Stop and smell the flowers

In the 2004 Olympic Games, I remember vaguely an Australian athlete in an interview summed up his philosophy in life and sports : “Whatever you do, you can always do it faster”.

Do we want to or should we be speeding through the years we are given to spend on this earth? A sped-up life is a half lived life. We hurtle from home to work, through traffic jams, quick meals at McDs, home cooked meals shoved into a microwave, mobiles stalking us at every turn. We schedule and cram full our days to within an inch of our life. Then we fall into bed each night frizzled and harrassed, grabbing a few hours sleep before the rush hour next morning marks the start of the cycle all over again.

Our world has not shrunk yet we keep hearing people say “what a small world”. The world is the same size – it’s just that we speedfreaks hare all over the surface with unseemly haste – missing life as it were, oblivious to subtle details around us. The result is a world that we perceive has been contracted down to a little park size.

So let us slow down the acceleration of life. Let us downshift a high income lifestyle in favour of an existence whose pleasures are simpler. We don’t need to keep up with anyone, anything. We can be just who we are.

Wake up call

Second day of 2013. This morning I stood looking at my face in the mirror, staring at myself in actual amazement. I looked older, my hair looked tired, and the sparkle that once shone in my eyes as a child had faded. There was a seriousness that had taken place. At that moment, a sense of urgency and determination was awakened in me. That face in the mirror was changing right in front of me. I could have told myself it was just a bad hair day, but deep inside I knew that this was a transition I needed to face, literally …. face to face. I smiled at myself with one of those ‘you-dont-look-so-bad” kind of smiles, but that didn’t work. So I tried to make my smile bigger and brighter, but that didn’t help either.

This was my WAKE UP CALL!!!!

- Time to start doing the things I want to do and need to do

- Time to think about making some changes

- Time to get my life going

As you awaken to the changes that are surrounding your life, you must also stop and reminisce about your past. Who you are is an accumulation of everything that you once were, the total sum of each and every thought you have ever had and every single feeling you have ever known. Let your life be an adventure … look for the invisible, listen to the silences, touch your imagination, and make each day something special. Don’t let that Wake Up Call rudely surprise you.

On a lighter side, I just came back from a new year do with some friends.  Well, the look in the mirror wasn’t bad actually.  I was only trying to wake everyone up to that wake up call.

My first fire walking experience

My first fire walking experience happened in Gembrook in the ranges of Mount Dandenong, Melbourne in March 1997. I was there for a 7 day power packed energy workshop which encompassed Reiki Mastership training, body works, ear candling, getting in touch with spirits, meditation, astral projection and a host of other spiritual activities which will no doubt hold a Reiki Master in very good stead.

On arrival I informed our Master that I would like to opt out for the fire walking session. He pushed me no further and instead gave me a knowing nod. On day 2, I reminded him again, again that nod. Day 3 another gentle reminder, another nod. Day 4 – That’s It!!!! Eventhough I was not about to participate in the walk, I nevertheless helped the other 32 participants to carry the logs to the pitch that has been dug about 2 feet under the ground. Fire logs were then stacked to about 4 feet above ground level thus making it about 5 feet of stacked logs. We then went for a walk in the forest while the logs were set ablazed.

The Victoria Fire Department was alerted on this activity and fire engines and their men were on standby at the ranges from morning to late afternoon. By around 4pm we gathered at the fire pit. The wind was blowing wildly. The kookaburras were laughing gaily. The walk had to be called off because of the strong wind. Then all of a sudden everything went still. The wind had stopped howling, the kookaburras decided not to mock. It was as if there was an unseen energy beckoning, urging us on. As everyone was queueing to take their walk, at that very moment I decided to “unload my baggage”. I did not want to chicken out of that moment so I very quickly stood in line as the 5th or 6th to walk.

As I stood in front of the bed of burning embers, the blazing heat on my face was enough to make me step back but I stood my ground. I took 3 deep breaths and my foot took the first step forward and before I knew it, it was over what seemed like seconds. My Master was at the other end of the pit to give everyone a hug. I did it! The feeling of elation was astounding.

There were no hiccups, or so we thought, for this cleansing activity. There was plenty of gaiety, merry making, laughter when suddenly there was commotion in a few pockets of people. Yes, regression has started for four of the participants. Two Australians and two Malaysians. We had our hands full for the whole night. Some were busy handling the regression, others were dishing out hot soup for all.

The ambulances were alerted and in so doing the TV stations and other media were also informed. The next morning we were on TV, splashed over newspapers (both Australian and Malaysian newspaper – Star and Straits Times) and phone calls were coming in from friends and relatives. My niece in Australia was even envious as the most sought after TV reporter was on location that night.

To sum this all up, I feel very fortunate to have gone through these experiences; experiences of stretching you to the limit where you are about to give up; experiences of comatose where you can no longer last another minute but you made it to the end; experiences of such comradeship and bonding that you carry your team mates on a wheelbarrow to make it to the finishing line; experiences of about to lose a course mate to cancer; experiences of suddenly knowing who your ‘twin mate’ is; experiences with your guides, mediumship and much much more. I know I will never experience the same again even if I were to repeat this course with the very same Master

Touch the sky - put a smile on your face

I believe all of us have a built-in compass to help us get to wherever we desire to go.  Trust that compass for with that trusting will come the strength to bear whatever life deals you.

As human beings, we’re not perfect, and we’re not supposed to be. But that’s not always an easy thing for us to realise. We don’t make it alone in this world. We’re lucky that there are people placed in our path to guide us, protect us and touch our lives so that we can get through it all …. one day at a time

Remember : just as you have questions now, somewhere inside you, and down the road, there will be answers and workable solutions. It takes patience and trust to get through life’s changes when you are trying to reach goals, solve problems and make dreams come true. Though at times it may seem more than you can take, I know you are strong, and you can handle whatever comes your way.

Go out to the sun now, touch the sky and put that smile back onto your face.

We make a life by what we give

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. Sir Winston Churchill.

At the age of three and a half years old, Ryan has lived out the above quotation.

We were travelling back from Johore Bahru to Kuala Lumpur (about a year and a half ago) and as usual Grandma and Grandson had their usual tete a tete. We were on the topic of India and I reminded him of how he wanted to pack me a cup and spoon (he thinks India is a very poor country) to take to India during my last trip. I told him that during the winter months, which can be very cold, some of the children do not even have clothes to wear …

Grandma : Ryan, do you know that during winter which is very cold, some of the children have no clothes to wear?

Ryan (frowning with his eyebrows pulled together) : Poor thing. Popo, I have a solution!

At this point I thought he would suggest that I take some of his clothes to India to distribute to the children but what came out from him left Mummy and Grandma with opened mouth.

Ryan : I will give them some of my Ang pow (chinese new year money) money. You bring the money to India and give to them. Ask them to use it to buy clothes.

(This is the exact conversation I had with Ryan.  No change of words at all)

Later that night, he knocked on my room door, handed me the money with a big grin. He is like his mummy, ever thoughtful, ever generous, adorable and most lovable. “Everybody Loves Ryan

The Law Of Attraction

I am a firm believer and practitioner of The Law Of Attraction & Abundance. I guess because of that, times have never been hard on me. There had been times when things did not go the way it should but, soon enough, with positive thoughts jumbled with joys and happiness, I have experienced many a pleasant surprise with the turn outs of events. When a road seemed to be a dead end, another path emerged. When some friends let you down terribly, another group carried you through. When one door closed, two doors opened.

 

What happened over the past two months had been the Law Of Attraction at its best. I give thanks to all that is happening. It is in giving that we receive, it is in forgiving that we find happiness.

 

For those who have the book “The Secret”, read it and put it into practise. For those who have yet to own the book, go get it, read it and put it into practise. It is also available in VCD. Another book to go for is “The Law Of Attraction” and a good DVD is “Abraham”. Abraham is a group of entities that channels through Esther Hicks. Enjoy!

Our parents - their sacrifices

Received this email from a friend which I would like to share with all

A simple man tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on MAS.

The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.

When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.

As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we asked for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they had satisfied all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes?

Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?

Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks,toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments.

Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.

Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren too. They have wishes, too. Take care of our parents