The Door [II]

https://www.facebook.com/notes/alice-weng-yin-chan/the-door/10150799477055198?__mref=message_bubble

http://aliceyin.blogspot.my/2011/09/door.html

When I typed on "The Door" back in 2011, I never thought that there would be a sequel on this topic.

Have you ever experienced someone dear to you, built up a high wall, disconnecting himself or herself from you, ignoring all your efforts to stay in touch for one whole month?

Ghosting, is emotional cruelty. Yes, I agree!

I did not expect myself to knock on another door and certainly did not expect myself to share about this topic again. 

Knock Knock! Knock Knock!

After three weeks of knocking, finally there was a reply from the other side of the wall, saying,

"Leave me alone"

Perhaps the person at the other end needs some space, personal space; to think things through. Perhap, perhaps, perhaps...

I could make as many reasons as I want for the other person's behalf. By the fourth week, I am amazed by few things:

Firstly, the other person's ignorance and indifference. The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference.

Secondly, by my own determination and perseverance.

Would you give up knocking when there is zero response from the other side?

How could a person carry on with life by hurting and sacrificing someone who deemed to be dear to him or her? In other words, at the expense of someone else's fragile heart.

Once I saw a quote that sounds like this, "it is not that one changes, just that the mask falls off". Perhaps, that is the true colour of the person at the other end.

Question to myself:

Do I still keep knocking?

Do I still care? Of course I do still care. We care even in anger.

Is it worth my time and effort to care for someone who seems so heartless?

I still want to believe that we still care for each other, that we could still sail together, but am I trying too hard?

Knock Knock! Knock Knock!

I could not even hear an echo...

When someone treats you like nobody, wake up, and do not melt for that person anymore. Olaf says, "some people are worth melting for"; I guess even if I melt myself to the last bit, that person at the other end would not be able to notice, because there is nothing left to be seen; every bit and pieces of me has melted, there is nothing to be melted anymore...

And the person at the other end, continues to be indifference and ignorant; the only difference is, Olaf is not able to feel the pain and hurt because it has melted...

Major Throwback: 14-05-2011 ~ Ta-Daa!! Here Comes the Narrator =)

Back in May 2011, I went to Bangkok with a group of friends and thanks to Facebook Memories, I was reminded of this Note that I have posted on the trip. I want to keep this precious memory, hence transferring it from FB to my personal blog.

 

As I read back this post, I see myself changed; from the way I see things, to the way I express myself. Hence, things will change, only memories remain...

It is always amazing to see how God brings (us) together; two people from different background, meet under common circumstances, and then fell in love with each other, followed by courtship and finally, plan to walk along the wonderful journey, namely marriage, hand in hand till death do (us) apart ~

In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:13 says ~
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 8 ~
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Love is wonderful, Amen :) With love, we are able to accept each other's shortcomings and with acceptance, there is sense of security. Whenever we see wonderful couples walking along the aisle, we feel touched because love has brought them together.

I am often touched by the couple's thanksgiving speech at the end of the wedding ceremony. When they thank their parents for their love, followed by their thankfulness to relatives, friends, and even acquaintances; this shows how powerful love is. With love, everything is possible.

I always find it amazing when we witness how God works in us human. At first both are imperfect, but we are made perfect in God's love; with His love and presence, both imperfect people are able to accept each other from deep inside their heart ~ what a wonderful picture.

Have you seen a couple whom you think are not a match in the eyes of people? For instance, in terms of education level, physical attractiveness, family backgrounds etc. However, love does not view these things with the human eye, especially when God's love intervenes.

I used to have a long list of requirements on my future partner, however knowing that myself is imperfect, I just have one requirement ~ a God-fearing man who is willing & able to accept my shortcomings with love ~

Oops, too much into my narration huh :p
Here comes the story:-

The GUY came with an ULTIMATE motive
The GAL came with only ONE purpose
Both came to the same destination

The GUY plans to give the GAL a BIG SURPRISE!
The GAL has some expectation from the GUY
Both have different form of expectation from this trip

Tick Tock, Tick Tock
Finally the time comes ~ 10th May, which is also the GAL's birthday date
The GUY starts to execute his plan with his accomplices :p
Accomplices ~ TWO Handsome Guys & TWO Pretty Ladies :))

First, to ask the GAL to go up to a specific venue
Then to blindfold the GAL to play a game
Next the GUY asked the GAL some questions
After some Q&A sessions, the GAL was allowed to see
Oops, what did she see? & what did she hear? & what did she say?
Aha!~ The GUY's expectation was fulfilled!
Simultaneously, the GAL's expectation was also met!
Thereafter, one round of CELEBRATION & MORE SURPRISES!!! =)))

A Joyful moment filled with God's presence
A Joyful moment to be remembered by all those who are present
A Joyful moment shared by family members & friends
A Joyful moment to be passed from generation to generation

At the end of the day, love conquers all the negative feelings & with love that sparks between them, I believe they will carry on their lives hand in hand in God's love :)

10th May, 2011 at Page 10 Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand
A venue specifically chosen for this purpose
A day specifically chosen for this purpose
A purpose fulfilled for the perfect reason

Marriage, a wonderful journey awaiting this wonderful couple ~
May Lord bless them with His Love, Joy, Peace, Grace, Mercy, Blessing & Wisdom :)

Broken hearts aren't just 'a romantic notion'

A new study says that yes, it’s possible for you to suffer from a broken heart.

Only it’s not the kind Taylor Swift and One Direction sing about.

Researchers recently found in a study that women suffer what’s called “broken-heart syndrome” — a medical issue that feels like and is similar to a heart attack, even when a patient doesn’t have any cardiovascular issues — mostly because they also have issues with their nervous system.

Specifically, the study found those who suffer from broken-heart syndrome often have an “impaired parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system responsible for helping the body calm down,” The Wall Street Journal reported. Or, in other words, they feel heavy waves of emotion that can’t be calmed.

Most of the time, researchers say, this is brought on by emotional stress, whether it be anger, anxiety or physical stresses, The Wall Street Journal reported. For some, there’s no specific cause. It can just happen.

“It is a romantic notion, but you really can get this from heartache,” Dr. Harmony Reynolds, lead author of the study, wrote in the research.

Broken-heart syndrome can also be brought on by joy and excitement, The Wall Street Journal reported. This was the case for Vera Companion, who felt “an intense pain in her chest” — despite having “no sign of clogged arteries” — during a high school pep rally.

Bad marriages can also create heart health issues, including hypertension and high blood pressure, that can also lead to broken-heart syndrome, Lois Collins of Deseret News National reported. This is based on a study from Michigan State University that found older spouses specifically are at risk for these issues, especially when they suffer from cardiovascular problems.

In total, about 6,230 people were hospitalized for broken-heart syndrome in 2012, a study from The American Journal of Cardiology found. Women accounted for more than 90 percent of the cases, and most of these attacks happened for people between the ages of 65 to 84 years old.

So far, research hasn’t found a cure to this sort of broken heart. While getting over an ex-partner may seem as simple as listening to some Avril Lavigne and letting the time pass with some Ben & Jerry’s, healing from the actual medical condition mentioned above is a much harder task. In fact, a study done in 2010 found that time doesn’t heal a broken heart, Newsweek reported.

The researchers specifically followed broken-heart patients for four months after their attack and found the heart didn’t heal as quickly as they thought. In fact, these patients, mainly women, “continued to feel weak, could not take part in ‘strenuous activity’ and many could not return to work for an extended period of time after experiencing the syndrome,” Newsweek reported.

Specifically, researchers found that the heart, which swells up during one of these attacks and loses the ability to provide energy, was still swollen and hadn’t returned to its normal energy levels.

As researchers look for a cure to the issue, some medical professionals have provided tips to help patients recover from a broken heart. Most treatments look to push more blood flow to the heart to avoid a similar attack, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explained.

Doctors will also sometimes prescribe medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure, blood clots and stress hormones, the NHLBI explained.

And some medical professionals will suggest patients make changes to their lifestyle, mainly by finding ways to cope with stress and “upsetting situations,” the NHLBI explained. This can include increased physical activity, relaxation therapy or stress management classes.

“Broken heart syndrome can be life threatening in some cases. Because the syndrome involves severe heart muscle weakness, patients can experience shock, heart failure, low blood pressure, and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities,” the NHLBI reported. “The good news is that this condition improves very quickly, so with proper diagnosis and management, even the most critically ill tend to make a quick and complete recovery."

No One is Ever Too Busy

No matter where we are, we have the same 24 hours, the same 1,440 minutes, and the same 86,400 seconds. In this era, who is not busy? All of us are busy about something at any time.

We are busy sleeping.

We are busy eating.

We are busy working.

We are busy driving.

We are busy listening to music.

We are busy watching movie or the television.

We are busy working out.

We are busy cooking.

The list, will never end...

When someone keeps telling you that he or she is busy even though all you wanted was just to say hi and to ask "how are you", to make sure that he or she knows that you care for him or her, we should be sensitive enough to get the hint that that person will forever be "busy" and would not have the time for you.

When we care for someone who is dear to us, no matter how busy we are, we will try to squeeze in some time to check on them, just a simple "good morning" would mean that we are thinking about him or her the minute we wake up. However, what if we just get a "busy" as reply? Oh well, might as well do not reply anything. Some people can just be too busy for everything except those things that are important to them, and having said that, this clearly shows what is important to them.

I have shared before an article that the word "busy" is a killer in relationship.

http://aliceyin.blogspot.my/2015/11/the-one-word-that-can-kill-friendship.html

What do you think?

"3 Pieces of Advice vs 20 Years of Salary"

A very poor newly wedded, young couple lived in a small farm. One day the husband made the following proposal to his wife:

- Honey, I will leave the house: I will travel faraway, get a job and work hard in order to come back and give you the comfortable life that you deserve. I do not know how long I will stay away, I only ask one thing, please wait for me, and while I am away, you should be faithful to me, because I will be faithful to you.

So the young man left. He walked many days until he found a farmer who was in need of someone to help him. The young man offered his services. He was accepted. Therefore he discussed the terms with his boss:

- Let me work for as long as I want and when I think I should go home, please relieve me of my duties. I do not want to receive my salary. I ask you to save it for me, until the day I leave. The day I decide to go, please give me the money and I will go my way.

They agreed on that. So, the young man worked for twenty years without holiday and without rest. After twenty years, he came to his boss and said:

- Boss, I want my money, because I am returning to my home.

The boss replied:

- All right, after all, I made a deal with you and I will stick to it. However, before you go I want to offer you something new: I will give you all your money and send you away; or I will give you 3 pieces of advice and send you away. If I give you the money, I do not give you the 3 pieces of advice. And if I give you the 3 pieces of advice, I will not give you the money. Now, go to your room and think about your answer.

He thought for two days. Then he went to the boss and told him:

- I want the 3 pieces of advice.

The boss stressed again:

- If I give you the 3 pieces of advice, I will not give you the money.

And the man replied:

- I want the 3 pieces of advice.

The boss then told him:

- No. 1: Never take shortcuts in your life, shorter and unknown paths can cost your life.

- No. 2: Never be too curious, for curiosity towards evil can be deadly.

- No. 3: Never make decisions in moments of anger or pain, because when you repent, it could be too late.

After giving these 3 pieces of advice, the boss said to him:

- Here, you have 3 loaves of bread, 2 are for you to eat during the journey and the last is for you to eat with your wife when you get home.

So, the man went his way, after twenty years away from home and from his wife, whom he loved so much.

After the first day of travel, he found a man who greeted him and asked:

- Where are you going?

He replied:

- To a distant place which is about 20 days away if I continue walking.

The man said to him:

- Ol' boy, this path is too long! I know a shortcut that is very safe and you will arrive in 5 days only.

The man began to follow the path suggested until he remembered the first piece of advice. Then, he returned and followed the long path. Days later he learned that the shortcut led to an ambush.

After a few more days of travel, he found an inn by the roadside, where he could rest. He paid for a room and after taking a bath he lay down to sleep.

During the night he woke up as he heard a terrifying scream. He rose to his feet and went to the door to check what happened. As he was opening the door, he remembered the second piece of advice. Therefore he returned, lay down again and slept.

At dawn, after breakfast, the owner of the lodging asked him if he had not heard the scream at night. He affirmed that he heard. Then, the host said:

- Were you not curious to see what happened?

And he replied:

- No, I was not.

Then the host said:

- You are the first guest to leave this inn alive. My neighbour is completely crazy. He usually shouts at night to call someone’s attention. When some of the guests come out, he kills them and buries their bodies in the backyard.

The man continued his long journey, eager to arrive soon. After many days and nights walking, he was very tired, but he finally saw his house far away.

It was night. He saw some light coming out of the window of his house and was able to see the silhouette of his wife. But he also saw that she was not alone. He came closer and saw there was a man with her. She softly caressed his hair.

When he saw that scene, his heart was filled with hatred and bitterness. He decided to rush at and kill them both mercilessly. However, he took a deep breath and he remembered the third piece of advice.

Then he stopped, reflected and decided to sleep outside that night. He slept in the midst of the bushes, determined to make a decision the next day. At dawn, he was calmer and thought:

- I will not kill my wife and her lover. I am going back to my boss to ask him to take me back. But before I go, I want to tell my wife that I have always been faithful to her.

He went to the front door and knocked. When his wife opened the door and recognized him, she cried and embraced him warmly. He tried to push her away, but he was not able. Then, with tears in his eyes he told her:

- I was faithful to you but you betrayed me.

She was shocked, so she replied:

- How did I betray you? I have never betrayed you. I waited patiently for you for twenty good years.

Then he asked:

- How about the man that you were caressing yesterday?

And she said:

- That man is your son. When you left, I discovered I was pregnant. Today he is twenty years old.

Hearing that, the man asked her forgiveness. He met and hugged his son. Then he told them all the things he had experienced while away. Meanwhile, his wife prepared some coffee for them to eat together, the last bread given by his boss.

After a prayer of thanksgiving, he broke the bread. When he looked at it, he found all his money inside. In fact, there was even more than the right payment for his twenty years of dedication and hard work.

Friends, our God is like this boss. When he asks us to make a sacrifice, he wants to give us more than what we give Him. He wants us to have His unique wisdom as well as the material blessings.

Someone sent this piece to me and it blessed me and I copied it to you so it may bless you too. 

(by Henry King)

Hazy Day

The weather has been hazy in Malaysia lately. We can see almost everyone is posting photos of the haziness on FB. I was in the mood to rhyme yesterday and came up with this:

The weather is hazy

Makes us feel lazy

How-lah to stay healthy

When the air is so smoky

When the air is so smoky

Our vision becomes blurry

Our throat so dry & itchy

Makes us feel so thirsty

Drink water to stay healthy

Too bad the API still so "tinggi"

Skin is dry, nose is itchy

Head is heavy, we become dizzy

No more sunset, no more beauty

Sky looks cloudy, actually it's foggy 

We look forward to be happy

When the weather is no more hazy

If One Day I Die Before You

Life is fragile and we never know when we are leaving this world. We have met people who left without having the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones. Some died due to accident, some sudden death, some illness et cetera.

If I ever die before you, please do not come to my wake because,

When I was alive and you were too busy for me,

I do not need you to waste your precious time to attend my wake, it should appear last in your list of priorities;

When I was alive and hoping to receive surprises from you but you were never thoughtful,

you need not be thoughtful to arrange to send funeral flowers to me as I would not be able to feel the surprise, nor am I able to smell or touch the flowers, so I would not be able to appreciate your thoughtfulness;

When I was alive and shared with you my wants and need but you never had the time to get those for me,

you may save your money for your own needs and wants as I believe my insurance would be able to take care of my funeral expenses;

When I was hoping to see you and to listen to your voice when I was alive but you never realised that, you are not obliged to feel that I was someone you once knew, closely...

Please do not feel guilty if you happen to read this and the message hit you hard, because when I was alive, you hardly felt bad about how you have treated me...

However, if you did appear at my wake, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you finally could make (some) time for me....thank you~

Thank you for appearing in my life and turned it into wonderful and beautiful memories in the short span of time we knew each other. I wish you well...

Thank You & Don't Know

Saying: "Thank you" is simple; "I don't know" is easy. These two are short & sweet but have the ability to make or break a person.

Saying "thank you" is a simple act of gratitude, an overdose of it may portray insincerity & lack of it may portray lack of gratitude. We never know how a simple "thank you" could brighten up one's day & encourage the receiver of this message; likewise, we also never know how the lack of it would discourage a person.

Saying "don't know" is just an easy way out & a non-committal statement. It indicates uncertainty & the recipient of an "I don't know" response may feel insignificant; for instance, 

A: When are we meeting again?

B: I don't know

A: Are we going to meet again?

B: I don't know

At times, a simple "yes" or "no" or even "I don't know but I'll try" may make the recipient less upset.

Just saying ~

The Roller Coaster Ride

Have you ever been on a roller coaster ride?

It would start slow, preparing our hearts and then slowly and eventually it would pick up on its speed, the ride was getting more exciting when the roller coaster turned upside down at a high speed and before you knew what was going on, the ride began to slow down and all of sudden the speed caught up again and what a sight of relief when you finally saw familiar faces at the place where you began the ride...

Falling in love perhaps is like that too...

In the beginning when you try to get to know a person, things started slowly and naturally; and a funny feeling inside our hearts telling us that we like the person. Then we try to find out if they feel the same too. There are butterflies in our stomach. We are anxious and excited at the same time.

Then things began to progress smoothly. The feeling is just like a roller coaster ride; at least that is what LOVE is experiencing.

Every roller coaster ride would need to come to an end. When would hers be?

LOVE loves it when Pinky brings her out but each time she is afraid that that would be the last time Pinky would bring her out. What can LOVE do?

Maybe, it is time for LOVE to wake up from her fantasy...

Sometimes, she wished that Pinky would assure her and say "Silly LOVE, how could you think like that?"

12 Reasons To Date A Woman Who Reads

The Huffington Post | By Nina Bahadur

Filmmaker John Waters once said, "If you go home with somebody, and they don’t have any books, don’t f**k ’em."

Excellent advice.

I may be biased when I say that readers are cool, dateable people -- after all, I was the kid who brought my books to the dinner table -- but there are definite perks to dating someone who loves to read. And I don't just mean people who are interested in literary fiction and huge war histories -- loving YA vampire novels or thrillers or bodice-rippers is just as worthwhile. Really, there's nothing sexier than someone with a book.

Here are 12 reasons it's great to date someone who reads:

1. You know she’s fine spending time on her own. People who read can entertain themselves for hours without you. Yes, you might get ignored for a couple of days when the new Outlander novel comes out, but a person who can hang out with themselves and a book won't get upset when you work late. Jamie is waiting.

2. She’s empathetic. Studies have shown that people who read fiction are particularly empathetic towards others. This makes total sense -- readers can put themselves in any character's shoes. When you're reading, you're constantly empathizing, trying to understand why a particular character is acting in a particular way.

3. She's a critical thinker. She's someone you can talk through a tough decision with, and know she'll give real thought to all the moving parts. People who read havestronger analytical skills, so a reader will be better equipped to assess a situation and find the right solution.

4. She has a sense of perspective. Her crummy commute is nowhere near as bad as what's going on in The Handmaid's Tale, provided her commute did not involve being transported to a totalitarian society and forced to bear children for other couples.

5. She's easily entertained. Setting her free in a bookstore or stopping to browse at one of those streetside book stalls is her idea of heaven. All a reader needs for an adventure is a place to sit and a good story.

6. She’ll be able to teach you things. Readers accumulate a lot of random facts, and they can usually explain things in a clear, concise way. A reader is the best person to have on your team for a pub quiz, and the worst person to play Jeopardy! against.

7. She's curious. Someone hungry for more out of life -- more stories, more information, more experiences -- will keep things interesting.

8. She’s probably a good listener. Anyone who can spend hours and hours reading someone else’s stories will be just as interested in what you have to say.

9. She’s easy to buy gifts for (and we've got you covered).

10. She has a great memory for detail. Your favorite drink? Your mom's birthday? Your absolute hatred of massages? Covered. Reading improves your memory, and let's be real, it's useful to date someone who will remember to pick up toilet paper on the way home.

11. She’s involved in the world, and I don't just mean whatever fictional universe she's immersed in at the time. People who read are more likely to vote, attend cultural events and be more engaged in their communities.

12. And the best thing about dating a reader? She'll probably encourage you to pick up a book yourself, so you can reap all the benefits reading has to bring. Plus, reading next to each other in bed is so much better than playing Candy Crush.

Don't Mess With Senior Citizens.

Haha, saw this on FB and decided to share it here :p

A lady decided to give herself a big treat for her 70th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice luxurious hotel..

When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00. She demanded to know why the charge was so high "I agree it's a nice hotel, but the rooms aren't worth $250..00 for just an overnight stay - I didn't even have breakfast!" 

The clerk told her that $250.00 is the 'standard rate,' and breakfast had been included had she wanted it. 

She insisted on speaking to the Manager. 

The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: "This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center which are available for use." "But I didn't use them." ''Well, they are here, and you could have." 

He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous.

"We have the best entertainers from all over the world performing here." 

"But I didn't go to any of those shows.." She Pleaded.

"Well, we have them, and you could have." was the reply.

No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, 

"But I didn't use it!" and the Manager countered with his 

standard response. 

After several minutes discussion, and with the Manager still unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him. 

The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check. 

"But Madam, this check is for only $50.00" "That's correct" she replied "I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me." 

"But I didn't sleep with you madam!" said the manager

"Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have."

R.I.P. Mr Lee Kuan Yew

I do not know much about Mr Lee Kuan Yew. 

The deepest impression I had on Mr Lee Kuan Yew was, he had a deep influence on my father.

My father admires Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore. As for myself, I think Mr Lee is someone I salute and respect, for the things that he had done for Singapore.

Adopted from "Free Malaysia Today"

Quotable quotes from Lee Kuan Yew

March 23, 2015 (Monday)

"There is an end to everything and I want mine to come as quickly and painlessly as possible, not with me incapacitated, half in coma in bed and with a tube going into my nostrils and down to my stomach."

SINGAPORE: Here are some notable quotes from Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who died Monday at the age of 91.

On Japan defeating colonial power Britain to occupy Singapore in 1942:

“The dark ages had descended on us. It was brutal, cruel. In looking back, I think it was the biggest single political education of my life because, for three and a half years, I saw the meaning of power and how power and politics and government went together, and I also understood how people trapped in a power situation responded because they had to live. One day the British were there, immovable, complete masters; next day, the Japanese, whom we derided, mocked as short, stunted people with short-sighted squint eyes.”

After World War II when the British were trying to reestablish control:

“… the old mechanisms had gone and the old habits of obedience and respect (for the British) had also gone because people had seen them run away (from the Japanese) … they packed up.

“We were supposed, the local population was supposed to panic when the bombs fell, but we found they panicked more than we did. So it was no longer the old relationship.”

As a law student in Britain:

“Here in Singapore, you didn’t come across the white man so much. He was in a superior position. But there you are (in Britain) in a superior position meeting white men and white women in an inferior position, socially, I mean. They have to serve you and so on in the shops. And I saw no reason why they should be governing me; they’re not superior. I decided when I got back, I was going to put an end to this.”

On opinion polls:

“I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. If you are concerned with whether your rating will go up or down, then you are not a leader. You are just catching the wind … you will go where the wind is blowing. And that’s not what I am in this for.”

As a leader and admirer of the 16th century Italian political philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli:

“Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.”

On his iron-fisted governing style:

“Anybody who decides to take me on needs to put on knuckle-dusters. If you think you can hurt me more than I can hurt you, try. There is no way you can govern a Chinese society.”

On his political opponents:

“If you are a troublemaker… it’s our job to politically destroy you… Everybody knows that in my bag I have a hatchet, and a very sharp one. You take me on, I take my hatchet, we meet in the cul-de-sac.”

On democracy:

“You take a poll of any people. What is it they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools.”

On justice:

“We have to lock up people, without trial, whether they are communists, whether they are language chauvinists, whether they are religious extremists. If you don’t do that, the country would be in ruins.”

On his policy of matching male and female university graduates to produce smart babies:

“If you don’t include your women graduates in your breeding pool and leave them on the shelf, you would end up a more stupid society… So what happens? There will be less bright people to support dumb people in the next generation. That’s a problem.”

On criticisms over the high pay of cabinet ministers and senior civil servants:

“You know, the cure for all this talk is really a good dose of incompetent government. You get that alternative and you’ll never put Singapore together again: Humpty Dumpty cannot be put together again… and your asset values will be in peril, your security will be at risk and our women will become maids in other people’s countries, foreign workers.”

On religion:

“I wouldn’t call myself an atheist. I neither deny nor accept that there is a God. So I do not laugh at people who believe in God. But I do not necessarily believe in God — nor deny that there could be one.”

On his wife of 63 years, Kwa Geok Choo, who died in October 2010:

“Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life… I should find solace in her 89 years of a life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief.”

On death:

“There is an end to everything and I want mine to come as quickly and painlessly as possible, not with me incapacitated, half in coma in bed and with a tube going into my nostrils and down to my stomach.”

On rising up from his grave if something goes wrong in Singapore:

“Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me to the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.”

- AFP

You Never Know

You never know...
You never know...
How I wish I could tell you
Yet you would never know...

How much tears were shed,
How many times discouragement set in,
How many times heart was pierced,
How days were affected by someone who matters,
How grumpy one could be,
How deep the heart sunk,
How one could lost appetite,
How many sleeps were lost,
How smile disappeared,
How emptiness set in...

Sought for answer, a vague reply was given,
Sought for assurance, a vague assurance was given,
Sought for action, there is only omission to be seen,

Promises were remembered,
Memories were engraved in the heart,
Meaningful to one, meaningful to the other?

Promises were made,
Would circumstances make one let go of these promises?
Would one let go?
Would the other let go?

One never knows how much one is missed,
One never know how many times one is being thought of from time to time,
One never knows how many time one is being dreamed of,
One never knows...
One never knows...

Just a yes, just a no,
Just black, or white,
There is no in between,
There is no grey,

Heart, oh heart...
Mind, oh mind...
What is this all about?

You never know...
You never know...
Would you like to know?

Words were told,
Feelings were expressed,
Thoughts were conveyed,
But...
You never know...
You never know...
How vagueness clouded mind and heart when...
Words were not returned,
Feelings were not felt,
Thoughts were not exchanged

Squash...
Just like a game of squash...
Hit the ball against the wall...
The same ball would bounced back...

Heart, oh heart...
Mind, oh mind...
The other would never know...
Unless efforts are made to know (find out)...

Restless, restless,
Tired, tired...

Would you like to know?

The Heart and The Mind

The heart is fragile,

to be handled with care,

Sometimes it wanders,

the mind calls it back,

Sometimes it stays,

the mind demands it to wander,

The heart is fragile,

please handle with care.

The heart wanders,

the mind disagrees,

The heart is ignorant,

despite what the mind says,

The hearts seeks its desires,

the mind acknowledges,

The heart is broken to pieces,

just like how a knife pierces.

The heart wanders,

and found its desire,

The mind knows the desire,

and allow the heart to take charge,

The heart wanders deeper,

the mind accommodates,

Only to find out,

the mind should take charge.

The heart could not feel,

the mind could not think,

because the pierce of the knife,

causes much pain to both,

The heart cries out,

the mind shouts,

if only time could just stop,

at when the memory was the sweetest.

The heart knows well,

the mind agrees,

that both should let go,

and to be free again,

The mud is strong,

to pull both back,

Both working hard together,

just to fight back.

The heart, the heart,

listen, listen,

the mind is logic,

but it could protect,

The mind, the mind,

listen, listen,

the heart is fragile,

to be handled with care.

It's Holiday!

Holiday! Holiday! All the bags in the room are excited about the coming holiday! :)

Pinky went into the room and look around. "Hmm, which bag should I bring along? Ah, Baby!!!"

So Pinky took Baby and went out from the room.

LOVE, sat at the corner, felt sad that she was not chosen. She hid in a corner to cry.

The other bags could hear her sobbed and went to her to comfort her.

Elephy: "LOVE, why are you crying? Don't be sad, you still have us :)"

Colourful: "Yes, let's hope one day Pinky will sell all of us to a better owner, one who would appreciate and treat us as their precious"

Blackie: "Yeah, no big deal LOVE, take a look at me! I am used for special occasion only and I am proud of that!!"

LOVE: "Oh, you would never know and understand my feelings. I am deeply attached to Pinky. She is my first owner. Previously nobody would even take a second look at me but Pinky discovered me! The encounters I had with Pinky were so memorable. She hugged me when she was  cold in the train, protect me when she was walking on the street, kissed me whenever she got a good result, saying that I brought her blessing, and she would never put me on the floor, and oh...there were just too many sweet memories that we shared together"...*sobbing*

Reddie: "LOVE, you are special and I am sure you deserve a better owner. In fact, all of us here deserve a better owner"

The others agreed in unison...

LOVE, felt loved and comforted by her companions but deep inside she knows that she longs for Pinky. Day by day, she waited for Pinky to be back from holiday and one day...

Pinky: "I'm back baggies!! and I had a great time! Baby had been so lovely and I love her so much! We had so much fun together!! Thank you Baby" (Pinky kept Baby nicely in her special case)

Before she walked out from the door....

Pinky: "and oh, I miss you LOVE..."

LOVE: ...

Have We Neglected Our Souls?

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confident and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!", replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No! ", replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives: Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

I was chatting with a friend and suddenly this thought came to mind. How easily we neglect our soul by getting caught up with friends, events, activities, duties, tasks, responsibilities et cetera.

Have we really paid much attention to our soul? Often we choose, whether consciously or otherwise, to neglect it to fulfill other desires and/or pleasures which we think is worthwhile, even though it is just temporary.

I was not feeling well a few weeks ago and a friend told me, "you need to cut down on your activities and rest". True enough, I have been too busy with many things, yet I just could not find time to "pamper" my soul.

Have I spent enough time with her (soul)? Have I spent enough time to know what she wants? Have I allowed her to have enough rest?

It would be great to just rest and do nothing and let our soul be the "queen" from time to time. I believe we may be amazed by the outcome ~ soul searching, the amazing process...

My Thoughts are Haywire

Perhaps there may be a time when we would have doubts in our lives. We may have doubts about ourselves. We may doubt about our loved ones. We may even doubt God.

Do I have doubts in my life? Of course I do. In fact, at this moment, I begin to have a lot of doubts in various aspects of my life.

The Bible says, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself". It also says, "Cast all our anxieties to the Lord because He cares for us". The Bible even said that "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered".

Whoa, God is truly amazing, Amen!

However, being human, we are still weak. We tend to take control of things that we cannot control. We want to do things or to make decisions that we think are good for ourselves. Yet, we have forgotten that all these efforts are unnecessary because we have a great God who will take care of everything for us.

Thoughts are haywire, feelings are confuse, but God is as clear as ever. Oh Lord, I pray that the cobwebs in my heart and my mind will be cleared as soon as possible because I do not want to be tortured by these any longer...

Disappointments [I]

Firstly, I am not sure if I am going to have a similar post in the future, but I hope I would not post on this topic again.

All of us do face disappointments at certain point of our lives. I have seen a lot of quotes on this topic itself; and most of it direct us to think positively.

No expectation, no disappointment.
Less expectation, less disappointment.
More expectation, more disappointment.

To a certain extent I do agree with the above.

For instance, we invite our good friends to an outing, hoping that they would reply positively but in the end the reply was, "We are too busy for that". Response: disappointed! Why? If someone really cares, they would make time no matter how busy! and because if the same invitation is being sent to me, I would try to make time for it, perhaps a rescheduling or something along those lines, because I care.

It is not that I cannot take disappointments, just that I was hoping too much; and this happens most of the time, if not all the time.

I guess, I just need to learn how not to expect and let a "surprise" come along, perhaps that would be a better way to deal with it.

Random [III]

Hm, something random for the day, or for the week...

This week is just so-so for me. Somehow I feel that I have a lot of things to express, or share out, but I just cannot figure out what is it about.

Perhaps it is about God. I feel that I am never bored to share what God has done in my life. Yes, His grace is sufficient for us.

Hm, yes, I know what to share! Last Wednesday, after the PM I received a call from the Worship Leader that the Speaker would like to sing a song called "Hineni". I have never heard of this song before and as I have the habit to practise before the service, I was not too comfortable with the idea to learn the song on Sunday morning itself.

Nonetheless I just kept this behind my mind, without thinking too much about it. On Friday, SM fetched me to and from work, and on our way home, I heard this song on her CD player! Wow, what a "coincidence"? I requested her to play the song again so that I could record it but she said: "Why not I just lend you the CD?". Oh, Praise the Lord!!

I knew I was going to be busy on Saturday, so I spent my Friday night listening to the song and search for the chords, despite my tiredness. As my brother was not at home, I had the whole living room by myself. After searching for the chords, I had an urge to pray in tongues. Yes, the Holy Spirit was just there at that moment!!

There are a lot of times we spend little time for God; what I meant is quiet time. On that day, I enjoyed God's presence. As I was praying, God gave me a picture: "Footprint". It was during this time that God is telling me to carrying burdens on my own shoulder and let Him carry it instead! Jesus, how could I thank You for Your assurance!!

FOOTPRINTS

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene,
He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
He looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
There was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened
At the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him
And he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You,
You'd walk with me all the way.

But I have noticed that
During the most troublesome times in my life,
There is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed
You most you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
When you see only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you." 

Written by Margaret Fishback Powers (1964)

Thank you, Abba Father!

Random [II]

Today is a public holiday and I am at home doing nothing. It is such a boring day to me. I am online to prepare my resume and cover letter but am not in the mood to do so.

These few days I have been thinking about a friend and I am not sure why this is so. Perhaps I treasure our friendship. Anyhow, sometimes relationship between human cannot be explained by mere words. I hope we can still enjoy the friendship like last time but I think we should just let time be the 'healer' (not sure if this is the right word).

Is it time to leave my current firm? Actually am not too sure about this. I think I am already in my comfort zone. Lord, please open my eyes so that I could see Your will.

Time is the best healer, this is what I heard from the characters in the dramas. Is this so? To a certain extent I do treasure this friendship. Lord, I pray that You would bless this friend of mine so that salvation can reach this good friend.

Mm, seems that I have no topic to blog about today. When I read my posts, feel that it is towards the negative direction. I hope my entries in the future will be more positive. Initially I was not a negative person, perhaps the experiences in life make me feel that life is not as simple as I wish it to be.

I am starting to get closer to God because I know only by doing so I am able to search for the purpose of life. Last year I was lost, because I let the surrounding circumstances affect me. This year, I hope that I can overcome this weakness of mine.

Letting go is the first step I am going to take. Focus shall be my next step. Let go of the world and focus on the Lord. This is my resolution of the year.

I played piano yesterday and was enjoying the process. Although there was some minor mishap, I know God wants to use me for His purpose. I can feel His presence personally and pray hard that I will not let go of Him. He told me: "Daughter, do not be afraid, for I am with You".

Dear Jesus, I thank You for Your assurance. I will remember the warmth of Your touch wherever I go. You are indeed true and real.

Isn't it amazing that God can be personal to us? Try it and experience it for yourself. I believe when you are willing to open your heart, He will touch you personally.

I know I said it many times but it is indeed true that "without Him, I am nothing". I pray that I will be a living testimony for Him. Lord, please give me strength and wisdom to live for You.

The spirit of ALL FOR JESUS shall burn in us at all times, in all circumstances!

Immanuel, Shalom & Agape ^ ^