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25th Dec 2022 3 min read

I always feel a sense of trepidation as the year approaches its final closure. Time again has slipped by fast like a clever thief, taking away my dreams which are half-fulfilled. More so in recent years where we feel more restricted due to the pandemic. However, my usual consolation is “New Year is coming! This time it is going to be different!”

Yes, yes, many times I have uttered this to myself. Not all is lost though.

The pandemic did do some good to me on reflection. It was like a spanner thrust into the wheel of my daily routine and caused me to veer sideways. Into new experiences, new dreams, and new friends.

In this space of three years of greater self-awareness about self-preservation, I have adopted a few skills and interests. I created my website which I had learned, understood how Ecommerce works in the backend, picked up line dancing, worked on my two left feet tendency, made interesting and encouraging friends, became interested in writing, improved my Mandarin, got acquainted with my Japanese language studies again and focused on building my dental practice, to turn it into a group practice since the pandemic had curtailed my traveling plans.

If not for the pandemic, my routine, die-hard life was about work, then travel, meeting up with the usual people, and repeating it. There is always a silver lining to the grey cloud. While bad things happen, one could only keep and must carry on if one cannot alleviate them.

The pandemic and the war have tempered many moods. I saw changes in some people where they have become more agitated, insecure, and even depressed. Yet there were others who carried on, living life as normally as possible, taking appropriate precautions.

I agree with the latter. Don’t stop your activities — those that you love doing, even if they involve interaction with many people due to fear of Covid. The virus makes no announcement, it lurks in the most unlikely places and it does not discriminate. Then, why fear?

The moment we fear death is the moment we start to die, internally. As if living life on a thread. Hesitating in achieving your goals because you have confined yourself to a zone of ‘safety’.

While being cognizant of the bad things that are happening around the world, one can do nothing but pray, be cautious, calm, and carry on. If you can help in some way, do. Otherwise, do not be paralyzed into inaction by negative comments and suggestions thrown around you.

Life still goes on. 2023 may always be the turning point. Things always get worse before it gets better and we may already have hit the bottom. If not, the human spirit must not submit.

A New Year, a new lease of life. Come what may, there are so many worthy goals to aim for and the journey ahead is certainly going to be exciting.

How to defeat procrastination The Power of Poetry)

Dec 13th, 2022 1 min read

Oh, those few letters,

They are by no means trite.

If you feel that you are on tethers,

You mustn’t give up the fight.

Little by little you begin,

Little by little you gain,

Little by little you work at your goal,

You will get there, Lo and behold!

One step at a time from your idea,

Ignore the pitfalls that may appear.

Start a good habit that must stick,

Repeat it until you feel its kick.

If a bad habit is to stay,

You need to counter in an opposing way.

However hard it is to act,

Do something to start an impact.

Cut out what is in the way,

Set your priorities right each day.

Focus on the task at hand,

Surely things will go as planned.

Set your deadline as you give it all,

As it’s human to delay and stall.

Start now if you still procrastinate,

Or you’ll forever remain obstinate.

Dec 9th 2022 1 min read (The Power of Poetry)

The human being is a core of emotions

Easily moved, hurt and impassioned

Stay strong, stay firm, stay positive

The storms of life do get more active

It can make you lose your heart and soul

Then your body literally goes cold

Light it up, my friend

Face it and make a stand

Do not let them drag you to the ground

Where all hopes and dreams are trounced

Remember it’s just the range of emotions

That may have set you in negative motion

To do what you may regret

And that you will never forget

You are free to choose how you want to feel

Any card that life may deal

Choose to be happy, calm, and serene

In the end, the event passed as if in a scene

The next day brings another task

You now know well that everything is within your grasp.

Rambling thoughts for The Power of Poetry

22n November 2022 1 min read

Imagine a life that is smooth sailing

It looks too good to be true

You live your life as if all are cool

But it is not good and meaningful

Imagine everyone is living the dream

No one learns anything

They live for themselves with ease

As if the world has eternal peace

No, no, no…

It will never be that way

Life is complex

But one need not be perplexed

The real world will put us to the test

With people, things, and stuff to dare us

That’s what will make life intriguing

As we think of ways to unravel anything

Imagine a world with challenges

That has always been so through the ages

I believe that we are endowed with divine guidance

That’s why the human race will forever advance.

Imagine a world with no troubles

That’s certainly not possible

But man has the ultimate rational, thinking brain

Only he can make any troubles wane.

*read more on medium.com by the same author

A brilliant entrepreneur’s business idea helps customers hit their project deadlines.

21st Nov 2022 5 min read

I was in Japan recently and nearing the end of the trip, I was concerned about what to write for my opening address.

Then, I remembered that at a stop called Koenji in Tokyo, an entrepreneur has started The Manuscript Writing Cafe.

It is not a cafe that serves coffee though you may buy one. It is a place where once you have checked in, you have to finish writing your article, assignment or project before you are allowed to leave and they charge per half hour.

This themed cafe that helps one target deadlines have caught on with office workers, writers, and students.

I decided to sign in to see if I could write my opening address. My inner clock started ticking and I was aware of my yen being burned by the minute.

Speech, speech, I told myself. Suddenly, the idea occurred to me — l shall write about what I have learned in Japan.

Well, I decided to write about my trip to Kiyotsu gorge also known as the Tunnel of Light. Kiyotsu gorge is one of the three great gorges in the Northern part of Japan.

This is what I wrote; The trip to Kiyotsu Gorge

“ It was quite a challenge as I needed to match the bus schedule times and be able to catch the last bus back. The complex bus network map and its long names did not help. I asked around and realized that not all Japanese know about their famous sites. Finally, we located the right platform to board the bus.

On the bus, I suddenly had the intuition as if guided by some divine power that we needed to get off midway and not at the final stop. Fortunately, I quickly asked a lady in my limited Japanese with her friend. She was going to the gorge with her friend.

We got off at the right stop where we followed the stream of people, apparently heading for Kiyotsu gorge. It was cool in autumn and the walk was brisk and pleasant though the road was winding and narrow, with an upsloping gradient, and was next to the road where large vehicles sometimes rumbled past.

The scenery was spectacular.

The mountain rose ahead of us and burst into autumn colors. The stream flowed over the rocks and the air was crisp. We took in the scenery and bathed in the glory of autumn splendor.

It was a 1 km walk.

Finally, we reached the opening of the tunnel where we paid 1000Y each which is about S$10. The sign said “ 750m walk to the gorge.

So there was another 750m to scale through the tunnel.

This tunnel has been cut 750m deep into the mountain. While walking in the tunnel, there were lights and exhibits at intervals and illusionary displays to break the monotony.

We walked assiduously on and finally, lo and behold — an opening appeared before us and we were dumbfounded by the illusion.

The tunnel has a large puddle of shallow water shimmering in the natural light. As people inched forward to look at the gorge, their reflections could be seen in the puddle. It was like moving art on water.

There were many iPhone and Samsung moments. We were refreshed by the walk and thrilled by the sight. We spent much time just gazing at this human endeavor to create a wonderful illusion.

Kiyotsu gorge is characterized by V-shaped steep gigantic stone cliffs that straddle a river. Used to be, the river rushes down the rocky roads but climate change has affected it somewhat. Nevertheless, it is still magnificent!

After many picture taking, we made our way back to the hotel, pleased with our successful attempt to locate this scenic beauty and natural monument.

What I have learned;

1 Human beings are endowed with a lot of intelligence, talent, and creativity. The building of this tunnel attests to this.

2 We must believe in our accomplishments when we see that man can create a machine that cuts 750m into a mountain. With military precision.

Most of our daily aims should be easily achievable.

3 We must not lose the passion to explore and be awed by things around us. Let us be inspired always.

4 Human beings will always be innovative like the owner of this manuscript writing cafe who has a brilliant idea and turn it into a business to benefit both parties.

A business that makes people coerce themselves to hit their deadlines by targeting their pockets. I discover that a hurt pocket does move one’s ambition.

While writing furiously, I was aware of my yen diminishing but manage to finish in under 15 minutes which cost me Y250. Even though it is only $2.50 I discovered that I work well under pressure especially if the time taken costs money.

Many valuable lessons were learned from this trip and that’s what keeps me traveling in this inspiring world.

Nov 2nd 2022 1 min read (The Power Of Poetry)

When the world is turbulent

You do what you can to keep sane

Because it’s too far away

And fretting does not ease your pain

Life still goes on in your town

Your daily living remains challenging

There is no point to keep the frown

Live your best to be inspiring

When you can overcome your poor emotion

Then you will set in motion

A path to hope and peace

Your agony will finally cease.

Let not each day be a trouble

Each person has a unique path

All are within one’s power

Keep calm, keep cool and laugh