Of Ducks and Cranes.

The taoist philosopher Chuan Tzu (369-286 BC) was a great believer in just being yourself. he illustrated this point by referring to the duck and the crane.

The duck, he said, with its squat body and short necks and legs, is perfectly suited to bobbing about on the water.
The crane, on the other hand, with its slender neck and legs is perfectly suited to wading in the shallows.
Each bird gets along just fine by acting in accordance with its own nature.
In the same way, we, too, get along best simply by being ourselves.

– excerpt from Mind Your Body, Gary Hayden

People accept you for who you are. Cover up for who you are, and you risk losing yourself forever. Your entirety.

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One guy out there.

The Quitter

When you’re lost in the Wild, and you’re scared as a child,
And Death looks you bang in the eye,
And you’re sore as a boil, it’s according to Hoyle
To cock your revolver and . . . die.
But the Code of a Man says: “Fight all you can,”
And self-dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it’s easy to blow . . .
It’s the hell-served-for-breakfast that’s hard.

“You’re sick of the game!” Well, now, that’s a shame.
You’re young and you’re brave and you’re bright.
“You’ve had a raw deal!” I know — but don’t squeal,
Buck up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day,
So don’t be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on your grit; it’s so easy to quit:
It’s the keeping-your-chin-up that’s hard.

It’s easy to cry that you’re beaten — and die;
It’s easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope’s out of sight —
Why, that’s the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each grueling bout,
All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try — it’s dead easy to die,
It’s the keeping-on-living that’s hard.

— Robert William Service
Submitted by Wayne Coghlan — Canada

This is true. Those that fight despite being out of hope, those that keep on living despite everything that happened.. These are the people who are strong. Who have weathered the storm and emerged victorious. These are the people who fought hard and long to stand where they are now.

What will you do when the world ends?

Someone posted me that question. Well, I do not have a definite answer. Neither do you. If it really does come, there is nothing we can do as well. We’re not God. We just have to accept the fact that it is the end. Though I believe that it will not happen too soon. 2012 is definitely too soon. It will not happen within this generation nor the next. But I can’t confirm about the rest. That’s about all I know. I am no expert in this field, just my take.

I want to be by the people I love when the world ends.

The latest news about the earthquake, tsunami, and explosions in Japan is really heart wrenching. Their calmness and kindness really touched the heart of many and really sets on thinking; how can a human, already in dire straits, still put someone else in front of them? Wells, it has been proven it is possible. It is all but the human that decides what to do. Of course not neglecting other wordly issues that just happened too – like the Libyan unrest, Bahrain violence, etc. Yes there is a lot of attention given to Japan now, but let us not forget that there are still problems going on elsewhere. It is just sad to see many people scramble to help big issues and as a result, neglect the small. e.g tsunami , haiti which people went all out to help.

Love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person. Love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of. Love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you

– The OC

The Rose Within.

A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it.

He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, “How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom… it died.

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects.

We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose within them.

This is one of the characteristic of love… to look at a person, know their true faults and accepting that person into your life… all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul. Help others to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the “rose” within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.

It isn’t easy. To be able to look past someone’s flaw and accept them for who they truly are, is not easy. Being able to help the other realize their full potential is not easy either. But you know, think through the times someone helped you. Be it a minor favor or a major one. I am sure they have touched your life somehow. Remember how they helped you once, and carry it forward (: You never know whose life you’re going to touch in time to come.

Life is so fragile..

Life is so fragile, you never know when whatever is going to happen. It happens when it happens. Are you ready for it? Any regrets in life?

Contemplating certain life issues does make one ponder about what they have been doing throughout their life. I’m good with mine. Even if I were to leave tomorrow, I’m fine with that. Yourself?

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Happy Valentine’s to all today 🙂 Whether you’re single or attached or facing problems, etc. Be happy, tell someone you love them today. You never know if you never try! =)

Those who are telling a special someone their feelings today, best of luck! Go for it! =)

Happiness

HAPPY CNY ’11!

HELLO! It’s the Chinese New Year! :]

It’s just the same as the usual 1st Jan new year, just that for Chinese, it’s the new year on the lunar calendar. Chinese follow the lunar calendar while majority follow the normal calendar in most homes.

Last night, the 2nd Feb, families will gather together to have a reunion dinner. This is the night where no matter where you are, you will travel home to be with your family and reunite with them. Of course as time goes by, the tradition diminishes as well. However, there are still a handful who still follows.

Before dinner starts, everyone gathers to toss this ‘Chinese salad’ or lo hey as many know. It consists of many vegetables like carrots, radish, cucumber, etc topped with salmon sashimi (signifying excess every year; Chinese believe in having more than less), peanuts (gold) and crispy crackers (gold as well; may gold line the floor). Everyone takes a pair of chopsticks and toss while saying their personal wishes or for the family. Many wish for more money, better grades, striking 4D & toto, good schools, etc. Some wishes are really funny as well.

Then comes dinner. It is usually a steamboat, if not, a table full of dishes. Not forgetting every Chinese’s favorite – roast duck and steamed chicken. Each dish will have it’s significance, for example abalone looks like a gold ingot so it signifies wealth. After dinner, it’s the typical ‘gambling’ time. Card games & mahjong are popular games for everyone to enjoy.

Children will stay up past midnight to ‘pray for longevity for their parents’. It’s a tradition that the later you stay up, the older your parents will live.

Today, the 3rd Feb, is the first day of the new year. This is when families are out visiting relatives, starting with visiting the oldest relative. Before that, they will eat a vegetarian breakfast. Every 1st & 15th of the month is a ‘vegetarian day’ for Chinese, or rather buddhists. After this breakfast, they’ll each get a bowl of sweet dessert to start the new year. (It’s supposed to be before breakfast, but due to it’s sweetness, people tend to eat it after breakfast instead)

During visiting, the visiting party will present 2 oranges to the eldest in the host family. It signifies good luck and prosperity. In return, they’ll receive a red packet as a little token from the host.

Visitation may vary from 1 day to more for some. Depending on the size of your extended family.

On the 15th day of the month, dinner would be vegetarian again. Gathering may or may not take place here.

This is just but a short excerpt of what CNY is like for Chinese. Just sharing a little about a different culture with all of you (: Happy Chinese New Year! :]

PS Hope you collect more red packets! $_$