6 Things You Should Never Do After Eating

6 Things You Should Never Do After Eating

The End is near

http://www.msn.com/en-my/news/world/scientists-think-we-all-may-be-dead-in-2050/ar-BBAgIGw?li=BBr8Hnu

When the sun rises , it rises for everyone

Each day is born with a sunrise and ends in a sunset. And we have absolutely no control over  how it begins or ends. When the sun rises , it rises for everyone and when it sets , it does the same too.

Every morning , we wake up, privileged to appreciate the glowing sun that gives life . God is fair , allowing its brilliance and light to spread to all corners of the earth. It doesn’t differentiate , all share the goodness that  it brings . It signals a new beginning  , new promise , new hopes , new opportunities ….  Its all up to us to make the best of what is gifted, its equal rights for all . As such sunrise   represents  a  new day  and all things good to come .

But like every spark cant glow forever , it will return to darkness . or simply , everything has to have an ending . Sun will rise and set regardless ; and day and night meet fleetingly at twilight and dawn.

Sunrise and sunsets both have their charms .While we appreciate the bright sun for delivering all the goodness , we should enjoy the the evening skies that’s ablaze  with brilliance &  varied colours  too. These are fleeting moments as mentioned .  Night falls after the sun sets , its dark but it need not be gloomy !  The night can be more alive and more richly coloured than the day – its all up to the individual. If its gloomy , but one can always allow music be the moonlight ! And don’t forget , without the dark  , we cant see the stars !

Speaking of sunsets brings to mind “ the sunset years “  The final stage of a person’s life needn’t be all gloomy unless we equate age with decline & pathology which becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. These  seniors  have much to offer  , moving beyond the competitiveness  and  child bearing . Look around , many are leading  vibrant , enjoyable and purposeful lifestyles pursuing hobbies they have neglected  , doing community service or even going back to school ! Life can be even  more meaningful  as they redirect their strengths & talents towards something they enjoy  and that fit their age and stage in life .

Yes .The sun rises for everyone and it sets for everyone too.  And whichever it is , it has the ability to arouse all the passions , all the yearnings in the soul of the beholder !

Nostalgia - 40 years ago

Trapped in yesterdays  ?  No ! Just treasuring the  beautiful memories . And thinking if  " simple " is the new " complex "

Surprise

Jeyaraj

Ee Sheau Boon

A meeting by chance at a local eatery this afternnon. I was happy to meet up with 2 past students .

The Seventh Estate -The Bureaucracy that executes the details of Laws & Policy

The Seventh Estate is designed to protect us. They are the anonymous, non-political, non-appointed government employees who:

• Keep us safe, both domestically and in the world. Think, warts and all, the NSA, CIA, FBI TSA, Armed Forces, National Guard, Police;

• The agencies who build, maintain, and foster development of infrastructure necessary for commerce and prosperity. Think Highways, bridges, tunnels, ports, mass transit projects;

• The agencies and departments who keep our food, drugs, water and air clean.

• Those who research and explore in health, geology, space, history, culture that have no direct bottom-line but can add billions or trillions to the economy through information and innovation or invaluable knowledge or preservation of culture that define who we are as a common people.
  
  There may be a lot of limited thinking, waste, and ineptitude in government agencies, but if one has  to deal with private bureaucracies inside cable television providers, banks, telephone companies, utility companies, etc. then you know that  in any large institution, private or public, is subject to the same frustrations.
  
  
  The common good, or the “greater good” is why regulation exists, and bureaucrats are actually national  heroes, no different than our soldiers, who commit their lives to the service of protecting and defending us.
  
  The Parliament may make laws, and the Head Of State  issues executive orders, but those are just broad stroke outlines. The  details are executed by the Seventh Estate. 
  
  Bureaucrats execute and administer public policy. They are hired for specific knowledge, and expertise. They work, day-in, day-out, with the businesses and people in specific, focused areas where things need to get done.
  
  Bureaucracy is porous: Information leaks out of it all of the time. It’s been a normal function of our working democracy as long as there has been a government. It is a stabilizing factor.
  
  The Seventh Estate, leaking to the media, expose waste, corruption, and abuse of power are a part of the safety valves that keep all governments on track.
   
  Adapted from Huffington Post US

Self Fulfilling Prophecy

This term was used in the speech contest at my club yesterday and I am spurred on to read more about it. 

There are 2 important self fulfilling prophecy theories ,both are premised on the power of expectations .

While the Pygmalion effect is based on people's  expectation of others , the Galatea effect is rooted in self expectation . It can be said that people believing in other people's capability  or  an idividual believing about  oneself works .

  Galatea effect 
What one can accomplish is really driven by what one thinks one can. The person has a strong sense of worth , has faith in his /her own capabilities , sets high goals and is highly motivated to perform well . He / she is optimistic and the positively biased optimism thus creates an upward spiral in terms of zest , energy ,drive ,  confidence and a whole lot of other attritbutes  needed for achieving  the desired outcomes.

It can easily be imagined that if such individual were  to receive further encouragement / praises from people around him/her , it would do wonders to his/her performance . 

Pygmalion Effect (Rosenthal Effect ) 
This is a phenomenon in which the higher the expectation placed on people , the better  is their performance .

The original study of this effect was in the context of teacher's expectations of students . It was observed that students who were expected to do well ACTUALLY performed well while those who were not expected to perform well did not .

If high expectation is placed on people  and if this expectation is  conveyed   clearly  , he/she will strive to live up to the expectation.   

Golem Effect 
This is the opposite to the above . It happens when a superior's prejudices or negative impressions are communicated , even in the most subtle manner ,will lead to poorer performance by the individual .

To me , the horse is a mystical creature, a nomadic prey animal that has a primal defense system. Even in the sweltering heat of summer, my friend and I have to coax and to a certain extent , forced her horse into drinking , to stay hydrated but it was totally uncoperative. No amount of coaxing and sweet talking could sway its 'decision'; it would drink when it was good and ready. Based on the experience, I am convinced that one  can't force a horse to drink.

More generally,the proverb is used in the senses of " there's only so much you can do" or "people will do what they want to do " or " you can't help people who dont want to be helped"

As well intended as we are in helping others, whether in creating opportunities or opening the door for them , we have to bear in mind that the choice to grab the opportunity has to be their own . Do not convince against his will for he would still be of the same opinion and worse still if he becomes resentful about being pursuaded against his will.

Give help to others but do not expect too much ,it only adds to our suffering and frustration. Expectation is the root of heartaches.

Everyday is a learning day and honestly , it terrifies me that there are so much I do not know .But not feeling that I have to know everything helps, all I need to do is to always maintain the attitude of a student. This way , I can keep on learning.

“Beauty is not always an outward show of things “
I am no gourmet but the true essence of gourmet food , its pure & refined ingredients , does captivate me.
Almost immediately , the aesthetically unappealing truffle springs to my mind . I have not tasted one yet , just read about them and someone I know just had them for the first time . It seems that no one is immune to the seductive powers of the truffle , my friend swore that eating the round warty “ fruit of the earth” is a culinary experience and the distinctive taste has held hostage his palate instantly . His description of the fruit conjures images of something that embodies class & sophistication. .
As physically unappealing as truffle may appear to be , this is testament that ‘ beauty ‘ often come in hidden packages

Paradox

My question is -are the drawings done on the same scale ?
The Americans look smaller when they should be bigger, perhaps they evolved from smaller primates comparatively ?

The trend in the Europeans is a more accurate  representation. From apes to upright bi-pedals , the  changes took place in several gradual stages before men are bent again , this time towards the rectangular screen. If the trend continues , what would become of us ? Reverting into the original ape state ? Then the cycle of evolution will have come a full circle and be complete.

Japan is already the undisputed robot powerhouse. The logical next step is robots in every aspect of life.  We wont be able to tell a real Jap from the humanoid with human like  intelligience.

When you throw dirt , you lose ground

The rise of social media has made it easy for us to take to the web and share our opinion about anyone and anything. Quite often the opinions are deliberate attack or dirt throwing .

We have nothing to gain by doing this to others. It may make us feel good in that moment  but this can always backfire at us .

It happens all the time. when we dont like or having  grievances with someone, we turn on our negative energy , lose our civility  and we start to complain, condemn ,criticise..... Often we are unaware that these actions only make us look petty , disrespectful vengeful , desperate and in fact plain ugly!  The negative comments that we hurl on others not only depreciate their reputation  but ours as well. What if the other party unleash a mudslide in our direction ? 

If we are being honest, we are probably all guilty of gossiping from time to time. Gossip is part of the fabric of communication and its fun ! But gossip has the potential of  being hurtful too . And there is nothing more frustrating than a malicious story that bears no relation to the truth making its way through the grapevine . But gossiping doesnt just harm the victim, the gossiper gets it too. Once  a person is known to be a gossiper , people will start to think twice about trusting him/ her.

"When you throw dirt at someone , you almost always get some on yourself. "  Wouldnt it be good  if   politicians  can abide by this ?

An Entry in Fun Toastmasters Group

We as a society seem to worship cars. And the automakers know that car is more than just transportation, cars are now made to be an extension of the driver's image. So its not just clothes make the man! In fact, the car is the last piece of "apparel" most adults put on before they step out of their homes.

I find the conjecture depicted by the picture very interesting- stereotyping the drivers with their cars of choice.

So if you are driving smaller cars, are you conscious about the environment or is it for practical/ economic reasons ? Or you are simply not bothered about impressions. If so , you are likely to remain happily single.

Luxury cars denote wealth , success and driving these will definitely be a clear signal of one's social standing. Whether the ownership is to do with an intention to make a statement or just that he is drawn to the wheels, it definitely adds to his appeal. Conspicous display of wealth is the best way to grab her attention , he will be swarmed .

A word of caution though , women are not fools, they will  enjoy the flings too with no expectation of lasting relationship.. Flaunt  and flash what you have but be ready to shed a big portion of it.

I read that in cars , men find true love . " If ever  there is a problem with the car , it alerts him unlike the female meltdown which he in no way saw coming ;he is given fair notice. A man can park his car somewhere different each nite and it doesnt care ...... "

Love affair with Fiat , Alfa , Mini ? If I get them right , they occupy pole positions in the list of gay cars !

So you might want to ask - do cars have gender ?

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink

To me , the horse is a mystical creature, a nomadic prey animal that has a primal defense system. Even in the sweltering heat of summer, my friend and I have to coax and to a certain extent , forced her horse into drinking , to stay hydrated but it was totally uncooperative. No amount of coaxing and sweet talking could sway its 'decision'; it would drink when it was good and ready. Based on the experience, I am convinced that one  can't force a horse to drink.

More generally,the proverb is used in the senses of " there's only so much you can do" or "people will do what they want to do " or " you can't help people who don't want to be helped"

As well intended as we are in helping others, whether in creating opportunities or opening the door for them , we have to bear in mind that the choice to grab the opportunity has to be their own . Do not convince against his will for he would still be of the same opinion and worse still if he becomes resentful about being pursuaded against his will.

Give help to others but do not expect too much ,it only adds to our suffering and frustration. Expectation is the root of heartaches.

"If you think you are green, you can still ripen; But if you think you are ripe, then you can only rot."

" Green you grow , ripe you rot "



The ability to grow and develop are defining features of life. It is a biological imperative.

The instant you stop growing , you start dying ! The latter is associated with the notions of decline , decay , morbidity and finally mortality.

In order to keep growing , we need to push ourselves, to get out of our comfort zones. Of course , there will be discomfort  - like a strain one feels when a muscle that is seldom used is stretched. Holding out against the discomfort will make one stronger in the end ,very much like the muscle being exercised.

Comfort is the enemy of environment ," rotting " is detested , death is feared, growth is important and if we embrace growth , we are more true to our authentic nature as living beings -just like the trees spreading their branches, birds build nests and bear young....

Thus , think green and grow.

When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you

It all starts on the inside. The only person who can hold you down is you.

The enemy within is more dangerous than without.

There are a whole lot of them , the enemies from within - fear , self doubt, anger , jealousy .... and all the negative thinking.

It is in our natural design to doubt , fear and limit ourselves , to protect us from hurt or adversities.

But people are more fearful than necessary and the fears actually make it hard to surmount the very adversity itself.

When people give in to fear , they lose energy , momentum and confidence in what they do. This translates  into inaction that lowers the confidence level even further . Anxiety ; stress , frustration , anger and all that are negative go right up ! Fear simply creates its own self - fulfilling dynamics.
 
The external enemies  in the form of problem/ crisis  are not insurmountable if we change our mindset. If we view them as a challenge that affords us the opportunity to prove our mettle , a chance to toughen ourself ;if we change our mental process from negative ( fear & self doubt) to positive , action will be resulted.

No doubt its the mind that drives the body!  Its our inner shine that will take care of the "weather "outside

IF YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TRY SLEEPING WITH A MOSQUITO.

It happens to us all ( unless you sleep like a log or the dead),the nightmare caused by the tiny pesky mosquito whining like the dentist drill next to your ear. When you hear it, you will want to swat at it and when you dont hear it , you will be wide awake listening for it so that you can swat at it. Whichever happens , you are doomed to poor sleep!

Human can endure some of the most incredible hardships without uttering the slightest sound but will get all upset over something small by comparison. A grain of sand in our shoe is a case in point. The little sand  grain will prick and irritate us to no end till it is got rid of ! 

Never think that one is too small to make a difference nor underestimate the power of one .

One friend , one person who is truly understanding, who takes the time & patience to listen to us as we consider our problems can change our whole outlook.

One person can trigger a million thoughts .

One person can be the teacher that fires imaginations and awaken the genius in you.

That is the power of one. No one is too small to make a difference .

One dedicated person is worth a hundred who are only interested .

A fool says what he knows and a wise man knows what he says

The truth is so eloquently conveyed in this proverb👍

There is a time and place to speak/talk.Wise men know this well but fools spill  everything without any thoughts & preparation.

" Wise men speak because they have something to say , fools because they have to say something " PLATO

As fools always rush in to say something , much of what they say are just idle , angry  and unimportant words , unstudied & unverified nonsense  .... which are much better off left unspoken. A fool's mouth is his destruction for often , he ends up divulging more than he should or intended.

The wise men , by keeping silent  much of the time , are actually exhibiting a great virtue . Silence , when nothing needs to be said, is the eloquence of discretion, also the safest respondent for any contradictions. By keeping silent , it helps to cover folly , keep secrets , avoid disputes  . A fool utters all his mind but a wise man keep it till afterwards . Of course the latter has the advantage !