Putting It Out There

We used to play spin the bottle when I was a kid," says comedy writer Gene Perret. "A girl would spin the bottle, and if the bottle pointed to you when it stopped, the girl could either kiss you or give you a nickel. By the time I was 14, I owned my own home."

Gotta admire persistence. Because rejection is hard to take. Especially when it comes from someone you know. Or, come to think about it, someone you don't know.

And we all want to be appreciated. We like being valued for what we do and who we are.

American football coach Bum Phillips lives in a world where one can become a hero or a heel in an amazingly short time. One mediocre season and a coach, even a good one, can be out of a job. Like Phillips once said, "There's only two kinds of coaches -- them that's been fired and them that's about to be fired." Sounds like they might want to make friends with rejection.

Few things hold people back more than the fear of rejection. They don't ask for what they need because the answer may be no. They don't ask their boss for a raise or for more time off. They don't ask for help. They are afraid to be the first to say "I love you" (what if they don't hear "I love you" back?). They don't ask for a better deal or a lower interest rate. They don't submit that manuscript to a publisher. In short, they don't let their wants and needs be known, for fear of being turned away, turned down or turned out.

But the wonderful truth is this: If you can accept NO for an answer, you can ask for anything. ANYTHING. When no is an acceptable and okay answer to what you'd like, you can fearlessly ask for whatever you need.

I love the expression, "I'm just putting it out there." Just put it out there. Ask. And don't worry about the response. Nobody can say YES if you never asked. Just put it out there and don't be afraid -- you may be surprised at the answer you get. Sometimes people just need to be asked. And if you don't get the response you want, are you any worse off than before?

Hey -- I'm just putting it out there.

-- Steve Goodier

Happy Dancing

Always can't resist smiling whenever I see this ...



Here's the english version ...



And it all started because of this one guy ...

14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands.
Thanks to everyone who danced with me.

- Matt Harding



This is his story

Up, Up and Away

The movie "Up" touches our hearts. It prompts us to reflect on life's unfinished business and our tendencies to put even the biggest dreams on hold while we go through life's ups and downs.

In a silent, flashback montage and less than 5 mins, we went through the decades that Carl and Ellie spent together, this is the first touching moment, can't help shedding some tears.

When Ellie passed away, she leaves behind a scrapbook as well as a very grumpy widower, who retreats into himself. After an unfortunate incident, Carl was about to be evicted from his home and then, he got a plan. Using thousands of colored balloons tied to the house, prying it from its foundation and carrying it up skyward, Carl intends to fly it to South America, fulfilling Ellie's dream of going to Paradise Falls, somewhere in South America.

Here comes the funny parts - Russell (a chubby Junior Wilderness Explorer), Kevin (a brillantly coloured rare bird) and Dug (the talking dog), laugh so much here.

From left to right: Dug, Kevin, Russell and Carl

More touching moments:

Russell recalling time spent with his dad - "Sometimes the boring stuff is what I remember most."
Ellie's adventure book - Carl was her adventure, not really going to South America.
Carl pinning the Ellie's badge on for Russell - "for a boy who showed true courage, going above and beyond his duties."

Poignant, emotional, endearing, enlightening, thought-provoking, and enjoyable - go, watch it.

P.S. - I love the music
 

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Happy 44th Birthday, Singapore!!

Last year, we celebrated with Carls Jr burgers, Anderson's ice cream and champagne at a Ritz Carlton suite while watching the preview parade from above.

This year, we had a simple and delicious dinner of Teochew Porridge (but we ate rice ... lol) at Joo Chiat.

After we are done ... Imagine the 2 of us (oh, it's 2 and a half) managed to finish all that food, no wonder my spare tyre keep getting bigger and bigger ...

And watching the parade on TV ...

On our way back, we saw lots of policemen and a VVIP entourage, en route to the parade ...

Guess who!!

Clue: SM Goh is already seated at the parade. So it could only be ...

Actually, to us, 9 Aug is more than celebrating the nation's birthday.

It's our first date, 4 years ago, when we went to watch the fireworks together.

That's when it all started :)

Mind Movies

What Exactly Is a Mind Movie?

A Mind Movie is a short 3 minute video filled with powerful affirmations, and emotionally inspiring images. By watching this video twice a day you are commanding the universe to bring you the people, and resources required to make your dreams a reality.

Thousands of people have already discovered the life changing power of Mind Movies, and have decided to make their own. (Often with truly unbelievable results)

A quote by Napoleon Hill, the author of "Think and Grow Rich"...

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, It Can Achieve."

Check out this awesome mind movie from personal development junkie, Alex Cattoni. Want proof that this works? She’s only 23 and she’s already managing a multimillion dollar company, lives a lifestyle only CEOs dream of retiring into, and is a world class photographer.



Want to know how she created her mind movie?? Very easy, if you have ever done presentations for work using Powerpoint or photo slideshows for wedding using Windows Movie Maker, etc, it is along the same lines ... You can make your own mind movie too ...

No One to Phone

One afternoon after the death of her grandfather, Carol lay huddled on her bed, sobbing forlornly. Her mother sat beside her and asked, "What's the matter, honey?"

"I miss my grandpa, and I miss talking to him about my problems," the girl said.

"I know, dear," sympathized her mother. "I miss him too. But can't you talk to me?" Carol shook her head vehemently.

"Why not?" her mother persisted.

"Because you're what we talked about," sobbed Carol.

Children may not always confide in their parents. And adults may choose not to confide in many of their friends and family. But it is important to have someone with whom we can be emotionally intimate.

Tragically, it has been estimated that the majority of men, and many women, have nobody they could phone at 2:00 in the morning if their lives fall apart. They believe there is nobody who really wants to hear from them in a crisis. Too many of us are utterly without close and intimate friends.

The philosopher Goethe once observed, "The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth an inhabited garden."

Who can you be vulnerable with? Is the earth, for you, more like a lonely desert or an inhabited garden? The difference may simply be in whom you feel free to call at your most wounded moments. Do you have such a person? And are you such a person for someone else?

As it has been said, "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

If we are to find the kind of friend who knows the song in our hearts, we must also BE that kind of friend. And since good friends take time to grow, today is a good day to work on those friendships.

-- Steve Goodier