursuits. It pushes us to achieve academic, job-related or personal goals. However, don't allow pride to ruin you.

"Glory is a poison that can only be taken in small doses."

“Glory ought to be the consequence, not the motive of our actions”

The fine line is between confidence and arrogance. What do you think?

Photo by ThE~uNiQuE taken from this source

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Avoid making comparison with others

In this world, everybody play an important role.

There is a reason for everything. Have you wonder what will happen when everybody become doctors, professors, engineers, or businessmen? Where do you get your food if nobody is willing to do the planting? Who will then serve you in restaurant? Who will then wash the public toilet or collect the garbage?

“If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself” - Max Ehrman

Take a look at the story below:

Crackpot

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments for which it was made, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what the cracked pot perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes my water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

Have a great day, accept people for the way they are.

(Source: Internet; Author Unknown)

"Learning to accept yourself and others is a vital component of strengthening our communities and changing the world for the better." - Gypsy Lerey

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Tips for Your Career

Your career will make your days sweet or sour. So you should take plenty of time to choose wisely.

In the beginning

Select that career which, while you are building it, is also building you.

The best career advice given to the young is: "Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it." - Katherine Whitehorn

"No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like." - Napoleon Hill

When you are working, always be mindful of the following:

• Arrogance is the quicksand of success.
• You cannot be anything if you want to be everything.
• Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.
• Right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.
  

"To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work." - Sister Mary Lauretta

“The difference between a job and a career is the difference between forty and sixty hours a week” - Robert Frost

"Sometimes you learn more from failure than you do from success, and in some ways it's better to have failure at the beginning of your career, or your life." - Michael Crawford

Vacation Time

"A vacation should be just long enough for the boss to miss you, and not long enough for him to discover how well he can get along without you."

Retiring Time

"When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"The best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does."

We all have to learn to take control of our own career. Let's work joyfully and peacefully. There was a saying we work to live and not live to work. Do you agree?

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Speak or Say No Evil

“He who knows, does not speak.
He who speaks, does not know.” - Lao Tzu

Karen, the author of Waterlearner is encouraging everyone to speak no evil! Well, I had joined her boot camp.

She has indeed inspired me to come out with this post.


"To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities." - Dalai Lama

"If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: "He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned" - Epictetus

"The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows whether or not to say it." - Frank M. Garafola

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” - Plato

“Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.” - Winston Churchill

“The best answer to anger is silence.”

According to Dale Carnegie, “There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts, what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.

The bible tells us in James 3:7-10 (NIV):

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

So think twice before you speak! Do you agree?

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The Challenges that lie ahead

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - Alan Kay

When I was a young boy, I was a huge fan of both TV series “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman”. What we can imagine we can create and indeed it has become a reality and this technology is now available. That's the Power of Imagination.

A power-line technician, Mitchell who lost both arms to a severe electric shock was the first person that gets a bionic arm.

Take a look at the presentation below where the author believes that Shift Happens.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“The only way to predict the future is to have power to shape the future.” - Eric Hoffer

“The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future.” - Herbert Spencer

Each of us has a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future. What do you think? Do you agree that Shift happens as set forth by the slide presentation?

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Know Your Purpose In Life

"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives." - Albert Schweitzer

Everything is created for a certain purpose.

A glass bottle is created to serve as a packaging container for wine, spirits, beverages, and personal care products. It is ridiculous if we were to use it as a hammer. A glass bottle will break into pieces if used wrongly as a hammer.

Your life too has its purpose. Without a firm idea and the purpose of life, one cannot live and would sooner destroy oneself pursuing wrong things in life.

“We have not come into the world to be numbered; we have been created for a purpose; for great things: to love and be loved.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"The meaning of life is to give life meaning." - Ken Hudgins

“Purpose is what gives life a meaning.” - Charles H. Perkhurst

“You come into the world with nothing, and the purpose of your life is to make something out of nothing” - Henry Louis Mencken

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” - Mitch Albom

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds:

• Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.
• Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Patanjali
  

"Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission." - Zig Ziglar

"Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose." - Leonardo da Vinci

What would you think of a person who used up all his life before finding out its purpose? Make very sure you have find out your purpose in life!

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Be careful how you react!

“Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” - John Maxwell

The 90/10 Principle of Stephen Covey

You might have come across this, but I believe this is still worth sharing. Do apply this principle and you'll see the difference in your life!

What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.

She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase !!!

Your day has started terribly.

As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened:

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time." Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off! Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle.

Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. There never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening, one after another !!! There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel.

Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different!

Understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It will change your life.

(Source: Internet; Author: Stephen Covey)

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Beware of Too Much! - Be moderate!

I came across this news item in the BBC News dated Monday August 13, 2007:

"A teenager is taken to hospital after overdosing on espresso coffee while working in a sandwich shop."

Well, is Coffee really that bad? I don't think so. However, overdose of caffeine is dangerous.

Anyway, too much of anything even finest thing can be bad. Too much water and you drown. Too much food and you get sick. Even having too much money can sometimes be worrisome having to worry of thieves breaking into our house or kidnap our love ones. Good works and good health are the exception that I can think of.

"Too much work, too much vacation, too much of any one thing is unsound." - Walter Annenberg

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal" - Matthew 6:19

"If a person studies too much and exhausts his reflective powers, he will be confused, and will not be able to apprehend even that which had been within the power of his apprehension. For the powers of the body are all alike in this respect." - Maimonides

“Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest.” - Peace Pilgrim

“The happiness of too many days is often destroyed by trying to accomplish too much in one day. We would do well to follow a common rule for our daily lives - DO LESS, AND DO IT BETTER.” - Dale E. Turner

What do you think? Do you have any problem knowing how much is too much?

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Life's Obstacles

We learn and grow most when we face the most extremes of weather, obstacles, political parties, and points of view. Obstacles are power generators. We should look upon problems and obstacles as test questions or challenges.

Obstacles are those pesky things that hinder us only when we lost sight of our goal. The only sure guard against troubles and obstacles is a long term goal.

"Sometimes things which at the moment may be perceived as obstacles -- and actually be obstacles, difficulties, or drawbacks -- can in the long run result in some good end which would not have occurred if it had not been for the obstacle." - Steve Allen

"Others can stop you temporarily - you are the only one who can do it permanently." - Zig Ziglar

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now.

With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” - Mark Victor Hansen

"It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles." - Claude M. Bristol

Defeat may test you; it need not stop you. If at first you don't succeed, try another way. For every obstacle there is a solution. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. The greatest mistake is giving up.

Let's learn to consider obstacles as an opportunity to grow stronger and more competent. So keep going regardless of the obstacles.

I would appreciate it very much if you do share how you overcome obstacles.

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The Path to Greatness

All of us have the potential of greatness, waiting to be developed. However, till we have models greater than ourselves, we seldom improve. Thus, we need to adopt a few.

The only fortune worth finding is finding - then developing our rich - inner talents - those seed of greatness that God plants inside every one of us, awaiting our discovery.

“Responsibility is the price of greatness.” - Winston Churchill

“Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and character.” - William Arthur Ward

"Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great." - John L. Motley

“Man's greatness lies in his power of thought.” - Blaise Pascal

You are great man if you leave the world better than you found it. Put your heart and soul into everything you do, including the little things and that is the path to greatness. However, this road is not always smooth. You'll need a lot of courage, persistence, and great attitude in this journey.

Well, are you still on the path to greatness?

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Learn to Tolerate One Another

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:39

We need to be tolerant and always willing to accept other people like they are. There are so many wars just because of misunderstanding. If only everyone learn to communicate effectively by letting each other know how they feel, then it would be much easier to relate to one another. Then tolerating them isn't a task.

"Without tolerance, our world turns into hell." - Friedrich Durrenmatt

"Tolerance is the oil which takes the friction out of life." - Wilbert E. Scheer

“Tolerance means excusing the mistakes others make. Tact means not noticing them.” - Arthur Schnitzler

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.” - Peace Pilgrim

"There is great diversity among human beings. Physically we differ from each other in things such as size, body structure, skin color, and facial features. We also differ from one another mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. One of the greatest challenges of a healthy spirituality is learning to tolerate the differences we find in one another and not to view these differences as threats to ourselves. Moreover, a healthy spirituality should lead us to celebrate our differences and to see them as a reflection of God's beneficence and creativity." - Traits of a Healthy Spirituality

“In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.” - Dalai Lama

One of the best ways to tolerate people is to put oneself in the other person's shoes. What do you think? Do you believe tolerance is possible?

Photo by Kelsness taken from this source

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Great Gift Suggestions

“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

According to Benjamin Franklin -
“The best thing to give

• to your enemy is forgiveness;
• to an opponent, tolerance;
• to a friend, your heart;
• to your child, a good example;
• to a father, deference;
• to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you;
• to yourself, respect;
• to all men, charity.”

What do you think? Do you have any other great suggestions?

Photo by MicheKerr taken from this source

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Understanding Leadership

"Managers have employees, leaders have followers." - Workplace 2000

Although all skills are learnable, it is not easy to be a good leader. Good leaders are followed chiefly because people trust and respect them, rather than the skills they possess.

Management skills are important but leadership relies more on qualities such as integrity, honesty, humility, courage, commitment, sincerity, passion, confidence, positivity, wisdom, determination, compassion and sensitivity.

I find the following passage very thought provoking:

Leadership has to do with direction. Management has to do with the speed, coordination and logistics in going in that direction. The Workers are chopping their way through the jungle. The Managers are coordinating, making sure the tools are sharp, etc. The Leaders climb a tree and shout Wrong jungle!! The Managers shout back Be quiet! We're making progress!

Below are some quotes that can give us some hints of those behaviors of effective leadership.

"A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better." - Jim Rohn

"The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he/she wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it." - Theodore Roosevelt

"The level of morale is a good barometer of how each of your people is experiencing your leadership." - Danny Cox

"Every leader needs to look back once in awhile to make sure he has followers." - Kouzes and Posner

"Be enthusiastic as a leader. You can't light a fire with a wet match!"

"Managers are people who do things right; leaders are people who do the right thing." - Warren Bennis

"Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success, leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall." - Stephen Covey

"The most vital task of the leader is to motivate, inspire, empower and encourage the team's primary resource -- the unlimited, creative human potential to find better ways." - Dr. Lewis Losoncy

Skills alone do not make leaders - style and behavior do. To be a good leader means that you can inspire others to follow your example, willingly and cheerfully. What do you think? Do you agree? Do you have a great leader that you are following?

"Do not worry if others do not understand you.
Instead worry if you do not understand others." - Confucius

Photo 1 by tcd123usa taken from this source
Photo 2 by kool_skatkat taken from this source

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Dare to be different for good!

A lot of time we hear people say "Majority win" Let's take a look at some quotes left by wise men and see what they says.

“The minority is sometimes right; the majority always wrong.” - George Bernard Shaw

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” - Ralph W. Sockman

Take a look at this story:

Which one will you choose? What is your decision?
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just beside the track interchange. You could make the train change its course to the disused track and saved most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?


Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make.

..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

Choice that majority make
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place? Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.

Sacrifice the minority?
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

Reasons to be different
The author of this story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens.

If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.

(Source: Internet; Author Unknown)

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one. "Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right."

“All progress occurs because people dare to be different.” - Harry Millner

“If everybody's thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking.” - General George S. Patton

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. - Romans 12:17

What do you think?

Photo 1 by notorious d.a.v. taken from this source
Photo 2 by Al Howat taken from this source

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Our 19th Wedding Anniversary

This post is dedicated to my lovely wife, Jenny.

Today is our 19th Wedding Anniversary.

Another year just swept by and it's our wedding anniversary again. May these anniversary quotes light a spark of love, hope and warmth in our heart.

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow.

"There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

"The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly." - Peter De Vries

"Love is just a word until you comes along and gives it meaning."

I LOVE YOU honey!


Let's spend the rest of our life together, with a glow of love and a feeling of being blessed and may God continue to show kindness and bless us and our children.


Photo 1 by dawnzy58 taken from this source
Photo 2 (me and my wife) taken on 2006/12/9

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The Power of Music

“Music is the universal language of mankind” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.” - E. Y. Harburg

This post was composed while I was listening to my favorite music and songs. Without it, I was dozing off. Well, according to Science Daily, Music could be a way that the brain sharpens its ability to anticipate events and sustain attention.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Andersen

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert." - Pat Conroy

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without” - Confucius

"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." - Billy Joel

Baroque music (those that are of 60 beats per minute) has been known can accelerate learning, and enhances both short-term and long-term memory.

Besides, Music does bring people together and it does have healing power. There were experiments that have evidence that Baroque music actually increases the growth of plants, while acid rock kills plants! So be very careful with the type of music you listen to. There is power in Music!

What to do you think? Do you agree?

Photo 1 by JaxPhotography taken from this source
Photo 2 by Living Through the Lens taken from this source

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