Life is full of changes, challenges and surprises. What we do and who we become have a lot to do with our choice and the decisions we make. Sometimes I wish that when I am faced with challenges, I can escape from the pain and the mountain in front of me. But for me, I know that giving up and dwelling on the pain is not a good choice and decision. Do I really have a choice? It may seem so, but deep in my heart, I know that if I choose to escape or dwell in my past, it will only bring more unnecessary suffering and burden. I have concluded that I don’t have a choice, not when I know that I still have a future and hope ahead of me.
“Remember, failure is an event, not a person” ~ Zig Ziglar
This is awesomely true. As we grow and live in a crazy world, full of expectations from others, our loved ones and even from ourselves, we can give ourselves a lot of artificial pressure. As a student in JC, my whole world revolved around a certificate called “A” levels and doing well in school was often times more important than sleep itself.
Therefore, when I didn’t do well in my common assignments then, coupled with discouraging remarks from my tutor that “what? your standard is …..”, I felt like the whole world crashed on me, like I was a total failure. If I had believed myself then, I wouldn’t have made it through the crazy years of paper chasing. I wouldn’t have made it to become a mum of two wonderful kids and a lovely hubby. Although I am not sure what the future holds for me, I am sure that even if I were to experience failures later on, they are just another part of my life experience and events.
We are not a failure and don’t believe anyone who says you are.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~ Psalm 139: 14
I watched a short segment of tonight’s “Chronicles of Narnia” and could not help but think about one particular scene. It was when Lucy wanted to be pretty like her sister and was taken to be her through some form of magical powers. That night, she had a nightmare that after being her sister, none of her siblings remembered a single thing about Narnia, the magical place where all the stories and adventures began. She was puzzled and very concerned and Aslan appeared to her and advised that, she could not be someone else. Without the girl, Lucy, who first discovered Narnia, none of her siblings would ever have known and experienced Narnia.
Wow! It is so simple yet so difficult for us to accept. Many times, we look at ourselves and think that someone else or many others are better. Yes, it may be true somewhat, but I was really reminded that everyone of us have a place in life. That no matter who we are, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And the best thing is, no one else could take our place because all of us have a unique and specific role and place on earth, whether we like it or not.
Instead of dwelling on what we are not, let’s dwell on what we are. : )
Have a great week ahead!
“The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important. “~ Bobby Knight
I am trying to find the right way to put across my thoughts after watching a video clip on how a herd of bulls fended off a pride of lions that tried to devour a calf. The calf was caught for more than 15 mins and was helplessly attacked by the lions. However, several mins later, when hopes of survival seemed impossible, a big herd of bulls turned up before the devouring lions.
The bulls were trying to be strong, and they seemed to know that unity was strength. So as sure and unsure as they were, they confronted the lions and eventually managed to save the little one.
It was an amazing sight! And the quote above seemed to sum up what I thought about it.
It is not just about the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that is important! This preparedness to win despite the fact that odds are very much against you, that you probably need a miracle in order to succeed that is so important. Important because this attitude is not pride nor competitiveness, but having an enduring attitude to try and try and try and knowing that some day you may just win.
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
It’s a dog eat dog world. Somewhat it is true, especially for people who believe that others are out to fight them and hence, they put up a fight wherever they are. However, for one to succeed, one may not necessarily need to fight.
If one fought in cruelty to succeed, he is a victorious dictator. If one sows kindness and hardwork in order to succeed, it does not matter if he does not win because eventually, winning is not just about a title or position but all about winning over the hearts of people.
As I quote my very wise pastor, “leadership is about influence not a position.”
“Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing. ” ~ Alexander Pope
What is generosity? I think it starts from the heart. You need not be giving away thousands of dollars to be deemed as generous. Generous people are always on the lookout to give, to give their time, resources and efforts to help others and yet, not counting the cost.
Recently, I am sad to witness people passing and shunning from an old man who tried to ask for $1.80 to take transport as he has left his wallet at home. Is giving away $2 considered a generous act? To the miser, it is not an act of generosity but mere stupidity. But to the old man, it probably is and it helps pay for his next meal.
Stop counting the cost and start counting our blessings!
19th Mar 2013 marks our second year in existence. We started the store with lots of hope, dreams and a tiny bit of anxiety not knowing what we were in for. After the first year, I could only say, things were not as rosy as they seemed. Nevertheless, it was a good year of growth in wisdom, faith in God and friendships. We understood the meaning of knowing “how to abase and how to abound” and that at the end of the day, to run a successful business or even to lead a successful life, it is about people.
People who came by and appreciated the store and the objects. People who exchanged words with us and our shopkeepers and now, whom we call friends. People who made nasty remarks and adopted a wait and see attitude. People who believe in us and keep spreading the word to their friends about us. People at home who gave us the support and trust that we are not wasting our resources away. And ultimately, we want to thank the Someone who gave us the vision to set up a place for people to believe it is possible to dream and lead a life of vision.
Cheers to all the people who made S U P E R M A M A possible!
The other day Edwin was sharing with me on his meet-up with his mentor in the car. Donna intercepted and asked, who is the man? I quickly told her, “he is papa’s teacher, and papa is also a teacher”.
“Oh, papa is a teacher and he also needs a teacher to handle the many children that need to go toilet right?” said my Donna in a very adult manner.
Yes, that’s my girl! : )
” There are some four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems of staying alive.” ~ David Attenborough
Wow…what an awesome revelation. In the animal kingdom, it is survival of the fittest, a life & death battle everyday. For many of us in a developed world, while we may not have to contend with having our basic needs of food, shelter and security met from day to day, our battle often happens in our minds & hearts.
For some of us, we battle at work everyday, trying to get ahead. For some others, we fight in our hearts trying to get over hurts, struggles and heartaches.
Nevertheless is life a problem? If so, take heart that there are at least four million solutions to this problem.
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. ” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Donna drew the picture of a queen and a princess. We are just amazed how imaginative children can be. Adults don’t relate to kings and queens that often so I am pretty surprised to see this drawing.
Interestingly, Oprah Winfrey got us to think like a queen and it is not for us to put on airs and think that everyone is below us. But a Queen carries the confidence that even if she fails, it is alright, she is given the grace to try again, and again and again. For she believes that she is already given the potential to be great to begin with. If a child can associate herself with a queen and a princess, what about us? Do we always think of ourselves as merely a digit amongst the to-be 6.9 mil here?
