The other day, after I had written about 'Life and a house facing a T-junction, a friend came along and commented on what I had said about the possibility of a vehicle crashing into the house. She said that it has happened. It did happen to one of her relatives.
Apparently, this relative of hers found a vehicle which had crashed through the gate into her porch and part of the front wall. The driver must have lost control of the vehicle.
However, the difference is that her relative's house was not exactly in line with the road it faced. The house was on the right hand side of the house facing the T-junction.
What could I say? Perhaps, the stars were bright at the time for the occupants of the house facing the junction. Their lucky stars deflected the bad luck and her relative's house happened to be in the way.
However, on second thought, I would like to ask why anyone would place themselves near a danger spot? If you were to know that a killer is aiming for a guy, you would certainly not want to stand beside or even near that guy for the bullet may not find its intended mark, go astray and hit you instead. Well, the logical move would be to distance yourself from the target.
Similarly, realising that there is always that is great possibility of a car hurtling towards you, be it facing directly a T-junction or diagonally to it, it is common sense to as far as possible to avoid living in such a house.
Unless, of course, you are as lucky as this friend of mine who has lived directly facing the T-junction for more than thirty years without a chance of such excitement of being rudely shaken by a trespassing vehicle. Furthermore, the guy smilingly told me that his house cost him less than what the neighbours paid for. That's the benfit of buying a house at a T-junction.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
A healthy back has a lot to do with your posture.
Did I ever tell you that I do injury massage for people? Well, I do and I learned that in order to ensure that my gymnasts (I was the Kedah State gymnastic coach.) can be taken care of should any soft tissue, muscles or joint injury occur. I did not think of using it until a friend with a painful back problem complained about not being able to find relief. I mobilised his spinal vertebral and he recovered. From then on, I have been doing massage for people who need it.
Last night, I saw someone rubbing her legs and complaining about pain. I did an examination and told her about her back problem. Back problems could be due to accidents, falls or poor posture. Perhaps it is difficult to prevent accidents or falls as such things happen due to a careless moment in time which is sometimes beyond our control.
However, our posture is within our control every second of the day. There are many books on the market on achieving good posture. Therefore I do not wish to write one concerning the matter. However, that does not deter me from telling others that good posture can be cultivated; or if it is already a little too late, improved on.
First, is your body, be it in a sitting or standing position, straight? Well, I suppose you have heard of balancing a book on top of the head as you stand, walk and sit down. Another way to find out if the body is straight and balanced is the use of a plumb line. A plumb line can be made by hanging a string from a spot higher than your head with a weight tied to the bottom of the string. Place your body beside the plumb line and get a friend to see if the line goes through the spot where the ear is, down the middle portion of the body to the ankle. If you are unable to get that, then your head could be a little too far in front or there is a hump somewhere on your spinal column. Both can eventually bring on problems.
Viewed from the front, a person's standing position can reveal whether one of the legs could be shorter. Is there a bent knee? Is there a shoulder lower on one side? Is the back curved towards one side? Even if there is no problem now, such a posture will one day lead to pain as one side of the body or a leg bears most of the weight, leading to one part becoming weaker as another part become strained. With this knowledge, anyone can consciously undo the harm by standing with both legs straight and placed firmly on the ground. If that still presents a problem, then there may be the need to have the sole of the shoe on the shorter leg raised so that you can stand straight. If there is curve in the spine, parents must observe whether this is a problem in their children when they are young so that bone specialists can give advice and act to i)overcome the problem with steel implants to straighten the spine, ii)slow the curvature of the spine with appropriate exercises and/or iii)strengthen the right muscles to help the body hold up the spine.
Everybody, Including myself, have weaknesses in his/her posture. Take as an example, our sitting posture. Most, if not all, slouch in front of the television on couches that are shaped not to help us have good postures. (However, blame not the chairs but take action on the posture.) How do you sit when you are driving? Do your buttocks slide forward a little? Well, the next time it happens, wriggle those bums backwards and you would be fine.
Today we have the computer where many concentrate onto its screen without realising that our head is protruding forward towards the screen. Before you get a little hump at the back of your neck which could bring problems later, not forgetting the ladies not wishing to have an ugly part exposed when they wear their low-necked dress; bring your shoulders and the neck back away from the screen. Do not put your face too near for it will never kiss you no matter how attractive you can be. It can only bring you strain and pain one day. And it is a difficult hump to treat, so beware.
Another way to ensure a good posture is to exercise. The various parts of the body has interacting muscle to hold everything properly in place. For the spine, the stomach muscles and the back muscles are important. Both act to hold up the spine straight.
And for the ladies, try not to wear high-heels as they put your body off balance, having to stand on your poor toes for so long. To counter the imbalance caused by the high-heels, bums jut out too far, the spine curve forward and backwards too much and after many years of that, the body becomes so poorly formed that the joints would be just waiting for a sudden tearing movement to put them into trouble. Before that happens, the calves of the legs would have shortened and thickened into ugly lumps with the Achilles tendon unable to relax and lengthen, giving pain when going bare-footed or flat-heeled.
Well, it is not difficult to ensure a good posture. Knowledge is available. Use it and it can save us from problems, strain and pain.
Last night, I saw someone rubbing her legs and complaining about pain. I did an examination and told her about her back problem. Back problems could be due to accidents, falls or poor posture. Perhaps it is difficult to prevent accidents or falls as such things happen due to a careless moment in time which is sometimes beyond our control.
However, our posture is within our control every second of the day. There are many books on the market on achieving good posture. Therefore I do not wish to write one concerning the matter. However, that does not deter me from telling others that good posture can be cultivated; or if it is already a little too late, improved on.
First, is your body, be it in a sitting or standing position, straight? Well, I suppose you have heard of balancing a book on top of the head as you stand, walk and sit down. Another way to find out if the body is straight and balanced is the use of a plumb line. A plumb line can be made by hanging a string from a spot higher than your head with a weight tied to the bottom of the string. Place your body beside the plumb line and get a friend to see if the line goes through the spot where the ear is, down the middle portion of the body to the ankle. If you are unable to get that, then your head could be a little too far in front or there is a hump somewhere on your spinal column. Both can eventually bring on problems.
Viewed from the front, a person's standing position can reveal whether one of the legs could be shorter. Is there a bent knee? Is there a shoulder lower on one side? Is the back curved towards one side? Even if there is no problem now, such a posture will one day lead to pain as one side of the body or a leg bears most of the weight, leading to one part becoming weaker as another part become strained. With this knowledge, anyone can consciously undo the harm by standing with both legs straight and placed firmly on the ground. If that still presents a problem, then there may be the need to have the sole of the shoe on the shorter leg raised so that you can stand straight. If there is curve in the spine, parents must observe whether this is a problem in their children when they are young so that bone specialists can give advice and act to i)overcome the problem with steel implants to straighten the spine, ii)slow the curvature of the spine with appropriate exercises and/or iii)strengthen the right muscles to help the body hold up the spine.
Everybody, Including myself, have weaknesses in his/her posture. Take as an example, our sitting posture. Most, if not all, slouch in front of the television on couches that are shaped not to help us have good postures. (However, blame not the chairs but take action on the posture.) How do you sit when you are driving? Do your buttocks slide forward a little? Well, the next time it happens, wriggle those bums backwards and you would be fine.
Today we have the computer where many concentrate onto its screen without realising that our head is protruding forward towards the screen. Before you get a little hump at the back of your neck which could bring problems later, not forgetting the ladies not wishing to have an ugly part exposed when they wear their low-necked dress; bring your shoulders and the neck back away from the screen. Do not put your face too near for it will never kiss you no matter how attractive you can be. It can only bring you strain and pain one day. And it is a difficult hump to treat, so beware.
Another way to ensure a good posture is to exercise. The various parts of the body has interacting muscle to hold everything properly in place. For the spine, the stomach muscles and the back muscles are important. Both act to hold up the spine straight.
And for the ladies, try not to wear high-heels as they put your body off balance, having to stand on your poor toes for so long. To counter the imbalance caused by the high-heels, bums jut out too far, the spine curve forward and backwards too much and after many years of that, the body becomes so poorly formed that the joints would be just waiting for a sudden tearing movement to put them into trouble. Before that happens, the calves of the legs would have shortened and thickened into ugly lumps with the Achilles tendon unable to relax and lengthen, giving pain when going bare-footed or flat-heeled.
Well, it is not difficult to ensure a good posture. Knowledge is available. Use it and it can save us from problems, strain and pain.
Friday, April 23, 2010
What has sex got to do with it?
Last night, as I lay down to rest, the thought of my last posting returned. I was happy with what i had written as I believe it could help people to understand the needs of growing children to face the their world. Even as I thought of that, my memory went back to the year 2005 when I taught in a rural primary school.
I remember a time when one lady teacher in that rural school asked me why there were so many rapes, child rapes and incest among certain people. She told me of grandfathers who rape their granddaughters and of fathers who rape their daughters. She was pained that such rapes could happen especially when the men are supposed to be the guardians of the girls.
For a few seconds I was silent, uncertain as to what to do, to proceed and tell her what I thought or to remain secured in my silence or give a noncommittal reply.
However, since I found this teacher very open-minded and truly concerned about such incidents, I told her that the problem could lie with too much emphasis place on the separation of the sexes and the idea implanted in children that being in the company of a person of another sex must have some connection with sex. Those who study psychology would know that such indoctrination would certainly influence the thinking and subsequently the actions of the people indoctrinated.
In the previous writing, I have gone into a certain aspect of separation of the sexes. Today I would like to add that it could open the door to possible excitement and pleasure just getting to know a new companion of the opposite sex. Of course, with those youngsters whose parents are more liberal and have given their children the chance to mix around, such feelings may not be aroused as being with the opposite sex has become a normal everyday happening. however, for someone who has been restricted from mixing around and knowing members of the opposite sex, the person's first venture out of restriction may open door to danger, firstly from the excitement of meeting for the first time somebody of the opposite sex and the feeling being heightened by the sex indoctrination concerned with such a meeting. With 'shackles' gone and the first taste of freedom as well as the inability to judge the other person and the situation well enough, caution is thrown to the wind and the disastrous result might to read in a newspaper report of 'Girl raped on her way to a job.'.
When ideas of sex is ever prevalent upon the sight of a female body, be it a sleeping granddaughter or a daughter, danger of arousal and loss of self-control is always present. Self-control and self-respect are the two most important factors in the discipline of a person. Without these two factors, except for the presence of the law and another human, what is there to prevent such a disaster. Yet, it happens from time to time. How often is not of interest to me for where I am concerned it must never happen. If we cannot trust or depend upon a parent or guardian to protect us, what kind of safety or security can we hope to turn to? None!
Well, I did think about over-covering of the human body and having people believe that that exposure of parts of the body would lead to sex. Certainly, those people who associate the exposed face with the sex act will feel and act as trained to respond to the stimuli. I personally think that the common sight of hands, legs, face and hair would remove the undesirable feelings or sexual feelings that could be aroused through association. Well, when I see exposed faces everywhere I only have labels such as beautiful, handsome, rugged, pretty, cute, rounded, sharp and the numerous other possible descriptions for the face. I never associate face with the sex act. Similarly, a gynaecologist has seen exposed parts of the female body, yet, in the labour room, he is only thinking of child-birth.
Of course. if a religion really forbids the exposure of any part of the body, who am I to say otherwise, for I am not God, not a prophet, not even a member of any known religious body. I am just a monotheist, a strong believer of the God who created us all and I am proud of it.
I remember a time when one lady teacher in that rural school asked me why there were so many rapes, child rapes and incest among certain people. She told me of grandfathers who rape their granddaughters and of fathers who rape their daughters. She was pained that such rapes could happen especially when the men are supposed to be the guardians of the girls.
For a few seconds I was silent, uncertain as to what to do, to proceed and tell her what I thought or to remain secured in my silence or give a noncommittal reply.
However, since I found this teacher very open-minded and truly concerned about such incidents, I told her that the problem could lie with too much emphasis place on the separation of the sexes and the idea implanted in children that being in the company of a person of another sex must have some connection with sex. Those who study psychology would know that such indoctrination would certainly influence the thinking and subsequently the actions of the people indoctrinated.
In the previous writing, I have gone into a certain aspect of separation of the sexes. Today I would like to add that it could open the door to possible excitement and pleasure just getting to know a new companion of the opposite sex. Of course, with those youngsters whose parents are more liberal and have given their children the chance to mix around, such feelings may not be aroused as being with the opposite sex has become a normal everyday happening. however, for someone who has been restricted from mixing around and knowing members of the opposite sex, the person's first venture out of restriction may open door to danger, firstly from the excitement of meeting for the first time somebody of the opposite sex and the feeling being heightened by the sex indoctrination concerned with such a meeting. With 'shackles' gone and the first taste of freedom as well as the inability to judge the other person and the situation well enough, caution is thrown to the wind and the disastrous result might to read in a newspaper report of 'Girl raped on her way to a job.'.
When ideas of sex is ever prevalent upon the sight of a female body, be it a sleeping granddaughter or a daughter, danger of arousal and loss of self-control is always present. Self-control and self-respect are the two most important factors in the discipline of a person. Without these two factors, except for the presence of the law and another human, what is there to prevent such a disaster. Yet, it happens from time to time. How often is not of interest to me for where I am concerned it must never happen. If we cannot trust or depend upon a parent or guardian to protect us, what kind of safety or security can we hope to turn to? None!
Well, I did think about over-covering of the human body and having people believe that that exposure of parts of the body would lead to sex. Certainly, those people who associate the exposed face with the sex act will feel and act as trained to respond to the stimuli. I personally think that the common sight of hands, legs, face and hair would remove the undesirable feelings or sexual feelings that could be aroused through association. Well, when I see exposed faces everywhere I only have labels such as beautiful, handsome, rugged, pretty, cute, rounded, sharp and the numerous other possible descriptions for the face. I never associate face with the sex act. Similarly, a gynaecologist has seen exposed parts of the female body, yet, in the labour room, he is only thinking of child-birth.
Of course. if a religion really forbids the exposure of any part of the body, who am I to say otherwise, for I am not God, not a prophet, not even a member of any known religious body. I am just a monotheist, a strong believer of the God who created us all and I am proud of it.
Let both sexes know and understand each other.
A religious teacher wrote in a opinions column that ‘in Islam, there are guidelines why boys and girls need to be separated as they grow older – from separate blankets, beds, bedrooms and schools. I think it is in the best interest of the students that we should look into separate secondary girls and boys schools.
When it comes to what a religion forbids, I do not wish to comment as I am neither a scholar nor an expert on such matters. If certain matters are written in a religion’s holy book as a guideline, then those who wish to be the followers must abide by the rules given unless they wish to get out or be considered recalcitrant followers.
However, this religious teacher went further to condemn the western concept of co-education saying that it has contributed to the moral decay in some of our children. That, unfortunately, is something I cannot agree with and therefore has to share my thoughts with others so that right thinking and practices can bring better understanding, development and maturity to world society.
As regards the separation of boy from girls as the grow older when it comes to blankets, beds and bedrooms, I believe every society no matter what religion they profess to believe in, would agree for that is common sense.
But to say that they should go to different schools, I think that would be depriving our children of the opportunity to learn about people of a different sex. And this is something I talk from experience. You see, I was born into a family of boys, no girls. Not only that, I was sent to a single-sex school. I was a pupils of Wellesley Primary School where there were only boys. Then, I was transferred to Hutchings School which was another boys’ school. Then, with all the As in my standard six examination results, I was selected to study in the Penang Free School which is another boys only school.
As a result of my ‘living in a boys-only island’, it took me a long time to understand those alien creatures people called ‘girls’. For an unnecessary period of my life, I was uncomfortably shy and tongue-tied with those ‘beautiful, attractive aliens’. I did not understand the messages behind their smiles and looks. I did not comprehend their slightly different behaviour and talk. With them I did not know when to move forward and when not to. Dating is happiest when I do not care what happens but becomes unpredictable when things get serious. Sometimes, to this day, despite my having overcome a lot of things, I think I still have some problems although I would like to believe I do not have any. And it is useless asking girl-friends whether I have any such problems as they usually prefer to remain somewhat mysterious. On a more positive note, I just know that I am one of those lucky guys who can mix quite well with a good number of girls.
Based on my background and what others had shared with me, I would say that it is important for a person to not live in the proverbial ‘coconut shell’ and not know the opposite sex until it is too late. Poor understanding of the opposite sex can lead to all kinds of misunderstanding and problems, if not danger.
Firstly, by not mixing with the opposite sex, the girls do not know and understand the many different types of boys in our society. The same goes for the boys. Are we going to separate them forever and let them live in different planets? That would then be alright but that would not be life and that would be the end of the human race.
If not, are we going to let them find out for themselves when it is too late? Just like the girl who befriended a boy on her first day to work in a different town and got herself raped that very night? Whose fault was it? Was it the fault of the girl who was never given the opportunity to understand how friendliness with this first boy could lead to disaster? How was she to be able to read the danger signs when she had never been allowed to learn them in some kind of training or education under the supervision of the parents or the teachers? “They said not to mix with the boys but in the world of work, we have no alternative to work with all kinds of people, be they men or women.” Are we going to have them work in a one-sex world all their lives? Is that reality?
The reality is that we are in a world where there is no alternative but to mix and work with people of the opposite sex if we wish to be successful in life, to achieve our dreams undaunted by unrealistic fears. For these fears can be overcome by knowledge, understanding and correct behaviour but certainly not by hiding ones head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich.
Yes, the answer lies in knowledge and understanding leading to right behaviour. When children are young, let them mix among themselves, among the opposite sex under some kind of supervision. Of course, it can incur in the parents some kind of effort or inconvenience but then for the love of our children, it is worth any effort or inconvenience necessary. Let them have their birthday parties, inviting their friends of both sexes to the event under the supervision of at least a pair of conscientious parents. Let them use the house and not go to some undesirable place for the event. Under the watchful eyes of the parents, the children will be under no danger. It will be healthy fun. At the same time there is the chance for our children to know and understand, appreciate and evaluate the various types of people, their thinking and behaviour. They will eventually know the types who can be depended upon for help, those who know only how to enjoy or the types who would take advantage of them. With experience, they would be able to read the characters they meet. So that one day when they have to leave the nest to venture into a world of their own, our children with this knowledge behind them will be, to a certain degree, safe from some of the vultures and bad apples that are amongst us. The fact is that that is unavoidable and we have to prepare our children to be alert and know the ‘potholes’ in their lives.
Of course, no matter how good the training and knowledge, once in a while mistakes are made but with the knowledge the chances of that happening would be slim.
For those who firmly believe that the sexes must be separated, only allowing them to know one person only of the opposite sex for the purpose of marriage, well, if you insist, what can I say. And if it is according to a holy book, I will not say otherwise for it is certainly not wise to do so. However, if you can find what I say of benefit, please set about ensuring that our beloved children be always safe and sound with the proper knowledge to guide them through life.
When it comes to what a religion forbids, I do not wish to comment as I am neither a scholar nor an expert on such matters. If certain matters are written in a religion’s holy book as a guideline, then those who wish to be the followers must abide by the rules given unless they wish to get out or be considered recalcitrant followers.
However, this religious teacher went further to condemn the western concept of co-education saying that it has contributed to the moral decay in some of our children. That, unfortunately, is something I cannot agree with and therefore has to share my thoughts with others so that right thinking and practices can bring better understanding, development and maturity to world society.
As regards the separation of boy from girls as the grow older when it comes to blankets, beds and bedrooms, I believe every society no matter what religion they profess to believe in, would agree for that is common sense.
But to say that they should go to different schools, I think that would be depriving our children of the opportunity to learn about people of a different sex. And this is something I talk from experience. You see, I was born into a family of boys, no girls. Not only that, I was sent to a single-sex school. I was a pupils of Wellesley Primary School where there were only boys. Then, I was transferred to Hutchings School which was another boys’ school. Then, with all the As in my standard six examination results, I was selected to study in the Penang Free School which is another boys only school.
As a result of my ‘living in a boys-only island’, it took me a long time to understand those alien creatures people called ‘girls’. For an unnecessary period of my life, I was uncomfortably shy and tongue-tied with those ‘beautiful, attractive aliens’. I did not understand the messages behind their smiles and looks. I did not comprehend their slightly different behaviour and talk. With them I did not know when to move forward and when not to. Dating is happiest when I do not care what happens but becomes unpredictable when things get serious. Sometimes, to this day, despite my having overcome a lot of things, I think I still have some problems although I would like to believe I do not have any. And it is useless asking girl-friends whether I have any such problems as they usually prefer to remain somewhat mysterious. On a more positive note, I just know that I am one of those lucky guys who can mix quite well with a good number of girls.
Based on my background and what others had shared with me, I would say that it is important for a person to not live in the proverbial ‘coconut shell’ and not know the opposite sex until it is too late. Poor understanding of the opposite sex can lead to all kinds of misunderstanding and problems, if not danger.
Firstly, by not mixing with the opposite sex, the girls do not know and understand the many different types of boys in our society. The same goes for the boys. Are we going to separate them forever and let them live in different planets? That would then be alright but that would not be life and that would be the end of the human race.
If not, are we going to let them find out for themselves when it is too late? Just like the girl who befriended a boy on her first day to work in a different town and got herself raped that very night? Whose fault was it? Was it the fault of the girl who was never given the opportunity to understand how friendliness with this first boy could lead to disaster? How was she to be able to read the danger signs when she had never been allowed to learn them in some kind of training or education under the supervision of the parents or the teachers? “They said not to mix with the boys but in the world of work, we have no alternative to work with all kinds of people, be they men or women.” Are we going to have them work in a one-sex world all their lives? Is that reality?
The reality is that we are in a world where there is no alternative but to mix and work with people of the opposite sex if we wish to be successful in life, to achieve our dreams undaunted by unrealistic fears. For these fears can be overcome by knowledge, understanding and correct behaviour but certainly not by hiding ones head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich.
Yes, the answer lies in knowledge and understanding leading to right behaviour. When children are young, let them mix among themselves, among the opposite sex under some kind of supervision. Of course, it can incur in the parents some kind of effort or inconvenience but then for the love of our children, it is worth any effort or inconvenience necessary. Let them have their birthday parties, inviting their friends of both sexes to the event under the supervision of at least a pair of conscientious parents. Let them use the house and not go to some undesirable place for the event. Under the watchful eyes of the parents, the children will be under no danger. It will be healthy fun. At the same time there is the chance for our children to know and understand, appreciate and evaluate the various types of people, their thinking and behaviour. They will eventually know the types who can be depended upon for help, those who know only how to enjoy or the types who would take advantage of them. With experience, they would be able to read the characters they meet. So that one day when they have to leave the nest to venture into a world of their own, our children with this knowledge behind them will be, to a certain degree, safe from some of the vultures and bad apples that are amongst us. The fact is that that is unavoidable and we have to prepare our children to be alert and know the ‘potholes’ in their lives.
Of course, no matter how good the training and knowledge, once in a while mistakes are made but with the knowledge the chances of that happening would be slim.
For those who firmly believe that the sexes must be separated, only allowing them to know one person only of the opposite sex for the purpose of marriage, well, if you insist, what can I say. And if it is according to a holy book, I will not say otherwise for it is certainly not wise to do so. However, if you can find what I say of benefit, please set about ensuring that our beloved children be always safe and sound with the proper knowledge to guide them through life.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Life and a house facing a T-junction.
According to Feng Shui Experts, a house facing a T-junction is certainly a problem. They claim it has to do with the forcefulness of the incoming flow of ‘chi’. To prevent the direct flow of this external ‘chi’ into the house, house-owners are advised to build a barrier between the house and the road facing it. I have seen people change the position of the gate, some even rebuilding it at an angle so as to avoid the smooth flow of such ‘chi’ into the house. For a corner house, it would be easier as a gate could be open at the side of the house.
As for me, I have made a study of this problem. To me it is a problem living in a house facing a road running towards the gate. However, the problem for me has nothing to do with feng shui. To me it is the problem of traffic and physical forces of nature.
Each time the occupants of such a house see cars rushing towards their house, there is that survival instinct in them that fears one of those cars crashing out of control straight into the house. It can happen and even if it is a 0.1 percent chance of that happening, the thousandth car which could come along in just a week or two if that road is moderately busy. If the chance of it happening is 0.01 percent, then it might take ten times the one week or two for it to happen. Are the occupants of that house going to stay merely for a week, a month or a year? Well, think about it.
Then again there is the amount of dust that could be brought along by the vehicles, spun up into the air and as the car screeches and turns; the dust goes straight on into the house. With so much more screeching, will it not affect the nerves of the occupants? Those very positive people could claim they would have the opportunity to learn how to control and calm their nerves with meditation perhaps. But then, people who wish to do meditation ought to find a serene spot.
And just when those occupants think they could mercifully close their eyes for the night, the glare from the powerful headlights of a vehicle or two penetrates the window glass brightening up their space to awaken their senses. If it were the middle of the night, what about the frightening shadows that such trespassing light can conjure on the wall of their bedroom. Maybe this part is a little farfetched but nothing is impossible. There goes their proper sleep and rest for the night. So, be sure to find the right house to stay in.
When it comes to the physical forces of nature, a wind blowing down a street towards a house unprotected from its onslaught will of course receive the full force of its might, bringing with it all the dirt and dust it carries along. And if the house is sitting down a sloping street, should there be a flash flood with water rushing down the street, God be merciful but needless to say, the house directly in its path will have no alternative but to accept its rushing torrent as it moves relentlessly forward with increasing momentum.
I am not trying to just put fear into occupants of such houses. I believe that to realise, know and understand your antagonists is to know how to overcome the problems they may present. So, if those people have such a house, think of how the possible dangers and disturbance can be reduced or removed.
In fact, my aim in writing this is not just about a house but about life. Sometimes, in life we find ourselves in unavoidable problematic situations. How do we solve them? It is the same way we approach such a problematic house. Understand the possible problems that may arise and find ways in ourselves (which is within our control) to solve them. Often, people try to solve problems by hoping to change circumstances, by fighting external forces beyond their control resulting in their banging against walls, hurting themselves and arriving at no solution.
As for me, I have made a study of this problem. To me it is a problem living in a house facing a road running towards the gate. However, the problem for me has nothing to do with feng shui. To me it is the problem of traffic and physical forces of nature.
Each time the occupants of such a house see cars rushing towards their house, there is that survival instinct in them that fears one of those cars crashing out of control straight into the house. It can happen and even if it is a 0.1 percent chance of that happening, the thousandth car which could come along in just a week or two if that road is moderately busy. If the chance of it happening is 0.01 percent, then it might take ten times the one week or two for it to happen. Are the occupants of that house going to stay merely for a week, a month or a year? Well, think about it.
Then again there is the amount of dust that could be brought along by the vehicles, spun up into the air and as the car screeches and turns; the dust goes straight on into the house. With so much more screeching, will it not affect the nerves of the occupants? Those very positive people could claim they would have the opportunity to learn how to control and calm their nerves with meditation perhaps. But then, people who wish to do meditation ought to find a serene spot.
And just when those occupants think they could mercifully close their eyes for the night, the glare from the powerful headlights of a vehicle or two penetrates the window glass brightening up their space to awaken their senses. If it were the middle of the night, what about the frightening shadows that such trespassing light can conjure on the wall of their bedroom. Maybe this part is a little farfetched but nothing is impossible. There goes their proper sleep and rest for the night. So, be sure to find the right house to stay in.
When it comes to the physical forces of nature, a wind blowing down a street towards a house unprotected from its onslaught will of course receive the full force of its might, bringing with it all the dirt and dust it carries along. And if the house is sitting down a sloping street, should there be a flash flood with water rushing down the street, God be merciful but needless to say, the house directly in its path will have no alternative but to accept its rushing torrent as it moves relentlessly forward with increasing momentum.
I am not trying to just put fear into occupants of such houses. I believe that to realise, know and understand your antagonists is to know how to overcome the problems they may present. So, if those people have such a house, think of how the possible dangers and disturbance can be reduced or removed.
In fact, my aim in writing this is not just about a house but about life. Sometimes, in life we find ourselves in unavoidable problematic situations. How do we solve them? It is the same way we approach such a problematic house. Understand the possible problems that may arise and find ways in ourselves (which is within our control) to solve them. Often, people try to solve problems by hoping to change circumstances, by fighting external forces beyond their control resulting in their banging against walls, hurting themselves and arriving at no solution.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Food, water and exercise.
There was this lady who told a group of us that she was so tired this morning because she had walked faster than usual. The reason for doing so was the huge breakfast she had consumed just before going to the hill. As she was a lady who had a mind of her own and never accepts opinions of others easily, I kept my mouth shut.
Later, as the group dispersed and I was left walking with just one lady, this lady told me that there was a guy who would take a fast walk as an interval during a dinner feast. She also had a relative who exercise after dinner. She asked me what I thought of the other lady's walking fast due to the amount of food consumed.
I told her it was based on what seemed to many as logical behaviour. Unfortunately, it is not based on sound knowledge. In the first place we ought to understand that food takes a few hours to be digested and turned into energy. Furthermore, we ought not exercise on a full stomach. When food has been consumed, more blood goes to the stomach area while in exercise blood is needed at the moving parts of the body. Therefore, we should not load our tummy just before exercise.
However, such practice of exercising after a meal is quite common as there are people who wrongly believe that such exercises can help quicken the digestive process. If these people were talking about mild or slow movement, then I think it is alright but certainly not brisk walking or running after a heavy meal.
So, if just before going for our exercise, we feel a little hungry, we should just take a snack with mostly carbohydrates in it just to stave off the hunger. After exercise, we ought to wait a little while before consuming food. Let the blood go to the muscles concerned to replenished oxygen-starved muscles as well as remove waste products and lactic acid from them.
When we think of food, we must never forget the essential water to keep our body hydrated so that circulation of blood and removal of toxic substances are able to take place. Sometimes, especially so the ladies and the older adults, we take too little water and a certain degree of dehydration is consistently present. For our organs to work well, and in the first place that is the reason we exercise, we must have sufficient liquid in our body for the all important circulation of blood to take nutrients and oxygen to all the cells as well as remove wastes and toxins from the body. So, we must always remember to take more water even if that means the inconvenience of having to visit the bathroom more often. I remember the bad old days when women went shopping the whole day without stopping to urinate. Not that there was no necessity to do so but the difficulty of finding suitable clean places forced them to keep a tight hold on their urine and refuse the intake of liquids. It was of course not good for their health and as a result more women than men had urinary tract infection. (Of course, there is the other reason for the urinary tract infection which was the washing of the anus towards the vagina after excreting.)
Well, those bad old days are over and we now have supermarkets as well as petrol stations with clean toilets everywhere. Gone should be the problem of retaining one's urine.
Later, as the group dispersed and I was left walking with just one lady, this lady told me that there was a guy who would take a fast walk as an interval during a dinner feast. She also had a relative who exercise after dinner. She asked me what I thought of the other lady's walking fast due to the amount of food consumed.
I told her it was based on what seemed to many as logical behaviour. Unfortunately, it is not based on sound knowledge. In the first place we ought to understand that food takes a few hours to be digested and turned into energy. Furthermore, we ought not exercise on a full stomach. When food has been consumed, more blood goes to the stomach area while in exercise blood is needed at the moving parts of the body. Therefore, we should not load our tummy just before exercise.
However, such practice of exercising after a meal is quite common as there are people who wrongly believe that such exercises can help quicken the digestive process. If these people were talking about mild or slow movement, then I think it is alright but certainly not brisk walking or running after a heavy meal.
So, if just before going for our exercise, we feel a little hungry, we should just take a snack with mostly carbohydrates in it just to stave off the hunger. After exercise, we ought to wait a little while before consuming food. Let the blood go to the muscles concerned to replenished oxygen-starved muscles as well as remove waste products and lactic acid from them.
When we think of food, we must never forget the essential water to keep our body hydrated so that circulation of blood and removal of toxic substances are able to take place. Sometimes, especially so the ladies and the older adults, we take too little water and a certain degree of dehydration is consistently present. For our organs to work well, and in the first place that is the reason we exercise, we must have sufficient liquid in our body for the all important circulation of blood to take nutrients and oxygen to all the cells as well as remove wastes and toxins from the body. So, we must always remember to take more water even if that means the inconvenience of having to visit the bathroom more often. I remember the bad old days when women went shopping the whole day without stopping to urinate. Not that there was no necessity to do so but the difficulty of finding suitable clean places forced them to keep a tight hold on their urine and refuse the intake of liquids. It was of course not good for their health and as a result more women than men had urinary tract infection. (Of course, there is the other reason for the urinary tract infection which was the washing of the anus towards the vagina after excreting.)
Well, those bad old days are over and we now have supermarkets as well as petrol stations with clean toilets everywhere. Gone should be the problem of retaining one's urine.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The glorious creations of God.
Just take a look at the fantastic beauties below that are scattered here and there in the home of nature
At first sight, I thought those were blue plastic beads. Wow!
Look at the above attractive textured waxy plant.
And from the top of Gunung Bintang water flows to form a waterfall.
Here's something seldom seen, so white and like a kind of huge mushroom.
Such beautiful flowers abound up Gunung Bintang. The above is a ginger flower.
That's a scene almost at the top with the glorious cloudy warm sunny sky contrasting with the cool air under the canopy of those trees up there.
Above is another mushroom, below a flower so tiny yet still sufficient to capture one's attention.
And here's natural beauty in the eye of this beholder.
And finally here's a rare butterfly on Gunung Bintang.
Did you read about my trek up Gunung Bintang and how, after four hours, we were told by someone that we were still seven hours from the top? Well, that was about two months ago. A few weeks ago, four of us made another trip up that mountain hoping to reach the very top in one day. That was what we thought as friends of mine had cycled up the tarred path up Gunung Jerai in a little more than two hours.
We started early in the morning at six-forty-five from Sungai Petani. We reached the waterfalls at Sedim, Southern Kedah at eight-thirty. From there it was a trek with beautiful scenery, plants of various textures, insects, moths and butterflies.
We went up one hill, down it a little to go to another hill and another hill to reach Gunung Bintang. The mountain was not steep but the way up it was long and winding. After passing three waterfalls, we had not reached the summit. By three-thirty in the afternoon, although tired but game enough to continue if we believed that we had the time to return to the foot of the mountain before dark, we decided it was time to turn back.
It had been raining the last few days and the ground was wet and in some places slippery. Everyone of us fell at least three times. Wet socks and muddy shoes were not kind to our feet, especially the toes. One of my big toes suffered the most with it constantly jammed against the shoe each time my foot slipped forward in the damp slippery inner soles of the shoe despite the wet socks. I still have a blue-blacked nail to show today.
Perhaps the shoes were a little too loose. Next time, I would wear more tight fitting shoes for the climb.
Eventually,with pain in the toes or the foot, we eventually reached the bottom when it was already dark at eight-forty-five. Luckily for us, darkness comes later at this time of the year.
Although tired, we had enjoyed our day as all of us were appreciative of the beauty and wonder of nature. One of the ladies who was always ready with her camera to capture the many fascinating scenes and captivating delights of nature was most vocal in her thanks for such a fantastically wonderful time.
Search and you will find. Look and you will see all the glorious creations of God. Actually it is everywhere, in you, in me, in all things big and small created by Him. As I have written we are also a creation of God and anyone who say otherwise do not believe in Him. That is why each and everyone of us is unique in his/her own way. So, starting now, think of your ability to bring out the best in you and enrich this world with whatever you can do for it. The first and easiest thing you can do is smile to yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning. Let the glow of happiness start with you. Then, as you meet your family members and friends, smile to them and see the smile spread, bringing a smile to everyone's lips with the delight of sharing and togetherness in this world.
At first sight, I thought those were blue plastic beads. Wow!
Look at the above attractive textured waxy plant.
And from the top of Gunung Bintang water flows to form a waterfall.
Here's something seldom seen, so white and like a kind of huge mushroom.
Such beautiful flowers abound up Gunung Bintang. The above is a ginger flower.
That's a scene almost at the top with the glorious cloudy warm sunny sky contrasting with the cool air under the canopy of those trees up there.
Above is another mushroom, below a flower so tiny yet still sufficient to capture one's attention.
And here's natural beauty in the eye of this beholder.
And finally here's a rare butterfly on Gunung Bintang.
Did you read about my trek up Gunung Bintang and how, after four hours, we were told by someone that we were still seven hours from the top? Well, that was about two months ago. A few weeks ago, four of us made another trip up that mountain hoping to reach the very top in one day. That was what we thought as friends of mine had cycled up the tarred path up Gunung Jerai in a little more than two hours.
We started early in the morning at six-forty-five from Sungai Petani. We reached the waterfalls at Sedim, Southern Kedah at eight-thirty. From there it was a trek with beautiful scenery, plants of various textures, insects, moths and butterflies.
We went up one hill, down it a little to go to another hill and another hill to reach Gunung Bintang. The mountain was not steep but the way up it was long and winding. After passing three waterfalls, we had not reached the summit. By three-thirty in the afternoon, although tired but game enough to continue if we believed that we had the time to return to the foot of the mountain before dark, we decided it was time to turn back.
It had been raining the last few days and the ground was wet and in some places slippery. Everyone of us fell at least three times. Wet socks and muddy shoes were not kind to our feet, especially the toes. One of my big toes suffered the most with it constantly jammed against the shoe each time my foot slipped forward in the damp slippery inner soles of the shoe despite the wet socks. I still have a blue-blacked nail to show today.
Perhaps the shoes were a little too loose. Next time, I would wear more tight fitting shoes for the climb.
Eventually,with pain in the toes or the foot, we eventually reached the bottom when it was already dark at eight-forty-five. Luckily for us, darkness comes later at this time of the year.
Although tired, we had enjoyed our day as all of us were appreciative of the beauty and wonder of nature. One of the ladies who was always ready with her camera to capture the many fascinating scenes and captivating delights of nature was most vocal in her thanks for such a fantastically wonderful time.
Search and you will find. Look and you will see all the glorious creations of God. Actually it is everywhere, in you, in me, in all things big and small created by Him. As I have written we are also a creation of God and anyone who say otherwise do not believe in Him. That is why each and everyone of us is unique in his/her own way. So, starting now, think of your ability to bring out the best in you and enrich this world with whatever you can do for it. The first and easiest thing you can do is smile to yourself in the mirror first thing in the morning. Let the glow of happiness start with you. Then, as you meet your family members and friends, smile to them and see the smile spread, bringing a smile to everyone's lips with the delight of sharing and togetherness in this world.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A wolf in sheep's clothing.
I remember there was a book titled 'Straight and Crooked Thinking' where the author discusses and points out how people twists matters so that what is wrong can appear to be right to the not so discerning listeners or readers.
I remember that book when I read of politicians who claim that it is selfish to take away the rights of a particular race in a country comprising a good number of races. These politicians talk of special rights which do not exist in the constitution of the country. To say that there were such rights, they insisted that 'the special position of the Malays' as given in the constitution imply such rights.
And to make themselves the righteous fighter of their race, they would talk about such rights being necessary to overcome the economic weaknesses of the poor among the race. In fact it, assisting the particular race to overcome their poverty, was accepted by the other races some forty years ago. Yet, the poor were given crumbs while some politicians became rich overnight. (There was this once upon a time poor railway gate keeper who after entering politics became so rich and powerful that he used government land to enrich himself further. With power and wealth, he arrogantly built a huge palace among the poor of his race, exposing his wrongs.) When one politician can get away with enriching himself thus without a murmur from his political colleagues, would it be wrong for the citizens to wonder why or how he could have got away with it for so many years?
And all such noisy protests despite the government implementing another economic policy in which all the poor in the country would be assisted according to the needs of the people concerned. If these people want the poor of their race to be helped, then there is no more need to protest as all those poor will surely be helped through this new economic policy. The only exception would be that even the poor of other races would be helped too but no one should complain about that. Unless these politicians are actually using the excuse of helping the poor of their race to help themselves to business projects, licenses and such opportunities to enrich their rich selves further. In which case, their being not poor but rich enough, they would not be in a more favourable position than others just as rich. They want that unfair advantage for themselves.
Looking at it, these politicians are the ones who are making use of the poverty issue and selfishly thinking of themselves. And to get those innocent poor to support their selfish cause, they use a lot of what the book I mentioned called 'crooked thinking. 'Crooked thinking' helps to make the 'wolf' look like a 'sheep', a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I remember that book when I read of politicians who claim that it is selfish to take away the rights of a particular race in a country comprising a good number of races. These politicians talk of special rights which do not exist in the constitution of the country. To say that there were such rights, they insisted that 'the special position of the Malays' as given in the constitution imply such rights.
And to make themselves the righteous fighter of their race, they would talk about such rights being necessary to overcome the economic weaknesses of the poor among the race. In fact it, assisting the particular race to overcome their poverty, was accepted by the other races some forty years ago. Yet, the poor were given crumbs while some politicians became rich overnight. (There was this once upon a time poor railway gate keeper who after entering politics became so rich and powerful that he used government land to enrich himself further. With power and wealth, he arrogantly built a huge palace among the poor of his race, exposing his wrongs.) When one politician can get away with enriching himself thus without a murmur from his political colleagues, would it be wrong for the citizens to wonder why or how he could have got away with it for so many years?
And all such noisy protests despite the government implementing another economic policy in which all the poor in the country would be assisted according to the needs of the people concerned. If these people want the poor of their race to be helped, then there is no more need to protest as all those poor will surely be helped through this new economic policy. The only exception would be that even the poor of other races would be helped too but no one should complain about that. Unless these politicians are actually using the excuse of helping the poor of their race to help themselves to business projects, licenses and such opportunities to enrich their rich selves further. In which case, their being not poor but rich enough, they would not be in a more favourable position than others just as rich. They want that unfair advantage for themselves.
Looking at it, these politicians are the ones who are making use of the poverty issue and selfishly thinking of themselves. And to get those innocent poor to support their selfish cause, they use a lot of what the book I mentioned called 'crooked thinking. 'Crooked thinking' helps to make the 'wolf' look like a 'sheep', a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Health and appearance can be improved.
The day before, we sat down before a meeting to have a chat among friends. As we were of an age when health has to be maintained, our conversation led us that way. Soon, one of the guys told us about a day when he was going through his photo album and he realised that he somehow looked different, much better than that photograph of himself in the album. Where was the difference? What was it that made the appearance of the younger him older than his present older person? Yes, it was true but the change was so gradual that it went unnoticed until he saw his younger self with an older appearance. Unbelievable even to himself but it was true. He must have gone through in detail every feature on his face before he found that the difference lies in the colour of his hair. When he revealed that to us, I could see that it was true.
And he confirmed it to himself when he visited a friend who was surprised to see his younger appearance with hair darker and with less white hair. According to him, the friend he visited once had totally black hair while he had a lot of white hair. That day they discovered that, where hair is concerned, the once upon a time black haired guy now has a lot of white hair, more than this friend's. How is that possible?
For one thing, this friend whose hair has improved tremendously has retired a few years ago and since then, he has done more exercise than before, walking up the hill a number of times and regularly cycling quite a distance almost every day. In fact, he recently not only cycled up Gunung Jerai, but left some teenagers behind on the way, tired and needing a rest while he cycled on without a stop. Of course, with his bicycle, he gets a trimmer body where once he was flabby. Muscles are firmer, well-toned although his skin was somewhat sun-tanned. Looking at him, I believe he is in great health.
Impressed by his health and the change of hair colour indicating improved circulation and better regeneration of cells, and being constantly interested in health issues, I thought about it last night and this morning, realising that in our conversation we missed a most vital factor on health. Being retired and no more concerned about making money on the foreign exchange, he is more relaxed. Mixing well with everyone regardless of religion and race, his mind is more aware, more open and more able to accept other people as they are. With such a mind, there is only minimal stress.
Stress has been discovered by researchers to be the enemy of human health. Stress can lead to a lower immune system which could allow cancer cells and pathogens to become strong enough to invade and overcome the white blood cells and our defence system. I believe the lessening of stress not only help our immune system, with the help of good nutritious food, exercise and sufficient rest or sleep, it also strengthens our body enabling the proper regeneration of cells to take place at maximum rate.
I believe and know through this friend's hair that it is possible that the roots of the hair could have better supply of the necessary nutrients from their healthy cells brought through better circulation.
I believe all this is possible also through my own conquest of rheumatism and rheumatic heart in my twenties. I have written about that in more detail in an earlier posting on this blog.
Well, I have shared a true experience with you. Hopefully, you can share some of yours (perhaps, through email) so that we can all benefit from them.
And he confirmed it to himself when he visited a friend who was surprised to see his younger appearance with hair darker and with less white hair. According to him, the friend he visited once had totally black hair while he had a lot of white hair. That day they discovered that, where hair is concerned, the once upon a time black haired guy now has a lot of white hair, more than this friend's. How is that possible?
For one thing, this friend whose hair has improved tremendously has retired a few years ago and since then, he has done more exercise than before, walking up the hill a number of times and regularly cycling quite a distance almost every day. In fact, he recently not only cycled up Gunung Jerai, but left some teenagers behind on the way, tired and needing a rest while he cycled on without a stop. Of course, with his bicycle, he gets a trimmer body where once he was flabby. Muscles are firmer, well-toned although his skin was somewhat sun-tanned. Looking at him, I believe he is in great health.
Impressed by his health and the change of hair colour indicating improved circulation and better regeneration of cells, and being constantly interested in health issues, I thought about it last night and this morning, realising that in our conversation we missed a most vital factor on health. Being retired and no more concerned about making money on the foreign exchange, he is more relaxed. Mixing well with everyone regardless of religion and race, his mind is more aware, more open and more able to accept other people as they are. With such a mind, there is only minimal stress.
Stress has been discovered by researchers to be the enemy of human health. Stress can lead to a lower immune system which could allow cancer cells and pathogens to become strong enough to invade and overcome the white blood cells and our defence system. I believe the lessening of stress not only help our immune system, with the help of good nutritious food, exercise and sufficient rest or sleep, it also strengthens our body enabling the proper regeneration of cells to take place at maximum rate.
I believe and know through this friend's hair that it is possible that the roots of the hair could have better supply of the necessary nutrients from their healthy cells brought through better circulation.
I believe all this is possible also through my own conquest of rheumatism and rheumatic heart in my twenties. I have written about that in more detail in an earlier posting on this blog.
Well, I have shared a true experience with you. Hopefully, you can share some of yours (perhaps, through email) so that we can all benefit from them.
Friday, April 16, 2010
What education policy to help children?
We ought to remember and understand that every individual in this world, be they big or small, is unique in his or her own way. All of us are different in certain ways, just as all of us are similar in some other ways but no two individuals are totally the same.
Therefore, if we wish to find science students, we should look for those who have an inclination towards science. Similarly, when we want to have linguist, we search for students who have a talent for languages. And if we need to get artists, we go for those who are able to draw or paint or sculpt. To discover singers and musicians, we ought to have a talent hunt for people with melodious voices and a sense of notes and tones.
As such it is crazy for anybody to think of sending for further studies people who have the best all round development, meaning that the chosen ones must be good if not excellent physically, academically, emotionally and spiritually. An excellent scientist may have no interest whatsoever in sports activities or religious matter. So, if we were to deduct marks from him/her for his disastrous performance in sports or religious matters, it could be possible to have him out of the list of successful candidates for further studies. We could then have lost the great potential development of a fantastic scientist. His capability and talents in achieving award-winning technology would be lost to the world, holding back its progress possibly by a few hundred years. Of course, our only consolation and comfort is that we would never realise our loss.
In fact, what the Malaysian government did some years ago was similar. The Education policy then was to create as many science students as possible. To improve science and technology, they send all the best standard six pupils to the science stream. They forgot that even historians, linguists and pupils in the arts stream can be just as clever as science pupils at that level. With that kind of sorting out the students, even excellent economist and linguists were sent to the science stream where they gradually find themselves slowly getting disinterested in the subjects offered them. It was a pity to find such good students become mediocre not because they do not have intelligence but their potential was in a sometimes totally different field.
I remember clearly one sad parent, who was also a teacher, told me that his son had ran off from the university where he was given computer science when he got an offer from a college to do an arts subject. So, I told him it could be a blessing in disguise as his son had the subject where his interest is greatest and therefore although he might be starting at a college instead of the university, his interest could possibly take him even further than where he was in time to come. Interest is important as it is a kind of natural inclination which stays with us and will consistently urge us forward to further our knowledge.
A person interested in the type of work in his job does that job for not just the money but the fun of doing it. That makes him a happier, better worker.
I am not saying that we should not strive to be a well-rounded person. It is ideal to have that but it is not essential or necessary. Not being a well-rounded person does not make a scientist any less healthier and educated in the true sense of the word. A scientist can still go for the pleasures of a fast walk or a jog with family and friends or alone. That would be sufficient to have him healthy. For relaxation and recreation or a social life, mingling with all kind of people from various races, culture and religions could give him the opportunity to mix well with others and learn about the various types of people, their cultures, their way of life, their religions and appreciate them. That is true education, not just memorised knowledge and formulas from books. How can we consider ourselves to be truly educated if we do not understand people; giving here a very simple example; when we cannot understand why or how some people can enjoy certain types of food we ourselves find tasteless or lousy? Take durians for example. Some people from the West do not like their smell or taste, linking the taste and smell to excreta. Yet, many of these people try them and after that some discover that the durians are just as nice to eat as other fruits. They found out that the durians just happen to have a not so familiar taste and smell. The willingness to try and experience for their own selves what others would condemn gave them the opportunity to know truly what the durian is. Though i have taken a fruit as an example, this is actually true of all things. Many condemn other religions or way of life without understanding the true nature of things. Only when there is an open mind that allows one to approach everything positively that we know and understand better the truth.
That is what being a well-rounded person ought to be. Not just getting lots of marks in sports and other matters.
Therefore, when we wish to implement any education policy, we ought to get some really educated people to think whether it is appropriate to force every student to excel in every sphere of life at school level. Schools ought to places where children are helped to find their potential so that they can excel in the field of their interest and end up with work where they can best contribute to society and the world.
Therefore, if we wish to find science students, we should look for those who have an inclination towards science. Similarly, when we want to have linguist, we search for students who have a talent for languages. And if we need to get artists, we go for those who are able to draw or paint or sculpt. To discover singers and musicians, we ought to have a talent hunt for people with melodious voices and a sense of notes and tones.
As such it is crazy for anybody to think of sending for further studies people who have the best all round development, meaning that the chosen ones must be good if not excellent physically, academically, emotionally and spiritually. An excellent scientist may have no interest whatsoever in sports activities or religious matter. So, if we were to deduct marks from him/her for his disastrous performance in sports or religious matters, it could be possible to have him out of the list of successful candidates for further studies. We could then have lost the great potential development of a fantastic scientist. His capability and talents in achieving award-winning technology would be lost to the world, holding back its progress possibly by a few hundred years. Of course, our only consolation and comfort is that we would never realise our loss.
In fact, what the Malaysian government did some years ago was similar. The Education policy then was to create as many science students as possible. To improve science and technology, they send all the best standard six pupils to the science stream. They forgot that even historians, linguists and pupils in the arts stream can be just as clever as science pupils at that level. With that kind of sorting out the students, even excellent economist and linguists were sent to the science stream where they gradually find themselves slowly getting disinterested in the subjects offered them. It was a pity to find such good students become mediocre not because they do not have intelligence but their potential was in a sometimes totally different field.
I remember clearly one sad parent, who was also a teacher, told me that his son had ran off from the university where he was given computer science when he got an offer from a college to do an arts subject. So, I told him it could be a blessing in disguise as his son had the subject where his interest is greatest and therefore although he might be starting at a college instead of the university, his interest could possibly take him even further than where he was in time to come. Interest is important as it is a kind of natural inclination which stays with us and will consistently urge us forward to further our knowledge.
A person interested in the type of work in his job does that job for not just the money but the fun of doing it. That makes him a happier, better worker.
I am not saying that we should not strive to be a well-rounded person. It is ideal to have that but it is not essential or necessary. Not being a well-rounded person does not make a scientist any less healthier and educated in the true sense of the word. A scientist can still go for the pleasures of a fast walk or a jog with family and friends or alone. That would be sufficient to have him healthy. For relaxation and recreation or a social life, mingling with all kind of people from various races, culture and religions could give him the opportunity to mix well with others and learn about the various types of people, their cultures, their way of life, their religions and appreciate them. That is true education, not just memorised knowledge and formulas from books. How can we consider ourselves to be truly educated if we do not understand people; giving here a very simple example; when we cannot understand why or how some people can enjoy certain types of food we ourselves find tasteless or lousy? Take durians for example. Some people from the West do not like their smell or taste, linking the taste and smell to excreta. Yet, many of these people try them and after that some discover that the durians are just as nice to eat as other fruits. They found out that the durians just happen to have a not so familiar taste and smell. The willingness to try and experience for their own selves what others would condemn gave them the opportunity to know truly what the durian is. Though i have taken a fruit as an example, this is actually true of all things. Many condemn other religions or way of life without understanding the true nature of things. Only when there is an open mind that allows one to approach everything positively that we know and understand better the truth.
That is what being a well-rounded person ought to be. Not just getting lots of marks in sports and other matters.
Therefore, when we wish to implement any education policy, we ought to get some really educated people to think whether it is appropriate to force every student to excel in every sphere of life at school level. Schools ought to places where children are helped to find their potential so that they can excel in the field of their interest and end up with work where they can best contribute to society and the world.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
People with hearts of gold.
There are people with hearts of gold in our midst. A clear cut example of such people are two ladies I have the fortune to know and befriend. Well, let me tell you what they did recently.
There are two lovely dogs which live up the hill at Taman Semarak. They were lovely creatures, constantly meeting the trekkers with their wagging tails. Even the Muslims who trek up that hill found them not a problem. Of course, now and then when others are not in sight, a few could have thrown stones at them for they seem to understand that Muslims do not like them to go near and run off whenever the Muslims approach them.
Well, nature took its course and soon those beautiful female dogs had a male visitor. The male seem to know when the females were on heat and would come at the right time to impregnate those females. Each time it happened, we got a lot of puppies at the top of the hill. They were such adorable puppies that it was not difficult to have people interested in taking them home as pets. Sometimes, however, some of the puppies died. Certainly, those who have showered their love on those puppies by patting them, playing with them, remove ticks from their bodies and fed them felt sad that those young puppies should have to suffer death so early in life.
These two ladies thought about the fate of future puppies. Those who came to the hill and wanted puppies as pets were few. How long could we find people to adopt them? How many dogs could those wonderful people feed? And if one day the population of dogs were to increase, would someone ask the dog-catchers to come and trap them or shoot them?
With the present two dogs patrolling the hill slopes, the place is so safe from so many things. Snakes for one thing would not slither out into the paths where the dogs could see them. The dogs' presence can deter strangers who are not used to their existence on that hill. And the chances of people using the hill for undesirable purposes could be less with those dogs patrolling it.
To ensure that the situation remains as it is, the two ladies told the others of their plan to sterilise the dogs. For that we gave donations so that there would be sufficient money to pay for sterilisation of the two females by a veterinarian. Sufficient kind folks were in agreement with the project. Thus it was that on the 3rd of April, a Saturday morning, the two ladies came in a car to take the dogs to a veterinarian at Sungai Dua in Penang Island. Then, on the 13th of April, with the dogs safe and recovered from the sterilisation process, I went with one of the ladies to pick up those dogs. It cost the good people six hundred and sixty ringgit but all of them were so happy to see the dogs still healthy and strong back at the hill.
The lady who drove her car to fetch the dogs must love them a lot for she did not complain at all despite one of the dogs defecating onto her back seat. Instead, she was so happy to see them that she hugged and patted them, uttering words of endearment.
We are happy for the dogs to be safely back at the hill, meeting their many human friends who bring them food and water each day. It's wonderful that there are still such loving people in our world. Thank God for that and the beautiful world we live in.
There are two lovely dogs which live up the hill at Taman Semarak. They were lovely creatures, constantly meeting the trekkers with their wagging tails. Even the Muslims who trek up that hill found them not a problem. Of course, now and then when others are not in sight, a few could have thrown stones at them for they seem to understand that Muslims do not like them to go near and run off whenever the Muslims approach them.
Well, nature took its course and soon those beautiful female dogs had a male visitor. The male seem to know when the females were on heat and would come at the right time to impregnate those females. Each time it happened, we got a lot of puppies at the top of the hill. They were such adorable puppies that it was not difficult to have people interested in taking them home as pets. Sometimes, however, some of the puppies died. Certainly, those who have showered their love on those puppies by patting them, playing with them, remove ticks from their bodies and fed them felt sad that those young puppies should have to suffer death so early in life.
These two ladies thought about the fate of future puppies. Those who came to the hill and wanted puppies as pets were few. How long could we find people to adopt them? How many dogs could those wonderful people feed? And if one day the population of dogs were to increase, would someone ask the dog-catchers to come and trap them or shoot them?
With the present two dogs patrolling the hill slopes, the place is so safe from so many things. Snakes for one thing would not slither out into the paths where the dogs could see them. The dogs' presence can deter strangers who are not used to their existence on that hill. And the chances of people using the hill for undesirable purposes could be less with those dogs patrolling it.
To ensure that the situation remains as it is, the two ladies told the others of their plan to sterilise the dogs. For that we gave donations so that there would be sufficient money to pay for sterilisation of the two females by a veterinarian. Sufficient kind folks were in agreement with the project. Thus it was that on the 3rd of April, a Saturday morning, the two ladies came in a car to take the dogs to a veterinarian at Sungai Dua in Penang Island. Then, on the 13th of April, with the dogs safe and recovered from the sterilisation process, I went with one of the ladies to pick up those dogs. It cost the good people six hundred and sixty ringgit but all of them were so happy to see the dogs still healthy and strong back at the hill.
The lady who drove her car to fetch the dogs must love them a lot for she did not complain at all despite one of the dogs defecating onto her back seat. Instead, she was so happy to see them that she hugged and patted them, uttering words of endearment.
We are happy for the dogs to be safely back at the hill, meeting their many human friends who bring them food and water each day. It's wonderful that there are still such loving people in our world. Thank God for that and the beautiful world we live in.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Be aware and never expose your beautiful/rugged self.
This morning I read in the staronline about a youth who so innocently masturbated in front of a webcam in order to teach someone he had just got to know in the internet how it was done. Either his kindness, ego or his naivety got the better of him. Whatever it was, that act put him into trouble as the other man threatened to place his masturbation demonstration on the internet unless he agreed to have sex with the other man. Sodomy was probably what the other man had in mind. When he did not agree to the man's request, he was told the alternative was 'a gift' of money. When will such gifts end? Never! That was just the beginning and the end would take a life-time. Extortion is the word for that. And do not be naive to think that women are not capable of extortion.
So, no matter how good you can be at sex, possess sexual parts such as breasts, penis, vagina, buttocks or a fantastic body that can possibly amaze anyone, admire such goodies with a mirror. You can 'ooh' and 'aah' your pleasure with your 'loved ones' or whoever but make very, very sure there are no cameras of any kind around. And nowadays with cameras in handphones, it is so easy for someone to pretend to phone another person when actually that someone could be taking photographs of you in the nude without your being aware of it. So, be really, really careful even with someone whom you think loves you. Well, I need not convince you with my stories as you have certainly read of politicians, artistes and people who find embarrassing nude pictures of themselves on the internet and their 'loved ones' making a disappearing act. And of course, we have to realise, hidden cameras are getting smaller by the day and,perhaps, our room is the only safe place to romp in the nude.
Nowadays, with the computer and the internet, mistakes made cannot be removed as easily as those good old days when photographs and their negatives can be torn and destroyed forever, never to arise to haunt you again. That is the reason I would never allow even my wrinkled old buttocks to be photographed, not even for charity, no, thank you. Who knows what they would use them for.
Well, to be aware of all these possibilities is important even if we believe such things can never happen to us. After all, such things only happen to other people, right? Sorry, I cannot agree to that. Anything is possible, be it good or bad and therefore awareness of everything in and about our surrounding is essential to our good health and happiness. After reading this, you ought not to be as naive as that young man at the beginning of this posting. So, keep your goodies covered from prying cameras. I take a camera along most of the time so who knows when you may see yourself in all your naked glory in this blog. Don't blame me. You have been forewarned.
So, no matter how good you can be at sex, possess sexual parts such as breasts, penis, vagina, buttocks or a fantastic body that can possibly amaze anyone, admire such goodies with a mirror. You can 'ooh' and 'aah' your pleasure with your 'loved ones' or whoever but make very, very sure there are no cameras of any kind around. And nowadays with cameras in handphones, it is so easy for someone to pretend to phone another person when actually that someone could be taking photographs of you in the nude without your being aware of it. So, be really, really careful even with someone whom you think loves you. Well, I need not convince you with my stories as you have certainly read of politicians, artistes and people who find embarrassing nude pictures of themselves on the internet and their 'loved ones' making a disappearing act. And of course, we have to realise, hidden cameras are getting smaller by the day and,perhaps, our room is the only safe place to romp in the nude.
Nowadays, with the computer and the internet, mistakes made cannot be removed as easily as those good old days when photographs and their negatives can be torn and destroyed forever, never to arise to haunt you again. That is the reason I would never allow even my wrinkled old buttocks to be photographed, not even for charity, no, thank you. Who knows what they would use them for.
Well, to be aware of all these possibilities is important even if we believe such things can never happen to us. After all, such things only happen to other people, right? Sorry, I cannot agree to that. Anything is possible, be it good or bad and therefore awareness of everything in and about our surrounding is essential to our good health and happiness. After reading this, you ought not to be as naive as that young man at the beginning of this posting. So, keep your goodies covered from prying cameras. I take a camera along most of the time so who knows when you may see yourself in all your naked glory in this blog. Don't blame me. You have been forewarned.
Actually, it's easy to be a Malaysian.
I remember my childhood and schooldays. Though I was then fairly weak physically, I enjoyed my life playing the games all children play. In Wellesley Primary School, Hutchings School, then Penang Free School, we played and mingled with anyone who wishes to join in our fun. When playing with marbles in the primary schools, we play to win without any thought on our friend’s race. Darker skin, lighter skin or whatever shade or colour, all those do not make any difference to us. As we played ‘Police and thief’, chasing each other, we only thought of catching friends for our team to win so that we could exchange roles in the game. Later, in the secondary school, we play rugby, football and other games as sports house members. No matter how rough we could be, we just played among students of the same school without a single thought of anyone’s race.
During those days, like any other children anywhere in the world, we sometimes disagree, get angry and fight. Sometimes we come back together as friends. There was never any worry about the other child’s race. It was just, “I don’t like him because he dirtied my shoes.” or something like that. The reason has nothing whatsoever about race. And when we support or cheer someone in a quarrel or fight, it was always ‘That’s my friend.’ who could be of another race.
Well, it is so easy to be a Malaysian. That was and is because when a child is born, he/she enters straight into this country as a Malaysian. He/She knows no other place he or she can call home. Malaysia is his/her home. It is only when divisive policies created by power-crazy politicians hammer into our heads that our ancestors come from another country and therefore we are less equal, less privileged and less advantaged in this land that we realise, people think we cannot call the land we are born in 'home' which is so wrong. After all, except for the Orang Asli or the original people of this land, every citizen's ancestors in my Mother Land comes from elsewhere. And anyone with just a little intelligence will have to agree with this truth. The truth is also that people like me who are born here knows of only this Mother Land and no other. This is home. If i am just a visitor, I could pack my bags to return home but because this is home, I write this so that my children and others can understand where home is for me.
In all things we did those days up to the time of the implementation of the National Economic Policy, we were just friends, acquaintances or enemies but there was nothing racial in it. How is that so? Well, for one thing, there was nothing in society, our education institutions or our lives where somebody was made more special, more privileged or more advantaged. Physically, mentally or emotionally; yes, there are people who are more special or more advantaged. Those people were born that way, not made to be like that by a government that divided its people into races with the excuse that a certain race is less capable of achieving what the others have achieved. I say excuse because if we sincerely wish to help our less capable or poorer people, all we need implement is a system by which all those who are less capable or poorer would be helped. With that, if most of the people from a particular state or race need such help, then certainly the people helped would mostly be from that state or race. So, there is no need to divide the country into states or races. In such an instance, the capable and rich will not have any reason to disagree and the problem of race would never exist.
It is because a race has been made special, more privileged and more advantaged, that our country finds it so difficult to have its people united. And this race problem is not easy to overcome, even though the government is moving towards helping every Malaysian according to merit. Why? How many are matured, truly educated (those who can really think clearly and correctly) and understanding enough to understand that the National Economic Policy was to help the poor and not everyone, even the very rich, in a particular race? Tell these less matured, less educated and less understanding people that places in the universities, contracts and job opportunities will not be specially reserved for them because they belong to a particular race and although they have riches beyond most Malaysians, they would protest and demand that they must be treated more equal than other Malaysians. And it is happening even as I put these thoughts to paper. No pampered son, even though he no longer needs any further help, would ever agreed to have other siblings be treated just as fair.
Thus, it is not easy to do away a bad practice. Pampered children grow up expecting to be treated better than the other siblings. He believes being pampered is his right. That, despite some of them going through a tertiary education (not educated, only literate), and having acquired much wealth. Oh God, what can be done with such pampered children.
During those days, like any other children anywhere in the world, we sometimes disagree, get angry and fight. Sometimes we come back together as friends. There was never any worry about the other child’s race. It was just, “I don’t like him because he dirtied my shoes.” or something like that. The reason has nothing whatsoever about race. And when we support or cheer someone in a quarrel or fight, it was always ‘That’s my friend.’ who could be of another race.
Well, it is so easy to be a Malaysian. That was and is because when a child is born, he/she enters straight into this country as a Malaysian. He/She knows no other place he or she can call home. Malaysia is his/her home. It is only when divisive policies created by power-crazy politicians hammer into our heads that our ancestors come from another country and therefore we are less equal, less privileged and less advantaged in this land that we realise, people think we cannot call the land we are born in 'home' which is so wrong. After all, except for the Orang Asli or the original people of this land, every citizen's ancestors in my Mother Land comes from elsewhere. And anyone with just a little intelligence will have to agree with this truth. The truth is also that people like me who are born here knows of only this Mother Land and no other. This is home. If i am just a visitor, I could pack my bags to return home but because this is home, I write this so that my children and others can understand where home is for me.
In all things we did those days up to the time of the implementation of the National Economic Policy, we were just friends, acquaintances or enemies but there was nothing racial in it. How is that so? Well, for one thing, there was nothing in society, our education institutions or our lives where somebody was made more special, more privileged or more advantaged. Physically, mentally or emotionally; yes, there are people who are more special or more advantaged. Those people were born that way, not made to be like that by a government that divided its people into races with the excuse that a certain race is less capable of achieving what the others have achieved. I say excuse because if we sincerely wish to help our less capable or poorer people, all we need implement is a system by which all those who are less capable or poorer would be helped. With that, if most of the people from a particular state or race need such help, then certainly the people helped would mostly be from that state or race. So, there is no need to divide the country into states or races. In such an instance, the capable and rich will not have any reason to disagree and the problem of race would never exist.
It is because a race has been made special, more privileged and more advantaged, that our country finds it so difficult to have its people united. And this race problem is not easy to overcome, even though the government is moving towards helping every Malaysian according to merit. Why? How many are matured, truly educated (those who can really think clearly and correctly) and understanding enough to understand that the National Economic Policy was to help the poor and not everyone, even the very rich, in a particular race? Tell these less matured, less educated and less understanding people that places in the universities, contracts and job opportunities will not be specially reserved for them because they belong to a particular race and although they have riches beyond most Malaysians, they would protest and demand that they must be treated more equal than other Malaysians. And it is happening even as I put these thoughts to paper. No pampered son, even though he no longer needs any further help, would ever agreed to have other siblings be treated just as fair.
Thus, it is not easy to do away a bad practice. Pampered children grow up expecting to be treated better than the other siblings. He believes being pampered is his right. That, despite some of them going through a tertiary education (not educated, only literate), and having acquired much wealth. Oh God, what can be done with such pampered children.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Always be careful with inflammable things.
The email below with a photograph of the uncle's badly burnt face and arm came to a friend. As it is a revelation to us about possible danger, I believe there is no harm in spreading the message. Even people in the food business may benefit from knowing what can possibly happen in such circumstances and do something about it to prevent such an occurance. Well, to be forewarned is be forearmed.
I have changed names of places and people so as not to embarrass anybody as that is never my intention. Of course, I have not posted the photograph as I do not know whether the person concerned would like that.
So please read and realise such a danger.
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Be careful when you eat steamed fish at the restaurants
Dear friends,
Just want to share a little bit of the sad story of my uncle in Kuantan that happened in the Siamese Restaurant, next to a Hotel in Kuantan, last Monday night at 8pm .
My uncle was having dinner with two of his friends, they ordered the steamed fish and the waiter put some liquid gel (not candles) underneath the fish to continue keeping it hot. This thing suddenly exploded and caused my uncle to be injured in his ear, face, arm, and thank God that he was wearing glasses (or else he would have been blinded). The restaurant manager was not responsible enough even to visit my uncle since this accident happened. We'll have to try to find ways to help my Uncle to claim some compensation as he might not be able to work for at least 6 months.
I'm not trying to condemn the restaurant but just want you all to be extra careful next time when ordering - steamed food - safer that they take away the "fire" below.
Regards,
Cathy
I have changed names of places and people so as not to embarrass anybody as that is never my intention. Of course, I have not posted the photograph as I do not know whether the person concerned would like that.
So please read and realise such a danger.
--------------------------------------------------
Be careful when you eat steamed fish at the restaurants
Dear friends,
Just want to share a little bit of the sad story of my uncle in Kuantan that happened in the Siamese Restaurant, next to a Hotel in Kuantan, last Monday night at 8pm .
My uncle was having dinner with two of his friends, they ordered the steamed fish and the waiter put some liquid gel (not candles) underneath the fish to continue keeping it hot. This thing suddenly exploded and caused my uncle to be injured in his ear, face, arm, and thank God that he was wearing glasses (or else he would have been blinded). The restaurant manager was not responsible enough even to visit my uncle since this accident happened. We'll have to try to find ways to help my Uncle to claim some compensation as he might not be able to work for at least 6 months.
I'm not trying to condemn the restaurant but just want you all to be extra careful next time when ordering - steamed food - safer that they take away the "fire" below.
Regards,
Cathy
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Give attention to self control.
This morning, as I was getting out of my car, just before I switched off the radio, Light FM host was talking about curbing one's spending and one of the ways I heard was to lower the limit of one's credit card. If only things were that simple.
You know that banks do limit our expenditure through the use of the credit? Of course, their worry is not how much you spend each month but whether you would be in the position to repay them what had been used. They certainly do not wish anyone to go bankrupt as they are, in a smaller way, the loser too in such cases. For sure, they have one card-holder less. And they certainly do not want a possible bankrupt case on their hands. That was the reason a bank where a pensioner like me did not have an account was told that I was not eligible for a credit card after one of its officers had persuaded me to apply for one.
However, that does not prevent people with a salary from applying for one credit card from so many different banks. Even a clerk can get three credit cards with a seven thousand ringgit credit for each card which gives him twenty-one thousand ringgit to spend in a month. If he has no savings, how, I wonder, is the guy going to repay that money. Of course, he could owe the bank but that would incur interest which would burden him further. I know the government had tried to lessen the number of credit cards possessed by its citizens with a fifty ringgit charge per year on each credit card but for people who cannot control the need to splurge on unnecessary things, would that stop their addition?
People would never run into financial problems who they can control their expenditure or change their life-style to suit their salary. Extravagance is a habit for some. What these people need is self control.
Self control comes as a result of understanding the consequences of whatever deeds performed by us. In the news media each day we read of loss of self control resulting in rage on the road, at home and at the place of work. We read of the loss of self control over money in casinos or gambling dens. We read of loss of emotional self -control leading to deeds that break up marriages and homes. Loss of self control has taken many an unwary person to addition of drugs and speed on the road. Loss of self control has wreak lives and futures with children being influence into undesirable activities distracting them away from school and the right path.
As it can be seen, self control is so important every second of our lives. Without it, all kinds of tragedy become a possibility. Therefore, children attention towards self control and the understanding of the possible consequences that can befall us through losing it must be impressed on the children in our care as parents or teachers and adults.
With self control, we most probably would not be tempted to challenge the many more dangerous, deeper or bottomless pits in life. Our children will be safer and happier. Self control makes the difference.
You know that banks do limit our expenditure through the use of the credit? Of course, their worry is not how much you spend each month but whether you would be in the position to repay them what had been used. They certainly do not wish anyone to go bankrupt as they are, in a smaller way, the loser too in such cases. For sure, they have one card-holder less. And they certainly do not want a possible bankrupt case on their hands. That was the reason a bank where a pensioner like me did not have an account was told that I was not eligible for a credit card after one of its officers had persuaded me to apply for one.
However, that does not prevent people with a salary from applying for one credit card from so many different banks. Even a clerk can get three credit cards with a seven thousand ringgit credit for each card which gives him twenty-one thousand ringgit to spend in a month. If he has no savings, how, I wonder, is the guy going to repay that money. Of course, he could owe the bank but that would incur interest which would burden him further. I know the government had tried to lessen the number of credit cards possessed by its citizens with a fifty ringgit charge per year on each credit card but for people who cannot control the need to splurge on unnecessary things, would that stop their addition?
People would never run into financial problems who they can control their expenditure or change their life-style to suit their salary. Extravagance is a habit for some. What these people need is self control.
Self control comes as a result of understanding the consequences of whatever deeds performed by us. In the news media each day we read of loss of self control resulting in rage on the road, at home and at the place of work. We read of the loss of self control over money in casinos or gambling dens. We read of loss of emotional self -control leading to deeds that break up marriages and homes. Loss of self control has taken many an unwary person to addition of drugs and speed on the road. Loss of self control has wreak lives and futures with children being influence into undesirable activities distracting them away from school and the right path.
As it can be seen, self control is so important every second of our lives. Without it, all kinds of tragedy become a possibility. Therefore, children attention towards self control and the understanding of the possible consequences that can befall us through losing it must be impressed on the children in our care as parents or teachers and adults.
With self control, we most probably would not be tempted to challenge the many more dangerous, deeper or bottomless pits in life. Our children will be safer and happier. Self control makes the difference.
Stress in life.
Once I went to an orchid farm in Sungai Dua, Mainland Penang to get orchid plants for my garden. My wife and I got to know the then young owner, Michael, who told us his orchids is his hobby. He would spend time taking us around the place, talking about the beautiful blooms and the various varieties of orchids at his farm.
He was very successful with his farm. To think of it, there was this man who got lots of money just working at his hobby. What an ideal job cause anyone who spends time at his interest could never consider the effort put in as work. There would be no unhealthy stress and happiness is a certainty when the objects of interest produce attractive flowers to be appreciated by other orchid lovers who look forward to possessing the plants.
That is also the reason I choose to do the work I love to enjoy. I have no boss to please and my time is my very own to use as I wish. Do you know that at one time I did not even have a hand-phone so that I do not hear any call for my assistance unless I am ready for it? Life for me is now so much more relaxing and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, there are still people who struggle to achieve certain degrees to please their parents to find that the work their degrees lead them to were not of much interest to them except as a way of earning a salary. It would still be alright if their job was not so stressful as to lead to depression.
This did happen to the daughter of one family. So far, cases of depression which I have heard of happened to the females. Are the ladies more susceptible to depression? Well, perhaps researchers ought to look into this and find the truth of the matter and hopefully discover a solution for it.
Back to this poor young lady who was struck down with depression just a year after being employed. Her nervous breakdown started with her hair turning white and a loss of appetite. By the end of just one year, she was a pathetic sight, unable to face her workload. Since then, she had not been able to work. Unless she finds someone to help her understand her situation and accept it while doing meditation or yoga to remove her stress, this kind of situation is difficult to overcome. However, it does not mean there is no way out. There is always a way out if the person is ready to have it.
I believe this is what happens to people who have no interest whatsoever in their work. It was drudgery, difficult to overcome as those people had to face what they dread each day, every week, month after month, from one year to another with only a slight reprieve during weekends and holidays.
Of course there are people who are made of sterner stuff, never buckling under despite the pressure of boring work day in day out. These are the people who, when they no longer enjoy the work, watch the clock, looking forward to the end of the day when they can just pack up and leave everything behind so that they can find means to release the stress in some creative manner. For such people, they have found a way out of the predicament of being in an uninterested job. Here, the family can help the breadwinner(s) to unwind and save themselves from the problem of stress and depression. For those whithout a family to fall back on, there are friends. And for those introverts who find difficulty with company, you still have a good thirty minutes of jogging or a trek up some hill where you can sweat off the stress, stretch your muscles, then relax them with a warm bath or massage and a cool drink under the stars or while listening to music or watching a show; whatever is your enjoyment.
Knowing this parents ought to allow their children to choose to study their field of inclination. Parents would get happier children with a brighter future, not just in terms of finance, but in all aspects of life. They may never become millionaires but they will be rich in every aspect. Do we really need to be millionaires to be truly happy?
He was very successful with his farm. To think of it, there was this man who got lots of money just working at his hobby. What an ideal job cause anyone who spends time at his interest could never consider the effort put in as work. There would be no unhealthy stress and happiness is a certainty when the objects of interest produce attractive flowers to be appreciated by other orchid lovers who look forward to possessing the plants.
That is also the reason I choose to do the work I love to enjoy. I have no boss to please and my time is my very own to use as I wish. Do you know that at one time I did not even have a hand-phone so that I do not hear any call for my assistance unless I am ready for it? Life for me is now so much more relaxing and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, there are still people who struggle to achieve certain degrees to please their parents to find that the work their degrees lead them to were not of much interest to them except as a way of earning a salary. It would still be alright if their job was not so stressful as to lead to depression.
This did happen to the daughter of one family. So far, cases of depression which I have heard of happened to the females. Are the ladies more susceptible to depression? Well, perhaps researchers ought to look into this and find the truth of the matter and hopefully discover a solution for it.
Back to this poor young lady who was struck down with depression just a year after being employed. Her nervous breakdown started with her hair turning white and a loss of appetite. By the end of just one year, she was a pathetic sight, unable to face her workload. Since then, she had not been able to work. Unless she finds someone to help her understand her situation and accept it while doing meditation or yoga to remove her stress, this kind of situation is difficult to overcome. However, it does not mean there is no way out. There is always a way out if the person is ready to have it.
I believe this is what happens to people who have no interest whatsoever in their work. It was drudgery, difficult to overcome as those people had to face what they dread each day, every week, month after month, from one year to another with only a slight reprieve during weekends and holidays.
Of course there are people who are made of sterner stuff, never buckling under despite the pressure of boring work day in day out. These are the people who, when they no longer enjoy the work, watch the clock, looking forward to the end of the day when they can just pack up and leave everything behind so that they can find means to release the stress in some creative manner. For such people, they have found a way out of the predicament of being in an uninterested job. Here, the family can help the breadwinner(s) to unwind and save themselves from the problem of stress and depression. For those whithout a family to fall back on, there are friends. And for those introverts who find difficulty with company, you still have a good thirty minutes of jogging or a trek up some hill where you can sweat off the stress, stretch your muscles, then relax them with a warm bath or massage and a cool drink under the stars or while listening to music or watching a show; whatever is your enjoyment.
Knowing this parents ought to allow their children to choose to study their field of inclination. Parents would get happier children with a brighter future, not just in terms of finance, but in all aspects of life. They may never become millionaires but they will be rich in every aspect. Do we really need to be millionaires to be truly happy?
Friday, April 09, 2010
Greed can blind.
I have a friend who told me how she got her present car. At one time she was driving a smaller car but exchanged it with the present car to help out a friend who was having financial problems. The friend just could not go on with the payment of more than a thousand ringgit a month.
According to this friend, her friend's financial situation came about as a result of some kind of get-rich-quick scheme in which she was told of an investment opportunity where the investors can get gain a lot of money. She was introduced to a group of well dressed people who told them of being in a position to obtain products at the source for a very low price when they are bought in bulk. That was truly logical. Those people knew the market where those products could be sold at a huge profit enabling them to distribute gains of between twenty and forty percent. Since the products were to be bought in bulk, those people needed a huge capital to purchase those goods. That was where the investors came in. Each investor was to contribute forty thousand ringgit (Malaysian currency) to enter the programme.
Thoughts of the amount of money which could be derived from such a venture was sufficient to stimulate most of those people at that seminar to be a part of the good fortune. Thus it was that her friend put in her money and eventually found she had been cheated of it when those people finally disappeared from the scene.
Apparently, the friend had never learned from her mistakes. Again and again, she was attracted to such schemes, each time ending as a loser. It was just a matter of time when the bank account went dry. And the sad part of it is not just the loss of money for that could be earned and replenished from hers and her husband's jobs. The sad part was the fact that her capability and intelligence did not help her to avoid such incidences, not once but many times.
This lady in fact was no simpleton who had no view of the world outside her coconut shell. She went overseas for further education, spent a number of years overseas in England and America where her qualifications enabled her to find work as a professional. So she certainly had contact with people not just in her own country and her intelligence cannot be considered low as she could compete for work in other countries. Definitely, there is a weakness despite her strengths. What is it?
From the above account, we realise it is greed, the way to easy money. Greed has been the downfall of many people great and small. As long as people do not know how to overcome the apparently natural greed in them, there are always potholes for them to crumble into. The greed for power, for wealth, for food, for even the smallest of matter can lead one to all kinds of temptations.
However, greed can be controlled, it can be taught through happenings in our everyday life, especially when our children are young. To overcome greed, teach them generosity. teach them to share. Teach them the true value of material things. Teach them what we really need in life. If we can just do this small part, we have done a lot to ensure ourselves of our children's happiness.
According to this friend, her friend's financial situation came about as a result of some kind of get-rich-quick scheme in which she was told of an investment opportunity where the investors can get gain a lot of money. She was introduced to a group of well dressed people who told them of being in a position to obtain products at the source for a very low price when they are bought in bulk. That was truly logical. Those people knew the market where those products could be sold at a huge profit enabling them to distribute gains of between twenty and forty percent. Since the products were to be bought in bulk, those people needed a huge capital to purchase those goods. That was where the investors came in. Each investor was to contribute forty thousand ringgit (Malaysian currency) to enter the programme.
Thoughts of the amount of money which could be derived from such a venture was sufficient to stimulate most of those people at that seminar to be a part of the good fortune. Thus it was that her friend put in her money and eventually found she had been cheated of it when those people finally disappeared from the scene.
Apparently, the friend had never learned from her mistakes. Again and again, she was attracted to such schemes, each time ending as a loser. It was just a matter of time when the bank account went dry. And the sad part of it is not just the loss of money for that could be earned and replenished from hers and her husband's jobs. The sad part was the fact that her capability and intelligence did not help her to avoid such incidences, not once but many times.
This lady in fact was no simpleton who had no view of the world outside her coconut shell. She went overseas for further education, spent a number of years overseas in England and America where her qualifications enabled her to find work as a professional. So she certainly had contact with people not just in her own country and her intelligence cannot be considered low as she could compete for work in other countries. Definitely, there is a weakness despite her strengths. What is it?
From the above account, we realise it is greed, the way to easy money. Greed has been the downfall of many people great and small. As long as people do not know how to overcome the apparently natural greed in them, there are always potholes for them to crumble into. The greed for power, for wealth, for food, for even the smallest of matter can lead one to all kinds of temptations.
However, greed can be controlled, it can be taught through happenings in our everyday life, especially when our children are young. To overcome greed, teach them generosity. teach them to share. Teach them the true value of material things. Teach them what we really need in life. If we can just do this small part, we have done a lot to ensure ourselves of our children's happiness.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Beneficial trek up a hill.
Today, while I was up at the hill, I met two Malay ladies who found the exercise provided by the hill very beneficial to their health. Both have become fitter and healthier as a result of taking walks up that hill.
I had gone up and gone one round at the top and was on my way down when I met Liza, a tall thirty-plus year old lady who was quite fat about five months ago. Then, the first time I saw her at the hill, she only managed to make it half-way up the hill which would be approximately half a kilometer. She was resting at the times as she breathed deeply, sucking in air as she wiped away some sweat. Two months later, I saw her reach the top and from the way she moved it was obviously so much stronger. A month further on and she was not only reaching the top but striding on round the hill with confidence of completing the trek.
Today, when I commented on how beautiful she looked, she gave an appreciative smile and when I added that she was so much slimmer, she told me she had gone down eleven kilogrammes since she came to the hill. Wow! That was so good, I told her. She certainly felt wonderful and told me she also ate a little less nowadays. No wonder she looked so good, being much more healthier and radiant. Nowadays, she goes the last one hundred meter slopping stretch of the hill top, up and down again five times. She is so much stronger too.
But not all ladies who walk that hill everyday becomes slim. There is this big-boned gal who is strong and healthy. Going down the hill, as I slowed down to greet her, she told me her neighbours said they exercise too without having to come to the hill. I kept pace with her and she said her neighbour was of the idea that housework was exercise too. (That depends upon how the housework is done.) Furthermore, the neighbour told her she had not reduce her weight despite coming to the hill for exercise every morning. So, I consoled her and told her it was alright for people to make comments. After all, in life, people always appear to be experts at everything and can make comments on anything.
"Well, if you feel mad about that, curse a little if you wish but do not keep it inside your heart for it will only hurt you. Just let it go and listen to your own mind and the little voice within. After all, you know you are fitter and healthier because you come to the hill for exercise. You know the benefit, so be happy with it," I told her. Well, it is true that some people who exercise become healthier but remain as plump as ever. What counts is the good-time, the non-appearance of sickness, no heavy-breathing or breathlessness even with light work, there is less pain in the body, you are more relaxed and can sleep well at night. Is not that enough reason for exercise.
For me, that hill is my guarantee of happy, healthy, energetic life. I would not stop unless circumstances force me to.
I had gone up and gone one round at the top and was on my way down when I met Liza, a tall thirty-plus year old lady who was quite fat about five months ago. Then, the first time I saw her at the hill, she only managed to make it half-way up the hill which would be approximately half a kilometer. She was resting at the times as she breathed deeply, sucking in air as she wiped away some sweat. Two months later, I saw her reach the top and from the way she moved it was obviously so much stronger. A month further on and she was not only reaching the top but striding on round the hill with confidence of completing the trek.
Today, when I commented on how beautiful she looked, she gave an appreciative smile and when I added that she was so much slimmer, she told me she had gone down eleven kilogrammes since she came to the hill. Wow! That was so good, I told her. She certainly felt wonderful and told me she also ate a little less nowadays. No wonder she looked so good, being much more healthier and radiant. Nowadays, she goes the last one hundred meter slopping stretch of the hill top, up and down again five times. She is so much stronger too.
But not all ladies who walk that hill everyday becomes slim. There is this big-boned gal who is strong and healthy. Going down the hill, as I slowed down to greet her, she told me her neighbours said they exercise too without having to come to the hill. I kept pace with her and she said her neighbour was of the idea that housework was exercise too. (That depends upon how the housework is done.) Furthermore, the neighbour told her she had not reduce her weight despite coming to the hill for exercise every morning. So, I consoled her and told her it was alright for people to make comments. After all, in life, people always appear to be experts at everything and can make comments on anything.
"Well, if you feel mad about that, curse a little if you wish but do not keep it inside your heart for it will only hurt you. Just let it go and listen to your own mind and the little voice within. After all, you know you are fitter and healthier because you come to the hill for exercise. You know the benefit, so be happy with it," I told her. Well, it is true that some people who exercise become healthier but remain as plump as ever. What counts is the good-time, the non-appearance of sickness, no heavy-breathing or breathlessness even with light work, there is less pain in the body, you are more relaxed and can sleep well at night. Is not that enough reason for exercise.
For me, that hill is my guarantee of happy, healthy, energetic life. I would not stop unless circumstances force me to.
Sweat it out!
This morning I met Mrs. Teoh at the hill and we did a fast walk up, round and down the hill within an hour. As we moved along, we exchanged thoughts and ideas. She is a Hash House member and at the age of forty-nine years, she moves like someone in her thirties. She was fast and there were times I had to quicken my steps to catch up with her. As usual I sweat the most among so many that I have known. In fact, I feel I sweat too easily.
In my social life, sweating can be uncomfortable and it certainly could be a deterrent for some gal to hug or hold my wet body and clothes. I was very conscious of that but, in a way, it helped to separate the truly loving ones from the rest.
Where the bedroom is concerned, there is no problem with profuse sweating as we have the air from the air-conditioner to cool us down. What a blessing! Thank God for sending those inventors to make my world more comfortable.
Where health is concerned, sweating is an important part of exercise as it eliminates toxins from our body through the sweat pouring out of our pores. It ensures cleansed pores, healthy skin and body. Since the skin is the biggest organ for excreting waste products and toxins from the body, its efficient function is undoubtedly of utmost importance.
Do you realise that people who exercise and sweat a lot have less problem with body odor than those who do not exercise and sweat a lot? So, to exercise and sweat profusely; besides drinking sufficient water to replenish whatever water; and essential minerals which are lost in the process; which has been used to carry off the waste and toxins; is an important activity for everyone of us.
Mrs. Teoh agreed to the need for exercise and that is the reason she goes to the hill each morning without fail unless unavoidable circumstances prevent her from doing so.
Going for a walk up a hill may not be your favourite activity but there are so many activities to choose from. For some it is cycling, jogging or swimming. For others, there there are group exercises like aerobics and 'Taichi' and for those with an intimate partner, there is sex. It is definitely not the submissive type that I am thinking of and it ought to last at least more than half an hour to be put down as an exercise too. Whatever it is, so long as it can work your lungs, stimulate your heart to beat somewhat faster and give those muscles some work besides sweating, the exercise will certainly be good for your organs, your bones and joints, your muscles, your metabolism, your relaxation, your immune system and your happiness in life. Well, do you see anything better than that?
In my social life, sweating can be uncomfortable and it certainly could be a deterrent for some gal to hug or hold my wet body and clothes. I was very conscious of that but, in a way, it helped to separate the truly loving ones from the rest.
Where the bedroom is concerned, there is no problem with profuse sweating as we have the air from the air-conditioner to cool us down. What a blessing! Thank God for sending those inventors to make my world more comfortable.
Where health is concerned, sweating is an important part of exercise as it eliminates toxins from our body through the sweat pouring out of our pores. It ensures cleansed pores, healthy skin and body. Since the skin is the biggest organ for excreting waste products and toxins from the body, its efficient function is undoubtedly of utmost importance.
Do you realise that people who exercise and sweat a lot have less problem with body odor than those who do not exercise and sweat a lot? So, to exercise and sweat profusely; besides drinking sufficient water to replenish whatever water; and essential minerals which are lost in the process; which has been used to carry off the waste and toxins; is an important activity for everyone of us.
Mrs. Teoh agreed to the need for exercise and that is the reason she goes to the hill each morning without fail unless unavoidable circumstances prevent her from doing so.
Going for a walk up a hill may not be your favourite activity but there are so many activities to choose from. For some it is cycling, jogging or swimming. For others, there there are group exercises like aerobics and 'Taichi' and for those with an intimate partner, there is sex. It is definitely not the submissive type that I am thinking of and it ought to last at least more than half an hour to be put down as an exercise too. Whatever it is, so long as it can work your lungs, stimulate your heart to beat somewhat faster and give those muscles some work besides sweating, the exercise will certainly be good for your organs, your bones and joints, your muscles, your metabolism, your relaxation, your immune system and your happiness in life. Well, do you see anything better than that?
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Take on posts compatible with our nature.
At the time my beloved wife got the position of senior assistant in a Mandarin-medium primary school in Kedah, we were so happy for her. We believed it could bring her even greater happiness in the field of education. I gave her my full support. As the school was quite a distance from our home and having not driven a car for many years, we looked for transport for her. So, each morning, we had to wake up earlier than was our practice then so that she could reach the home of another teacher who could take her to the school. That was an effort I gladly put in.
What we did not realise then were the type of people she could encounter in such a position as the headmistress. In time, I found out that in Chinese schools, many of the ladies who occupy the post of headmistress are hard-hearted demons who would terrorise those under them at the slightest excuse, first and foremost to ensure that the opportunities for whatever promotion that exists would be theirs and theirs only.
My poor wife was to discover that that headmistress ruled with a Chinese saying which means, 'Each competitor you kill off entrenches you in the position at the top.' Thus, she was always trying her level best to search for weaknesses in the teachers in her school and criticise them openly and severely.
I heard from another teacher in the school that a temporary teacher in a class was scolded in front of her pupils. How cruel and inconsiderate that headmistress was to take away the dignity of a person in front of her pupils.
And there was one stressed teacher who was so nervous she almost had a breakdown, yet was only allowed one day off despite presenting a medical certificate for a two day leave. I was flabbergasted to hear that. I protested that the teacher concerned should have stood up to point out that she is certainly entitled to rest and lodge a complaint on the matter. The reply was that that was tantamount to fighting the authority. According to the teacher, it could lead to serious consequences with certain suffering on her part. At that time, I could hardly believe whatever imagined consequential hardship was possible in the present civilised times. That was until my own wife told me of the misery of being under such a headmistress.
To impress my wife with her power, the headmistress gave her excessive duty despite her own light work load. In the General Orders(Is the term correct?), there is stipulated the maximum number of teaching periods a senior assistant can be given each week. Despite having to put in more time at school and struggling to complete her reports and whatnot, she did not grumble or complain as she told me she was new there and wanted very much to get along with everyone in the school, especially the head. Well, if she was willing to strive hard to please, who was I to complain especially when her action was logical although I saw injustice and bullying tactics. In fact such injustice and bullying tactics can be found in quite a number of Chinese schools if we follow the stories from teachers.
When the headmistress wanted my wife to write a letter, sometimes in the Malaysian Language and sometimes in English, she does not want to look at a drafted letter, even when her opinion and the wording of the letter must be as she desired them. She would make my wife type the letter on a typewriter in school before she looked at it. Then, she would change the words and demanded that it be typed again before she did another possible change to the letter. In this way, it took my wife a number of changes to have just one letter approved. And she was no authority on the Malay Language or the English Language. Yet, she had corrected a word rightly used with a wrongly used word in both the languages more than once. Especially for the letter in English, I told my wife to tell her that there ought to be no correction as the word used was right but my wife had by then understood that it was useless to have such a person admit to her mistake.
Then, there was the time my wife was sent to represent the school to attend a district sports meeting in which every school had to accept a duty in preparation for the sports meet. Even though knowing that to be the normal arrangement, to make things difficult, the headmistress told my wife not to agree to any duty given. What a dilemma! Of course, she came back with a duty but the headmistress insisted that she was given orders not to accept any duty and so she has to perform the duty all on her own. Imagine what kind of a school head would do that! And the next meeting, she was not even allowed to get to the meeting on time. At that time, I was too incensed to allow my wife to bottle up her frustration. I insisted that a report had to be made to head of the district education department. We were directed to the head of the Chinese schools there who happened to be the headmistress' friend. Oh, my gosh! Of course, nothing came out of that complaint. It only brought the wrath of the headmistress on the complainant, certainly not what we hoped for.
All these caused my wife to be depressed. As her depression got worse, I personally lodged a complaint with the state's education department, pushing my way to the top man, demanding that I be heard. As a result, my wife eventually got a transfer to another school but the stress and strain was beginning to tell. She weakened and finally came down with stomach ulcer. Upon being operated, she was infected with a virus which has no cure. This was followed by Cushing Syndrome. Weakening through many months into her hospitalisation, she succumbed to pneumonia.
I believe it was the stress that brought on the ulcer. Before that she had always been healthy. Perhaps she was not tough enough to face the cruel treatment meted out. To this day, I regret being so happy to encourage her to take on that post.
Looking back, not every post is suitable for us even when we have the capability and talent to work hard at it. So, should the workload becomes too much of a burden, too stressful, then we should not wait for sickness to make and stop and think of helping our body get out of the situation. I have seen people with cancer recover faster and better when they take a long leave from work, perhaps one year, to give their body a chance to recover. Perhaps, our nature is such that certain posts may present problems. When faced with such a situation, save yourself from further damage.
P.S.: I think this also applies to relationships and marriage. I have seen examples of this and so may write about it another day.)
What we did not realise then were the type of people she could encounter in such a position as the headmistress. In time, I found out that in Chinese schools, many of the ladies who occupy the post of headmistress are hard-hearted demons who would terrorise those under them at the slightest excuse, first and foremost to ensure that the opportunities for whatever promotion that exists would be theirs and theirs only.
My poor wife was to discover that that headmistress ruled with a Chinese saying which means, 'Each competitor you kill off entrenches you in the position at the top.' Thus, she was always trying her level best to search for weaknesses in the teachers in her school and criticise them openly and severely.
I heard from another teacher in the school that a temporary teacher in a class was scolded in front of her pupils. How cruel and inconsiderate that headmistress was to take away the dignity of a person in front of her pupils.
And there was one stressed teacher who was so nervous she almost had a breakdown, yet was only allowed one day off despite presenting a medical certificate for a two day leave. I was flabbergasted to hear that. I protested that the teacher concerned should have stood up to point out that she is certainly entitled to rest and lodge a complaint on the matter. The reply was that that was tantamount to fighting the authority. According to the teacher, it could lead to serious consequences with certain suffering on her part. At that time, I could hardly believe whatever imagined consequential hardship was possible in the present civilised times. That was until my own wife told me of the misery of being under such a headmistress.
To impress my wife with her power, the headmistress gave her excessive duty despite her own light work load. In the General Orders(Is the term correct?), there is stipulated the maximum number of teaching periods a senior assistant can be given each week. Despite having to put in more time at school and struggling to complete her reports and whatnot, she did not grumble or complain as she told me she was new there and wanted very much to get along with everyone in the school, especially the head. Well, if she was willing to strive hard to please, who was I to complain especially when her action was logical although I saw injustice and bullying tactics. In fact such injustice and bullying tactics can be found in quite a number of Chinese schools if we follow the stories from teachers.
When the headmistress wanted my wife to write a letter, sometimes in the Malaysian Language and sometimes in English, she does not want to look at a drafted letter, even when her opinion and the wording of the letter must be as she desired them. She would make my wife type the letter on a typewriter in school before she looked at it. Then, she would change the words and demanded that it be typed again before she did another possible change to the letter. In this way, it took my wife a number of changes to have just one letter approved. And she was no authority on the Malay Language or the English Language. Yet, she had corrected a word rightly used with a wrongly used word in both the languages more than once. Especially for the letter in English, I told my wife to tell her that there ought to be no correction as the word used was right but my wife had by then understood that it was useless to have such a person admit to her mistake.
Then, there was the time my wife was sent to represent the school to attend a district sports meeting in which every school had to accept a duty in preparation for the sports meet. Even though knowing that to be the normal arrangement, to make things difficult, the headmistress told my wife not to agree to any duty given. What a dilemma! Of course, she came back with a duty but the headmistress insisted that she was given orders not to accept any duty and so she has to perform the duty all on her own. Imagine what kind of a school head would do that! And the next meeting, she was not even allowed to get to the meeting on time. At that time, I was too incensed to allow my wife to bottle up her frustration. I insisted that a report had to be made to head of the district education department. We were directed to the head of the Chinese schools there who happened to be the headmistress' friend. Oh, my gosh! Of course, nothing came out of that complaint. It only brought the wrath of the headmistress on the complainant, certainly not what we hoped for.
All these caused my wife to be depressed. As her depression got worse, I personally lodged a complaint with the state's education department, pushing my way to the top man, demanding that I be heard. As a result, my wife eventually got a transfer to another school but the stress and strain was beginning to tell. She weakened and finally came down with stomach ulcer. Upon being operated, she was infected with a virus which has no cure. This was followed by Cushing Syndrome. Weakening through many months into her hospitalisation, she succumbed to pneumonia.
I believe it was the stress that brought on the ulcer. Before that she had always been healthy. Perhaps she was not tough enough to face the cruel treatment meted out. To this day, I regret being so happy to encourage her to take on that post.
Looking back, not every post is suitable for us even when we have the capability and talent to work hard at it. So, should the workload becomes too much of a burden, too stressful, then we should not wait for sickness to make and stop and think of helping our body get out of the situation. I have seen people with cancer recover faster and better when they take a long leave from work, perhaps one year, to give their body a chance to recover. Perhaps, our nature is such that certain posts may present problems. When faced with such a situation, save yourself from further damage.
P.S.: I think this also applies to relationships and marriage. I have seen examples of this and so may write about it another day.)
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
The love of a pet.
This is lovely. It is a story I received from a friend. I don not know the truth of this story but it does convey the therapeutic effect a beloved pet can bring in times of pain and gloom. Well, just wanted to share this story with you. So, read on..
Lucky Dog....
Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease....in fact; she was just sure it was fatal.
She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.
Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.
He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky, he still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
[]
Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most Credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.
If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God
A small request
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.
Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer.
Amen
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it is only to one more person, in memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still fighting their battle.
[] []
Lucky Dog....
Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease....in fact; she was just sure it was fatal.
She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.
Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.
He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky, he still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
[]
Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most Credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.
If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God
A small request
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.
Dear God, I pray for the cure of cancer.
Amen
All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it is only to one more person, in memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still fighting their battle.
[] []
Willingness to shoulder responsibility quickens maturity.
"Come back here, Kok Seng. I have told you not to follow them and run across the street like that."
It sounded like a parent but his size and youthful face placed him at the approximate age of twelve, definitely too young to be a father of the four year old kid rushing off at the heels of a group of children. Yet, the responsibility of seeing to the safety of his younger brother rests on his young shoulders.
With both parents away at work, there is none other to oversee him and his brother. Each day, his parents reminded him of his big brother status and told him he has to be the one to look after the other son. Fortunately for his parents, he took on the task without complaint and perform this duty well.
Yes, his parents were lucky to have such a compliant child despite the heavy responsibility associated with the task, for it is not every child who would willingly agree to carry the burden of ensuring the safety of a sibling at such a tender age. Some children would not have bothered to take on the job and no parent could fault them for refusing such a great responsibility. After all, the mind is still not expected to have achieved the level of maturity required to perform well such a heavy task.
Well, there was such a child whom I know of. In fact, his task became even worse with the coming of a third child. Not only did he have to keep an eagle's eye on the second child so as to be aware of his whereabouts at all times, he had to carry the growing baby, feed him as well as put him to sleep. According to me, it was just too tough for this eldest son to manage. But, perhaps with the help of compassionate God, manage he did and nary an untoward incident befall the three children as they grew up.
Of course, needless to say, it was a tiring life for the eldest child. As a result, he developed a sense of responsibility and quiet maturity that was to put him ahead of many children. In school, that sense of responsibility took him to study with a determination seldom seen. Despite not having quality time with his parents or the opportunity for advantageous early knowledge, his maturity got him to pay even greater attention to the knowledge imparted by the teachers. This traits in him got him recognised by both teachers and fellow students a leadership quality. Thus, from monitor of the class, he went on to be the head prefect of the school. His ability to cope with the numerous duties given put him in good stead as a prefect where duties often have to been looked into while others study in the class.
With the maturity, leadership qualities and sense of responsibility, anyone can foresee the reach he made in education and performance in his career.
Sometimes, things do not come planned by parents. Circumstances or perhaps, the forces of the universe cause happenings to take place, incidences which could mold a person's character to place him in a favourable position in life. Perhaps, this kind of person is what some would call the graduate from the School of Hard Knocks. So, when life is tough for a child, there is no need to pity him or look down at his seemingly poor situation for great things may be in store for such a kid.
It sounded like a parent but his size and youthful face placed him at the approximate age of twelve, definitely too young to be a father of the four year old kid rushing off at the heels of a group of children. Yet, the responsibility of seeing to the safety of his younger brother rests on his young shoulders.
With both parents away at work, there is none other to oversee him and his brother. Each day, his parents reminded him of his big brother status and told him he has to be the one to look after the other son. Fortunately for his parents, he took on the task without complaint and perform this duty well.
Yes, his parents were lucky to have such a compliant child despite the heavy responsibility associated with the task, for it is not every child who would willingly agree to carry the burden of ensuring the safety of a sibling at such a tender age. Some children would not have bothered to take on the job and no parent could fault them for refusing such a great responsibility. After all, the mind is still not expected to have achieved the level of maturity required to perform well such a heavy task.
Well, there was such a child whom I know of. In fact, his task became even worse with the coming of a third child. Not only did he have to keep an eagle's eye on the second child so as to be aware of his whereabouts at all times, he had to carry the growing baby, feed him as well as put him to sleep. According to me, it was just too tough for this eldest son to manage. But, perhaps with the help of compassionate God, manage he did and nary an untoward incident befall the three children as they grew up.
Of course, needless to say, it was a tiring life for the eldest child. As a result, he developed a sense of responsibility and quiet maturity that was to put him ahead of many children. In school, that sense of responsibility took him to study with a determination seldom seen. Despite not having quality time with his parents or the opportunity for advantageous early knowledge, his maturity got him to pay even greater attention to the knowledge imparted by the teachers. This traits in him got him recognised by both teachers and fellow students a leadership quality. Thus, from monitor of the class, he went on to be the head prefect of the school. His ability to cope with the numerous duties given put him in good stead as a prefect where duties often have to been looked into while others study in the class.
With the maturity, leadership qualities and sense of responsibility, anyone can foresee the reach he made in education and performance in his career.
Sometimes, things do not come planned by parents. Circumstances or perhaps, the forces of the universe cause happenings to take place, incidences which could mold a person's character to place him in a favourable position in life. Perhaps, this kind of person is what some would call the graduate from the School of Hard Knocks. So, when life is tough for a child, there is no need to pity him or look down at his seemingly poor situation for great things may be in store for such a kid.
Monday, April 05, 2010
The clever child.
A little past his second birthday and my friend's grandchild did not even bother to answer to his grandpa's call. He was intent on the cartoon on the screen of their television.
The doting grandpa was not perturbed in any way despite the ignoring of his calls. In fact his next words confirmed the pride he had in his little grandson.
"Look at the little fellow, so engrossed in the cartoons. He learns a lot from the programmes, you know. And he is so clever; after the programme he would come and call you with a sweet little smile to amke you happy with him," he told me.
Yes, I agreed with him that his grandson was clever. What I did not voice to him were my thought that every child, with the exception of those unfortunate enough to have mental retardation or damage, is clever. The only difference lies in the attention and the understanding of the parents that all children need to be given the basic language skills and knowledge to put them on the road to more knowledge and mental development.
Parents ought to spend more quality time with their children. When we say quality time, we do not mean just being around our children. We introduce the world around them with names of things and ways we talk about those things, asking questions, giving descriptions of those things and thus introducing even more vocabulary.
Knowledge ought to start from their crib, then their room, moving on to the hall, the whole house, the garden and the neighbourhood before moving forward into any part of the world available to them. In our present time, it is not so much affordability but available time for exploring. Thus, we go from the known to the unknown, gradually adding knowledge each day.
When it comes to reception of the knowledge, there are so many methods available in our world. Take a few most suitable to our children. More important, whatever method we employ, make learning fun. That would spur them further to wanting more learning. Once that is instilled in them, there is nothing they cannot learn and with such knowledge and understanding behind them, maturity and the level of mental development achieved will certainly see them to 'the sky is the limit' in development.
So, parental role is the most important. How this world is going to develop or gprogress depends upon the parents whose child will think of greater possiblities for all mankind.
The doting grandpa was not perturbed in any way despite the ignoring of his calls. In fact his next words confirmed the pride he had in his little grandson.
"Look at the little fellow, so engrossed in the cartoons. He learns a lot from the programmes, you know. And he is so clever; after the programme he would come and call you with a sweet little smile to amke you happy with him," he told me.
Yes, I agreed with him that his grandson was clever. What I did not voice to him were my thought that every child, with the exception of those unfortunate enough to have mental retardation or damage, is clever. The only difference lies in the attention and the understanding of the parents that all children need to be given the basic language skills and knowledge to put them on the road to more knowledge and mental development.
Parents ought to spend more quality time with their children. When we say quality time, we do not mean just being around our children. We introduce the world around them with names of things and ways we talk about those things, asking questions, giving descriptions of those things and thus introducing even more vocabulary.
Knowledge ought to start from their crib, then their room, moving on to the hall, the whole house, the garden and the neighbourhood before moving forward into any part of the world available to them. In our present time, it is not so much affordability but available time for exploring. Thus, we go from the known to the unknown, gradually adding knowledge each day.
When it comes to reception of the knowledge, there are so many methods available in our world. Take a few most suitable to our children. More important, whatever method we employ, make learning fun. That would spur them further to wanting more learning. Once that is instilled in them, there is nothing they cannot learn and with such knowledge and understanding behind them, maturity and the level of mental development achieved will certainly see them to 'the sky is the limit' in development.
So, parental role is the most important. How this world is going to develop or gprogress depends upon the parents whose child will think of greater possiblities for all mankind.
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Ordinary people are by nature not racial.
Did you read my posting where I told you about a place called Caunter Hall in Penang which has benn renamed Jalan P. Ramlee. Yes, I was a village boy, brought up in a small village surrounded by coconut trees, sugar cane plantations, pineapple lots and attap houses. (Attap is a roofing material made from the leaves of a kind of palm tree.) In the area were Malay, Chinese and Indian communities. As children, whenever we played, the idea of race did not enter our minds then. We only differentiated people by their jobs, their kindness and their attitudes.
I had to go to school by bus which took me and my elder brother to Hutchings School (the building housing the Penang State museum now) which was quite a distance away. There were times when we missed the bus and had to walk many kilometers to school. For me, despite such sometimes tiring walks, school was the most enjoyable part of my childhood. It was the place I learned a lot, made lots of friends, played with them and despite their skin colour, never thought of them as people of another race. We had our misunderstandings, our quarrels, our fights and our reunion as friends without any care for the race factor. This continued with our advance into secondary education when I was chosen to go to the Penang Free School. I remembered a Malay friend who was so close with us to the extent of even gradually being able to converse in a Chinese dialect. That was easy as ordinary children do not think of themselves in terms of race.
It was only after 1969 when the National Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented that Malaysian teenagers found that not every Malaysian teenager is treated equal by the Malaysian government. The traumatic moment of truth dawned upon the teenagers of minority races when they were not given opportunities to study in universities despite their excellent results while other teenagers of a certain race with lower results are offered those places. The race factor had raised its ugly head since then.
The injustice of such a policy was even realised by my Malay friends. One particular Malay teacher told me not to worry about having children as such a policy will not be around for many years. He thought that my wife’s inability to conceive then was due to my not wishing to have children to face such a moment of truth brought by the NEP. His compassion for the children of other races touched me even to this day.
In those days, I told politicians in the ruling parties that the poor can be assisted without bringing in the race factor. If the government sincerely wish to assist the poor of any race, which ought to be done, and certainly without opposition from any quarter, then assist all poor Malaysians. After all, if a certain race has the most poor, then the people of that race will be helped the most. However, it turned out to be helping the rich of that race to become richer through the excuse of uplifting the poor. The poor poor were left to remain poor, tossing merely crumbs to them just to keep them quiet. Well, go to the rural areas and see the poverty there. Their homes stand as proof of what had taken place.
It’s the politicians whom I am weary of. When it comes to ordinary people, we mix fairly easily in walks up the hill in Bukit Semarak. We take part in activities in Rukun Tetangga and residential associations, exchanging views and news without anxiety or fear of the other race plotting to steal away our wealth or blaming our individual poor economic situation on someone else.
When I was teaching in Kodiang, Kedah, I had some of the best times of my life in the company of ordinary village folks. Each weekend, I would drop into Pak Mat’s house to go trap birds in the nearby forest near Changloon. Sometimes, we would search for good ‘merboks’ in another village and Yusoff would help me to bargain for a fair price. Yusoff had a monkey to help him pluck coconuts. Once, an enraged monkey almost tore off his scrotum. He had to kill it as it was no longer safe to take around. A group of us gathered some money to buy him another monkey. Thus, we spent time with our hobbies, had outings together and helped each other out without the race factor interfering with our friendship.
However, the race factor is always read of in our news media each day as power hungry politicians use it to gain political mileage. And, apparently, this will continue for some time yet as even these politicians understand that it is not our nature to think of another person’s race as an important element in our lives. So, unless they persevere, they will lose their much needed following and support.
Well, that is life. It is never plain sailing. Fortunately God is still watching over us and as long as the politicians belong to a religion they dare not be too ungodly in their ways. There is still hope.
I had to go to school by bus which took me and my elder brother to Hutchings School (the building housing the Penang State museum now) which was quite a distance away. There were times when we missed the bus and had to walk many kilometers to school. For me, despite such sometimes tiring walks, school was the most enjoyable part of my childhood. It was the place I learned a lot, made lots of friends, played with them and despite their skin colour, never thought of them as people of another race. We had our misunderstandings, our quarrels, our fights and our reunion as friends without any care for the race factor. This continued with our advance into secondary education when I was chosen to go to the Penang Free School. I remembered a Malay friend who was so close with us to the extent of even gradually being able to converse in a Chinese dialect. That was easy as ordinary children do not think of themselves in terms of race.
It was only after 1969 when the National Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented that Malaysian teenagers found that not every Malaysian teenager is treated equal by the Malaysian government. The traumatic moment of truth dawned upon the teenagers of minority races when they were not given opportunities to study in universities despite their excellent results while other teenagers of a certain race with lower results are offered those places. The race factor had raised its ugly head since then.
The injustice of such a policy was even realised by my Malay friends. One particular Malay teacher told me not to worry about having children as such a policy will not be around for many years. He thought that my wife’s inability to conceive then was due to my not wishing to have children to face such a moment of truth brought by the NEP. His compassion for the children of other races touched me even to this day.
In those days, I told politicians in the ruling parties that the poor can be assisted without bringing in the race factor. If the government sincerely wish to assist the poor of any race, which ought to be done, and certainly without opposition from any quarter, then assist all poor Malaysians. After all, if a certain race has the most poor, then the people of that race will be helped the most. However, it turned out to be helping the rich of that race to become richer through the excuse of uplifting the poor. The poor poor were left to remain poor, tossing merely crumbs to them just to keep them quiet. Well, go to the rural areas and see the poverty there. Their homes stand as proof of what had taken place.
It’s the politicians whom I am weary of. When it comes to ordinary people, we mix fairly easily in walks up the hill in Bukit Semarak. We take part in activities in Rukun Tetangga and residential associations, exchanging views and news without anxiety or fear of the other race plotting to steal away our wealth or blaming our individual poor economic situation on someone else.
When I was teaching in Kodiang, Kedah, I had some of the best times of my life in the company of ordinary village folks. Each weekend, I would drop into Pak Mat’s house to go trap birds in the nearby forest near Changloon. Sometimes, we would search for good ‘merboks’ in another village and Yusoff would help me to bargain for a fair price. Yusoff had a monkey to help him pluck coconuts. Once, an enraged monkey almost tore off his scrotum. He had to kill it as it was no longer safe to take around. A group of us gathered some money to buy him another monkey. Thus, we spent time with our hobbies, had outings together and helped each other out without the race factor interfering with our friendship.
However, the race factor is always read of in our news media each day as power hungry politicians use it to gain political mileage. And, apparently, this will continue for some time yet as even these politicians understand that it is not our nature to think of another person’s race as an important element in our lives. So, unless they persevere, they will lose their much needed following and support.
Well, that is life. It is never plain sailing. Fortunately God is still watching over us and as long as the politicians belong to a religion they dare not be too ungodly in their ways. There is still hope.
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