Making a difference

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out,"Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."

The Chinese New Year - a time to impress the guests

It's always fascinating to see how people celebrate a festive season like the Chinese New Year. In my part of the world, visiting families, relatives and friends is a norm. While this practice is hailed as something good, some couldn't help the tendency of wanting to impress, to show off. A new curtain, an expensive furniture set, a latest fashion or a plasma TV - anything that makes one feels good about oneself. So long, of course, the other party takes notice and makes a good comment. Sometimes, it's the children who become an object for showing off. During my Chinese New year visits, I was amused by the following observations:

"Mom, my dress is too tight!" complained a six-year old daughter to her mother.

"Just bear it. You look pretty in that dress," said the mother.

Who cares about comfort. It's looking good that matters. But at the expense of whose happiness?

"Don't you dare play outside and dirty yourself," a young mother warned her three-year old son.

"But I want to play with my friends," the boy insisted.

"Not today. It's Chinese New Year!" said his mother.

Isn't it a day when children are suppose to be happy? In some cases, they get hurt instead.

"Where did you put your eyes!" a father scolded his son who, while playing, accidentally broke an expensive jar. "Don't you know that this thing is expensive?"

Obviously, at his young age, he couldn't have known. What broke that day was his son's vulnerable heart. It was a priceless item he could ever afford.

Then again, some parents simply got too carried away in projecting their children.

"You have two beautiful children. How old are they?" a guest asked a young mother.

"Oh, the professional golfer is five and the Olympic swimmer is seven."

Oh, please......

I was mugged

A young woman saw an old man walking down the street with only one shoe. Thinking that he might be a homeless poor who had found the shoe in a rubbish bin somewhere, she was moved by compassion and approached the old man.

"Oh, you poor soul. It must be difficult to walk with only one shoe," she said.

Before the old man could open his mouth to speak, the young woman started talking about how bad the society had become.

"We take things for granted forgetting that there are people who don't even have a shoe to wear. What a sick world!" she lamented.

"Thanks for your concern, miss. But I didn't find this shoe. I was mugged earlier this morning. They tried to take everything from me including my shoes. But I managed to flee after they removed the other shoe. I'm on my way now to lodge a report to the police."

Pressumptions can be embarassing as it is dangerous.

Good luck or bad luck?

It's Chinese New Year's Eve today. Traditionally, this festive season is always associated with good luck. Who wouldn't want Lady Luck on their side all year long? Thus it's the time of year where experts in the art of Feng Shui demonstrate the how-to in staying in luck and avoid miseries and tragedies. I've nothing against this ancient wisdom but at the same time I find myself with more questions than answers. If people were to ask me if my life was blessed with good luck or condemned to perpetual bad luck, my safe answer would be: Maybe.

Which reminds me of a story...

There was once a farmer. One day his horse ran away and his neighbours, upon hearing about it came to his house. They said, "Oh, what a bad luck." The farmer replied, ""Maybe".

About few days later, the horse came back, bringing with it a whole herd of wild horses. His neighbours heard and came to his house. They said, "Oh, what a good luck." The farmer replied, "Maybe."

One day, the farmer's son fell from one of the horses while trying to tame it and broke his leg. The neighbours, all hearing about the incident came to visit his son. As they stood watching him, they said, "Oh, what a bad luck." And the farmer replied, "Maybe."

During this time war broke out and the army wanted all the able young men they could find to fight for their country. They went to every corner of the country to draft young men into the military. But knowing that there was no way the farmer's son could fight, they left him be. The neighbours, on hearing the news, came to the farmer's house and said, "Oh, what a good luck." The farmer replied, "Maybe."

Perhaps there's goodness in bad luck? Read the following story...

"I hate to tell you that you seem to pull bad luck like a magnet. You were born poor. In fact, there was not even a proper place for your mother to deliver you. People wanted to kill you immediately after. Even as we speak, there are people who are after your neck. Many people hate you so much that they want to see you dead. You're surrounded by people whom society despises and you know what, those closest to you can't be trusted at all. They will run away at the time you need them most. Worse, your family think you're out your mind. And you're going to die a slow and painful death. By the way, what's your name? "

"Jesus Christ."

We invented them

It's always fascinating to see how the young people these days have become so techno savvy. I read a story not long ago which I would like to share. It's about a young teenager who commented about the older generation's ignorance about the latest techno gadgets.

"You guys are so old fashioned," he said to his father. "You know nothing about computers, video games, cellphones and all the stuffs that make our lives so easy.'

"I agree," said the father. "But don't forget it's us, the so called old fashioned generation, who invented them."


But they also invented all the troubles that the younger generations often get themselves into....


"Who taught you to smoke and drink?" an father asked his teenage daughter.

"It's you, dad."

The universal language

A young man vying to become an election candidate was told that he would stand no chance of winning the votes of the people for he could not speak their mother tongue. A few weeks later the election was held and the voters polled their votes. He won.

"How did you do it?" asked one of his curious campaigners. "You hardly spoke their language."

"Well, when they laughed, I laughed too. When they cried, I did the same. And when they came to me with all their problems, I hardly understood what they were saying. I tried not to fall asleep for that would be rude. But I kept nodding my head," he explained.


Who needs words when the body already says so much.

Seeing through our own dirty window

I've come across this story once and I think it's something worth pondering...especially for those who live across annoying neighbours.

A housewife is observing her neighbour's house through the glass window of her house.

"Look at their dirty house," she tells her husband. "Don't they ever clean it?"

Her husband comes to take a look and notices that it's their own glass window that has not been wiped clean of dust.

There's nothing wrong with reality. Only our perception that needs a clean up.