Buffet, Life

Life is like going into an international buffet restaurant with only one plate and one round to take everything you want.

There are so much yummy food around but the plate has limited space, just as how we have unlimited wants in life but limited time. You have to take the food you really like, just like you have to do the things that really matter, things that add meaning to your life and makes you happy.

Once you are done with your selection, you look into someone's plate and wish that you could have grab that tasty delicacy that was not on your plate. That act of comparison will make you envious and unhappy, because the comparison will never end. Some others will look into your plate and wish that they have something you have and they don't. Let's just be happy and thankful with we have on our own plates and don't compare with others.

Finally, there will be some who are unable to go into the restaurant and they will go hungry. However, there will be people who are big hearted enough to share some of what they have on their plate, to spread some joy and hope around, to fill stomachs and to warm hearts. Someday, the underprivileged and hungry or their children will be able to go into the restaurant to enjoy a good meal, all thanks to those who care to help them along.

To sum things up about Life with this analogy, do the things that are worth your time, don't compare with others and always be kind. You will find happiness and meaning when you do that.

Wishing all a great weekend ahead :)

Saying Thank You

Should we thank the person (e.g. cashier, waitor, salesgirl) serving us or should they thank us as customers who patronize their business? Me thinks it should be both ways.

As a person offering a service, we should put ourselves in the shoes of the customers and offer the best service we can, who wouldn't be comforted to receive good customer service? As a customer, let's have respect for all who serve us, we are no kings or queens, neither are they servants or of lower status. Everyone is working hard for a living but earning more or less does not determine if a person should be more respected or not.

It doesn't cost more to be kind but it can brighten someone's day with small gestures of appreciation. "Thank you" is not difficult to say and it will break the barriers among strangers, thank the cleaner who cleared your trays or vacumed your cubicle, thank the cashier who processed your payment, thank the waitor/ waitress who helped to top up your drink or served you food, thank the salesperson who offered you good advice on what to buy.

Make gratitude and appreciation part of your everyday habits. It will make your life so much happier :)smile emoticon

Look Forward and Dream

The past cannot be undone but the future is for waiting for us to create. There will be adventures ahead if we are willing to believe. If we were to fast forward 30 years, where our future becomes our past, what kind of memories do we want to create for ourselves? If we can imagine anything that would lead us to a meaningful and fulfilling life, we start creating now. Today will be the day (not tomorrow or some other day) we take the first baby step to create the future we want to see :)

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Let It Rain Initiative, 2 Years On

2 years ago, Singapore experienced a very dry spell with more than 2 months without rain. Trees, plants and grasses are browning everywhere. My friend, Shun Ling, came up with this brilliant idea of using reused water (from washing vege, fruits, rice) to water the trees and plants around us, to induce rain and prevent them from dying. We set up the "Let It Rain Singapore" FB group to encourage and rally more friends to join in this movement.

It is heartwarming to see so many friends, posting pictures of them (some with their children), watering trees, plants with reused water. The rain eventually came and all of us were so happy to see the efforts paid off. Till date, I still have many fond memories of what we do together.

We may face many more challenges in future, be it environmental, social or economical; but if we stay united, help one another and spread the love around, there is nothing Singaporeans cannot overcome. I have utmost faith in the Singapore Spirit and together we will make Singapore a better place to live in, cheers :)

Mirror, Life, Mist

When we look into the mirror and frown, what do we see? A frowning person. When we look into the mirror and smile, we see a person smiling back at us. The mirror is like Life, what you put inside is what you get out of it. If we can be positive and always learn to count our blessings, then Life will be an amazing journey filled with joy and pleasant surprises along the way. On the other hand, if we are always unhappy, bear grudges and filled ourselves with anger and resentment, then Life is definitely going to a journey filled with sufferings and pain.

Sometimes when you smile into the mirror and you don't see the person in the mirror smiling back, it is because the mirror is misty. Relax, be patient and keep the faith, the mist will clear and you will see the smiling person again. The mist is like the setbacks and challenges we face in Life. Don't let the mist take away your smile and make you the frowning person when the mist clears. Keeping smiling, for the mist will not last forever.

Wishing all a happy weekend ahead !

Happy International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the wonderful ladies out there. It is not easy being a woman; Nature bestow you with the child bearing ability, society expects you be take care of the household, to sacrifice career ambition and to be physically attractive. I believe it does not matter if you have met the expectations because you are all gorgeous in your own unique ways.

To the ladies who have been insecure and wish you were prettier, thinner or having any of celebrities' features, be confident in yourself and be proud of what you have. Focus on your strength and let your inner beauty radiate from within, for a confident lady is the most attractive.

Another group of ladies who deserve our respect are those who have been through much more, the single mums and those who have battled life-threatening illness. On this special day, may I invite you to give a little encouragement to my dear friend, Teri, who is a cancer survivor, by helping her vote and win a glamour photoshoot. She is gorgeous because of her courage and strength, after the ordeal she went through. So are all the ladies who have been hurt and broken but still be brave to pick themselves up and move on stronger.

You can "like" her photo via this link (competition ends 11 March):

http://tinyurl.com/jpeestc

Thank you :)

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Monday Is Just Like Any Other Day

Monday is technically just like any other day of the week, the sun does not shine less brighter, the number of hours is the same as Sunday, it is still another day to rejoice of being alive.

Why is Monday less bearable is because we are giving ourselves many reasons to be unhappy and to dread Monday. If we can change our mindset that every day is a blessing and an opportunity to change for the better, to enrich someone's life, to make a difference in our community, to choose happiness, then it doesn't matter whether it's Monday or not.

Make every day count and don't forget to be awesome. Wishing all friends a fantastic week ahead, smile :)

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