Living Life to the Fullest

We live, a brief moment in time; like the passing cloud, here one moment, gone the next. So, we should treasure the time we have, and make full use of it. Laugh your heart out. Dance in the rain. Cherish the moment. Live life to the fullest while you are still healthy.

We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. - Thich Nhat Hanh

This is called mindful living. You live one moment at a time, one day at a time. You will never live this day again. But by living one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past, or for the future. Relax and enjoy life. Live in the moment. The moment is all you have.

If you don't live you life well now, when are you going to find the time to go back and live it over?

All of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. - Dale Carnegie

Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Begin, at once, to live while you are still healthy and have all your faculties intact. Live each day like it is the last.

It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had. - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

He who lives in the present lives in eternity. - Ludwig Wittgenstein

Live all you can; it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven’t had that what have you had? - Henry James

Live neither in the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb your entire energies, and satisfy your widest ambition. - William Osler

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Continue to learn. Play with abandon. Choose with no regret. Laugh! Do what you love. Love as if this is all there is. - Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey

He lives long who lives well. - J. Wilson

We only have one life and one body to care of, and we better do it right. You never know what tomorrow may bring and so we better live this life the best we can and be grateful for everything we have. - Novak Djokovic

Let us live while we live, and snatch each fleeting moment of truth and love and beauty. - Sarah Alden Bradford Ripley

An Art Exhibition

A solo art exhibition – ‘100 Miniature Paintings by Ernest Chan’ at ‘SEED the Art Space’.

Yesterday, I went with some friends to the opening of our mutual friend’s solo art exhibition. Some of you will remember that I posted about a visit to an art exhibition recently - on the first of September. That was a group exhibition by Ernest and his students. Yesterday’s was his solo exhibition of 100 miniature oil paintings on wooden blocks of 3 cm x 6 cm, 3 cm by 3 cm, and 3 cm in diameter.

Here are some of the paintings on exhibition. Miniature oil painting on wood - 3 cm in diameter. These come in a glass container. I think it is a nice touch, and I am sure they will be very popular.

Magnifying glass are provided in case you want to have a closer look.

These are 3 cm by 3 cm.

This is to give you an idea of how big the blocks are. They are smaller than the first joint of my thumb.

And this is just past the second joint of my pinky.

The exhibition hall wasn't too big. But then, you don't need to have a big room for a 100 pieces of 3 cm by 6 cm blocks, or smaller, do you? Still, the room filled up quickly after the opening of the exhibition.

As of last night, I understand that 30% of the works have been sold. I would say it was a very good start of the exhibition, and I am sure, in the coming days, many more will be sold. I am happy for him.

Here is the Catalog of the Exhibition – if you are interested. You will see all the works of the exhibition, pictures of the artist at work, his curriculum vitae, and an explanation of the exhibition.

Here’s the address of the exhibition
SEED the art space
Unit 03-11 Herencia 46 Kim Yam Road

The exhibition is on until the 19th of January, but it is only on Saturdays and Sundays only – from 1pm to 6pm Weekdays are by appointments only.

Earth

Nature

Our lives might not have come with a manual, or an instruction booklet detailing what we must do at each stage of our lives, or how to live our lives day to day, but if we were to be more observant, we will find that all the answers that we need are provided for in Nature.

The sage and wise man of the past understood this. But we are so blinded by the materialism, that we have lost our way.

The good news is that there are signs that people are slowly beginning to understand our connection with Nature. Instead of abusing Nature, and keep taking from it, people are learning how to take care of Nature now.

We are beginning to understand that we are a part of Nature. Whatever happens to Nature, we will either benefit from it, or suffers from it.

Take a few moments each day to reflect upon the beauty and perfection of Nature’s creation. You don’t have to be a scientist to learn from Nature’s marvellous creation; you only need to stop long enough to observe, and let Nature reveal its wonders to you.

Design created on Canva

Come forth into the light of things, let Nature be your teacher. - William Wordsworth

Apprentice yourself to nature. Not a day will pass without her opening a new and wondrous world of experience to learn from and enjoy. - Richard W. Langer

Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly we take the hint. - Robert Frost

Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do. - Michel de Montaigne

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. - Albert Einstein

Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

With nature’s help, humankind can set into creation all that is necessary and life sustaining. - Hildegard Von Bingen

No rush, no hurry. A time and place for everything.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao Tzu

Nature herself has never attempted to effect great changes rapidly. - Marcus Fabius Quintilian

Nature is not mute, it is Man that is deaf. - Terence McKenna

Mohammad Sultan Road

Mohammad Sultan Road is on the side of Robertson Walk. You turn off the road and you are into the heart of Robertson Walk, where you find the shopping mall, restaurants, pubs and Al Fresco dining. There are also many prestigious and luxurious waterfront condominiums.

From the Ford Canning Station, one has to walk pass Mohammad Sultan Road to reach Robertson Walk. I am not very familiar with this area. I might have passed it a couple of times, but I have never really paid attention to the place.

Apparently, in its heyday in the 60s and 70s, this street was bustling with business and trading activity because of its close proximity to the Singapore River.

Unfortunately due to the modernization of Singapore, Mohamed Sultan Road became unoccupied and rundown. The place, however, took a turn when the government decided to redevelop the place in the 90s, and turn it into a club/restaurant centre. Since then it has flourished. There were many clubs and restaurants on this stretch of road. The scene was lively, vibrant and club-hoppers enjoyed this row of clubs. Music played non-stop, and you can find the hippest people there.

Today, Mohammad Sultan Road is overshadowed by Robertson Walk. Although it is still an exciting place to be on a Friday and Saturday night, it is rather quiet during the week.

Looks like some restoration has been done and a new coat of paint.

Four old shop houses and a house of glass. Some would be aghast, some would find it a beautiful contrast. I am surprised the owner got away with the design.

Another row of shop houses given a new coat of paint.

Prestigious condominiums in the Roberston Walk.

This one might be high enough to offer a waterfront view.

Life's Little Lessons

Quotes inspire me, and have served as signposts on my journey through life. They are my surrogate educators. They are my teachers, guardians, and friends … always there to patiently motivate, encourage, advice, counsel, console, enlighten, educate, and at times to egg me on when I am feeling down, discouraged or disillusioned. Some of my teachers are centuries old and they include sages, philosophers, poets, writers who uttered that quote which resonates with me.

The beauty of quotes is that they are ageless. They are as applicable now as when they were uttered by some sage or guru or philosopher some centuries ago. Another beauty of quotes is that they are usually fairly simple in words and meaning. However, behind the simple words, and sentences are profound truisms. Unfortunately, it is easy to read the words without really understanding the more profound meaning they convey, missing the point the of the quotes.

Source

A true measure of your worth includes all the benefits others have gained from your success. - Cullen Hightower

Once men are caught up in an event, they cease to be afraid. Only the unknown frightens men. - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it. - Unknown

The rich become richer and the poor become poorer is a cry heard throughout the whole civilized world. - Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

Nothing is so intolerable to man as being fully at rest, without a passion, without business, without entertainment, without care. - Blaise Pascal

One never goes so far as when one doesn’t know where one is going. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all. - Georges Bernanos

Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it. - Unknown

An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence, the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head. - Eric Hoffer

The worst bankrupt in the world is the person who has lost his enthusiasm. - H.W. Arnold

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. - Marcus Tullius Cicero

It is vain and useless to survey everything that goes on in the world if our study does not help us mend our ways. - Magdeleine Sable

The Moments of Your Life

Think not of the past, and worry not of the future. Present-moment living, getting in touch with your ‘now’, is at the heart of effective living. Living life moment to moment is living life fully. Be awake, be aware of what is happening around you. Experience everything. Enjoy them, enjoy the process.

Every moment of our lives is always different. At times it can be easy, and at times it is very hard, but from every moment we live through, we learn the lesson in it. Be aware of the moments in your life, for that is what your life is made of. When you looked back on your life, it is these moments that you remember, that stood out most.

Source

Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself. - Paramahansa Yogananda

Life is a journey from moment to moment. Live each moment to its fullest. - Garth Catterall-Heart

Life isn’t a matter of milestones but of moments. - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy 

When you think about it, there really is no other moment you can live. Now is all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives. - Wayne Dyer

I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. - Jean de La Bruyère

Any life, however long and complicated it may be, actually consists of a single moment – the moment when a man knows forevermore who he is. - Jorge Luis Borges

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. - Omar Khayyam

The only important thing is that one lives in the present authentically and fully. Whatever your current life is, be the most you can be by living in the moment. - Chan Chih

Look at the sparrows; they do not know what they will do in the next moment. Let us literally live from moment to moment. - Mahatma Gandhi

You must live life in such a spirit that you make in every moment the best of possibilities. - Carl Gustav Jung

Differences Between Chinese Dining and Western Dining

I am sure many of you have dined in both Chinese, and Western restaurants. But, have you noticed the difference between the Chinese way of dining, and the Western way of dining?

The immediate difference one noticed is that Chinese eat with chopsticks and spoons, whereas Westerners eat with forks and knives.

This is because Chinese way of cooking is to cut everything into bite size pieces, so you don’t need knives to cut it. You simply pick up the food with chopsticks. Westerners cook food in big pieces. Therefore, meals are served with knives and forks for cutting the food.

Apart from the cutleries used, there are other differences which you may, or may not have noticed.

Let’s look at the basic table setting in a regular Chinese restaurant, and a regular Western restaurant. We will look at the middle of the road restaurants.

In a Chinese restaurant, besides the table spoon and chopsticks, you will see a bowl on top of a small plate, also known as a side plate. There will also be a small bottle of soya sauce, and a bottle of chilli sauce, or sometimes red cut chilli, or pickled green cut chillies. There will also be a tea cup.

In a Western restaurant, you will see a fork and a knife, and a butter knife on a side plate. There will also be a shaker for salt, and a shaker for pepper, and a goblet/glass for water. In the fine diners, there will be a wine glass on the table.

In the Chinese restaurant, you will see mostly round tables. This is because Chinese usually eat communally. They share their dishes with others. A round table is preferred, as it is more convenient to share dishes. If it is a big table, or a big group of people, a turntable is put at the center of the table. In this way, guests need only rotate the turntable to reach the food they wish to pick up. The turntable is usually made of glass, although there are plastic, or wooden ones.

The turntable has a name. It is called ‘Lazy Susan.’ I kid you not. You can read all about it HERE

The Western restaurants usually have square, or rectangle tables. Westerners usually eat individual servings. Square or rectangle tables give flexibility in setting up the dining room. They can easily join the tables together if there are many people in the group.

What about the food?

For the Chinese, rice is the main staple, followed by noodles. Chinese usually stir-fry their vegetables. When it comes to meat, Chinese usually don’t debone. They just chop the meat into pieces, with the bones. Chinese usually steamed their fishes, and serve them whole.

For the Westerners, bread, potatoes and pasta are the main staple. Westerners eat salad (raw vegetables), or they boiled their vegetables. Meat are served with or without bones depending what the dish is. And fish dishes are usually fillets of fish.

In the Chinese restaurant, food are served as and when they are cooked – unless it is a former dinner. Then, the dishes are served course by course. Of course, desserts are usually served after the meal.

In Western restaurant, food are served course by course – usually, there is a starter, and/or soup, and then the main course, followed by desert.

The above are some of the more common differences between Chinese and Western dining. If I left out anything, do feel free to add them in the comments section.

Words

There are hurtful and harsh words that can reduce a person to tears, or scar a person for life. There are kind and gentle words that soothe, heal and are uplifting. Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

Be careful with what you say. Choose your words carefully. You might have lashed out in a moment of anger, or thoughtlessness, but the scar is deep and the words can still hurt after a long time. It is better to bite your tongue and swallow the words, than trying to ask for forgiveness after that. We know once the words are uttered, there is no way to recall them, no matter how sorry we are.

Listen carefully to what people are saying. Pay attention to their words. Many a true word is spoken in jest. Sometimes, people accidentally say what they mean. Sometimes, you can ‘hear’ what they are trying to say, but can't. And sometimes you 'hear' what they are not saying.

Good words are worth much, and cost little. Consider carefully before you say a hard word to a man, but never let a chance to say a good one go by. It has been said that kind words are like music of the world, and one kind word can warm three winter months. If you get the right words in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of the demons. - Aldous Huxley

An honest, kind word spoken in love lifts the spirit and refreshes the soul. A kind word not spoken leaves an empty hole. - Unknown

Look out how you talk about others for these words, empty and arrogant, hit back at you even harder than they may hit them. - Unknown

Some words are like rays of sunshine, others like barbed arrows or the bite of a serpent. And if hard words cut so deep, how much pleasure can kind ones give? - Sir John Lubbock

For one word a man is often deemed to be wise, and for one word he is often deemed to be foolish. We should be careful indeed what we say. - Confucius

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill. - The Buddha

There is always time to add a word, never to withdraw one. - Baltasar Gracian

Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good. - Lao Tzu

Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world. - Lawrence G. Lovasik

No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous. - Henry Adams

Komono Dragon

On my walks, I see many of these tree lizards.

Occasionally, I see one of these. But they are usually in the distance.

On this day, I was slightly earlier than usual in taking my walk. And that is probably why I managed to see it. Later on in the evenings, the walk path is very busy, I don’t think the komodo dragon will show themselves.

The komodo dragon is also known as the komodo monitor. We, locals call them monitor lizards. I was under the impression that they are quite harmless to humans, but after reading that they “hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals,” I am not so sure now. Maybe if we leave them alone, they will not bother us too. It has been claimed that “they have a venomous bite; there are two glands in the lower jaw which secrete several toxic proteins.” So, to be on the safe side, maybe it is better to not get too close or too curious about them.

Anyway, I saw this komodo dragon ambling across the road. I was curious to know why it crossed the road. So, I followed quietly behind it and took a video of it. I guess it was looking for food.

Do you know anything about this creature? Feel free to comment.