Finding the Zest Back into Your Life

For friends who have been feeling unhappy for various reasons (relationship issues, work, mid-life crisis, unmotivated to do anything, mind filled with worries...etc), I have a suggestion for you.

Take a day of leave/ off from your usual schedule.

For the first half of the day, go visit the nearest hospital and walk around the main clinics, you will hardly find any happy faces. Some patients are on wheelchairs, some are on clutches, some are waiting to consult the doctors,some are waiting anxiously for their test results. Remind yourself that you are blessed with something they may not have, a healthy body. Because you have a healthy body, you have the time and energy to solve your problems, work on your issues and make things right.

Now, go give yourself a good lunch treat, go to your favourite eatery, eat your favourite food, love yourself.

For the second half of the day, go find a place where you can explore Nature, e.g. MacRitchie Reservior, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mount Faber, Bukit Timah. Let yourself rejuvenate in Nature, breathe in the fresh air, anions and let the healing begin. Keep yourself temporarily away from the bustling city life and appreciate what Mother Nature can offer to you, together with the healing powers it brings.

When we look at the wide forest land in these scenic place, we will realise that we, as humans beings and occupants of Earth, are so small. With this humbling experience, we will realize that the issues we face are even smaller.

Lastly, as you exit these scenic places and back to city life, remind yourself that the city was once part of Nature. It is human beings, with all of our intelligence, who harness raw materials from Nature and build our cities and homes. Therefore, never underestimate the potential inside you, the power to transform your environment to suit your evolving needs. You may be slower but that doesn't mean you can't achieve. As long as you are healthy, you will have the time and ability to make a difference. Remember that Colonel Sanders (founder of KFC) only started selling his KFC franchise at the Singapore retirement age of 65. Even so, he was rejected more than 1,000 times and only achieved success (sold his first franchise) when he was 74 years.

If you have problem and don't wish to do anything about it, no one can help you. If you have a problem and wish to do something about it, no one can stop you !

Are You Happy Today?

Are you happy today?

We can talk all day about chasing our dreams or finding our passion to lead a meaningful and purposeful life. However, the ultimate guiding principle is very simple, are you happy today? Are you happy with what you have and what you are doing today? If your answer is "yes" today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life, then you would have lived a very meaningful life, don't need to worry about what is your passion, what is your purpose and so on.

A home is nothing more than a shelter filled with love, we don't need the most lavish mansion to create a home sweet home.

Experience is nothing more than learning/ trying out something new each day, we don't need to travel the world to enrich our life experience.

A job is nothing more than an income generating mechanism, we don't really need to get too stressed up over our work. It is not as if we will perish if we lose our jobs. I also strongly believe that no one is indispensible to any organisation.

Money is nothing more than a tool used to sustain our basic needs. If we work hard, be prudent and have good saving habits, there will be enough, even on rainy days. Don't let money fuel our desires to want more and more, which builds our insecurities when we think we do not have enough.

Lastly, changing the world starts from changing yourself and your perspective of the world, it is nothing more than acts of kindness, one act at a time, given by everyone. We don't need another Mother Theresa, you and I can be mini/ micro/ nano versions of Mother Theresa and be giving and loving.

To achieve big things, we think small and we think simple, one step at a time, just like a meaningful and well-lived life is nothing more than just living happily everyday.

Turning Back Time

The Ch 8 9pm drama has quite a meaningful theme. We often wish that we can turn back time and make better decisions, change things for the better. While we may be able to change the outcome of some events, what has to happen will happen and that things could have turned out much worse. There is no way we can live a perfect life, nor can we control the future.

To appreciate life is to live in the present moment, trust that every decision is your best decision and appreciate all you have been blessed with. Be nice to people, help one another, it will change your perception about the society, for people are as good (or bad) as what you believe them to be. Mix with the positive people who are encouraging and you will definitely cultivate good thoughts and habits.

The negative thoughts and emotions will always come, making us feel worried, insecure and afraid, so we are going to need all the help we can get. They come in the form of a supportive social network and a mind inclined towards positive thinking.

We don't have to turn back time and restart everything all over again. We can start now and improve on the shortcomings and still live a life we will be proud of. If you have happy with your life now, then it is a meaningful one. Else, do something about it, go learn a new skill, find a new hobby, give kindness, go volunteer, chase after your childhood dreams, explore the world, do whatever is positive and enriching, you will still end up with a life you are proud of :)

A simple act of Kindness can go a long way

At our most stressful, panicky or fearful moment, a word of concern or encouragement can sometimes work wonder. The lady who was 6 months pregnant and trapped in her car during an accident, felt numbless in certain parts of her body and pain in her tummy. She was also afraid that her car would explode. A 12 year old boy came along and asked if she was okay. A simple gesture like that gave her much needed courage and reassurance to face her ordeal.

Behind the facade of the happy pictures shared on social media, all of us have our own issues and challenges to deal with. Your word of concern and encouragement may just be the greatest thing you can do for a friend or family member.

Ever wonder what do people/ human beings need most? Is it food, water or air? I think the answer is love. No doubt we need food, water and air to survive but in a world without love, human beings will destroy one another, and eventually we will become extinct. It is like having power but lacking the knowledge to use it. Love will guide us and help us cultivate good thoughts, while kindness is all about putting these useful thoughts into actions.

All of us want to see the world change for the better, we hope to see big changes happening, like eliminating racism, terrorism, prejudices. We hope the world can be peaceful with no wars and people killing one another. We sometimes forget that it all starts with the small and simple actions of giving kindness, showing more concerns to people around us and encouraging one another along. When people feel loved, they are less likely to go down the wrong paths.

As you read this, is there someone on your mind whom you have not contact for awhile? Maybe it is a good time to drop a message to ask how he/ she is doing? It is okay to be the one who take the initiative, because those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. Spread some love around, my dear friends <3

We need Hope to ease our Insecurities

This news is very touching.

Just goes to show how magnanimous the human heart can be.

"Eat what you want, pay what you can, $1 per packet, no problem, free also does not matter"

Am very proud to know this is happening in Singapore, thank you very much to the stall owners for your kindness and generosity, you are an inspiration to all of us <3 <3

Because there is kindness, we know we will brave through all the challenges that may hit us in the future. When we can unite and help one another, we will generate hope and hope is what we need to ease our insecurities in an ever-changing environment, not tons of money.

When we can stop using money to ease our insecurities, then we will have less stress, less frustration, less fears and less anger, this will greatly benefit our physical and mental health. It all starts with kindness, one act at a time :)

The Kindness of Fellow Singaporeans

Just witnessed this amazing act. A young man was helping a frail elderly uncle push his motorised bike across the road but they could only make it to the middle of the road because Uncle moved too slowly and the green man had turned red. Another man came over, raised his hand and stopped the traffic for the uncle to cross over. No vehicle moved until the trio (elderly man and 2 very kind gentlemen) safely made it through to the side of the road.

The spirit of kindness lives in all of us, have faith in our fellow Singaporeans because they will amaze you with their kindness :)

Kind Bus Driver In Action !

Such a pleasant surprise whenever the bus driver makes an effort to greet the passengers. He doesn't have to do that, his job is just to drive the bus, but going the extra mile and giving service with a smile helps to warm hearts and brighten days.

The same applies to you and me, you are not obliged to give kindness, but you gave anyways and that effort made our community a much better place to live in. So, be generous in the giving, you may just help to lift someone up or make someone's day brighter with your acts of kindness <3

Find the Right Motivation for Work

Why do we need to work? Work is of course to earn money lah, what a dumb question to ask :p But seriously, are we working just to earn money only? Money in the form of cash are objects while money in the bank are figures. If our motivation to work is because of money, it is like saying we are in love with a statue. There is definitely so much more to work than just earning money.

When colleagues become good friends, we earn friendship. When we constantly learn new things as we work, we earn knowledge. With every passing day at work, we earn experience. When we are contributing to a bigger cause in the organisation, we earn self-worth and recognition. When the juniors look up to us for guidance and directions, we earn respect. When our income allows us to fulfill our dreams, do charity work, we earn beautiful memories and a meaningful life.

If we can think beyond working to earn money and find that motivation in things that are close our hearts, then we will be more motivated to go to work. Else, we will be dragging our feet and going through motion. If you can, write in the comments on what motivate you to work, use this to remind yourself what you are working hard for. It will be a good reference for others who may be struggling to find theirs.

If you are reading this on a Monday morning, remind yourself that no one is guaranteed a new day every time and everyday is a gift and blessing. So, make today a good one and always stay positive and happy. Have an awesome week ahead, my dear friends !

Good Customer Service Vs. Poor Customer Service: Why Do We Need Kindness

In the space of half an hour, I experienced 2 different levels of customer service. There was a sales lady who was extremely helpful, she gave many valuable advice after hearing about my problem and recommended the best product that suits my need. I dare say that if I had not met her, I would definitely grab the wrong product off the shelf and still face the same issue thereafter. I later met a cashier who was really not in the mood to serve, maybe she had a long hard day, so when I asked, the reply she gave as good as no reply and her tone summed up the level of service she offered.

Why do I encourage friends to be kind? Why should we be nice to others, whether we are in the service line or not? It is because our attitude and actions affect others, what we say or do to others affect their mood and emotions. When we are kind to others, it makes their day brighter and brings joy to them. They will feel thankful to have receive our acts of kindness. When others are rude and nasty to us, it makes our mood unpleasant and we are upset by their actions.

If we live to be mean and bring misery to others, then what is the whole purpose and meaning of our existence? How can we or our loved ones be proud of who we are? Let's strive to spread more kindness around because kindness can inspire kindness. The people whom you are nice to today may pay it forward to another person in need tomorrow. We don't need lots of money or resources to change the world or make our community a better place, we just need more kindness, something that all of us can give on a daily basis. You and I can definitely do our part, cheers :)

The Significance of Birthday Celebration

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your lovely birthday wishes, I feel so much love coming from all of you. I take this opportunity to thank you for the trust, this amazing friendship we share, the support and encouragement you have always given me in the things I do.

For many years, I didn't really like celebrating birthdays, reason being I did not feel significant enough to want to celebrate the birth of myself. I was slower than many of my peers in primary school, I failed my English examinations when I reached secondary school. When your birthday falls on a school holiday, you will watch your classmates celebrate your friends' birthdays, one by one, except yours. I didn't feel loved, I didn't feel confident of myself, I didn't feel significant, so I see no reason that I should feel any special on my birthday.

The good thing that happened was that I didn't give up on myself, I worked twice as hard to catch up on others. When I have improved, I thought that I must help the others who are lagging behind because I was in their shoes before and could understand their frustrations. Through helping them, I felt useful and that boosted my self-confidence. The more I excelled in my studies, the more willing I am to share my knowledge with my peers and guide them along. I also won some friends in the process.

The present me is more confident of the impact I can create on the people around me, especially on the virtual space, all thanks to the revolution brought by the Internet that got all of us connected. However, I have no intent to create a legacy for myself. My greatest wish is to empower you to create an impact on our society and our community in your own unique ways. I believe that all of us, with our own unique strengths and talents, can do more for our society and make it a better place for everyone. If 10 years down the road, I managed to increase my circle of influence, but people around me are not adopting a positive attitude in life nor do they believe they can create an impact on the lives of others, then I have achieved nothing. I can't change the world all by myself, I need all of you to play a part and do this together. We will help one another reach this target together.

Before we talked about the master plan of changing the world, let's start off with baby steps of changing ourselves. We must first adopt a positive attitude and fill our lives with love and kindness, which will be our guiding light to something better and greater. When we can be positive despite all the challenges we face, we will influence the people around us to be positive as well. We will stop complaining and stop soaking up negative energy. This may need some conscious effort but I believe we can do that together. Let me lead the way as we brave into uncharted waters and make amazing discoveries together. It will be a worthwhile adventure for all of us :)

The true purpose of setting up PARK & P2P

Many friends may think that I started the kindness movement (PARK) and built the kindness platform (P2P), with the purpose of helping the less fortunate in our community. To a certain extent, this is true as we helped many volunteer projects get the support they need, be it fund raising or volunteer recruitment. However, the real purpose of doing all these is because of you, each and every one of you, whom I have the fortune and privilege to cross path with.

I know you have challenges & issues to face in life, you feel the stress, you have your insecurities and worries; somehow you have lost faith, you are tired, you struggle to find motivation and directions in life, you are lost, you are unhappy and the sufferings bring pain to you. The negative emotions accumulate and eventually overwhelm you and unhappiness becomes a part of your lifestyle, complaining and feeling sorry for yourself become your daily habits.

However, all is not lost when you have love and kindness. The cloud of negative emotions can only be dispersed through postive thoughts and energy, created through love and kindness. Over here at P2P, we have a safe haven for you to heal and rejuvenate. It is through giving kindness that one learns appreciation, contentment and in turn finds happiness. It is through giving that one finds inner peace and free oneself from the insecurities and worries. Giving kindness brings value to others and in turn help you find your purpose and meaning in life.

Today is my birthday and my birthday wish is for you, people whom I have not met but regard you as my brothers and sisters because of your kindness, to be healthy and happy always. I have a humble request which I hope you can help me fulfill, that is for you to make a comment on 5 or more things that you are happy/thankful for. It can be anything ranging from your loved ones to the haze-free air that we are breathing now. Let's spread more positive vibes around and learn to appreciate our blessings. Most importantly, you choose happiness through the reasons you give.