A review by:

Mr. Chan Bing Fai

Former school teacher, Headmaster and educational technologist

Lynn Wong's latest book is SMILE though your heart is ACHING. This is a much awaited book, a worthy sequel to her first book "As Time Goes By" published five years ago. Both her books are generally about life and living. They are not autobiographies.

Her first book is centred more on childhood memories and growing up pains based more on events, observations and her responses and reactions to them, with the innocence of a child. Her latest book, however, is about the adult world with its ups and downs.

It is also about fighting corporate battles.

The words she has chosen carry her thoughts succinctly. They are warm and friendly without being pretentious. The topics included in both her books cover a broad spectrum of subjects and events. Some are more hilarious and many are focused on a more serious note.

Her approach to life is spontaneous, governed by prudence and common sense. It appears lighthearted and easy. Being a keen observer, even trifles, will not escape her scrutiny. Her response to these is largely based on common sense and knowledge; laced with wisdom.

Her thoughts flow through smoothly from one idea to another and the transition is gentle, methodical, tidy and logical. Lynn's philosophy appears simple and yet very profound and thoughtful; gracious and tinged with a lot of human skills and understanding.

Her books are very personal and subjective; unique, highly perceptive, intimate and reflective. I have enjoyed reading both her books and excitedly look forward to her next one which I hope will not take too long to come to fruition.

Her artist -illustrator- is equally talented in bringing out the many encounters and experiences of the author through her drawings; depicting expressions, moods and emotions subtly and with precision. Congratulations to both of you for complementing each other perfectly!

The typography and layout is attractive and designed for easy reading. The book is available in major bookstores.

It is priced at RM27.90.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

REFRESHMENT

Growing a garden is liken to growing friendship. 
The nurturing process requires an immense amount of dedication, commitment, discipline, perseverance and enthusiasm. 
And even that, not all plants will blossom! Some inevitably get choked by weeds while others are starved for want of nutrition. A gardener can only do so much.

Loyal friends are certainly more precious than plants and need extra investment in time, effort and energy to sustain and thrive. Throw in respect, trust, admiration, affirmation and watch the friendship bloom. 

Never take important relationships for granted.

Bid adieu to shoddy friends and acquaintances who dropped off along the way. Save your time and effort for the ones who 'tarry'. You know them, there aren't many. The ones who are always present when your need is greatest. Critical. They who are last to leave.
Be refreshed in their good company, be wrapped in their warm embrace, be blessed by their love.

Go walk the garden and be intoxicated by the aromatic sweetness of the flowers in full bloom ...



Monday, December 30, 2013

KISS OR KICK ...

Loving someone could be the easiest or the hardest thing to do.
And it's because you don't know how the other person - the object of your desire - would react.
Would you get a kiss or a kick for your advances? 

Would you be damned for trying or triumph for daring? 

In the game of love, the chase is always more exciting and pleasurable than the catch.  The racing pulse, heightened heartbeat and adrenaline rush could well be the elixir of youth.  Who can explain love?  Wise men don't even try!


What's Love Got To Do With It? Everything!

As we stand on the threshold of the New Year, here's wishing you blessings of joy, peace and love in overflowing abundance.  Good health and prosperity too in 2014!  


HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Cheers!


Sunday, December 22, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

Today is as good a day as any to be giving, thoughtful and kind. 
It's a joy and privilege to spread goodwill in true Christmas spirit. 
What a wonderful feeling to love and be loved especially during this festive season. 

Giving thanks with a grateful heart.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014.






Tuesday, December 17, 2013

PACKAGING

Love was there all along. 
Just that we didn't recognize it because of the packaging. 
It was neither what we had imagined nor expected ...


Monday, December 16, 2013

PEACE AND JOY

Joy has to be pursued.  It doesn't come naturally.
Peace cannot be purchased.  It has to be grown.
Joy and Peace are naturally paired together.

When you have one, you'll have the other...



Thursday, December 12, 2013

INERTIA

The first step is usually the hardest. 
Following that it gets a lot easier.


The challenge is to get started, then stay with it, get serious about it and finally see it through to fruition. 
However, we prefer to play safe, don't much like risk taking and hesitate to attempt anything new until we're sure of the results.

Well, sometimes we end up waiting forever and nothing gets done. 
Worse still, we get suck into the system and stuck in the rut!

Once we get a move on, momentum kicks in, things begin to look up and kind of just fall in place.
And soon the initial inertia is forgotten and we begin to wonder why we took so long to make the change 

Plant a seed. That's a good start...



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

MILESTONES

A wise person would turn misery and misfortune into milestones. 
Of what use is a pity party. Bad breaks, raw deals, and missed opportunities are part of life. 
Detour, deceit and deviation are to be expected and these are not always pleasant.
No one deliberately looks for pain or trouble but they come, sometimes in alarming frequency!

When a person is down, mostly he/she needs a listening ear, shoulder to cry on, a hearty meal, a nourishing word of encouragement, a good laugh and a gentle push to put him/her back on track again.
In this tiny act of kindness both the giver and recipient of grace benefit from the joy imparted; something that will be remembered long after the recovery process is completed.
And that makes it so worthwhile...



Monday, December 9, 2013

PERSONAL MISSION - NOT IMPOSSIBLE

It's useful to have a Personal Mission Statement (PMS) as a guide to set priorities and commit to meaningful activities that would add value to our lives.  It's not impossible!

My PMS: 

I purpose to Live Each Day As If It Were My Last. 
Seek That Which Nourishes The Soul Rather Than Appease The Flesh.

I translate that to mean: 


++ Be a mood setter
++ Give generously
++ Return stinginess with kindness
++ Accept challenges with courage
++ Serve without expecting any repayment
++ Be gentle as a dove

++ Be shrewd/streetwise as a serpent
++ Love unreservedly


Admitting that I'm still Work In Progress, often I don't measure up to my own expectation ...but constantly trying.




Thursday, December 5, 2013

STORMS - WAIT IT OUT

Pity, things can never be the way they were! 
Even if the wounds heal, the scars would show.

The storms of life assail, causing damage, leaving a disastrous trail of dispute, disappointment and disillusionment. 

The hurt, agony and devastation are felt right to the core and leave one stunned and frozen. Incapacitated.

Every day we are being harassed, battered and assaulted in the inner man, suffering and succumbing to mental anguish. 

This stunt our growth and development to maturity and never realizing our potential.
Sad that we spend a lot of precious time nursing our wounds. A wounded pride mostly. 

Such a wasted life.

So, we can either sulk, punch the air and blame the world for storms in life ... storms of injustice, sickness, lack, loss and separation OR we can look those challenges in the eye, take them on with calm, serenity. patience and a smile knowing that they, too, like everything else, will pass.