My Blog

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,

"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.

He said, "Please excuse me too, I wasn’t watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal, My son stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked him down. "Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken. I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken. While I lay awake in bed,

God’s still small voice came to me and said,

"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the family you love, you seem to abuse. Go and look on the kitchen floor, You’ll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers he brought for you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small, And now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by his bed;

"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said. "Are these the flowers you picked for me?"

He smiled, "I found ‘em, out by the tree.

I picked ‘em because they’re pretty like you.

I knew you’d like ‘em, especially the blue."

I said, "Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that’s okay. I love you anyway."

I said, "Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don’t you think?

So what is behind the story?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?

FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

I read this & feel that I have to take control of my life from now. Read it & you will know what I mean.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was >doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator. 

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied,

"Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or … you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or… I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it’s not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to >situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, >falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked

He continued, "..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I new I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything

‘Yes, I replied.’ The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath >and yelled, ‘Gravity’."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude… I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. And so with it we are in charge of our attitudes. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34. After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Human beings are imperfect. We are fallible. No matter how hard we try, how wise and experienced we are, or how often we practise, no one can escape the fact that sometimes, we fail. We all make mistakes. What sets the winners from the losers is how they handle setbacks. Do we get upset? Do we go into denial? Do we make ourselves feel so bad that it becomes harder and harder to leave the ground each time we fall?

Mistakes are not necessarily bad, meaningless or useless. They are a crucial element in our path of knowledge and improvement. The more mistakes you make, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you grow, and the more likely you’ll be able to shine brighter in future.

When you were a young growing child, how were you supposed to know the oven was hot? Or that when you say something impolite you’ll hurt someone’s feelings? If you make a mistake, at least you made a valiant attempt. At least you wouldn’t be stuck in that limbo of not knowing whether you would succeed or not.

Very often, we take mistakes far too seriously. So you made a mistake, so what? The world keeps turning, and the bugs keep biting. It’s not a question of "I made a mistake, I’m so sorry, I was such a fool". Rather, it’s a question of "Ok, I messed up. What am I going to do about it? How can I avoid making the same mistake again?"

The best leaders out there are the ones who made the most mistakes but learnt from them. The ones that never discovered or acknowledged their faux pas never made it into the business world and never made a difference in their own life, or the world.

We all fail. But only a handful truly learn from their mistakes. And these are the ones who will eventually go on to achieve great success and wisdom.

A girl and guy were speeding over 100 mph on the road on a motorcycle…

Girl: Slow down. Im scared.

Guy: No this is fun.

Girl: No its not. Please, its too scary!

Guy: Then tell me you love me.

Girl: Fine, I love you. Slow down!

Guy: Now give me a BIG hug.

Girl hugs him

Guy: Can you take my helmet off & put it on yourself? Its bugging me.

In the paper the next day A motorcycle had crashed into a building because of brake failure. Two people were on it, but only one had survived.

The truth was that halfway down the road, the guy realized that his brakes broke, but he didn’t want to let the girl know. Instead, he had her say she loved him & felt her hug him one last time, then had her wear his helmet so that she would live even though it meant that he would die.

Would you do this for your love?

My answer?? I would. Believe it or not…

Finally got the chance to update my blog again as I hv been busy all this while but recently on 3 weeks training (office hr) so got a bit more time to spare. Hey, btw… my training also very ‘xiong’ one k.. till my underwear also wet through man.. Look at the pix..

During this period since my accident, some up & down in my work. Sometime in July, I got condemn/accused by my big boss for poor performance & being a leader of setting cliques. Fortunately for me, I got a group of very supporting colleagues who pull & support me during this hard times, & now making a ‘Big’ name whc actually attract lots of unwanted attention. Anyway, I’m through now. Really wanna thanx my dear colleagues & not forgetting my direct supervisor who give his trust in me & guiding me all the time.

For my sports, finally completed my Nat Snooker League Div III. Not quite good as our team Star players seems to have dropped a bit unlike last year, whacking every single opponents by more than 50 pts. However, still got chance to promote to the next div.. but need to wait till the result by next yr.. For bowling, been improving with the assistance of my bowling kakis at Mt Faber but might need to spend a bit $$$ to upgrade my equipment liao… For soccer, need not say, after my last yr injury, I doesn’t seems to get back my speed whc is normally my key strength. After a few NFL games, I know, I’m out. When I went to play at my organisation div level, they too ask me.. @Andy, where is ur speed? …. How the hell I know but I know, I can nvr be back.. that’s the end of my soccer career.

For my love, well.. nvr actually wanna get into one but the gal really touched me & decided to try in it. She is real nice, supporting, respecting & giving in to me in many ways. But sad to say.. it still doesn’t last well.. ending ourselves losing feelings for each other. Anyway, 1 good thing, we still managed to be friends, chatting with each other when met on MSN. Thanx Jarlyn & sorry too, coz I really dunno wat I really really want. I just have a big stone in myself, which I really dunno how to get it off.

For my Family, so happy tt my mum finally recovered (fully) from her depression. Somemore can go tour for about 2 weeks in China.. When back… keep telling us how fun is it there… But good things nvr last. Just when I fetch them back from the airport, received a shocking news. A childhood friend of mine had just passed away during an accident. He is Hanwen, ex-student of YCS & a very promising officer from the Navy. My mum gets so sad & woke up numerous times from her sleep. Oh, forget to mention that Hanwen’s mother is a very close friend of my parents & nvr failed to visit each other when free. Well, the only console to his family is that he is given a very grand State Funeral. RIP Bro.

Well.. that’s all for the time being & hope I got time to write in the next few days again… Btw, to all my friends whom I didn’t celebrate the B’day with, so sorry.. got real tied down in my work & sports.. Promise, if got time, sure ask u all out for meals one…Tk Cre, Adieus..

While, typing this blog, both my palms were bandaged like a pair of pig legs. Got into a accident on 12.04.05 night man but thank god i’m still surviving..

It all happens like this… I was working morning shift & doesn’t seem got the mood to go home, so I con’t to work on some misc stuff at my office.

After that i went to met up with a friend & went to relax ourself at Clark Quay..I was still very clear then but full of troubles in my head, maybe this is what we call work stress.

After that, I decide to leave early. I know that i’m very troubled that night. Normally, I would not ride if I’m lack of concentration or if a bad feeling however, I thought it doesn’t matter & so con’t to ride home.

It was the 2nd last turn before i reach home. My head was still thinking of alot of rubbish - work, family, friends etc.

While doing right cornering down, just past a blind spot & saw a white cat in my way. It was too sudden & all I can do is to do a lower cornering to evade the cat (if i straighted my bike, I would end up in a big drain).

I managed to evade the cat but the next thing i know was my bike was going down. I thought I could jump off my bike (like what I did in the last 2 accident whc I escape w/o any injury) but this time I can’t as I tried to.

My foot had stuck in between my bike & the curb. I know, injury was unavoidable but to what extend?

After that I couldn’t rem much, except for a hard hit on my helmet. When I woke up, there is quite a number of people around me including the law enforcers who happen to be my friend.

The others is those joggers using their towels to clean my wounds. & oh god then I know i got so much blood in me man..

I took a puff & manage to gain full conciousness. I then request not to be convey to the hospital as I still managed to stand up. The police then help me with my bike n managed to ride my bike back home (using 1st gear as all my brakes was damaged)

Finally got home & started feeling the pain all over me. Not wanting to make my family worry, I start cleaning up my wounds. 

Now I feeling so much pain & guess what I use to ease my pain?

Well, I drank a with shots of pure Whiskey & it helps!  After bandaging myself, I went to sleep till the next morning my brother send me to the hospital.

Got a call, after I discharged, from Guanghui a good friend since sec sch days. Got a joke from him - Hey bro, never coz of cats & dogs try to evade it. I dunno how many I have killed. & B’coz of that, I’m still standing here. Din’t your driving Instructors teach U that

I know he’s just joking but thanx him for the concern & not forgeting the joker MingXiang from JE too… (My bowling team-mate)

Yesterday, my best Brother Lence & Daniel came over & visit me & help me check my bike at the same time. Looks like my bike can’t start anymore & now waiting to be…… haiz real sad. Anyway, I will nvr give up riding.

But thank god I’m still surviving, so to see u all my wonderful friends once again.

Some advices to all bikers,

• Get a good helmet (full face if possible),
• Always wear a Jacket ( it helps as i did not suffer any injuries on both elbows) & long jeans
• Protectives Gloves (this is where i suffer as I did not put on my gloves)

Time now 2.45am of 8th April. Been busy last 3 nights that y no time for blogging.

I just came back from my usual Thursday bowling session with bowlers from ‘D’ Div. Did not bowl well today, lack of concentration, with none of my  5 games crossing e 200 mark but still manage to win some free games. After that, we then proceed to Clementi Rd for our routine makan cum chit chatting. Topic of the day is all about. Ex-gfs, Guoqiang being a father soon, Guang Hui getting married & life of being Single. I & another 2 bowlers were being targeted for the 1st & last topic. haiz..

The 1st night was me finally back to my team performing night shift with them. Nothing much interesting but was ‘molested’ by 2  drunk Mongolian babes while doing ‘Romeo Bravo’. Was so shocked till i was at a stand still man.

Last 2 nights was clubbing & dancing session. Discovered I was being attracted to going to the same pub, XMOSPHERE, & subsequently to a disco ‘ESTE’ at Clarke Quay with play more Chinese songs than others. Realise my dancing after some yrs of rest is still quite good but need polishing lah. But still managed to win the heart of some gals who came over & dance with me, hee… Long time no such feeling man.. As i say, I’m back to my chionging life & realise being single isn’t bad either wat…

Last few days I was really tired out with programmes packing one after another. The only good thing is I’m back on my night-life after a long break & really enjoy. Thou I get real drunk but that’s the best feeling I’ve miss for some time as that’s the only time where all my trouble seems gone. I also got a new caring sister who really see thru lots of things. But it’s just purely sis as she is elder than me.. Real fortunate to know her at this point of time…

Finally got my very own blog, as i dun usually like to do as i tend to hide a lot of things to myself.

Last afternoon, finally get to go out together with my 2 best (pig) friends after about  1-2 months break due to some personal problem. Something that is always bothering me since last year. Anyway glad to see them still as cheerful & fun-loving.

Last evening, also got to see my colleague Desmond, also 1 of my close friends, giving a treat as it’s his last day being in the same base as me. Sort of sad, as he is a real hardworking n good co-worker. But the fortunate thing is tt I will still get to meet him often outside as we share the common interest as being in the same snooker team & we will still be clubbing together. hee… Anyway, I hope he will be successful in his new Dept.