After ten weeks of hard work, it is time to go on a holiday again! We flew by Tiger budget airline and the flight took one and a half hours to Ho Chi Minh City.
All the preparations and reading before the holidays stood us in good stead. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh at around 4.30pm and took the airport bus into town. We reached town in half an hour and what greeted us was a horde of motor-bicyles that whizzed by all around us. Learning to cross the road was the first thing we had to master on our arrival. Our hotel was in a busy area where lots of backpackers stay. It took us half an hour walking in a circle before we finally found the street we were looking for.
Ho Chi Minh City looks chaotic, dusty and dirty at first sight and we wondered why we had chosen this country for our hard-earned holiday.
We found our pre-booked hotel in an alley which looked dingy at the main entrance but we soon found that it was in actual fact on a quiet street away from the noisy traffic on the main roads.
There were lots of pubs, bars, tourist agencies which offer trips to the different parts of Vietnam from south to north. After a simple but delicious meal of beef noodles, we were ready to check out the the vicinity of the famous Pham Ngu Lao Street.
The next morning after a simple breakfast of baguette, eggs, coffee and bananas, we were ready to make our way around.
We walked to Cho Ben Thanh, the big market place where all kinds of stuff were put on sale. Nearby was the bus station where all services seem to ply from here.We boarded Bus 1 and soon found ourselves in Cholon, the Chinatown of HCMC.
We bought some fruits and soon decided to check on the bus interchange at Mien Tay. We found ourselves pestered by some ticket sellers who tried to sell us tickets to go to the different parts of the Mekong Delta.
We were a bit apprehensive if we could make it to the place Caibee and back in time in the evening. We were assured that there would be buses to take us back on the same day.
However, two hours later, the bus journey ended in a rather secluded place with no sight of piers or bus terminus. A woman who spoke Cantonese advised us to return to HCMC as we were in no men's land with people who speak only Vietnamese. We took the motorbke taxi, changed into a van and later from Mytho took a bus back to HCMC.
The lesson to learn here is to be better prepared and find out a little more before venturing out. Nevertheless, God has kept us safe in spite of our recklessness.
Back at the hotel, we talked to a Malaysian couple from KL.
On Day 3, we decided to check out on the sightseeing places, beginning with The Reunification Palace. We then made our way around to Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post Office, and the HCM Museum area. We had a simple chicken rice and noodle lunch and soon found the famous wrap and roll restaurant.
We bought some to take away to the HCM Domestic airport as we had a flight to catch to go to Nha Trang.
We arrived at Nha Trang at 6pm and the sky was already pitch dark then. We were grateful that the people at Perfume Grass Inn sent a pickup to pick us up from the Airport.
The owner Mr Huan was there with his family to receive us. We went out for a little dinner and checked on transport to Dalat, our next stop. It rained heavily that evening but we managed to return to the hotel after going to the supermarket to purchase some bottles of mineral water and vodka orange.
Next morning, we had a simple breakfast, before hiring a motorbike to go to the various sightseeing places.
The hotel gave us a good map and with it, we could find the various places quite easily.
We went to the Po Nagar Cham Tower after stopping at the Hong Chong Promonitory. A University student was our voluntary guide and she spoke good English as she explained to us the significance of Po Nagar and gave us a little information of the Cham people and their religion.
After that, we went a bit off looking for the Thap Ba Mud Bath. From there, we went to look for the Long Son temple to look at the majestic white Buddha on the hill and the reclining Buddha too. A woman tried to sell us some postcards at an exorbitant price but we managed to shake her off. After a little local lunch at a coffee shop, we rode to the park where some secondary students were having a picnic. They were too shy to speak English to us even though they might have understood a little of what we said. We then went on to Vinpearl land to check on the prices to take the cable car to the island.
In spite of the little downpour, we had good fun riding the motorbike.
In the evening, we walked along the beach and had hotpot dinner at a restaurant.
The next day, we took the four island boat trip to Mieu,Munn, Mot and Tranh. We were in the same group as Federica and her brother Mike from Tasmania,Diana and Steven from Canada, and some Chinese nationals from China as well as many Vietnamese, that being Saturday.We had fun on the boat when the organisers got ready a makeshift stage to sing, dance and clown around. For the first time, I dared to get into the water together with Lek and the rest.We even had red wine at the improvised bar in the water!
Mr Huan was kind enough to help us book a hotel in a government guest house in Dalat and arranged for the open bus to take us there.
The next morning, we met a French lady who travelled on her own and had returned from Siem Reap.
The open bus took four hours before we arrived at Dalat, which is on the central highland. The day was hot while the evening was freezing cold. We could not get much information from the receptionist at Dinh two where we stayed as she knew just a little English.
Anyway, she recommended a friend who rented a motorbke to us from 1pm to 6pm.
We rode around town, negotiating some undulating plain. We took a rest at the beautiful Yersin garden. We later learnt that Yersin was the man who founded Dalat.
It was disappointing to find the famous lake all dried up and some construction work was going on.
The next day, we took a tour to some popular sightseeing places. We went to the Biet Thur Hang Nga, the famous crazy house, the Bao Dai summer palace, the Nha Tho Domain de Marie, The Cremaillere Railway Station, the Dalat flower garden, At the Robin Hills, we took the cable car to Bamboo Pagoda temple. We then went to Thac Datanla waterfall and finally to the market. We had some lunch,changed our money and went to book a flight back to HCMC as we decided not to take the arduous eight-hour bus ride back.
Dinh2 was indeed a very beautiful place and perhaps if the lake had not dried up, we could venture out a little more.
Back in HCMC after half an hour flight, we went back to the same hotel that we first stayed, cleaned ourselves up and went to the An Dong Market.
Back at Bui Vien, we had some Indian food for dinner and bought our fifth and last pomelo on this trip.
On the last day, we went to Chua Ngoc Hoang, a chinese temple by bus no.18. We also managed to visit the Ho Chi Minh City museum.
After a simple lunch at Ben Thanh Market, we returned to the hotel to pick up our luggage and took the airport bus no. 152 to go to the airport to take the flight home.
The nine-day holiday had come to an end and we had a good time planning for the holidays and looking for places.
We had a good and cheap holiday, we got to put our map reading and research skills to good use and most of all we got to meet various people on this trip, the Vietnamese and the other tourists, not forgetting the chance to ride the motorbike in both Nha Trang and Dalat.
We will return to Vietnam some day to go to Hoi An, Dalang and the beautiful Fu Quoc island, not forgetting the Chu Chi tunnel and Mekong Delta which we missed on this trip.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Monday, September 7, 2009
Reflections
I was a quiet child even though I thought I feel very deeply. I remember being a lonely child as my father was often at work and Mum was usually too busy with mahjong games.
My elder brother and sister were too busy with their own affairs to have time for me. I often played with the children in my neighbourhood, but when night fell and everybody got home, I was often left alone waiting for Mum to return home from her mahjong games. How I used to hate her mahjong games which seemed like some kind of evil that took her heart and soul from me.
I know my Mum loves me, for she often sang to me and told me her sad childhood when she was not busy with her mahjong games. The bonding between us was therefore never strong. I grew up not needing her much though I know that I should provide for her.
When I visited her and dad after my marriage, I often had to sit with my bed-ridden dad while doing my own reading. Mum would be away for her mahjong games.
Was I a good daughter to my parents? Yes, I provided for them and loved both of them especially dad who had always doted on me. After Dad’s demise, I knew that I had to take care of Mum as she grew old and soon showed signs of dementia. I took her home as younger sister was in America and there was nobody else. Yet, I was often busy, with my work, my interest and my books. I just did not seem to have the time and the love for the people who should matter most to me. I realized now that perhaps I have lived a very selfish life.
I have not communicated enough with the people close to me, my dad, my mum, my elder sister and now my own children. I feel that I was indeed handicapped and unable to form deep relationships with people. I was hungry to communicate with people on a deeper level. So far, I was able to communicate on that level with only some of my friends like Beng Keow, Lai Heng and Swee Kum. Perhaps, God is trying to tell me that human relationships are imperfect just as we, mortals are imperfect and our longing can only be satisfied by His filling the vacuum in our hearts.
Well, it is pointless to regret the past for what is important is the present. With God’s guidance, I can work on my relationship with my two daughters, Lynn and Sarah as well as people who come into my life. Lord, I pray for your forgiveness in all my shortcomings. Fill me with Your love that I may love You and all the people You have sent into my life.
My elder brother and sister were too busy with their own affairs to have time for me. I often played with the children in my neighbourhood, but when night fell and everybody got home, I was often left alone waiting for Mum to return home from her mahjong games. How I used to hate her mahjong games which seemed like some kind of evil that took her heart and soul from me.
I know my Mum loves me, for she often sang to me and told me her sad childhood when she was not busy with her mahjong games. The bonding between us was therefore never strong. I grew up not needing her much though I know that I should provide for her.
When I visited her and dad after my marriage, I often had to sit with my bed-ridden dad while doing my own reading. Mum would be away for her mahjong games.
Was I a good daughter to my parents? Yes, I provided for them and loved both of them especially dad who had always doted on me. After Dad’s demise, I knew that I had to take care of Mum as she grew old and soon showed signs of dementia. I took her home as younger sister was in America and there was nobody else. Yet, I was often busy, with my work, my interest and my books. I just did not seem to have the time and the love for the people who should matter most to me. I realized now that perhaps I have lived a very selfish life.
I have not communicated enough with the people close to me, my dad, my mum, my elder sister and now my own children. I feel that I was indeed handicapped and unable to form deep relationships with people. I was hungry to communicate with people on a deeper level. So far, I was able to communicate on that level with only some of my friends like Beng Keow, Lai Heng and Swee Kum. Perhaps, God is trying to tell me that human relationships are imperfect just as we, mortals are imperfect and our longing can only be satisfied by His filling the vacuum in our hearts.
Well, it is pointless to regret the past for what is important is the present. With God’s guidance, I can work on my relationship with my two daughters, Lynn and Sarah as well as people who come into my life. Lord, I pray for your forgiveness in all my shortcomings. Fill me with Your love that I may love You and all the people You have sent into my life.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Answering your call- a guide for living your deepest purpose
What is it in the end that induces a man to go his own way and to rise out of unconscious identity with the mass as out of a swathing mist?
It is what is commonly called vocation: An irrational factor that destines a man to emancipate himself from the herd and from its well-worn paths. Anyone with a vocation hears the voice of the inner man: He is called- Carl Jung
Only by discovering and then somehow creatively deploying, our unique combination of gifts, can we ever feel the deep satisfaction of a life well-lived.
Human creativity and lasting value is possible only when individual is determined to address some problems, advance some knowledge or serve a cause or humanity in some fashion. When they do this, they are answering a call to do something that matters. They have purpose and are out to make a difference. They choose significance over success.
What is a call? Calls are invitations from life to serve, to achieve your will towards a cause worthy of you and the human family. They are purposes with a voice, visions turned into inner commands. Calls draw the specifics of a purpose and a vision. A call is the impulse to move ahead in a meaningful way, a mind-body push into the future. Answering a call takes persistence, discipline and stamina. After the initial yes, we answer the call by creating sets and subsets of long term and short term strategies, goals and tactics. Persistence needs its polar opposite: openness and willingness to stop the current plan and go in a new direction. We need to be quiet enough, long enough, often enough to heed calls which comes to us from kairotic (a time for the spirit) time. Confronting the fear of accepting a call is the best way to move into the joys that a call brings.
Having courage and belief in the numberless tasks and routines of living a life is answering a call. We assume ordinary roles. We can make them more than ordinary when we will them to a higher level.
A calling depends not on how big the actions are that we take, it is about how much love we put into those actions. For God, it is all infinite. You do what is small and you do it with love and God will make it infinite.
Hear your inner voice and believe when the evidence is sparse. The called life is not an easier life than other kinds, only a better one. It is better because attempting to what we are meant for brings the internal joy that can come with commitments that are larger than the confines of our space- bound, time- bound existence. A commitment to a call is not a guarantee of success in the usual way the term is used as in a career, but it is a guarantee of the success of the self as it decides not to waste life energies on the multiple diversions that we all encounter. Answering a call will bring mentors into your life. It will also bring tormentors. Use the saboteur to grow more deeply committed to your calling Extract value from your saboteur encounters. Learn the signs and patterns of saboteurs. They often look respectable and have authority. They speak of positive motive to couch damages. They twist reality. They are masters of power and control. They caused pains and enjoy watching others regress. They often do good in some areas of their lives. The worst saboteur in your life is you.
Pass on the Evocateur’s gift
To live content with small means
To seek elegance rather than luxury
And refinement rather than fashion
To be worthy, not respectable and wealthy not rich
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently and frankly
To listen to the stars and birds to babes and sages with open heart
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely
Await occasions, hurry never
In a word, to let the spiritual, unconscious and unbidden grow up through the common
Evocateurs soak up reality and tell the truth
They see what others see but they think something different
They appeal to the innate human longing to be more than we are
Both find and create teachable moments, adapt their method, work at the level of the identity.
Evocateurs acknowledge
Provoke the stifling
Calling of the provocateurs
Eliminate injustice to selves, others and future generations
Exaggerate to force attention
Hold up the mirror
Pace the aggravator
Prepare for attacks and fight bitterness with good humour
Get rest and make friends
Be prepared to accept defeat
Believe in your calling
Build portfolio of calls
Means to be conscious and do well in multiple life roles
Fight off saboteurs
Strengthen response to calling
Evoke possibilities of the moment
Provoke status quo to change
Teach the self and ego to collaborate
Work the veil
Accepting limitations and weaknesses is part of getting better my calling
Look underneath the behavior to the spirit and intention
Don’t be literal. Accept nothing at face value
Always assume something deeper is going on
Stay focused for the long term to bring a life of calling well-heeded and well-lived.
It is what is commonly called vocation: An irrational factor that destines a man to emancipate himself from the herd and from its well-worn paths. Anyone with a vocation hears the voice of the inner man: He is called- Carl Jung
Only by discovering and then somehow creatively deploying, our unique combination of gifts, can we ever feel the deep satisfaction of a life well-lived.
Human creativity and lasting value is possible only when individual is determined to address some problems, advance some knowledge or serve a cause or humanity in some fashion. When they do this, they are answering a call to do something that matters. They have purpose and are out to make a difference. They choose significance over success.
What is a call? Calls are invitations from life to serve, to achieve your will towards a cause worthy of you and the human family. They are purposes with a voice, visions turned into inner commands. Calls draw the specifics of a purpose and a vision. A call is the impulse to move ahead in a meaningful way, a mind-body push into the future. Answering a call takes persistence, discipline and stamina. After the initial yes, we answer the call by creating sets and subsets of long term and short term strategies, goals and tactics. Persistence needs its polar opposite: openness and willingness to stop the current plan and go in a new direction. We need to be quiet enough, long enough, often enough to heed calls which comes to us from kairotic (a time for the spirit) time. Confronting the fear of accepting a call is the best way to move into the joys that a call brings.
Having courage and belief in the numberless tasks and routines of living a life is answering a call. We assume ordinary roles. We can make them more than ordinary when we will them to a higher level.
A calling depends not on how big the actions are that we take, it is about how much love we put into those actions. For God, it is all infinite. You do what is small and you do it with love and God will make it infinite.
Hear your inner voice and believe when the evidence is sparse. The called life is not an easier life than other kinds, only a better one. It is better because attempting to what we are meant for brings the internal joy that can come with commitments that are larger than the confines of our space- bound, time- bound existence. A commitment to a call is not a guarantee of success in the usual way the term is used as in a career, but it is a guarantee of the success of the self as it decides not to waste life energies on the multiple diversions that we all encounter. Answering a call will bring mentors into your life. It will also bring tormentors. Use the saboteur to grow more deeply committed to your calling Extract value from your saboteur encounters. Learn the signs and patterns of saboteurs. They often look respectable and have authority. They speak of positive motive to couch damages. They twist reality. They are masters of power and control. They caused pains and enjoy watching others regress. They often do good in some areas of their lives. The worst saboteur in your life is you.
Pass on the Evocateur’s gift
To live content with small means
To seek elegance rather than luxury
And refinement rather than fashion
To be worthy, not respectable and wealthy not rich
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently and frankly
To listen to the stars and birds to babes and sages with open heart
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely
Await occasions, hurry never
In a word, to let the spiritual, unconscious and unbidden grow up through the common
Evocateurs soak up reality and tell the truth
They see what others see but they think something different
They appeal to the innate human longing to be more than we are
Both find and create teachable moments, adapt their method, work at the level of the identity.
Evocateurs acknowledge
Provoke the stifling
Calling of the provocateurs
Eliminate injustice to selves, others and future generations
Exaggerate to force attention
Hold up the mirror
Pace the aggravator
Prepare for attacks and fight bitterness with good humour
Get rest and make friends
Be prepared to accept defeat
Believe in your calling
Build portfolio of calls
Means to be conscious and do well in multiple life roles
Fight off saboteurs
Strengthen response to calling
Evoke possibilities of the moment
Provoke status quo to change
Teach the self and ego to collaborate
Work the veil
Accepting limitations and weaknesses is part of getting better my calling
Look underneath the behavior to the spirit and intention
Don’t be literal. Accept nothing at face value
Always assume something deeper is going on
Stay focused for the long term to bring a life of calling well-heeded and well-lived.
Relationships- living without regrets
I was a quiet child even though I thought I feel very deeply. I remember being a lonely child as my father was often at work and Mum was usually too busy with mahjong games.
My elder brother and sister were too busy with their own affairs to have time for me. I often played with the children in my neighbourhood, but when night fell and everybody got home, I was often left alone waiting for Mum to return home from her mahjong games. How I used to hate her mahjong games which seemed like some kind of evil that took her heart and soul from me.
I know my Mum loves me, for she often sang to me and told me her sad childhood when she was not busy with her mahjong games. The bonding between us was therefore never strong. I grew up not needing her much though I know that I should provide for her.
When I visited her and dad after my marriage, I often had to sit with my bed-ridden dad while doing my own reading. Mum would be away for her mahjong games.
Was I a good daughter to my parents? Yes, I provided for them and loved both of them especially dad who had always doted on me. After Dad’s demise, I knew that I had to take care of Mum as she grew old and soon showed signs of dementia. I took her home as younger sister was in America and there was nobody else. Yet, I was often busy, with my work, my interest and my books. I just did not seem to have the time and the love for the people who should matter most to me. I realized now that perhaps I have lived a very selfish life.
I have not communicated enough with the people close to me, my dad, my mum, my elder sister and now my own children. I feel that I was indeed handicapped and unable to form deep relationships with people. I was hungry to communicate with people on a deeper level. So far, I was able to communicate on that level with only some of my friends like Beng Keow, Lai Heng and Swee Kum. Perhaps, God is trying to tell me that human relationships are imperfect just as we, mortals are imperfect and our longing can only be satisfied by His filling the vacuum in our hearts.
Well, it is pointless to regret the past for what is important is the present. With God’s guidance, I can work on my relationship with my two daughters, Lynn and Sarah as well as people who come into my life. Lord, I pray for your forgiveness in all my shortcomings. Fill me with Your love that I may love You and all the people You have sent into my life.
My elder brother and sister were too busy with their own affairs to have time for me. I often played with the children in my neighbourhood, but when night fell and everybody got home, I was often left alone waiting for Mum to return home from her mahjong games. How I used to hate her mahjong games which seemed like some kind of evil that took her heart and soul from me.
I know my Mum loves me, for she often sang to me and told me her sad childhood when she was not busy with her mahjong games. The bonding between us was therefore never strong. I grew up not needing her much though I know that I should provide for her.
When I visited her and dad after my marriage, I often had to sit with my bed-ridden dad while doing my own reading. Mum would be away for her mahjong games.
Was I a good daughter to my parents? Yes, I provided for them and loved both of them especially dad who had always doted on me. After Dad’s demise, I knew that I had to take care of Mum as she grew old and soon showed signs of dementia. I took her home as younger sister was in America and there was nobody else. Yet, I was often busy, with my work, my interest and my books. I just did not seem to have the time and the love for the people who should matter most to me. I realized now that perhaps I have lived a very selfish life.
I have not communicated enough with the people close to me, my dad, my mum, my elder sister and now my own children. I feel that I was indeed handicapped and unable to form deep relationships with people. I was hungry to communicate with people on a deeper level. So far, I was able to communicate on that level with only some of my friends like Beng Keow, Lai Heng and Swee Kum. Perhaps, God is trying to tell me that human relationships are imperfect just as we, mortals are imperfect and our longing can only be satisfied by His filling the vacuum in our hearts.
Well, it is pointless to regret the past for what is important is the present. With God’s guidance, I can work on my relationship with my two daughters, Lynn and Sarah as well as people who come into my life. Lord, I pray for your forgiveness in all my shortcomings. Fill me with Your love that I may love You and all the people You have sent into my life.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
My relationship with my children
I have longed to have my own children when I decided to get married. In fact, one of the reasons that I want to get married is to have my own children.
On reflection, it seems a rather strange reason to want to be married. As a school teacher, I have daily contacts with children.
I remember asking a colleague who was then leaving for the United States for some maternity dress patterns. I soon learnt that everything has its seasons, as the bible says in Ecclesiastes. Three years down the road, I was still childless.
I went to the genealogists to find out why I was unable to conceive. After various procedures, I was pregnant. However, the joy was short-lived as I soon found that the pregnancy was ectopic, which means, the egg has attached itself to the wall of the fallopian tube and as it grew, the fallopian tube tore and I almost lost my life in the attempt to have a child. The doctor who attended to me informed me how lucky I was to be alive as it was indeed dangerous as the tube was bleeding internally.
With God’s grace, I survived but was told by my gynecologist that my chances of having a child are down from one percent to just 0.5.
My doctor suggested that I might want to consider adopting a child but somehow God’s answer to this option was in the negative when the plan did not materialize.
The time finally came which was seven years down the road, after a prayer from a visiting pastor, I became pregnant. When I found myself pregnant, my attending doctor went on a course in the States. God seems to tell me that I have to rely solely on Him and not on men.
Lynn was born soon and brought much joy to the family. Alas, my faith proved to be too fragile. My lack of gratitude brought me lots of pain.
Just when I hesitated to give up all that I had, God graciously gave me another child. This child Sarah has indeed come from God to mend the relationship between her parents.
Sarah has indeed been given by God. She is the one who leads me back to the church to confess my sins and once again go back to Him in repentance.
Sarah and Lynn both gave us lots of joy and also lots of heartaches as they grow in independence and waywardness as well. Not being a strict disciplinarian and not being good Christian parents, we have not guided them well other than providing them with physical needs and an education.
Praise be to God, they have grown up pretty well and with God’s mercy and blessing, we learnt to pray for wisdom and directions. With love, I learn to respect them and in turn they show their respect too. Of course, there were moments when we lose our temper with each other but I soon learnt to apologise and ask for forgiveness. Lynn has also reciprocated with gentler behavior.
As for Sarah, she has worked very hard to achieve academic success. She has obtained good results in her studies and has gone over to UK on student exchange.
Praise the Lord for His love and guidance. With Him, we have no fear or worries as we know that all things work for the good of those who love Him.
On reflection, it seems a rather strange reason to want to be married. As a school teacher, I have daily contacts with children.
I remember asking a colleague who was then leaving for the United States for some maternity dress patterns. I soon learnt that everything has its seasons, as the bible says in Ecclesiastes. Three years down the road, I was still childless.
I went to the genealogists to find out why I was unable to conceive. After various procedures, I was pregnant. However, the joy was short-lived as I soon found that the pregnancy was ectopic, which means, the egg has attached itself to the wall of the fallopian tube and as it grew, the fallopian tube tore and I almost lost my life in the attempt to have a child. The doctor who attended to me informed me how lucky I was to be alive as it was indeed dangerous as the tube was bleeding internally.
With God’s grace, I survived but was told by my gynecologist that my chances of having a child are down from one percent to just 0.5.
My doctor suggested that I might want to consider adopting a child but somehow God’s answer to this option was in the negative when the plan did not materialize.
The time finally came which was seven years down the road, after a prayer from a visiting pastor, I became pregnant. When I found myself pregnant, my attending doctor went on a course in the States. God seems to tell me that I have to rely solely on Him and not on men.
Lynn was born soon and brought much joy to the family. Alas, my faith proved to be too fragile. My lack of gratitude brought me lots of pain.
Just when I hesitated to give up all that I had, God graciously gave me another child. This child Sarah has indeed come from God to mend the relationship between her parents.
Sarah has indeed been given by God. She is the one who leads me back to the church to confess my sins and once again go back to Him in repentance.
Sarah and Lynn both gave us lots of joy and also lots of heartaches as they grow in independence and waywardness as well. Not being a strict disciplinarian and not being good Christian parents, we have not guided them well other than providing them with physical needs and an education.
Praise be to God, they have grown up pretty well and with God’s mercy and blessing, we learnt to pray for wisdom and directions. With love, I learn to respect them and in turn they show their respect too. Of course, there were moments when we lose our temper with each other but I soon learnt to apologise and ask for forgiveness. Lynn has also reciprocated with gentler behavior.
As for Sarah, she has worked very hard to achieve academic success. She has obtained good results in her studies and has gone over to UK on student exchange.
Praise the Lord for His love and guidance. With Him, we have no fear or worries as we know that all things work for the good of those who love Him.
My love for reading
My interest for reading began when I often spent my time at a neighbour’s place. The family had a lot of movie magazines and various Chinese comics that the family shared. Later on, I had access to the library of a friend’s brother who too had a large collection of Chinese essays, comics, fables and other reading materials.
My love for English books actually began when I had to do Literature in secondary school. I remember having to study Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and some anthology of poems at Secondary one.
Over the next few years, we studied Shakespeare’s plays, the most memorable of which was Macbeth. After I left secondary school, I continued my reading, particularly when I had access to my uncles’ collection of English Literature books. At Teachers’ Training College, we had to study some literature texts and some lecturers really shared their love of the classics with us.
After I started on my career, I continued to pursue various courses to improve my level of English competency. The Diploma English Studies Course required us to study various classics that included Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen etc. The A level English course too further fired my enthusiasm and interest.
Open University English and Literature required even more in depth reading of such texts.
A visit to Western Europe aroused my thirst for Greek Mythology and to know more about the great influence the Greek Culture had on the western world.
The years of reading had given me a new found interest and quest for new knowledge and I truly appreciate this opportunity to live life richly as I enter the world through the legacy of writing left behind by those who share their experiences.
My love for English books actually began when I had to do Literature in secondary school. I remember having to study Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and some anthology of poems at Secondary one.
Over the next few years, we studied Shakespeare’s plays, the most memorable of which was Macbeth. After I left secondary school, I continued my reading, particularly when I had access to my uncles’ collection of English Literature books. At Teachers’ Training College, we had to study some literature texts and some lecturers really shared their love of the classics with us.
After I started on my career, I continued to pursue various courses to improve my level of English competency. The Diploma English Studies Course required us to study various classics that included Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen etc. The A level English course too further fired my enthusiasm and interest.
Open University English and Literature required even more in depth reading of such texts.
A visit to Western Europe aroused my thirst for Greek Mythology and to know more about the great influence the Greek Culture had on the western world.
The years of reading had given me a new found interest and quest for new knowledge and I truly appreciate this opportunity to live life richly as I enter the world through the legacy of writing left behind by those who share their experiences.
The third age – six principles of growth and renewal after 40 – by William Sadler
Principle One
Balance mindful -reflection with risk taking
Step back to review, listen and visualize how you want to live
Clarify values, reflect on meaning and purpose to critique the old scripts
Find challenges and clarify expectations
Be open to creative tension and develop competencies needed
Commit to intended results
#2 Develop realistic optimism
Have a sense of humour and take charge to make choice to achieve.
#3 Create a positive third age identity
a) Listen to inner energy and identify barriers to expression
b) Leave behind and modify roles and life patterns
c) Critically assess and discard age stereotypes to break myths of aging
d) Recognize and accept mortality and affirm growth and renewal
Affirm independence and connectedness to others and a larger reality
Redefine success and develop standards to measure it
#4 Re-define our work- balance work and play
Recover a sense of meaningful work and play
Determine priorities and clarify what you love to do by following basic instincts
Enlarge scope of work to include paid work, fun work, housework, volunteer work and learning
Risk doing something new and add new values to life
#5 Balance personal freedom and intimacy
Intimate interdependence
The bond of love can liberate people and promote individuality
#6Build a more caring life
Increase our capacity to care
Care for self, care for optimal physical health
Step into more purposeful living
Create balance among multiple commitments
Shed old assumptions, expand our limits
Think creatively and live differently
Invitation of a lifetime for new growth, enrichment and purposeful living
First age- growing up
Second age – Productivity setting in
Third Age- second growth
4th age- successful aging
To counter aging, we must do more than adapt, keep fit and stay healthy. We need to initiate growth at a new level.
Balance mindful -reflection with risk taking
Step back to review, listen and visualize how you want to live
Clarify values, reflect on meaning and purpose to critique the old scripts
Find challenges and clarify expectations
Be open to creative tension and develop competencies needed
Commit to intended results
#2 Develop realistic optimism
Have a sense of humour and take charge to make choice to achieve.
#3 Create a positive third age identity
a) Listen to inner energy and identify barriers to expression
b) Leave behind and modify roles and life patterns
c) Critically assess and discard age stereotypes to break myths of aging
d) Recognize and accept mortality and affirm growth and renewal
Affirm independence and connectedness to others and a larger reality
Redefine success and develop standards to measure it
#4 Re-define our work- balance work and play
Recover a sense of meaningful work and play
Determine priorities and clarify what you love to do by following basic instincts
Enlarge scope of work to include paid work, fun work, housework, volunteer work and learning
Risk doing something new and add new values to life
#5 Balance personal freedom and intimacy
Intimate interdependence
The bond of love can liberate people and promote individuality
#6Build a more caring life
Increase our capacity to care
Care for self, care for optimal physical health
Step into more purposeful living
Create balance among multiple commitments
Shed old assumptions, expand our limits
Think creatively and live differently
Invitation of a lifetime for new growth, enrichment and purposeful living
First age- growing up
Second age – Productivity setting in
Third Age- second growth
4th age- successful aging
To counter aging, we must do more than adapt, keep fit and stay healthy. We need to initiate growth at a new level.
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