At the Semarak Hill this morning, I met this young man who asked me the meaning of the word 'g-o-n-e'. I told him the pronunciation and the meaning. 'Gone' just means no more, no more to be found or seen. Then, he says, "What about 'Let bygone be bygone?"
So, I told him that by adding the 'by' to the 'gone' the meaning has changed; that 'bygone' is what is past and the sentence means 'let the past be past' and therefore 'no need to bring it up again'. With that he nodded and smilingly told me he was trying to learn some English Language. In fact, that was the second time he asked me the meaning for an English word. Of course, it was my pleasure to help him. It is always heartening to see someone wish to improve himself and God must have sent him to give me the opportunity to help.
Do you know how daunting it is for a grown person to learn a new language. It is all the obstacles that our ego put up. There are all kinds of fears and all of them are imaginary. All the obstacles are imaginary. And even if there are some individuals who would dare to laugh at our mistakes, we ought to realise, the courage to learn is greater than the needless and valueless discouragement that are encountered. Furthermore, any mockery can never be an obstacle unless we allow it to become one. For this reason I respect all those who take up the desire to learn a language at that age. There is the indication of greatness in the act.
I know of a young lady, small in built but very energetic, who knew hardly any Mandarin or English after her schooldays. She only studied the Malay language in school. Today, this lady can speak good Mandarin, although there are still mistakes made every now and then which are sometimes corrected by her children. (Her children are studying in schools with Mandarin as the medium of instruction.) From my observation of her, she readily accepts the correction and sometimes even asks for a repetition of the phrase corrected. Her English was not as good although she could speak the language as if it were her mother tongue, rattling away whatever instructions she wishes to convey without much thought to the grammar or the correctness of the sentence. Of course, there were times her language could tickle those within hearing distance as the meaning brings forth all kinds of different unintentional messages. And the beauty of it is that she takes all these in her strides. It does not stop her from learning from her mistakes and practising the language. She improves.
As I see it, she is one lady who would not allow ego to be an obstacle to her advancement. Many less courageous people would have stopped and called it a day but not this pillar of strength. And this, despite her knowing that she does make mistakes. There was once when someone could not understand what she wanted and I was requested to explain to the other person what she wanted. And of course, when it came to formal letters, I have helped to correct her attempts. For me, it has always been a pleasure to be of help to such great people who can overcome their ego to reach their goals in life. Thank god, I was given the opportunity to help.
Actually, our ego can either take us to greater heights or leave us struggling to get up. It was my ego to be better that helped me to overcome my parents' financial position and the weakness of my younger days. Many have not dared to approach others for help partly because of their ego, partly fearing that others would see their weakness. But then, who does not have weakness? All of us do have, more or less. And unless we realise our weakness, how do we ever hope to overcome them and reach for our strengths? In fact I thank God for allowing me to know my weakness so that I could slowly but gradually work on them to emerge stronger in my later years. Today, I can say that I am what I am because of the efforts I put in in overcoming those weaknesses. But then, if I had denied being weak, I would not have strove to be better.
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strength. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Ways to rest so as not to have to suffer pain.
When we think of strength, the thought of exercise and movement comes to mind. Most of the time, we forget the fact that the body needs rest to grow and develop strength.
When we consider strength, it ought not to mean just sleep. We can perhaps sit down somewhere and relax the tired parts of our body. Give them a break for that is what they need to stay strong and healthy.
Most of us have been told through books, trainers and teachers or even parents that sleep is the time when tired muscles recuperate, release the tension from the muscles and grow in size and power. We wake up the next morning refreshed, the aches gone and we are ready for work and play.
However, sleep is not the only time when we can give our overworked body and its muscles rest. Change of activity and movement also gives muscles and tendons of a certain part of our body the opportunity to relax as other parts get into the new movements required in the change of activities.
Let us take a hawker as an example. Hawkers sometimes have to stand for long hours at their jobs. As a result, they overstrain their leg muscles and tendons. The end up with pain in their legs. If they could shift to another activity in their jobs then it is possible to avoid such pain. For example, after serving customers by taking food to the tables and returning with used bowls for an hour, they could exchange jobs with their assistants and do some washing or cooking instead. This can prevent overworking a certain part of body, giving it a reprieve during the exchange of activity.
White-collar jobbers face the same problem. They sit slouched at their computers for too long, sometimes straining their neck in a particular angle resulting in pain to the neck and the back. Again it is over-straining of a certain part of the body. What they need is to get off their chairs away from their computer to take a walk and do some other task. If that proves to be difficult as most of the work needs to be on the computer, then get a chair with a moveable, adjustable back and arm-rest so that positions can be changed every now and then, as often as possible. Otherwise, pain will be the consequence.
So, rest may not necessarily be total rest but rather a change of position or action which involves another set of muscles and tendons, thus affording rest for certain parts of the body.
When we consider strength, it ought not to mean just sleep. We can perhaps sit down somewhere and relax the tired parts of our body. Give them a break for that is what they need to stay strong and healthy.
Most of us have been told through books, trainers and teachers or even parents that sleep is the time when tired muscles recuperate, release the tension from the muscles and grow in size and power. We wake up the next morning refreshed, the aches gone and we are ready for work and play.
However, sleep is not the only time when we can give our overworked body and its muscles rest. Change of activity and movement also gives muscles and tendons of a certain part of our body the opportunity to relax as other parts get into the new movements required in the change of activities.
Let us take a hawker as an example. Hawkers sometimes have to stand for long hours at their jobs. As a result, they overstrain their leg muscles and tendons. The end up with pain in their legs. If they could shift to another activity in their jobs then it is possible to avoid such pain. For example, after serving customers by taking food to the tables and returning with used bowls for an hour, they could exchange jobs with their assistants and do some washing or cooking instead. This can prevent overworking a certain part of body, giving it a reprieve during the exchange of activity.
White-collar jobbers face the same problem. They sit slouched at their computers for too long, sometimes straining their neck in a particular angle resulting in pain to the neck and the back. Again it is over-straining of a certain part of the body. What they need is to get off their chairs away from their computer to take a walk and do some other task. If that proves to be difficult as most of the work needs to be on the computer, then get a chair with a moveable, adjustable back and arm-rest so that positions can be changed every now and then, as often as possible. Otherwise, pain will be the consequence.
So, rest may not necessarily be total rest but rather a change of position or action which involves another set of muscles and tendons, thus affording rest for certain parts of the body.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Our back is weak.
This is the dumbbell I use for my rowing exercise. It is also being done to prepare myself for the next kayak competition that is sometime in October this year.
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No matter how big you are or how strong you appear to be, your back is one of the weakest part of your body.
As a masseur, I have come across numerous strong persons who suffer from a weak back. This weakness could be due to insufficient exercise for the back. Very few people seem to bother about muscles in the back, except for those professional or aspiring body-builders.
When we think of a beautifully, muscled body, we first think of the arms; big biceps, not even triceps, big forearms, chest muscles, and abdominal muscles. Well, man is an egoistic being and those are the parts he can exposed for others to appreciate most often. Of course, those who visit the beach and wear swimming costumes also think of their legs. But the back! Who looks at it? Even the guy himself hardly sees that part of his body. So, not much effort is put in to improve the back.
Imagine a front that has strong, taut muscled chest and stomach and a back that has hardly any developed muscles. A strong front and a weak back. no wonder we see quite a number of the body-building people forever arched forward for two reasons; compressing the front muscles to show them off or the back too weak to straighten the body. So we have a unbalanced body.
A weak back would mean no strong enough muscles holding up the vertebrae. The spinal column is not well supported by strong enough muscles. Therefore, if there is strain upon the spine, something may give way. It could be the weak muscles or the spine. Whichever it might be, there would be pain.
So most people suffer from pain due to twisting or turning the body too fast for the muscles to perform that movement well. So we have a twisted back. See how easy it is to hurt the back? Even picking up something from the floor can hurt the back if the back is weak and the action is wrongly carried out. Wrongly carried out? What do I mean? Well, there are two ways to pick or lift up something; the correct way is to bend the legs at the knees to go down and the wrong way is to bend the back to stretch down. The wrong way with a weak back can bring pain to the lower back. And once a part of the spine has been weakened, the problem can return again and again unless, we do systematic strengthening of the back. Improper method of strengthening can hurt the back. It has to be a slow gradual process and I believe yoga is the best way.
Even bending too long at a certain task can lead to back problems. There are those who sit at computers should get up every hour or so to stretch and straighten their backs. And it is important that we try to sit with a correct posture. There are people who slant their bodies or the angle of their necks as they work away at the computer. To prevent a painful back in future such people have to do something about their posture, straightening their backs or getting a better chair which would not cause them to slouch.
And how many people slouch in their chairs every evening as they relax in front of their television. That curved lower back will with time weaken and be the cause of pain. Why, some people even slouch as they drive around. Imagine their poor cramped lower back and they wonder why their backbone is tight and stiff.
So, the way we sit, move and pick or carry things are important in the prevention of pain to our back. Just as important is developing a stronger back. One simple exercise I use is a rowing action with weights. I choose a dumbbell that I can comfortable row with for at least fifty times. Choose a weight that is right for you without straining too much. Hold the dumbbell with both hands and turn it in a rowing action with your body straight, turning only as and when required just as you would in rowing a boat. The aim is not to build muscles but to strengthen the back. Even when the back is strengthened, use the right action to pick or lift up things and hold the body in a good posture always.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The wedding night and the voyageur.
In a small area where there is no struggle for power there is always unity and a natural togetherness brought in by the need to assist each other and happy association with one’s fellow men, regardless of race or religion.
I was lucky to have lived in such a place once where people were not divided by their skin colour or their religion. They regarded themselves as just people who needed the friendship and companionship of people living near to them. Politics was far from their minds then.
Besides safety and companionship there is unity. Here is a story of what happened when I was still a little boy in a small village in Caunter Hall where the Indians, Malays and Chinese lived as the human race.
A family had moved out of one of the rooms in the big bungalow house where my family lived a week ago. Another family would be moving in soon. Through our daily communication, we knew that a couple would be moving in on the day of their marriage. So the room would be the couple first residence together spending their wedding night there.
There was lots of excitement as the people watched new furniture and things arrive at the place. They would peer into the room to have a look at the arrangement in the room. Well, no matter what the age, curiosity is always very much alive.
Then the wedding day came and there was a feast as all were invited to join in the celebration. It was a buffet kind of feast and everyone just got hold of a plate, rice and whatever food one wished to eat. In those days, the Muslims and the non-Muslims would sit down together at the same table with their permitted and non-permitted food. In those days, Muslims were not particular about the place or the utensils so long as the ‘eat nothing that contains pork’ or ‘eat not chicken which is not slaughtered by a Muslim’ are abided to. When it comes to chicken, there was an easy way out. There were so many Malays in the village and nearby and they were always ready to help with the preparation as well as the cooking of the food. (My wife and I once gave a feast in Tikam Batu, Kedah where all the cooks were Muslims.)
Well, with the feast over, each happily shook hands, wished the couple well and each went back home. That night, most of the folks in the village were tired and soon most of the lights in the village went out or dimmed with wicks in kerosene lamps turned lower. They all slept, not realising that two excited eyes watched the village from a distance, focusing on the room of the newly-weds.
Soon snores were heard through the wooden planked walls of the houses in the village. That was the signal for the two eyes to move into the village, managed to find a chair, climbed up onto it and peered into one of the many cracks in the wooden wall of the newly-weds’ room, heart-rate up to watch the new couple in their embrace. The voyageur was there to have his fun.
Of course, he would not hurt the couple but privacy is important to everyone. As the voyageur watched, he did not realise that there are old folks who do not need much sleep or are used to sleeping very much later than others. Excitement brought carelessness and sounds or was it a six-sense that caused one resident to suspect something, peered out through another crack and saw the uninvited visitor. Anyway, soon the sound of the beating of metal pots sent the voyageur running as fast as he could into the nearby banana plantation. That voyageur learned that unity and togetherness in life can deter people from evil deeds.
When the alarm was sounded, everyone came out with their torches and all sizes of sticks in their hands ever ready to uphold the peace and safety of their village. Such in their togetherness, their strength in the power of one, acting as one against their foes! That was the beauty of life in a village uncorrupted by the craze for power. And I was lucky to be in such a wonderful place once.
I was lucky to have lived in such a place once where people were not divided by their skin colour or their religion. They regarded themselves as just people who needed the friendship and companionship of people living near to them. Politics was far from their minds then.
Besides safety and companionship there is unity. Here is a story of what happened when I was still a little boy in a small village in Caunter Hall where the Indians, Malays and Chinese lived as the human race.
A family had moved out of one of the rooms in the big bungalow house where my family lived a week ago. Another family would be moving in soon. Through our daily communication, we knew that a couple would be moving in on the day of their marriage. So the room would be the couple first residence together spending their wedding night there.
There was lots of excitement as the people watched new furniture and things arrive at the place. They would peer into the room to have a look at the arrangement in the room. Well, no matter what the age, curiosity is always very much alive.
Then the wedding day came and there was a feast as all were invited to join in the celebration. It was a buffet kind of feast and everyone just got hold of a plate, rice and whatever food one wished to eat. In those days, the Muslims and the non-Muslims would sit down together at the same table with their permitted and non-permitted food. In those days, Muslims were not particular about the place or the utensils so long as the ‘eat nothing that contains pork’ or ‘eat not chicken which is not slaughtered by a Muslim’ are abided to. When it comes to chicken, there was an easy way out. There were so many Malays in the village and nearby and they were always ready to help with the preparation as well as the cooking of the food. (My wife and I once gave a feast in Tikam Batu, Kedah where all the cooks were Muslims.)
Well, with the feast over, each happily shook hands, wished the couple well and each went back home. That night, most of the folks in the village were tired and soon most of the lights in the village went out or dimmed with wicks in kerosene lamps turned lower. They all slept, not realising that two excited eyes watched the village from a distance, focusing on the room of the newly-weds.
Soon snores were heard through the wooden planked walls of the houses in the village. That was the signal for the two eyes to move into the village, managed to find a chair, climbed up onto it and peered into one of the many cracks in the wooden wall of the newly-weds’ room, heart-rate up to watch the new couple in their embrace. The voyageur was there to have his fun.
Of course, he would not hurt the couple but privacy is important to everyone. As the voyageur watched, he did not realise that there are old folks who do not need much sleep or are used to sleeping very much later than others. Excitement brought carelessness and sounds or was it a six-sense that caused one resident to suspect something, peered out through another crack and saw the uninvited visitor. Anyway, soon the sound of the beating of metal pots sent the voyageur running as fast as he could into the nearby banana plantation. That voyageur learned that unity and togetherness in life can deter people from evil deeds.
When the alarm was sounded, everyone came out with their torches and all sizes of sticks in their hands ever ready to uphold the peace and safety of their village. Such in their togetherness, their strength in the power of one, acting as one against their foes! That was the beauty of life in a village uncorrupted by the craze for power. And I was lucky to be in such a wonderful place once.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Be active forever.
"Nowadays, there are people who are so weak. And this neighbour of mine passed away at the age of fifty-seven years. Imagine that! When you think of this old uncle from Old Town (Pekan Lama) who could cycle so well at the age of ninety years. He came to our coffee-shop, his body erect and steady, not swerving or bending to the left or right; still so strong and healthy. Wow! Wish I could be like that," the lady told us.
"What was the old man's work?: I enquired.
"He was an ice-cream seller who would pedal his tricycle with the rectangular insulated box of of ice-cream to every corner of the town from late morning to evening with just an umbrella to protect him from the heat and rain."
Yeah, a fellow living a tough life with hardly any time for leisure and entertainment is compensated with a longer healthy life so that when his responsibility to his family is done he still has the strength and energy to enjoy his life, I thought. God has certainly been very fair to the guy.
However, that does not mean that those who have an easier life cannot find the strength and energy to enjoy his life when he eventually retires. I have known many people who live an enjoyable life after retirement, still having the ability to move around with ease. Of course, such people have been aware and do at least some of the things that are required for a person to be healthy and strong.
As I am one of these people, I discovered that muscles, tendons and tissues are constantly regenerated. In fact, according to my son, my muscles are still growing, especially the left arm which was not used as much as it is now. The muscles are still firm and strong due to constant use and exercise. My strides are just as long as before as I do run at speed and walk as fast as ever in my daily morning trek up the hill. Of course, I sometimes, in my enthusiasm as well as poor judgement, overdo it and strain certain tendons but a rest does put things right. Nevertheless, with consistent stretching of the tendons and muscles, they do not shorten even as I age.
Thus, it is not strange that a ninety year old man could still move around just as steadily as any forty year old. I strongly believe that with regular movement and stretching of every part of the body, the body will remain as flexible and strong as long as it is given the opportunity to remain so.
"What was the old man's work?: I enquired.
"He was an ice-cream seller who would pedal his tricycle with the rectangular insulated box of of ice-cream to every corner of the town from late morning to evening with just an umbrella to protect him from the heat and rain."
Yeah, a fellow living a tough life with hardly any time for leisure and entertainment is compensated with a longer healthy life so that when his responsibility to his family is done he still has the strength and energy to enjoy his life, I thought. God has certainly been very fair to the guy.
However, that does not mean that those who have an easier life cannot find the strength and energy to enjoy his life when he eventually retires. I have known many people who live an enjoyable life after retirement, still having the ability to move around with ease. Of course, such people have been aware and do at least some of the things that are required for a person to be healthy and strong.
As I am one of these people, I discovered that muscles, tendons and tissues are constantly regenerated. In fact, according to my son, my muscles are still growing, especially the left arm which was not used as much as it is now. The muscles are still firm and strong due to constant use and exercise. My strides are just as long as before as I do run at speed and walk as fast as ever in my daily morning trek up the hill. Of course, I sometimes, in my enthusiasm as well as poor judgement, overdo it and strain certain tendons but a rest does put things right. Nevertheless, with consistent stretching of the tendons and muscles, they do not shorten even as I age.
Thus, it is not strange that a ninety year old man could still move around just as steadily as any forty year old. I strongly believe that with regular movement and stretching of every part of the body, the body will remain as flexible and strong as long as it is given the opportunity to remain so.
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 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.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Only quitters could be losers.
The Winter Olympics is just over and some have been placed first, second and third according to the performance at that moment, compared to all those participants in the games.
In my mind, all those selected to represent their countries in the games are winners. Although some of them got no medals to show for their efforts, they are undeniably some of the best athletes in the world, certainly something to be admired. They missed those medals because they are humans with the strength and weakness that is characteristic of all humans. Mistakes are made naturally from time to time, even among the best. Mood could also have played a part just as it does in our everyday lives.
Thus, in every competition, it is not a shame to lose to another as long as the best possible effort has be in place at that particular moment, even when, somehow, the body could not master sufficient power to drive one to the top. Especially in top-notched competition, everything is possible and what is expected may not occur. A medal winner today may not receive any on another day. This happens in every sport or human endeavour. Well-known ex-boxers such as Floyd Patterson, Sony Liston and Mohammad Ali may no longer be in possession of the boxing crown but they definitely are some of the best in boxing.
In every human endeavour, unless we quit before the end of the trail, success can be ours when we achieve whatever we set out to do. How small or big the achievement is subjective. The most important point is whether such an achievement is sufficient to boost our morale and give us a sense of achievement. When there is achievement, there will be greater confidence, confidence that will give us the courage to face whatever challenges that life may present; to triumph over such challenges, giving us a joyful uplift through the knowledge that nothing is too big to overcome if we put our will to it.
Without this inner strength, quitters give up on emerging as winners in life, throwing away a life that could have been used to prove to themselves that life is worth the living by facing it head-on and not allowing challenges to overwhelm them. this, in itself, is a victory.
In my mind, all those selected to represent their countries in the games are winners. Although some of them got no medals to show for their efforts, they are undeniably some of the best athletes in the world, certainly something to be admired. They missed those medals because they are humans with the strength and weakness that is characteristic of all humans. Mistakes are made naturally from time to time, even among the best. Mood could also have played a part just as it does in our everyday lives.
Thus, in every competition, it is not a shame to lose to another as long as the best possible effort has be in place at that particular moment, even when, somehow, the body could not master sufficient power to drive one to the top. Especially in top-notched competition, everything is possible and what is expected may not occur. A medal winner today may not receive any on another day. This happens in every sport or human endeavour. Well-known ex-boxers such as Floyd Patterson, Sony Liston and Mohammad Ali may no longer be in possession of the boxing crown but they definitely are some of the best in boxing.
In every human endeavour, unless we quit before the end of the trail, success can be ours when we achieve whatever we set out to do. How small or big the achievement is subjective. The most important point is whether such an achievement is sufficient to boost our morale and give us a sense of achievement. When there is achievement, there will be greater confidence, confidence that will give us the courage to face whatever challenges that life may present; to triumph over such challenges, giving us a joyful uplift through the knowledge that nothing is too big to overcome if we put our will to it.
Without this inner strength, quitters give up on emerging as winners in life, throwing away a life that could have been used to prove to themselves that life is worth the living by facing it head-on and not allowing challenges to overwhelm them. this, in itself, is a victory.
Monday, February 08, 2010
You can be still young as long as.....
What caught my eyes in the news this morning was the true story of an 88 year old who beat 86 other participants in the 3-day Johor International Kit festival to win the Best International Kite Performance trophy. This Taiwanese, Robert Yen, who had competed in this annual competition for the last 14 years was the oldest participant this year. Although he was aged eighty-eight years, he looked so hail and hearty. I should be really happy to be that good looking at that age. What a marvellous start for the year!
I am pleased to note that it all started as a hobby at the age of eight years. It means that there is a passion for something in his life. That is important for then, there is meaning in still being alive after we have retired from the financial development part of our lives. to be still young; here I throw out those meaningless numbers, the chronological age of a person. It is more the energy we are capable of having, the strength to carry on with activities throughout the day and the desire to wake up each day with eagerness to perform in our passionate activities. If we have at least those, if not more, then we can consider ourselves still young.
Having a passion for some kind of activity is important to life. What is life without that but sleeping, eating, working and trying to last till the end of the day without any excitement or joy in the day's activities. To me that is not meaningful life. That is merely survival, living each day aimlessly.
Furthermore, any kind of passion for any kind of activity would keep our mind and body healthy. With the passion for an activity, the mind and its thoughts are consistently returning to the activity, thinking of how to improve on the activity, how to go further into it and participate in it to the highest level, maybe in competition. when the mind is active, the mind will be stronger and not deteriorate into amnesia in later years.
In any sustained activity, the body has the opportunity to maintain if not increase muscle mass. Whether muscle mass is increased or not depends upon the type of activity involved. If the activity necessitates increasing strength, then the opportunity to increase muscle mass will be there. Even for those people whose activity does not increase the volume of muscles, the urge to remain healthy and be strong enough to continue the activity can motivate the person to take up some weight-lifting exercises to maintain the muscles or increase its mass. When muscle mass is maintained or increased, strength will be improved and with some kind of impact activity, bone density will remain sufficiently good for agility and any required movement. Through activity, fat can be reduced. With more muscles than fat, the metabolic rate of our body will be better, preventing obesity. With activity, our aerobic capacity will remain better than those who are sedentary which means we will be not pant and become tired easily. Then, with activity, the body functions of removing toxic waste are in greater condition. Thereafter, with the right nutrition and rest, the kidneys, the liver, the big intestines and the skin will be in tip-top condition. And with strength, agility, good metabolic rate, less body fat content and a well regulated waste disposal system, we can be assured the body will be able to function just as well as any forty-year old, if not better. Thus, our body's youthfulness can be maintained, no matter which number we have reached on the chronological age level.
As we can see, with an interested activity, it is not difficult to remain youthful and active throughout life.
I am pleased to note that it all started as a hobby at the age of eight years. It means that there is a passion for something in his life. That is important for then, there is meaning in still being alive after we have retired from the financial development part of our lives. to be still young; here I throw out those meaningless numbers, the chronological age of a person. It is more the energy we are capable of having, the strength to carry on with activities throughout the day and the desire to wake up each day with eagerness to perform in our passionate activities. If we have at least those, if not more, then we can consider ourselves still young.
Having a passion for some kind of activity is important to life. What is life without that but sleeping, eating, working and trying to last till the end of the day without any excitement or joy in the day's activities. To me that is not meaningful life. That is merely survival, living each day aimlessly.
Furthermore, any kind of passion for any kind of activity would keep our mind and body healthy. With the passion for an activity, the mind and its thoughts are consistently returning to the activity, thinking of how to improve on the activity, how to go further into it and participate in it to the highest level, maybe in competition. when the mind is active, the mind will be stronger and not deteriorate into amnesia in later years.
In any sustained activity, the body has the opportunity to maintain if not increase muscle mass. Whether muscle mass is increased or not depends upon the type of activity involved. If the activity necessitates increasing strength, then the opportunity to increase muscle mass will be there. Even for those people whose activity does not increase the volume of muscles, the urge to remain healthy and be strong enough to continue the activity can motivate the person to take up some weight-lifting exercises to maintain the muscles or increase its mass. When muscle mass is maintained or increased, strength will be improved and with some kind of impact activity, bone density will remain sufficiently good for agility and any required movement. Through activity, fat can be reduced. With more muscles than fat, the metabolic rate of our body will be better, preventing obesity. With activity, our aerobic capacity will remain better than those who are sedentary which means we will be not pant and become tired easily. Then, with activity, the body functions of removing toxic waste are in greater condition. Thereafter, with the right nutrition and rest, the kidneys, the liver, the big intestines and the skin will be in tip-top condition. And with strength, agility, good metabolic rate, less body fat content and a well regulated waste disposal system, we can be assured the body will be able to function just as well as any forty-year old, if not better. Thus, our body's youthfulness can be maintained, no matter which number we have reached on the chronological age level.
As we can see, with an interested activity, it is not difficult to remain youthful and active throughout life.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
You can always remain young.
This morning, I work up early to smile at myself in the mirror as usual. I liked what I saw. It is the look of a guy who must be doing the right things to have a perfectly healthy body, still flexible enough to leap and jump over stones and rocks, still strong enough to lift anything a normal guy can, still fast enough on my feet to run like a teenager.
And that was what I did on the hill this morning, after doing my first good deed of the day by taking a friend to the bus-station at six fifteen. I exercised my feet by twisting and turning as I made my way up the hill. I moved up side-ways to the left and to the right as well as backwards and forwards.
Then I came across the first person on his way up and received a greeting and a smile. Then another person and another smile and an exchange of greetings. Upon reaching the top, I stopped to do twenty-five press-ups. After that, I ran until I pant before I stop just long enough to recover before another run. After going around that hill, it was downhill most of the time. It is at such times that I meet other friends coming up the hill with smiles and laughter part of the way down.
Almost every morning, that hill in Taman Semarak is my exercise and rejuvenation spot, one of the places where I ensure my body and self remain young always.
You know, when I was forty years of age and jogging around my housing estate, I was told to walk as I was no long young. I told those well-intentioned but wrongly informed people that I would walk the day I cannot run, not till then. Well, to this day, as you can see I still am able to run. That is because our body is as young as we want it to be.
During my earlier years, I looked at some old guys who walked so slowly, with shortened steps and wondered if that was to be my fate. I gathered knowledge and realised that our muscles and tendons shorten without use. However, should we move with long quick strides, the muscles and tendons remain long and flexible. So, I determine never to allow my muscles and tendons in almost every part of my body shorten and weaken by moving and strengthening them consistently.
Even strength can gradually fade away if we do not use our muscles for lifting or carrying heavy things. That is my experience. There was I time when I was too busy pursuing other things and neglected this part of my programme. My muscles became flabby and smaller as strength became lesser and lesser. My alarm bells rang after a sudden game of badminton with some friends and I realised that I had lost much of my stamina and strength. Not only that! The next morning found my legs too painful and stiff, unable to get up like normal after squating down in the toilet, more like some sickly old man. Well, when it comes to muscles and tendons, it is truly use them or lose them.
I learned that lesson well and since that day I regularly use my dumbbells and power twister to maintain the strength of the upper parts of my body. This world just isn't the place to stagnate too long.
Furthermore, with strength, stamina and a healthy body in tip-top condition, you will find that you can take part in any activity anywhere with just anybody, anytime. Isn't that what all of us want? Certainly, because with such involvement comes joy and happiness unlimited, the one great eventual goal in life.
I believe all of you agree. However, if you don't, just drop me an email and I will tell you more about that.
And that was what I did on the hill this morning, after doing my first good deed of the day by taking a friend to the bus-station at six fifteen. I exercised my feet by twisting and turning as I made my way up the hill. I moved up side-ways to the left and to the right as well as backwards and forwards.
Then I came across the first person on his way up and received a greeting and a smile. Then another person and another smile and an exchange of greetings. Upon reaching the top, I stopped to do twenty-five press-ups. After that, I ran until I pant before I stop just long enough to recover before another run. After going around that hill, it was downhill most of the time. It is at such times that I meet other friends coming up the hill with smiles and laughter part of the way down.
Almost every morning, that hill in Taman Semarak is my exercise and rejuvenation spot, one of the places where I ensure my body and self remain young always.
You know, when I was forty years of age and jogging around my housing estate, I was told to walk as I was no long young. I told those well-intentioned but wrongly informed people that I would walk the day I cannot run, not till then. Well, to this day, as you can see I still am able to run. That is because our body is as young as we want it to be.
During my earlier years, I looked at some old guys who walked so slowly, with shortened steps and wondered if that was to be my fate. I gathered knowledge and realised that our muscles and tendons shorten without use. However, should we move with long quick strides, the muscles and tendons remain long and flexible. So, I determine never to allow my muscles and tendons in almost every part of my body shorten and weaken by moving and strengthening them consistently.
Even strength can gradually fade away if we do not use our muscles for lifting or carrying heavy things. That is my experience. There was I time when I was too busy pursuing other things and neglected this part of my programme. My muscles became flabby and smaller as strength became lesser and lesser. My alarm bells rang after a sudden game of badminton with some friends and I realised that I had lost much of my stamina and strength. Not only that! The next morning found my legs too painful and stiff, unable to get up like normal after squating down in the toilet, more like some sickly old man. Well, when it comes to muscles and tendons, it is truly use them or lose them.
I learned that lesson well and since that day I regularly use my dumbbells and power twister to maintain the strength of the upper parts of my body. This world just isn't the place to stagnate too long.
Furthermore, with strength, stamina and a healthy body in tip-top condition, you will find that you can take part in any activity anywhere with just anybody, anytime. Isn't that what all of us want? Certainly, because with such involvement comes joy and happiness unlimited, the one great eventual goal in life.
I believe all of you agree. However, if you don't, just drop me an email and I will tell you more about that.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bill Porter: TrulyThe Greatest Saleman the World Has Ever Known.
Remarkable persistence were the words in my mind when I discovered this incredible Californian-born salesman, Bill Porter, who, on the 9th of September, 1932, was born with cerebral palsy which caused his body to be twisted and having a speech problem. He refused charity, not accepting disability allowance and went on to overcome everyday obstacles to become the best salesman Watkins Incorporated ever had. Then, when a broken hip-bone due to a 1998 accident, forced him to stop walking the eight to ten miles he had to cover with such difficulty and pain each day in the Portland area to sell the Watkins house-hold products from door to door, he continued to work for Watkins as a consultant and online salesman. In his online business, he was the associate manager and anyone interested in having a business like his can join his downline. In this online business, his assistant and loyal close friend, Shelly Brady, delivered the products to his customers. Besides sales, he gave inspirational talks.
How determined he was to make it on his own was the fact that he took more than an hour to painfully put on his clothes and be ready for his work. In order that he could be ready to get on a 7.30 am. bus to reach his sales area by 9.00am, he woke up at the unearthly time of 4.45 am. Each day, he finished his work only after 7.00pm. And that was what he did not just for a year or two but for forty years! And when people closed their doors in his face, he did not break down and give up in despair. He carried on relentlessly to prove to himself and the world it could be done. The next customer would say ‘yes’ to his sales. Eventually, he won as more and more people came to know him and opened their doors and hearts to his perseverance. There is a wonderful message here to all salesmen. Sincere desire to achieve sales finally opened the customers’ doors.
Looks like the pain from cerebral palsy could not stop this man from covering a grueling ten miles a day on foot to earn his pay. Neither could the accident which broke his hip-bone. When one door closes, another door opens for this man. Where many would have dropped everything in despair, this Bill Porter climbed up again to even greater heights. Unable to walk such a distance any longer after breaking his hip bone, he went into the internet with the same business, this time as an associate manager with his own down-line.
How many of us able-bodied guys would be willing to face ten long miles each and every year for forty years? Yet, here is a man with a twisted body who did just that! For forty long years he walked door to door, knocked on every door, showed people pictures of a few Watkins products, took orders, then obtained the products and had them delivered as he could not drive.What a man!
Not only that! Before he got this Watkins job, he was rejected by so many companies for four months until even the employment agency told him that he had better stop searching for a job and depend upon welfare to survive. Did he do that? No, determination is one of the qualities that set great people against the odds they face. Determination, eventually, lead him to a job at Watkins, earning just commissions despite the tough job of having to cover such a vast area each day.
Three person played important meaningful roles in his life. They gave him the necessary support to propel him into the life he mastered and set him along the fantastic route to fame.
In a way, he was fortunate to have a mother named Irene who was always very positive and according to Porter, his mother insisted that he be likewise. The mother sent him to Public High School and when he graduated, his father told him that he had to go and get a job. There was no pampering and the parents moved him on to survive through good honest work. And that was what he finally did and do to this day.
His mother’s positive ways helped him to overcome the rejections he encountered as a salesman as doors were initially slammed shut. Through such positive attitude, he gradually overcame people’s reluctance to open their doors to him. He not only became a successful saleman; he was the best in Watkins.
Another person who played a prominent role in his life was shelly Brady, a lady who was initially employed as his assistant, typist, driver but soon became his friend and cospeaker at inspirational talks.
His marvelous performance in life was so unbelieveably great that he got recognition after the Oregonian had a 1995 column about Bill Porter which was so widely reprinted that he became a popular symbol of optimistic determination. Then, the ABC news magazine 20/20 did a television story on him called ‘A Moving Journey ‘. This received the largest viewer response of any show ever put up by 20/20. Articles were written about him in the ‘Reader’s Digest’ and ‘People Magazine’. Then, there was an award-winning movie about his life, called ‘Door to Door’. After that, in 2002, his friend and assistant, Shelly Brady, published the inspirational book ‘Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter’.
For his indomitable spirit, his refusal to give up despite facing such seemingly insurmountable obstacles, John Glenn presented Porter with an award from the National Council on Communicative Disorders at the Kennedy Center in 1998. He also received the America's Award, honoring unsung heroes who personify the American character and spirit.
So, we see how obstacles in life can become motivational forces to strength and greatness. Here is a man who could have laid down and refused to do anything but depend upon charity; and nobody could have accused him of laziness. With the help of his parents and Shelly Brady, not only did he perform, he outdid all other able-bodied persons in his field!
If Bill Porter was not blessed with cerebral palsy, he would not have the opportunity to become an inspirational speaker. God gave him the challenge and he was able to take it to such fantastic heights.
So, the next time an obstacle were to drop into our path, let us think of marvelous Bill Porter.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Unity is power.
Who works as a group at all times? Who gangs together all the time when they set out on a task? From the word 'gang' we get gangsters. That's right! Gangsters. These people do whatever they want through the gang because they understand very well the power of the gang.
To gang together is to unite. Gangsters understand that as an individual they are unable to terrorise society. But when they group together and approach one or two persons or even an ununited group, they are powerful enough to put terror into the hearts of ordinary people.
However, should anybody use unity to fight them, they can become the losers, especially when the other united group is larger than theirs.
On Wednesday, the 4th of November, 2009, I read in theStar online about two robbers who died while trying to escape from people at the Selayang Wet Market. They made the mistake of robbing someone the people had a liking for, a regular customer. The two robbers and some accomplices tried to run when these people gave chase. Unfortunately for them, two of them were cornered and assaulted, thus killed in the process.
As we can see, unity is the way to overcome or defeat evil forces. Although it is not right to kill those two robbers, they asked for such a fate through using weapons. I believe those people at that wet market had no intention to kill but to show those robbers that they too had the power to safeguard the people in their place. In the process of protecting someone, the injury caused was a little too much.
Their unity is a good thing. It shows very clearly that people in society must be united at all times in protecting each and every member of their society in order to ensure their own safety.
In a country, unity is also important. It is a power even politicians will fear. If people who are oppressed or not treated fairly were to be united at the ballot box, then the government of the day has to be fair to every citizen and not just the majority or a certain race. The power is there. The only thing we have to ensure such power is always in our hands is to discourage greed. At election time, some people choose unwisely for a few reasons. One of them is greed. They, their organisation or their community is given some extra allocations and donations, and such people forget the bigger goal or the more important good that their act has thrown away.
Sometimes it is their ego. A minister comes to the community leader's house, gives his children things and his pride becomes the fall of the community. When greed and ego become obstacles in the path of unity, many will become weaker and the greater goal is lost.
Therefore, people, to be strong, must learn to unite as a group and fight injustice, corruption and all kinds of evil in this world.
To gang together is to unite. Gangsters understand that as an individual they are unable to terrorise society. But when they group together and approach one or two persons or even an ununited group, they are powerful enough to put terror into the hearts of ordinary people.
However, should anybody use unity to fight them, they can become the losers, especially when the other united group is larger than theirs.
On Wednesday, the 4th of November, 2009, I read in theStar online about two robbers who died while trying to escape from people at the Selayang Wet Market. They made the mistake of robbing someone the people had a liking for, a regular customer. The two robbers and some accomplices tried to run when these people gave chase. Unfortunately for them, two of them were cornered and assaulted, thus killed in the process.
As we can see, unity is the way to overcome or defeat evil forces. Although it is not right to kill those two robbers, they asked for such a fate through using weapons. I believe those people at that wet market had no intention to kill but to show those robbers that they too had the power to safeguard the people in their place. In the process of protecting someone, the injury caused was a little too much.
Their unity is a good thing. It shows very clearly that people in society must be united at all times in protecting each and every member of their society in order to ensure their own safety.
In a country, unity is also important. It is a power even politicians will fear. If people who are oppressed or not treated fairly were to be united at the ballot box, then the government of the day has to be fair to every citizen and not just the majority or a certain race. The power is there. The only thing we have to ensure such power is always in our hands is to discourage greed. At election time, some people choose unwisely for a few reasons. One of them is greed. They, their organisation or their community is given some extra allocations and donations, and such people forget the bigger goal or the more important good that their act has thrown away.
Sometimes it is their ego. A minister comes to the community leader's house, gives his children things and his pride becomes the fall of the community. When greed and ego become obstacles in the path of unity, many will become weaker and the greater goal is lost.
Therefore, people, to be strong, must learn to unite as a group and fight injustice, corruption and all kinds of evil in this world.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Strong legs and a healthy body into the future.
When it comes to exercise and strength building, my mind goes back to my teenage days when I was a member of the Penang Youth Club. It was there that I went from Dynamic Tension to weights for strength training.
In my earlier posts you have been told that my childhood weakened me with a number of sicknesses that left me a scrawny kid. Having known the pain and suffering of sickness, the terrible inability to perform due to weakness, I had determined to take action to overcome my situation.
In those days, there was this Mr. Universe. Charles Atlas, who sculpted his body his way with a method known as Dynamic Tension. Later, I discovered the Penang Youth Centre and its weight training.
I must say that weight-training is one of the best strength developing method I know of. Within two solid years of training, I was a changed person with muscles to show, strength to take part and be good at running long distances, gymnastics and rugby as well as other games. It definitely made a difference in my life. I was more confident too. with my ability to perform in more things, especially those which require strength. And My health is so good that i have not had to see a doctor for more than thirty years because of some sickness. The benefits remain with me to this day.
However, there was a weakness in me. Like a good number of weight-trainees, I concentrated more on my arms, chest, stomach and back. I did do leg exercises but that was with minimum effort put in.
As I grow older, I realise the importance of strong legs. Now I am sixty-three and if I hope to live many more years, I certainly would not like to spend those years sliding slowly one foot forward after another around. A worse scenario could find me laying in front of the television with it watching me most of the time. No! I would prefer to die rather than suffer such indignity. So, to live life to the full, I must look after my legs and make sure they are strong enough to carry me wherever I wish to go till death part me from my legs and body.
As we grow older, we still need a strong body, However, we would have to depend upon our legs even more to still go places, climb things, have a good balance with steady legs and jump for joy or over anything in our path. And I believe we can always remain as agile and strong if we continue with our regular exercise and strength training.
Sometimes weakness from age is all in the mind. I remember someone telling me not to run so fast at the age of forty-five. Then, at the age of fifty, someone told me to walk slowly. Now at sixty-three, I have not slowed down at all although, every now and then, there is someone who would, with great concern, tell me to not run as I might fall. Why should I fall? It is all in the mind of these people that everything must slow down with age. Well, i have not and I will not slow down. As for myself, I have made up my mind to run, jump and vault till the day I just cannot do them. Then, and only then, will I walk briskly around.
In fact, I do more strengthening exercises for my legs than ever before and I am pleased with my health. My friends and I are fortunate to have a hill to trek and run up and down each morning. Thank God for he is certainly looking after our needs. What more can anyone ask for?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Giuliano Stroe: Unbelievable Super Strength and Agility.
In the internet, search for Giuliano Stroe and you can see him in action in a good number of websites as well as on You-Tube.
Giuliano Stroe, from Romania, is not just any five year old neighbourhood kid. No kidding. I do not know whether we can ever see a kid like him, ever.
For one thing, at the fantastic age of five, he had entered the Guiness Book of World Records after appearing on an Italian TV show doing some incredible hand-walking skills with a weight between his legs. His feat was the fastest ever ten metre handwalk.
He is not just too young for his feats! He is not just a body-builder with a muscle bound body. He is one well-trained gymnast too!
To show his gymnastics skills, he did the 'Crouching Tiger' wall flip, back flip-flak on a kitchen table, back somersault and stunts on a high bar.
He does weight-lifting too. However, from the way he jerks the weights upwards, they are obvously too heavy for him.
According to the father, Iulian Stroe, aged thirty-three, this fantastic little guy has been going to the gym with his father 'since he was born'.Then, at the age of two, he had been training in that gym in Italy. Imagine that! How could that little two year old be interested in weights and gymnastics then? It is just beyond me!
As a guy who had taken up weight-lifting and gymnastics during my younger days, I still remember the aches of the muscles after each weight-lifting session. To me, weight-lifting is not just an exercise; it is a discipline to go back there every alternate day for another day of sweat and ache. But then, as a teenager, I had the advantage of motivation; I was motivated by the need to improve my strength and health. Thus, I am puzzled how this two year old could be similarly motivated or inspired. Was it the father or the environment of the gym?
No matter how we look at it, this little boy certainly has shown great strength, endurance and discipline.
According to the father, there is no danger of harm to his son as he himself had been training all his life.
Hwoever, I beg to differ. Although the father had been training all his life, when did he start his training? If he had started as a teenager, he would have his skeletal structure already fairly well developed. There would not be the problem of tight well-developed muscles impeding the growth of the bones.
I have noticed at national level gymnastics competition where I can remember at least one sure prize-winning well-developed muscle-bound gymnast who won top prize all the way from Under-12 year level to Under 18 year level. Through the years we watched him sweep prize after prize. Right or wrong, one opinion all coaches were unanimous about: He was a little too short. And we believed the muscles bound his skeletal structure too much.
Of course, all I can offer is based on observation and opinions. Perhaps, some expert on growth and development of the human body could tell us what is correct.
For the sake of that fantastic little boy, I hope to be proved wrong. I wish him all the best.
Giuliano Stroe, from Romania, is not just any five year old neighbourhood kid. No kidding. I do not know whether we can ever see a kid like him, ever.
For one thing, at the fantastic age of five, he had entered the Guiness Book of World Records after appearing on an Italian TV show doing some incredible hand-walking skills with a weight between his legs. His feat was the fastest ever ten metre handwalk.
He is not just too young for his feats! He is not just a body-builder with a muscle bound body. He is one well-trained gymnast too!
To show his gymnastics skills, he did the 'Crouching Tiger' wall flip, back flip-flak on a kitchen table, back somersault and stunts on a high bar.
He does weight-lifting too. However, from the way he jerks the weights upwards, they are obvously too heavy for him.
According to the father, Iulian Stroe, aged thirty-three, this fantastic little guy has been going to the gym with his father 'since he was born'.Then, at the age of two, he had been training in that gym in Italy. Imagine that! How could that little two year old be interested in weights and gymnastics then? It is just beyond me!
As a guy who had taken up weight-lifting and gymnastics during my younger days, I still remember the aches of the muscles after each weight-lifting session. To me, weight-lifting is not just an exercise; it is a discipline to go back there every alternate day for another day of sweat and ache. But then, as a teenager, I had the advantage of motivation; I was motivated by the need to improve my strength and health. Thus, I am puzzled how this two year old could be similarly motivated or inspired. Was it the father or the environment of the gym?
No matter how we look at it, this little boy certainly has shown great strength, endurance and discipline.
According to the father, there is no danger of harm to his son as he himself had been training all his life.
Hwoever, I beg to differ. Although the father had been training all his life, when did he start his training? If he had started as a teenager, he would have his skeletal structure already fairly well developed. There would not be the problem of tight well-developed muscles impeding the growth of the bones.
I have noticed at national level gymnastics competition where I can remember at least one sure prize-winning well-developed muscle-bound gymnast who won top prize all the way from Under-12 year level to Under 18 year level. Through the years we watched him sweep prize after prize. Right or wrong, one opinion all coaches were unanimous about: He was a little too short. And we believed the muscles bound his skeletal structure too much.
Of course, all I can offer is based on observation and opinions. Perhaps, some expert on growth and development of the human body could tell us what is correct.
For the sake of that fantastic little boy, I hope to be proved wrong. I wish him all the best.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Even without financial inheritance, it can be done!
I know that when I wrote that every aspect of life is within reach with confidence derived from intelligence, courage, strength and coordination, there is the possibility that someone would point out that poverty could be a stumbling block.
For that, I wish to draw your attention to a man I know. When I first met him, I knew he was the owner of his own big factory. Seeing his muscular build, I asked how often he frequented the gym. He wondered where the coversation was heading to but told me he had never been to one. His muscles came from bending heated canes to make cane furniture. He was the employee of the shop. And he did the work after school hours.
This man, now aged approximately forty, came from a poor farming family. His education was only up to primary school level but he did not lack intelligence. He worked hard at many jobs to help his parents. He was tough, ready to learn and improved his knowledge and ability in the school of hard knocks. He had the courage to even travel from his homeland to acquire sufficient knowledge and money to start his own factory.
So, with intelligence, courage, strength and coordination, one can gather the necessary knowledge, expertise, and money to achieve one’s goal in life.
Without strength and coordination, he might not have been able to do cane-bending well enough to earn his first pay-check and realize the importance of money in big projects in life.
Without the intelligence, he would not have realized that the boss gets the bigger share of it. He would not have realized it would require a lot of tough work to gain money and make the difference to his family’s total income. He would not have realised he had to find the expertise and knowledge to start his own business.
Certainly, he must have confidence to venture wherever it takes to gain the essential knowledge and ability to start a factory. Knowing the importance of money, he must have saved most of whatever he earned to be financially capable to think of a factory.
This is the story of a self-made man; one with the strength and coordination to take on many jobs, one with the confidence and courage to venture far from his poor beginning. Obviously, it was a tough, uphill climb but it could be done.
Of course, not everyone can do it because it needs true intelligence to learn in the school of hard knocks, understand and realize what it takes to make it, to realize effort must be substantial and have the courage to seize the opportunity when it comes.
For that, I wish to draw your attention to a man I know. When I first met him, I knew he was the owner of his own big factory. Seeing his muscular build, I asked how often he frequented the gym. He wondered where the coversation was heading to but told me he had never been to one. His muscles came from bending heated canes to make cane furniture. He was the employee of the shop. And he did the work after school hours.
This man, now aged approximately forty, came from a poor farming family. His education was only up to primary school level but he did not lack intelligence. He worked hard at many jobs to help his parents. He was tough, ready to learn and improved his knowledge and ability in the school of hard knocks. He had the courage to even travel from his homeland to acquire sufficient knowledge and money to start his own factory.
So, with intelligence, courage, strength and coordination, one can gather the necessary knowledge, expertise, and money to achieve one’s goal in life.
Without strength and coordination, he might not have been able to do cane-bending well enough to earn his first pay-check and realize the importance of money in big projects in life.
Without the intelligence, he would not have realized that the boss gets the bigger share of it. He would not have realized it would require a lot of tough work to gain money and make the difference to his family’s total income. He would not have realised he had to find the expertise and knowledge to start his own business.
Certainly, he must have confidence to venture wherever it takes to gain the essential knowledge and ability to start a factory. Knowing the importance of money, he must have saved most of whatever he earned to be financially capable to think of a factory.
This is the story of a self-made man; one with the strength and coordination to take on many jobs, one with the confidence and courage to venture far from his poor beginning. Obviously, it was a tough, uphill climb but it could be done.
Of course, not everyone can do it because it needs true intelligence to learn in the school of hard knocks, understand and realize what it takes to make it, to realize effort must be substantial and have the courage to seize the opportunity when it comes.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Training for strength, coordination and confidence.
Without confidence and courage, who would dare to do this?
This vault needs flexiblity too.
This somersault needs lots of strength and coordination as well as courage.All the above must be learned through a good, vigilant coach.
All the pictures in black and white were taken at a time when coloured photos were not available; in 1968.
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