The Eve of 2021

All too soon, we have come to the end of another year. Maybe, it isn’t soon enough for some. Admittedly, this year has not been a great one. We are plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are still in the midst of it. Luckily, they have developed a vaccine - a few vaccines, in fact. So, hopefully, 2021 will be a better year than the one before.

Anyway, as the year comes to an end, let us not look back at yesterday’s disappointment. Let us look forward to tomorrow’s promises, opportunities and new beginnings.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. - T. S. Eliot

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.' - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. - Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year! Wishing you and your loved ones a year fill with joy and laughter, good tidings, good health and happiness!

Auld Lang Syne

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The Eve of Eve of 2020

Two more days to the end of the 2020. It hasn’t been a very pleasant year for most people. We were plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic, make worst by people who think it is a harmless virus, and conspiracy theorists who think it is all a scam, a plot by the governments to control their citizens.

In countries where the virus is taken seriously, they were rewarded with being able to go back to some normalcy of their lives after a couple of months of precautionary measures. On the other hand, in countries where people think it is all a hoax, where people think it is their right to do as they pleased, there were surges after surges of infections.

This Covid-19 pandemic is world-wide. Viruses do not discriminate. Until the world get its act together collectively, we are all still at risk. The light at the end of the tunnel now is that vaccines have been developed and vaccination has started in some countries.

Although the effectiveness of the vaccines remained to be seen, all are hopeful that this will be the answer to stopping the virus in its tracks.

Covid-19 has claimed many lives in 2020. Livelihood is disrupted – plans are put on hold. Let’s hope that we can rebuilt and gain some sort of normalcy in our lives in 2021. It will definitely be a while before we can go back to the lives we were so used to. But rest assured, we will all get through it somehow. One day, when we look back on this episode, maybe we will all have a good laugh.

Meanwhile, wear a mask, if you value your life and don’t intend to catch the Covid-19 virus. Protect yourself, your loved ones and the people you associate with. Troublesome and inconvenient at the beginning, but, like all things, after a while, you will get used to it.

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Truisms - Words To Live By

Aphorisms teach philosophical or moral truths which are relevant to our experiences in life. The relevance is what makes them fascinating and interesting. Moreover, they are universal truths. That is why motivational speakers quote aphorisms in their speeches to inspire and motivate their audience.

I recommend that people should take an interest in aphorisms. There is so much to learn from these terse sayings, and astute observations.

Have a look at following truisms and see what you think of them.

No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience. - Unknown

Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. - Stephen King

The affections are like lightning: you cannot tell where they will strike till they have fallen. - Lee Iacocca

Reach for the stars. You won’t reach them, but you won’t come up with a handful of mud, either. - Leo Burnett

Skill is fine, and genius is splendid, but the right contacts are more valuable than either. - Sir Archibald McIndoe

Our repentance is not so much regret for the evil we have done, as fear of its consequences to us. - Duc de La Rochefoucauld

No story is the same to us after a lapse of time; or rather we who read it are no longer the same interpreters. - George Eliot

It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you: the one to slander you and the other to bring the news to you. - Unknown

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. - Albert Einstein

One of the indictments of civilizations is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person. - William Feather

Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration. - William Hazlitt

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances. - Thomas Jefferson

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Unknown Plant

There are many plants along my walk route. I don't think I paid any attention to them when I was jogging. When I was jogging, I was huffing and puffing, bent on getting the next breath in before I collapsed - too tired to bother about the beauty and wonders around me.

Since I change my jogging routine to walking, I now have more time to pause and appreciate the plants and flowers that are always there to greet me on my daily walk. I have since come to know some of them.

This is another curious plant I have yet to find out the name of.

The fruits resemble figs. Maybe they belong to the same family. If I do find out, I will let you know. Meanwhile, if you have an idea what they are, do enlighten me.

These are the buds.

The flowers are unique and beautiful.

There are about a dozen or more buds, but only about half of them come to fruition.

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Flowers From the Dome

Let there be flowers during this festive season. Here are some from the Gardens by the Bay. Specifically, these were grown in the Flower Dome where it is perpetual spring - where the temperature replicates the cool and dry Mediterranean climate. Here, you can see exotic plants from all over.

It is always a joy to visit the Flower Dome. All the flowers seem to smile at you and beckon to you to come take a picture. Thanks to technology for the invention of phone cameras. It is so convenient to just snap away and later, keep the ones you like.

It would be more meaningful if I know the names of the flowers. Sometimes, there are signs stating the name of the plant and a brief introduction. Most of the time, there isn't - unless it is a special exhibition. Anyway, I tried looking them up on Google image, but unfortunately, the success rate is low. Still where possible, I will state the name of the flower.

First off, are some Dahlias. There are 42 species with hybrids commonly grown as garden plant. This is Dahlia Holly Lemon Ice. 

The rest of them, I am not sure. Some flowers looked very similar, but are called different names due probably to them being different hybrids. So, I better not confuse you.

This is called Bear's Beeches.

This looks like one from the periwinkle family. But I can't be sure.

The rest of the flowers, I do not know. Your guess would be as good as mine.

This could be from the Yellow Bells family, but I can't be sure.

What this old world needs is more bouquets handed around to folks when they are alive and kicking. Flowers don’t do a dead one much good. - Robert Elliott Gonzales

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Of Quips n Quirks

It’s the day after Christmas. I hope everyone had a great merry-making time, despite the restrictions. Understand that these are difficult and trying times. We have to make the best we can.

For a start, we can be thankful that we were not infected with the virus, and we are still here. However, the fight is not over yet. Hopefully, it will be before too long. Meanwhile, keep up the vigilance. Stay safe!

No doubt, some time in the future, we will all look back on year 2020 and have a laugh.

Here are some humorous quips and quirks to help bring on a smile, or better still, a chuckle during this festive season. Remember the ones you like, and help to spread some laughter about. People who spread joy and laughter are usually very well-liked.

Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka. - Jim Butcher

Be the reason someone smiles today. Or the reason they drink. Whatever works. - Unknown

In its purest form, dating is auditioning for mating (and auditioning means we may or may not get the part). - Joy Browne

The truth may not set you free, but used carefully, it can confuse the hell out of your enemies. - Laurel K. Hamilton

If the majority are insane, the sane must go to the hospital. - Horace Mann

I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police. - Keith Richards

Tattoos transform us from raw animals into cooked cultural beings. - Claude Levi-Strauss

In politics stupidity is not a handicap. - Napoleon Bonaparte

The husband who wants a happy marriage should learn to keep his mouth shut and his check book open. - Groucho Marx

I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. - Saki

The best thing about trying to name a baby is realizing how many people you hate. - Brian Gaar

In my dream, I was drowning my sorrows, but my sorrows they’d learned to swim. - U2

No woman marries for money: they are all clever enough, before marrying a millionaire, to fall in love with him. - Cesare Pavese

I’m not anti-social. I’m just not social. - Woody Allen

The difference between machines and human beings is that human beings can be reproduced by unskilled labour. - Arthur C. Clarke

We all want to be the best at something. Trouble is, some people are only the best at being second best. - Jarod Kintz

I love waving at random people, because you know for the rest of the day they’re trying to figure out who the hell you were. - Unknown

The future will soon be a thing of the past. - George Carlin

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Merry Christmas

To all of you who are celebrating Christmas - A Merry Christmas to You and your loved ones!

And for those who are not celebrating Christmas - Happy Holidays!

Celebrate, enjoy and have fun. But don't forget we are also in the midst of a pandemic. So, stay safe!

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Inspire Yourself, Motivate Yourself

Sometimes, we experience self doubts while trying to cope with the hassle and bustle of work and family life. Or, it could be a phase, or a bad patch we are going through. It need not be anything serious. It could also be one of those days when our biorhythms are at an all time low.

During such moments, a few words of encouragement will set us right again. However, the people around us may not know what we are going through. Hence, we have to look to ourselves to pull us out of that emotional state. We have to motivate and inspire ourselves.

Personally, I turn to aphorisms – the words of wisdom of the sages, gurus, philosophers, poets, and people who have gone through the hardships of life. Reading their observations, their life experiences always give my spirits a lift immediately.

I hope the following aphorisms will nudge you along life’s journey when you most needed it. Maybe you don’t need them now. But keep the ones you like, the ones that resonate with you. You might need them some day to inspire, and motivate yourself.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. - John Wesley

In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plough your anger and your energy into something positive. - Lee Iacocca

Things change, people change. That doesn't mean you forget the past or try to cover it up. It simply means that you move on and treasure the memories. - Unknown

If you want to leave footprints in the sands of time, don't drag your feet. - Arnot L. Sheppard

Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option. - Mark Twain

Doing your best is more important than being the best. - Mike Lermer

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. - André Gide

Humility can build you a castle and your pride can destroy that castle. - Unknown

Develop clutter free habits in every aspect of your life, and you will enjoy an easier flow through life on a continuous basis. - Hilda Carroll

It is not how old you are, but how you are old. - Jules Renard

Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and one-upping, always make you less than you are. - Malcolm Forbes

It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either. - Wayne Dyer

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