As we grow old..

Today is Chrismas Eve. Tomorrow, the world celebrates the Birth Of Jesus of Nazareth.

Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly.

Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival.

Enough said of what the commercial world does on Christmas, but rather, what we as we grow old start to see in this festivals and more importantly, the value of life and the various events that start to face us as we grow older.

Birthdays, New Years, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, Good Grades for exams, Graduation, Convocation, Prom Nite, First Job, First Girlfriend/Boyfriend, First Paycheck, First Love, Weddings..

These are all events and milestones that draw tremendous happiness and true meanings of life in pple. Festivals where the mood is always upbeat and positive and filled with lotsa joy and love in the air. Family and friends are together, smiling and laughing.

However, in the last few months, i have faced with the demise of a few relatives and attended funerals. Now these occasions take on a very different tone of handling it. Its something more or less, everyone has to face one day, excluding your own, I believe we will have to attend the funerals of our loved one. Its only a matter of how expected or unexpected the news will come to us. As one of my long time friends mentioned with his grandma recently, he was more or less expecting her to move on as she was moving in and out of hospital for the past few days so I guess his family was already expecting her to move on.

Grief, Despair, Disappointment, Anguish, Fear, Loss of a loved one - These are going to be feelings or sentiments that I will have to bear and face from now on... To be able to be handle such sentiments in this world or country where merit and luck wins, would determine how much u actually move on.

The more you love something, the more you dont want it to ever leave. We as humans have been empowered to feel for each other, to care and be concerned abt others. Naturally, we can only handle so much. Definitely, that's why at times, family and friends support one another to tide them over tough times. To be able to support one when he/she is at his emotionally weakest is what friendships and relationships are all abt.

Lets celebrate and cherish the fact that as of 2009, we shall keep on fighting against ourselves to challenge ourselves and our friends and family to keep on living. To be able to handle grief and sorrow. To be able to put a smile on each other's face from time to time. To be able to overcome the many challenges that we will have to face in order to sustain ourselves in this world. And at times when we are down, dejected, depressed and absolutlely downcast, you will find the courage and mental strength to bounce back and start living once again.

As we grow old, keep on asking questions. Keep on thinking and wondering. Keep on imagining. Keep on growing. Let the fruits and fallen leaves toughen you mentally, emotionall and physically as we grow old. Cheers.

Now if all that didnt make sense, lets just enjoy the video below, the son-mother relationship, in true bollywood style.

Let the Show go on..

Dec 2008, wow. This year has witnessed quite a few highly significant events on the global stage. On a personal level, my vision has been gathering pace. Its just my mission that has been rather sketchy in the past few months. Figure by this date next month, things would be much clearer..

Met up with 0303 fellows at MaD Jacks recently. Glad everyone was all pumped up and enthusiastic to meet up and chat. Everyone was in good spirits and seem to be coping with whatever life had to offer them. I guess everything seems very rosy at this kind of huge gatherings and its not easy to speak your mind. Prob everyone has thier own set of challenges that they have to face from time to time and these are part and parcel of life. Let the 0303 Spirit burn brightly.

On a different note, we all have our means of expressing ourselves but I guess lets express ourselves responsibly. For now, let the month of december be left for us to meet up, reflect, reunite, rejuvenate ourselves and of course, how can i forget, dance!!! Here is another video from another movie recently. The girl's name is Anushka Sharma, from Bangalore.

A few questions for the typical Investment Banker..

Considering whats been happening in the financial market in the past few months and how events have unfolded down to hunger for more money (greed) which have resulted in many huge companies providinng jobs to millions of pple around the globe to downsize big time.. all in all, pple are losing sleep and their jobs. Lets ask this fellow Finance professional a few questions where I give him 2 choices and he simply has to choose which one he leans towards . (answer in red)

Check out this article from Bloomberg at the end of this all : http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aBabxZ9WD2cE

Qn 1. More wealth Money or Trust ? Ans: Money

Qn 2. Money or Invest ethically(lose some money) ? Money

Qn 3. Money or Sound Financial Decisions(lose some money) ? Money at all costs Qn 4. Company's money or my money ? Company's money is my money Qn 5. Cash or Credit ? As long as I get the cash, doest matter Qn 6. Money Or Professionalism? Money always Qn 7. Money or Lower Risk? Money at any risk

Check out this article from Bloomberg at the end of this all : http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aBabxZ9WD2cE

Desi Girl

Every now and then, there comes a song that makes me want to stop thinking abt everything that needs to be thought abt and just dance.. Yes this song below has entered the m9's Top 3 for the year 2008. Enjoy the song and tell me.. as said in the clip below.. Who's the hottest Girl in the World?

A thought provoking article...

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/12/studying-for-passion-not-preparation/

Right now, this article really brings out alot of my true intentions that I aim to achieve with my degree. I would like to gain World Knowledge. Knowledge that I can relate to on an emotional level, intellectual level and most importantly, personal level. That was what I seeked to achieve with the mods I took this semester which might backfire in terms of the grades but in terms of impact on my general knowledge and awareness of current affairs ; priceless. It has stimulated in a few ways to get me thinking abt living as a whole and living in Singapore yet thinking outside the Spore context..

Do read the article. Post your feedback as you feel. Cheers.

In One Lifetime

In one life time, a person can accomplish all his dreams and yet not feel satisfied

In one life time, a person can just complete one task and yet feel satisfied.

One can either leave behind a legacy of consumption or contribution. The majority choose to consume and then contribute. Thats how most of us will approach many things in life. Once we experience, then we emphatize and then we contribute.

Choose to help, advice and contribute. Just help one and you might feel more satisfied abt living.

On the road to conquer the high seas, Bon Voyage!!

The Article speaks out...

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_309485.html

The above article once again attacks the increasing growing frustration and discontent agst the education system in Spore - with an emphasis on an exam meritocracy instead of a talent meritocracy, we are probably going to be the best in memory work and churning out of factory education workers - the youth today want to express themselves, in terms of their idea of living, their interests and hobbies.. then again, i guess, there isnt a strong urge to work for the sake of financial independence...

Working for a Fundamental Need or A Materialistic Need..

This thought has been circling on my mind for as long as I can remember.. Some jobs in the industry have been churned out due to fulfil the materialistic needs of the society, no less thanks to a free market ideology which is necessary yet encouraging a culture of greed and free spending habits..

If you ever feel that you are working for a profession that might not put a smile on your intended target audience's face, turn to these few jobs...

1) Barber - Cutting and shaping a person's head of hair to his satisfaction can definitely boost up his self-esteem

2) Cobbler - Shoes are never NOT in demand. Wear and tear due to friction, climate and handling will definitely put the cobbler in high regard

3) Locksmith - These is a job that is definitely necessary with the amt of security most homes have for their homes - its a service that you might not need it on a daily basis, but when the need arises, one is not too far away..

4) Funeral Officer - Birth and Death are part and parcel of life - A job that is necessary to ensure that the dead are taken cared off - to provide the ultimate send off for them.

5) The Policeman - The man that tries to enforce law and order on the street has never been so necessary in the current financial crisis as pple turn to social crimes to get money- a job that will never go out of fashion unless the police force is automated..

6) The Teacher - Kids need their education - Enough said.

7) Finally, the Mother - These profession is only exclusive technically to the female gender but then again, emotionally, the male can take on this role albeit only provide nowhere near what a Mother can offer - In the hunt for the financial independence and success, these profession has taken a back seat. But then again, amongst all the jobs in the world, i think these is one position that ranks top. Not helping the PAP.

Rock on!!