YEAR OF THE HORSE

The Lunar New Year celebration ended officially on 14th February. 
According to the Chinese calendar, I am a year older and  ...... definitely - hopefully - prayerfully .... errrrrr.... wiser!
Say what? 

MAGIC OF LOVE

Life is incredibly beautiful when one is in love, magical even ...

PSALMS 23

Psalms 23 - A Psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me 
in the presence of my enemies;
thou annointest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall 
follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

Amen.

THINKING MAKES IT SO

If it is within my power to turn back time, I wouldn't risk it!

Some things may not be all that I want them to be but they could be worse.

Nothing is absolutely good or bad.

Thinking makes it so.

ASHES IN THE WIND

Some morning when you awake you'll find that everything has changed over night. 
Reality hits like a bolt of lightning, a ton of bricks.

All that was once familiar is ebbing away. The people who once mattered don't anymore. You struggle to remember their faces.

Life, like a passing cloud is fast disappearing in the distance, ashes scattered in the wind.

When we're through chasing our noble ambitions - fanning our personal agendas - living our fantasies, persistent love quietly pleads our case and presents the verdict.
It is only in total surrender with all humility, that love will bring us home.
Love and love alone ...

GOOD TRADITION

Tradition is a good thing, especially upholding the practice of bringing families together. 
It's heartwarming to see relatives from near and far converge in festive celebrations - reunion dinners, birthdays, weddings, new births etc. 
In those gatherings, the atmosphere is mostly happy complemented by plenty of food, boisterous conversations and jovial back slapping.

On such auspicious occasions, everyone tries a little harder to be cordial and accommodating; their cantankerous behavior put on hold!
Disputes and differences are momentarily set aside!

The young ones in observing their elders learn to adopt those positive traits which will stand them in good stead. 
What pride and pleasure to see young children who observe fundamental good manners - politeness, respect, obedience, basic social etiquette - all of which are evidence of well brought up kids.

And that's the way it ought to be in the spirit of keeping tradition...

SHORT LIVED

He turned her life around. She turned his upside down.
It was the most extraordinary - gut wrenching, nerve wrecking, pulse racing, heart stopping, feet stomping - time in their lives.
Enriching, fascinating, liberating; spontaneity at its best.

Man fully alive.

Short lived but momentous.

Despite the drama, turbulence and trouble, given half the chance, they'd make a go at that again...

CRYING SHAME

Sometimes, it's not that people are deliberately abrasive, vicious and mean. 
Could be that they don't know any better.  

One should always try to be optimistic especially in crisis!

As for the aggressors, we make excuses for them. 
Not in a naive manner as in the ostrich burying its head in the sand but confronting stark reality instead.

if one has never known kindness, how does one know how to dispense kindness? 
If one has never known grace, how does one behave graciously? 
If one has never experienced compassion, how does one demonstrate compassion? 
If one has never known love, how does one apply love in return? 

So, I say, lets not begrudge such psychologically and emotionally deprived people. 
Show them mercy and  pity rather than punish them.  Keep your peace.

In contrast, a pessimist would hold differing views.  
He may not be so tolerant or forgiving. 
After all  it is utterly unfair that the majority should prey on the minority, the strong on the weak. And this is the case whether in the bedroom or boardroom!  
Weep for man in his fallen state.

What a crying shame...

SECOND CHANCES

One good thing about 'second chances' is we get to save a lot of resources, time, trouble and heartache by not repeating the same mistakes that caused the 'break-up' in the first place. 
Blame it on the ego. Bring that to submission and we'll stand a better chance at developing intimate relationships.
In business we think nothing about giving all our time, thoughts and talents into planning, pursuing (and perspiring) until we 'land the deal'.
What more when we wish to capture and hold the attention of people who matter most to us. We give it all we have...
Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

It has been said that a relationship is sweeter the second time round.

(Chinese Proverb: At first, it's bitter; at the end, sweet.)

BREAD AND BUTTER

I feel really sad and sorry for people who are stuck in their job. No way out, they lament. Long hours, underpaid, unappreciated, scrutinized with suspicion, suppressed into submission; doomed. 

They hate it but can do nothing about it. Uh!

And so the poor soul plods on, agonized, tortured; dragging his feet into a hell he's created for himself.

And it doesn't help to see the long, sour faces of colleagues who are probably in a similar pitiful state, facing the same plight.

Is it worth it? To continue slogging? What of those empty promises? Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Should he throw in the towel now or wait another 6 months, a year? Perhaps things will be different, improved. He's skeptical but continues hoping.

Maybe, someday ...

A suggestion, if you are in that predicament.

Observe how previous colleagues who have gone before you were treated. With dignity, decency or degradation? 

Did you approve? Did it ignite fear or disgust in you? Consider those actions and your reactions. These are helpful tips in your own decision making. If others were treated unkindly, be warned, you'll probably face the same fate.

With the New Year, resolve to make things better all around and it jolly well starts with that job-activity that brings in the bread and butter. Cut the bitter.

The work place should be fun, in an atmosphere of co-operation, healthy competition and strong team work for mutual benefits.