The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.
Another movie that left me a deep impression. The ultimate display of patience, tolerance and determination by Andy who in the movie dug a tunnel to escape from the prison using just a small rock hammer. And it took him more than two decades of digging!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Carpe diem
Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace that has become an aphorism. It is popularly translated as "seize the day".
I learnt about this phrase early in my life when I was still a teenager after watching the movie, Dead Poets Society (1989 drama film starring Robin Williams and directed by Peter Weir. Set at a conservative and aristocratic boys prep school, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his teaching of poetry and literature).
The most memorable part was the scene where the children stood up on the tables in the classroom. It taught me to be objective and see things from different perspectives. As for Carpe diem, it became my favorable phrase ever I since I decided that I wanted to live everyday as if it is my last.
I learnt about this phrase early in my life when I was still a teenager after watching the movie, Dead Poets Society (1989 drama film starring Robin Williams and directed by Peter Weir. Set at a conservative and aristocratic boys prep school, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his teaching of poetry and literature).
The most memorable part was the scene where the children stood up on the tables in the classroom. It taught me to be objective and see things from different perspectives. As for Carpe diem, it became my favorable phrase ever I since I decided that I wanted to live everyday as if it is my last.
Connecting the dots.......Follow your hearts........
"......... you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle....."
".....I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my
life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever
encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are
already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
~ Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple on Connecting The Dots during his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA
I have shared similar experiences in my own life. My child, believe in your heart, have dreams, and follow your passions. Since you cannot connect the dots looking forward, let the dots connect by itself. Do not fear failure, do not give in to social pressure, do not be afraid to be different. Also enjoy the process and don't be overly fixated on the end result.
"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle....."
".....I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my
life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever
encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are
already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."
~ Steve Jobs, Founder of Apple on Connecting The Dots during his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA
I have shared similar experiences in my own life. My child, believe in your heart, have dreams, and follow your passions. Since you cannot connect the dots looking forward, let the dots connect by itself. Do not fear failure, do not give in to social pressure, do not be afraid to be different. Also enjoy the process and don't be overly fixated on the end result.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Value has a value only if its value is valued
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $100 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $100 note?" Hands started going up. He said "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumpled the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?". Still the hands were up in the air."Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $100. Many times in your lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value."
You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $100. Many times in your lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value."
You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
Life -The Balancing Act
"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. They are Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it." ~ Bryan Dyson, Former CEO of Coca Cola
Indeed, if we apply should always apply this concept when we think of Work Life Balance. Imagine a balance scale with one side as Work and the other side as You, made up of your Family, Health and Spirit. We all try to keep the scale balance so that neither side land on the ground. However, understand that work is a solid block that if you hit the ground, you can still try to lift it back up. However Family, Health and Spirit is made of glass. If you land on this side, you may never get it back up again.
Work - we work to live, and not live to work. Remember the objective.
Spirit - is the flame that keeps you burning. This is the energy source that will drive you to greater heights or helped you bounce back up when you are down in the pit.
Health - the one that most would take for granted, but lose this one and you lose it all.
Family - the one that you love most in your life and for some, the reason you live for.
Friends - not that I do not value friendship or it's importance in Life but feel that the other 3 carry much more weights. Furthermore, great friendship would be as good as Family in some cases.
Indeed, if we apply should always apply this concept when we think of Work Life Balance. Imagine a balance scale with one side as Work and the other side as You, made up of your Family, Health and Spirit. We all try to keep the scale balance so that neither side land on the ground. However, understand that work is a solid block that if you hit the ground, you can still try to lift it back up. However Family, Health and Spirit is made of glass. If you land on this side, you may never get it back up again.
Work - we work to live, and not live to work. Remember the objective.
Spirit - is the flame that keeps you burning. This is the energy source that will drive you to greater heights or helped you bounce back up when you are down in the pit.
Health - the one that most would take for granted, but lose this one and you lose it all.
Family - the one that you love most in your life and for some, the reason you live for.
Friends - not that I do not value friendship or it's importance in Life but feel that the other 3 carry much more weights. Furthermore, great friendship would be as good as Family in some cases.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." ~ John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton
"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" ~ William Pitt
Looking back at history, how many monarchies or country leaders have not fallen to such temptation? Maybe this is the reason why dynasty eventually have to end.
"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" ~ William Pitt
Looking back at history, how many monarchies or country leaders have not fallen to such temptation? Maybe this is the reason why dynasty eventually have to end.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
All Humanity Without God is Bondage...
Today a good friend of mine who happens to be a Christian told me that All Humanity Without God is Bondage. I pondered over this statement for a while. While I could see her point from the perspective of her faith, somehow I wasn't quite convinced. To give her a difference perspective, I told her that True Humanity comes Without Bondage.
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