Life - The game we should play extremely well

“Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules” - Ashleigh Brilliant

Life indeed can be interesting, challenging, and fun. Consider yourself blessed, if you have compelling choices in your life. To move on, you have to make some decisions, experience the consequences, and grow from there.

“Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses” - Anonymous

“To win you've got to stay in the game.” - Claude M. Bristol

“The way a man plays a game shows some of his character. The way he loses shows all of it.” - Anonymous

A game is a lot more fun and you will keep playing with greater motivation if you expect some difficulties, obstacles and varieties. Likewise, if all of your attempts succeeded the first time or instantly, life can be really boring!

Learn the rules of life well. Be patient and you can be a better player of the game of life. Life is indeed a constant learning experience. Those who truly understand the purpose and meaning of life can have a wonderful fulfilling life.

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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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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?

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The Value of Struggle

Most people think that by having an easy life without difficulties or problems is good. Indeed, who wants a tough life? But what struggle, be it physical or mental is necessary to make us grow stronger in body and mind.

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” - Oprah Winfrey

I am who I am because of the struggle that I had experienced during my younger days. I came from a very poor family. Thus, my parent has to work day and night to meet our daily needs. Without much guidance in the area of education, I did very badly and hence I do not have a good foundation in my education. I only started to do well in my studies when I reach high school. Partly because of this, I always take self-improvement very seriously and know that I need to guide my children in their studies as well.

The bible tell us in Romans 5:3-4

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." - Anne Bradstreet

Let's take a look at this story:

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon.

On the day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. It just seemed to be stuck.

Then the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was the way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.

(Source: Internet; Author Unknown)

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. So instead of cursing and swearing, understand that they are part of the making of a better you.

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Information is not knowledge

We are now living in the Information Age. There is no such thing as not having enough information. Nowadays, with the Internet, we can find almost anything. The sad thing is we are all drowning in information but are starved for knowledge.

Below are some interesting information or facts:

Do you know that?

1. You can't fold a paper in half for more than seven or eight times. Try it if you don't believe and you will be amazed! Thinner or longer paper doesn't matter. You just can't do it. Nevertheless, Britney Gallivan had managed to fold paper in half 12 times.
   
   
2. Cooking gas has no smell. The odor is artificially added so that people will be able to identify leaks and take measures to stop them.
   
   
3. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of people cannot lick their elbow.
   
   
4. Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
   
   
5. The opposite sides of a dice cube always add up to seven.

Well, even though it is interesting to know the above, according to Albert Einstein - “Information is not knowledge.”

“The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” - William Bragg, Sr.

“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future." - Brian Tracy

What do you think? Do you agree with Albert Einstein?

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6 Weird Things or Facts About Sam Chan

I was tagged by Jenny How (6 Weird Things about me). In fact, I was also tagged by Sindhu for similar topic (8 Facts about me) last month. Sidhu, sorry for the delayed response!

Finally, I had decided to disclose some of my Top Secret! Here are some weird things about me:

1. I don't like fruits! Well, maybe because when I was very young, I had to drink a lot of orange juice after both of my hands scalded by a pot of boiling sugar mixture.

2. Many girls admired me because of my fair complexion. Many had mistaken me as a "Mat Salleh" and asked me how I got such a fair complexion? Well maybe because of Chilli :-)

3. I love hot and spicy food so much so that Chilli is like my vitamin. I used to spread chilli sauce to my bread during my younger days. During my younger days, I don't even eat a single piece of vegetables.

4. I don't exercise at all. My fingers does the most exercise in front of my computer. I believe I got to change this, my body is showing me symptoms that I gotta.

5. I only admire two great singers in my life. In my younger time, it was Sam Hui. I can sing almost every songs - word by word eventhough I was English Educated. Sad to said, during that time, Karaoke hasn't become popular. Otherwise, I might had become a singer or at least a Malaysian Idol. Now you know why I called myself Sam Chan :-) Anyway, nowadays, I could only sing church songs. Of late, the singer that I like most is Janice Wei Lan. She can sing so well, that her songs become my breakfast, lunch and supper.

6. I had experienced owning a car that I need to remove water by buckets early in the morning after a heavy downpour at night. In one occasion, that same car wiper flew off while I was driving in the rain. Another occasion, the car clutch cable snapped and I could only drive using the first gear (manual transmission) and everybody honked me thinking that I was driving so slow. I had sold a car below the price I paid for my HP Ipaq pocket pc.

Ohh... I gotta stop, I had shared too much....

Okay, now I am curious to read some weird things about these people in their blog too: Jennifer Jones, Surjit, Philip Stolle, Christy, Ilker Yoldas and Janice Ng.

If you are reading this then you are also tagged! Go ahead and tell me what is the weirdest thing about yourself.

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How to Acquire Wisdom?

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it” - Albert Einstein

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.” - Confucius

“The key to wisdom is knowing all the right questions.” - John A. Simone, Sr.

"To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe." - Marilyn vos Savant

“A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate the approximate depth of his ignorance.” - Gian Carlo Menotti

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are” - C.S. Lewis

"Understanding is the foundation of wisdom and wisdom is acquired from experiences and lessons understood. A primary way to acquire wisdom is to seek the company of those who have it!."

Each day is a new beginning and another opportunity for learning, growth and increased wisdom for you and me.

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Pain and Suffering

"Pain is only valuable once you know that you've learned from it."

"When you rejected any advice, help or guidance - then pain may be your sole guidance in life left for you".

“Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.” - John Patrick

“The reward of suffering is experience. Experience is the extract of suffering."

"All experiences are opportunities for us to learn and grow."

“May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.”

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The Never Ending Education

"Instruction ends in the schoolroom, where real education starts."

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” - Tom Bodett

“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”- Robert M. Hutchins

“Life will teach you the lessons, it is up to you to learn them”

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” - Helen Keller

"Life is like riding a bike. It is impossible to maintain your balance while standing still." - Linda Brakeall

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Experience or Failure? You determine!

(c) Copyright Sean James Cameron / Interfusion Films Ltd 2006

Sometimes it is alright to make the same mistake more than once. Isn't that's how we learn to walk and to ride a bicycle?

"Failing doesn't make you a failure. Giving up, accepting your failure, refusing to try again, does!" - Richard Exley

“Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later a collection of mistakes is what is called experience.” - Denis Waitley

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde

You may make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you start blaming someone else. Mistakes show us what we need to learn. Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them.

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” - Conrad Hilton

"No one has the right to brand you a failure except yourself."

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What you know can save your life!

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin

Below is a true story where two hikers survived when they put their knowledge into use.

Two New Zealand hikers lost in hilltop mist for two nights were saved after they re-charged their dead mobile phone by removing the battery and leaving it for 15 minutes in the sun when it broke through.

More ...

"The single most important lesson for anyone anywhere is that what you know can save your life and what you don't know can kill you" - Dengle (a member of the Tsunami Survey Team)

It is the lack of knowledge and warning system about Tsunami that killed so many people on 26 December 2004. This incident tell us that knowledge can save many lives!

"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it." - Samuel Johnson

For those who travel a lot, it might be beneficial to know a list of gadgets and ideas that might help you survive in the wild.

Being aware of all the Warning Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke is valuable because it could be a matter of life and death .

Have you personally experience such in your life or have any story to share?

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Listen with your Hands, Mind and Eyes

Listen with your hands
When you take note, you experience everything twice, and understand it a thousand times better.

Listen with your mind
Even after a conversation, it pays to think about it. Indeed listening without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

Listen with your eyes
There is a road from the eye to the heart and mind that does not go through the ears.

Listen with 100% attention
When you focus all your senses to the task of listening, you'll be able to pick up little nuances that can make all the difference.

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Develop Good Character

According to C. Watts "Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking."

Abraham Lincoln says: "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

He also said that "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Well, it is true that some people pay so much attention to their reputation that they lose their character.

We ought to guard well our thoughts; they soon become acts. guard well our acts; they soon become habits. guard well our habits; they shape our character, our career, our fortune.

"Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece - by thought, choice, courage, and determination." - H. Jackson Brown

"When you choose your friends, don't be short-changed by choosing personality over character." - W. Somerset Maugham

"Personality can open doors; only character can keep them open."

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Frequent Self check is necessary

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Tony Robbins says: "The past does not predict the future - unless you live in it".

That last part - "unless you live in it" is the key - because we all do. Somehow, many still have not come to the realization of this fact. We may not make any good progress until we had truly decided to change for the better.

Dale E. Turner says: “Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.”

That's true. However, make sure you got get rid of all painful and damaging thoughts that entrap you. Forgive and love yourself and let go of the past and learn to live in the now.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

“He who moves not forward, goes backward” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” - C.S. Lewis

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Quickly learn all you can from others

Who is the wise man?. To succeed early in life, choose the quickest way: Learn all you can from others. We can't learn enough soon enough from our own experience to succeed when young.

Do you know that you learn when you teach? Ensure you have perfected your own effective learning skills. Follow no one but learn from everyone.

The winner does in the beginning what the failure does not in the end - learns from others.

"Learn all you can from others. The school of experience takes so long that the graduates are too old to go to work." - Henry Ford

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No choice? - You have choices

"God created us, but he gave us the power of choice to shape our own lives and fortunes."

"We can't choose our relatives, but we can choose our thoughts which influence us much more."

"One of the big reasons, that most people go through life getting so little out of it is that, they do not really know what they want. Thing happen to them more by chance than by choice."

"Everything's in the mind. That's where it all starts. Knowing what you want is the first step toward getting it." - Mae West

"A person doesn't learn to choose a good alternative without choosing a few bad ones."

"Too many people, instead of choosing their jobs to fit their talents, let circumstances choose them. And what's left to chance gets chance results."

Tell yourself this: "My mind is a tool I can choose to use any way I wish."

So do you know what you want?

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Removing barriers to success

"It takes courage to make a fool of yourself." - Charlie Chaplin

Imagine all those who tried to fly before Wilbur and Orville Wright succeeded. They were considered fools by many. But they were right: humans can fly.

“There are no failures - just experiences and your reactions to them.” - Tom Krause

“Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.”

“Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn't work; and second, the failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach.” - Roger Von Oech

“Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up.”

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Overcoming difficulties

“Difficulties increase the nearer we approach the goal” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“All things are difficult before they are easy.” - Thomas Fuller

“There are two ways of meeting difficulties: You alter the difficulties or you alter yourself to meet them.” - Phyllis Bottome

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill

Let a difficulty remind you of your blessings. Trouble brings experience, and experience brings wisdom.

Forget difficulties, but not the lessons learned from them.

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Grow and move forward wisely!

“You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on.” - Dan Castellaneta

"Youth is when you blame everything on your parents. Maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation." - George Bernard Shaw

You're not fully mature unless you're prepared for the unexpected.

Wisdom is when you accept the blame and embrace the learning.

“Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness” - Jean Vanier

He that never corrects his mistakes will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

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Be prepared

"Man must be prepared for every event of life, for there is nothing that is durable." - Menander

The bible in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tell us that

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace."

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