Free Yourself From Bondages

time is always constant...

365 days & +1day on leap year... 60seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, 52 weeks

When 31,536,000 seconds passed & 2022 arrives

Time slowed down to a trickle as C19 struck; the whole ecosystem was muddled, restructured & calibrated to reflect a new normal

9/11 brought in security concerns and C19 pushed health issues into the forefront

COVID allowed Earth breathing spaces to clean up the air, oceans, mountains & surroundings

However, C19 also witnessed the resurgence of human greed, thirst for power, control & domination

While Nature assists nature to clean & clear, Nature also allow Humans to self-destruct due to their over indulgence & selfishness  - no nations will be left untouched in a nuke-war

Within borders, countrymen destroy one another in their zeal for domination & control - only those with compassion, care & share will be spared 施舍 忏悔

Revolutions are the results of suppression & oppression; the commoners endeavor a peaceful environment to live, let live & to pass time

Nobody wants anarchy 

Laws are necessary to ensure orders but excessive controls and micromanagement kill trust & disable initiatives; there is no monopoly of ideas & many successful entrepreneurship are the fruits of gumption & gutfeel

Marslow theory clearly showed that when Man has achieved most, he will seek self-actualisation which unfortunately may also mean that Man can self-crowned himself & make unnecessary demands from his flocks

There is no "ABSOLUTE" but two or more sides to possibilities

Do not give false hopes & promises as it could be a "live or death" matter to some

Do not be blindly pliant and obedient - you deserve the consequences of your decision

No persons/leaders, however wealthy, powerful, famous or supposedly well-like, can survive in a sea of poors 

Karma has a way of taking away or gives you whatever you desired most

Everything is temporary & vanity does not immortalize your eccentricities

Physical & emotional dependence are destructive; when a person is void of emotions, he has lesser bondages

Turn away vanity, deny others any chances to judge you, beware of false prophets & friends. How? Be fearless & indifferent to their provocations and temptations

Walk free...free your Soul

May the new year offer you the chance to crystalize your ideals - no holds bar

Resolutions Again: Christmas, New Year & Chinese New Year

Faiths & prayers...

When the mind is confident & unshaken, nothing hurts the body

No pains, no diseases, no agonies ...can affect the gritty mind & body

COVID has proven that nothing is impossible, or conversely, anything & everything is possible

The new normal will speed up & clear the usual ways that things were done

Fortunate are those who had made use of the lull period to upskill, upgrade, improvise and adapt to new ways of resolving issues & situations 

eSolutions will rule

Costs of living is rising unnoticeably but markedly

Inflation, stagflation, recession, depression - any of this will make lives & livelihoods much tougher

Underemployment, unemployment, stagnant incomes and diminishing real disposable incomes are contributors toward stressful living, frustrations, anxieties & suicides

The way out of uncertainties is "minimalist living" ; eat enough, have enough rest, keep out of others problems & instigation, manage your resources and stay healthy   

Live well & neutral while others bicker about their living

A happy family, bathe with warmth and belonging, is the best accorded shelter

Tough times don't last, tough people do - outlive your challenges - not all challenges need to be addressed

Like fire, the fury will burn out if left alone

The best defense is attack; we must resist when fakeness & baseless accusations become character assassination 底线

Nobody owes you a living & so it is (true) that nobody has a right to break your Soul

Never takes kindness as weakness - if there is a need to fight, fight to win & eliminate

Faiths & prayers reinforce the mind

A sturdy Mind is a solution enabler

Stop worrying and start living 活在当下

Forgive but don't forget - a lesson well taught is (must be) well learnt

It's barely 7 days before the day becomes new & so are the month & year

Have your crystalized your bucket of wishes or it's time to dust & reuse your resolutions? Do whatever fits & keep going

Some day soon, your dreams will come true; perhaps an abridged version

One day to Christmas, seven days to New Year & thirty eight days to Chinese New Year

This will be my last piece to close 2021: GOD Bless

Time Wasted Worrying

dying comes naturally...

Nobody knows when their time is up & it arrives mostly unannounced and at an instant

We are all destined to die; it's only when - the journey is cast but the exit methods differs

Empires come and go; friends disappear & spouses part - every thing is finite

The crave for fame, money, power ...is control; the need to control others for domination

Respect wasn't won but 'bought' & never lasts ...so is loyalty

Money talks, bullshit walks

Whichever religion you subscribe to, it's about love, compassion, forgiveness & care - nobody has seen GOD

天 - whatever you wish and pray for, GOD never voice out but somehow your prayers maybe answered (or ignored)

地 - whatever you wish & pray for, you need to work on it, henceforth "you reap what you sow" - the land has abundance & rewards those who works. The land never speaks

人 - human is the bridge between heaven & land & the only one that can talk. Either you gain abundantly or you poison your own lifeline

Karma is your personal computer; whatever you key in, come out - a direct correlation to your efforts

GOD will not destroy Earth but Earthlings ill-intents self destruct - be kind to one another or you'll be MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction)

The christians, muslims, jews & a few others believe you go to heaven after death whereas the buddhists  &, maybe hindus, believe you need to do good, have compassion, practice redemption & are allowed the cycles to reincarnate until you cleanse up or achieve enlightenment

Nobody aspire to go to Hell but if Heaven is so good, why aren't those who want to go there, go now? If you are living in Hell on Earth, why not make your Earthly stays Heavenly...enjoy the heavenly life you have now活在当下

Make every moment of living, memorably heavenly

Look around you: the political quarrels, the bullying of weaker nations, the milking of the commoners, the oppression of the weak, the displacement of the citizens, the suppression of truths, the threats of deprivation of freedom, the list goes on...isn't these living in Hell? Karma dish out the same menu when your time is up

Death is never fearsome

When you die, you move onto another realm (if there is one)

Make sure you enjoy every moments of life, for tomorrow may not come

Covid & many problems exist whether you like it or not; live well while others live worst is an angel's dream

Worries never solve problems but erode good health

Lock your mind out of "noises, irritants, distractions and overthinking" & you Soul will find peace

With peace, you will live heavenly on Earth

 2021 will be over soon; so do not waste 2022 onwards

 

Blessed Are Those Who Ride Through Uncertainties

 don't wait too long...

Top 10 Bucket List Items for Seniors (November, 2020)

• Learn a New Language. Many seniors would love to learn a new language...
• Support a Charity. ...
• Start a New Hobby. ...
• Travel. ...
• Try a New Food. ...
• Read Particular Books. ...
• Redecorate a Room. ...
• Get a Pet...

I am shock to see the bucket list as I have done all the above over & over again

Why wait so long? We work to live, not live to work

Surely, those can be tucked in somewhere between study, career, house, marriage/family, kids... 

How did Cheong, the special force commando gave up everything & became a monk? He prefers to be known as the Venerable Tenzin Drachom

Why did Venerable Ajahn Siripanyo, the son of Malaysia's third richest man, Ananda Krishnan, give up material well-being to pursue his spiritual path? He didn't wait until he grew old

Colonel Saunders used his welfare money & started his fried chickens business (KFC) out of necessity during the thick of depression

Not many people can "drop everything" and pursue an altogether new path unless forced to; humans are creatures of comfort

Successful people do not walk their familiar paths

A tinge of eccentricity is needed for those seeking the paths less travelled

But, the ordinary bucket list should not be delayed; time and tides wait for no Man

When you are young, do everything that you want as "from zero to zero" doesn't hurt yet you can spring back fairly fast from your falls

At mid-age, save 30% & game the balance; taking chances give you new frontiers & be a gamechanger

By the 60s, when the family has been provided for, it's "show hand" time; 70% are left with your family and spend the 30% on whatever you want. Any monies not spent are not yours

What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again; it's you vs Time as we walk towards/near the end

Be motivated & encouraged - the 2nd or next wind may be the final blowoff - legends are made before the curtains fall

Whatever Fits, just do it - he who laughs last, laughs best

Don't worry about what people say or think about you; your presence or demise has no impact on them

A Master once said "when you die, the 'many' people who come to see you off are those that truly care"

Blessed are those who live best when others live worst

Don't wait...you are as good as whatever you can & will do now 活在当下

If someone reassures you that tomorrow is better, I warranty you Today Is The Best - dead man tells no tales

A New Normal Awaits You

 the new normal...

I used to travel/fly 15-20 days a month before Covid

Now, traveling is a chore but, at least, borders are opening up

Having booked your air-ticket doesn't mean you can travel - a failed PCR test will prevent you from getting into the plane

Even if you pass, your next hurdle is the PCR test on arrival; pass you go on & fail, you are  quarantined

After you almost complete your trip, you need to be tested again before flying home; pass you fly home & if you fail, you are quarantined

Another PCR test on arrival before you go into self-quarantine (SQ) 

Yet a final PCR test, say 7 days later, before you are allowed to go out; only if you pass

Money, money... is spent to trade back freedom

How do you build resistance against Covid? Build a strong body (stay fit), receive more fresh air and sunshine (be healthy) & have faith in GOD

The global economy is greatly hamstrung by the debilitating impact of Covid & governments the world over are looking for alternative sources of revenues

What will the future promise? Anything is possible

It is not too late to pursue your dreams and ideals

The world slowed for you to catch up, not sulk and sink; leveling down does not happen often

Stop complaining and start living (to the fullest)

Transform your energy into efforts towards the direction of your goals; be the winner, not the whiner

Inconveniences and changes are not obstacles but allow you to sharpen your ideals when crystalised- the rock is not a gem until it is polished

Fear nothing, fight to win

Do not let others write your Destiny & leave yourself stories to recall & tell in your twilight years

Why do you fear your bosses, the politicians, the armed personnels, the bullies & even the stares of others when you may not even see the next daylight if Covid hits? We eat to live & not live to eat and we do not live to work

Money is a means to an end 钱不是万能 但没钱万万不能  -  钱是身外物

With grit, encouragement & resourcefulness, the world is yours to conquer

You've less than 20 days to go before the year ends 

What have you achieved and/or missed while worrying about Covid, it's impact & the supposed losses & fears? Many can only look back with regrets & perhaps, repeat their old, dusty Resolutions when the new year arrives

No two days are the same neither sorrows nor happiness

Do not worry about things that you cannot change nor influence

Do everything within your means and prowess for you reap what you sow

Tomorrow maybe better but today is still The Best

活在当下 天时地利人和 Make hay while the Sun shines

The new normal is here... be the first mover & the gamechanger

I am ahead of the Curve

Last Or Lasting

 the last...

1st December; the last month of the year (2021)

If you have spent time sulking & worrying about this disruptive virus year 2021, you've lost 11 months of precious time that will never return

The smart use the lull, disruptive period to rethink what he wants to do, pick up the skills & be empowered and ready to reap opportunities when the new normal arrives

The incurable complainants continue to wallow in self-pity & expending energy negatively - never cry over spilled milk - nothing much can be achieved

What have you achieved in the last 11 months? Many can only look back in awe

When "it's everyone's problem, you need not fret"! Just go with the flow but stay away from it's onslaught & destructive paths

Water seep through rocks & new rivers form from clogged riverbanks

Be like water; no form, no shape, no designs - adapt

Everyone is worried about their future but few are prepared to forearm himself with knowledge & skills necessary to achieve his preferred goals

COVID has proven that nothing is impossible - lockdown, sealed borders, restricted mobility, surveillance, closed ports & disrupted logistics, work from home, home learning...

Put aside the noises from COVID & prepare yourself for the new normal where many a stuck with regrets, self-pity, doubts, fears, disillusions, distractions and blaming the dynamically challenging situation 

You cannot change others nor can you dictate terms with Nature; go with the flow - change yourself and the world changes with you

Is change necessary for survival? No, but the ability to adopt and adapt is 

Live best when others live worse is the decider of winners

Do whatever fits & do not wait until you are not able then that you wanna climb the highest mountain, swim in the deepest ocean, run the full marathon, or for that matter, fight for a cause 

When was the last time you spend quiet moments with your family, send a bouquet to your spouse, cook a meal & enjoy it by the seaside, visit your parents, or simply take a walk around your neighbourhood? Give yourself a chance to do it...Do It Now

When the last month on the calendar leaves, many will recycle their "NewYear Resolutions" - repeating the same solutions to an existing problem is a fool's ideal

The LAST is definitive - everyone lives until the last breathe, the last supper, the last hope, the last...

Do not waste time wallowing in self pity, overthinking & laze - the next destination is yours for the taking

Between birth and death, you write your (own) destiny

Don't be the last man standing; nobody's there to back you & when you're dead, you'd need to crawl back to your grave

Do not waste your next 31 days - make your last month definitive & proceed to achieve your dreams & create a lasting memory

It's a fine line between the fool & genius, darkness & dawn(break), success & failures, life & death 

Be Lasting, Not Last

Surviving On Little

save & stretch the dollar...

How to, & why do you, save when inflation kicks in where your $1 today buys $0.80 next month? The meagre interest rate of 0.5% pa offered by banks doesn't help neither does the stagnant income

The million dollars question is "is it better to be able to buy something, expensive though, than not able to by anything even if you have money"? This only applies to non-necessities

Where necessities are concerned, you get lesser because your money shrinks while the rich grumbles about their lower real purchasing power

Why did prices of goods rise despite the dampening of global demands by Covid? It is the unfortunate cycles of mismatches: the abundance produce were trapped & undelivered when Covid hit & lockdowns begun. Producers distraught by inability to distribute & sell, cut supplies by destruction of existing stocks and reduced production. Distribution channels were further paralyzed by the breakdown of logistics flows

Oil is >$80; why so in a globally slowed economy? Production is struggling to match recovery in demands from low(er) as many idle fields need to restart

Costs of living is spiraling up despite stagnant income and unemployment & underemployment

Inflation almost always hurt the poor man first as real income falls

How to find the cheapest, fair quality "Buys"? With so many eSites, do a spreadsheet on the items from the various sites to draw comparison - cheap doesn't mean poor quality. Buy whatever you need, not want

When you lower your expectations, you have lesser disappointments

The world will spin whether you like it or not, alive or dead

Many are complaining about the ever changing policies, including restrictions & termination of employment of the unvax

Jab at your own risks also mean you must be given a choice - the choice of say "NO"

Who will pay for any medical eventualities, if at all? Yourself; that's why the "NO" must remain sacred  

Eat & spend within your means and buy what you need, not what you want

The financial markets in US have enjoyed years of rises, growth & bountiful prosperity whereas markets in the East are undergoing monumental correction

Were smart money finding heaven in the West where money makes monies & where hard working production make meagre returns in the East? The root to this is perception

The West buys into the future & spend ahead of time whereas the East is the global workshop toiling to provide for global demands

When reality hits & the house of cards collapsed, pains and blood will flood the street

Cost push and demand pull economics shrink real purchasing power; inflation rears it's head

Leveling down allows those lower down the food chain to catch up

But, you'd need an "anarchy of financial armageddon" to redistribute wealth more equitably 

Lines at soup kitchen grows, unemployment & underemployment are the new norm

Stretching the dollar to survive will be the new norm before more can be saved & accumulated in the recovery phase

Lie low, keep going, stay healthy and sane...the lights will return

Fleet Footedness

 change like a flip of a coin...

Time is the best friend; it bury & heals 

Like an almost empty vase, drips of water fill over time & experiences accumulate

The best is yet to be but the world continues evolving even if you stop or quit

Time and tides wait for no man

Pains will heal but scars remain; the subtle memories of experiences past

Overcome the past & conquer all eventualities or be a victim upon circumstances

Nothing is too hideous to swallow when life is at stake as dead man tell no tales

Leadership, like a dead fish, rods from the head & it's stench is smelt miles away while the underlings suffer the fallouts

Choose your friends and leaders wisely as many are just passers-by; 浑水摸鱼 they'd 'top slice' the choicest piece

November 2021 is here despite tough and uncertain beginning - time flows - good or bad

Be slow to judge, slower to comment and offer an endearing ear - listen patiently & attentively

Life will never be the same when a dear one departs; it's a chapter where possibly one lead character exits & whatever is left are fond memories

Walk away from lies, half truths & misinformation

Never volunteer too much personal information nor get too involve in anothers life emotionally

When no emotion is involved, decisions are more logical, stable & resolvable yet contained

Stay away from vindictive, selfish, self serving, greedy & suspicious characters as it's too tiring defending the indefensible

Bernard Lawrence Madoff, an American fraudster and financier who ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history, worth about $64.8 billion, said "The whole government is a Ponzi scheme”. He was at one time chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange

Don't blame the conman, the politicians, your friends...learn not to be gullible & have wishful thinking

“You’re either lucky or blessed. Which would you choose? Me? I’d choose clever.”  ― V.E. Schwab, A Conjuring of Light

How fast we adopt & adapt to changes, more often than not, determine the outcome - the desired result when crystalised is a result of our efforts

We may change with the circumstances or push through our thoughts but we must never change the Laws of Nature, that is, somethings need time; from pupae to butterflies, from buds to flowers, then fruits, the changing of tides & wind directions...

In the last 20years or so, the world's leading stockmarkets have soared & any major drop is followed by recovery into new highs; Man has taken this as a norm

COVID has disrupted the/all norms

In uncertain times, be patient but fleet footed

Trust no one with your life & relies on instincts... the 6th sense

Life Awkwardness & Weaknesses

immerse in misery or rejig to cheerfulness...

Hurts don't kill; it's the indulgence in misery that intoxicate the mind

An intoxicated mind is self-destructive & poison the social ecosystem

The longer it lingers, the more fatal it becomes & the end is almost always terminal

Get away, get over ... it's a journey, not a destination

Time is the best friend; it heals all pains

All shalt pass... why keep the hurts & losses when nights will turn day soon

Stay fit & healthy; safe, of course. Tomorrow is another new day

Work stresses, business uncertainties, family quarrels are dockets of challenges that surface from time to time

We work to live, not live to work - enjoy every moments of life - live proactively

How do you define a person is wealthy? When he can & will spend the money to buy whatever he wants without much hesitation nor worries. He takes care of himself and fulfil his personal needs. 

If a rich man couldn't even spend $20 on his favourite meal, he is living miserably.

When your loved ones or a close friend departs, a whole new chapter begins without that person... it's not a continuity

The journey forward is filled with memories & fondness 

Contrary, life will never be the same but still flows

Enjoy your life to the fullest with whatever minimal you have

Nobody is any happier that you leave behind a fortune. Why? If they love you, they feel sad that you didn't care enough for yourself. If they don't love you, they don't deserve the inheritance

该来的总是会来 - 随缘

If FateBook is destiny, you have a choice - only the dates of being born and death is recorded; the journey is for you to decide 

Adoff Hitler, JFKennedy, Bernie Madoff, Mao TzeDong, Lee Kuan Yew, Deng XiaoPing, Churchill, Stalin...wrote their own destiny - you TOO

Make your mark in you life & live to the fullest 酸甜苦辣 is only a taste & it changes... I chose light taste in my life & accepts the occasional uplift 

You may see me suffer but you will never see me tear

I command & control my Providence, the ups & downs are part of the story

When it's time for me to leave, I'd have told all my lifetime stories - the real, the agony, the achievements, the defeats, the betrayals & my own follies

I am just as human as anyone with weaknesses & awkwardness

Hurts Never Kill

 if you can shoulder it...

The amount of load that you can carry and continues to carry is the surest sign that you are not burdened nor suffering under that weight nor pressures

Parents give everything to their kids to lighten their lives & create possibilities

The loved (被爱者）will be showered with blessings, cares, gifts, opportunities; at times, beyond the affordability of the givers

When love strikes, the sacrifices are almost infinite but there is a price for everything

Playing with emotions can be pricy though; the repercussions may also be equally explosive

Nothing comes for free

Whenever something crops up amongst friends, I seldom ask "why"! If he wants to tell, he would have done so. If he doesn't, he will cook-up a story to placate everyone. That's the same as someone asking for a loan

It's better to be a good listener than a good counselor as most ask for a listening ear to pour out their sorrows

I love the rain; walking in the rain where tears & rain comingle as water - the Soul is blessed with showers and the heart lightens without burnout & nobody sees the weaknesses of the self

When the mirror is broken but restored, the hairline cracks remain, however faint

When your boss breaks his promises. when your better half breaks the trusts, when your most desired 'dream was not forthcoming nor materializing', it's best to bite the bullet, accept the fact, take a impactful punch and walk away

You may be hurt badly but wounds do heal ... it takes time

The scars are Trophy of Experiences

Many a times, setbacks are self-inflicted; from the parent who sacrificed everything to send her kid to college but landed in aged home, to the lover who gave every inch away & only to receive unrequited love and the willingness to be incarcerated for another crime

There are no fools but stupidity; fools do 'wake up'. The stupid person is like someone who died and is oblivious of his surroundings and the people around him is suffering the consequences of his acts 

You live and passes on in due course; do not take advantage of others unnecessarily

Debts will need to be repaid whereupon emotional debts have limitless retributions. It's like fire - a match can burn a forest

If you discover yourself being used or manipulated, walk away & start afresh - the pains will go away

Why bother with revenge than to watch him falter in a larger game 雨过天晴

Take it easy however demanding the situation is as all shalt pass

He who laughs last, laughs best 

In this trying moments, the lighter the mind, the easier the journey

Let GO & every awakening is a new day

Adopt & Adapt

alone in the wilderness...

When you think you are needed & indispensable, you're probably still useful

But, when you die, the globe continues to spin with one person less

In fact, some were already forgotten when they're alive - the abandoned kids, the rejected parents & the rough stays

Lonely & alone aren't exactly loneliness

Are you lonely or do you choose to be alone to enjoy the serenity of life; the undisturbed peace, not unlike meditation & retreats

Or, were you the disruptive, problematic, self-centred type that many chose to avoid?  The hermit lives in his own world

Famous & rich people commit suicide not because they have no friends but because they cannot find someone close and reliable to confide ; where the listening ears outweigh the counseling 

Humans are social animals; the need to be around people and to be recognised 

君子之交淡如水

Conversely, when you over-provide and care too much for a close one, your utility diminishes - he cannot see the value of your contributions but instead felt invasion of privacy & space

Such persons should be left in the woods & feed to the wolves!

Express appreciation with shared compassion; you cannot demand help 

A match can light up total darkness. The brightest spark is the break of dawn. The lighthouse informs of shallow ground and shore is probably nearby - darkness & light interchanges

When one chapter closes, another begins although the pains remain

As the pages flip & past, a new ecosystem surfaces and joy is redefine; nobody should indulge in self-pity

You maybe abandoned & alone but life gets back to normal once you've adjusted