Make the Most of 2021

One clear takeaway from year 2020 was that we were all pretty much in the same boat donning masks like never before. With the rollout of vaccines to fight Covid-19 in this new year 2021, things are looking up barring any unforeseen global crisis.

Year of the Ox, 2021

Life goes on with a less severe new normal, and it is up to you to make the most of it for yourself, your loved ones and your community. One fresh impetus which I have gathered is to eat your frog and the best time to do so is in the morning. 

In gist, tackle your number 1 problem in the morning. Make it a priority and give it your best shot by taking aim at it everyday till you are through with it.

My closest examination of a frog is when some school mates had to dissect one each duly knocked out with chloroform in a metal tray as part of their biology curriculum. Time to roll up your sleeves and toast your frog. It will be well worth it.

Click here for Eat The Frog.

Another suggestion is to expand your horizon and explore this beautiful planet called Earth while dreaming of populating Mars.

Click here for Our Planet | Forests | FULL EPISODE | Netflix.

You may also want to consider listening to some light music to help you focus and get a boost of productivity.

Click here for BAROQUE MUSIC FOR BRAIN POWER - HISTORY OF BAROQUE MUSIC, COMPOSERS.

Have a golden year of the Ox in 2021. Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing. Please help to share it with your contacts whom you think might find it refreshing, as well. Thank you in advance.

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.