Category Archives: Poems and Quotable Quotes

What aging is all about

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Hi Parents

Today, would like to share a poem on what aging is all about. Enjoy!

         

Another year has passed and we are all a little older.

Last summer felt hotter and winter seems much colder.

There was a time not long ago when life was quite a blast.

Now I fully understand about ‘Living in the Past’.

 

We used to go to weddings, football games and lunches.

Now we go to funeral homes and after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers from parties that were gay.

Now we suffer body aches and while the night away.

 

We used to go out dining and could not get our fill.

Now we ask for doggie bags, come home and take a pill.

We used to often travel to places near and far.

Now we get sore asses from riding in the car.

 

We used to go to nightclubs and drink a little booze.

Now we stay home at night and watch the evening news.

That, my friend is how life is and now my tale is told.

So, enjoy each day and live it up before you are too damned old!

 

So parents, life is short!  Be in the moment in the midst of your busy routine!

 

50 ways to pay it forward

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Dear Singapore parents

With the Christmas festive mood, would like to share on the following today:

  

  1. spare someone the extra coins you have (be it in a bus or shopping mall)
  2. leave a copy of a really great book you’ve read in a cafe for someone else to enjoy
  3. be nice to the customer service people who are trying to help you with your technological difficulties
  4. tip your restaurant server generously
  5. thank the cooks, waiters personally
  6. say something nice or funny or goofy to the toll booth attendant (like, “Don’t drive too fast, now” or “Glad to have encountered you today”, or something less hokey)
  7. forgive a driver directing road rage at you
  8. buy or pack a meal for a homeless person (or give him/her your to-go box from a restaurant)
  9. give a warm coat to a homeless person
  10. offer to do pro bono work on a project where your skills are needed
  11. mentor someone
  12. make a donation
  13. say a prayer or whisper a kind wish for someone
  14. compliment a stranger
  15. send a box of donuts or bagels or muffins to a construction site
  16. next time you leave a foreign country, give all or some of what’s left of your currency to someone who resides in that country
  17. next time you’re at the airport, offer to pull the bags belonging to a woman or a mother with child out of the conveyor belt
  18. praise generously
  19. give local tips (re: restaurants, sights, etc.) to a tourist
  20. show respect equally to all human beings
  21. put a tip in a street musician’s jar
  22. let someone cut in front of you at the grocery store
  23. tell a funny joke to a stranger
  24. give someone a chance to prove him or herself
  25. encourage someone to pursue their dream
  26. allow someone to let his or her light shine
  27. show support to an artist or writer or musician
  28. hold the door open for someone
  29. tip a taxi driver generously
  30. teach a child something you wish you knew at that age
  31. smile at someone who’s sad
  32. smile at strangers
  33. offer sincere, kind words to someone who is hurting
  34. visit a hospice and spend some time with a terminally ill patient
  35. volunteer at a battered women’s shelter
  36. spend some time with a senior citizen living alone
  37. give up your seat on a crowded bus or train or ferry
  38. inspire someone to be the best that they can be
  39. give someone the benefit of the doubt
  40. offer to babysit for a single mother
  41. offer the FedEx, UPS or DHL delivery person something to drink especially on a warm day
  42. help a pregnant lady
  43. sit and talk with a homeless person and learn their story
  44. loan something to someone and forget about it
  45. loan money on Kiva
  46. contribute to a friend’s child’s education fund
  47. give blood
  48. show respect to a soldier regardless of your pacifism
  49. donate to or volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation
  50. replace an angry or bitter thought toward someone with a loving thought (or at least try)

So parents, do share the above 50 tips with your children that will go a long way for them.

21 positive points to success

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Hi Singapore parents

Today, would like to share 21 points adopted by Anthony Robins to a successful life:

   

  1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.  
  2. Marry someone you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
  3. Do not  believe all you hear,  spend all you have or  sleep all you want.
  4. When you say, ‘I love you,’ mean it.
  5. When you say, ‘I’m sorry,’ look the person in the eye.
  6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
  7. Believe in love at first sight.  
  8. Never laugh at anyone’s dreams. People who do not have  dreams do not have much.
  9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it is the only way to live life completely.  
  10. In  disagreement, fight fairly.  No name calling.  
  11. Do not judge people by their  relatives.  
  12. Talk slowly but think quickly.  
  13. When someone asks you a question you do not want to  answer,  smile and ask: ‘Why do you want to  know?’
  14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
  15. Say ‘Bless you’ when you hear someone sneeze.
  16. When you lose, don’t lose the  lesson.
  17. Remember  the three Rs: Respect for self; Respect for  others; and Responsibility for all your actions.  
  18. Do not let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
  19.  When you realize you have made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
  20. Smile when picking up the phone.  The caller will hear it in your voice.
  21. Spend some time alone.

So parentsDo inculcate the above points in your children.  First, start with yourself. . .

Inspiring One-Liners . . .

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Hi Singapore parents

As we celebrate Father’s Day today, below are some inspiring one-liners that I would like to share . . .

1.         If time does not wait for you, just remove the battery from the clock and ENJOY LIFE!              

2.                  Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is like expecting the lion not to attack you because you are a vegetarian. Think about it.

             

3.                  Beauty is measured by outer appearance and what clothes we wear.  Rather, it is what we are inside. So, try going out naked tomorrow and see the admiration!

           

 

4.                  Do not walk as if you rule the world.  Walk as if you do not care who rules the world! That’s called ATTITUTE!  Keep on rocking!

             

5.                  Every lady hopes that her daughter will marry a better man than she did.  She is convinced that her son will never find a wife as good as his father did!

            

 

6.                  He was a good man. He never smoked, never drank and had no affair. When he died, the insurance company refused the claim. They said he who never lived cannot die!

          

 

7.                  There are so many options for suicide: Poison, sleeping pills, hanging, jumping from a building and lying on train tracks.  Yet we choose MARRIAGE – slow sure!

            

 

8.                  Only 20 percent boys have brains, the rest have girlfriends! 

             

9.                  All desirable things in life are illegal, banned, expensive or married to someone else!

            

 

10.             Drinking is our biggest enemy (by Jawaharlal Nehru)We should learn to love our enemies (by Mahatma Gandhi)

So which one do we follow and choose???

 

11.             10% of road accidents are due to drunken driving.  That means it a logical statement that 90% of accidents are due to driving without drinking!!

            

 

So parents, hope the above one-liners have inspired you in some ways . . .

The Story of The Wooden Bowl

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Hi Singapore Parents

Today, would like to share with you the following story:

After reading, you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. ‘We must do something about father,’ said the son. ‘I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.’

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, ‘What are you making?’ Just as sweetly, the boy responded, ‘Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ‘ The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, Neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I’ve learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:

  • A rainy day
  • The elderly
  • Lost luggage
  • Tangled Christmas tree lights

      

I’ve learned that:

  • making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life..’

  • life sometimes gives you a second chance.

  • you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.

  • You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.

  • if you pursue happiness, it will elude you but if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

  • whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

  • even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

  • every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

  • people love that human touch — holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

  • I still have a lot to learn

So parents, do share with your loved ones and family members the moral of this story . . .

I believe . . .

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Hi Singapore parentsToday, would like to share the following, author unknown.

 

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.
A Death Certificate shows that we died.
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat.  Relax and read this slowly.

I Believe that . . . just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue, tt doesn’t mean they do love each other. We don’t have to change friends if  we understand that friends change.

No matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that. 

True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.  Same goes for true love.

You can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. 

It’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

You should always leave loved ones with  loving words.  It may be the last time you see them.

You can keep going long after you think you can’t.

We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

Either you control your attitude or it controls you.

Heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

My best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

Sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with  how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

It isn’t always enough, to be forgiven by others.  Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.  

No matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are b, we are responsible for who we become.

You shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret.  It could change your life forever. 

People can look at the exact same ting and see something totally different.  

Your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.

Even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you – you will find the strength to help. 

Credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

The people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

You should send this to all of the people that you believe in. I just did. 

‘The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; tey just make the most of everything they have.’

 

So parents, do share with your loved ones who BELIEVE in you.

Words of Wisdom

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Hi Singapore Parents

Today, would like to share some words of wisdom with you:

   

Walk for 10 – 30 minutes every day, while smiling.

Sit quietly for at least 10 minutes every day, in isolation, if necessary.

Upon arising in the morning, one must immediately say: “My goal today is . . . . . . . ”

Listen to quality music every day.  This is real nourishment for the soul.

Live with the 3 Es – ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM and EMPATHY.

Play more games than last year.

Read more books than last year.

Look at the sky at least once a day, appreciating the majesty of the world that surrounds us.

Dream more while awake.

Eat more food that come from trees and plants.  Eat less manufactured food.

Eat berries and nuts.  Drink green tea, plenty of water and a glass of wine each day; toast something beautiful in life and if possible, in the company of a loved one.

Try to make a least 3 people laugh every day.

Eliminate clutter in the home, the car and the office.  Let a new energy enter your life.

Do not spend your precious time immersed in rumours, things from the past, negative thoughts or things beyond your control.  It is better to invest your energy in the positive present.

Life is a school and we are here to learn.  Problems are lessons that come and go; what we learn from them will serve us for the rest of our lives.

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

Smile and laugh more often.

Do not let an opportunity pass to hug a friend.

Life is too short to waste time hating someone.

Do not take yourself so seriously.  Nobody else does.

It is not necessary to win every argument.  One must accept that the other person is not in agreement and learn from his position.

Make peace with your past so as not to ruin your present.

Do not compare your life with others.  You have no idea of the highways they have travelled during their lives.

Nobody is responsible for your happiness, except yourself.

Remember well that we have no control over what happens to us but only what we do.

Learn something new every day.

What others think of us is not completely under our control.

Appreciate your body and its marvels.

Whether the situation is good or bad, it will change.

Work will not take care of us when we are sick.  Our friends will.  Stay in contact with them.

Reject everything that is not useful, amusing or beautiful.

Do not lose time.  We already have all the things we need.

The best is yet to come.

Nothing is as important as sitting, standing, getting dressed and helping others.

Have fantastic sex, always in harmony with the other person.

Phone your family regularly and tell them “Hi, I was thinking of you.”

Each day, before going to sleep, say: “I am thankful for _____________.  Today, I succeeded in _____________.”

Remember that we have too much that is good to be stressed.

Enjoy the voyage.  There is only one chance to be successful.

Life is beautiful.  You must appreciate it as much as possible.

(Author unknown)

Singapore parents, have a wonderful journey through these words of wisdom.

Thoughts for this moment . . .

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Hi Singapore Parents

Today, would like to share with you an extract about “Thoughts for this moment . . .”

      

 Do not take away someone’s hope, it may be all they have to hold on to.

Do not make decisions when you are angry, take cause of your physical body.

Do not pay for a job until it is finished.

Be careful of those who have nothing to lose.

Learn to say NO but do so with kindness and caring

Do not expect life to be fair.

Do not worry about losing a battle if this helps you win the war.

Do not put things off.  Do what is needed to be done in the moment.

Do not be afraid of saying “I don’t know” or “I am sorry”.

Contemplate the dawn hours at least once a year.

Look into the eyes of people.

Loveliness is a state of mind.  You do not need other people to love yourself.

There is nothing good or bad in life. it is all about choices so choose wisely.

Treat everyone as you would like to be treated.

Live in the moment. Do not rush ahead . . .

There is much to taste life in the “now”.

Do not be hard on yourself.  You have come to this life to learn al about who you are so enjoy the experience.

Always tell the truth.

Do not believe al that you hear and do not say al that you think.

Much of your growth as a person will come through hardships and challenges.

Enhance those and know you will be better, stronger and wiser because of them.

Learn to listen, it is an ART.

Life is all about energy.  Try to feel it around you, through you and in you.

Distinguish the positive from the negative.

Enjoy the beauty of this Earth all around you.

Do not get out of control at any time, breathe deeply.

There are no coincidence and no accidents in life.  Everything big or small is for a reason.  Pay careful attention.

Meditate at least 30 minutes a day.

Enjoy times of rest.

Nurture and maintain your friendships.

Live more in your heart and less in your head.

Get rid of hatred and bitterness, they do more harm.

There are those things in life that can never be recaptured: the spoken word, time passed and opportunities.

Do one thing at a time and do it well.

There are 2 dominant energies in life – LOVE and FEAR

LOVE overcomes all.  Stay our of FEAR.

There is nothing to fear, it only brings chaos.

Love your body.  It knows what you think, from your emotions spring health or illness.  Send yourself positive thoughts al the time.  One day, you will look back over all that you did in this life and you will die with laughter . . .

Surround yourself with LIGHT everyday!

(Author unknown)

 

So parents, something to ponder on this weekend . . .

The Story of "Hospital Window"

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Hi Singapore Parents 

I have heard this story many times.  Whenever I am down, I would recall the lesson drawn from it.

 

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.
 
One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.
 
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. 
Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.  She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.  Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.  If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

So parents, do share the story with your loved ones. 

Women over 40 is PRICELESS

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This is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40: “As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why”:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, ‘What are you thinking?’ She doesn’t care what you think.  If a woman over 40 doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it.  She does something she wants to do, and it’s usually more interesting.  

Women over 40 are dignified.  They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant.  Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.  

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved.  They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.  Women get psychic as they age.  You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.  Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest.  They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one.  You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.  Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons.  Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal.  For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.  Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, ‘Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?’, here’s an update for you.  Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage.  Why?  Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire bull just to get a little sausage!

To all the women above 40, treasure yourself as you advance each year!

Thoughts on Youth and Age

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Hi Singapore Parents

A friend has sent me a note about thoughts on youth and age.  The words were so excellent and provoking and I would like to share with you.

    

Getting older is the only way to live long.

The age of maturity is that age at which one is still young and is much more resourceful.

What most torments me about the foolishness of my youth, is no the crazy things I have done . . . but the fact that I can’t go back and do them again.

To get old is to go from passion to compassion.

Many people reach 80 because they waste time rying to stay at 40 forever.

At 20, desire rules; at 30, reason rules and at 40, it’s time for good sense and judgement.

Whoever is not beautiful at 20, strong at 30, rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be beautiful or strong or rich or wise.

When we pass 60, there are fewer things that we think are absurd.

Young people think the old are ridiculous.  The old know the young are ridiculous.

A mature person goes back to find the serenity once enjoyed as a child.

Nothing passes by as quickily as the years . . .

When I was young, I was told “You’ll see when you’re 50″.  I’ve passed 50 but I don’t see anything.

In the eyes of youth, there burns a flame.  In the eyes of the old, there shines a light.

The initiative of youth and the experience of the older each have equal value.

There is a small child inside each one of us.

Each age calls for it’s own appropriate behaviour.

Young people travel in groups, adults travel in pairs and old people walk alone.

Happy is the one who was young as a youth and happy is the one who is wise in old age.

We all want to grow old and we all want to deny when we have arrived there.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PASSING YEARS -

HOW TO LIVE THEM AND NOT JUST ACCUMULATE THEM!

So Singapore parents, do note the tips of growing old and becoming wiser . . .

Womanhood

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The following poem is dedicated to all woman folks.

 

 Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up.
Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don’t do what they’re supposed to do.

Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favours. Careers end.
BUT……… Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you,
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley’s rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley’s end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you . . . or come in and carry you out.  Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn’t be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.  Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

 

So ladies of all ages, enjoy your womenhood.


Beginning today . . .

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today1.jpg

Hi Singapore Parents

A friend sent me the following poem and I would like to share with you.

BEGINNING TODAY . . .

I will no longer worry about yesterday.  It is in the past and the past will never change.  Only I can change by choosing to do so.

I will no longer worry about tomorrow.  Tomorrow will always be there, waiting for me to make the most of it.  But I cannot make the most of tomorrow without first making the most of today.

I will look in the mirror and I will see a person worthy of my respect and admiration.  This capable person looking back at me is someone I enjoy spending time with and someone I would like to get to know better.

I will cherish each moment of my life.  I value the gift bestowed upon me in this world and I will unselfishly share this gift with others.

I will take a moment to step off the beaten path and to revel in the mysteries I encounter.  I will face challenges with courage and determination.  I will overcome what barriers there may be which hinder my quest for growth and self-improvement.

I will take life one day at a time, one step at a time.  Discouragement will not be allowed to taint my positive self-image, my desire to success or my capacity to love.

I walk with renewed faith in human kindness.  Regardless of what has gone before, I believe there is hope for a brighter and better future.

I will open my mind and my heart.  I will welcome new experiences.  I will meet new people.  I will not expect perfection for myself nor anyone else: perfection does not exist in an imperfect world.  But I will applaud the attempt to overcome human foibles.

I am responsible for my own happiness and I will do things that make me happy. . . admire the beautiful wonders of nature, listen to my favourite music, pet a kitten or a puppy, soak in a bubble bath . . .  Pleasure can be found in the most simple of gestures.

I will learn something new; I will try something different; I will savour all the various flavours life has to offer.  I will change what I can and the rest I will let go.  I will strive to become the best me I can possibly be.

So parents, with the economic crisis going on, beginning today, take one step at time time and enjoy the moment . . .

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

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Hi Singapore parents 

Today, would like to share the story below: When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

 

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions -and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else – the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents.  Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked.”

The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.” 

So parents, recognise which are your golf balls and allocate time for coffee.

Beautiful Hands

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Hi parents

Today, I would like to share with you an extract from the book “Something Wonderful is about to happen . . .” by Robin L Silverman.  In it, the author shared many true stories of people who found happiness in unexpected places.

In one of the articles, a group of people were asked to trace out the outline of their hands and write something about them.  One particular candidate wrote:

“I hate my hands.  The knuckles are too big and they hurt (she had arthritis).   The veins are ugly and my hands won’t always do what I want them to do.”  Up to this point, there was complete silence in the class as they felt her pain.

Then she continued: “But these are the hands that can still splash cool water on my face on a hot summer’s day.  These are the hands that clean my body and make my bed.  These are the hands that caress my loved ones and help me hold them.”

In conclusion, she looked up, made eye contact with one of the women near her and said confidently: “I love my beautiful hands!”

Do you love your beautiful hands?  I do.

So parents, you may want to do this exercise with your kids and see what they have to say about their BEAUTIFUL hands.  Have fun . . .

Three Things in Life

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Dear parents

Today, a friend send me the following which I want to share with you.

There are THREE things in life that, once gone, will ever come back:
1. Time
2. Words
3. Opportunity


Three things in life that can destroy a person
 1. Anger
2. Pride
3. Unforgiveness

     
Three things in life that you should never lose
1. Hope
2. Peace
3. Honesty

        
Three things in life that are most valuable  
1. Love
2. Family & Friends
3. Kindness

     
Three things in life that are never certain
1. Fortune
2. Success
3. Dreams

  
Three things that make a person
 1. Commitment
2. Sincerity
3.  Hard work

Essence of Time

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Whether you are male or female, rich or poor, young or old, all of us have one thing in common – TIME.When you say you do not have time, consider the following:


To realize the value of one year, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of one day, ask a daily-wage labourer with several children’s mouths to feed.
To realize the value of one hour, as the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of one minute, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of one second, as a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of one millisecond, ask a person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.Parents, life in Singapore may be hectic but you can still find time to what you like if you want to. So, the next time you decide to do something, just do it. Else, once the precious moment is gone, there is no re-winding back.

Arithmetic

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Came across this interesting poem by Carl Sandburg.

Arithmetic is where numbers fly like pigeons in and out of your head
Arithmetic tells you how many you lose or win if you know how many you had before you lost or won
Arithmetic is seven eleven all good children go to heaven
- or five six bundle of sticks
Arithmetic is numbers you squeeze from your head to your hand to your pencil to your paper till you get the right answer . . .

If you have two animal crackers, one good and one bad, and you eat one and a striped zebra how many animal crakers willyou have if somebody offers you five six seven and you say No no no and you say Nay nay nay and you say Nix nix nix?

If you ask your mother for one fried egg for breakfast and she gives you two fried eggs and you eat both of them, who is better in arithmetic, you or your mother?

Well, Singapore parents, hope you like the above extract and share them with your children. Also, do encourage them to write poems, no matter how simple, is a way of their expression.

The Art of Marriage

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While clearing some of my old stuff, I came across this poster that I bought 25 years ago. On it is this beautiful poem on The Art of Marriage:

It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once each day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is not only marrying the right person -
It is being right partner.

Every time I read this poem, it gives me the sense of peace within me. Now that the poster is tattered and torn, I am going to discard it. Nonetheless, I will always treasure the message it implies, especially the last sentence of being the right partner.

Having been married for 25 years and being parents of 4 children, we have always cherished each other’s companionship. Although we do not say “I love you” every day, in our hearts, we do. As Singapore is in the Asian region, people in this part of the world are rather conservative and we like to keep it that way.

Quotable Quotes

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Hi parents

This weekend, I have neither tips or advice to offer. Instead, have gathered some quotable quotes from famous people and would like to share them with you.“A good example is the best lesson.” – Benjamin Franklin

“A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder.” – Thomas Carlyle

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mohandas Gandhi

“Children have never been good at listening to their elders, but they never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin

“Genius is 1% and 99% perspiration.” – Thomas A Edison

“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, work at it until it’s done, and done right.” – Walt Disney

“Give the world the best you have, and the best will come to you.” – Madeline Bridge

“He who has the will acts with resolution; he who is contented is rich.” – Confucius

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein

“Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.” – Roger W Babson

“Learn from the mistakes of others – you can never live long enough to make them all yourself.” – John Luther

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Make sure you visualize what you really want, not what someone else wants for you.” – Jerry Gillies

“Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” – Bernard Baruch

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.” – Carl Sandburg

“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.” – Bruce Barton

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” – Helen Keller

“One who knows others is wise;
One who knows oneself is enlightened.
One who overcomes others is strong;
One who overcomes oneself is mighty.” – Lao Zi

“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“The best way to success comes through constant practice.” – Andy Warhol

“The past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday….doesn’t mean anything….all that matters is: What are you going to do, right now? – Anthony Robbins

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” – Abbie Hoffman

“We cannot discover new oceans until we have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Muriel Chen

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

“You don’t get in life what you want; you get in life what you are.” – Les BrownIn

In Singapore, life can be hectic and stressful for both parents and children. Whenever you feel down or need some words of encouragement, do refer to the above list and get some motivation.