Reflection....2008

Another year is coming to an end, ten days more to go and its over.

2008 is a happening year. People will remember it differently. It brings joy to some but this year brings sadness to many. Be it a micro or macro aspect, it did make an impact.

Today while reading the papers, the stock pictures of Sizchuan Earthquake makes my heart ached. The picture of dug up bodies of a mother bending over her child trying to protect him/her but both perished in this disaster. Further picture of two pairs of legs with bodies buried under concrete. It has a picture of a water bottle and books neatly by its side...whose children are these...did their parents make it safely? This is not the pain of China and her people. This is the pain of all who are human. Such pain knows no boundary...it is universal.

There are pictures of Typhoon Nagris in Myanmar. People looking at submerged home. Many lost families and love ones. Countries in the world responded to a Military Government who blocked immediate assistance in such time. I tried contacting the people here and organizations etc. Effort to collect items for Myanmar is not a problem..the problem is how to get it into the country and after that how to get it to the people. I have no words for such actions.

The Mumbai bombing...what does the terrorists want? Singapore lost one of her citizen. She is a heroine. I wonder at that point of time, what was on her mind? Her parents, her siblings, her beloved husband, will she make it. Apparently she did not. I lost colleagues in this saga. Did the terrorists get what they wanted? Is this the best way out of frustrations for unfulfilled expectations? Who are the masterminds? Probably with tons of bloody monies and hiding somewhere and let innocent do the job and die for them. The World system has its cause. Everything has its Karma and its timing - all these shooting will not change anything. Hatred only begets Hatred.

Final call from God. Time is up. The Bali Bombers get what they did unto others. They are saints in the eyes of supporters. They fight for a course. They believe they are doing the right thing. Is there a better way out other than killing? A friend said 'Aye Kawan, cannot hurt the government, hurt the people lah.' When I saw pictures of them, their families and friends - is there a better way to proof what they do is right?

The Financial C.R.U.N.C.H .... left many jobless, homeless and 'moneyless'. Before this happen, every country is holding up their power. The citizens are holding up their pride. They fight and look down on each other - what first world country, third world country and the stateless. What now? Did you realize we are Global Citizens? Something happen to one country, the whole world is sitting on fire. Previously the Rich gets Richer. Now they are poorer by half or even more. What goes around comes around.

I recently heard a joke..and I fell of my chair laughing. One man A asked another man B - how are things with you? B said 'I am getting along'. A asked again 'Can you sleep?'. B said 'I sleep like a Baby'. Isn't that wonderful to sleep like a Baby... I was thinking to myself. Before I could open my mouth to comment... B said 'Ya, like a Baby, wake up cry lor'. Ha.a.a.a.a, so very true...Baby wakes up crying...ha.a.a.a.a.a. I have nothing against the Rich. Lessons in life are planned up there... only the Universe can have the 'unseen' hand to teach mankind a lesson. Maybe it is time we do away with money and batter trade instead.

The World is melting.. 'O'-zone, that 'Hole' up there is getting bigger. Why is it getting bigger? If you saw the movie 'An Inconvenient Truth', you probably already have an answer. I recently saw a picture....something about North Pole...closest to the 'Hole'. Penguins line-up and one by one got suck up by the 'Hole'. To where? God knows. Maybe to a better place in another dimension. Even the penguins do not want to live in this World. Should we all go there and line-up and get suck up as well? Chances are 'It cannot be worst than here', right?'

The above are some issues.. I got more and if I continue to write. You guys will fall asleep and I probably go into G-Book of Record 'Longest Blog Post' and win myself some Awards and recognitions.

So much for my wise cracks...Actually I am doing a 'stocktake' or maybe the word 'Reflection' sounds better. I always tell people to look inside, so I better look 'inside' too.

2008

1) Got promoted. Never dream it will happen. What it means? More benefits, higher pay, allowance is a one month salary of a junior manager and allocated shares. Sorry, I am not boasting. I suddenly realized - all these come too late. My Mother is not here to share it with me. Given a choice, I want my Mum.

To those who aspire to move up the corporate ladder, it won't come overnight. It is years of hardwork, commitment, willingness to walk step by steps, upgrade my Brain, don't politic, don't back-stab, don't curry-favor Boss, don't get 'scare' to be shoot from behind (only people who are good get shoot from behind you know why? I just told you the answer). Remember, I only need a place to sleep, food to fill my stomach, clothes to cover my naked body...and finally a piece of land the size of a grave or a niche in Mandai or some temple. Maybe my ashes will be food to some fishes in the sea. I count my blessing and take stock...

2) Money is not everything. It cannot buy happiness and health. It cannot buy true friends. It cannot buy family as well. If you have all these, they are your greatest TREASURE but only when it is true and cordial.

3) Family is no match for friends. I take stock …

4) Oh, my BAD temper. My temper is so.o.o.o BAD. Am I going through menopause? Ha.a.a.a.a Maybe, maybe not. I meditated the whole night and I am having 'panda' make-up around my eyes. I finally realize why my blood pressure shoots up to 180. It is 'communication'. It is beating around the bush, finding excuses, not coming up front to share, to discuss, to communicate. ‘Communication’ is all I wanted. I did not get and I got to guess – I responded to ‘fanning’. Aya! Now I am branded as BAD temper to the extent that I need to be avoided. I need to take a re-look at myself. I asked myself WHY the hell did I lose my temper?.... Aya! still the same thing ‘Communication’ but this time it coupled with ‘Care, Concern and Love’…. If it is people I HACK CARE…. Will I respond the way I did? ‘Hor!, so now I see’. I take stock....

5) This do not belongs to me. I heard it 1000 times and I am sure you guys heard it 1000 times or more. ‘You just have to make one mistake (not even your fault), the 1000 good things you did cannot be use to balance the score. I am told that I am nice, I am good …. Ha.a.a.a my ‘niceness’ and ‘goodness’ – cannot balance the score card.

My friends, let me tell you this – if someone you think is not nice to you, think again. Don’t point finger at that person too fast. Don’t be defensive. ASK … ‘did I invite the BADness’. Many of us are so use to nursing our so called ‘wound’ and forget that we have ‘wounded’ others. I take stock...

6) Happiness is relevant. I realized that I have caused ‘unhappiness’. That is never my intention. Now I do not deserve to be happy. The unhappiness will go on… how can one be happy and go around pretending that nothing happen? Let alone family, even if it is a non-family member, I cannot be happy too. My bad Karma.

7) I thank MUM. Since young she drilled into me and my siblings ‘When others give you assistance and kindness, always remember – 得人恩惠千年记. Old school right? MUM is from old school, what to do. She also said ‘When you do kindness and assisted others, no need to remember’. You do not seek gratitude. If you do, your actions are no more pure. Therefore what I do for my siblings and others, I have forgotten. Lucky my brother and my sister who are with me in this adopted family have the same thoughts – we go all out to help.

Influence of a Mother is GREAT. Count yourself lucky if you have a Mother who is able to speak to you wisely in time of trouble. But now a day, Mothers are protective. Their children are always right and that is WHY discipline went down the drain. I take stock of this too…

So look likes 2008 to me is more emotional and family based. At work, I am great until the Credit Crunch. I am not thinking of my own pocket, I got more than enough. I am thinking of junior staff. Looks like no bonus this year. How are they going to buy books, make uniforms, pay school fees for their kids and with all the festivals around the corner?

I posted pictures of beautiful scenery. You saw the reflection on the water? Reflections are beautiful… they are so because the real things are beautiful.

Taking this opportunity to wish everyone a Safe 2009… safe in health and safe in your career. Be prudent this period. Let the World sort herself out and we will see a new Tomorrow.

Today is 'Dong' Festival (Winter Solstice). Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful day. It is a day of family reunion and a day to consume 'Rice balls' to signify 'completion' and happiness. My planned dinner for the family is not going to materialize after all. What a way to end 2008!

Cheers