What is important to your life? Know your priorities? See...

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things: your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job or your business, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups, look after your health. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes, walk another mile or go to the gym. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."

"Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

From friend's email

book on "preparing for death and helping the dying - a buddhist perspective "

This week I picked up the above book (by Ven Sangye Khadro) free of charge from one of the buddhist books/CDs/materials distributing point at the corridor infront of a hair salon in Yishun Avenue 5.

2. It is really interesting and beneficial. It deals with:-

a. Buddhist Perspective on Death,
b. How to Prepare for Death,
c. Helping Others who are Dying. Two important parts are:-
1) How to help someone who is a Buddhist and
2) How to help someone who is NOT a Buddhist.

3. The material from this book is from two sources: Buddhist teachings and contemporary writings in the field of caring for the dying. A list of recommended books is provided at the end of the book.

4. It is an eye-opener for everyone as everyone will one day pass away. It will also guide people on how to help those who are dying. Very often, people do not know what to do or say when coming across someone who is dying.

5. Instead of being in discomfort thinking death will be terrible, painful and depressing experience, think about:-

a. "Dying can be a time of learning and growth;
b. a time of deepening our love,
c. our awareness of what is important in life, and
d. our faith and commitment to spiritual beliefs and practices."

6. The book said" Death is a reality, a fact of life, so wouldn't it be better to approach it with openness and acceptance, rather than fear and denial."

7. In short, it about how our mind should think, how to remain calm and how to die gracefully. In the course of reading the book and thinking about it, it also encourages us and guide us how to live ethically so that when someone dies or when it is our turn to die, we will not have any regrets and how the mind will always remain positive and calm.

8. There is list of hospice care service in Singapore with addresses, tel and email addresses at the rear of book.

9.More information about Buddhism and anyone wishing to volunteer their services can visit these websites:

Information On Buddhism

To Volunteer Your Services

Register For Relaxation & Vipasanna Meditation

Reading Dr Tan Kheng Khoo's website on Meditation

I met an old friend and former neighbour one day at Lor 8 Toa Payoh market. During our chit chat we also touch on Buddhism. When talking about meditation, he mentioned about Dr K. K. Tan, well known meditation teacher, and gave me the website address. I managed to locate Dr K K Tan's homepage address after a few attempts. See the following websites:-

http:// www.kktanhp.com

http:// www.kktanhp.com/doctoring.htm

I find his website interesting and beneficial as I am a keen learner of Buddhism, meditation esp Vipassana, Anapanasati- Mindfulness With Breathing. The knowledge enables me to have a deeper understanding of Buddhism and Meditation. Combining meditation with Yoga is indeed beneficial holistically for both body and mind and can overcome much worries, pain, anxiety. From my own experience, I experienced peace and harmony in daily living and I try to share this knowledge and experience whenever possible, without offending anyone and respecting their choice and situation.

Interesting Story - What appears to be safe now, may hurt you, even seriously, later

The following is from an email circulated to me today. The moral of the story is ...what seems to unconcern you may in fact later cause serious harm to you...Read on and see what way, we in our own individual effort, can save the environment, pollution, help those who are seriously in need, etc.

The story goes like this:

One day, a mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. He thought: What food might this contain?

The mouse wondered and he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Alarmed. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning :
There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,

'Mr..Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it . Be I will be thinking of you.'

The mouse turned to the cow and said
'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap . . . alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember ---

when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called Life.

We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER HELPED YOU OUT AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

REMEMBER . . .EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;

OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

*One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FRIEND ! ! !*

YOGA AS MEDICINE, A Yoga Journal Book By Timothy McCall, M.D. and "things to do now that you're retired"

Few days earlier my nephew gave me this book "YOGA AS MEDICINE, A Yoga Journal Book By Timothy McCall, M.D." and another book "things to do now that you're retired" by Jane Garton.

I am half way through the first book and had glanced through the second book. At this stage I can say that this book will very beneficial to all Yogis as the correct understanding of the principles, the body, the body flow and the mind will go a long way to improve the body, mind and feeling. Thus health will be much improved and may also avoid many unnecessary surgeries.

The book Yoga As Medicine deals with how to overcome pains in joints, backpain, asthma, etc. If such knowledge can be brought to many, many people, then numerous people can benefit. But I think it is not easy as many people have their own beliefs and assumptions and have much tendency to listen to hearsay.

With knowledge and practice, the experience will be very pleasant and money cannot buy.

I will continue to read, re-read, and re-read and practice yoga with meditation and hope to share further in my blog or with friends and those who wish to know too. I must say I am no expert but a continous learner who can only share. Decision will rest with whoever heard the knowledge.

The other book "things to do now that you are retired" give a wide range of things one can do and how it can enlightened our lives....there are the simple things and not so simple but do-able things to do..least of all give inspirations when one is at a stand-still...

My Experience - Recover From Knee Joint Pain Twice - Glucosamine And Chondroitin Helps

In Mar 2008, whilst waiting to see our respective doctors at SGH, I met an old friend. We talked about all kinds of things and life. In the course of our chit chat, he mentioned that he suffered from knee pain. I told him of my experience and how I recovered that I am now able to jog quite fast and that both my leg muscles had improved much. As requested, I provide some details of my experience and the relevant photos etc and hope the information would be useful.

After that, I thought that it would be a good idea to share my experience in this blog and it is up to individuals to whether to listen to my experience or to adapt it into their plan to improve themselves.

My experience goes like this:

Sometime in Feb 2006, I suffered much pain on my left knee. I could only walk slowly.

I took an x-ray and the doctor told me my knee cartilage had worn out. He recommended me to take glucosamine.

I heard plenty of advice on how to take care of health and knee joints:-

a. Do not jog or run as the pounding will cause the knee joint to worsen.
b. Walk is a good exercise. Swimming is better as there is no load on the knee joint.
c. Advices to take all kinds and variations of glucosamine, herbs, etc.

I tried all kinds of advice with appreciation but after many months, there was no improvement. Gradually, I noticed that the muscles on my thigh, shin and ankle began to weaken and soften. The muscles and flesh look and feel more like soya bean paste what Chinese call "Tow Hoo".

When I board the bus or go up the stairs, I had to use my hand to hold the railing to pull my body up. When I alight from the bus or go down the stairs, I could not land my feet properly and feel like I was going to crush down. I had to hold on to the railing and put one foot down at a time.

I thought that at this rate I was going to shrink and diminish. I had unconsciously become a weakling and had to hope that some saints/saviour or great medical invention appeared quickly to help me recover.

I planned to search for the right type of food and joint supplements or to find the right doctor/physician and to think how I could improve and get my knee joints to recover and the leg muscles to strengthen.

One day in 2006, I went to the SGH pharmacy shop and an elderly lady staff informed me that I need to take chondroitin to ease the pain in order to speed up the recovery. So I believe her and tried. It is successful for me . Before that I took only glucosamine and it does seem to improve much. Click: Jointcare Glucosamine & Chondroitin 30S. This package also contain Omega 3.

I took one tablet per day for 3 months ie 3 boxes and overcome the pain and swell in my knee joint, after which I walk slowly at first. Then faster, Then jog a little and later increase some speed. This improve the muscle at the ankle, knee and muscles in the leg alot. My left knee had recovered. I enjoyed my jogging, although not fast. MUST BE PATIENT, AS IMPATIENCE CAUSE INJURY.

Later, again in 2007, this time was my right knee suffered from joint pain. I massaged it hoping to improve faster but it got worse. This time, the right knee was, in fact, much more painful. I also took the same action ie to consume Glucosame and Chrontin as done earlier. As I was feeling continuous and constant pain (what the Chinese say as "Suan Toong"), I used pain soothing gel to get some pain relief but not much relief. To relieve the constant pain, I sought acupuncture treat at Chung Hwa Free Clinic in Yishun for pain relief. I had acupuncture twice a week for a few weeks to relief pain. In the meantime, I continued with glucosamine, chrontin & Omega3 and I walked slowly. I also used Yoga method to work and improve the leg, ankle and knee muscles. It worked.

Now both my knees are ok. I am now learning how to keep my knee joints in good shape and strength.

Sometime in Feb 2008, a pharmacy staff in Yishun recommended me another (Joint Guard ) which I am trying. This time it contains not only glucosamine, chondroitin but also MSM, willow bark and devil's claw. But it does not have OMEGA 3, which I will have to take separately.

The label on the Joint Guard stated as follows:

Chrondroitin sulphate helps promote fluid balance & elasticity in cartilage and inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage.

Willow bark and Devil's claw have been used traditionally to combat many painful conditions, allowing better mobility.

MSM - bio available sulphur which amongs other thing arrests inflammation and as a natural pain reliever.

Most importanlyly, one has to see how best one can work out one's strategy that best suit one's body. I believe that one know ownself best.

Naval Base Secondary School

Click hyperlinks here for

(1) the present website of Naval Base Secondary School @ http://www.navalbasesec.moe.edu.sg and

(2) the NBSS School Magazine @ http://www.angelfire.com/biz7/kys

Click on “Principal”, “Top Scholar”, "School Staff", “Editorial”, "Art Club" and others in the said website for information.

I happened to visit the Naval Base Secondary School website and remembered that few months ago I met some other old classmates, talked about the old times and the school magazine. As I have posted the entire magazine on to my website, I thought it would be good to connect them here for the benefit of those who may like to see them.

The school magazine was introduced by the then principal Mr R. W. Mosbergen when the school achieved top results. See who is the top scholar who scored 8A1s in the 1965 Cambridge School Certificate Examination and later became a Member of Parliament. Much later the NBSS Alumni was also started. The principal who was posted to the school in 1965 introduced "Little Olympics" and everyone had a chance at sport. ECA was very active. Amongst others, he also introduced the school song.

Mr G Haridas, Mr Teo Lye Huat and Mrs Thampuran were my best teachers as I had made much improvements in subjects taught by them. They taught art, history and biology respectively. They were patient and dedicated teachers. Mr Haridas organised many field trips for members of the art class and facilitated the students to take part in several school and external art competitions. Mr Teo Lye Huat and Mrs Thampuran were very good story tellers who captured our attention. They would also write lengthy notes on the black board for students. Many of us improved our results and some win prizes. To me, school days were very memorable.

See who's who in the magazine and the old pictures of places that were once there. The famous football and sports family also attended this school. There were many notable others too. This was the only English stream secondary school in the north of Singapore in the 50s and 60s.

At that time, if there was no this English stream secondary school, many of the older generation (from poor families) at that time, may not have a chance to attend an English stream secondary school. At that time, the then Thomson Secondary (opposite the present old Police Academy at Thomson Road) was the nearest Chinese stream secondary school.

Sometime in the later part of the 60s, Chinese educated from the Chinese Primary Schools nearby were admitted to Naval Base Secondary School. However, many find difficulties in coping with the subjects taught in English. It was believed that many dropped-out after Secondary One.

Much later, another Chinese stream secondary school (believed to be Upper Thomson Secondary School) was set up near Spring Leaf Estate to cater to the Chinese educated.

But life was simple then. Compared to now, late bloomers in the English stream then, have a chance to do well, as those who fail, can just be transferred to the next level from Secondary One to Secondary Four and have a shot at the School Certificate Examination.

NPCC Alumni

Click the respective hyperlinks.

(1) NPCC Alumni Association Members and activities: http:http://www.npccalumni.org.sg/

(2) NPCC Alumni Association (Singapore) /Campsite of NPCC Alumni (another member who is an MP): http://npcca.blogspot.com/2007/07/teo-ho-pin.html/

Here is one hyperlink to all connected websites:-
http://sg.search.yahoo.com/search?p=kui+yong+sin&sm=All+the+Web&fr=yfp-t-web&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8

Security Consultant, SPCS Consultancy Pte Ltd, Singapore

Accredited Security Consultant with SPCS Consultancy Private Limited, Singapore putting up Security Programmes/projects on a as-and-when-available basis. This is a challenging and interesting activity in view of my wide experience in security. This is also another opportunity to meet people, keep my mind active, make some money and to contribute to security. See following website:

CPSC Consultancy Pte Ltd/

Accredited Security Consultants