New Year - Chinese New Year

Every year a new year comes around ...

Be it Deepavali, Hari Raya, New Year or Chinese New Year, loads of new resolutions and hopes abound
Everyone pitches a new hope, a new longing, a new beginning

The gambler wants to give up gambling, the drug addict resolves to kick his habit
The family man/breadwinner pledges to put more bread, butter and bacon on the table
The leader promises to bring his flock to higher grounds and a better future
Even the beggar swears "I will make it" out of this dunk and poverty

That's the beauty of "NEW"
New year, new determination, new-found strength and conviction, new focus and direction ...
And now 'New Normal'
That's the difference between 'wanting and doing', 'words and actions', 'plots and dreams'

Spring cleaning includes cleaning the home, tidying the office, breathing new dimension to the environment, most importantly, for a moment, clearing up all stale thoughts
The brain needs regular 'clearing and cleansing'; not voodoo though
If only, we constantly feel new, breathe new and act new, we will be constantly (fully) driven and motivated, focus and highly spirited, ready and proactive, and free from ill-health

Continue to make your resolution and change where necessary

Somehow, everyone wants to change or re-direct his focus
But, its always 'I am too busy', 'no time', 'next time', 'tomorrow' ...
Absolute nonsense! If you want to change, why continue spending your time and effort trying to better what you are doing? A wrong solution is NO solution

I have learnt early to understand why NEW YEARs are important
New Year is a moment when our adrenaline charges, when the mind is sharp and where we action our thoughts

My New Year comes quarterly or earlier; I review my intent and plans regularly
By doing so, I avoided the crowd and somehow progress a little further
Not necessarily successful but definitely less frustrating

I wish all my dreams will come true, but l must say "My Dreams Keep Moving" ...
Maybe, its the many NEW YEARs I have in a year

Time - Too Much Or Too Little

Uncertainties from cradle to grave ...

I used to worry about tomorrow
Worry about meals and basic needs
Worry about not working and no income
Not any more; not because I managed to meet all my needs but now I found peace

I used to have little time, unable to meet schedules but thrives on stress and pressures
Now I have a little more free time and plentiful of 'excess' time
I allow myself to idle 发呆 and dictate my own pace of life
Somehow, I miss the 'pressure & stress' - the Motivator that drives me

I admire my friends around me who still have primary, secondary & tertiary (school)friends
They gather to talk, gossip, laugh at each other and remark about their overgrown or suave looks
I wonder where have all my cohorts gone to
700km of land is not too big but big enough for me to loss all my old-time friends

Some days I feel awkwardly alone; Not lonely though
Every phone calls I dial is either not answered, switched off or simply 'dead'
I used to fret but not now
Life can be empty at times but never void

Whatever; I know I don't have much time left on Mother Earth
But, I certainly know I have quality time to spare and share
I cherish every moment of my life with family members, friends and lesser friends
Someday, somewhere, somehow ... we will pass - what's left shall be memory

“To understand that hardship is a matter of fate and success is a matter of the times; and to able to face enormous difficulties without fear or terror is to have the courage of a sage.” 知穷之有命，知通之有时，临大难而不惧者，圣人之勇也。

Oddities

Ironies of life is awash everywhere...

A: There are Three types of politicians-wannabes:

1. Leaders who fight for a cause and lead the flock out of misery
2. The wealthy one who looks for meaning (in life) and yearns to lead
3. Those seeking fame, fortune and power

Whatever the traits, the mass is almost always indifference until issues affect them






B: If the black box is indestructible, why is it the plane is made from the same material?






C: If 7-11 is a 24x7 shop, why does it still need doors and locks?






D: If S&P evaluates and grades others, who grade them?






E: In large countries like USA, China, Europe where climates change can be adverse, swift


and simultaneous, like floods and droughts, why can't the Government pipe the flood water

to the drought areas?

F: Do you notice that in most countries, if not all, members of political parties constitute a

minority relative to the entire population, yet the majority has to choose the minority to

represent him?

G: If the Law is crafted to be efficient, equal and fair why do you need judges? Just input all 

the data and offence committed into computer and the system will dish out an appropriate 

punishment befitting the crime as ascribed.

H: If you think you will be remunerated higher than your current job, then why are you still staying put?

I: Everyone tells you to be patient, persevere, work hard, strive to be the best and you will succeed. But, if these are the definitive motivators then why are there still failures?

J: Finally; if everything is equal and fair, I want the UPPER half


... the lists go on ....

When The Sun Sets On Me

Time flies and the sun sets on me ...

When I was young, an elderly aunty told me that 'if you suffer during your younger days, your later years will be more rewarding, fun-filled and relax'.

True, to a certain extent!

I worked doubly hard, never complain and take whatever comes
My youthful stamina, strengths and 'never-say-die' attitude conquers new frontiers
There was simply NO time to worry

Trials and tribulations
Tears and sweat
There was no time to reflect

Fastforward to today;

Children are grown up, with few financial obligations and plentiful of time to spare
Jobs? Work? It never cross my mind to look for work or jobs
I am worn and weary after repeated failures and I ain't a beggar

Guess, I am a digit in the unemployed database, ignored and forgotten
Not that I am lazy or indifferent - maybe I have priced myself out of work or simply seen as too old to work
All the talk about working to 62 years old or more are just TALKs

Do I feel rejected, discarded, cheated or 'uncared-for'?
Not at all!
The World is real and the real world is cruel
'Survival of the fittest' and 'winners take all' are norms

Whatever the propaganda, I see my country as an 'animal farm'

I have been wronged, not once but twice, in Courts and I bit the bullet, took the punches and moved on
I am absolutely sure of my innocence and a victim of circumstances
Friends come and go as doors close and windows open
There is no mercy nor sympathy for any fallen man; why would there be?
Why would I want or need one?

Blaming the world is to immerse in misery
I'd rather get out well and alive than to live in on blind hopes
I may bring the truths to my grave but I believe all the perpetrators will have their share of retribution
There are only two things I cannot decide; being born and the day when death knocks

Whatever you do, always be prepared
Prepared to enjoy the consequences; for better or worse
No one will dwell in the dark forever

When the Sun sets on me, I switch on the lights, keeps myself busy & warm and waits for daybreak  

You can break my bones and tear my flesh
But, nobody can steal my guts, attitude & Soul


I am who I am
The Incurable Positive

2012 - NewYear

Every seconds pass without notice ...

Because we always feel there is an abundance of time
Time is unlimited and infinite
Waste and procrastinate are norms

Resolutions are made
Goals are set
Alas, to be repeated again

Don't... banana never splits twice
Just as you only live once
Get into your act immediately and action your thoughts

Why wait when you can have it all ,,, now
When next year comes around, I want to win all that I have set out to do
My life, my compass and my destiny are one

Successes shall come
To those who plot and action it

New Year 2012 - Flood Of Opportunities

Whatever must go, shall go ...

You only glance at your rear view mirror and never stare into it
Just as you look back momentarily but look forward steadfastly

You may have lost 2011 or earlier years
2012 is yours for keep if you start NOW

There is no looking back

Who cares if the World must end in 2012; its everyone's problem
And we will meet again in the next World
Live the best today and now

The World will still be around long after we are gone

Today next year; I hope you won't ask for another fresh page
Its here and NOW

Good luck...
The journey has just begun

2012 - A Year Of Opportunities 危机

Change is the only constant but fear of changes still persist...危机

The US is in a quagmire, EU is rescheduling and forgiving debts and China is plotting a soft landing and managing an ever-vocal populace hit by perceived, or real, discrimination and an 'engineered' decline in property prices.

Singapore - being a small nation, cannot but be plugged into globalization.

Can anyone deny that CASH is king?

Euro-area banks parked 445.7 billion euros ($576.8 billion) with the Frankfurt-based ECB yesterday, up from 436.6 billion euros a day earlier. Deposits reached 452 billion euros on Dec. 27, the most since the euro’s introduction in 1999 - Bloomberg. Why? Simply because even the big boys cannot trust each other's credit standing!

Although US's unemployment is declining but, like in most countries, unemployment fatigue forces the unemployed and/or under-employed to opt out of dole, live on their reserves, accept part time contract or piecemeal work or simply fade away from the statistics. Q-on-Q growth are insignificant and not able nor wide enough to offer mass employment. With declining earnings, demand dries up.

Asia, especially China, may be the only sparks around. But, domestic demand cannot replace international trade, aka weakening global demand. Banks are bloated with governmental-link companies (GLCs) loans, properties and non-productive loans which could potentially result in explosive Non-performing loans (NPLs). Matters may get worse if property prices decline sharply (soft landing? unlikely) and social discontents surge - a lethal combination!

ASEAN as a whole is still filled with opportunities; post-flood reconstruction in Thailand, business resurrection and a more organized Philippines, Johor's Iskandar, opening up of IndoChina, a more stable Indonesia and repositioning of Brunei and Singapore.

A united Korea (not necessarily political) and an awakened Japan will provide abundant opportunities.

Whatever happens, smart money and hot money have to find safe havens.

The World has seen enough industrialization. Commodities, especially hard commodities, will take a back seat.

Cyclically, its time to get back to basics. Food production and agri-business will shine and medical and medicine will be the new engine of growth. Gaming and gambling will revert to the norm after phenomenal growth as new centres are opened and Laws relaxed.

The misfortune of calamities have silver lining too; reconstruction arise. Major wars are unlikely but proxy wars seem inevitable.

2012 is about opportunities and timing.    

How well, or how bad, will stockmarkets perform going forward? The tricks to identifying winners may be industry-centric rather than the market as a whole.

Typically, stockmarket experiences a cyclical quarterly low in January (Capricon effects), April (post-results), July (mid-year portfolio realignment) & October (Jupiter dynamism)

May you prosper in 2012; please spare some money to the less able, underprivilege and the poor thereafter. 

Down But Not Out

Waiting for an opportunity ... 

When you persist and dig-in, sometimes you succeed and sometimes you fail
But, if you give up, you fail absolutely
Success goes to people who try, adapt and changes their tact dynamically as the situation demands and not waiting or chasing blindly

Waiting for windfalls without efforts is 守株待兔 waiting blindly and mostly ends in vain


Life is cyclical; there are UPs & DOWNs, LULL and BOOM like the faithfulness of day and night
Capitalize on your strengths and manage your weaknesses
Use the lull period to upgrade, enjoy a hobby, expand your networking reaches, review and change your approaches to fit into the 'new-age' and newfound push
When boom returns, charge ahead!!!


Luck is where preparation meets opportunity


There are frustrations and setbacks on the journey to success
There are downtime, distractions and disconnect
Gains without efforts have minimum or zero utility


But, what if I have worked hard, spent a lot, a lot of efforts, tried different approaches and still success is far and unseen from the horizon? I have no answers for this but I do have a solution
- put everything aside and walk away from it all
- take a break and if the mind wander, let it wanders
- go chase a hobby or do what you have always wanted to 
- be free of bondage


When your mind is free and refresh, new shoots of ideas bloom


Because you have been trying very hard does not warranty success
Has it occur to you that you have been knocking on the wrong door? Don't just work hard, work smart
You will be pleasantly surprise how success slips in unaware and the answer props up from the blues in free minds


I may be wary and worn
But, my free mind floats in the breeze and dance in high spirits ...
... towards success

Forgive & Forget - Help The Fallen

For a better tomorrow ...

More should be done to allow least resistance re-integration of ex-offenders into society, not just token efforts.

When you have a brushed with the Law and had paid your dues like doing time, caned and/or a fine, shouldn't society at large be more magnanimous and allows unimpeded integration; saved for offenders of heinous crimes.

Just as a person who faces capital punishment is hanged for his offence, he is done with it. He should not, and (in this case) cannot, be hanged again. This is applicable to both criminal and commercial issues.

It must be noted that not all brushes with the Law are callous disregard for Societal norms, Statutory expectations nor intentional breaches and character flaws but possibly due to a moment of folly or ignorant of existing 'Do's and Don'ts', some would termed these as the grey areas, in Laws. Some will also argue that ignorant of the Laws are no excuses, but like 'dark spots', and if Laws are applied and enforced extensively and strictly by the book, many will be found wanting and infringements will be as common as common flu.

The presumption of innocence (innocent until proven guilty), Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat, can be an expensive experience where few can afford. I hazard to guess that many simply pleaded guilty due to the high costs of engaging lawyers to defend their cases besides the stresses and stigma attached to it. It is notable to know that there are free legal services and advices but how many really qualify? 

Moreover, although there are already provisions in Laws where restrictions are lifted after certain number of years, why wouldn't these be expunged from their records? Do offenders have to carry their past all the way to their graves? 

Of course not.

Support groups and programs such as ISCOS (*Making Tomorrow Better), SCORE (*Building Bridges,Changing Lives) and Yellow Ribbon (*Help Unlock The Second Prison) are trying to re-integrate and help ex-offenders and, by extension, their families to live lives as normally as possible. Even bankrupts are given a second change to make a come back.

(*motto)

It is disheartening to note that many companies, including Government agencies, are still shying away from employing persons who had brushes with the Law, however miniscule, but had paid their dues. They are just paying lip service and not walking the talk. 

It is overdue that institutions fighting the cause for ex-offenders be proactive and engage and speak out against discriminations through moral suasion and, if necessary, lobby for changes. As able and capable leaders and catalysts of change, you have to fight for the cause that you believe in and action it. The fallen need their anointed leaders to champion and lead them out of darkness; just being present is not good enough. 

The recent case of the property agent whose past caught up with him almost cost him dearly. Until today, I have not seen or heard anyone or any institution speaking out for him or address the issue of time bar or the expunging of past records. Justice must not only be seen to be done but has to be seen to be believed (J P Morton); ideally this phrase also applies to expunging of past records.

It is hopeful that agencies involved in championing re-integration will walk the talk more vigorously.

Help ... I Am Second Best

Help...

Any brilliant ideas hatched but not tried is like pregnancy undelivered
if you wait for others to endorse and support your dreams and plans
You will be searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

There are no sorrows in defeats and failures; only experiences gained
There are no victories without sacrifices
'Tears of Joy', 'Nearly Didn't Make It'; are words uttered by winners, not losers

Losers says 'I missed by a little', 'Didn't expect it'. 'I could have done better' ...
Omigosh, a loss is a loss by any other definition!
The World remembers the best, the winners

Either you race to win or you don't
Don't expect sympathy
Why bother to send second stringers or off-par players to the Olympic? For experience? Save it
Only the best need to be present and be presented

Steve Jobs make slaves and addicts of you (and the World) with his iPhone, iPads, iTunes
The World has forgotten and forgiven him for the supposedly ill-working conditions in the production of his iProducts
Look and be clear; he make you remember the prefix "I"
I am Steve Jobs... written as iSteveJobs

Winner Takes All

Before you join the race, accept defeats with grace; NO excuses, NO regrets
Glory and Victories are for victors and Winners 

You may be born poor but don't stay poor
Don't blame your parents and others for remaining status quo

Scraps are second best to natural resources; are you? Go, chase your dreams and follow your heart
The World is yours to keep if you dare and succeed

Do everything within your means; we have a distinct role
And no two person are the same
Be the best you can

I am the Winner
The best in my category; happy, contented and victorious
Fortune and Fame goes hand in hand

You CAN too



 

I Decide My Life

Will the egg turn into a chick or an omelette ...

I will never know what my future holds for me
But, I know what I want for my future

I have my goal and my ideal
I gravitate towards the ultimate; along the way I am guided by my heart
I flow and dance to the breeze; the winds beating against my sail
I shall arrive to my destiny; set for me, by me

Staying healthy, fit, knowledgeable and ready is my modus operandi
Being aware of my weaknesses helps me waddle away from the mines of life
Exhibiting my strengths allows recognition while taming exhibitionism
I shall shine

I shall conquer the World with my charm
And arrive at the destiny of my Life
A choice where Providence has inscribe but I decide
My preferred choice and my chosen path

Whoever lives in fear and on others command arrives in others harbour


Come rain or sunshine, day or night
I have my dreams or nightmares, my successes or failures
Aboveall, I will arrive at my own Port of Call


December; the last month of the year
The wintry winter with cold bites sending cold reminders
Another year will be out soon; how many 'one year' have you?


I don't need many but prefers qualitative, healthy years ahead


Man proposes, GOD disposes


Whether the egg will become a chick or an omelette, I Decide