Live For the Memories

The way we take photos have changed over the years, from analog photography to digital photography.

The way we share photos taken have changed over the years, from printing out hard copies in photo albums to online through social media and the Internet.

The number of photos taken has also changed, from the limited numbers on a roll of film to the thousands that the memory card can store.
One thing that did not change is we still love taking photos, and are taking more photos.

Why is that so?

Every photo capture a part of our lives because every photo is a piece of memory. When we capture plenty of photos all through our lives, what we really want to safekeep are our memories, because that is what Life is all about. Memories tell us that we have a lived a Life filled with happiness and meaning.

When you grow old and there are 2 items on your desk, a thick photo album full of photos of you and your loved ones, and a file containing your bank statements, shares statement, which one would make you happier?

*** Inspired when looking through my old photo album ***

Kindness Is All Around Us

An elderly Malay Uncle with walking difficulties took a very long time to cross the road, so long that the green man had turn red. No one car on either side moved, no one sounded the horn, everyone just waited patiently for him to cross.

Some think that Singaporean drivers are impatient, don't give way and get angry easily, but this is what we are all made up of, the seed of kindness lies in every one of us. Our fast paced competitive society may not be the perfect environment to nurture this seed, but we can start to make a change and encourage more kindness among us.

I believe in the good in all of us, do you?

Make Life Tiring Fun !

Life can be tiring or tiring fun. If we can find joy and meaning in what we do, then all the tiredness is worth it. We don't just get through the different stages of Life because everyone else is doing it. Every stage of Life brings a whole new experience, with lessons to learn and pleasant surprises awaiting. We are all privileged to given this life to live, love and grow, so make full use of this opportunity to create beautiful memories, for yourself and for the people around you. Make the hard work you give, reap great rewards for you !

Life, Problems, Meaning

Life is a series of problems, you solve one problem, another problem crops up. Can we not have problems? Can we not have worries? Can we not be afraid? Can we not be angry? Can we not experience loss? Can we not be sad? Can we not have negative thoughts in our head?

When Life is smooth sailing, with no issues, no challenges, with everything mapped out nicely for you, Life will gradually lose it's purpose. If we have not been afraid, how would we be given the opportunity to overcome our fears and build our courage? If we have not experience sadness, how would we treasure our happy moments? If we have not experienced loss, how would we appreciate the time we had with our loved ones?

Every problem/ issue faced in Life gives us the opportunity to come out of it stronger and to improve ourselves or our relationship with others. Don't be afraid of problems, stay focus on the solutions and get the best out of every situation you are in, good or bad, for that is what makes Life interesting and meaningful.

"Singapore workers unhappiest in South-east Asia: Survey"

"Singapore workers unhappiest in South-east Asia: Survey"

This is an article published just yesterday and when I read the headline, the reasons on what could have caused the unhappiness had already popped up in my mind, perhaps coming from my own experience at work.

The train is crowded, the boss is uncaring, the work is overwhelming, there is no sense of purpose at work. While these are all valid reasons to be unhappy, have we conveniently forget the reasons to be happy?

The train system may be crowded but with Circle Line and Downtown Line operational, we save up so much time traveling from one place to another (think Bishan to Bouna Vista using NS & EW line compared to circle line). Traveling to work is now faster as compared to few years ago.

Work may be overwhelming but I still get to enjoy the weekend, like right now writing down my thoughts, while there are people in the service line working over the weekend. Some hawkers start work as early as 12 or 1 am and only stopped work at noon, a taxing almost 12 hours of shift, most of them are not young anymore. The policemen or army regulars could be working round the clock to solve cases or be involved in military exercises, they have to spent time away from their families because of their work commitment.
I may not play a big role in the organisation so my sense of purpose at work is not that strong but my income allows me to fulfill my wishes and achieve some of life's milestones with my loved ones, that is my purpose of work.

The environment can always spark off negativity, as it seems like a norm to gossip and to talk about the unhappy stuff, but don't let it disrupt your inner peace and make you spiral downwards. If there is a problem, focus on the solution, not the issue. We must take responsibilities of our happiness and not blame our unhappiness on others. For every reason to be unhappy lies a reason to be happy, find it and be good to yourself.

About Death & Life [Excerpt]

Beautiful Writeup:

"I realized that the most important thing about death is to ensure that you leave this world a little better than it was before you existed with your contributions.

We care so much about the health and integrity of our body that until death, we don’t notice that the body is nothing more than a box – a parcel for delivering our personality, thoughts, beliefs and intentions to this world. If there is nothing in this box that can change the world, then it doesn’t matter if it disappears. I believe that we all have potential, but it also takes a lot of courage to realize it. You can float through a life created by circumstances, missing day after day, hour after hour. Or, you can fight for what you believe in and write the great story of your life.

I hope you will make the right choice. Leave a mark in this world. Have a meaningful life, whatever definition it has for you. Go towards it. The place we are leaving is a beautiful playground, where everything is possible. Yet, we are not here forever. Our life is a short spark in this beautiful little planet that flies with incredible speed to the endless darkness of the unknown universe. So, enjoy your time here with passion. Make it interesting. Make it count! Thank you!"

Excerpt from "Powerful Advice From a Dying Man":
http://tranquilmonkey.com/advice-dying/#

Similar Situation, Different Perspectives

When the weather gets too hot, I am thankful that there is aircon in the office, shopping malls and in our public transportation system. When the aircon in the office gets too cold, I am glad that I am able to go out and get some fresh air, sunshine and warmth.

In a similar situation, I could have felt frustrated, complained about the unbearable heat and wished I was somewhere else, maybe in a country with a cooler climate. However, will it make me happier if I were to think this way?

We all face challenges and constraints in life, our perspectives determine whether we come out of it feeling happy or unhappy. The situation may not change easily (like how do you make Singapore's climate to be cooling all year round), but we can certainly adopt a more positive mindset when dealing with the challenges and issues. Because by doing so, it will make us happier people.