Archives for February 2020

with passion, patience and determination…..and other steps

I fell in love with the Japanese language in 1980s when I was about 24 years old. It was through a television show where a Japanese singing contest was showcased that I discovered that the words and the music of this language appealed to me.

Learning a foreign language is very challenging and I think that it requires firstly passion and love for the language to embark on it seriously. Besides the language, I love the gentle immaculate Japanese culture, it’s cuisine, its people who seem ever so polite and the wonderful sceneries of Japan.

I had the good fortune to learn from an excellent Japanese teacher who started the Sachiko Japanese school in the 80s. The groundwork in language basics was very important. There will be a lot of rote learning and once you have the foundation right, the rest are like building blocks that you employ into sentence construction, narration and language mastery.

I won a pair of tickets to Japan after passing the basic Japanese test conducted by Ms Sachiko. Unfortunately, life got very busy with career and marriage and I never furthered my learning in the Japanese language until two decades later.

In my forties, my love for Japanese language was rekindled as there was more time on my hands as my children had grown more independent. I went back to another language school(Ms Sachiko apparently was no longer in Singapore) and discovered that my basics were still in my head! The advantage of studying at a younger age.

Then in the new language school, I studied along with younger mates who were quick learners and that spurred me to study as fast and as well as them.

As my lessons in Singapore were only once a week, it was a very slow improvement. The onus was on me to strive for good progress.

Besides, doing my homework, revising and preparing for the next lesson, I had no visible progress especially in speaking and listening probably only in theory. It was also due to the lack of exposure to the Japanese language.

One day, I came across an advertisement that was open to anyone interested in an immersion course in a Japanese school in Tokyo. That turned out to be my ice breaker to speak Japanese.

It was a memorable experience learning in a Japanese school for foreign students. I arrived alone (my first solo travel) but was picked up by the school charge. The rest of the students were Taiwanese leaving me the only Singaporean and albeit mature one.

Nevertheless, the school knew how to categorize us based on a simple test to put us in classes where the students are of the same proficiency. It was a refreshing and also embarassing for me as I was the oldest foreign student in the history of their school (48 then) and I was about the principal’s age.

Anyway, to succeed, one should not let trivialities stand in the way. I would have to prove that older people still have the spright and spirit to live it up! Turned out that the students were quite enthralled by a ‘motherly’ figure among them. But hey, I hoped that they would carry a positive message home to their parents — they should never stop learning !

A different language is a different vision of life.”
Federico Fellini

Everyday for two weeks, classes were conducted in the morning. Lessons were conducted according the standard of the class. Each morning, there was a short test on the previous days’ lessons before we embarked on new topics.

Whether one absorbed most of the contents did not matter, it was the familiarization of the sounds and sights of the words belted out by the teacher that would start my immersion in Japanese.

After class everyday, there was a daily cultural session such as Kimono dressing for one day, the art of making Japanese tea on the next day, and for other days, experiences like the Japanese art of dyeing materials, the hot spring experience and visiting popular places in Tokyo, etc. It was indeed an eye opener to Japan’s aesthetic culture.

Most evenings, if I was not out socializing with some of the Taiwanese students over dinner, I would go out alone to look for some social interaction to use the Japanese language.

I found that opportunity in the supermarkets and shopping complexes. Armed with my electronic dictionary, I embarked on my faltering Japanese. Salespeople were amused and helpful. After two weeks of doing that, it became natural to me to converse and I finally lost my shyness in using the language. Everywhere I went, train platform, in the train, in the shops, on the road, I tried to decipher the language which presented in three forms-Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji.

I was very happy to be able to work out the complex transport infrastructure in Tokyo. There are so many categories of trains, from slow to limited express trains to Bullet trains also known as Shinkansen. The train rides are a whole new experience to me. There are many train companies, some of them run on the same lines so one must be cautious to board the right one. They were also punctual to the second.

I looked at the advertisements in the train which were abundant and entertaining. I also loved looking at the meal menu and browsing the bookstores. The more I looked at Japanese words and phrases and decoded them from my dictionary, the more interest I gained. My understanding of the words, their meanings and usage increased. Listening was a challenge but was not insurmountable with repeated attempts.

There are so many ways to excel in Japanese. With the internet, one can join online language course or online chat forum. Books, magazines, YouTube, NHK website, etc are all means to further your learning. Today, there are innumerable apps that can speed up your learning too.

One good way is meet the acquaintance of a native speaker and exchange language lessons with each other. In Singapore, joining the Japanese corner of the Japanese Association is very beneficial as Singaporeans have many chances to interact with the volunteer Japanese teachers and fellow members on a Saturday afternoon.

I had the fortune to meet a Japanese friend who was interested to further her English speaking. We had exchange sessions twice a week and that was immensely helpful. Unfortunately, she went back to Japan and I would have to look for another ardent friend to learn together.

Though I have not reached an excellent level of speaking and understanding Japanese, I am glad to say that I have never been lost in Japan during my several free and easy holidays where I have ventured far out of Tokyo to other prefectures. Whenever, I used their native language, the locals could tell that I am a foreigner but the warmth and happiness were palpable. Someone is willing to learn about them ! I had many pleasant encounters.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
Nelson Mandela

The overriding requirement in excelling in anything is the passion, patience and determination to carry through to your final goal and more. Nothing is impossible in today’s learning world.

In summary, to master a foreign language, I hope the following tips are helpful to you;

• Join a language school for regular course
• Do your homework and self-learning
• Use social media and language apps
• Join the association where you can have a mentor.
• Join an immersion course overseas
• Make friends with the natives
• Enroll for the exams
• Join the speech contest

Remember to do it with passion, patience and determination!

Good luck, folks!

Here’s why and how to deal with it….

Unhappy people complain all the time and things do not change one iota. Think about it, if you are unhappy about a person or a situation but nothing is done, it remains status quo. So that defeats the purpose of griping right?

Yet, very often, I hear people air their grievances about others in the lift, at the water cooler , while walking on the road, out of earshot of the very person they wish who would change.

Doing this is a perfect waste of your life. Every minute you indulge in badgering others is a minute lost on fixing your own stuff. (ノ_＜)

If that person’s rumblings get in the way of your progress, it is better to discuss them amicably with him or her and get on with life. It is for the betterment of both. Otherwise, it is just idle gossip consuming the best part of your day.

We do not know how others think. They may act in ways that we feel is senseless, unreasonable or even hurtful but it is only fair that you should approach him or her bravely and gently to seek the truth. To speculate is to further aggravate the situation or misunderstanding .

If you feel that you have been unfairly treated in any way, do not gripe to others as they cannot help you. Most friends would just avoid you as they may have a similar problem and are at wit’s ends too.

Worst still, you may become fodder for gossip among your confidant and his peer group. It happened to me. Once, I divulged a personal secret to my neighbour in my office premises. The next thing I was asked weird questions by other neighbours which alluded to my problem. I hope I did not become the talk of the premises then given these cues.

Do not become fodder for gossip !

Become the person whom people want to associate with . Be one who has the knowledge to share, to help , to be a source of compassion. Only then will people begin to respect you and want to be around you. Only then would others may even look to you for advice. ((o(^∇^)o))

When someone gives you the cold shoulder or poor service, they are the source of the problem. You could either ignore or help. You see that alot with sales staff, service people from all walks of life. Even in your family members. Do not gripe about them. The next day, they could be the loveliest people on earth! The time spent complaining about them could be put to better use. You could have read a few more precious articles on Medium and enrich your own life ! Unless in the process of expressing your dismay, you gained more insight into life.

Griping can become an ingrained habit that will put others off.

。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。

So what do you do if there is a tendency to complain about something ?

1 Assess if you have a good reason to grumble. If the reasons are not known, it is pure nagging. It is unfair to make others listen to your grouses.

2 Is it the right channel? If you are complaining about the authorities, then bring it to them , not to your family and friends and colleagues who have may already be burdened with life’s incessant hassles. It’s a quick way to tune people out and you wonder why no one listens to you.

3 Find out if your listener has encountered a similar situation where they resolved successfully. Then, making sure that he or she is receptive to hear you out, you will likely receive some good advice to rectify your problem. Otherwise, it’s like talking to the air.

4 lf you feel that getting the problem out of your system would do good to your health, by all means vent it. But do approach someone who is strong and compassionate. We do not want to burden another weak individual who may be beset with many of his or her own problems. Even a pet could be a comforting partner to speak to.

。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。

If you are on the receiving end of the complaint, you could do the following;

1 Be compassionate– understand that life has alot of ups and downs for most people and not everyone can handle them with equanimity. Life may be kinder to you than others so be mindful and patient to a troubled soul.

2 listen out- this allows the complainant to air his grievances and is a form of therapy for him. Meanwhile, you receive life lessons from listening. The next time you need a listening ear, your friend may be there for you !

3 Use humor– it’s tricky and needs ingenuity. But when I try to look at the funny side of things, I can often lighten up the whole situation. The protagonist and I may laugh out together.

4 Brainstormand look at the positive aspects of what has happened and what good could come out of it. This can help your friend to change his or her perspective and the problem may not be so severe as initially perceived.

Complaining is an act that is pervasive in all societies though we tend to think that the people of certain countries are prone to moan more. People often grumble about the cost and standard of living, work conditions, relationships, weather, food, government policies and so on. Legitimate or not, resolution only comes when delivered through proper channels including self.

On a daily basis, we will continue to encounter grouses from ourselves and others. We can individually contribute to part of the solution if we can carry out the steps mentioned.

you can become the successful speaker you wish to be

Understand human nature – We are naturally resistant to change. Change brings inconvenience, discomfort and uncertainty into one’s. life but from time immemorial. Change is always existing and evolving and its pace is not expected to slow down.

This is because human beings are intelligent creatures. We crave for the good life and so will always be innovative . Some push through barriers and obstacles, believing they can change the world , others are just swept along with it and have to learn to adapt to new ways.

As recorded in Marcus Aurelius’ meditations, he believed in the principle that ‘ The impediment is the way.’ You get what you want if you can overcome your obstacles- emotional state such as fear and physical barrier, intellectual barrier, etc

That first step- takes courage, a positive mindset and determination. Take the case of public speaking said to be number one fear of most people.

In my Toastmasters club, many of us avoid raising our hands to speak off the cuff during impromptu table topic session. I feared not having anything meaningful to say or embarrassing myself for a long time.

It took many years to volunteer on my own. Most meetings, I was not participative or was volunteered by another member.

Then one day, I decided that I am resourceful enough to share something even if may not be a great message. I would have dealt fear one more death blow to the fear of public speaking anyway.

This went on for many more times and it just became easier to raise my hand. Nowadays, even when the topic is clearly not in my authority or experience to talk about, I manage. As my control of my own emotions improve, my speech articulation and delivery also progress. Thoughts and ideas flow. The best thing was the sense of having tried and becoming more proficient with each session.

This goes the same for prepared speech session. For years, I could not let go of my script. It was my crutch and I always fear the awkward silence should I forget my train of thought.

One meeting, I put away the script and reassured myself that I have practiced enough to be confident. I also visualized myself receiving applause for my speech. Far fetched as it may sound, it did boost my confidence.

There was one time I faltered. I composed myself and ad libbed. It worked and I was soon back on track. The key is to keep composed when such things happen. If you realize that most of the time, the audience wants the speaker to perform well, it is easier.

Finally, after more than 25 years with Toastmasters Club, I can do my speaking project without notes👻!

Taking that first step has dramatically improve my life building self confidence and personal happiness. It also opened lots of opportunities for me as people like confident people.

These days, when I am interested to challenge myself to a task, I would always prepare myself for the first step- First, find out more about the task by researching it, consult experienced members, practise and surround myself with positive people. The first step towards a better and more meaningful life is within one’s reach!

Look back on your blunders and laugh…life’s not perfect!

As long as I have lived, I have made many blunders which I feel is just part of my life’s journey.

Some blunders are funny, some are hurtful but I think that on hindsight, they are kind of amusing now.

Way before I joined Toastmasters International to hone my public speaking skills, I was really bad at speaking. I was really an Ah Lian , a term in Spore that refers to the Chinese girls who do not speak proper English and dress quite oddly. By the way, my name has a ‘Lian’ in it and I was an awkward teenager. I did not know how to lapse into proper English at the right time.

One time, someone told me , ‘Hey! Do you know that so and so is getting married?!’ And silly me as a naive youth exclaimed, “hah! confirmed ah?!Confirmed? ” That was a ‘shortcut’ way of saying, “Really, is that so?” People laughed at my strange way of talking.

Native speakers may not understand this response as it is a typical Singlish way of speaking ( Singlish is Sporean English and this came about as there are many languages and dialects in Singapore resulting in the adulteration of Standard English. Yes, I could have responded more appropriately but I blundered unknowingly then.

Foreigners often looked puzzled when some Singaporeans speak but locals understand each other perfectly. When I sent my children to a boarding school in Melbourne, the Auzzie kids used to tell them, “ Speak English please!” But they were speaking English. It took them at least a term to understand my children’s brand and accent of English.

It was much later that I began to realize I needed effective communication skills not just for clarity but to gain respect and self confidence. 

As a young dentist, I still blundered mindlessly. At a dental conference, I bumped into my fellow dentist who was my lady lecturer during my student days. She used to be very sweet and slim but I forgot that she was already in her forties and she had gotten fat. I went up to congratulate her on her new pregnancy! She was aghast at my suggestion. On realizing that, I excused myself quickly and badgered myself over my impulsiveness and insensitivity.

As a matured dentist, I committed faux pas often as well. There was this lovely Japanese couple who came for their regular dental checkup. But there was one year his wife had passed away. He came alone and told us the bad news. I expressed my condolences and did the dental treatment solemnly. 

Then six months later, he came for check up again and I asked about his wife. When he told me that his wife had passed away, I apologized for my forgetfulness. 

Another six months later during his check up, I asked about his wife yet again. Meanwhile, my dental assistant gesticulated madly behind the dental chair with the treatment card that was marked in red ‘ do not ask about wife!’ She even made hand signal behind the patient to indicate that she had passed on. I apologized profusely to my patient. Subsequently, I swore never to stray from the subject of dentistry again.

Actually my husband blunders often too. One time, he went to his old friend’s father’s wake. They talked about old times and reminisced a lot. Then suddenly, my husband said, “Hey! I have not met your father for a long time! How is he?!” To that, his friend then pointed to the casket . Realizing his mistake, they all had a good laugh.

But some incidents were not so amusing and actually caused stress. Once, I was hosted by a couple in Canada in their opulent home. The next morning, in my enthusiasm to maintain the guest room in a pristine condition, I made the room and started with the toilet. 

So I first flushed the toilet bowl but it was slow to run water. I flushed twice more consecutively. To my horror, the toilet bowl started to well up with more water and it did not stop! Soon, it overflowed. I panicked when I thought how meticulous my lady friend was. I watched helplessly as water overflowed onto the wooden bathroom floor. It started to inch towards the carpeted room! 

I grabbed all the towels I could find, soaked up as much water as I could while shouting for my friend and divine intervention. Thank Goodness, the water stopped short of the carpeted room! 

Later, I apologized abundantly to my friend very much to her displeasure, I was sure. I told myself to slow my pace of doing things. Apparently, pace of life is so slow in Canada, the water system also responded slowly.

Life is full of silly mistakes but as long as there are lessons drawn from them and cause us to change for the better and become more mindful, they are contributing to our personal growth. I have also learned to forgive myself for my unintentional mistakes in the same way as I would forgive those who committed innocent faux pas against me.

stop giving yourself pain…

Now that I have gotten wiser with age, I can look back on hindsight and say where I went wrong and what I could have done better. If I was young and had done what I now suggest, I can imagine getting more success and happiness. Even if you are older, it is not too late to amend. They are about doing two things-observe and ask… then of course do it!

It is the fact of life ; that young people are so eager to go out into the world and make their mark knowing life accords them only one chance. They have the ‘now I am grown up’ attitude that impedes them. The wise ones take the legitimate short cut of observing, asking and doing.

What should I do whether I am young or old and want to avoid making too many mistakes in life?

1) I would study hard. It is when we are young that we have the power to retain knowledge with speed and volume. Be good in what you have to learn even if you think you will not apply it later in your life. It is the discipline that you inculcates, the tenacity to do your best in what you are suppose to do. Things then get easier if you need to learn more as you grow older as the habit is ingrained. For this reason, children must be encouraged and motivated to study hard.

If you are much older, all the more you need to work hard consistently to keep up with the ever changing world to keep abreast of what is happening. No one can guide you fully except yourself and if you are literate, you already have the basic skill.

“ The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn” Alvin Toffler

2) I would read widely– novels, non fiction, philosophy, well written articles. All these activities contribute to better writing skills as well as speaking skills (though these need to be honed further )and critical thinking. Only books can open the mind like nothing else. Maybe movies do too but they need some afterthought and analyses as the messages may be subtle. The ability to speak eloquently and also write fluently will come in good stead later in life. The best things that adults can do for children is to engage children in reading widely.

3) I would always make time for sport. Any sport- swimming ,golf, ball games etc. It is another discipline worth instilling in oneself. Sporty people are more resilient to physical and emotional discomfort as they always strive to do their best and sports do demand a certain amount of personal drive and motivation.

4) I would not waste time idling or gossiping. There are so many experiences to be had. Once you become an adult in the working world, free time becomes a luxury. It is a chance to do jobs that you are curious about to find out more about them- for example , if you like a certain restaurant, why not apply to temp there for a period and find out how things worked so well for them? What is the secret behind that delicious dish? Why not do a sales job and experience how challenging it is?

I think to go to school from the lower level right up to University then graduate into the working world is quite a parochial way to live. When you do a temporary job during the holidays or even in the evenings, you may be attracted to certain vocation or profession and that can lead you to study what you feel you are passionate about. Not to mention that you may be talent spotted for their job in future.

By fate, I did not have enough money for University and had to seek out a job that paid well. That was in the late 1970s. I could only think of an air stewardess job that paid relatively well then. Though I have only worked for one and a half years, there was much seen and learnt in the real world. One grows up very quickly in an airline job where there is much exposure to human interaction than working in the office, in this case, with passengers and colleagues.

In any case, I would not trade this experience for an earlier year to graduate if I could go back to dental school immediately from my college. The experience in the airlines- the travels, the destinations, the people I met were priceless.

5) I would be selective about my friends. Without discriminating anyone as every one of us has our own talents, I would shun people who have a propensity for dangerous habits — gambling, excessive smoking, drugs, you name it. It is the peer pressure that will get you so do not even give yourself any proximity to such influences. The friends you select should be sincere, forgiving and love acquiring knowledge. The ones I avoid would be loud and emotional, violent and fickle hence lacking direction in life.

In this respect, I am glad that I was reined in by my own conservative and traditional attitude. As an air stewardess at 19 years old, I was subjected to a lot of temptations — smoking, excessive drinking, gambling, material seduction etc all of which I had no interests. Not that they are all bad people as long as one is able to get out of these habits at some point.

6) I would learn to be money-wise. Be a saver. Savings compound themselves. Spend when there is excess and if only when it is necessary. The lure of credit spending is a curse. Though credit has the convenience of ‘instant cash’ and rewards for purchase, the fine print of a credit card cannot be overlooked. Credit cards are useful if the amount used is duly paid otherwise, the principal amount not settled often snowball into a runaway debt. Today, the interest on the principal amount may be as high as 29%! Young people would do well to observe why some people are in a cycle of debt.

7) I would look for mentors — usually the older ones whom I admire in their field. Read about them, even better if you have met their acquaintance and if it is me, I would ask them for advice and mentorship if they agree. Actually, I also believe that a mentor may be younger than you. When I wanted to learn about computer skills, I would usually approach the younger ones. I have had mentors in flute playing, Japanese language, Mandarin language, minor oral surgery and I thank these friends for their generous mentoring. I am open to anyone who is willing to share their failure or success stories as there is always something to learn.

8) Even as we grow older, we are still making silly mistakes. The key is to keep an open mind knowing that there will always be someone better than ourselves so stay humble. Other people’s life lessons are invaluable. When a mistake is made, be aware and try not to repeat it.

To err once is human, to err again is a fool.

The pain in one’s life journey is often the result of one’s choices. It takes some reflection to understand why we get to the stage that we become despaired. Everything can be ameliorated. Put aside your pride, have an open mind and eyes, think, ask and listen and then act.

It is a great era ! Opportunities abound for those who are fearless.

“ Your route guidance is now completed” My adopted sister, the GPS in my car had announced and I found that I had arrived after some mindless driving. You do not need to pay loads of money for your car GPS. Google GPS or yahoo GPS is a free app and will ensure you find that restaurant in your destination anywhere in the world. If you are buying a product that has no English words on it, just run google translate camera over it and viola, the ingredients are revealed !

‘ Tick, tick, tick,’ the computerized endodontic locator sounded and I knew I had reached the apex of the root canal that I had attempted to access. Before this, only x rays with the diagnostic file would measure the exact length . Now with the click of a mouse and a sensor, the picture appears on the monitor. No more developing and fixing of films.

In addition to taking great pictures with your handy phone camera, you can now animate your still photos making the clouds drift by, the rivers flow, the waterfalls spill over and so on. It is really a treat for the eyes.

Welcome to the world made by great leaps in technology and communication.

The examples given are not exhaustive. The advances have pervaded almost every field and industry and continuously evolving, it will take two lifetimes to enjoy them all.

Technological advances are giving more comfort and convenience to our lifestyles but for the uninitiated who do not embrace change, it can be a stressful time unless one embrace it like a love one.

Change has been the constant throughout our lives and is unlikely to go away .

Personally, I do concede that I find too much on my plate of change but I would still continue to dip my fingers into this ever enlarging pie.

I remember several years ago when I received from my husband the gift of an iphone followed by an ipad which to most of you are regular items.

Back then, I was actually quite happy with my now defunct nokia phone and a physical book. However with these two products, a whole new world had subsequently opened up that led to functions like banking on the mobile, surfing on the go and free messaging to my heart’s content just to name a few daily activities. These days, I also book good cinema seats, read any novel and shop online, anytime and anywhere.

I believe that there are many more functions but I do not have enough time to explore.

Change is inevitable. It is the present and the future.

I have tried to convince my senior relative to learn the useful functions of the ATM machine and online banking but he still carries wads of cash with him.

I have tried to get my sibling to change his decade old fridge for an environmentally and energy saving one and he finally did. I managed to teach him youtube and HBO and netflix. He says he has found reasons to live longer given all the old movies and songs at his disposal now. His world has become so fascinating.

I have tried to encourage my friend to use the playstation that has many fun genres of dancing as she was too lazy to use the gym. I remembered using Jane Fonda dance laser disc. Now you have Nintendo switch that can guide you with great music and moves that you could follow in your own room to have fun and burn calories.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic — — — Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Change is important. It is the very essence of the human spirit, to innovate, to create and make life better, faster and happier.

Not welcoming it is tantamount to going back to old ways of doing things. Why would you want to do that?

Do you still want to wait in long queues if you can resolve your transaction over the internet?

Do you still want to get something done in hours when you could use a software that allows you to complete your task in a jiffy and at your leisure?These days, workers may work from home if they can produce results.

Do you not want to wallow in silence while your friends are discussing the latest gadget and having loads of fun every day?

Hence, brace for more changes to come. 

Robots are a familiar sight in doing butler services in hotels, cleaning spaces on office floors and playing an active role in space, manufacturing, medical field as well as in the military. Robots would be able to serve in industries where the jobs are mundane and repetitive freeing humans for more creative jobs.

Electric vehicles are getting better, driverless vehicles are still being worked on so that they can be totally reliable and totally autonomous. You would be able to just sit back, catch up on your work or take a nap.

Touch commerce is getting more common as more people discover the convenience of online shopping, varieties of products and competitive pricing. This is a huge challenge to the brick and mortar models. Anyone today with a good product, knowledge of bringing it online and marketing it well can reap profits. It can even become a second career to your 9 to 5 job not to mention opening a whole new frontier to your learning and interests.

Just three examples and we are skimming on the surface of many marvelous changes to come. Many are just mind-boggling and these show how innovative human beings have become.

Everyday, I feel the change around me. Getting older throws me a greater challenge but I am determined to ride this wave of transformation and enjoy its perks.

How to embrace change.

Be open minded. Human beings are naturally resistant to unknown territory ( I remember how I rejected the free iphone )Yes, first feel it in my bones, know it is something spectacular to explore and dive into it. These days, when there is a new gadget or idea which I think would be of use, I would adopt it. Dabble in it. Understand it. Then apply it.

Do it. My most recent venture was to learn how to create a wordpress website. Intimidated at first by my younger fellow classmates, I persevered, resitting the class till I understand how the backend of a website works. Creativity is not my forte but I think the course triggered this sleeping part of my gray matter.

To my surprise, I managed to complete my dentist website though it could not be compared to ones done by paid professionals in terms of quality but I have met most of the objectives of a good website. Now, I am trying to learn about SEO, another new terrain for me but I believed that I would be able to optimize it in due time without having to pay for ads.

Be Curious and continue to learn. Like my cats but I believe that I would not be killed if I acquire the knowledge. It is not possible to know about many changes or the latest development in every aspect of our lives but along life’s journey, it helps to get interested in something and learn in depth. Then you will discover the benefits. The more one dip our hands into this change, the more natural it would feel.

Reasons to do so. When they say that these days, there are people who have fallen through the cracks, I believe that it is not just economically but technologically as well. Without embracing change, when we step out of the house, we would become inconvenienced and disadvantaged and feel archaic. With mass migration across borders and people are getting more savvy with the latest developments that enhances their work performance, the competition for jobs would only get keener….as a dentist, I am not spared too even though I have been in practice for more than 30 years.

Increased confidence. In a gathering with friends and colleagues, I no longer feel lost when topics veered towards digital gadgets and useful softwares. I made it a point to let salespeople demonstrate their latest technology whether it is related to dentistry or not. Investing in good gadgets turn out to be a great help in my career. For instance, the digital dental camera is a fantastic marketing tool that provides instant images on the monitor and is very educational to the patients to provide the optimum treatment plan to them.

Gain respect. I feel that I have been able to bridge the gap with my children who are incidentally in the IT business. At 62, I have created my own dental website, learned about photoshop, learned about e-commerce and SEO though I have not exactly figured out how to use the latter to my advantage yet. But keeping in touch with technology usually puts one on par with your kids and your colleagues and friends. There would be common and current topics to talk about. You may even impress your boss!

Wonderful retirement awaits me. Bustling with ideas, I envisage myself being busy with all the latest technology that I have chosen to adopt and hopefully, I can enjoy every waking moment.Second careers would flourish. Now that I have discovered medium and many apps that could help potential writers write better with more ideas and accuracy, it is indeed a going to be great fun.

My assertion: Let’s all embrace change and enjoy our lives!