When you look at this photo, what do you see? If you see the word FROWN first, then you’re like me! What does this say? I’m no psychologist, just that my mind tends to make some relations and so-called “insights” into things that I observe and take meaning from. In this case, I feel that if you’re like me who first notices the FROWN, could it be that we’re the group who see the cup as half-empty instead of half-full. In other words, are we more pessimistic than optimistic?
I was dining at Sushi Tei the other day with my sister and a friend. The food was satisfying, as usual, and I was glad that the standards have remained. When it was time for dessert, we ordered a serving of salt ice-cream to share among us.
When someone from the Health Promotion Board approached me to do something with them on positive thinking, I said yes without a second thought. I’m honoured, I thought. In my mind I figured it’d be some talks on keeping yourself happy and positive, but I was so wrong. They could never been more creative. Positive thinking and positive actions are their focus this year in the lead up to World Mental Health Day (WMHD) in October. Haven’t I been talking so much about minding our thoughts? That what we think will affect how we feel and what is eventually translated to real actions? This is exactly what HPB’s message is to all of us this year, and the messenger is not a person, not words, but art. Yes, art.
Ole, ole, ole, ole… ole… ole.
Alright, it’s the football season again with the kick off of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, probably happening right now as I’m writing this post. I’m no football fan, though I’ve managed to watch one match in each of the world cup for the past decade. Yes, I catch the one final match that will determine who reins the football field for the next four years.
An Australian friend made a most innocent remark when he saw the grill gate, or rather, all the grill gates, at the entrance of all the flats. “Why are there gaps in all these gates?” he asked my sister.
I was dumbfounded for about three seconds when my sister told me about this, before I laughed in comprehension. The gates in Australia are all netted with a mesh to prevent insects, especially abundant during summer time, from flying in. So he found it interesting that the gates all come with such gaping holes in between each grill, and each household sporting a different design!
When Mitch Albom said someone told him he finished reading his book while queuing for his autograph, I smiled.
I knew then that I would use at least ten times longer.
That person Mitch spoke of took two hours. I took about a week.
Over the past week, I certainly broke the most important rule of speed reading. I read each and every word in the page out aloud in my mind. Yes, I wanted to slowly savour the goodness in every word, between every sentence, and across every page.
Would Mitch laugh or sulk if he knew I had conveniently stolen his best-selling book title as the idea for the title of a blog in this humble little space? Judging by how friendly and warm he was by our very brief meeting, I doubt he would be upset.
Mitch Albom happily signing his name away!
Yes, I finally met up with this international best-selling author of Tuesdays With Morrie (now you know where my blog title came from!), 5 People You Meet In Heaven, For One More Day and the latest addition to his family of inspirational books – Have A Little Faith.
Imagine this. Your life is a story, and you’re the protagonist. This story revolves around you – your interactions with the people in it, your thoughts, dreams, goals, achievements, mistakes, joys and regrets.
How would you describe it? Is your life a routine? Or is it full of unexpected surprises?
Do you enjoy fulfilling relationships with the people you love? Or are your interactions with them too few and bland?
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Love of an Avatar
Love, is the answer.
That’s the conclusion I get while craning my neck in an uncomfortable position watching the humans and the Na’vi slaying each other in a bloody and painful battle in Avatar.
There are no sides to be taken, because I’m sure nobody likes to see so many lives dead, homes destroyed, natural habitats demolished and trees that contain more interactive cells than the neurons in our brains razed to the ground.
Yet, the war did happen. Due to what? Greed. The insatiable greed of the human beings. For greed, they’re willing to attack and invade a territory that doesn’t belong to them.
I’ve read many personal development books, and many of them swear by the belief that happiness comes from within. It’s inside you. Happiness doesn’t come from a gleaming new half a million dollars sports car. Nor does it come from a wardrobe full of branded clothes, bags, scarves and shoes.
It comes from what’s inside you – your emotions, thoughts, feelings. It is what you feed to your inner soul that emanates to your brain that tells you that you’re happy.
Now, I swear by these too. And I also witnessed one more thing that will make you feel, think and have loving and positive feelings, thoughts and emotions. What is it?
