cleaning up my mailbox, i found this nice article.


Five Principles for Happiness in 2007
by David Bach
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
 
 
The arrival of the new year marks a symbolic time for fresh starts. Many of 
us take it as an opportunity to set goals, contemplate decisions, and renew 
commitments. It's special because of the revitalized sense of hope it 
brings.
 
Before you make your New Year's resolutions for 2007, I'd like to share some 
thoughts about how it's never too late to start living a rich life.
 
The Live Rich Factor
 
Most people believe that if they just had more money, the things that make 
them unhappy would disappear and their lives would be better. The truth is 
that your life can be better without more money. It can be better today, but 
you need to make some decisions and take some actions.
 
You don't need me to tell you what will make you happy -- only you know that 
truth.
 
I believe each of us has the power to discover our purpose and become joyful 
in the process of journeying toward that purpose. It's not easy, however. 
Nothing important and meaningful ever is.
 
What you need to do is create what I call the "Live Rich Factor" in your 
life. I call it this because those who find the purpose that leads them to 
joy are truly the luckiest people in the world, because they're living 
richly.
 
There are five basic principles involved in creating your Live Rich Factor:
 
Principle 1: Give Yourself a Break
 
We all tell ourselves the story of the one that got away. You can't move 
forward if you spend time focusing on what you shoulda-woulda-coulda done in 
2006 or before. It's over, and its time to move on. The fastest way I know 
to do this is to write all of your regrets down on paper.
 
Make a list of all your personal and financial if-onlys. For example, "If 
only I had saved more money. If only I hadn't quit that job. If only I 
hadn't taken the job I have." You get the idea.
 
After reading the list aloud to yourself, get rid of it. Let it all go by 
literally burning the list (safely). Now you're ready for a fresh start in 
2007 -- a new beginning.
 
Principle 2: Get Connected with Your Truth
 
The hardest thing to do is be honest with yourself. Asking yourself some key 
questions will lead you to some amazing discoveries, and possibly motivate 
you to do what it takes to create the life you envision for yourself.
 
I suggest writing your (honest) answers to the following questions in a new 
journal for the new year:
 
    * What makes you happy at work?
    * What makes you happy at home?
    * What makes you happy with your friends and family?
    * What makes you happy when you're by yourself?
    * What do you love to do?
    * What would you do with your life today if you weren't afraid of 
failure?
    * What's not working in your life?
    * What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?
    * What's working in your life?
    * Who's not working in your life?
    * Who in your life is subtracting value from and adding misery to it?
    * Can you fix any of these relationships, or should you let them go from 
your life?
    * What relationships are working in your life?
    * If we were getting together one year from today, what would have to 
happen for you to be able to tell me that you now have more joy in your 
life?
    * What's the single most important thing you've learned about yourself 
as a result of answering these questions?
 
You'll find that by putting your answers down on paper, they'll become clear 
more quickly and the actions you need to take more obvious and easier to 
initiate.
 
Principle 3: Stop Judging Yourself
 
Be nicer to yourself in 2007. Many people talk to themselves in a way they 
would never accept from a stranger, friend, or loved one. If this describes 
you, try stopping the negative conversations you have with yourself 
immediately.
 
For one week, simply commit to saying "stop it" when you think a negative 
thought about yourself. If you're in the habit of saying negative things to 
yourself, you'll find this is one of the most difficult exercises you'll 
ever do. Carry a notepad with you and make a mark each time you catch 
yourself thinking negatively. You'll find that as the days go by, your 
negative thinking can quickly be reduced.
 
Principle 4: Stop Judging Others
 
It's hard to be joyful when you're always judging others. In fact, it's 
close to impossible. Judging others creates a huge amount of stress in our 
lives. It affects our marriages and our relationships with our kids as well 
as the way we relate to friends, co-workers, and society in general.
 
We're not here to judge one another.
 
The next time you find yourself upset at someone or some situation, catch 
yourself and ask, "Are you judging?" Judging others is often an unconscious 
habit. But it's a habit that can be changed the moment you decide to stop 
doing it.
 
Principle 5 : Pursue Fun with a Vengeance
 
It's OK to pursue fun. It's what children do. My greatest joy these days is 
the simple pleasure of playing with my three-year-old son, Jack.
 
This holiday season with Jack taught me the simple power of pursuing fun -- 
again and again. What was fun for Jack this Christmas? It turns out it 
wasn't the Big Wheel that my wife, Michelle, and I stayed up so late 
building on Christmas Eve. And it wasn't the Star Wars Lego toy (although he 
was pretty excited about that).
 
Instead, what Jack found the most fun was a new game I made up to keep him 
entertained. The game was called Geronimo -- and it involved Jack jumping 
from the bed onto a stack of pillows yelling "Geronimo!" This silly little 
game ended up bringing us both hours of fun. The price of the game: nothing. 
The fun: priceless. And the laughs? Endless.
 
Why do we stop pursing fun as we get older? Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a 
few weeks of vacation each year. And it shouldn't be squeezed into the last 
chapter of your life when you "get to" retire. Fun deserves to be a part of 
your life now -- in 2007.
 
But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life or 
it'll go missing. Life's too short to not have it.
 
So here's to a fun, happy, and healthy New Year. Cheers!

I should write more. Recently, I found out that channeling my thought is therapeutic. Just like what shopping and running can do for me. The former one, I don't have much time, the latter one, I don't have much energy (gotta save a few bars for housework and babysitting, k). Of late, most of the pieces were about joys and struggles of parenting. Those incidents which I wish to write down for my future judgement - if there is any right or wrong. I hope it can channel away my stress as well. However, some of the thought, I'd love to keep them to myself or at least to my inner circle only. For those, I guess I have to find a new host- perhaps wordpress?

Most of the child expert like Dr. Spock points out that separation anxiety, of which clingyness is a part, is completely normal in 1- to 3-year-olds. In fact, it signifies healthy attachments and bonding with loved ones.

I think the little guy's clingyness has more to do with him being demanding than him being insecure. Outside the house, he usually has no problem of exploring the world all by himself, never give me a second thought. In fact, I'll be the one chasing after him. He's also pretty sporting and is a good sport. When he falls down, he doesn't cry for long. Most of the time he's happily sharing his toys/ball with some other kids at the play ground.

So far we observed that most of the time he'll be happily socializing with other kids. At the bookstore, he went to where the kids are to check up what were they doing. At the play corners, he went to "friend friend" with koko playing with the beads, instead of playing by himself. At the play ground, what he loves most is to mingle with kids, especially those playing balls or blowing bubbles. He will make a straight line to them without fail. He also has no problem approaching adult holding ball or the bubble solution with his pleading doe eyes trick. At the trail music class, he has no problem enjoying himself among all strangers. Outside the house, most of the time, he is this happy confident toddler curiously exploring the world.

Honestly, I don't know what I can do except to wait patiently for the little guy to outgrown his clingyness phase while carefully toeing the line between been manipulated or needed by him. Other than that, all that I need to do is to keep repeating to myself that "Watching Young Child Grow Can Be A Joyful Experience" as I try to walk through the house with 20 pounds of boy hugging my leg - so I read. :))

This morning MH teased me of my outburst last night. Yes, I raised my voice while asking Lucas what did he want at 12.15am; after pacifying him for good sometime to no avail. It was a bad weekend, started off on Thursday night ( Friday was public holiday ) with him sleeping from 12midnight to 2.30am and 5am to 8am. The rest of that night, I'll just leave it to your imagination on what do to with toddler in the wee hour of the morning. No fun (for me), that's all I can say.

When he is in good mood and good health, he loves my companion; any other time he will be downright clingy, holding me as his hostage 24/7. I admire those people in the church or shopping complex whom appeared to be meticulously groomed despite having young kids in tow. I usually appear with "orang gila" hair, and am considering myself lucky to have a change of t-shirt from the milk and toddler's food tainted one. For, the time to change usually causes the little guy quite an amount of tears.

To the earlier remark, I can only say I'd gave my best. It hit my ceiling already. For a start, I don't think my EQ is low, so the little guy has it good most of the time and I do not wish my EQ to be ceiling-less either; for it will only create a monster. In hindsight, I might still left him to cry until he puked when he was throwing tantrum. I might still put him in his crib when he was fussing and he ended up toppled head down from the crib. I would still scold him instead of pacify him when he tripped and knocked his head on the bathroom floor ( twice in two days ) because he didn't listen to me. I would still scold him instead of pacify him when he knocked his head badly to the vanity table during one of his fussing on the bed.

Bad me, right? Yeah, I know. I could be sued if I'm in US. Luckily here in Malaysia, most parents will understand that it's a part of the growing pains not only for the little guy for but me as well.

I think the little guy is doing better in his receptive language than his expressive language. He usually get his wants with gesture and baby talks. For example when he wants me to change his clothes or disposable diaper he has his way of telling me that. Recently, he gestured to me that I should probably check his diaper. Knowing that he was pooping at that time, I told him we will go change after he finished pooping. He repeated his request and I told him the same answer. The third time, he went to grab a clean disposable diaper himself and passed it to me. :p

Oh ya, recently he started nodding his head too, yah finally! Had been shaking his head for a long time ... e.g "want milk milk/water?" shaking his head frantically and he meant it. Actually, if we don't be too hard on him, zard ( lizard ) and ish (fish) can be considered as two of his first words, as he managed to reproduce them consistently since quite some time ago.

Receptive wise, we think he might understand more than what we thought he could. Just last Saturday, I casually asked the little guy "Yummy or not, the dim sum just now?". He licked his lips. Surprised (because I never ask or teach him that before), I tested him again. Yes, he thought it was yummy - lips licking good!

Last month, the little guy tried to dish out the turtle food from the turtle "pond" at his grandpa house, during his mischievous moment. I tried to scare him by saying "Later turtle bite you, how?" He retreated his hand instantly with sort of terrified and suspicious look on his face. Fast forward, a few days ago, there was this very tamed cat which we encouraged him to go and touch but he was really hesitant. He always wanted to, before this. Did I scared him off or he learnt to be more careful? I admit I was always telling him the monkeys, dogs, inserts will bite him if he goes touch them. Was it my fault? :( Now he's even scared of getting near the lizard which previously he had no squirm on. I really need to be more careful of what I'm telling him because he does comprehend it.

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 06:56

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Maclaren USA Inc is recalling about one million strollers sold in the United States over the past decade after receiving a dozen reports of children's fingers being amputated when caught in the stroller's hinges.

Maclaren announced a voluntary recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Monday. The CPSC said consumers should immediately stop using the strollers, which were made in China, unless otherwise instructed. The recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers sold in the United States starting in 1999.

Maclaren said it has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller's hinge mechanism, which led to 12 reported fingertip amputations in the United States. The incidents occurred while the strollers were being opened or closed, not while the children were seated in the strollers, a spokeswoman said. Maclaren is offering consumers a free repair kit. The recall only relates to the British company's U.S. business.

Models affected by the recall include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.The well-known strollers, priced from $100 to $360, were sold at stores including Babies "R" Us and Target. Consumers were told to contact Maclaren at (877) 688-2326 or through the web site http://www.maclaren.us/recall for more information.

More news:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/maclaren_defect_went_unfixed_for_N2F2nBbmZDn9BMBYyfxx1N

the little guy always surprise us in that area. we're not sure if all kids love music or it's only he. other than shaking his butt, swaying his hand to the music, lately he also:

- nodding his head to the music rhythm
- loves humming to the music in the car
- when he hears "jim brickman" in the car, he wiggles his fingers! ( i hardly touch the piano at home )
- when yiyi played him some of the downloaded kids song (which i never hear before), he knew how to do the act. i.e "head and shoulder, knee and toe".
- he loved his musikgarten trail class, which we went 6 weeks ago.

one thing for sure, most of the acts, he learns from his nursery. we're really curious what vcd/dvd does the nanny shows them everyday and how frequent do they get to watch. is it appropriate to ask the nanny?

mh: what's that?

me: snow fungus.

mh: for?

me: dessert.

mh: so nice ar, what do you want?

me: emm... let me think about it. (since he's offering :p)

what do you think i should ask for, over a bowl of this:

Inside the mind of Singapore's Youngest Millionaire - By Adam Khoo

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire. ‘He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires’). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit in first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur’s Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worth's well over $5m, traveled economy class and some even drove Toyotas and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth
(no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewelry or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just gives you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

Instead, what makes ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a meaningless life.

Meant to post this 1 1/2 months ago, but all the social networking sites are blocked at that place. I naively thought I can access them through VPN, but nope, they have a really strong firewall over there! I guess it must be done through some proxy, but I didn't figure it out.

Having breakfast at Starbuck overlooking the bund; waiting to check in at Shangri-la while MH was slogging away in HK.

One evening two months back, after my jog, MH told me that the little guy knew how to slide already. I was really curious to see; and indeed the little guy finally knew how to slide. :) Having kid(s), make us appreciate really simple acts which we never give a second thought previously. We never ponder on what skill does one need to slide until we saw the little guy either leaned too forward (having the risk of tumbled down) or leaned too backward (stagnated in the middle of the slide); the first few times he slid. Personally I think none of those simple acts can be taught, i.e how can I teach him how to control his center of gravity while sliding? Same goes to crawling, walking, talking, pointing, kicking and everything else. We have to just let time and nature run their course.

Sometime, a song that I love keeps on ringing in my mind. A while ago it was Lenka's Trouble is a friend. Lately, it's The winner takes it all from mamma mia! oh i love that movie. i do, i do, i do, i do, i do. :)

The winner takes it all

I don't wanna talk
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain?

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you?
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name?
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

I don't wanna talk
Cos it makes me feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all

The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

The winner takes it all

MH: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2009/11/17/technology/20091117170541&sec=technology
HuiHui: Of course, being the top of the Nikon line of zoom lenses, the price is equally astronomical — the 14-24mm for example, has a list price of RM6,888
MH: i know, so?
MH: pmtey wants to buy :P
HuiHui: u want?
MH: can't afford
HuiHui: (Y)
HuiHui: maybe can rephrase
HuiHui: "doesn't need it"
HuiHui: this is your toy https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUrYBUVEJqDMfTKc4wit_d3gnpcNQgr2Eku-wOcd3PybSFot9uG5A5JjhiSNdFbfLOIyjFFaRazjBbaFcHXsrzkA0aVui7J2ctSbiOH47mGbgUJdmkKAowSZee2L1c6Q2nXgH/s1600-h/BirdParkSep09_JPEG_Resize14.jpg
MH: what's that? :P
HuiHui: your interactive toy
MH: maybe it's the other way round, we are the interactive toy :P

The big guy is so right!

1st surprise - the little guy was able to climb up the sofa at ease. not really a huge surprise because he had been climbing from our bed to the vanity table a few times before.

2nd surprise - the little guy was able to point to his nose when i asked him where is his nose. quite a surprise even thought i'd told him 3 or 4 times before, i don't think he was listening then.

3rd surprise - the little guy opened and closed his fist with his outstretched arm when ahdi sang "twinkle twinkle little star". we never taught him that.

15 minutes for pork, minced pork, pork ribs, old cucumber, potato, carrot, winter melon, ginger, dragon fruit, mangos, bananas, rock sugar, herbs, drumsticks, tofu, egg tofu, fishballs and 2 pieces of grouper! not bad eh...