Enthusiasm...

Enthusiasm is a great asset. It is a key, a driving force. It is what is called force of character, and the sustaining power of all great action. Some call it the electricity of life. Enthusiasm is seeing the importance of what you do, giving it dignity and making what you do important to yourself and to others.

Nothing great can be achieved without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. Before embarking on any job or project, make sure that you are enthusiastic about the work. This way, success is surer.

Enthusiasm is contagious. I am sure that at some point, someone’s enthusiasm has rubbed off on you. You felt motivated by his or her enthusiasm. In this way, by being enthusiastic, you also encourage those around you to be positive. You encourage their passion and commitment to do their best.

Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas. - Henry Ford

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. - Henry David Thoreau

Enthusiasm is that secret and harmonious spirit which hovers over the production of genius. - Isaac Disraeli

Opposition always inflames the enthusiast, never converts him. - Friedrich Von Schiller

Years wrinkle the skin, but lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. - Norman Vincent Peale

One man has enthusiasm for thirty minutes, another for thirty days, but it is the man who has it for thirty years who makes a success of his life. - Unknown

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Life’s Little Lessons

Aphorisms teach valuable life lessons. That is why motivational speakers quote aphorisms in their speeches to inspire and motivate their audience. Take an interest in aphorisms. These simple phrases of a few easy to understand words, often have much truth in them. Learn from them and you will understand life a little better. You might get a head start in life, and avoid some common, and costly mistakes people make on their journeys in life.

The beauty of Aphorisms is that they are motivational, inspirational and self-explanatory.

It’s easy to judge. It’s more difficult to understand. Understanding requires cmpassion, patience, and a willingness to believe that good hearts sometimes choose poor methods. Through judging, we separate. Through understanding, we grow. - Unknown

No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen. - Epictetus

Seek ye counsel of the aged, for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hearkened to the voices of Life. Even if their counsel is displeasing to you, pay heed to them. - Kahlil Gibran

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong. - William J. H. Boetcker

Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love – you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer. - Eckhart Tolle

It is no disgrace not to be able to do everything; but to undertake or pretend to do what you are not made for, is not only shameful, but extremely troublesome and vexatious. - Plutarch

Expect people to be better than they are; it helps them to become better. But don’t be disappointed when they are not; it helps them to keep trying. - Merry Browne 

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives. - Willa A. Foster

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Flower Photography

“Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.” - Unknown

Flowers are the reproductive structures in flowering plants. While some plants are asexual, most plants need the birds, bees and insects to help pollinate them. As such, most flowers are brightly coloured to attract the pollinators. Where the flowers are small and insignificant, they have brightly coloured bracts to attract pollinators to them.

Some photos of flowers from the Flower Dome. With the help of Google lens, I was able to identify them. If there are any errors, do let me know.

Lily stargazer

Lilium bulbiferum aka orange lilies

Digitalis purpurea aka foxglove

Bird of paradise

Tanacetum parthenium, known as feverfew, is a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae.  

Ochna integerrima, popularly called yellow Mai flower.

Veronica speciosa

“Photography helps people to see.” - Berenice

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Chrysanthemums

Native to East Asia, chrysanthemums, or "mums", are part of the Asteraceae or sunflower family, with over 200 species in various colors, sizes, and forms. Their bright gold or amber hues make them an auspicious choice, symbolising longevity, wealth, and prosperity.

Besides being pretty to look at, chrysanthemums have other useful purposes. The petals can be used to brew tea which is said to relieve a variety of physical symptoms, like sore throat, headaches, and to aid digestion. Additionally, their leaves and stems are used as ingredients in Chinese cuisine. The oil extracted from the flower is also used in aromatherapy and as a natural insecticide.

Chrysanthemums are available in a wide variety of shades. Their colours range from the traditional yellow, red, white and purple, to other less common hues like pink, lavender, and even multi-colours. 

Some Chrysanthemums from the Flower Dome taken during the recent 'FLower Display'.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Cheeky Humour

Laughter is our reflex to something that tickles our funny bone, something which we find amusing; it is when we find, or see the humour – in a joke, an action or a situation.

It doesn’t matter what kind of humour you indulge in, whether you revel in the coarsest puns or dwell on nihilistic black humour. As long as you engage in this type of activity, you keep your mind working, sharp and nimble.

Take a look at today’s selection of humour. Remember the ones you like and go make your friends laugh.

Appearances are deceitful, I know, but so long as they are, there's nothing like having them deceive for us instead of against us. - George Horace Lorimer

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is. I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute. - Rebecca West

A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all – he’s walking on them. - Leonard L. Levinson

I went to the psychiatrist today. She told me I had a split personality and charged me 160 dollars. I gave her 80 dollars and told her to get the rest from the other idiot. - Unknown

Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with. - Carrie Bradshaw

I fall in love easily. I love the marriage ceremony. I love the honeymoon phase. I just don’t want to be married. I’m not marriage material, but I am a very good honeymooner. - Fern Michaels

Alcohol is a very effective dissolving agent. It dissolves families, marriages, friendships, jobs, bank accounts and neurons, but never problems. - Unknown

Families are messy. Immortal families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we’re related for better or for worse and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum. - Rick Riordan

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Food For Thought

Every now and then, we come across a phrase, or a paragraph which arouses certain emotions in us. Perhaps the particular phrase, or paragraph has a special meaning which we can relate to, or it arouses feelings and emotions we experienced in the past. Or, it may simply be that it describes something so appropriately, or so beautifully, that we always want to remember it.

Spare a few moments to ponder on the following.

Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often serves simply as something to aim at. - Bruce Lee

We pay a heavy price for our fear of failure. It is a powerful obstacle to growth. It assures the progressive narrowing of the personality and prevents exploration and experimentation. There is no learning without some difficulty and fumbling. If you want to keep on learning, you must keep on risking failure – all your life. - John W. Gardner

There is an elasticity in the human mind, capable of bearing much, but which will not show itself, until a certain weight of affliction be put upon it; its powers may be compared to those vehicles whose springs are so contrived that they get on smoothly enough when loaded, but jolt confoundedly when they have nothing to bear. - Charles Caleb Colton

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Caught In A Thunderstorm

I was on my way home after my swim, when I was caught in a thunderstorm. Although rain was forecasted and I was expecting it, the speed with which it happened caught me by surprise. Dark clouds moved in my direction and the sky darkened very quickly. As the dark clouds blanketed the whole island, I could see it was beginning to rain in the distance. The rain caught up with me very quickly.

I had one of those small umbrellas with me, but it was no protection from the heavy rain. It was also flashing lightning, loud and near. Since I wasn’t in a hurry, I decided to take shelter under an express-way, to wait for the rain to pass.

The amount of water that came down from the sky in such a short period amazed me. It seemed like the sky just opened up and dumped the rain down, fast and furious. The water level in the canal rose.

This is the water level of the canal on an ordinary day.

On that day, the water rose to half the depth of the canal. Luckily, the rain subsided after half an hour or so. It was a passing tropical thunderstorm. Once the rain subsided, I continued on my way home.

I took some photos while waiting for the rain to stop. Healthy Golden Pothos under the express-way

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Adversity

Adversity – always an unwelcome visitor. It will surface in every life. It will happen, and usually in ways we never foresee. However, it is our reaction to adversity and not adversity itself that determines how our life’s story will develop. How we meet adversity makes the difference. We must learn to look at adversity in a new light the next time one comes your way. Treat the experience as a unique learning opportunity. After all, what can’t be changed, or avoided has to be accepted. Don’t make it more difficult for yourself by fighting it.

The trials and pressures of life – and how we face them – often define us. Confronted by adversity, many people give up while others rise up. How do those who succeed do it? They persevere. They find the benefit to them personally that comes from any trial. And they recognize that the best thing about adversity is coming out on the other side of it. There is a sweetness to overcoming your troubles and finding something good in the process, however small it may be. Giving up when adversity threatens can make a person bitter. Persevering through adversity makes one better. - John C. Maxwell

Adversity is like the period of the former and of the latter rain – cold, comfortless, unfriendly to man and to animal; yet from that season have their birth, the flower, and the fruit, the date, the rose, and the pomegranate. - Sir Walter Scott

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. - William Arthur Ward

We fail to see the purifying and refining effect wrought by the flames of adversity. These flames are not meant to consume but only to purify us. Disguised as adversity, blessings are showered upon us. - Theodore Tuttle

A spiritually optimistic point of view holds that the universe is woven out of a fabric of love. Everything that is happening is ultimately for the good if we’re willing to face it head-on and use our adversities for soul growth. - Joan Borysenko

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Truisms

Life is not easy. We struggle, stumble, and we fall. We pick ourselves up and carry on, doing the best we can, wishing that we have someone to guide us, warn us of the pitfalls ahead, and how to handle the problems and difficulties that come our way. We wish we know what Life is all about, and what our struggles are for. When no answers are forthcoming, we struggle on, none the wiser.

What we don’t realise is that the answers we seek are already there. All we need to do is look in the right place. The sages, gurus, philosophers, and the wise men before us who had experienced and understood what life is all about, have recorded their knowledge in the form of Aphorisms and quotes. If we study the quotes, we will have gained precious lessons on Life.

Take an interest in aphorisms. Learn the wisdom and knowledge they impart, and you will have an understanding of Life.

Whatsoever stirs the stagnant currents, setting these flowing in wholesome directions, promotes brisk spirits and productive thinking. The less of routine, the more of life. - Amos Bronson Alcott

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. - Bertrand Russell

Strength is when you have so much to cry for but you prefer to smile instead. - Unknown

There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood by those who hear it. - William James

Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success. - Dale Carnegie

The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head. - Robert M. Pirsig

If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. - Anatole France

Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labour by taking up another. - Anatole France

The world is full of possibilities; and as long as there are possibilities, there is hope. - Leo Buscaglia

Queer thing, but we always think every other man’s job is easier than our own. And the better he does it, the easier it looks. - Eden Phillpotts

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Flower Dome

The Flower Dome is one of the attractions in the Gardens by the Bay. Temperatures in the Flower Dome are maintained at Spring-time temperatures – 23C to 25C. In this way, any time you visit the Flower Dome, you will see lovely, colourful blooms.

The Flower Dome holds the Guinness World Record for the largest glass greenhouse! The column-less dome is covered with 3332 glass panels, and it can accommodate up to 1,000 people. It features a flower field with a changing display of flowers of the season, every six to eight weeks, and eight other gardens, namely The Baobabs, Succulent Garden, Australian Garden, South African Garden, South American Garden, Olive Grove, California Garden and the Mediterranean Garden. These eight gardens exhibit exotic flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions from five different continents.

Isn’t it amazing, finding plants from all over the continent right here in the tropics? Here are some of the flowers you will see in the dome.

Flower dome is open from 9.00am till 9.00pm.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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