Garden of Joy

GARDEN OF JOY
An Ode to Elohim by Artists with Special Needs, 2017 

Everything I Do, I Do It For You

When you love somebody, your ambition would be to please the one whom you love.

Because of love, you are more than willing to go the distance and make the sacrifices for that special someone.

Click here for Bryan Adams - Everything I Do (Live At Wembley 1996).

Hey, back then they don't have mobile phones for lights and they make do with cigarette lighters!

Be that as it may be, this vocal by Bryan Adams lives on in the hearts and souls  of his fans and even the casual listeners.

Spotlight on: JamesClear.com

James Clear's mission addresses the question of: "How can we live better?"

He delves into the science and art of self-improvement so that readers can understand why there is a smarter way to live by and how we can make this new way of living a reality.

His articles cover Better Habits, Better Thinking, Better Performance, Optimal Health and Lifelong Learning.

Click here for JamesClear.com and the following links for a sample of his refreshing articles:-

Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead

How to Chase Your Dreams and Reinvent Yourself 

The Akrasia Effect: Why We Don’t Follow Through on What We Set Out to Do and What to Do About It 

The Science of Sleep: A Brief Guide on How to Sleep Better Every Night 

What Are You Saying Today?

Today what's on your mind that you have not found the voice to say it out loud with conviction?

You have hope in your spirit but you just can't find the gumption to reach for the stars.

Well, let Lionel Richie lend a voice to the dream that you are longing to birth forth from within you in his multi-tone voice and commanding stage presence.

Click here for Lionel Richie -- Say You Say Me [[ Official Live Video ]] HD.

Hey, it might just cure your feeling of loneliness, too. 

Or, make you feel deeper in love with your date or spouse.

Enjoy this concert from wherever you are ... and be refreshed!

Is It Time For You To Change Job?

Is it time for your change job? My short answer would be "No" if you can't even love what you are doing right now. 

Since you are on this job you might as well choose to love it by finding ways and means of getting things in done in the most effective way. While you may not have the perfect aptitude or skills, your willingness to learn and resourcefulness to get the job done well would actually train you in soft skills (e.g. dealing with people, communication, leadership, problem-solving, situational analysis and meeting timelines) which would work for you wherever you go next in your career.

While you work your way up in the present job with better performance, you can evaluate what would be the dream job for you -- something which is of the highest value to you and you could find a way to be paid handsomely for doing it. 

For example, you would really like to take care of the elderly. So you set up an app to serve as a marketplace to match caregivers with people who need a helping hand to care for their parents or run errands for them during specific time slots.

Make the necessary preparation before you move to your dream job. Find out as much as possible (do your research with due diligence), and arm yourself with the knowledge (including paper qualifications where required) and skills (e.g. coding an app) as well as source of funds, if you are starting a business.

Even when you are in your so-called dream job, things will not always be smooth sailing. When the waves come, what you have gained from loving what you do back then would equip you to navigate the choppy waters and steer yourself back to safe haven.

There are also situations where you might actually find that your dream job is contrary to your values or natural inclinations. Or, you might find that by loving what you are doing right now, it might accidentally turn out to be your dream job.

So learn to love what you are doing before you do what you love. You are the master of your own destiny depending on how you respond and manage external factors which are beyond your control. Train yourself at your present job to love to do even what you dislike.

If you remain adaptable, teachable and resourceful you will be able to love what you do, and potentially do what you love in the near future with persistence. 

You are the change that you really seek and not so much the job itself. 

El Gamma Penumbra's Shadow Theatre Productions

Shadows need not be passive but can be actively harnessed to entertain and move us. 

Click on the following for a refreshing sample of performances by El Gamma Penumbra -- the grand prize winner of Asia's Got Talent 2015. 

El Gamma's Touching Tribute To Mother Nature | Asia’s Got Talent Grand Final 1

EL GAMMA PENUMBRA 2015 Asia's Got Talent GRAND CHAMPION in their Most Emotional Act 

Christopher - Heartbeat feat. El Gamma Penumbra

 

Top 20 Motivational Songs

Pump up your day with a plethora of music video to get yourself going for the day ahead.

Click here for Top 20 Motivational Songs playlist which includes:

1. Rachel Platten - Fight Song (Official Video)

2. Hailee Steinfeld - Love Myself

3. Jordan Smith - Stand In The Light (Official Video)

4. American Authors - Best Day Of My Life

Since Jordan Smith's win at The Voice 2015, I am glad to catch up with his singing through this playlist. 

Besides Rachel Platten's Fight Song, the other song which stands out for me is:

7. Sarah Bareilles - Brave

Have a refreshing day ahead. Be strong and very courageous.

Against All Odds - The Story of Judith Halim

As a newly-wed who hailed from Medan, Indonesia, Judith came to live in Singapore where she faced many challenges including betrayal from her husband, depression, suicidal thoughts, poor command of English and raising a child with special needs.

Click here to hear her story and find courage to live through your own struggles with joy, hope and a renewed perspective.

Live is tough. You gotta be tough and get going by never giving up or losing hope. You will become stronger as you persist and persevere to create a better tomorrow with your goal in sight.

Una Paloma Blanca

"Una Paloma Blanca" (Spanish for "a white dove") is a popular song from the past which was written by the Dutch musician George Baker, and first recorded and released by his band The George Baker Selection in March 1975.

According to Wikipedia, Baker has been quoted as saying the song is about "a poor South American farmer who works hard all day and then sits by a tree and dreams of being a white bird with its freedom."

Click here for George Baker & Corry Konings - Una paloma blanca

When the sun shines on the mountains

And the night is on the run

It's a new day, it's a new way

And I fly up to the sun

I can feel the morning sunlight

I can smell the new-born hay

I can hear God's voices calling

From my golden sky-light way

Una paloma blanca

I'm just a bird in the sky

Una paloma blanca

Over the mountain I fly

No one can take my freedom away

Once I had my share of losing

Once they locked me on a chain

Yes, they tried to break my power

Oh, I still can feel the pain

Una paloma blanca

I'm just a bird in the sky

Una paloma blanca

Over the mountain I fly

No one can take my freedom away

Make No Mistake About Mistakes

Nobody likes making mistake. Mistakes may dampen your ego, diminish your sense of self-worth, spoil your day, hurt your relationship or even costs you some money for replacement of what was broken or spoiled.

However, mistakes can be a good teacher. We learn best from our mistakes because it is a personal experience. Hey, you could even use it as an analogy or lesson in a suitable context for the benefit of your audience. 

But, don't go around making intentional mistakes so that you can 'benefit' from them. Some of the lessons from mistakes may be costly and become a long drawn detour. Avoid mistakes, if you can. After all, it is always better to learn from other people's mistakes or history, so that you can live smarter and greater.

Mistakes can be a terrible master if it still controls you or hold you back so much so that you are still lamenting some past mistakes committed donkey's years ago. The milk has already been spilled and dried up. It's time to get a mop to wipe the floor of your past clean and move on.

Allow me then to leave you with some quotes so that you could set yourself free from past mistakes:

"Each life is made up of mistakes and learning, waiting and growing, practicing patience and being persistent." -- Billy Graham

"It's a wise man who understands that every day is a new beginning, because boy, how many mistakes do you make in a day? I don't know about you, but I make plenty. You can't turn the clock back, so you have to look ahead." -- Mel Gibson

"Mistakes are merely steps up the ladder." -- Paul J. Meyer

"Certainly people make mistakes in their life. I'm no different, I've made mistakes. When people mess up, we forgive them. When I mess up, I ask for forgiveness." -- Michele Bachmann

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit." -- William J. Clinton

Go for a Holiday in Cancun, Mexico

Click here for Cancun Travel Tip by Westland Traveller.

Made To Be Broken

Vegetables In A Can

Have you been missing out on vegetables? 

Maybe your fridge has run out of salad, or you are hard pressed for time to blend your own fruit or vegetable juice.

Well, you might wanna consider V8 where V stands for vegetables and 8 of them at that, namely: tomatoes, carrots, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress and spinach.

Campbell Soup Company's tomato juice tastes really great especially when served chilled. For greater enjoyment you may also pair it with celery -- the best buddy for tomatoes. But, their V8 is even more fantastic, imho.

Unless you are adverse or allergic to tomato or any of the other 7 vegetables therein, chilled V8 will certainly refresh and perk you up with its healthy goodness.

Click here and be further enthused by Campbell Soup Company's multiple variants of V8.

That said, this processed-food route is just a stop-gap or backup measure. Eat fresh vegetables whenever possible and keep managing your supply chain effectively.

The Azores (Acores) - possibly the best kept secret of Portugal

When you think of Portugal, what comes to mind would probably be, inter alia, Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vasco da Gama, Portuguese custard tarts and bacalhau (dried and salted cod fish).

That's why the Azores may possibly be the best kept secret of Portugal in view of what it has in store.

Click here for Acores (Portugal) Vacation Travel Video Guide.

Also, click here for Azores Marine Life - Blue Sharks and Mobular Rays!

By the way, if you are still thinking about'em Portuguese tarts then click here for Recipe: How to Make Portuguese Custard Tarts.

Only French Butter Allowed

The following is a piece of marketing genius, imho, by Tiong Bahru Bakery as it has in one fell swoop established that French butter makes for a preferred or superior bake.

Click here for a virtual experience of Tiong Bahru Bakery with Vlog by MYFUNFOODIARY in Indonesian.

Spanish Paradise

It would have been apt to name this song as "Spanish Paradise", as well emphasised in the singing. 

As it is it will go by the names of "Spanish Lullaby" and "La Isla Bonita".

Click here for a cover of Madonna's La Isla Bonita.

Also, click here for MALLORCA, Spain | Beautiful Beaches Aerial Drone 4K by thedronebook and bring yourself to the doorstep on a Spanish paradise.

Mini Piglet Biscuits In A Basket

When I had my first bar of Mars, it was the closest experience of planet Mars for me.

On a similar palate of soft-sweet-and-stickiness, the ubiquitous mooncake making it rounds during the Mid-Autumn Festival -- which is celebrated by the Chinese and Vietnamese communities and their friends, brings me close to the moon faster than an Apollo rocket. 

Traditional Baked Mooncakes

Click here to feast on some exotic mooncakes at Miss Tam Chiak's Mid Autumn Festival 2017 – 20 Mooncakes That Even Chang Er Will Love. 

Innovative Snow Skin Mooncakes

Choice of Candle-lit or Battery-operated Lanterns 

Mid-autumn Festivities at Chinatown, Singapore

While the packaging of the mooncakes and lanterns have undergone much changes by and large, these mini piglet biscuits in a basket have held their own in status quo and will to continue regale the future generations of children wherever the Mid-Autumn festival is observed. 

Apparently, they are made from the leftover dough used for making the mooncakes. (Ssshh, don't let the children know!)

Incidentally, those plastic baskets are credible replicas of bamboo baskets used to transport live pigs.

Inspiration by J.J. Abrams

Click here to read 13 Inspiring Lessons From J.J. Abrams’ Empowering Lead Characters written by Cecilia Meis and summarised as follows:

1. Nothing is final. Life is about changing and changing again.

2. Communication is key. 

3. If you dwell in the past, you’ll miss what’s in the future.

4. Don’t get stuck in a routine.

5. Being an island never works.

6. Trust your instinct.

7. Showing emotion and being vulnerable makes you real, not weak.

8. Stay true to yourself.

9. Be the calm in the storm.

10. Boldly go where others are unwilling.

11.  Believe in yourself.

12. Find a new perspective.

13. It’s never too late to change. 

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of." -- Jim Rohn

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude." -- Oprah Winfrey

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." -- William Arthur Ward

Great Workouts Under 5 Minutes

Click here for 4-Minute Workout That Replaces 1 Hour in the Gym which are outlined as follows:

#1 Squats  (60 seconds)
#2 Push-ups  (30 seconds)
#3 Mountain Climber  (30 seconds)
#4 Lunges  (60 seconds)
#5 Jumps  (45 seconds)

If you prefer an alternative exercise with less physical movement then click here for 5-Minute Workout That Replaces High-Intensity Cardio using various plank positions.

Be sure to get into an exercise routine such as those mentioned above on a regular basis before you even consider getting some of those exercise equipment out there in the market.

The truth is that if you are not exercising habitually (breathing exercises do not count!), chances are that much-touted equipment would not work for you after the hype is over and you end up merely buying false hope.

But, if you are already a fitness buff, then you may wanna check-out a recent exercise-facilitator such as Simply Fit Board.

Click here for Simply Fit Board - Getting Started