Small Stuff

“Would you like to renew your membership, sir?” the cashier asked dutifully.

This is the fourth time she asked me the past two months. I said to her that she had asked me the same question three times before.

My membership is not due till Christmas and I was not ready to part with my $30 yet. And I said, “No!”

My curiosity got the better of me and I asked why she would ask customers to renew their membership so early. With a sad look, she said that she had to meet quota.

I could imagine that the the many customers she asked, many turned her down, and hence the sad disposition.

Then I thought “Why not?”

That’s where I said, “Yes” and her face lighted up.

Christmas comes early for her. In turn, Christmas comes early for me, too!

When I looked back, I realised that I nearly lost an opportunity to show kindness – a small deed goes a long way.

Mother Teresa says, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

This week, do a small thing and make a person’s day with your great love!

And see the difference!

Strengths

For the longest time, I have been puzzled by the details of everyday life. Being a person who is not good with details, I would often need someone to tell me what was happening in a movie or a TV show. I even got the characters mixed up. Now, even I mistook TV commercials for new shows.

With all sincerity, I tried to organise myself, my things and no matter how hard I tried, I am lost in the whirlpool of details. I tried Outlook calendar, PDA and reminders…yet could not keep up the speed.

My DISC profile says I am not a person of detail. Period.

If you are like me, I got a piece of news for you: You can keep trying improving on your weaknesses until the cow comes home and still be struggling.

So I say: forget it.

Instead, enjoy whatever you are doing. And do whatever you are enjoying.

There are lots of people out there who love to do what you hate to do. And hate to do the stuff you love to do.

Whatever you love and enjoy doing and keep doing it – soon, your strengths will expand and you will become very good at what you are doing.

So what about your weaknesses?

Focus on your strengths. Farm out your weaknesses.

And if you have people who are willing to support your weaknesses with their strengths, your name shall be called "lucky."

That’s why we are so different from each other.

That’s why we should not complain about these differences…but to celebrate the differences.

Next time, when you see your partner being different, compliment him instead of crticising his uniqueness.

Try it!

And see the difference!

Faith

The voice inside says, “You won’t make any difference! You can’t make it! You might as well give it all up!” Sometimes when the voice gets louder, our confidence diminishes – and we learn to believe that it is, indeed, helpless – and hopeless.

Such is the effect of fear! It cripples our rationality, hijacks our emotions and leaves us vulnerable.

Fear causes us to run away as far as our little legs can carry us. No wonder it is exhausting when we are fearful.

We are surrounded by people who are fearful. Thankfully, not all of them ended up defeated. When Singapore was ousted out of Malaysia many years ago, Lee Kuan Yew had many reasons to be fearful. Yet, he could have despaired and gave up.

But he didn’t. Because his fears put him to work, I am enjoying the best of what Singapore is today.

When we hear such stories, we are both impressed and inspired by them.

It is because we can identify these stories of faith and courage – and yes, deep inside, you are a person of faith.

Don’t let fear to cause you to run away from your faith.

When fear comes knocking at your door – answer it with faith.

Because faith says the future is different.

And you can make a difference!

Getting out of my way

A series of unfortunate events happened the past year. Strangely, I don’t regret what had happened or not happened. If, I were much younger, I would have panic and probably end up taking psychiatric drugs. But at the moment, I am feeling calm.

While I can’t change what’s outside of me, I can change myself. And I will let events roll naturally, so that I will get out of my way in trying too hard to make things happen – which usually would end up in frustration or disappointment, if I stand in my own way.

Hence away from the noise of events, all I see on the mirror is my reflection. When nothing happens, one tends to move with more haste. Strangely, or against common logic, a quiet calmness enveloped me as I thought, “nothing really needs to happen at this time! All I need to do is just be and be tender to myself.”

It is when I get out of my way and in stillness, I can listen to my own soul and say, “I love you!”

And that’s very precious!