To Japan We Care

*Love & Hope for better tomorrow*

~Si3wLiNg~

20110424

19 April 2011 Marks The Rebirth of Me

19 April 2011, the day of the rebirth of me...

The day to begin to focus my time & energy on the right paths...

The day to begin to take control of my life...

The day to begin to be in control of time instead of being controlled by time...

The day to begin to think of "me" before others because "Be the change you want to see in this world" ~ Mahatma Gandhi...

*Love & Hope for better tomorrow*

~Si3wLiNg~

20110424

Individual's Gross Happiness Index

How happy are you with your current life?

How happy are you with your current relationship with family?

How happy are you with your current relationship with your other half?

How happy are you with your current relationship with your friends?

How happy are you with your job or career?

How happy are you with your current health status?

How happy are you with your current financial status?

How happy are you with your current freedom?

How happy are you with the happenings around you?

And the list goes on and on…

When we are under stress or unhappy situation(s), we often heard people advising us to let it go and get on with life. Yes, when we can’t change the way we are currently in, we can still change the way we perceive it. However, will it solve the problem at its root? What if the root problem lies beyond us? What if you have tried your best to make the situation better or accepting others’ principles yet what you receive in return is incorporation from others or the environment?

“When a person performs within that role, believing it to be his or her ambition, and a sign of professional success, how much room is left for spiritual longings? How much space have we left outside our roles, for us to truly know our heart?" ~ Confucius From The Heart

Few weeks ago, I came across an article on Gross Happiness Index (which I never knew its existence) and was enlightened with its existence as the environment I am living in focuses more on resolving the “symptoms” than the “root”.

Gross National Happiness (GNH) was initiated by the fourth king of Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in 1972 to build an economy that is based on the unique culture of Bhutan, the Buddhist spiritual values, measuring the sense of being well-governed, their relationship with the environment, satisfaction with the pace of economic development, and a sense of cultural and national belonging of its people. The index will help to reveal the life quality, the amount of leisure time one has, the happenings in the community and the level of integration with ones’ culture. Let's us not think in a bigger environment first as it all begins within ourselves - our inner desire, our soul, our spirituality. Are those being met at an individual level?

“As citizens of a spiritual land, you treasure the qualities of a good human being – honesty, kindness, charity, integrity, unity, respect for our culture and traditions, love for our country and for God…My deepest concern is that as the world changes, we may lose these fundamental values on which rest our character as a nation and people.” ~Read more on Coronation Address of His Majesty King Khesar, The 5th Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan (7th November 2008) here.

Are you able to hold on to these fundamental values when you embark on your journey of life? How often does it succeed? How often are you denied the access to the values in chase of material world, even being denied by your inner self?

When we understand each other (even within a small team in an environment) and ourselves better, it will indirectly reap the maximum benefits for everyone. However, this understanding needs to be accompanied by the freedom of expressing oneself.

Have you found your source of happiness?

*Love and Hope for better tomorrow*

~Si3wLiNg~

20110417

Life Satisfaction: We Have It, Yet We Don’t Have It…

Sometimes, “what we think”, “what we say”, “what we do” and “what we want” contradict with each other. At one point, we want this yet our action speaks otherwise. At the other point, we feel it does not really suit us yet it is what we want after all.

Whatever it is, it has to start from our heart and soul. We often hear somebody said “live a simple life” but how many of us can really walk this path? How many of us are ready to accept the challenges along the way? Can a person who is shouldering more-than-average responsibilities and commitments live a simple life? How simple is “simple”?

Are you satisfied with your current life? If yes, does that mean that there is no more room for improvement (it does not matter whether it is self-improvement, life-improvement, career-improvement etc)? If you are still not satisfied because you want a better life, does that mean that you have been intoxicated by the materialistic world we are currently living in?

For years, I have been searching for the so-called life satisfaction but now, I truly understand that satisfaction comes in the form of every single matter that happens every day as even the worst day of my life can turn out to be the best day of my life. Why is this so? It is because every setback has its own meaning and purpose. Every cloud has a silver lining. It is a way in which God teaches us (me) how to face life, triggering maturity that has been locked somewhere in our (my) soul since birth. Without setbacks, can we truly understand why we were born to live through birth, old age, sickness and death? Can we truly understand our purpose on Earth?

Life, it is not all about moving forward in a fast speed. Yes, some may feel more satisfied in this way but it does not mean that this way of life suits everyone because every single one of us plays a different role in this world. Without the fast-thinking, fast-action, quantity-surpasses-quality (in some) business world, we may not own the materials and conveniences we have today. However, without the laid-back-thinking and slower-moving creative etc. worlds where quality is more important than quantity (though both are equally important), we may not have the opportunity to savour touching stories, compact (scientific, cultural etc) research and artistry.

As Shakespeare puts it:

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

What constitutes life satisfaction then?

Cherish what you have. Face every matter in a delightful way, as depicted in S.H.E’s Delighted (痛快):

痛快去爱 痛快去痛 Savouring love and pain in a delightful way

痛快去悲伤 痛快去感动 Savouring sorrow and touching moments in a delightful way

生命给了什么 我就享受什么 Enjoying what life has given me

每颗人间烟火 全都不要错过 Don’t ever miss the fireworks when you see it

痛快去感受 Experiencing and feeling it in a delightful way

每一天 都是一个节庆 Every day is a celebration

每件事 都发生来丰富我的记忆 Every matter occurs to enrich my memory

很好奇 还有谁等着闯进我日记 Feeling curious on who will be waiting in my diary

欢迎光临 亲爱的 请享用我的感情 Welcome, my dear, to enjoy my affection and love

笑与哭 都值得用力气 It is worthy to put in strength in laughing and crying

吻和泪 都是该裱框纪念的痕迹 All kisses and tears shall be framed as memento

很乐意 每段路都有陌生人同行 Readily accepting strangers to travel down every road together

爱或伤害 都欢呼 都是活过的证据 Hail the love or the hurt as evidences of being alive

艳阳暴雨 不要客气 Accepting sunny and rainy days

请一直 澎湃我热切的血液 Always surging my warm blood

我活着的目的 就是活得鲜明 Reason of being alive is to live a colourful life

痛快迎接 痛快等候 Greeting and waiting in a delightful way

痛快去试探 痛快去触碰 Exploring and striking in a delightful way

生命安排什么 我就感谢什么 Be grateful with what life has arranged for me

每颗人间烟火 全都美丽了我 Beautifying myself when I see the fireworks

Life satisfaction, it is so near yet so far. But life is too short to walk the path that is not intended for you.


*Love and Hope for better tomorrow*

~Si3wLiNg~

20110410

‎Self/Skill Improvement Management (SIM) Plan

It has been a month since I kick-started my Self/Skill Improvement Management (SIM) Plan, embarking on the journey to the meaning of life.

It is an inspirational plan, as the knowledge and skills gained will help me to understand more about the majestic world created by God. It has always been my dream to be somebody one day (have always been inspired by musicians and multi-taskers), a somebody where her works are recognized, cherished, inspired and motivated others. Not just in one particular field, but in at least two fields, or what we call “one-leg-kick”. It is not an easy journey though as the more I read and know; the more I find myself knowing so little in the vast sea of knowledge available.

Once, I met a person who could tell a person’s personality based on the analysis of fingerprint. Yes, I am a person who is always seeking for better life (& ahem, pay). A better life, to me, does not mean being materialism, but earning slightly more than enough to support the daily life of myself and of my family and to fulfil my dreams of travelling around the world to record the essence of life (of course, it comes with the pre-requisite of owning a good DSLR, a travel-laptop and available $).

Oh, I was also told that I am a person who likes to be praised. But here, the word ‘praise’ can differ in meaning in different individuals though. For me, I just realize that I have always been subconsciously seeking for recognitions for my works and skills (talents). It feels so good when someone said “I love your photo” or “Your writings have touched my heart”. Well, who doesn’t look forward to this feeling? A singer needs recognition from fans to continue his journey in the musical world. A businessman needs recognition from consumers to continue his journey in the business world. And everything will work out smoothly with the desire to inspire the world, leaving your own imprint in the heart and soul of anyone you come across with. It is a sign of success, of happiness.

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself." ~ Alan Alda, from Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive

Yes, I am leaving the comfort of my room and venture into the unknown, not wanting to waste any single minute that will bring me nearer to my dreams and inspirations and self-discovery. This means no more slacking, no more lazy-ing, no more feeling bored, no more delaying...all of which are already a part of everyone’s life. The right moment is NOW!

As a multi-tasker, I have opted to focus on few areas:

1. English language: To copy down any phrase that explains a situation in a creative way and improvises it with my own style.
2. Self-motivation: To read and copy down motivational and inspirational quotes, bringing me closer to life.
3. Travel (and photography): To expand my exposure to the culture of other places and be mesmerized by the photos that capture the essence of life and creativity.
4. Moving images: To gain more understanding on psychology and life, and creativity via moving images such as drama and movie.
5. Music: To immerse myself in the world of melody, understanding and appreciating the tunes of the universe and be inspired.
6. Chinese language: To feel the beauty of the thousands of years history while understanding my root.
7. Universe energy: To enhance health and understand the healing power of the universe better, bringing better health and life to those in needs via healing hands.

The world of life I am currently immersing myself in

*Love and Hope for better tomorrow*

~Si3wLiNg~

20110403