Aug 8, 2012
Turn the Paper Sideways
Sometimes I need to approach a persistent problem with a new way of thinking. The Spanish poet Juan Ramón Jiménez said, "If they give you ruled paper, write the other way." His image reminds me to always be my own person, but it also challenges me to think creatively. Turning the paper sideways is like looking at situations from different angles.
Henry L. Mencken said it first: "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong." And how often I am determined to keep pounding on that simple and neat solution until I make it work, or else I finally give up altogether. But success will surprisingly come when I decide to look at the thing from a wholly different perspective.
Several all night convenience stores in New York City learned something about viewing problems another way. Evidently, some of the stores had a problem with teenagers hanging out in their parking lots late into the night. Not that they didn't like kids; they liked them very much. But customers complained that they were afraid to approach them in the dark and push through them to enter the store. Neighbors complained that couldn't sleep with the noise. And store personnel were worried about the well-being of the young people themselves. Late at night, these neighborhoods were unsafe.
Managers tried various methods to solve the problem. They asked the kids to find a safer place to congregate. They asked them to move away from the doors so customers didn't have to push through them. They asked them to discard their cigarette butts and trash in outdoor receptacles and not litter the parking lot. Each solution was simple, neat and completely ineffective. It seems that any of them should have worked. But none of them did and many of the store managers eventually gave up in frustration on solving the problem.
Finally, one man came up with an unusual idea. He decided he had been approaching the situation all wrong. Asking the teens to change their behavior didn't work, so he tried something different. He just piped easy-listening music into the parking lot -- slow, soothing instrumentals especially suited for mature listeners.
No more loitering.
Sometimes we just need to look at things differently. Again and again we butt up against the same old problem. It may involve a child or parent, a friend or lover. It might be a problem with a co-worker. Maybe it's just a complex situation we're working through, or a personal problem with which we can't seem to make any headway. And so far, everything we've tried has failed. Perhaps it's time to turn the paper around and write the other way; to look at the problem a whole new way.
Here's a good question to ask: "How can I come at this thing from a different angle?" Because there is likely something you're not seeing.
A father and his daughter were stopped by a flight attendant before boarding their plane. The problem? The little girl was clutching a large bouquet of balloons. In sympathetic tones, the attendant told the child that she would not be permitted to travel with all of the balloons. "Only one is allowed per passenger," she said in a voice that concluded there's nothing to be done. After all, rules are rules.
Father and daughter decided they could each carry one. So with tears in her eyes, the little child selected her two favorite balloons for the flight. But before she could discard the rest, another passenger intervened. "Here, I'll take one," he said. He quickly saw a solution to the problem and proceeded to give one balloon to anybody in line who would take one. As she disembarked, every balloon was returned to the happy child.
Here was a man who just looked at the problem a different way. Instead of saying, "There's nothing be done," he turned the paper sideways and the answer was clear.
When you turn your paper sideways, what do you see?
-- Steve Goodier
Jul 20, 2012
Singlish and Dyslexia
Ho sey bo ... Ah, as a true blue Singaporean, how can dun know how to speak Singlish, tio bo?? hahaha
Singlish and Dyslexia !!
What do they have in common?
Dr JiaJia and BigBrother
You must have seen, heard or read about him in the newspaper recently ... the 7 year old dyslexic boy who has his own Youtube channel, acts funny and help to teach the use of Singlish through their comedy videos, which never fail to make me laugh out loud
Ai Seh ... He wants to become a MP (Member of Parliament) in the future ... who will vote for him? Kee Chiew, kee chiew :D
Now, he is going to be a movie star first ... in the movie - Taxi! Taxi! (coming out in January 2013), together with Gurmit Singh and Mark Lee ... Wa Seh, power sia
This is the video that started it all :)
The sequel ...
And many many more ... If you like them, keep on watching over at Youtube ba !! :D
This cute little boy is always so positive ... how can not like him :)
Be warned ... can make you laugh until peng san ... wahahaha
Last but not least, if it is within your means, please support this amazing boy to do charity by buying his iconic T-shirt from DAS
Mai Tu Liao hor ... :P
Singlish and Dyslexia !!
What do they have in common?
Dr JiaJia and BigBrother
You must have seen, heard or read about him in the newspaper recently ... the 7 year old dyslexic boy who has his own Youtube channel, acts funny and help to teach the use of Singlish through their comedy videos, which never fail to make me laugh out loud
Ai Seh ... He wants to become a MP (Member of Parliament) in the future ... who will vote for him? Kee Chiew, kee chiew :D
Now, he is going to be a movie star first ... in the movie - Taxi! Taxi! (coming out in January 2013), together with Gurmit Singh and Mark Lee ... Wa Seh, power sia
This is the video that started it all :)
The sequel ...
And many many more ... If you like them, keep on watching over at Youtube ba !! :D
This cute little boy is always so positive ... how can not like him :)
Be warned ... can make you laugh until peng san ... wahahaha
Last but not least, if it is within your means, please support this amazing boy to do charity by buying his iconic T-shirt from DAS
Mai Tu Liao hor ... :P
Jul 7, 2012
Jun 9, 2012
May 8, 2012
Up Where We Belong
Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world, few hearts survive
All I know is the way I feel
When its real, I keep it alive
The road is long, there are mountains in our way
But we climb a step every day
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know, up where the clear winds blow
Some hang on to "used to be"
Live their lives, looking behind
All we have is here and now
All our life, out there to find
The road is long, there are mountains in our way,
But we climb them a step every day
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know, up where the clear winds blow
Time goes by
No time to cry
Lifes you and I
Alive, today
Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know, up where the clear winds blow
Apr 14, 2012
The Beauty Of Our World
"You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough"
"I love my past. I love my present. I'm not ashamed of what I've had, and I'm not sad because I have it no longer."
"Life resembles a novel more often than novels resemble life."
"Life is about falling - Living is about getting back up."
"Life is what happens to you while you're working for your future."
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."
"Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit."
"Many say I am just one to try. I say I am one less to quit."
"Think of the beauty still left around you and be happy."
Apr 7, 2012
Imagination is Everything
Three-year-old Jonathon is gifted. And precocious. I'm told that when his parents took him to a restaurant, he ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. "Jonathon, I'm sorry, we don't serve grilled cheese sandwiches," the server replied.
He asked playfully, "You have a grill, don't you?"
She answered, "Yes."
He continued, "You have cheese, don't you?"
"Yes, we do."
"You have bread, don't you?"
"Yes.
"Well," he said, "I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich."
Three years old. (You may think his parents should have taught him better manners, but please don't let that keep you from seeing the marvel of this small child's imagination.)
The smiling server returned after checking with the chef and told the boy they would be happy to fix him the sandwich. "But I forgot to ask you what you want to drink," she said.
"I'll have a milkshake, please."
"I'm sorry, Jonathon, but we don't serve milkshakes," she answered. But this time she was ready for him. "Now, it is true we have milk. And it is true we have ice cream. But we don't have syrup," she explained.
He laughed. "You have a car, don't you?"
There's always a solution. Whatever other intellectual gifts Jonathon seems to have, the trait that may serve him best is imagination. He has the valuable ability to imagine a solution to whatever problem comes his way.
Albert Einstein famously said, "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." In other words, what we can see in our imagination today we may experience in life tomorrow. He also said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." He knew that we humans are limited by how much we can learn, but we are never limited by how much we can imagine.
I have come to realize that I am held back far more by my lack of imagination than by my circumstances. When I believe nothing can be done, I search for a way OUT of the difficulty when I OUGHT to be searching for solutions. How can I change anything when I'm looking for a way out? When I perceive my situation as impossible, I resign myself to that fate and give up.
But WHAT IF I were to look at it differently? WHAT IF I approached it in a different way? WHAT IF a creative answer could actually be found? I often settle for less when I should be asking myself powerful questions that begin with the words "what if. . ."
Some two hundred years ago a class of noisy boys in a German primary school was assigned a task to keep them busy. They were instructed to add up all the numbers from 1 to 100. The children settled down, scribbling busily on their slates -- all but one. This boy looked off into space for a few moments, then wrote something on his slate and turned it in. His was the only right answer. When the amazed teacher asked how he did it, he said he wondered if there might be some shortcut. He went on to say, "I found one: 100 plus one is 101; 99 plus two is 101; 98 plus three is 101, and, if I continued the series all the way to 51 plus 50, I have 101 fifty times, which is 5,050."
The teacher decided then that this child needed special tutoring. The boy was Karl Friedrich Gauss, and he became a great mathematician of the 19th century.
Gauss solved his problem when he asked himself the question, "What if there is a shortcut?" Two of the most powerful words I know are "what if."
The solution to my problem, the way through a dilemma or the beginning of that next creative change in my life almost always starts when I decide that I am NOT locked in. "What if" questions release my imagination so I can better see what was hidden.
Imagination is everything. And what if I were to use the words "what if" more often? I can only imagine what might happen.
-- Steve Goodier
Mar 31, 2012
Just Do It
Believe in yourself and go for it with a positive mental attitude.
Remember to set your goals high, have a definite plan and burning desire to succeed.
Trust yourself and Just Do It.
Mar 24, 2012
Mar 17, 2012
Mar 10, 2012
Optimism
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.
- Helen Keller
Mar 3, 2012
Tomorrow Will Be Better
This has always been one of my favourites ... A song to wake me up every morning, when I used to set the alarm clock on my mobile phone
Now, I have not set alarm clock for more than 2 years already ... No need at all, my kids will wake me up ... on time or even earlier ... Hahaha :D
Now, I have not set alarm clock for more than 2 years already ... No need at all, my kids will wake me up ... on time or even earlier ... Hahaha :D
Feb 26, 2012
Feb 19, 2012
Feb 14, 2012
Every Day is Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day ... Every day is Valentine's Day :D
Thank you for being my wife, my best friend, a wonderful mother to our 2 lovely daughters ... 辛苦你了!!
Love you much much ... Muack =)
Thank you for being my wife, my best friend, a wonderful mother to our 2 lovely daughters ... 辛苦你了!!
Love you much much ... Muack =)
Feb 13, 2012
Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head
I was riding this morning ... when it started drizzling ... and then, raining
Heng, not very heavily, still can ride ... Shiok!!
One song came to my mind ... :)
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
--------------------------------------------------------
A happy and optimistic song for you to enjoy ...
Now ... got to go clean up and lub the bike :D
Heng, not very heavily, still can ride ... Shiok!!
One song came to my mind ... :)
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
--------------------------------------------------------
A happy and optimistic song for you to enjoy ...
Now ... got to go clean up and lub the bike :D
Feb 9, 2012
Feb 2, 2012
PASSION
Don't ever let somebody tell you... ...you can't do something.
Not even me. All right? - All right.
You got a dream... ...you gotta protect it.
People can't do something themselves... ...they wanna tell you you can't do it.
If you want something, go get it. Period.
Jan 25, 2012
Jan 23, 2012
Happy Lunar New Year
Happy Lunar New Year .... HUAT AH !!!
Enjoy some Chinese New Year songs to get into the mood ... Gong Xi Fa Cai 恭喜发财 !!
Jan 6, 2012
Jan 5, 2012
Gratitude
Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable career spans more than three decades providing breathtaking imagery for feature films, television shows, documentaries and commercials.
This piece includes his short film on Gratitude and Happiness. Brother David Steindl's spoken words, Gary Malkin's musical compositions and Louie's cinematography make this a stunningly beautiful piece, reminding us of the precious gift of life, and the beauty all around us.
Jan 4, 2012
Be An Example
Inspire yourself and others will be inspired.
Motivate yourself and others will be motivated.
Develop yourself and others will start to develop themselves.
Be an example first and then the world changes around you.
- Author Unknown
Jan 3, 2012
Jan 2, 2012
Talking It Out
"Anger blows out the lamp of the mind," said Robert Ingersoll.
It may be true. I heard a story about one woman who ran a classified ad in order to sell her brand new car. It had only 3,000 miles. "Like new," the ad boasted. "Mint condition. $75.00."
He laughed to himself, and said, "There goes the newspaper, making another mistake." But he decided to call the number anyway and ask about it.
"Is it really brand new?"
"Yes," she replied.
"Three thousand miles?"
"Yes."
"The price?"
"Seventy-five dollars," she answered.
"Seventy-five dollars! Lady, what's wrong with it?" he asked.
"Nothing is wrong with it. And, amazingly, you're the first to call. I suppose nobody else believes the ad."
He decided to look at it. She let him take a test drive. The car looked exquisite and ran perfectly. He just couldn't believe his luck.
"The car is yours for $75.00. Just drive it away."
He paid her and took the keys. "Please tell me, lady," he persisted. "You could have sold this car for $35,000, at least. What is going on?"
She told her story: "I bought the car for my husband on our fortieth wedding anniversary. Two weeks later he ran off with somebody else. Last week I got a text from him. They are in a resort in Miami Beach, Florida. The text said, 'Need money, sell car, send cash.' I did."
What do you do when you are angry?
Some people "act it out." They break something. Or they say something they later regret. They strike back. Or they sell the car for $75.00.
Other people "wait it out." Waiting it out seemed to be her husband's strategy. Let her cool down - it will blow over. But the avoidance of conflict usually never ends well. It just doesn't go away by itself.
Others "take it out." They kick the dog or scream at the kids. They lash out at the next unlucky person they come across.
Still others "fight it out." Humorist Bob Orben says, "Who can ever forget Winston Churchill's immortal words: 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills'? It sounds exactly like our family vacation." With friends and family, fighting it out becomes bickering. On a larger scale, it's called warfare.
Of course, the best idea is to "talk it out." Nothing new here - we have to bring it up before we can get it out. But talking it out isn't shouting it out. I think some people believe that if they just say it loudly enough, they can make it so.
Talking it out is about bringing it up - saying what needs to be said clearly, calmly and kindly. But it is also about listening. I think it's interesting that the word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent." I know that I can't listen when I'm talking. I can't listen when I'm figuring out what I want to say next. I have to be still. I have to be silent.
And when I'm silent, something almost magical happens. Walls come down and I can begin to see my way through. When I'm silent I create space for something new to grow between us.
ACT IT OUT and your actions will become a block to good communication.
WAIT IT OUT and you just let it build up inside.
TAKE IT OUT and you cause more hurt and anger.
FIGHT IT OUT and you create winners and losers.
But TALK IT OUT and you can get it out. Be honest. Be clear. But, be reasonable. And then be silent. Let the magic of the moment ferment so that understanding can grow.
Maybe then you can keep the car.
-- Steve Goodier
Jan 1, 2012
Dec 30, 2011
The Ghost Must Be Crazy
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 1
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 2
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 3
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 4
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 5
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 6
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 2
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 3
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 4
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 5
鬼也笑 the ghost must be crazy part 6
Dec 14, 2011
It's a great great world
This is a movie about this amusement park in Singapore in the 60s and 70s !!
Dec 13, 2011
A New Header
A new header for my blog ... Inspired by the Sunrise this morning at Punggol Waterway!!
Long time never change liao ... Hope you like it as much as I do :D
Dec 10, 2011
Dec 8, 2011
Connected for Life
Do you find yourself pulling away from others, especially if you've experienced a crisis or deep disappointment? Maybe the most difficult thing we can do is to be with people when we don't feel like being around anybody. We need other people and we'll never thrive as human beings in isolation.
One woman likes to say, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends." The presumption is that men are not empathetic, and there is probably some truth there.
But I meet with a small group of men that challenge that assertion. We meet for one reason only - to support each other in our life journeys. We ask embarrassing questions like, "How is it with your soul?" And, "How are you REALLY doing?" We try to answer honestly and to share what is good in our lives, but also relate what is not going well. Where possible, we try to admit our failings in a situation as well as what we think we may be doing right. We use each other for a reality check, for support and, of course, for friendship.
It's the only group in my life where I can be totally honest and know that they will accept me anyway. We meet only to listen to each other, support one another and, if need be, to occasionally challenge one another. The point is - we need each other.
A man who lost his wife to cancer found himself wanting to be alone. In time he dropped out of his worshiping community and curtailed all of the activities he and his wife had shared for so many years. He increasingly kept to himself. He quit socializing at work and returned straight home to an empty house. He turned down invitations from friends and co-workers. His leisure time was now spent watching television or working in his shop in the basement.
His contact with people dwindled until friends became alarmed that he might live out his life as a recluse. One came by to visit and to invite him over for supper the next evening. The two old friends sat in comfortable chairs by a warm fireplace. The visitor extended the dinner invitation and encouraged him to come. "You may need to allow others to share your pain."
The man responded that he figured he was better off without being around other people. After all, others only seemed to remind him of all he had lost. "And besides," he said, "it's just too difficult to get out anymore."
They sat in silence for a while, watching the wood burn in the fireplace. Then the visitor did an unusual thing. He took tongs from a rack by the fireplace, reached into the fire, pulled out a flaming ember and laid it down by itself on the hearth. "That's you," he said.
The men sat in silence watching the red-hot ember. It slowly lost its glow. Neither man looked away as the once-hot coal gradually transformed into a crusty, black lump. After some moments, the widower turned to his companion and said, "I get the message, my friend. I'll be over tomorrow evening."
We cannot survive in any healthy way by ourselves. The leaf needs the branch. The branch needs the trunk. The trunk needs the roots. And the roots need the rest of the tree. We are connected. And in that connection we find life and vitality.
-- Steve Goodier
Nov 20, 2011
May You Be Blessed
Designed to be a meditative experience for the viewer, the May You Be Blessed presentation is yours to use. It is our gift to you, from our hearts to yours, and we not only encourage you to view the presentaton frequently as a reminder of all the good in your own life, but to pass it along to others, so they, too, might feel blessed.
Nov 18, 2011
Oct 9, 2011
Oct 8, 2011
What Is Your Rope Tied To?
You may have heard of the man who decided to repair the roof of his house. The pitch was steep, and to be safe, he tied a rope around his waist and threw the other end of it over the top of the house. He called his son and asked him to tie it to something secure. The boy fastened the safety rope to the bumper of their car parked in the driveway. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
But a little while later, his wife needed to run a few errands with the automobile. Unaware of the line securing her husband, she started the car and proceeded to drive away. The rope immediately tightened and jerked the man over the roof and into thin air. Now before you become alarmed, let me assure you that this never really happened. But I chuckle at the image of the poor guy sailing over the top of his house like Evel Knievel without a motorcycle.
This story, factual or not, points to a great truth. It is a truth about where we place our security; about those things to which we've tied our safety lines. What is your rope tied to?
Think about it. What do you depend on to keep you from disaster? Is your rope tied to a good job? Is it tied to a relationship with somebody you rely on? Is it tied to a company or an organization?
In her wise and sensitive audio LESSONS IN LIVING, writer Susan Taylor tells of discovering how unreliable some of our safety lines really are. She tells of lying in bed in the early hours of the morning when an earthquake struck. As her house shook, she tumbled out of bed and managed to stand underneath an arched door-way in her hall, watching in horror as her whole house tumbled down around her. Where her bed had once stood, she later discovered nothing but a pile of rubble. She lost everything - every button, every dish, her automobile, every stitch of clothing.
Susan huddled, scared and crying, in the darkness. In the pre-dawn morning she cried and called out for help.
As exhaustion set in, she thought that maybe she should be listening for rescuers rather than making so much commotion. So she grew still and listened. In the silence around her, the only sound she heard was the beating of her own heart. It occurred to her then that at least she was still alive and, amazingly enough, unhurt.
She thought about her situation. In the stillness, fear abandoned her and a feeling of indescribable peace and happiness flooded in, the likes of which she had never before known. It was an experience that was to permanently change her life.
In the deepest part of her being, Susan realized a remarkable truth. She realized she had nothing to fear. Amazingly, whether or not she was ever rescued, whether she even made it out alive, she sensed she had nothing to fear.
For the first time in her life she understood that her true security did not depend on those things in which she had placed her trust. It lay deep within. And also for the first time, she knew what it was to be content in all circumstances. She realized that, in an ultimate sense, whether she had plenty or hardly enough, somehow she would be all right. She just knew it.
She later wrote, "Before the quake I had all the trappings of success, but my life was out of balance. I wasn't happy because I was clinging to things in my life and always wanting more. My home, my job, my clothes, a relationship - I thought they were my security. It took an earthquake and losing everything I owned for me to discover that my security had been with me all along . . . There's a power within us that we can depend upon no matter what is happening around us."
She had tied her rope to the wrong things. It took a disaster for her to understand that those things are untrustworthy. So she let go of the rope and discovered peace. She found that her true security was a power within - dependable and sure.
What is your rope tied to? And what would happen if you found the courage to let go of it?
-- Steve Goodier
But a little while later, his wife needed to run a few errands with the automobile. Unaware of the line securing her husband, she started the car and proceeded to drive away. The rope immediately tightened and jerked the man over the roof and into thin air. Now before you become alarmed, let me assure you that this never really happened. But I chuckle at the image of the poor guy sailing over the top of his house like Evel Knievel without a motorcycle.
This story, factual or not, points to a great truth. It is a truth about where we place our security; about those things to which we've tied our safety lines. What is your rope tied to?
Think about it. What do you depend on to keep you from disaster? Is your rope tied to a good job? Is it tied to a relationship with somebody you rely on? Is it tied to a company or an organization?
In her wise and sensitive audio LESSONS IN LIVING, writer Susan Taylor tells of discovering how unreliable some of our safety lines really are. She tells of lying in bed in the early hours of the morning when an earthquake struck. As her house shook, she tumbled out of bed and managed to stand underneath an arched door-way in her hall, watching in horror as her whole house tumbled down around her. Where her bed had once stood, she later discovered nothing but a pile of rubble. She lost everything - every button, every dish, her automobile, every stitch of clothing.
Susan huddled, scared and crying, in the darkness. In the pre-dawn morning she cried and called out for help.
As exhaustion set in, she thought that maybe she should be listening for rescuers rather than making so much commotion. So she grew still and listened. In the silence around her, the only sound she heard was the beating of her own heart. It occurred to her then that at least she was still alive and, amazingly enough, unhurt.
She thought about her situation. In the stillness, fear abandoned her and a feeling of indescribable peace and happiness flooded in, the likes of which she had never before known. It was an experience that was to permanently change her life.
In the deepest part of her being, Susan realized a remarkable truth. She realized she had nothing to fear. Amazingly, whether or not she was ever rescued, whether she even made it out alive, she sensed she had nothing to fear.
For the first time in her life she understood that her true security did not depend on those things in which she had placed her trust. It lay deep within. And also for the first time, she knew what it was to be content in all circumstances. She realized that, in an ultimate sense, whether she had plenty or hardly enough, somehow she would be all right. She just knew it.
She later wrote, "Before the quake I had all the trappings of success, but my life was out of balance. I wasn't happy because I was clinging to things in my life and always wanting more. My home, my job, my clothes, a relationship - I thought they were my security. It took an earthquake and losing everything I owned for me to discover that my security had been with me all along . . . There's a power within us that we can depend upon no matter what is happening around us."
She had tied her rope to the wrong things. It took a disaster for her to understand that those things are untrustworthy. So she let go of the rope and discovered peace. She found that her true security was a power within - dependable and sure.
What is your rope tied to? And what would happen if you found the courage to let go of it?
-- Steve Goodier
Sep 22, 2011
Aug 24, 2011
Aug 7, 2011
Great Teachers
Did you know that ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica? This ice also represents most of the fresh water in the world. Yet Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.
If you're into biology, you may know this about the Mayfly -- after hatching, it takes up to three years to grow up, and then spends only one day as an adult. During that day it mates, lays eggs and expires. That last day must be absolutely spectacular.
Next time you dust your house, you may be interested to know that most of the dust particles you are removing are actually tiny bits of dead skin. Don't even ask how much dead skin has made its way into your favorite pillow.
Did you know that the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows?
Or that that 80% of your brain is water? Well, mine anyway.
You've heard the expression "having a lark." Those who are interested in language might want to know that group of larks is called an exaltation. A group of owls is called a parliament. A group of ravens is called a murder. (Edgar Allen Poe would have understood that one.) A group of rhinos is called a crash, which also seems to make some sense. But here's the best of all: a group of Unicorns is called a blessing.
As interesting as all of these facts are, I doubt any of them is bound to significantly change your life. The stuff we need to know in order to live happier, healthier and more meaningful lives does not usually come from tidbits of knowledge. More often it comes from people; and especially, people who mean something to us. Let me explain.
For Ross Perot, the kind of knowledge that made the greatest difference in his life was actually gleaned from his mother. The American businessman and one-time presidential candidate made billions of dollars from the technology industry. But his mother, who raised him before the phrase "computer age" was ever coined, taught him how to live. She helped shape him into the man he would eventually become.
Perot remembers the days of America's Great Depression. "Hoboes" regularly knocked on their door asking for a little food. It puzzled young Ross that his house seemed to be singled out on their street. One day he learned why. On the curb in front of their house someone had etched a white mark, indicating to fellow travelers that this house was an "easy mark." This fact disturbed the boy and he asked his mother if she wanted him to erase the signal. She told him to leave it there. It was a lesson in compassion he never forgot.
Some of the most essential life lessons and wisdom young Ross acquired did not come from a book or a classroom. They were lessons that came from those people closest to him. Many concerned themselves with the heart and spirit. They taught him about the world and the best way to live in it.
Our greatest teachers are usually those who did not volunteer for the job. They are parents and friends, spouses and children. Much great wisdom is learned best from the example of those closest to us.
And the remarkable fact is this: you are a great teacher. You teach powerful lessons every day of your life. You teach them simply by the way you live; by the way you respond to the world; and, by the little decisions you make. I wonder -- who's watching and learning?
-- Steve Goodier
If you're into biology, you may know this about the Mayfly -- after hatching, it takes up to three years to grow up, and then spends only one day as an adult. During that day it mates, lays eggs and expires. That last day must be absolutely spectacular.
Next time you dust your house, you may be interested to know that most of the dust particles you are removing are actually tiny bits of dead skin. Don't even ask how much dead skin has made its way into your favorite pillow.
Did you know that the Mona Lisa has no eyebrows?
Or that that 80% of your brain is water? Well, mine anyway.
You've heard the expression "having a lark." Those who are interested in language might want to know that group of larks is called an exaltation. A group of owls is called a parliament. A group of ravens is called a murder. (Edgar Allen Poe would have understood that one.) A group of rhinos is called a crash, which also seems to make some sense. But here's the best of all: a group of Unicorns is called a blessing.
As interesting as all of these facts are, I doubt any of them is bound to significantly change your life. The stuff we need to know in order to live happier, healthier and more meaningful lives does not usually come from tidbits of knowledge. More often it comes from people; and especially, people who mean something to us. Let me explain.
For Ross Perot, the kind of knowledge that made the greatest difference in his life was actually gleaned from his mother. The American businessman and one-time presidential candidate made billions of dollars from the technology industry. But his mother, who raised him before the phrase "computer age" was ever coined, taught him how to live. She helped shape him into the man he would eventually become.
Perot remembers the days of America's Great Depression. "Hoboes" regularly knocked on their door asking for a little food. It puzzled young Ross that his house seemed to be singled out on their street. One day he learned why. On the curb in front of their house someone had etched a white mark, indicating to fellow travelers that this house was an "easy mark." This fact disturbed the boy and he asked his mother if she wanted him to erase the signal. She told him to leave it there. It was a lesson in compassion he never forgot.
Some of the most essential life lessons and wisdom young Ross acquired did not come from a book or a classroom. They were lessons that came from those people closest to him. Many concerned themselves with the heart and spirit. They taught him about the world and the best way to live in it.
Our greatest teachers are usually those who did not volunteer for the job. They are parents and friends, spouses and children. Much great wisdom is learned best from the example of those closest to us.
And the remarkable fact is this: you are a great teacher. You teach powerful lessons every day of your life. You teach them simply by the way you live; by the way you respond to the world; and, by the little decisions you make. I wonder -- who's watching and learning?
-- Steve Goodier
Aug 6, 2011
The Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun
1. Stop hiding who you really are
2. Start being intensely selfish
3. Stop following the rules
4. Start scaring yourself
5. Stop taking it all so damn seriously
6. Start getting rid of the crap
7. Stop being busy
8. Start something
2. Start being intensely selfish
3. Stop following the rules
4. Start scaring yourself
5. Stop taking it all so damn seriously
6. Start getting rid of the crap
7. Stop being busy
8. Start something
Aug 3, 2011
Jul 23, 2011
Jul 19, 2011
All Filled Up
I recall reading that a man from Virginia Beach (Virginia, USA) filed a law suit against his hospital. He opted to have surgery in order to lose weight. So he had his stomach stapled -- a procedure that reduced the size of his stomach so he couldn't eat as much.
A couple of days after surgery he sneaked down the hospital corridors to the kitchen. There he raided the refrigerator and ate so much that his staples burst.
The law suit? He claimed it was the hospital's fault. They should have locked the refrigerator.
And no - I don't know how the suit came out. Just the staples.
He wanted to make other people responsible for what he put into his mouth. Which raises the question: who decides what we bring into our lives?
One man told me, "I'm not a garbage truck."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him.
"I mean that sometimes other people want to dump their garbage on me," he said. "They fill themselves up with negativity and complaints and want to dump all of that garbage on me. I'm not going to take all of their garbage. They may need to get rid of it, but not all over me."
He believes people need to be responsible for the garbage in their lives. And that's probably true for the good stuff, too. For me, that includes just about everything. It means I am responsible for everything I put into my mouth, but also for everything I choose to watch and hear. Some of it's good and some of it's garbage. It even means everything that comes into my head through my eyes and ears. It's also about everything that fills up my time. Everything.
And to be honest, I don't always do a great job with everything that comes into my life. But I am clear that what I allow in is up to me, not somebody else.
When we fill our bodies with the right foods, they perform well.
When we fill our heads with learning, they won't easily stagnate.
When we fill our minds with healthier attitudes, we will have a better outlook.
When we fill our hearts with a little more courage, we will be able to face life with confidence.
When we fill our talk with more gratitude, we will be happier.
When we fill our lives with more love, we will never be alone.
Only we can decide how to fill ourselves up.
Have you heard the story of the two wolves? A common version of it goes like this:
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego.
"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."
Only I can choose what should come into my life. Only I can choose which wolf to feed.
And only I can choose what to do about it today.
-- Steve Goodier
A couple of days after surgery he sneaked down the hospital corridors to the kitchen. There he raided the refrigerator and ate so much that his staples burst.
The law suit? He claimed it was the hospital's fault. They should have locked the refrigerator.
And no - I don't know how the suit came out. Just the staples.
He wanted to make other people responsible for what he put into his mouth. Which raises the question: who decides what we bring into our lives?
One man told me, "I'm not a garbage truck."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked him.
"I mean that sometimes other people want to dump their garbage on me," he said. "They fill themselves up with negativity and complaints and want to dump all of that garbage on me. I'm not going to take all of their garbage. They may need to get rid of it, but not all over me."
He believes people need to be responsible for the garbage in their lives. And that's probably true for the good stuff, too. For me, that includes just about everything. It means I am responsible for everything I put into my mouth, but also for everything I choose to watch and hear. Some of it's good and some of it's garbage. It even means everything that comes into my head through my eyes and ears. It's also about everything that fills up my time. Everything.
And to be honest, I don't always do a great job with everything that comes into my life. But I am clear that what I allow in is up to me, not somebody else.
When we fill our bodies with the right foods, they perform well.
When we fill our heads with learning, they won't easily stagnate.
When we fill our minds with healthier attitudes, we will have a better outlook.
When we fill our hearts with a little more courage, we will be able to face life with confidence.
When we fill our talk with more gratitude, we will be happier.
When we fill our lives with more love, we will never be alone.
Only we can decide how to fill ourselves up.
Have you heard the story of the two wolves? A common version of it goes like this:
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego.
"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."
Only I can choose what should come into my life. Only I can choose which wolf to feed.
And only I can choose what to do about it today.
-- Steve Goodier
Jul 18, 2011
Quantum Jumping
What On Earth Is Quantum Jumping?
Quantum Jumping is the process of “jumping” into parallel dimensions, and gaining skills, knowledge, wisdom and inspiration from alternate versions of yourself.
This is accomplished not with any sort of equipment, but through a powerful & time-tested combination of meditation and visualization.
Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Napoleon Hill… What Do All These Extraordinary People Have In Common?
“Discover The Shocking Mind Trick Used For Centuries By Some of The World’s Most Prolific Entrepreneurs, Artists & Inventors That Can Help YOU Master Any Skill, Achieve Any Goal, & Live A Life Of Success & Fulfillment”.
Sign Up Now For This FREE Tell-All Webinar & Find Out How You Too Can Learn
The Astonishing Technique Known As Quantum Jumping.
I googled about Burt Goldman and Quantum Jumping ...
Found this ... Make your own conclusions :)
Quantum Jumping is the process of “jumping” into parallel dimensions, and gaining skills, knowledge, wisdom and inspiration from alternate versions of yourself.
This is accomplished not with any sort of equipment, but through a powerful & time-tested combination of meditation and visualization.
Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Napoleon Hill… What Do All These Extraordinary People Have In Common?
“Discover The Shocking Mind Trick Used For Centuries By Some of The World’s Most Prolific Entrepreneurs, Artists & Inventors That Can Help YOU Master Any Skill, Achieve Any Goal, & Live A Life Of Success & Fulfillment”.
Sign Up Now For This FREE Tell-All Webinar & Find Out How You Too Can Learn
The Astonishing Technique Known As Quantum Jumping.
I googled about Burt Goldman and Quantum Jumping ...
Found this ... Make your own conclusions :)
Jun 8, 2011
To Remember Is to Understand
Does this sound familiar?
James was cleaning out the attic one day when he came across a ticket from a shoe repair shop. The date stamped on the ticket showed it was over eleven years old. He felt sure the shoes would not still be there, but decided to stop by and check anyway.
He handed the ticket to the man behind the counter, who scowled at the date. "Just a minute," said the clerk. "I'll have to look for these." He disappeared into a back room.
After a few minutes, the clerk called out, "What do you know - here they are!"
"That's terrific!" said James, hardly believing his good fortune.
The man came back to the counter, empty-handed. "They'll be ready Thursday," he said.
I hope James is the patient sort.
We should all be masters of patience; after all, we've had plenty of practice. But mustering patience with unreasonable people (including ourselves) may seem more than we can manage some days.
I heard about an elderly patient in an American hospital who was recovering from a medical procedure. He decided to take a look at his recovery-room record attached to the bed frame. He leafed through the pages, then stopped at one particular notation and furled his brow in consternation.
"I know I was in a bit of a muddle, but I didn't realize I was that bad," he said apologetically to his nurse. "I hope I didn't offend anyone."
She glanced to the spot where he pointed. "Don't worry," she said.
"SOB doesn't mean what you think. It stands for 'short of breath.'"
But I suspect that in some cases it does have a double meaning. Especially if the patient is in pain, fearful or just plain out of sorts. (And that goes for some of the hospital staff, too.)
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said, "I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end." But we don't always get our own way. And patience can be taxed beyond reason. Where does understanding come from when it feels as if there is nothing left?
It can come from the simple act of remembering. To remember is to understand. It is not about gritting one's teeth and forcing oneself to be more patient. It is actually easier than that.
Do you remember what it was like to be a child?
No parent should ever forget. And to remember is to understand.
Do you remember what it was like to be a student?
Every teacher should try to remember, and especially if they feel frustrated.
Do you remember what it is like to be a patient? Doctors and nurses
show more empathy after they have also spent time in a hospital bed.
Do you remember what it was like to be lonely? To be first? To be last? To fail? To succeed? To be afraid? To remember is to understand.
And to understand is to be patient.
-- Steve Goodier
James was cleaning out the attic one day when he came across a ticket from a shoe repair shop. The date stamped on the ticket showed it was over eleven years old. He felt sure the shoes would not still be there, but decided to stop by and check anyway.
He handed the ticket to the man behind the counter, who scowled at the date. "Just a minute," said the clerk. "I'll have to look for these." He disappeared into a back room.
After a few minutes, the clerk called out, "What do you know - here they are!"
"That's terrific!" said James, hardly believing his good fortune.
The man came back to the counter, empty-handed. "They'll be ready Thursday," he said.
I hope James is the patient sort.
We should all be masters of patience; after all, we've had plenty of practice. But mustering patience with unreasonable people (including ourselves) may seem more than we can manage some days.
I heard about an elderly patient in an American hospital who was recovering from a medical procedure. He decided to take a look at his recovery-room record attached to the bed frame. He leafed through the pages, then stopped at one particular notation and furled his brow in consternation.
"I know I was in a bit of a muddle, but I didn't realize I was that bad," he said apologetically to his nurse. "I hope I didn't offend anyone."
She glanced to the spot where he pointed. "Don't worry," she said.
"SOB doesn't mean what you think. It stands for 'short of breath.'"
But I suspect that in some cases it does have a double meaning. Especially if the patient is in pain, fearful or just plain out of sorts. (And that goes for some of the hospital staff, too.)
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said, "I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end." But we don't always get our own way. And patience can be taxed beyond reason. Where does understanding come from when it feels as if there is nothing left?
It can come from the simple act of remembering. To remember is to understand. It is not about gritting one's teeth and forcing oneself to be more patient. It is actually easier than that.
Do you remember what it was like to be a child?
No parent should ever forget. And to remember is to understand.
Do you remember what it was like to be a student?
Every teacher should try to remember, and especially if they feel frustrated.
Do you remember what it is like to be a patient? Doctors and nurses
show more empathy after they have also spent time in a hospital bed.
Do you remember what it was like to be lonely? To be first? To be last? To fail? To succeed? To be afraid? To remember is to understand.
And to understand is to be patient.
-- Steve Goodier
Jun 7, 2011
The Great Singapore Flood
If you still remember ... 1 year ago, Orchard Road was overwhelmed by shoppers flood waters during the Great Singapore Sale Flood
And today (1 year later), it happened again ... Why? Why?
More pictures here
Finally, someone come out and says the solutions to flooding are very, very expensive !!!!!
And today (1 year later), it happened again ... Why? Why?
More pictures here
Finally, someone come out and says the solutions to flooding are very, very expensive !!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)