Paying It Forward and Giving Back

We are where we are today because someone had paid it forward. 

Parents are a fine example of people who pay it forward as they make sacrifices out of love to raise their offspring and build a family life that contributes to the well being of their community.

Photo by Kabita Darlami on Unsplash

We could think of philanthropists who had made donations to build schools or charities; teachers who imparted knowledge and taught us how to catch our own fish and stay hungry for more fish; bosses or mentors who led us by example as they walk their talk.

If we think back, we will find that their are a lot of people whom we can be thankful for.

As we come of age or even before that, the cycle of good deeds could originate from us, as well. It is time to give back. We will be the richer for doing so as a family member and stakeholder of our community. Our calling is not to be hoarders, but to be a person who keep a lookout for our neighbours -- anyone who has a need. As Secret Santa would have us know, no deed is too small.

For example, giving up your seat in the train to an elderly person may seem insignificant to you, but it is weighty to that senior citizen with weak knees.

This social infrastructure of paying forward and giving back is caught rather than taught. It requires us to buy-in with willing hearts fortified with commitment to make a sacrifice of time, effort and/or finances.

Some of those who had helped us may had passed on in life, but their good deeds will be remembered forever. And, memories of them would continue to encourage and inspire us to emulate their fine examples.

When we do our part, we could likewise leave a lasting legacy to our beneficiaries. Let us do what we can to make a difference as this is a logical step for us to remain humane and steer clear of indifference.

We will reap what we have sown if we do not grow weary in doing good. All of us will grow old sooner than we are prepared to face the hard truth. Start sowing early.

Click here for Maroon 5 - Memories (Lyrics).

Thanksgiving by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Before you read the following poem on the importance of thanksgiving, you might wanna click on the following piece of music to still your mind as you review and reflect on the years that have passed and find fresh impetus for the New Year.

Click here for Beethoven's Silence - (Extended).

Thanksgiving

(By Ella Wheeler Wilcox)

We walk on starry fields of white   
And do not see the daisies;
For blessings common in our sight
We rarely offer praises.

We sigh for some supreme delight
To crown our lives with splendor,
And quite ignore our daily store
Of pleasures sweet and tender.

Our cares are bold and push their way
Upon our thought and feeling.
They hand about us all the day,
Our time from pleasure stealing.

So unobtrusive many a joy
We pass by and forget it,
But worry strives to own our lives,
And conquers if we let it.

There’s not a day in all the year
But holds some hidden pleasure,
And looking back, joys oft appear
To brim the past’s wide measure.

But blessings are like friends, I hold,
Who love and labor near us. 
We ought to raise our notes of praise
While living hearts can hear us.

Full many a blessing wears the guise
Of worry or of trouble;
Far-seeing is the soul, and wise, 
Who knows the mask is double.

But he who has the faith and strength
To thank his God for sorrow
Has found a joy without alloy
To gladden every morrow.

We ought to make the moments notes
Of happy, glad Thanksgiving;
The hours and days a silent phrase
Of music we are living.

And so the theme should swell and grow
As weeks and months pass o’er us,
And rise sublime at this good time,
A grand Thanksgiving chorus.

The Gift of Giving

This Christmas I was looking forward to try and opt out from the gift exchange that my company's Administration Department organises annually as we wrap up the year with a Christmas lunch as I do not advocate crass commercialism. Covid-19 has made it a non-decision as my colleagues are largely working from home and mingling in large groups is disallowed by the government for good safety measure.

Nonetheless, the giving didn't stop as I see colleagues wrapped, labelled and rolled our their gifts on an unofficial basis to one another. Their earnest and sincere efforts caused me to have a change of heart that giving can be genuine and not a knee-jerk reaction to mindless shopping. It was all done without obligation and out of appreciation, and some few that I know kept giving year after year even when they did not receive any gifts in return.

This got me thinking on why they would do so. My answer is that they have been struck by the gift of giving where they find giving edifying -- in and of itself; good for the heart and soul.

The gift of giving is a secondary gift or side-effect, if you will, of Christmas. The greatest gift of all had been given on that first Christmas. We are merely taking after the greatest Giver of all times -- God Himself.

The mystery of Christmas continues as many have yet to receive a revelation to ponder over this life-transforming gift from heaven. 

As prophesied, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)".

For your reflection, here is an account of gift from heaven on that first Christmas:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Nicodemus, a Jewish leader and teacher of the law, came to Jesus one night to ask concerning heavenly things and out of this encounter we have received this clear depiction and promise of Christmas as encapsulated in the Holy Bible: 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16 NKJV)."

The message of Christmas is timeless. Love has a name -- Jesus. May you have your Silent Night and Holy Night moment with the revelation from heaven that God is with us and Jesus is still the answer for the world today as we by faith not only received our own salvation from the condemnation of sins, but also emulate His examples to redeem this world with His love and act of giving.

Merry Christmas and thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Sam Berns' Philosophy for a Happy Life

While Sam Berns had passed on, the legacy of his life lives on in those who know him personally or are acquainted with him through the mass media.

In the following TEDx talk, he shared his insights for a happy life which are summarised as follows:

1. Be OK with what you ultimately can't do, because there is so much you CAN do.

2. Surround yourself with people you want to be around.

3. Keep moving forward.

Photo by Denise Jones on Unsplash

Click here for My philosophy for a happy life | Sam Berns | TEDxMidAtlantic

Watch the clip till the end and Sam will give you a fourth piece of advice.

While being brave may not come easy, we gotta take a step of courage and move forward. Sam did so notwithstanding that he was diagnosed with progeria at the age of 2.

Thank you, Sam, for sharing your life story and making a difference.

Everyone is No. 1

What is your favourite number? Chances are it will not be the number 1. But, at the very least, it would be chosen before the number 0. By the way, the most popular number is probably 7. Click here for "Here’s Why Your Favorite Number Is Probably 7" by Brandon Specktor.

What if you rephrase the question to: How would you like to be number 1? For sure, you will now receive an enthusiastic response. Of course, the modest ones would say that they would rather play second fiddle and settle for less limelight and pampering.

"Everyone is No. 1" may not be a number 1 song but it gives us a peek into  dealing with and overcoming disabilities. Click here for Andy Lau - Everyone is No. 1. 

For the lyrics translated into English by Dedi Budiman, click here.

Come to think of it, what if we start treating another person as No. 1 in a dignified and honouring manner beyond an obligation to be nice or courteous? Jestingly, we could impose a fine on everyone who has treated another person unkindly just so that people are forced to treat others decently.

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

When everyone shows each other understanding and acceptance for who someone is and who someone is not, we will all reap the benefits of gracious living where "Everyone is No. 1". You would feel that other people appreciate you as No. 1, and vice versa. 

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

When we treat others as No. 1, nobody is left out or disregarded. We would then reach a new vista on what it means to be humane with more refinement. 

United Nations Covid-19 Response 

Does God want you to work hard?

You are not alone if you ever dreamt of living a life of bliss where everyday is a holiday without toil. The closest some of us get to it is working in a holiday resort or as tourist guide.

Work is not evil or something to be disdained. We are created for good works and work gives us a good sense of accomplishment in helping others while helping us to put food on the table.

As we commit ourselves to improve our work, it will in turn improve our lot in life as we get promoted or land new opportunities to spread our wings. Let's not be double-minded or lackadaisical with our work or our profession. Take pride in your work and own it as your true north.

For instance, you don't have to guess who has worked hard to bring us the following two fresh northern produce which have been transported all the way to Singapore.

What is the opposite of hard work? Did you say the 'L' word  -- laziness? That is the hard truth for us to confront when we lose our enthusiasm or our equilibrium in life and start finding fault with work and the work that is before us.

The work is always there; it is the worker who needs to get his own house in order and approach work with a healthy mindset.

How would you like to learn how to get out of your mire and get back on your station for some definitive work?

If you are keen, click here for "Prophetic Word: Live In The Instant" by Jamie Rohrbaugh. God can change your life in an instant as you obey His words.

Solving Problems with Happiness

One of the best key to problem-solving is paradoxically: Happiness.

At the onset nobody is happy with a problem to be solved. Given a problem which is already there and staring at your face, you are not about to procure a magic wand from anywhere online or offline so that you can just make it vanish. 

Yes, you have already heard that life dishes out problems so that you can learn some valuable lessons and live to tell the tales like cats in the neighbourhood who have nine lives. 

Think of your problem as running a marathon where the objective (problem to be solved) is reaching the starting line and crossing the finishing line. If your car breaks down or you are down with flu, you won't even make it to the starting line.

Photo by Michael Carruth on Unsplash

Here is the thing: A marathon runner who has trained for the race for a length of time and appear unhappy at the starting line is an oxymoron. On the contrary and true to form, he would be raring to launch off and tear down the road.

Taking a leaf from our disciplined runner, why not make your problem a healthy problem and put on a smile that this too will come to pass? As you make the switch to the positive, your body will align with your thoughts and release newfound energy to get yourself ready at the  starting line. 

You will be amazed how this little adjustment makes you stronger for the road ahead and you begin to see yourself pounding the road progressively with every stride you make. 

It ain't easy, but you got started without having to deplete your energy to answer the question of 'Why does this problem has to hit me?' or negate your strength through complaining, moaning and groaning. 

Unmask your ability with a happy heart to find your happiness as you cross the finishing line and see that your problem is resolved in good time.

By the way, there are many fellow marathon runners out there; you are not alone. Problem is no respecter of any one nor does it discriminate anybody.

May you find many good times to share with us as you use Happiness as a vital key to resolve problems and challenges. 

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing. 

 

Strudel On The Ritz

'Do not judge a book by its cover'. While that may be true of books, when it comes to good tasting food, it is generally true that food with the looks would go down well with the stomach.

Apple strudel (not a good-looker) is a pastry that has not caught my attention and I often wonder why anyone would crave for it, let alone, build a business around it. That is until I took my first bite of it, unwittingly.

What happened was I had bought a small apple strudel from Ritz Apple Strudel  & Pastry knowing that there is someone at home who loves apples. However, it was left unconsumed in the fridge. 

When I sunk my teeth into it, the light crisp crust melted and gave way to sumptuous chewy bits of glazed apples which still have firmness in them. This experience has elevated my ranking of the strudel above both the pie and crumble varieties.

That said, not all apple strudels are created equal. The ones at Ritz Apple Strudel  & Pastry give me a happy tummy and garner my double thumbs up. 

The following is a blurb from their website:-

"It has been almost two decades since we launched our first outlet at Bukit Timah’s Sixth Avenue in the year 2000. We now are serving our fellow Singaporeans in several locations across Singapore in shopping malls including Bugis Junction, Tampines Mall, and Bedok Mall; counters at road shows; and features at food festivals. We take pride in researching and creating new pastries to better delight our fans. All of our products are made without lard, alcohol, trans-fat, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners."

Click here for more on Ritz Apple Strudel & Pastry.

The Quiet Revolution of Brompton Bicycle

The founder of Brompton bicycle, Andrew Ritchie, named his invention after a nearby church. There are many Bromptons around the world, but in the world of bicycles and foldable ones, in particular, you can't miss the iconic Brompton.

The big deal of a Brompton is that it has three folds which makes it really compact with a nifty design that you don't have to grapple with like a bulky sack of rice. It is thus convenient to store and bring it to your desired locations for your rides.  

The company's obsession with making their bikes better and dedication to innovation gives you an insight on the quality and sustained value of a Brompton that is built to last with safety and performance in mind.

This two-wheeler is making a difference to urban life beyond the conversation-starters and unwitting attention that it generates with its groundbreaking design since 1979. It makes biking so much fun and practical; you can ride it without having to don some Lyra tights so as to make you look the part.

 

Click here for Long-term Review of the Brompton folding bike | What makes it SO SPECIAL?

Click here for Will Butler-Adams, CEO of Brompton Bikes | Talks at Google

Click here for Patagonia Cycling Tour on a Brompton Bike

Adventure on Two Wheels

Life is like riding a bicycle; it is all about balance. If you are a student, it would mean finding a balance between studies and play. For working adults, you would wanna find work-life balance. And, for retirees, you exercise and watch your recommended balanced diet for your particular health condition like a hawk (and take your medication stringently).

Regardless of your age, one of the coolest thing that you can do is to ride a bicycle regularly for both commuting and recreation, if not already doing so. Learning to ride a bicycle is a one-off learning process. It was tough at the beginning. Remember the training wheel and your patient or not-so-patient instructor who said that it would be a piece of cake?

Bicycling could well be an overlook mode of transportation. When travelling short distances, the first thought would be to drive, grab a car through an App or take public transport like taxi and train. Why not cycle instead if your urban setting has the infrastructure to support it? 

Riding a bicycle is cool in that you are seated like on a chair and travelling while seated. So saddle up and head out to the parks for a joy ride. It would help you exercise your muscles (good preparation for a stronger body to cope with old age to come) and help you get back to Nature with its attendant benefits for a healthy life.

When you have like friends who enjoy biking, it would be a grand avenue for social interaction and help you stay engaged in relationships. You can listen to all kind of stuffs communicated to you and understand them all, but making a connection with another person takes the beef.

So why are you not cycling? There are subtle barriers, I guess. Maybe your immediate environment is not conducive for cycling, the park is just too far away or you don't have the luxury of space (for a mountain bike or racing bike).

No problem. There is a solution for this if you are looking at cycling on un-rugged terrain. Go for a foldable bicycle that rides like a real bike. 

The advantages or practicality of a foldable bike is that it is compact enough for you to transport to your parks and for your to be able to store easily at home without it being the centrepiece. You may have to pay good money value for a good one though, but in the long run it will go the distance to make your life that much better with the accumulation of the little betters from each day.

I do not own a bike. The bikes that I ride are typically rented. But, I am dreaming of a Brompton foldable bicycle. More on the Brompton in the next post.

How to Have a Lasting Marriage

Is your marriage built to last? That depends on the premise on which it was started.

Whether you got married on a reality TV show or on the quiet in Invercargill, your marriage is only as strong as the reasons by which you got married to your spouse.

If you got married out of desperation to get out of the house by taking the first available flight without due diligence, you might have to adapt a lot in order to survive the marriage.

If you marry for her wealth alone, then it would be challenging when the wealth diminishes.

If you marry him because you are blinded by his chiseled looks (think Superman), go figure whether you will still stand by him when he become an old man.

If marriage is a contract, then both parties will see to it that the terms are fulfilled in order to sustain the marriage.

By the way this is an essential digression in our interconnected world, that if you are attracted to an exotic foreigner please be sure to visit his or her home country before you fall in love. Otherwise, it might be a case of too little and too late when you discover that there are so many others who look just like your person of interest. Better be forewarned than sorry!

Photo by Gabby Orcutt on Unsplash

For a marriage to last, both parties must stay committed to the covenant of instituting a marriage as encapsulated in a typical vow such as the following:

I, ____, take you, ____, to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

I, ____, take you, ____, to be my wife (or husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy law, and this is my solemn vow.

 

A marriage is built to last when the two imperfect parties to a marriage stick to their covenant of love, come what may, faithfully. It is not just about him or her. Marriage is a synergy of outlined rules of love that works if worked on by him and her.

 

Gratitude Challenge - Day 10 (Love)

"Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have and you will attract more good things. If you just study this one word "gratitude" every day for a month, I guarantee that your life will shift." --Bob Proctor

Join me on this one-month journey to practise "gratitude" on a daily basis and see how it would impact your life. You could keep a journal or blog of your own, and post your comments below.

For Day 10 let's be thankful for Love.

Image credits: Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

You are the product or offspring of love between a man and woman known as husband and wife, respectively. Pardon me for stating the obvious as this natural order is being pelted by rebels who defy a divine order and unwittingly mess up the gender of a husband and wife with untold ramification down the road which they themselves may not be aware of. But, that's another story.

Love, not money, is what makes the world go round. It is the love for a better life, their family or their passion that propels people to work hard or build their business and create wealth for all and sundry in the process.

What you enjoy today is a result of the love and sacrifices of the pioneers in your country, your parents who brought you up, your teachers who taught you, your mentors who guided you with their savvy insights, your truest friends who never gave up on you even when you messed up, your first employer who gave you the break you needed, and so forth.

As you channel the love which has benefitted you to your passion and show some love to others, may you blessed with even more love as what goes around comes around.

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.

Delivery Bikes of the Day

Once upon a time in Singapore, e-scooters were all the rage. They are now all gone faster than they had emerged, many times over, and after many a fire caused by overcharging their batteries.

What you see now as the choice commute for food deliveries are bicycles and e-bikes.

Here is a sample of of the machines being deployed which will expectedly be transformed over time as ingenuity kicks in to reinvent the wheels as we know them today in their current state of play.

What is the Price of Freedom?

You could tweet about the price of freedom as you watch, say, protesters taking to the streets of Hong Kong and crossed the line with violence.

Or you could ask our two feathered friends here who have much more limited freedom albeit well fed and protected, and understand the meaning of true freedom outside the cage.

As you are held hostage-like by Operation Covid-19, you might also amuse yourself as you draw a plausible parallel with Stockholm syndrome.

For recapitulation, this is Wikipedia's take on Stockholm syndrome: "This term was first used by the media in 1973 when four hostages were taken during a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden. The hostages defended their captors after being released and would not agree to testify in court against them. Though it was noted that in this case, the police were perceived to have acted with little care for the hostages safety, providing an alternative reason for their unwillingness to testify. Stockholm syndrome is paradoxical because the sympathetic sentiments that captives feel towards their captors are the opposite of the fear and disdain which an onlooker might feel towards the captors."

The size of freedom is relative and limited by degree. For example, we are earthbound until we start to colonise Mars, and within each country we are free to the extent of what is not prohibited by law, beliefs and social norms.

The price of freedom only makes sense when you know the size of freedom that you have in mind, and other people will then make a collective call on whether what you ask for is reasonable and plausible before they are moved to render support.

More to Coffee than a Beverage

The hidden persuader of marketing would have you know that there is more to coffee than what you drink. Same goes with your tea, Coca-cola or Redbull.

Some would go to great length to let you know that their beans are carefully curated and processed optimally to deliver the perfect cuppa to make your day great.

Others like Starbucks will offer you an experience that makes the ordinary extraordinary as they infuse principles such as Make It Your Own, Everything Matters, Surprise and Delight, Embrace Resistance, and Leave Your Mark, into their service culture to connect with the customers.

When the process of getting your brew and/or the aroma and taste of the product delight your senses and provides a launchpad for inspiration, you won't bother to negotiate the price.

Unique Value Proposition is what makes some roasts winners of your dogged patronage.

 

The '284' Test of Love

You can find out how loving you are by taking the '284' test. 

As gleaned from a recent sermon on love by Pastor Kong Hee based on 1 Corinthians 13 of the Holy Bible, '284' refers to:

Image credits: The CHC App, City Harvest Church

2 main virtues of love:

1. Love is patient

2. Love is kind

8 things love is not:

1. Love is not envious

2. Love is not boastful

3. Love is not proud

4. Love is not dishonouring others

5. Love is not self-seeking

6. Love is not easily angered

7. Love keeps no record of wrongs

8. Love is not delighting in evil but rejoicing with the truth

4 attitudes love carries:

1. Love always protects

2. Love always trusts

3. Love always hope

4. Love always persevere

Click on the following 3 sermons for an in-depth understanding of love.

Click here for The Love of Jesus - Patience & Kindness (fast forward to 35:12)

Click here for The Love of Jesus Part 2 (fast forward to 22:00)

Click here for the Love of Jesus Part 3 (fast forward to 22:38)

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.

Nature is Teeming with Life

Class Act by Courtney Hadwin

The Susan Boyle moment remains memorable and uplifting. It was a moment in time that encapsulated the stuff of dreams.

The following performances will no less stir you to believe that there is an X-factor in you that will see the light of day when you work it out.

Click here for Singer Courtney Hadwin | All Performances | America's Got Talent | Got Talent Global.

Click here for Courtney Hadwin - Original Song - America's Got Talent: The Champions Two - January 14, 2019.

For your further refreshing, the following performances will stretch your imagination on what talents might sound or look like. 

Click here for TOP 4 Golden Buzzer America's Got Talent 2017.

All the Best to Allie Sherlock

Allie Sherlock is a singer. It is easy to tell because she is pursuing her passion and singing her heart out on Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland.

Image credits: Allie Sherlock channel on YouTube

Her voice is unique enough to stand out and pull in an audience. With more poise, conviction and composure to be project herself as a professional singer she could well find grace, get a break and reach stardom before even reaching the 10,000 hours tipping point.

Click here for Jason Mraz - I'm Yours - Allie Sherlock Cover.

Click here for AMAZING MOMENT guy JOINS singing Perfect by Ed Sheeran in Italian | Allie Sherlock

True Grit to Face Your Toughest Moments

Image credit: MotivationHub

Not everyone has an affinity to join the army and be a topnotch soldier. Nevertheless, we can all benefit from the lessons that they experience during their torturous training and apply them in the context of the challenges that we face.

Click here for Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches.

In summary, these are the the hard truths to become a tough cookie:

1. Start the day with a task completed

2. Find someone to help you through life

3. Respect everyone

4. Life is not always fair, move forward

5. Don't be afraid to fail often

6. Take risks

7. Face down the bullies

8. Step up when times are toughest

9. Lift up the downtrodden

10. Never give up

The Power to Change Your Life

Image credits; Motivation Creator

Click here for Tony Robbins: FOCUS ON YOURSELF | Tony Robbins 2020

Let the the following three decisions proferred by Tony Robbins impact and change your life for the better:

1. "The meaning we give things is very different, and we feel different and our life is different."

2. "Little choices like what to believe about yourself, what to believe about other people, whether this is the end or the beginning start to affect your whole life."

3. "Decide what to focus on." 


Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.

The Best is Yet To Be

It is not all doom and gloom during Covid-19 lockdown. Time is marching on and this period will come to pass.

Life is still good and fun like going to the beach. And, the world is still like a playground with the barricades in place for now.

There is good stuff in store for us as we soldier on. Heads up and win this fight for normalcy to be restored as the virus dissipates in due season.

We will appreciate our playground anew more than ever before for the first few months, at the very least.

What's hot in a lockdown?

The current global lockdown has unwittingly push some products to the fore.

The following is just a small sample.

1. Hair Clippers

With barbers and hairdressers kept at bay, people are desperate to keep a their heads cool literally and DIY is the way to go. Don't know how to use a hair clipper? No problem as there is bound to be some free demo on YouTube 24/7 that you can get a hair down.

2. Ink Cartridges

With most people working from home now, the demand for ink cartridges to feed personal printers have shot through the glass door protecting them from theft.

3. Multi-cooker and Rice-cooker

The lockdown has inspired home chef in the making better than MasterChef and The Great British Bake Off combined.

Meanwhile, the unseated toilet rolls are left cold on the shelves after the dust has settled with sanity restored.

Coping with Life

The struggles we face in life comes in different shape and size. 

Take the positive stance of facing it head on rather than complain, whine, moan and groan.

Here are two suggestions to help you keep calm and hold on.

Firstly, enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Practice mindfulness and enjoy each moments of respite when commuting, resting, taking your meals, conversing with others or pursuing your hobby.

Secondly, bear in mind that you are not the only person who is facing difficulties and challenges on planet Earth. All of us have our own struggles in life such as regrets, hurts, disappointments, loss of a loved one, loneliness (social detachment) and a whole gamut of baggages that we can add on.

Source: anonymous

As you adapt to your circumstances and cope with it actively, you will build resilience, broaden your perspective, and deepen your capability to meet the next challenge.

Iguazu Falls

With airplanes being grounded during the current global lockdown, overseas travel is shelved for good.

But, the next best thing that some enthusiasts and travel agents have profrered would be video clips.

Iguazu Falls
Photo by Sasha Lantukh on Unsplash

For your refreshing, let this 'travel' to Iguazu Falls ease your travel ban and keep you sane while stuck at home.

Click here for Iguazu Falls Vacation Travel Guide by Expedia.