"The Serenity Prayer"

As the new work week beckons, a prayer for strength and serenity.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr

"The world's a book, and those who do not travel read only one page"

"The world's a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." St. Augustine

How I met wanderlust.

Fell in love with travelling when I went to Europe after graduation. First big trip. Travelling to Europe was a rite of passage after graduation for us NUS kids those days, and I signed up for a month-long no-frills trip to Western Europe, with Paul and Claudine (whatever happened to them?) with the now-defunct Ken-Air. Ken Air was ubiquitous with NUS student travel then.

The overwhelming sense of wonderment that comes with seeing and experiencing new places and people has never evaporated. With that sense of wonderment comes the awe - and gratitude - on the greatness and bounty of God in creating this wonderful, gorgeous, diverse, rich and intricate little beauty called Earth. Thank You, Big G!

Here's my Top Ten (or more) List of wondrous and wonderful places I've visited:

1. The labyrinthine and amazing Old City of Jerusalem with the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Western Wall and the Via Dolorosa
2. Maldives, Maldives, Maldives - Closest place to Paradise on earth (I think if God had a vision of Paradise, Maldives would be IT)
3. The ancient city of Fes, cultural capital of Morocco - see, touch, feel, smell Moroccan spirit!
4. Beautiful, peaceful Luang Prabang, Laos, with its padi fields, meandering river, temples, seemingly untouched by civilisation
5. Fraser Island, Brisbane, Australia especially for dingos and humpback whales (during migration season (September)
6. Isfahan, Iran, with the world's third largest square, Iman Square (after Tiananmen Square, Red Square) , with the most beautifully decorated and ornate Imam mosque. The cool blue tiles used to make these buildings make them stunning. Surrounding the square, a wonderful bazaar. As the saying goes: "Isfahan is half the world" befitting its grandeur and beauty
7. Gebel Musa - where Prophet Moses was supposed to have received his Ten Commandments - in Mount Sinai, Egypt on a bright cloudless day, with only blue skies as your shelter. (Walking down the Steps of Repentance was truly an act of repentance!)
8. Hillside town of Sorrento, Italy, with the pretty isle of Capri down below
9. Floating on the oily, unsinkable Dead Sea, Middle East
10. Ta Prohm temple, overgrown and overtaken by giant trees, and Bayon temple, with giant buddha faces, in Siem Reap, Cambodia
11. Taking in the gorges and valleys of New Zealand's South Island on the TransAlpine Express Train - one of the most picturesque and scenic rides
12. Walking Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand
13. Belle Mare beach, Mauritius
14. Hanoi, Vietnam - motorbikes, the street vendors, Viet coffee, cyclos (trishaw-like rides), traffic, 70s feel, bustling, pulsating rhythm - everything!

Pictures to come!

Reflections on Moral Behaviour

Saturday, 25 March

Attended a lecture on Moral Behaviour by a remarkable old teacher, hair, moustache and beard all white.

The organisers started one hour late (not too moral hehe ;) citing technical issues with the equipment. (Btw, sounded very much like the Gulf Air pilots, who apologised with that reason, ad nauseum when four of our flights got delayed ;)

The old teacher spoke in impeccable English and articulated numerous examples of moral behaviour and action from history, mostly from the good Prophet s.a.w., especially in the context of multicultural societies. Key lessons: peace, patience and turning the other cheek. Here are some good reminders.

After worshipping God, the next thing He commands is "Be good to your parents." (Ooops! Mega area for improvement for moi)

Being modest and shy is part of faith (iman). (See how far that'll get you in the corporate world ;)

The first few essences which God bequeathed us are: love, mercy and compassion. So use these gifts well.

God commands: "The greatest challenge (jihad) is to fight against your nafs." Nafs means soul, psyche, ego, self, heart, mind. More detailed explanation can be found at: http://www.abc.se/~m9783/nafs.html

In living in multicultural societies, we must move beyond tolerance towards knowledge and understanding. This is the key to harmonious coexistence.

Parents are the key in being good role models and teaching their children the right values and moral behaviour. The teacher said this matter-of-factly: "Some parents don't care to be good parents."

After the talk, had tea with the sisters Chinoiserie and a good chat. Love them! We all packed the yum yum putu piring - Singapore's best! - from the kopitiam next door for our families. Kopitiam has been converted into a Banquet food court, with lovely marble and darkwood table and chair sets found in kopitiams from the days of old :D

Vamoosing now, trying to catch a movie at the newly refurbished Cathay. With good old pal Donald Davenport.

"All good men are happy when they choose to be their own authors. Those who choose to have other edit their pathways, must live on the edge of another man's sword." Julie Arabi

It's a Start

Hey there, my friend Drama Mama, would be proud. Coz here I am - started my own blog :)
(And they rhyme too! ;)

Told Ms Drama that I've been keeping a journal since I can remember, 6 or 7, so now's the time to go public. Coz we humans are basic attention-seekers, admit it :) Or at least, I am one :)

Anyways, as a small child - I was 8 - my dear older sister found my journal, hidden of course, and was suitably intrigued with the specimen. Something hidden is something valuable, she reckoned, so she read through its fine contents -- and found fodder for attack. In one of the entries, I had complained about my mum (who doesn't right?). So the slimy sibling exposed the offensive page - and my entire journal - to Mum. Who, predictably, freaked out! How can her kid be so rude as to complain about her nagging, punishments, discipline and et cetera et cetera et cetera. Was punished with a long session of nagging! Thanks mum! :P Felt absolutely betrayed -- but hey, that's what siblings are for ;)

That's history - and I've been happily keeping journals since :) And what a wonderful thing pen and paper were to my thoughts and feelings. It's like having a friend on demand, for me to express anything and everything to.

It's 9pm, time to call it a day. The weekend's almost here :D

"We are in this life to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit and light up the brain."

"Desiderata"

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, 1927