A Gift From Heart

According to legend, a young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.

After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.

Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"

The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter. Heartfelt gifts deserve the return gift of gratitude."

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Recall the time when you actually received a gift from innocent, young children. How do you feel at that time? What about the present? Was it a big, expensive present? Most likely not, isn't it?

However, even though the present is small and almost insignificant to you in terms of its value, you are still over the moon when you received the present isn't it?

I still remember the time when I volunteered myself as a tutor for a bunch of lovable kids, aiding them in their preparation their PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination).

At that time, those children were from families which which were not so well off and they required additional help in their studies. For 6 months or so, my few friends and I went to their school, twice a week (if I didn't remember wrongly) to give them tuition.

Eventually, the day of their examinations drew near, so did ours, thus from then on, we lost contact with the kids, each went on to do our very best for our own school examinations.

It was until one day when I received a letter from one of the kids updating me about the status of their results and along with it came a little notebook and several cute looking erasers.

To be frank, those little gifts were of no great value or use to me. However, even so, to say I was really exhilarated at that time was truly an understatement.

It was no longer the value of the gift which I was looking for at that time. Instead, what I saw was something more valuable, more precious than what I was hoping for. A true gift from the heart.

Therefore next time when you receive a gift, think not only about the value and usefulness of it. It may be just a key chain or a cute looking desktop accessory out of your whole box of them. Still, those gifts are bought and given to you out of the givers' love, concern and remembrance of you.

Appreciating, showing gratitude and thankfulness for the goodwilll embodied within your received gifts truly delights the giving party.

The true gift from the heart can only be felt through the heart, not anything less.

The Potential Of Your Mind

We have always been told that we humans actually used less than 10% of our mind. In fact, for those who understand how to utilize just a bit more of their minds they would eventually turn out to be geniuses of their time. Some great examples are Thomas Edison, Da Vinic etc.

To be frank, no great scientists in our world, yet, can predict what is the true potential in everyone. There are stories of which people around the world were able to perform "superhuman" activities when their loved ones or themselves were in dire, life and death situations.

A simple search in the YouTube will get you results of people performing the so-called "superhuman" activities.

Actually, have you wondered why do we consider those actions or abilities "superhuman". Does it ever crosses your mind that, those so-called "superhuman" abilities could just be our innate, inborn abilities.

It may be just our own limitations that we put on ourselves that we claim our underperformed actions are then real "human" behaviors. Probably when we start changing the outlook of ourselves then can we really start experiencing our true "human" abilities.

Thank You Aunt, My Sincerest Gratitude

As much as we hope for, life never always give us what we want. Same for life and similar for death.

And that I got to experience that for myself first hand when I received the shocking news that one of my favorite aunts passed away last Sunday. Unlike what most think, she didn't die of any illnesses. Instead, she died due to an accident in her bathroom where it was suspected that she fell which resulted in her death. Certainly, no one sees it coming.

Whether or not the fall was fatal was unknown. However, what's certain is that her death prove to be too sudden and alarming for us to accept. For my parents, my sisters and me.

Speaking from the bottom of my heart, she was unquestionably one very caring and brave woman whom I have known. I remember the time when I was serving my National Service, during my first 3 months, she and my uncle, who unfortunately also passed away 3 years ago due to cancer, took time to visit me in the camp on the parent meeting session.

To say I was surprised to see them there was an understatement! Just think about it. How many of my relatives or even friends would know I was already servicing my NS? Not to mention when was my parent meeting session!

Also, unlike most of my other relatives, she and my uncle always took time off their schedules to visit us at our home, with no other reason other than the desire to catch up with us and see how we were.

Although her husband's death wasn't sudden, still unquestionably, it was a great blow to her. Imagine having to lose your life partner whom you have been living with for the past 30 odd years.

In fact, there were times when my family and I went to visit her in her house after my uncle's death, we saw several photo albums lying around on the sofa. Obviously, she was there alone flipping through the past photo albums, recalling the wonderful moments she had with her husband. It really pains my heart to see that, really.

In front of us, she might look cheerful. However, no one either than herself knew how many nights had she cried her way to sleep. How many nights had she woke up to find herself alone on the bed which she once shared with a guy, a guy who provided her the care, concern and love for the past 30+ years. How many nights was that?

Getting over a love one's death is not an easy task. However, I really think she had done a great job in that aspect. After her husband's death, she tried to live on bravely without him. She gradually learnt to take care of herself and to get herself occupied with stuffs like learning English and go traveling with her friends.

I still remembered clearly the holiday she spent with my family in Taiwan. That was the first and last time we spent our holiday together. Together, we brave through the cold weather, visit places of great sceneries and shopped at the streets of Taiwan, enjoying the food there. That's definitely one wonderful memory I will keep for the rest of my life.

As much as it hurts, we have to accept the fact that our loved ones will eventually leave us, with signs or no signs. From the deaths of my two closest relatives, I truly come to realize this important lesson, a lesson which I have read over and over again but take little notice of it.

Always treasure the people around you. Never take them for granted for you'll never know it may be the last time you see them.

Accidents do happen, whether we like it or not. Cherished the time you have with everyone around you. Don't keep what you want to say to them in your heart. Let them know while they still can respond and hug you in return.

Do something sweet to them, like what my uncle and aunt had always done. Make them know that they are important to you. Show them that you truly care.

In life, there may be millions of choices for you to choose out there. However, there are 2 choices which you certainly have no control over. Life and death.

You can't decide who give birth to you. Neither can you decide when you want to die. Since life is given to you and you will have to live through it till your death, whether you like it or not, why bother making your life miserable by clinging on to the sad and unhappy grudges you had with other people.

Is it really worth it? Do you want people to attend your wake only to remember the grudges between both of you? Or do you prefer others to hold fond memories of you in their heart, forever?

It never takes much for you to show others that you care. A simple word like, "I'm sorry" or an simple act of hugging and kissing show a lot. Don't ever underestimate all these simple actions.

Throughout the 24 years of my life, I have learnt that being obstinate and stubborn never pays. Someone in my life bring me this great wisdom,

"Saying "sorry" or showing the act of apology first doesn't necessary mean you are at fault. It can also signify that you care and love the other party more than your ego. You want him/her to feel loved, rather than sad or angry. In simpler words, "I care about you! Can we talk?" was what a simple act of apology can do."

Easier said than done? Well, to speak the truth, even though I understand it logically, I have really yet to master it. Nevertheless, to say it is impossible to achieve is certainly untrue. At least there is someone special in my life who has constantly showed me that it is all possible, as long as your love for the other party overrides the love for your own ego.

Learn to love your ego less and love others more and you'll find yourself a freer person. If nothing else, you get to be your true self, rather than having to hide your true feelings from others.

Understand that your actions or inactions may ultimately decide the amount of regret you have to live with the rest of your life. Therefore, start loving the correct people now.

Sidetrack: Dear, do you want to know why I called you so many times last Sunday? Well, that was what I wanted to say. And also thank you for always been there for me, for even though I was at my very worst, you still stand by me. Thank you.

What A First Day Of School

4th August spells the end of my holiday and the start of my school. Erm... actually to be more accurate, 4th August was the OFFICIAL start of my school term. However, my PERSONAL date school day is today, 5th August 2008... ...

And I must say what a day. Actually everything went on quite smoothly. The trip to school was smooth, not much traffic and the gym session was nice too. To make things simple, everything was nice until... ... ... my tire went flat.

Well, what's better was I only spot it after my shower after my gym session! Before that I actually went to drive my car into the shady area and I certainly didn't see or feel anything unusual.

Can you imagine the feeling of finding your tire flat, having to change your flat tire under the raging hot sun. And best of all, you just bathed and you will have to get sweaty and dirty over again. What a combo....

It is a sign man. Because of the punctured tire, I missed a 1.5hrs of lecture. And till the next lecture, I was only left with 30 minutes to devour my lunch. Haiz.... and the best part had yet to come.

Yup, you guess it. Having to attend lecture! Argh... That was pure torturing. With no lecture notes and the blood rushing to my stomach to aid in my digestion, not much is left in my brain to think and process anything.

And if you think the worst end there, think again! I had a 5 hours of consecutive lectures, no break, nothing! How was that for a first day of school... :|

The Month Of July... Phew

Wow... the past month was really hectic one! It was so jam packed with activities that I could hardly breathe!

And if you are wondering what had I been doing for the past month, below is a condensed version of my "itinerary" for the month, the hectic July 2008.

7th July 2008 to 15 July 2008 - Family Trip to Japan

21st July 2008 to 25th July 2008 - Army ICT

26th July 2008 - 1st August 2008 - Thailand Trip

Phew. Just the act of writing it scares me. Well, as busy as it seemed, this month was probably the most enjoyable and fruitful month during my holiday periods.

In fact, this month spells many of my virgin moments! Lolx...

Family Trip to Japan

July was the month which I took my first flight to Japan. Certainly, the trip didn't fall short of my expectations. Although my family and I went in the month of summer and it was scorching hot there, it never dampened my mood there. Instead, the hot weather there only served to fire up my passion and determination to enjoy every passing moments in Japan. More on the Japan trip later. Now moving on to...

Army ICT

This July ICT aka In Camp Training, was also one of my virgin moments. Though I must admit I certainly wasn't expecting my first ICT to come that early and I was definitely not excited, not even a little bit, about it. However, things weren't that bad as I imagined them to be. In fact, other than for one stupid incident during one of the training, the rest of the ICT was certainly as enjoyable as it could be. Again, more on that and the stupid incident later...

Thailand Trip

Unlike the previously 2 events, this Thailand trip is a bit more special. It was not my first time traveling to Thailand, nor neither is it my first time to Bangkok. However, it was my first time going to that place with someone else, someone special. Once again, more on that later. There wasn't much energy left in me already. Just touch down to Singapore, busy unpacking the luggage and my field pack items from ICT... Just give me more time to rest and I will update you the rest of the happe...nin...g.....Zzzzzzzzz