The Window View

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.

The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

Then unexpectedly, a sinister thought entered his mind. Why should the other man alone experience all the pleasures of seeing everything while he himself never got to see anything? It didn't seem fair. At first thought the man felt ashamed. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and he found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - that thought, and only that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running in. In less than five minutes the coughing and choking stopped, along with that the sound of breathing. Now there was only silence-deathly silence.

The following morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take it away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
.
.
.
Moral of the story is... There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.
As blessed as you are, always remember that there are people less fortunate than you. While it is not an obligation to help anyone, you don't lose anything by sharing some love. Happiness shared is doubled, remember?

time to say goodbye

a colleague asked me a question after lunch one of the last few days when i was in Germany,"What will you miss about the most here?" I couldn't answer him. It was quite weird for me bcos i had been thinking about that question for awhile and a few answers came up, but when he asked i just froze and couldn't give a define answer. 

Today was the 2nd last day of work. You can feel that some of the colleagues that are personally closer to you will be more 'acceptable' to your departure. You could tell, certainly I did. And certainly i felt it too.

Start the day with the friendliest smile from our colleague as we hop into his Ford. Every morning is always pleasant with a smile on your face.

It's nostalgic thinking about these 3 months. I finally gave myself an answer that i would miss the most is the new bonds and friendships i've made. Screw the fact that i didn't do as well as i wanted to here, i know the relationships and experiences i've had were way way way more fulfilling than those extra 5 marks. Bonds and experiences like these are priceless. And no this is not an excuse. 

To know that you won't be able to see some people for the rest of your life makes you feel really sad, those that matter anyway. But it really gets you thinking, you know? Especially since when I started out with a horrible communication barrier between my colleagues and I. But over the 3 months, words could not define the conversations I had with any one of these colleagues. 

It's when you're stuck in a faraway land that you realise your social networking is so limited it makes your daily activities the main topics of your conversations. making everyday's small actions more special and meaningful.

Since this was the first time for my working, like literally. I can't compare and say that Germany has a much better vibe of working environment. But surely if this is the 'real' world, then life wouldn't suck that much after all. Actually i know that Singapore working environment would be worse..? I guess. Especially since Germany's engineering is so sought after and that Singapore's Engineering is labelled as 'no life dead end' jobs. Maybe i might come back here, i honestly won't know. Like my fellow German colleague told me, " No one knows the future." 

To end this off, i really like to say Thank You Jenoptik, Hommel-Etamic, and all my colleagues to make this 3 months less painful as I would had initially thought it would be.

And also, a phrase that'll remain in my soul for the rest of my working life, a common German phrase i've learnt and.. applied *laugh* : "Tomorrow is Another Day!"

"Need You Now"

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor.

Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore.

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time.

[Chorus:]

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.

Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.

And I don't know how I can do without.

I just need you now.

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door.

Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before.

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time.

[Chorus:]

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now.

Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.

And I don't know how I can do without.

I just need you now.

Oh whoa

Yes I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.

[Chorus:]

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.

And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now.

Well I don't know how I can do without.

I just need you now

I just need you now.

Oh baby I need you now.

Two-Line Poetry Competition

THESE ARE ENTRIES TO A WASHINGTON POST

COMPETITION ASKING FOR A TWO-LINE 

RHYME WITH THE MOST ROMANTIC FIRST LINE, 

AND THE LEAST ROMANTIC SECOND LINE:

  1.  My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife: 

Marrying  you has screwed up my life.

2.  I see your face when I am dreaming. 

That's why I always wake up screaming. 

3.  Kind, intelligent, loving and hot; 

This describes everything you are not.

4.  Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss, 

But I only slept with you 'cause I was pissed.

5.  I thought that I could love no other ...

that is, until I met your brother.

6.  Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. 

But the roses are wilting,the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's 

empty, and so is your head.

7.  I want to feel your sweet embrace; 

But don't take that paper bag off your face. 

8. I love your smile, your face, and your eyes. 

Damn, I'm good at telling lies! 

9.  My love, you take my breath away. 

What have you stepped in to smell this way?

10.  My feelings for you no words can tell, 

Except for maybe 'Go to hell.'

11.  What inspired this amorous rhyme? 

Two parts vodka, one part lime.

The Downside Of Being a Migratory Nomad Bird

Report From a Friend (actually dad's friend's daughter, meh gambled with her during one CNY when i was 11 or so) who has migrated to London :

http://areshaonline.com/the-downside-of-being-a-migratory-bird/

Disclaimer: This is a reflective post written in 150% honesty if you care about this sort of font type. Sometimes it’s just good to type out your thoughts. Because that’s what writing should be about.

Today I had an interesting whatsapp conversation with Boggy. Boggy and I have been brothers from other mothers since we met in secondary school at the useless age of 13.

We went to the same kindergarten together but only really became friends when we met as teenagers. I guess this brings some truth to the theory of meeting the right person at the right time/juncture in your life for it all to make sense.

And then it led me to think about how, despite the fact that we’ve been buddies for the last 15 years, we’ve communicated for a long time on Whatsapp and Facebook. Something I find extremely limiting because there’s nothing better than just meeting up in person and talking a whole load of comforting, familiar psychobabble.

99% of my friendships and family relationships exists via the help of the internet because:

I haven’t spent more than 3 years in a single country in the last 9 years of my life.

It’s a pretty scary thing to be so far away from the few who love you back. Not to mention how incredibly frustrating it is to make new friends the older you get. You often feel like a square peg in a room of happy round holes, or like a misunderstood retard ‘ad break’ -interjecting in the comforting, familiar psychobabble that others are having happily without you in it.

The weird thing is that I’ve learnt to exist in perpetual transit while struggling to keep the emotional ties I’ve made with people dotted all around the world. Most of which are ties which aren’t strong enough to make much worthwhile sense of an ‘online’ friendship.

I sometimes feel I exist somewhere between yesterday and today, neither here nor there.

And like a submarine I vanish hiding in the psychological and physical distance of the deep blue sea. Resurfacing sporadically only to realize that a lot has changed while you were off  exploring marine life… a choice you made because the cards you got dealt weren’t royal flush and you’re not exactly great at holding a poker face.

I’ve also been feeling the strain of not being able to communicate with my brother (with autism) at the drop of a hat via mobile or the internet since he got relocated to a care home in 2011. It was the best thing to happen to him, but it’s driven an emotional wedge that I have to work extra hard at breaking down with an ice axe every time I make a pit stop back in Singapore.

It’s a real mindpuzzle trying to make sense of all of this…not really knowing the beginning or the end of this journey to ‘be’ the best you can at playing the poker game of life.

I have found such a good place to be at work-wise, London is such a creatively inspiring and challenging place, I have two lovely pet cats and the best pet boy ever.

But there’s this other half of the picture that doesn’t exist in ‘transit’ that I have yet to fully comprehend.

Do you?


-Aresha
Long stories of a singaporean quitter attempting to become foreign talent... in London.

10 Common Misconceptions About Money

10 Common Misconceptions About Money
By Stacy Johnson


I recently celebrated my 57th birthday, and have arrived at a common conclusion about getting older: It sucks. But there’s one good thing that comes with age – the wisdom that can only come from experience.
Experience helps you understand how life actually works, and how
remarkably different life is from the kind you so often see portrayed
in commercials, movies, and daydreams.
Prime example? Money. The myths surrounding money are numerous and widely held, especially among the young.
It’s a shame, because pursuing myths will lead you astray, waste your time and, taken to extremes, ruin your life.
Here are 10 popular misconceptions about money that experience has taught me are more often fiction than fact…

1. The more money I have, the happier I’ll be.

Let’s ask Howard Hughes, Anna Nicole Smith, John Belushi, Chris
Farley, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Elvis about this one. OK, guys, show of hands… did fame and fortune make you happy?
Happiness comes from liking yourself, something completely unrelated to money. Riches buys recognition, too often confused with validation.
But respect, especially self-respect, isn’t for sale.
When you’re on your death-bed, will you be thinking about money? If so, your contribution to the gene pool was negligible. Rather than obsessing about money, think about what really makes you happy. Then make only enough money to take part in those activities. Making more is a waste of the only non-renewable resource you have: your time on the planet.

2. A big income will keep me out of debt.

What’s the difference between someone who makes $50,000 a year with a $100,000 mortgage and someone who makes $500,000 a year with a $1million mortgage? Answer: nothing. Unless they have money set aside for emergencies, they’re both a paycheck away from disaster.
Debt often rises with income. What keeps you out of debt isn’t a high
income or net worth. It’s not borrowing money.

3. Millionaires drive fancy cars, wear fancy clothes, and live in fancy houses.

Not according to the folks who did a bunch of research and wrote The Millionaire Next Door. According to their studies, the average
American millionaire drives an unexciting American car, lives in the
same nondescript house they’ve owned for years, and avoids designer labels. That’s how they became millionaires.
So who’s buying all the designer clothes and Porches?
Many times it’s people who will never become wealthy because they’re swapping tomorrow’s financial freedom for today’s appearance. As I’m fond of saying, life affords you the opportunity to either look rich or be rich, but few live long enough to accomplish both.
The younger you decide, the better.

4. The more money I have, the less worries I’ll have.

Balderdash. Money doesn’t end anxiety. It gives you something else to be anxious about: losing your money.
Granted, those without enough money to eat or keep a roof over their heads have lots to worry about.
But once you have enough money for all your needs and a reasonable number of your desires, the excess will add to your concerns, not alleviate them.

5. Money will help me find love.

In my experience with women, they’re not attracted to money. They are, however, attracted to ambition and intelligence, especially when it presents as humour.
Everyone’s attracted to people who are self-confident, non-needy, and able to laugh at themselves.
Like a peacock, wealthy people can easily attract attention.
But attention isn’t the same as admiration or affection.
And even if it works, do you really want to spend your life with someone so shallow and insecure they were attracted to your money?

6. I’ll have more fun if I have more money.

When I was young, I didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but I had a ton of fun. Today I have lots of nickels – and am happy to report, still having a riot.
There’s no doubt that money can furnish the elements of a good time.
But if you need money to have fun, you’re boring.
And should you become a billionaire, you’ll still be boring.

7. Money means security.

When you boil it down, a primary purpose of money is to make life more predictable. It allows you to control your environment by being prepared for the unexpected.
While that’s partly true, there’s not enough money in the world to
completely control everything. I could have a heart attack and die
before I finish writing this, and you could have one before you finish reading it. Accept that we’re all bobbing on a sea of uncertainty, no matter how much money we have.

8. Money will enable me to meet interesting people.

In my experience, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting
interesting people. But if I want to maximize my odds of meeting
someone worth knowing, I won’t be heading to the nearest country club.
I’ve met plenty of fun and interesting rich people – but I’ve also met
rich people who were vain, myopic, pretentious, and judgmental. They weren’t that way because they were rich. They were that way because they were born rich and as a result never had to overcome adversity.
Overcoming adversity is what makes people interesting, not how much money they have. People without at least a few skeletons in the closet are often shallow as a puddle.

9. I need money to travel, and travel is important.

The world is an interesting place, and being well-travelled makes you interesting. But travel comes in many forms, including the budget variety. If you want to see faraway places, you’ll find a way.
In my book Life or Debt, I conclude by describing the first book I
ever read about something I love: sailing.
The book was about a couple who built their own sailboat and travelled around the world, working when they needed to and never accumulating more than a few thousand dollars at a time. Their boat had no air conditioning, no refrigerator
– not even a radio.
What most people do in the same situation is wait until they have
enough money to buy what amounts to a floating condo: a boat that’s luxurious, seaworthy, and far too expensive to ever actually buy. The result is they spend their lives on the dock. What a waste.

10. Money will buy friends.

This is not only untrue, it’s the opposite of what money actually
does. I’ve got a super-rich friend or two, and what I’ve observed is
that money attracts plenty of hangers-on – but almost no friends.
People with vast wealth or fame can’t trust the motives of those
surrounding them (see No. 5 above). That’s why the people they count as true friends are normally either people they knew before they were rich and famous, or people who are equally rich and famous.
There’s the advantage of being judged on your personality versus your net worth: The friends that result actually like you, not what you can do for them.

"How happy a man is, is not how much he has but how little he needs."

Mark Twain once said, “Always tell the truth. That way, you don't have to remember what you said.”

The 4 Wives.

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 confidant, 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 send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so 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 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.

If only... meh.

Looking at results now i realised i could have done better in year 1 and 2. just didn't bothered to study.. should have. but if i think about it, if i could go back time to relive it again, i think i still wont study. lol. #fkinglazyass.

Door Science.

"Ever walk into a room with some purpose in mind, only  to completely forget what that purpose was? 

Turns out, doors themselves are  to blame for these strange memory lapses.

Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind, separating one set of thoughts and memories from the next.

Your brain files away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate for the new locale."

So now we know.....

 

It's not aging, it's the bl**dy door! ....

 

Thank goodness for scientific studies  :))

Practice SAT Test.

Took the SATs for fun . This was my score:

Test: Pretest 2012-2013
Date Taken: 10/16/2012
Student: Jeremy Ho

Subject	Score Range	# Right	# Wrong	# Omitted
Reading	560	45	22	0
Writing	520 (MC: 51, Essay: 8*)	31	18	0
Math	670	46	8	0

Language still sucks like always but math still ok

This is the Percentile Ranks ! My maths percentile is at the 89% and higher. (cheh bah.not bad hehe.) 

Too far away.

i feel one day you'll go away, might find someone better than me, who understands you more easily. I feel so stupid sometimes i can't even understand my own girlfriend. Can't even give a sense of safety and tell you everything will be alright. Our love is like forbidden, we ate the apple tree and now pandora box open. But the problem is you suffer, if so i shouldn't let you into our world, cause you so much pain and suffering. The love is far away, we only can wait till i come back, see the image of your face so blur on my computer screen, can't tell you how i feel properly. Can't talk to you properly. When bad things happen to you i'm not there for you, that's the worst. Everyday i wish you were here with me. Every time i go to another country or city i always wish u were here to see with me. But the truth is you're not here, so i only can use materialistic means. But still have to wait till i'm back before i can give you. Sorry my love, please wait for me to come back so i can hug you again. I know it's frustrating for you too, you think that i wont be able to truly understand you, that our worlds are too different. Maybe if everything was different, you could still continue to be happy like you always were, your problems would always never overcome your positive outlook on life. Never once i saw you be sad for more than a day, even if it was so bad, you still smiled. I was there, i saw how sad you were that time, but u still smiled even after everything. Now anything between us happen, you would be sad whole day, let the negativity overwhelm you, and make your life so sad. I always feel that when you are sad, it's always my fault, that i can't do what a boyfriend should be doing: making his girlfriend happy. And not by being the one who will help avoid the problem, but the one who can make the pain go all away, not be the one who causes it in the first place. Cos when everything is over, reality will still come back and sadness will come again. And then the process will repeat. But the problem is i'm not there now to lend u a shoulder to cry on, not there to hug you, not there to tell you that everything will be ok. I also got my problems here, I suffer also, but to see you suffer is worse than mine. I'm a man, i can carry my burden with me it's no problem. But a man's duty is to carry his burden as well as shoulder his love one's burden also. I only can feel your pain, but i cannot take it away. I could take it away, but it would cause us so much pain. You suggested it once to me before, when i hear those words from you i thought everything we fought for would be lost. But we still persevered on. Now we are almost our 4th month already. By time i come back it'll be our 6th month. I can shoulder all the pain for us, till i come back. Cos im the stupid one who leave u behind.. i'm sorry. Make you suffer so much, bring you into this world. Everyone always tell me you are immature, and im a big bad wolf. They say that you too kiddy, how to be girlfriend. I tell them to shut up. Last time i also see you as a girl, but you are same age as me, then im just a boy? yeah correct we are only teenagers, we don't know the world, we still got so much more to live and love. Who are they to judge when they are also about our age? I always believe no matter what, we will eventually get older and matured. So why u wanna waste your time to get older then do the things u wanted to do when u were young? Maybe by then you'll give up those dreams of youth and eventually die with regrets of not doing what u wanted to do. They say it's stupid, categorising these stuff as YOLO. nonsense they are not living life, they are only criticizing life. Those that think we cannot make it, you cannot judge us. no one in the world can judge anything about you or us as long as they're not inside the story of our book. You don't know everything that had happened before and after, you don't know the feelings we had, the hardships we faced, the ups and downs of everything, even all before the first page of our story, so many things happened. Who are you to judge whether it is right or wrong? My own dad told me, ' do what u want, no one can stop you . This is your life, not even i have the right to stop you.' It's because if you continue following what others tell you to do, you will be only living another person's life, not your life. And the day you're on your death bed you'll think of everything that you wished you did, all the regrets. Even my own nai nai tell me in chinese "现在这么老了，想回以前，为什么我们年轻时候这么笨，只听父母亲话，没有想过自己要做的事。" Then i asked her if she really had a chance what she would do, she replied,“现在都老了，要想回以前要做的事都不知道啦。”　then she tell me, “你年代很幸福，要做什么都可以，不要浪费。”　I really love my grandmother and grandfather. As im typing what she told me really makes me miss them, makes me wanna cry now. I'm very homesick. Stuck here, everyone will tell you how lucky you are, to go to overseas to see the world. But in the end home is where the heart is. You go overseas is to see how lucky you are, open your eyes to a new world. So its really an irony, I honestly can't say either i'm more happy or more sad. Coming back to this, I only wish that your heart and mind stay strong, for you and for us. I only wish i can tell you how much i love you now. 

Repost: A letter to prime minister Lee Hsien Loong

Subject:  Re: Maidin Packer -- A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG

Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2012 11:17:05 +0800

Please note that the writer, Mr Mohd Maidin bin Packer, is an EX- MP.

A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG

by Maidin Packer on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 3:22pm ·
THE PRIME MINISTER
MR LEE HSIEN LOONG
"EITHER SINGAPOREANS PRODUCE MORE KIDS OR WE MUST BRING IN MORE OUTSIDERS TO BECOME CITIZENS" need not be the only options available to us. As the Government invite the people to think deeper into this and other issues raised at the PM's National Day Rally, we should also look into other possibilities.

Many countries, including the middle east, have been employing foreigners for decades now, and yet all or most of them remain foreigners on work passes. In some countries, the foreigners far outnumber the locals. They are there strictly for professional and economic reasons.

As they grow older, these workers (from cleaners to construction workers to executives, engineers, bankers & more), will go back to their respective countries. They are then replaced by newer workers. And life goes on. Almost no foreigners became localised or given citizenships because it carries certain responsibilities, rights & benefits AND THESE ARE RESERVED FOR LOCALS ONLY.

Locals are represented in their government service, the private sector as well as employed by many enterprises that set-up shops in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, etc. And locals seldom feel threatened by the presence of foreigners. Their interest are looked after by their governments.

There is something in the way they did it that can be studied and considered for Singapore. Here are
some examples:

(i) Qatar. Out of the total population of approximately 1.7 million (2011 est.), the make up of ethnic groups is as follows: Qatari (Arab) 20%; other Arab 20%; Indian 20%; Filipino 10%; Nepali 13%; Pakistani 7%; Sri Lankan 5%; other 5%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar#Demographic)

(ii) In 2010, the UAE's population was 8.2m, of whom only 13% were UAE nationals or Emiratis. Majority of the population were expatriates. Many expatriates have been demanding citizenship but there is no naturalisation process in the UAE. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAE#Demographics)

(iii) BAHRAIN with land size almost like Singapore, has a  population of 1.2 million in 2010, of which 568,399 were Bahraini and 666,172 were non-nationals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain#Demographics)

(iv)  KUWAIT - population 3 million, with about 2 million non-nationals. Kuwaiti citizens are a minority. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo. In 2008, 68.4% of the population consisted of expatriates, making the country the 4th highest ratio of expatriates of the world. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait#Demographics)

In our case, some of the best can become citizens, maybe as PRs first. If they stay long enough, got married and have children, then they can be considered for citizenship as the children are born here.

There is no serious need to give citizenship to so many as we have done the past few years. Lets not forget, those who became citizens early in their working life, will face similar issues to deal with, just like other Singaporeans, and they may end up not marrying or having a very small family. And we will be back to square one. By then they already have citizenship rights.    

If we can keep most foreigners as PRs or work passes, the financial burden on the government will also not increase so much more as we add services for families and the elderly. Therefore the need to increase taxes or GST will be limited.

Like in the middle east, Singapore citizens also get regular handouts from the government, sharing some of the economic surplus dished out during the annual budget. It has been very useful for the lower income group. If we are strict in granting new citizenship, the size of the handouts and other welfare budget will not increase so much.

Singaporeans whose families have been here since before & after the 2nd world war, and since before and after the independence of Malaya (1957), as part of Malaysia (1963) and then independent Singapore (1965) have at least some common short history together as one people.

In the 1960s to the 1980s, as we embarked on economic development programme, people were asked to make early sacrifices for the sake of the country. One of which is when the Government acquired their land at around $1 psf for economic purposes.

Most villages were torn down and the established communities were dissolved. People were uprooted from their villages and moved to housing estates. Everyone had to adjust to new surroundings.

My village head used to own a 50-acre coconut plantation. We were all moved to Toa Payoh, Hougang, Kallang and Whampoa. We still stayed in touch. I met the children of the village head recently. They are mostly taxi drivers, property agents & hawkers.
 
They had to struggle hard to make a living and could only imagine what it would be like if their land (estimated to be worth a few  billion dollars today)  had remained with the family.

There are many other stories of locals working with the Government to ensure Singapore's survival as the future looked very uncertain in 1960s. We all felt that we were all in ONE TEAM, as if everyone were looking after each other and have a greater common interest in mind. The government was seen as very caring and the people responded accordingly.

Back then we rode on Democratic-Socialist values - a mix of democracy with some essence of socialism that allowed us to come up with pro-people national policies - cheap education, housing, medical care and welfare assistance for the needy. We even erected stand pipes in villages.

I think we were all poorer but somehow I could feel that THE SENSE OF UNITY WERE A LOT STRONGER. This include the SENSE OF BELONGING and TEAM SPIRIT between the people and the government. It felt like we were all ONE BIG MULTI-RACIAL FAMILY. We moved as one, act as one - all for the good of the people and the nation.

Today we are so much richer - one of the richest country by per capita income. But I am not sure if the SENSE OF UNITY, SENSE OF PURPOSE & NATIONAL TEAM SPIRIT between the people and the Government have all become stronger. I suspect it has not grown stronger. Not everyone is doing as well. Not everyone earns as much as the per capita income number. But property prices had skyrocketed.

Naturally with one of the highest income in the world,  our cost of living here is also one of the highest. Everyone understand this. But I cant say that THE SPECIAL FEELING OF BEING ONE BIG SINGAPORE FAMILY STRUGGLING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD is still there. Maybe not as strong as it used to be. Although it should have become stronger.

And I suspect the newer development motto of Singapore Inc - CAPITALISM - had a lot to do with this situation. Capitalism, in extreme and especially as it is advocated in America, means to each his own. You do well, you enjoy your good life (even to the extreme). If you don't do well, that's too bad. Its your own fate or fault.

While some argued that capitalism will also bring out some good in people and the nation, I worry it will bring about some serious social problem. It can weaken, even tear, the fabric of our society. We may end up with a class society - the super rich, the rich, the upper-middle income, lower middle and the lower class -  the ordinary folks.

The problem is, under such a system, everything will be priced according 'to the market value' - be it housing, medical care, food etc. And such prices are easily affordable by the richer people in our society. The not so rich will face problems.

For example, in 1971 when my family moved to Toa payoh, my father could only afford a 3-room flat. The price was $6,800. While his salary was so small, he had no problem to service the loan. While most people today are earning many times more than my late father's generation then, they will not feel as easy to own and service the loan of a 3-room flat. The price has gone up like 30 times.
     
Somehow this and many more experiences of our people, has eroded the sense of 'being cared' by the Government. More people felt they had to struggle on their own all their lives, beginning at kindergarten age, in order to have a life here.

And today, with so many 'new citizens' included, whatever surpluses and economic benefits through Government 'giveaways' had to be shared with all the 'new Singaporeans'. More people sharing the same cake.

But they, their fathers and grandparents, were not here then in our poorer days. Back then our parents and grandparents had to make sacrifices (land, home, kampungs etc) and sweat it out for our families, the people and the country.

This will forever mark the difference between the original citizens of Singapore and the newbies.
 
Will the capitalist system that the Government adopted and the big jump in demographic changes that has occurred the past few years create a wider gap between the people and government? Will we end up with LESSER UNITY AS ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE? I feel it has happened. I just hope it wont get worst.

If we are to move ahead stronger and more united, I think the Government need to study these carefully and make the necessary move to RE-UNITE THE NATION, so that we can all MOVE AS ONE again. I doubt we are.

It has become more fashionable these days for people to disagree with the government. That is to be expected as the people becomes more educated and discerning.

The more worrying trend is, many more people than before simply disagree with everything that the Government does. They even criticise good government efforts. But why? For them, its like there is no more trust left. They have entered a mode of less trusting the government.

It's sad if we end-up a more fractious society with the people looking at the Government far differently than the earlier generation used to. Whatever has happened since about a decade ago, must have caused some hurt in the hearts and minds of the people. It caused a rift to occur. We need to do something to address and heal this.

The key to this healing is to BUILD TRUST between the people and the government. Otherwise, a DISUNITED Singapore, is not at all good for this little red dot's future.
 

regards
Maidin Packer, Singapore
cc: Ministers Yaacob Ibrahim (Mica) & Heng Swee Keat (MOE)

my time zone problem

• its not like bad thing lah its just sub consiously likE thatcos if u see time zone righti wake up here suppose to be at 7am alarm but i always wake up 6am means in singapore its considered as 12pm i usually will wake up at 12pm in singapore if no sch oneden even now only 8pm my body will feel as though pass 12 midnight that kinda feeling edivery weird onei everyday will always sleep abt 9-10+den wake up abt 12am+ n 6am+i think i wake up at 12am cos i in sg go 8am class need wake up 6 am so like that uh

WHY NPH IS LEGENDARY.

China Ikea.

This is a Reblog:

IKEA's slogan in Beijing China is 
"Our home is Your home!"
and the Chinese take it seriously.




Go to IKEA, I was shocked by all kinds of sleeping postures on each bed and each sofa, deeply deeply shocked!
0 to 80 years old, are all so indulged in sleeping!

Beds without someone sleeping on them were all a mess.

Daycare center does not require store receipt to pick up their child.

People are so clever!

My husband said, we have to wait till after our generation all die first, then we can talk about quality (of people).
IKEA, I am really impressed by your tolerance!





This blog post showed some pictures form Ikea in Beijing:

Beijing people already use their action to express “IKEA is our home”, it is good place for a peaceful nap.

The code.

Peace is a lie, there is only passion.Through passion, I gain strength.Through strength, I gain power.Through power, I gain victory.Through victory, my chains are broken.The Force shall free me.

Your problems.

ok first, you dont even know me, you say that people dont like me. you hear stories about me, yet you dont clarify with me, EVEN after i asked u. secondly, at the start of our FYP i made it clear to you that we should try to be as open as possible so that when we are in germany there wouldn't be much awkwardness here. And also i said that if we have problems we should tell each other, i even told alif situation and even andrew situation. all you can say is 'ya i got problem i of course will say' then you come talk behind my back, write all these shit ass stuff on your book. imagine me sitting next to you then you're down there twitting 'annoying' about me and writing all those shit about me. YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ME. all you know are stuff from people, people who say they dislike me.. seriously? First day of FYP, i made a fool of myself just to break the tension. and you would come say im annoying. WOW OMFG. you lagi best. so fucking lazy, ask you wanna eat what, ask you wanna go where. YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPEN? i cook dinner for you, you say not nice, even have the balls to say you dont care, got food to eat can already, you know how fucking hurtful is that for me? i fking take pride in my food, i even apologized for cooking the food badly and you said 'ok' . omg. then weekend i suggest we go some of the cities and sights. you said anything. go already , to both places, you said boring . AND AS IF I OWE YOU THE PLEASURE OF ENTERTAINMENT YOU KNOW? as if im the tour guide and i must make u feel good. you realise that that's how i will feel, a suggestion does not mean that im the organizer. and if the city or your 'time' isnt good, dont say until like it's my fault. cos the way your fking expression, your fking moodless shit ass sick fking face shows it all. and even on the way back from stuttgart you can tell your friend, 'aiya nth much, not fun' in front of me, eh go dig a hole and bury urself inside lah.

When we came here, like talk about things, like you debating with me sia. you think i dunno about your malaysia stuff r? come say things like 'aiya you duno anything' YEAH SHE REALLY SAID THAT. and that we singaporeans are too secluded, yeah i'll agree with you, but if im having a conversation with you about such issues you think i still have such a narrow minded brain? fuck you. im more open minded than you any time. dont forget, you're the one judging me in the first place. SO NOW IM JUDGING YOU. fucker.

your shit ass attitude, talk to you sometimes really make me damn pissed, please, if i ask u something, dont reply with anything. then afterwards tell the whole world that 1) how insensitive i am to you by not making decisions on my own. 2) planning things that BORES you. 3) buying food and cooking for you and u still say taste like fuck 4) saying that im annoying when im just trying to entertain you cos u looked so bored . but in actuality you were just sick as fuck. .

can u imagine everyday hearing you saying how sick u r, how much nose bleed, how much pain your cough is giving you, is fking annoying. yes i understand the pain, but dont tell a guy a problem den expect nth. it's like telling me you're going to shit and expect me to wipe ur ass. so i buy u medicine, and you said,'buy for what ? i cured already' yeah right. i brought medicine and stuff for myself . u didnt even bring a shit, first few days kena fever, cough, running nose, numb feet, leg numbness and leg pain. AND U DIDNT BRING A SHIT. and oh i kept offering u MY medication but u keep rejecting them, comtinue to be a bitch and still say how much pain u r in, and say that i dont need to help. and with that tone, its as though 'pls help me but i'll say no cos i have my woman pride' and then when u forcefully tell me not to help you, and i dont, your tone is like 'so ungentlemenly' BOSS LAH. I CLAP FOR YOU. really, lemme applaud you. i hope u freeze to death.

fuck it the worst part is saying that MANY people dislike me. oh please oh please, you know me how long? those people are who? please tell me, ur many people r who? u think i know u in the first place before oipp? joke lah. u cannot go oipp with your boyfriend alrdy then come give this lj attitude. u think i wanna come here with u in the first place r. knn. Dont forget, i dont owe you anything. never did, never will.

first few days keep taking care of you, keep showing concern, till i realise i was wasting my time, cos u dont even bother, maybe cos i not your boyfriend lah.. right.. other guys cannot take care of you. fking princess sia. wow. i not even your fucking boyfriend. i realised that after your shit ass tweet 'annoying' and not to mention the reply you gotten. i know lah all your that group people all talk back behind my bag one, in front of everyone only act damn friendly. dont think i dunno. stupid kampong people come here think they all god.

and i honestly dont care if you r my girlfriend's friend or sister friend or wtv, i show no face to people who disrespect me. respect begets respect. u shown me none, i'll show you the middle finger.

whatever, talk wtv shit you want behind my back. no one can satisfy everyone. die and freeze to death for all i care.

Pandora box

Sometimes when you realise that you can't make everyone happy, but when you find out that so many people dislikes you, then what happens then? Too many political stuff. I don't understand. What did I do to offend those people, whoever they are. So ironic when you don't even know these people and they are gossiping about how much they dislike you. The problem is not getting thrown to you in the face, but knowing it through opening of the pandora box. Your heart races with anger, hurt and despair. You don't know the truth yet you found it out, a fraction, or false truth. I'll never know.

"got problem come say to my face, don't spread your sense of 'truth' to others and make everything all complicated."

So what now? Is it that even my close friends know all these things and no one even bother to tell me? Am I really that much of an eyesore to everyone? Seriously don't come say hi to me when you even dislike me in the first place. I fucking hate fake people. It's one thing to dislike someone, but it's another thing to tell others why. And that reason might not even be true. For fuck sakes I do it too but at least I tell the truth. Damn she pisses me off. I never done anything to her yet she still dares to write those things about me. You don't even know me. And to think I even bothered to take care of you when you were sick on the first few days. I bought you medicine, constantly asked if you were alright and try to show as much concern as possible. BUT you still shower me with 'no wonder so many people dislikes you' . Wow . You're not even my girlfriend you know? You're just someone I'm stuck with halfway around the world for 3 months. YES STUCK. and I know u feel the same way too. So fuck it, u think you girl big shit r? Must lyan you like some slave. Pua cb. Got problem say to my face, don't cough here cough there, then still say you ok. Nb I buy u medicine out from my own money you say 'buy for what I also cured already' when at that moment you were coughin like fuckz BITCH PLEASE you don't want people take care of you then wtv la. I told your mum I'll take care of you alrdy but of u give such a lj attitude in return then I'll let you rot in your own puddle of shit nb everyday nose bleed, tell me alrdy u wan me do what? I offer Vicks for you then you say don't need . Every.fucking.day. Got problem you ownself settle, don't tell me alrdy then say don't need take care. U think I do free listen to your sickness r.

I'd rather have an idiot of a roommate than a backstabbing sick ass fuck for my oipp trip . And you know who I'm referring to. Knn.

And seriously, If u all my friends tell me straight to the face wtf other people or even yourselves got problem with me, don't act all friendly in front of me then behind my back like some bitch go backstab and bad mouth me.

You want see my fucking horns? I'll show you fucking hell.

How to Boost Male Hormone Levels

Random stuff i read at 6am in the morning.. This article is godlike. Love itttt.

How to Boost Male Hormone Levels

By Mack LeMouse | Mens Health | Rating:

 

In recent decades what it means to be a man has been changing. 'Metrosexuals' are the new cool guys, and it is considered being in touch with your feminine side and comfortable with your sexuality if you file your nails and straighten your hair. The guys women find attractive in the cinema are 'Edward Cullen' and other skinny men without an ounce of muscle on them. It gets to the point where even you and I find ourselves in dance classes instead of the gym.

There are many reasons for this. The women's liberation is often cited as one, with women gaining a more prominent role in society. Another is probably the media – which affects this fact as it starts to cater for women who have just as much money to take to the cinema as men. Finally another theory often postulated is that there is actually oestrogen – the female hormone – in our water. This then would actually be making men more feminine directly. So how can you go about increasing your male hormones and restore the balance a little?

Fortunately there are quite a few things that can increase your male hormones and specifically your testosterone and these all revolve around your diet and your lifestyle. There are many foods and supplements that can help your body to produce extra testosterone naturally for instance. For example if you eat red meats they will help you to produce extra testosterone, giving you one more excuse to eat steak. Likewise the herb 'tribulis terrestris' can also increase your natural production and is found in a number of supplements aimed at increasing testosterone. A range of other supplements also include a number of testosterone boosting herbs and ingredients including Oxcat, ZMA and more. These work to varying degrees however and the noticeable difference when taking these in either supplement or raw form is minimal. At the same time you should also avoid eating things that either contain oestrogen or increase your body's natural production of oestrogen. Among these is most notably celery that can decrease your natural production as a result. Similarly as the water is said to now contain oestrogen (as a result of women disposing of their own supplements and… tissues…) you might do well to avoid drinking tap water where possible and to instead drink bottled water or another drink. This is a bit expensive however of course so is only really advisable for those who are very serious about changing their hormone levels.

Fortunately there are other more simple ways to increase your testosterone that do have a more profound effect. One of these is to simply work out more, which will create all kinds of hormonal changes in your body and all of which will cause you to be more masculine. While this will increase testosterone levels through the link with muscle (lifting heavy for fewer reps to build mass rather than to improve definition is supposed to be the best way to increase 'T'), it will also create more growth hormone which is not technically a male hormone but has many of the same effects causing you to build more muscle, lose more fat and feel more powerful and energetic. It also causes the production of many so-called 'happiness' hormones which act like natural anti-depressants and leave you feeling more positive and energetic. Interestingly testosterone is also increased indirectly by exercise – as losing weight can also lower oestrogen levels in the body.

Another activity that can cause you to produce more testosterone is to have more sexual activity. The main form of this of course is just sex which again causes a range of chemical changes in the body, but studies have also shown masturbation to increase testosterone too – which to the brain is very similar to sex. The studies, granted, only showed a 'spike' in testosterone levels when the men masturbated, but then that testosterone has to go somewhere. Having sex in the morning (and theoretically masturbating in the morning) has been shown to drive up our hormone levels for the rest of the day).

As any woman knows the only time a man does not want sex is when he is too tired. This is not only because it is too much effort though, but also because tiredness is a sure fire way to kill testosterone levels. Finally aggression has also been shown to be linked with testosterone. While the assumption is that testosterone causes aggression, the reality is that it is a two way thing and anything your body does regularly it gets better at. This is not an excuse to go out starting bar fights, so instead try playing shoot 'em ups and beat 'em ups on the Xbox, or watching a violent film which will also increase your heart rate temporarily.

In short then there are a lot of ways to increase your testosterone levels, and it is perhaps unsurprising that most of these are behaviours that are considered typically male; eating red meat, lifting weights, sleeping, shouting at the screen while shooting things and having lots of sex. In turn you can expect to feel the benefits of that testosterone – increased drive, energy, sexual performance, muscle tone and weight loss. There is nothing wrong with being in touch with your feminine side and in fact it is very beneficial, but at the same time we should not be afraid of being men either, and it can even be bad for us to do so. Now go and cook up a steak and book tickets to see The Expendables.

Source: Health Guidance

The 2 S's.

Facts About You (12).

Facts About You (11).

i'm not a really religious person... but this is good.

A Religion Professor named Dr. Christianson taught a required survey of Christianity course at small college. Every freshman was required to take the course regardless of his or her major. Although he tried hard to communicate the gospel, students viewed the class as nothing more than a waste of time. 

One particular year Dr. Christianson had a student named Steve. Steve was the Center for the college football team and also a strong Christian who intended on going to Seminary. One day Dr. Christianson had an idea and he asked Steve to stay after class. "How many push-ups can you do?" He asked. Steve said, "I do 200 every night." The professor asked Steve if he could do 300. "I have never done 300 before" Steve said, "but I think I can do it." "Good," the professor said, and he proceeded to tell his plan to Steve. 

Friday came and Steve got to class early. Dr. Christianson came in with a large box of fluffy, cream filled doughnuts. The class was excited, it was Friday the last class of the day, and they could start their weekend early. Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the row and asked, "Cynthia would you like a donut?" "Yes," she said. Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure." Steve jumped down out of his desk and counted off ten push-ups. Dr. Christianson laid the donut on Cynthia’s desk. Joe was next. He asked Joe the same question and Joe said "yes." Steve did 10 more pushups and the professor laid the doughnut on Joe’s desk. And so it went all the way down the first row and half way down the second until it came to Scott. He was a basketball player and friendly to female companionship. Scott replied to the professor’s question by saying, "I want the doughnut if I can do my own push-ups." Dr. Christianson said, "No Steve has to do the pushups." Then Scott said, "Well I don’t want one if I can’t do my own." Dr. Christian turned around and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scoot can have a donut he doesn’t want." Scott said, "Hey! I said I didn’t want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts, Just leave it on the desk if you don’t want it." And he put the donut on Scott’s desk. 

Steve had begun to slow down a little and sweat had begun to form on his cheeks. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "NO!" Then Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn’t want?" Steve did ten-Jenny got a doughnut.

By now a sense of uneasiness had filled the room. The students were all beginning to say "no." There were uneaten donuts on every desk. Steve was now putting forth a lot of extra effort to get the pushups done for each doughnut. A small pool of sweat was on the floor, his face was red, and you could see the sweat soaking through his shirt. 

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, the most vocal unbeliever in class, to watch to make sure Steve did the full ten. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. Students from other classes had come in and were sitting along the side of the room watching on. When the professor saw them he counted and saw that there were now 34 people in the room. He was worried about Steve, "Could he do that many push-ups?" Jason, a recent transfer student, didn’t know what was going on and came in to see. The class yelled, "Go away! Don’t come in!" Steve picked up his head and said, "Let him come in." Jason was asked and he said "yes." "Steve will you do ten push-ups so Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great struggle. Jason, confused, was handed a donut and he sat down. Dr. Christianson then finished the fourth row and began on the visitors. Steve’s arms were shaking uncontrollably with each push up. By this time sweat was pouring off of his face and arms. The very last two students were cheerleaders. "Linda, do you want a donut?" Linda cried and said, "No thank you." Professor turned to Steve, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Linda can have a donut she doesn’t want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. The last girl was Susan. "Susan would you like a donut?" Susan was full of tears and did not answer. "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" Susan asked, "Dr. Christianson why can’t I help him?" Dr. Christianson had tears in his eyes also and replied, "I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party I looked at the grade book and found that Steve was the only person with a perfect grade. All of you had failed a test, skipped class, or turned in inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

Steve slowly got up off the floor; he had done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him as he started to get up. Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done good and faithful servant", said the professor, "not all sermons are preached in words class." Turning to the students the professor said, "My wish is that you may fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God did not spare His only Son but gave him up for all of us. Whether or not we accept His gift is our choice. The price has been paid. Wouldn’t you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?

Quote of the Day (1)

If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair with them, it is like expecting a lion not to eat you because you don't eat lion.

Ban Seng rule (2)

Ban Seng rules: Want to die go die lor, dun jump down the building and kill someone below. Be responsible, dun be a burden to other.

Ban Seng rule (1)

Ban Seng rules: Dun want to get F, dun make mistake. Made the mistake, then lan lan accepting whatever coming in your face. Cry father cry mother behind the back only make you more loser. Got balls, say in front of everyone.

Management Lessons from a 500 rupee note

Prakash Iyer, Managing Director, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach shares two important management lessons he learnt from a 500-rupee note. Read on.

It happened some years ago but I can recall the evening like it happened just last week. 
I was in an audience listening to a motivational guru. 
The speaker whipped out his wallet and pulled out a five hundred-rupee note. 
Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this five hundred rupee note?" 
Lots of hands went up. Including mine. 
A slow chorus began to build as people began to shout "Me!" "Me!" 
I began to wonder who the lucky one would be who the speaker would choose.
And I also secretly wondered - and I am sure others did too - why he would simply give away five hundred rupees. 

Even as the shouts of "I want it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. 
She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the five hundred-rupee note from his hand.
"Well done, young lady," said the speaker into the microphone. 
"Most of us just wait for good things to happen. That's of no use. You've got to make things happen." 
The speaker's words have stayed with me ever since.

'Simply thinking about doing something is of no use' 

Our lives are like that.
We all see opportunities around us.
We all want the good things. 
But the problem is we don't take action. 
We all want the five hundred rupee notes on offer.
But we don't make the move. We look at it longingly  
Get up, and do something about it.
Don't worry about what other people might think.
Take action. 

Several years later, it was another day, another time. 
And another motivational guru. 
As I watched him pull out a five hundred rupee note and hold it up for all to see, I thought I knew what he was going to do next.
But he just asked a simple question. "How much is this worth?" 
"Five Hundred rupees!" the crowd yelled in unison. 
"Right," said the speaker.

 He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked "How much is it worth now?" 
"Five Hundred rupees!" screamed the audience. 

He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: "And how much is it worth now?" 
"Five Hundred rupees!" was the response. 
"I want you to remember this," said the speaker. 

"Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish. 
We should all be like the five hundred rupee note.

In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten.
 But never let your self-worth diminish. Just because someone chooses to crush you - that doesn't change your worth one bit! 

Don't allow your self-worth to diminish because someone says something nasty –
or does something dirty -- to you."