The Act of Kindness of Form 3 boys

Do you ever find someone who you know for just few months have shown his kindness to you? Do you feel that people around you, the same aged friend is not as good as the smaller kids?

It is true to be stated that I have experienced this. Today. This very day. Two students slash friends of my brother, that I only knew for 2 months, yeah, 2 months, tops, have shown their kindness to me, although I did not know them well. What they did is what my same aged friends cannot do. This is a little act of kindness. The kindness I am grateful of. They have donated RM 5 and RM 1 each for me, just to help me hit my donation target of RM 30. How nice they are. Yeah, they are nice boys, Ch'ng Kheaw Vei and Ng Kean Leong. I did not know them well, they knew me through my brother also, but they are willing to do something, an act of kindness to me. I am grateful for that.

Upon this, I must complement them for their act of kindness. Someone will never do that even for me, although they had knew me long enough. Speaking so, my brother too! Its the same situation. I will leave this to your imagination.

Again, thank you, Kheaw Vei and Kean Leong. You are the best.

Do you wish this in CLHS???Eh?

Yum...Yum... What do you think of the CLHS Hokkien Mee? Haha...

Each Day is a Gift

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room .... just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life."

She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing."

And with a smile, she said:

"Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less."

Do you know these two are different?

Know what is Enough...

What Should You DO?

How to Survive the BUSINESS OF LIVING

Real is the person who does not define happiness as an absence of problems. Surviving this business of living is a difficult ordeal at times. How can we retain a healthy sense of humor and experience a sense of balance in our lives? How can we realistically and yet with a sense of wonder live fully and not just survive? How can we maybe even celebrate this business of living? To answer some of these questions we will focus on seven points.

***Life Isn't Fair***

No matter how good we get at this business of living, none of us gets out of it alive. Frustrating, isn't it! Life doesn't always deal us a good hand and doing our best doesn't always pay off with a positive.

***Suffering***

Growth is seldom easy and pain is an integral part of our human condition. Everybody hurts. It's just that some of us are better actors in hiding the pain we feel. Seldom if ever ... are all of our ducks in a row.

***Loneliness and Alikeness***

Dr. Albert Schweitzer said, "We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness." We have all known moments of apartness and empty loneliness. Embracing that reality is essential if we are to cope effectively.

***Personal Responsibility***

We each have a choice to be either a death-peddler or a life-giver. We are responsible for the choices we make. We can become most of what we wish to be if we are willing to change and pay the price.

***Self Worth***

A poster reads, "God don't make junk." People are special and each is, "Beautiful in his/her own way." We are more than our accomplishments!

***People Need People***

Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. All of life occurs within relationships. We need to know we are needed and so do those we need.

***Mystery***

Life is not just one big problem to be solved. Rather, it is a mystery to be experienced, all the more meaningful and beautiful when it is shared and celebrated with other persons who are committed to "growing deep, not just tall!"

A Brother's Love

A BROTHER'S LOVE

A brother's love knows no bound,

it's a lot stronger than it sounds.

A brother's love is tough to find,

when it's found it's only kind.

A brother's love for his brother is strong,

something you learn as you move along.

A brother's love means good and no bad,

even at times when all he does is make you mad.

A brother's love never quits,

it always stands tall and never sits.

A brother's love catches you when you fall,

he will wipe your tears as if they were nothing at all.

A brother's love will continue to grow,

even at times when it does not show.

A brother's love means being tough,

it's not giving up, when I say enough is enough.

A brother's love means sharing what he has to give,

even if it means something really massive.

A brother's love stays in the heart,

something that can never tear apart.

A brother's love goes a long way,

especially when he plays with you on a rainy day.

A brother's love is writing a poem to show he cares,

even when what you are doing gives him nightmares.

A brother's love can hurt real bad,

especially when you do things just to make him mad.

A brother's love comes from the heart,

that is where it all has to start.

A brother's love is mercy,

even what you do all times brings dizzy.

A brother's love has only one thing to say,

"I Love You Brother Each And Everyday".

This poem is dedicated to my brother and to myself. Written by myself and dedicated to two brothers in this world.

Attitude Determines Everything!

How we react, what we do or say, all depends on our attitude. It determines whether we'll be happy or sad. Attitude can help, or hinder us in all areas of our lives.

If your thoughts are constantly of doom and gloom, you will receive the same in return.

Your thoughts and your perception of the world influences all that you do, and all that you are, and all that you can be.

Changing your attitude is really changing the way you see things. To begin the change, you must start looking for the good in every situation, rather than the negative.

So, you see the choice is yours. If we compare attitude to swimming, which are you doing?

Are you swimming - even against the currents and the waves you keep going,
you see your destination and you are taking action to reach it.

Are you floating - just allowing the waves to carry you, you end up
where ever the water takes you.

Are you drowning - you see the waves and the currents as difficulties
you can not over come.

The finest gift ...

The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement.
Yet, almost no one gets the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential.
If everyone received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond our wildest dreams.

Playing The Game

Life is a game with a glorious prize,

If we can only play it right.

It is give and take,

build and break,

And often it ends in a fight;

But he surely wins who honestly tries

(Regardless of wealth or fame),

He can never despair who plays it fair -

How are you playing the game?

Do you wilt and whine,

if you fail to win

In the manner you think your due?

Do you sneer at the man in case that he can

And does, do better than you?

Do you take your rebuffs with a knowing grin?

Do you laugh tho' you pull up lame?

Does your faith hold true when the whole world's blue?

How are you playing the game?

Get into the thick of it - wade in, boys!

Whatever your cherished goal;

Brace up your will till your pulses thrill,

And you dare - to your very soul!

Do something more than make a noise;

Let your purpose leap into flame

As you plunge with a cry, "I shall do or die,"

Then you will be playing the game.

Better English Speaking Skills

Improving your English speaking skills will help you communicate more easily and effectively. But how do you become a more confident English speaker?

Practice where you can, when you can.

Any practice is good - whether you speak to someone who is native English speaker or not.

It's important to build your confidence.

If possible, use simple English sentencestructure that you know is correct, so that you can concentrate on getting your message across.

Try to experiment with the English you know.

Use words and phrases you know in new situation. Native English speakers are more likely to correct you if you use the wrong word than if you use the wrong grammar. Experimenting with vocabulary is a really good way of getting feedback.

Try to respond to what people say to you.

You can often get clues to what people think by looking at their body language. Respond to them in a natural way.

Try NOT to translate into and from your own language. This takes too much time and will make you more hesitant.

If you forgot a word, do what native English speakers do all the time, and say things that 'fill' the conversation. This is better than keeping comlpetely silent.

Do not speak too fast!

It is important to use a natural rhythm when speaking English, but if you speak too fast it will be difficult for peolpe to understand you.

Try to relax when you speak.

You will find your mouth does most the pronunciation work for you. When you speak English at normal speed, you will discover that many of the pronunciation skills, such as linking words, will happen automatically.

Attention! MUET students! 10 Things to kickstart your English speaking life!

To all MUET students in year 2008.

To most students, they do not have confident to speak English in front of public, however, what if, I were to change the language to Mandarin? Now, this is interesting, when talking about Mandarin, they can convey and converse everything in their minds and without hesitant, they speak fluently! But, for English, students are so reluctant to speak up. What happened? They afraid of people's critics? They do not know how to speak? No, actually, they do know how to speak English, just that they do not have the right confident and right words for their topic. What else do they do? They have the words translated directly from Chinese to English.

Here is to help and built your character in speaking English before giving you the information about English speaking.

1. Realise that you can be good at English.

2. Realise that English is easy.

It is something you can achieve. And you can achieve easily. All it takes is a little effort and the right way of thinking. English is easy.

3. Do something you enjoy.

You must love to learn English. You don't see it as work, but as play. To achieve this the key is to do what excites you, but do it in English. Do you have a passion for fishing, or fashion? The latest stock prices or the hottest music? What about your family or children? What gets you going? What's the one thing that if taken away from your life would have the biggest influence on you? Now imagine reading, listening and talking passionately about that subject, but in English.

4. Set a goal.

How good do you want to be? Without a goal, however hard you try you will never achieve anything. You need a decided, specific, written goal. Maybe you have one already? Maybe you need a certain level of English for a promotion or pay rise? Maybe there is a special girl or boy you want to speak to in English? Maybe you have a big business trip coming up? Set that as your goal. See yourself with that promotion, with that pay rise, with that boy or girl or talking effortlessly during that business meeting. Set the goal, work everyday towards it and you will achieve it.

5. Don't mind what other people think.

6. Take responsibility.

We all start from different points in life. Some of us are born rich, some are born poor. Some have influential parents, some have no parents at all. Some have been seemingly been given great chances on a plate, some have had to work extra hard for everything they have achieved. This is life. And there's nothing to do but accept it. If we constantly say "yes, but he was born in America so of course he can speak English", or "Yes, but he went to the best university and had the best teachers" then we are blaming other people. Blaming other people is to make excuses, and making excuses is to open the path to failure. First we must take responsibility ourselves. How good you are at English is all up to you. There are millions of people in underdeveloped countries who have no food, no education and no resources, but they simply decided to learn English and did it. They took responsibility and took action. You are exactly the same, if you take responsibility and take action you will succeed. Maybe you feel you have no time? That you are too busy? But who decides how you spend your time? Don't blame other people. How you choose to spend your time is entirely decided by you. So take responsibility and take control, acknowledge that you control what, when and how you do things, and make the best use of your time to achieve your goals. Take time where you can, five minutes after taking the kids to school? A 20 minute commute to work? An extra 10 minutes while eating lunch? Your time is yours. Five minutes before breakfast? Your time is yours. Everything starts with you. You are the master of your destiny, only you can determine how good you wish to become. Decide today you wish to be brilliant. Take responsibility. Make it happen. Become a brilliant speaker.

7. Work smart, not hard.

8. Take every chance you have.

Every chance is a gift; you'd be a fool not to take it. If you are asked to speak to some people in English, if you see someone lost on the street, if you are on holiday and want to order some food. Take the chance and do it. Speak English. Don't give into the easy path of being embarrassed or afraid. This is the new you and you take every chance you get. Who cares if you make mistakes, you will have learnt something from the experience. Taking every chance you get increases your confidence. And increased confidence leads to more chances and opportunities appearing. People will see how you are eager to help people, you will be asked to help out more and people will respect you for it.

9. You can do it!

Confidence is the key. You are special. You can do it. You are a very clever person, after all you've had the energy to keep reading right to the end of this book. It's not brain surgery, it's not genetic engineering, it's just English, and you can do it. Stay with it, just five minutes a day and you will become better than you every imagined. It's all up to do. Decide to become a great speaker. Believe it will happen, and it will.

10. Do it today!

So you're all geared up ready to be able to speak English today? Well, do it! Don't wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes! Don't think; do it! There's never been a better time for you to start. Whatever you are doing after reading this book, do it in English. If you are going to the shops, call in at a bookstore and buy some CDs. If you are in the house, put the TV on in English. If you are planning what to make for dinner, think about what you would like - in English. If you are listening to this book on CD, then let the English version play. The best time to start is right now! You are the new you, the new you speaks great English and the new you starts now!

Your GOALS!

There is no end to the amount of things you can accomplish!

Promise Yourself! I Swear!

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear;
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds;
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.