I thought I'd start a more reflective post today. As we all hit 50 this year*, it can be considered a "half-way" mark in our life journey. It's probably a good to time to pause, stand back and review our life so far. I would guess that your life, as with most everyone else's, would be like the road shown above - with its bright and dark spots, its smooth and rough patches, its ups and downs, its main route and side paths .... But all throughout the journey, we live and learn.
What are some of the memorable life lessons that you have learnt in our life, that you might want to share with other form mates and friends? Another way of putting it is: what do you know now that you wish you knew 30 years ago when you were just starting out? Yet another way to put it: what would you want your child or grandchild to know so that he/she doesn't have to learn it the hard way that you did? Or perhaps you might have formed some views on life that you just want to check with the others to see if anybody else sees it the same way?
These reflections can be in any sphere of life ... work, career, business, professional, family, social, personal etc etc. No boundaries at all. It's totally up to you.
Go on. Share freely your pearls of wisdom.
.
* For other honorary members of this group not from the Form5 (1976) classes, who haven't quite hit the Big 5 yet (and you know who you are & 50 is probably akan datang pretty soon anyway), please feel free to also share your lessons learnt.
Posts
Learn to networking with many people is the most important for career.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is "DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY" la !
ReplyDeleteBe true to:
ReplyDelete1. GOD
2. Your family
3. Your employer
And in that order in event of conflict.
Smile and you will get one in return.
Respect others if you want to gain their respect.
ReplyDeleteWork hard,
ReplyDeleteplay hard
but
stop to smell the roses
*JL*
And not forgetting to have a Class of SJS 1976 Reunion...this time in Angkor Wat, Cambodia...What say you guys??
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Sinos
Be humble when you think you've made it and hold on to your hair. They're like good friends, hard to replace.
ReplyDeletePC
Showing up is already half the battle won
ReplyDeleteDon't work too hard. Yes, take time to smell the roses. Do the things you really want to do. Have time for your loved ones. No one, on their deathbed, ever said "I wished I had spent more time in the office!"
ReplyDeleteGracefully and humbly accept our mortality.
ReplyDeleteDon't compare our achievement or failure with
that of our ex-classmates. For those who are
sitting pretty in life, be contented. And for
those whose life is in an abysmal pit, 50 is
still not too late to start all over again.
Cheers.
There are many dimensions of SUCCESS. Money and position are actually quite low on the totem pole.
ReplyDeleteAnyone watched that movie "Wall Street"? 'Greed is good' and 'money never sleeps' are two memorable catch-phrases from it ... LOL.
ReplyDeleteAlmost everything is good but in moderation.
ReplyDeleteExcept money. :-0
ReplyDeleteFollow your dream. Sounds cliche but it's sound advice. Heed it before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteBe nice to people on your way up. You're going to meet them again on the way down.
ReplyDeleteThis is a list of life lessons I "collected" from reading, listening and experiencing ..
ReplyDelete* No matter what your age, once in a while act like a child.
* Love has nothing to do with looks, but mainly with time, trust, and interest.
* Laughing, crying, joy and anger… All are a important. All make us human.
* The greatest truths in life are uncovered with simple, steady awareness. Be aware.
* Bad things do happen to good people.
* Time heals all wounds .. regardless of how you feel right now.
* Most of the time what you are looking for is right in front of you.
* Your health is your life.
* Take calculated risks when given the opportunity.
* Hard work and a kind helping hand will take you further than intelligence.
* People deserve a second chance, but not a third.
* Marry your best friend.
* Take lots of pictures. Someday you’ll be really glad you did.
* Money is not everything, but it does make life easier.
* Carelessness is the root of failure.
* Your actions now create memories you will reminisce and talk about in your later years.
* Stepping outside of your comfort zone will let you understand things from an angle you can’t even imagine now.
* Taking ownership of your failures; it builds the foundation for your success.
* First impressions are completely worthless 50% of the time.
* If you never act, you'll never know for sure.
* Don't regret.
That's a good long list, Forever Young. Among them, 3 I particularly like are:
ReplyDelete* Your health is your life
* Take lots of pictures ...
and
* Don't regret
Aim low (not high!). So that whatever you achieve is ALWAYS A BONUS, no matter how small! --- LC
ReplyDeleteREGRET IS A SECOND TRANSGRESSION.
ReplyDeleteWow, the last comment is real "chim" ... deep ... profound ... philosophical ... what was the first transgression? :D
ReplyDeleteThe first transgression is making huge mistake
ReplyDeletethat adversely affects and screws up one's life. Instead of wallowing in regret and self-pity, one should courageously move on with his or her life and never look back again.
"What if ... " doesn't matter anymore.
Thanks for the explanation. I do agree.
ReplyDeleteI want to share a serious lesson that took a long time for me to appreciate. Let me illustrate with a story (which you might have heard a version of, if you saw the movie "Charlie Wilson's War"). Anyway here is the story ...
ReplyDeleteThere’s an old story about a Chinaman whose horse broke out of the corral and ran away. His neighbours sympathized, “Sorry to hear about your horse” “We'll see. We don’t know yet if it’s bad or not,” said the Chinaman.
The next day the horse returned and led five beautiful wild stallions into the field. “Good news about your horse returning,” the neighbours said. “We'll see. We don’t know yet if it’s good news or not,” said the Chinaman.
The next week his son was thrown off one of the wild stallions and the boy broke his leg. “So sorry about your son,” said the neighbours. “Too bad he broke his leg.” “We'll see. We're not sure it’s all bad,” responded the Chinaman.
The next day a military leader came by conscripting all able-bodied young man for the military. The Chinaman’s son was exempted because of his disability and all his neighbours rejoiced, “Good news about your son not leaving to go off to war,” they said. But the Chinaman said, “We'll see. We can’t be sure if it is good news or not.”
Two weeks later the soldiers returned from a victorious battle and celebrated by dividing up the spoils. “Too bad your son was not able to go with us and can't share in this reward,” one of them said.
“We'll see" said the Chinaman.
The story could go on forever! The lesson is that what appears to be good news one day can be bad the next and vice-versa. Don't pre-judge any event in your life too quickly as a success or a failure.