Sometimes, we get so caught up with the rat race that we do not realise we are like hamsters speeding away in the running wheel, but getting nowhere. Taken from my FB posting on 26 July 2016:

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A DELICATE THING IN LIFE Many people I know tell me they’re trying hard to cope with the frantic pace of their work and life. I’m not trying to run them down, but I suspect some have forgotten where they’re going, and maybe even why they’re pushing ahead in the first place. Maybe they think whatever sense of satisfaction they’re missing now would be found in some place in the future. Let me tell you this: you will go on missing the present moment when your only focus is on a future destination. Without doubt, we should have desires and plans for a better future. But we must also realise that the only reality in life is this delicate thing called the present moment.

Selected followers’ comments:

Cherie Tan: Would: like to share a quote from Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him the most about humanity, answered “Man. Because he sacrifice his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifice money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to dies, and then dies having never really lived.”

Wilson Hoo: Wow..n that’s a big wow ..many a people n that includes me once upon a time, in the pursuit of the future n dreams ( which is in reality the societys dream) forgot to smell the roses on the way. It’s an apt reminder to many who are still in pursuit of these dreams whilst doing it in this frantic pace, not to forget to stop, ponder n enjoy the wonder of the present moment lest that we don’t even see tomorrow. Reminds me of the song “if tomorrow never comes” from Garth Brooks.. thus the reason why I ensure I kiss the family before I leave the house. Thank you for the reminder..

Teh Lawrence: Consider the lilies of the field; how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
Matthew continues to exhort. Therefore do not be anxious of tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day. Taken in its right context it does not mean we do nothing. It however means that anxiety for the future should not stifle us to state of being overwhelmed and incapacitated.We must live the moment as Tan Sri rightly puts it. And Andrew says the obvious”we have one life ” but we so often forget that.

 

My other FB postings between 24 July and 31 July 2017:

25 July 2016

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WHO’S THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL? It had been many years, so we agreed before we met again in Kuching recently, to pretend we couldn’t see each other’s gray hair, wrinkles and sagging arms. Haji Sophii Nawawi and Jacob Wong are practising lawyers while Kristine Liew is in corporate training. They were my classmates at law school more than 20 years ago. It’s like coming face to face with ourselves when we see old friends again: I suddenly realised I was old because they were.. eh, old. They playfully still couldn’t accept the fact that I scored better results though I hardly attended classes and would only start looking for textbooks and notes just weeks before the exams. The painful part about old friends, after years apart chasing our own dreams and living our own lives, is to realise we have very little left in common except our memories.

Selected followers’ comments:

Kenneth Fernandez: Couldn’t have said it better. Just had my 25 year class reunion and yes , the only thing that we have is the memories of yesterday years. However , in life , this is the only thing we truly own and we all agree it was the best times of our lives … Life was so free . Despite our shortcomings , we were full and happy

Kristine Liew: Good morning. Hahaha. Tan Sri Clement. Well said. I had wondered what might you say when you finally posted this photo. And you said it beautifully, as always. Most reunions have this pain. Unfortunately. So some friends I know, avoid them all together. But for me, I enjoy each meet up, checking out our many blessings or even blessings in disguise. I leave each reunion feeling grateful for the joy, love and pain we have gone through, cos without them, what is life ? We are extremely proud of you. Through it all, you have become what you are today.

Shenna Dot: This last sentence of yours touches and tag at my heartstrings. I went to a reunion of very old friends – 5 of us – whom we have known since childhood. I went full of excitement and hope for further cementing of our old friendship. Instead we couldn’t really recognise the characters of each other any more. We have nothing to say about our current situations except laugh at the stupid things we did together when we were young, When we went home, we hugged each other and promised to meet up again. That was 2 years ago. No one made any effort to organise another gathering. We felt we are strangers again, though we didn’t say as much. It hurts a lot, not just for me but I am sure for the rest too. But that is the reality of life, I guess, people move on, and the love just fades away.

 

27 July 2016

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THERAPEUTIC POWER OF LOUD MUSIC? I normally avoid pubs and drinking spots because I don’t drink and dislike smoke and noise. But after the recent grenade attack at Movida in Puchong, I was curious to see for myself what’s so wrong and immoral about such places that warranted an IS bombing. If people stay away, it could be construed as giving in to the terrorists. I dropped by Walnut Bistro, a short distance from Movida, and I could see the customers just wanted to enjoy themselves, and that couldn’t be so wrong. The big crowd seemed to get an adrenaline rush of hearing music played live and loud. It could be my aging eardrums, but I thought only deaf people need such loud music. It was so thundering I couldn’t hear my own thoughts. But that’s our own business, and shouldn’t be the concern of some armed terrorists.

Selected followers’ comments:

Neoh Ai Leen: My opinion is that IS terrorists target a place which make an impact in terms of crowd. It was easier at the pubs as the crowd are busy drinking, dancing and chatting that they are drowned by loud music and alcohol. So when they feel relaxed and least alert of the surrounding, it is the best time to strike. Ironically, instead of being “therapeutic”, it could pose danger to the pub goers in light of terrorism threats.

Tuck Meng Choong: Reminds me of Garth Brooks song, “I’ve got friends in low places, where whisky drowns and beer chases my blues away.” I too, cannot really understand how those folks can even communicate in those places, so I do believe they go there to drown their blues/sorrows/stress via drinks and loud music.

Nur Ainee Muhammad: You are so right.. In today’s world we sometimes forget that mutual respect will in turn create tolerance and understanding of others. This transcends race, gender and religion but this is sadly missing. The adage of others before self is fast disappearing. I remember the times when both Hari Raya and Chinese New Year were celebrated pretty much the same way as both races visit each other freely . When we visited our Chinese neighbours and friends, they would buy food from the mamak stall n bring out disposable cutlery and whenever we gave them food they know that we prefer them to return the containers unwashed. Mutual respect will go a long way to eliminate misunderstandings, hostilities in both racial and religious issues. If only…. then IS becomes irrelevant.

 

28 July 2016

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SHOW MORE, OR SHOW LESS? Those legs may look appealing but they definitely wouldn’t be welcomed in our government departments, where overzealous officers have chased away visitors who’re covered up a lot more. I don’t impose a strict dress code in my organisation – I really don’t think what my employees wear really reflects their purpose and value. Donning a burka doesn’t make a woman honest, neither should a tattooed man be profiled as aggressive. To me, you should dress and behave in a way which makes you comfortable, as long as it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. In the end, what’s the point of being dressed to the nines, and you wear a permanent scowl on your face?

Selected followers’ comments:

Andrew Chan: Tan Sri, a cup is clean not only on the outside but far more importantly on the inside ! God gave us two eyes for a purpose ie to see n admire beautiful things n hymm….beautiful/sexy people too. The pure in heart n really God fearing folks loves others irrespective of what they wear or even their statue in society. The Good Book quoted an incident where Jesus was accused of dining with a prostitute named Mary Magdalene by the Pharisees ( so-called holy men ) n He replied, “The Son of Man comes to die for sinners like this, pointing to the lady of the night.” Bet we have our modern Pharisees (hypocrites ) nowadays amongst us !

Tay Cheow Hwang:
SHOW MORE, OR SHOW LESS?

Judging a book by its cover,
Perception is ignorance,
When truth is uncovered,
Addressing wrong reference;

Showing a person by his outlook,
Conception is deception,
When truth is to reload,
Pressing wrong button;

Appearance can be misleading,
Misdirected to understand differently,
Disparity seems to be callous,
Parity seems to be reality;

Preference can be misguiding,
Misled to comprehend indifferently,
Similarity seems to be obvious,
Diversity seems to be alien;

We’re to embrace diversity,
Character and personality,
Carry different mentalities,
Only impartial is our clarity;

We aren’t to judge,
Just simply by generalization,
Nor to misjudge,
With solely on perception;

What’s the point,
Of being dressed to the nines,
And your wear,
Permanent scowl on your face?

What’s the point,
Of being portrayed with diplomacy,
And you swear,
Immense hypocrisy on your face?

How you dress as how you show,
To show more or to show less,
You’re to be real to your show,
As others are watching with care.

 

29 July 2016

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LOOKING BEYOND WHAT IS THERE: Malaysians have been investing in the Australian property market and getting good deals. A few Malaysian developers are also extending their tentacles and undertaking large-scale Aussie projects, mainly in Melbourne and Sydney. My HCK Group’s investment in two office towers in central business district in Brisbane has seen fair returns over the years. The value appreciation of commercial properties there is mainly based on the rental returns and quality of tenants. I visited the buildings with daughters Audrey, Adeline and her hubby Dennis on my last trip, to assess improvements that could be done to further increase the occupancy. In business assets, which include our human resources, I see the real value not based on what is there, but on what could potentially be there.

Selected followers’ comments:

Jennifer Chan: Make your brand a global brand. Some Malaysian businessmen have done so, like AirAsia and Secret Recipe and a small handful. Your HCK group can potentially be good in education or properties in other countries. Like you just taught us, I am seeing what can potentially be there, sir. 🙂

Linda Cheung: We look at the potential of something or someone, not what they are now – I learn something new from you today, and almost everyday.

Teh Lawrence: Tan Sri, I am glad you mentioned human resource. It’s worth identifying the people who can progressively move up the company to take greater roles. Have a manpower and training plan to tap and develop these potential.
As Justin rightly puts it – hidden behind are the potentiality; hidden behind are the reality.
Important though are the attitudes that these people know that they are what they become because other people helped them. So they help others now including colleagues and bosses.

 

30 July2016

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WHEN HUNGER PANG CAN BE A GOOD THING: I was shocked to read there’re still many children in our rural areas who are malnourished, while doctors are warning that more urbanites are fighting obesity. We’re eating too much while there’re some poor people who have to go hungry. We must never condone hunger, but ironically, it has made some people do great things. Many success stories are about those who were born into poverty. They know what it is like to be underfed and unwanted. It is often those who are born with a silver spoon who get pampered and complacent. For the ambitious, I would think life to them is about being continuously hungry, not for food, but for a better tomorrow. We are around not just to exist or have enough to eat. The purpose is to scale new heights, to overcome, to conquer and to achieve. A hungry person usually can do all that, and more, better than someone who already has his fill.

Selected followers’ comments:

Jennifer Chan: Those children of rich tycoons won’t know what life struggle is, how hard it is to put food on the table. Their only achievement is being born into a rich family. At least for many of them. Don’t you agree?

Philip Lim: Live to eat or eat to live? Work to live or live to work? When we talk about food and hunger or life and success, the saying “I was not born just to pay bills and die” flashes in mind. Sadly, this sentiment is quite relevant to quite a number of people out there.

Shenna Dot: Those who have their fill, will want more. In English, we call that greed, not hunger. 🙂

 

31 July 2016

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FACING THE REAL WORLD: Each time, I look at the eager faces of graduating students at my university, I’m reminded of the last time I exited my secondary school gates, fearful of what life beyond would be like. I couldn’t remember being coached on how to face the real world. These days, fresh graduates everywhere will get heavy doses of advice on finding their passions, chasing success and thriving in the community. In my speeches at past SEGi graduation ceremonies, I always tell them to go out there and make mistakes – and break some rules by doing conventional things in unconventional ways. Life is like a story with a simple plot. First you’re in it, and then you’re not. But before you leave, you try to make the world a more interesting place, for having been here.

Selected followers’ comments:

Cherie Tan: I am always the fool in life.. enjoying making honest mistake and learning the lesson from life instead of thinking too much and never do it 🙂 Would like to 2 quotes i come across, “Experience is the hardest teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards.” And “Life is the most difficult exam. Many people fail because they try to copy others – not realising that everyone have a different question paper.”

Rahman Yii: I think our university should teach a crucial subject call “How to Survive in the Working World”. I see a lot of our young graduate are so unprepared for the real world that majority of them never really make it especially in the area of financial wellbeing.

Hiram Ting: To learn, unlearn and relearn has been my precept for many years and I value what I have gone through thus far. If we can’t do great things, do little things in a great way. Happy Sunday.