money? respect? encouragement? peaceful environment? appreciation? inspiration? purpose? time for ourselves?

i do need all of the above everyday but i realised through my children that they don't need the above as badly as an adult... from there, i realised that the fundamental and most important need for me or can i say people in general is this:

the human touch... a hug... that's it...

don't you realised how lacking that is as we grow older and especially among chinese or asians?

so this is what i would do everyday: i will always give my children a strong hug whenever i come home from work, peppered with kisses and the phrase "i love you!"

that's what they need the most each day (given my time constraint at work) and giving it to them allows me to receive it back as well... :D

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pul-chri-tude noun
meaning: beauty

beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. well, here's how beauty is defined through my eyes:

beauty surpasses the dimension of time as it has nothing to do with looks...
it has all to do with the heart...

i saw a beautiful heart in my wife, who is able to be so longsuffering towards me inspite of all my weaknesses...

i saw a beautiful heart in my little children, how readily they are able to forgive and forget...

i saw a beautiful heart in my little children, how they are able to laugh at their own mistakes, remains teachable and has the courage to admit that he/she has made a mistake...

i saw a beautiful heart in my mother, who is contented with the simple things in life...

i saw a beautiful heart in a teacher, who is able to look beyond the wrongs and see the hidden potential in the child, giving that child a second chance...

i saw a beautiful heart in one of my students, who is able to celebrate the victories of others as happily as if it was her...

i saw a beautiful heart in one of my students, who is still proud of his parents in front of others inspite of their low level of education and the less respectable jobs that they hold...

pulchritude... :D

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He was given the title of "Alexander the Great" for his swift and triumphant conquests in war but i think he deserve the title for the following life lesson that he offered before his death...

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the
way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring
him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army,
his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his
last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would
not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, The mighty conqueror
lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He
called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I
have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears
flowing down Their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's
last wishes.

" My first desire is that," said Alexander, " My physicians alone must
carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, " Secondly, I desire that
when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the
graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have
collected in my treasury." The king felt exhausted after saying this. He
took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both
my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin ."

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes.
But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite
general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. " O king, we
assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do
you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: " I would like the world
to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to
carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really
cure any body .They are powerless and cannot save a person from the
clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second
wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the
graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold will come
with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything
with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase
wealth.And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the
coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world
and empty handed I go out of this world ."

With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer
him and breathed his last. . . .

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i was thinking about my life these couple of days and i realised that

i enjoyed the moment when my wife gave me a quiet smile...

i enjoyed the moment when my children did something sensible without my guidance...

i enjoyed the moment when my children understood my good intentions...

i enjoyed the moment when my class celebrated together...

i enjoyed the moment when someone is able to explain logically why things have to be done in a certain way...

i enjoyed the moment when someone is able to correct my wrong actions but yet not making me feel condemned...

i enjoyed the moment when someone exhibit strength and courage when they are down...

i enjoyed the moment when someone shared their joy with me...

i enjoyed the moment when i can be a listening ear to someone...

i enjoyed the moment when i can be of help to someone...

i enjoyed the moment when someone was glad to see me...

i enjoyed the moment when i can make someone laugh...

i enjoyed the moment when i taught and someone learned and vice versa...

i enjoyed this moment when i realised that i need others and others need me...

:D enjoy your moments in life!

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just finished watching "akeelah and the bee"... it's simply inspiring and touching... i begin to appreciate the derivation of words and languages from the movie and i am especially inspired by this quote from the movie:

Our deepest fear is not that
we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not be?
We were born to make manifest the glory
of God that’s within us
And as we let our own light shine
We unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

The full quote:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous.
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us -- it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others

-Marianne Williamson

my moment of inspiration:
don't let anyone or you belittle yourself...
be great for that is what you are made for! :D

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What are your thoughts about the world?

it is not going to survive for long... it is just one degree celsius from critical weather condition. more than that and the weather will change radically for the worse... the air, water and food on earth is getting more and more polluted by the day... According to the Bible, there will be more earthquakes and pestilence and famine coming our way during the end times... why am I not surprised?

the society's moral values are on the decline... mankind is not getting kinder with their kind. they are getting more and more saddistic and violent in the way he deals with people and the environment. bcos of this, the hearts of many have grown cold... man is also getting more and more busy with materialistic pursuits and entertainment that will lead to instant gratification but a sense of emptiness. they are always in a hurry but have forgetful how to slow down and give full attention to people and be sincerely concerned about them. many have been deceived to think that busi-ness has meaning and purpose while spending time with loved ones are deserts and not the main course.

be in the world but not part of the world...
if today is my last day on earth, what would i be doing?
can i get you thinking about it or like most poeple, you can't be bothered with this question cos you have "more important" things to do? :D

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