Help Yourself N Help Others

Help Yourself N Help Others: "Ordinary will not Change the World"

2017-03-17T01:16:00.001-07:00

Help Yourself N Help Others: "Ordinary will not Change the World": Dear Friends, This blog post is a tribute to the works of Lewis Pugh's efforts in Environmental Conservation. I had the pleasure of ...

"Ordinary will not Change the World"

2017-03-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

This blog post is a tribute to the works of Lewis Pugh's efforts in Environmental Conservation. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the BMW 5 series launch recently in Singapore. He is a Maritime Lawyer and Environmental protection advocate. Lewis Pugh has been described as the Sir Edmund Hillary (the first man to have reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 together with his Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay) of swimming.

Like Lewis, I share his love for the ocean and the dolphins, whales, sharks and thousands of fish variety that make the ocean so beautiful. While I may not reach the heights or depths of Lewis' achievements, I want to support his work in my own way through this blog, Facebook, etc.

He undertakes all of his swims to both North and South Poles in just in a Speedo costume, cap and goggles only. In 2013, he was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

“Everywhere water is under threat. It is our most precious resource. And there is no alternative to it”, this is quote from his website - http://lewispugh.com/

"Why do I do what I do? I do it because I believe in protecting our fragile planet, in peace and in justice. I do it because it’s right. I do it because our souls need nature. And I do it as much for nature’s sake as for ours", Lewis Pugh. I hope you will follow his endeavors and support his work because we need follow this good man's example to save the world from GLOBAL WARMING. Please follow him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lewisgordon.pugh

I wish him all the best in his attempts to meet global leaders to convince them of the importance of environmental protection.

God Bless Him! Love All, Serve All!

Best Regards,

Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Embrace Kindness!

2016-11-22T18:02:00.001-08:00

Dear friends,

Recently people all around me have been talking about kindness or sharing something nice that has happened to them. I have been hearing it with Ryan Seacrest (Celebrity Host & DJ), KISS 92, The Straits Times and Reader's Digest, my all time favorite magazine. It is nice when you hear random acts of kindness especially by strangers. We all need love and want to be treated nicely by others. Likewise, we should pay it forward by doing nice things for others.

In this world where there are so many things going wrong with shootings, with terrorism, with politicians inciting racial hatred behavior, rape, incest, etc., we need people to come forward with good news and good stories that drown these negative acts. We all can collectively change a person by showing them how to be kind and loving.

I enjoyed reading this Reader's Digest article online so I thought I will write about kindness in this blog. Here is the article for you all to read.

http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/kindness-strangers/

There was a Doctor in Coimbatore, India who charged only RP20 for all his patients. The patients buy their medicine at the pharmacy. The medicine he prescribed would not cost more than RP50. (Total cost RP70 is roughly USD 1.024). His name is Dr. Balasubramaniam. He passed away just this week. He was a savior to not one or two people but to thousands of poor people. They loved him like God. His reason for doing it was, God had given him enough money to take care of himself so he wanted to help the poor get back their health. He would even do it for free for patients who had no money. He is another version of Mother Teresa. God Bless Him!

Here is more details about his work and his life:

http://www.thebetterindia.com/75624/coimbatore-bids-final-goodbye-20-rs-doctor-balasubramanian-unsung-hero/

If you have experienced such random acts of kindness or have done something nice for someone do write about it in the comments column. I would love to hear from you.

Do not forget acts of kindness by a stranger or by a family member. It is nice to make someone else smile for a change. Embrace Kindness!

Have a Great Week and God Bless! Love All, Serve All!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Beware of Scams Online and Get Rich Quick Schemes!

2016-10-23T09:35:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

We all have heard of Get Rich Quick Schemes! Some of us have been suckered into investing in some of them. I have been scammed by some of these guys and I want to warn you of being influenced by some of these schemes. There are many people who have lost their life savings by investing in scams such as Gold, Silver, Property, MLM marketing, Online Marketing, etc.,

Here are some things to lookout for:

1) Before putting even a dollar, do your research about the company and individuals behind the business. Talk to friends and other investors. Search the internet for information, reviews, and forum's where people may give their honest feedback.

2) Only invest money that you can afford to lose. That means you will not lose sleep if you get cheated or the investment fails for one reason or other. Don't get greedy.

3) If it is too good to be true, it probably is. There is no such things as a free lunch. Get rich quick will fail most of the time, The movie "Wolf of Wall Street" comes to mind.

4) Look beyond the glorified sales pitch. They will use pretty girls, show off their expensive cars like the Ferrari and Rolex watches to appeal to you. Do not fall such sales gimmicks. If you are not sure its better to walk away. If you do not know where the business originates from or it does not have a physical office in Singapore or wherever you are, you should think twice about investing because should anything go wrong you do not have chance to demand for a refund or worse still sue them.

Singaporeans are known to "BIG" believers of property investment. Some property investment companies have come to Singapore to get Singaporeans to invest their courses and promising to help them make millions. Once you sign up for their property courses for US$5k, US$10k and even US $50k you get meager support and you may end up losing money because these guys are busy making money themselves. Remember buying property is complicated. You need to understand the state laws, county laws, taxation system, accounting system, etc. You will also need good property managers to take care of your property and maintain the property well. And you need get tenants if you want to rent the property out. So, you cannot be a passive investor.

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) is another business model that seems to be popular. But I have realized that its the early starters who make the money. I don't know of anyone who has become a millionaire by being involved in MLM business. I also hate the idea of pestering my friends to invest in your business.products. You may not only lose money on your investment but also lose your friends.

Here is one example of a scheme that lures you in with a lot of promises but once they have sucked you in you are stuck and you have to keep pumping in money before you see any return on your investment.

Your Personal Online Watchdog

http://waystoavoidscamsonline.com/my-online-business-empire-review-another-obvious-scam

With the internet it is easy to get scammed. But be weary of other types of scams as well. If you do lose money through a scam, make a police report and go to small claims court. The police will only take action if there a multiple victims who come forward to lodge a police report. Legal fees will be high so you need to weigh the option of suing the guilty party and lose more money. You can also engage a legalized debt collector but be prepared to pay for their services just like the lawyers. You can also take to social media to warn others so that these guys can be flushed out and save others from being scammed.

The best way to avoid these headaches is to do your homework and be careful where to invest your hard earned money. "Get Rich Quick Schemes" are dangerous and you need to ask yourself if you should invest your money elsewhere and get lower but guaranteed returns and you can preserve your capital.

Love All, Serve all!

Best Regards,
Mark.
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

What is Donald Trump's Appeal?

2016-08-11T06:33:00.002-07:00

Dear Friends,

Why is Donald Trump popular with some segments of US Electorate? This is puzzling to the rest of the world.

Donald Trump has been by far the most controversial US Presidential candidate. As a businessman he has been unscrupulous. As a husband he has been amorous with other women. He has been divorced twice before. It likely that his employees and government staff that he does not like or cross him are likely to face the same fate, as he is likely to utter "You are FIRED"! even before you have a chance to explain your side of the story. His life is like a soap opera.

Donald Trump's election campaign has the whole world sit up and worry as to what will happen if he were to become US President. I admire him for his business success and his ability rebound back from bankruptcy. He once said if you are going to think, you might as well think BIG. I try to remind myself especially when I am embarking on certain projects. But that is where my admiration for him stops.

As presidential candidate he has been toxic and divisive. I shudder to think what will happen if he becomes the US President. I have been a big fan of President Obama. While his policies have been good they have been hampered by the Republicans. The US has made progress but the rest of the world has faltered economically. But overall, Obama has done pretty well in my humble opinion for the last 8 years. If he did not do a good job the first four years, Americans would not have elected him for a second term of office.

But Donald Trump on the other hand, has been trying to divide and conquer. His rhetoric against Muslims and the Latinos has riled Americans from all walks of life. This will create internal strife if he becomes President. Granted terrorism is a real problem but he definitely does not have the right solutions. Going head on by blaming Muslims in general will not rile the terrorists but also good Muslims who are on the side of the Americans. He has plans to put America first. While this is admirable, it may lead to isolationist policies that may be detrimental to balance of power with China and Russia vying for global leadership. It will place US and the rest of the world at risk as China and Russia have other plans such as they want a shift in global balance of power.

People have questioned Trump knowledge and understanding of the US Constitution, political analysts have poked holes in Trump's foreign and domestic policy plans, and even Warren Buffet challenged Trump to to declare his taxes, etc. From his speeches, Trump has clearly exhibited that he incompetent as a leader of a nation. He has been constantly changing his views and mind. If this is how he is going to run the country then not only is the US is in for a tough 4 years but also the rest of the world. What the world needs right now is a strong US government to lead the US and the world out of economic instability, contain global terrorism by working together with other countries, solving environmental issues and providing stability as a counter balance against Russia and China.

While Michelle Obama has handled herself with dignity and class, Melania Trump has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. She not only copied the Michelle Obama speech but images of her appearing naked in some magazines has reappeared. Is that who Americans would like as their First Lady? I don't think so.

Hillary Clinton may not be the best candidate but compared to Donald Trump, she is far better candidate. There will be continuity with the Democrats in power while the Republicans regroup as right now thousands of Republicans have torn up their party's passes as they are opposed to Trump.

Donald Trump does have some good ideas and he has spoken up for the underdogs. This does not mean that he deserves to be the President. Hence, people of United States of America, please vote wisely as the choice will not only affect the US but also the rest of the world.

Love All, Serve All!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Stop Complaining!

2016-06-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

There are people we know who like to keep complaining about how life has been tough on them. They complain about work, their husband and wife, their children, their in-laws, their brother and sister, friends, etc. They can never be satisfied until they complain about something. Sometimes they are looking for sympathy and for people to feel pity for them. But when you keep hearing over and over again, it gets very tiring and I am sure people are tired of hearing about it. It not drains their energy but also saps your energy because of their negativity.

Take for example children. We were kids once. We never liked when our parents or teacher scolded us even if we were in the wrong most of the time and which is why we get scolded. We also would not liked to be embarrassed by our parents in front of our friends and relatives. The more we complained about them the more they will rebel. This becomes a vicious cycle.

The Internet and hand phone has changed the way children grow up. They are exposed to things at a earlier age. They watch YouTube and have Facebook and Instagram accounts. They post videos of the cool things like "Kandama" and "Marvel Comics" and follow the stars. It is very difficult to keep track of what they do but that does not mean we stop trying. They also watch movies that give them ideas about how to rebel. I saw a cartoon - "Alvin and the Chipmunks" teaching how to kiss and kids less than 10 years old are watching this. In another show, the parents were having a conversation about how they wished they did not have a kid so that they could have the rich lifestyle like their neighbor. The child took it the wrong way and ran off only to realize that he can't live on his own. When he came back parents were crying that he was missing and they were worried. The point is kids could learn from such shows and maybe never come back. There may never be a happy ending if we keep pushing them away.

So, we need to be tactful about how we deal with children. Children these days lack resilience (first thing when they face a life challenging problem is to give up or commit suicide instead of looking for solutions), something which we need to teach them. Stop complaining and start looking each complain objectively especially when it comes to our children.

Hence, it is important to change and be a better more positive person and life will be happier and people around you:

1) Watch how we carry ourselves on a daily basis. If you feel the urge to complain, stop and count to 10. Don't look for people to pity you. That won't make you better. It will only reinforce your problem. How you deal with your situation will make you better and happier.

2) Instead, complement someone sincerely be it your child or friend or colleague sincerely if they deserve it (its not flattery). There are some redeeming features in everyone. Praise your kids more often in front of others and complain less and see the change. Punish them in private and praise them in public if they deserve it. Both parents must work together as a team when dealing with children.

3) Learn to look at glass as being half full, instead of being half empty. Things are not as bad as you think. You have a family, friends, a job and you are able to walk, see and talk. Ask "Nick" Vujicic" how he deals with life without any hands or legs. He is an inspiration to all of us. Learn from him. Stop Complaining!!!!!!

4) Be grateful for the gifts you have in your life. Your children are a gift as there are many couples who are unable to have kids. You have a job. Many people out there do not know where to find their next meal for themselves and their children. You have a home and family but some people live on the streets and rain or shine, that is their home.

5) Be POSITIVE and THINK POSITIVE things. List down all the positive things you have or enjoyed in your life. Write positive things about each of your child. You may see that your child is not that bad. Sometimes with love, care and guidance the child may become a better person later in life.

Whatever the case learn to listen to your child's inner needs so that he will listen to you. If a child disobeys, its because they feel that their needs are not answered.

If it is about work that you complain, then see what can be done to change the situation. Attend a new course and change your job. Don't quit without a job in hand as the world economy is not in a good state and hence, finding a new job may be difficult. There are options available to all of us. Question is, are we ready to choose those options? Change may be a good thing. You may complain less!

Stop Complaining! Start Enjoying the things you have in your life!

Have a Great Day!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Losing Someone You Love!

2016-04-10T21:45:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

My Dad passed away on Sunday ( 3/4/2016) due to infection of the blood and bone. He had an operation to put in "shant" to drain excess fluid in his brain about 10 years ago (2006). While we thought it was a good thing to do have the "shant", it had other effects. That same year my mother passed away. It was a double whammy for my Dad. He was not the same man ever again. He became quiet and hardly spoke about his sadness, pain or suffering. He wilted away slowly and eventually, passed on after 11 days in the hospital.

Growing up, our Dad was a strict diciplinarian. He was also a very spiritual man. He taught us to stand on our own two feet and not depend on others. Even though we hardly saw him during the day as he would work from 6am to 12am on most days, he showered us with love and he took good care of us whenever he was at home.

My Dad was a great guy according to family friends and relatives. He helped so many people despite being a cab driver. He was the "Master of Ceremony for Weddings and Funerals" and he did it out of his own goodwill and he did not collect any money for his services. He also picked up friends and anyone who came from abroad and helped them settle down in Singapore. He served society and he never craved for glory but helped anyone who needed help. He was also a match-maker as he was well connected among the Ceylonese Community as well as other races. I found out more about my Dad during the wake and his friends shared more information about my Dad which my Dad did not share with us. One friend described my Dad as a "Legend" in our community while another described him as an "Unsung Hero" of the community. I felt really proud.

It was especially difficult for my sisters to let go of him. They loved him dearly and so did I. But, I am glad he passed on instead of struggling in hospital any longer. One friend shared that his father was in hospital for 67 days due to stroke and had a heart bypass before passing on. I am glad my Dad is in a better place.

My Dad lived up to the motto of "Help Yourself N Help Others". This was a hobby or therapy for him in a way. Helping others brought him joy.

Why am I sharing this? Well, losing someone you love is painful, scary and difficult to handle. It is OK to grieve but it is also important to treasure the memories of the person and learn to let go. Everyone has to go through this process. If there is birth, then there will be death. It is part and parcel of life be it animals or humans. If you find it difficult to let go, then talk to someone you are comfortable with. Start a new hobby that will give you joy and make you happy. The best way to cherish the person is to live up to their expectation and continue their good work. In my sisters and my case, our Dad and Mum wanted us to be happy and successful. My Dad always urged us to study as to him that was the best way to get out of poverty. It is never to late to start your education journey again. It was tough for my Dad but he was cab driver for 40 over years and brought us up well.

My sisters and I are grateful to my Dad and Mum for their love and care they showered on us. God Bless their Soul. Thank You Appa & Amma. We love you!

Best Regards,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Reprogram Yourself!

2015-02-11T00:32:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

Here are some important tips to make yourself happy more often than you can imagine. It sounds simple but if we just take some steps, it is not impossible.

"You have the power to make "HAPPINESS" a Way of Life, instead of an occasional occurrence!" This saying is so true and it is important we realize it.

Well, if you are feeling sad most of the time, you can change that immediately. You need to "Reprogram Yourself!" How?

Here are some tips:

1) Analyze your state of mind. Ask yourself the following questions:

-How are you feeling? Happy, Sad or neither!

If you are Happy, GREAT! Cheer others who need some of your SUNSHINE!

- If sad......why?

- Can you ignore or forget about it?

-If Yes....-Think of something POSITIVE or HAPPY.

-If No.....Why? Talk to someone you are close to. Sometimes we complicate things by making a mountain out of a molehill. Are you doing that? Are you overthinking things? If yes, my advise is to stop it now. Change the way you look at things. Think of something POSITIVE or HAPPY. Locate the source of your sadness. Eliminate it by focusing on something good in your life. Don't depend on someone else to make you happy. You should love yourself before others can love you. Let go of your insecurities and become a New Person.

Tell yourself - the time is now for you to feel "HAPPY". SMILE! You can do it. You need to monitor your moods and your thoughts.

2) Do Happy things. -A hobby, happy song, dance, play a sports you like, travel to a place you wanted to go, watch a happy movie and quit the job you hate and find one you like. Most importantly reduce the stress. I like to go for a run, play golf and work in the gym. I also like to meet friends, spend time with my family and watch comedies.

3) DO something nice for someone else and make someone else smile for a change. Make someone's day AWESOME! That will make you happy. Sometimes when we change our focus, we can change our mood and state of mind.

4) Exercise regularly. People who exercise regularly are less likely to be sad or moody because the exercise endorphin released by the brain helps to reduce pain and stress. I find that it reduces my stress level when I exercise.

If you think that Life has been tough on you, look around you. There are people who are blind, with no limbs, who have lost everything they have starting over but they are making something of their life and making great progress. Look at NicVujicic who was born with no arms or legs. Please learn from him. No matter how bad your life is, you can make it better for yourself and other.

Help Yourself and Help Others.

Best of Luck! Smile! Reprogram Yourself.

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Words of Wisdom by Dalai Lama

2015-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,

Happy New Year!

I came across this quote and I thought this would be an appropriate way to start my blog for 2015.

Here are some words of wisdom from Dalai Lama:

“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

What Dalai Lama says is very true. I am sure we are all guilty of the above and we all chase after the wrong things. We need to get a proper perspective of our own lives so that we can live it to the fullest within our capacity.

Since this is the beginning of 2015, we should take stock of our lives and make necessary changes so that we can live a meaningful and happy life. Work is only a means to an end, not the end itself. The end being to have a good quality of life with good health, happiness,doing what you really want such as spending time with your family, travelling, doing charity work, gardening, playing golf, tennis, soccer, cycling, etc. Our stress level is what causes ill health, anxiety, fear, etc. Try to reduce that and things will definitely improve.

If you need ideas on how to make changes, please read my blog posting on "New Year Resolutions 2013"- http://helpyourselfnhelpothers.blogspot.sg/2012/12/new-year-resolutions-2013.html

Best Wishes for 2015! God Bless!

Best Regards,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Self-Help Book- How to Benefit from it?

2014-12-21T21:51:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

I am currently reading a book called "Happy" by Ian K. Smith, M.D., a #1 New York Times Best Selling Author. It is a very easy read and I am really enjoying reading the book. It is not that I am sad and miserable that I needed to read a book call "Happy". I feel that even though you may be happy and good, that does not mean you stop there. You can make things even better by learning from others especially respected Motivational Speakers who have a wealth of information to share in their books and seminars. Of course you need to be careful not to be sucked into some of these motivational speakers attempts to up-sell courses that cost thousands of dollars.

I have listened to many Motivational Speakers and read several books. You and I connect with different authors and motivational speakers. But there is no need to buy all the books that are out there. Pick one or two self-help books and read it over and over again. Then pick up 5 or 10 points from the book and apply it in your life daily until you form a positive habit or change in your life.

Here are somethings I hope to apply from the book "Happy":

1. Have some "Me Time" on a weekly basis. My suggestion, at least 3 hours to 1/2 a day or one or two days a month. Do things that you want rather than for your Boss, Wife, Kids, Friends, etc.
2. Learn to disconnect from your laptop, handphone, TV, iPads, etc. Enjoy the freedom away from the control of these electronic devices.
3. Have friends who are happy and positive as they can influence your mincdset, mood and attitude.
4. Simplify your life.
5. Identify 3 of your passions and spend an hour on it.

And yes, do write out your New Year Resolutions for 2015. If you have no clue, please read one of past blog entries- https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7228704288843632860#editor/target=post;postID=1803171724208245842;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=26;src=postname

Good Luck!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Who is Bill Cosby Really?

2014-11-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I am sure many of us have grown up watching The Cosby Show. Recently, we have been watching re-runs of the iconic show about the wonderful Cosby Family. We respected the indomitable Bill Cosby who made us laugh and made us forget about our worries and fear.

But now, in light of the accusations and stories that are coming out of the woodwork, who is the real Bill Cosby? His silence is making the accusations more and more credible. There is no smoke without fire as the saying goes. I wish the story about greedy women trying to make a quick buck were true but I doubt it. Not many women would want to embarrass themselves by coming out to accuse one of the most respected people in showbiz unless it was really true! And given the history of powerful men wanting to have control over women, Bill Cosby may not be exception. We have seen it with Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many other powerful men in politics, showbiz and sports.

I was a big fan of Tiger Woods before his fall from grace. He has never been the same man since his shenanigans became public. I did not "hero-worship" him by having huge posters and adorn my home with memorabilia of Tiger Woods. But I wanted to play golf like him. What I liked about him was his dedication to his chosen sport -Golf and he was loving family man until the truth came out. Then everything fell apart.

Since then I have been advising people to stop "Hero-Worshiping" stars. We all need role models to look up to. But take the good qualities that they have to offer and learn from it and ignore the rest. We are not saints so we shouldn't expect these stars to be the same. Hollywood is the worse place to find heroes and role-models. There are some good souls who are really nice. But they too may have their faults.

I like good men and women who are genuine and sincere and who like to help others. Hence, I still cannot come to terms with the fact that the funnyman Bill Cosby is really a bad guy who mistreated women and raped women who trusted him. I feel sorry for the women, his wife and kids.

So try not to "hero-worship" any stars. You can be a fan but if there is anyone you should hero-worship, it should be those who are closest to you which can be your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother or a friend, etc., because these stars do not care about who you are, They only care about themselves but your family and friends do and they are most likely to have sacrificed a lot to care for you and bring you to where you are today. So, if there is anyone you should worship other than God, it should be those closest to you.

Have a Great Week! God Bless!

Cheers,

Mark

Treat Everyday as Friday!

2014-10-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

I keep hearing people getting stressed about Mondays, about Work, about Money, about Relationships, etc. Well, there is a simple solution to all these stresses. Look for the solutions rather than looking only at the problems.

One way to overcome Monday Blues is to "Treat Everyday as Friday". Everyone looks forward to Friday when you get off work, hope to spend money to buy a weekend of good time, spend time with friends, boyfriend and girlfriend and family. If you learn to see everyday as Friday, that will put a smile on your face and that will reduce your stress significantly. It does not mean that you have to drink everyday.

One should learned to chill. Don't take yourself too seriously. You need to learn to take the "chill pill" and be positive. Its good for your health and you will be productive at home and at work. I read of the 100 year old men who learned to look at all his problems as simple problems. Hence, he was able to live a relatively healthy and peaceful life.I think we can take a leaf from the old man's book.

The modern man faces a lot of new health issues because of stress both internal and external. The internal stress can be managed when start think positively. I good book to read is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" by Richard Carlson. The external stress can be managed to a certain extent. For example, "work". If don't like your work then change your job. First, you find a job and next throw in the resignation letter. If possible take a short break to clear your mind and start the new job on a positive note.

If money is the cause of your stress, then sit down and write down how much money you have, how much you earn and how much you spend -include your housing loans, car loans, meals, household expenses, entertainment expenses, children's school fees and clothes, healthcare expenses, etc. See where you can cut down your expenses and where you can increase your savings. If you can save enough money, then learn how to invest so that you can have some kind of passive income and you can grow your wealth. Don't spend with the hope of making more in the future. "Live within your means" and your money stress will dissipate.

Don't Worry, Be Happy! Treat Everyday as Friday! And don't forget to "SMILE".

Have a Great Week!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Help Yourself N Help Others: Don't be Too Kind to Your Bosses

2014-10-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

Help Yourself N Help Others: Don't be Too Kind to Your Bosses

Love What You Do!

2014-10-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Many people hate the job they are doing! Sad but true. They get on the treadmill of work everyday and they drag themselves to work just so they can earn a salary. There is no work life balance. The stress is harmful to your health.

But if you do what you love, you will love what you do, It is a choice we need to make if you want to be happy. We all have a choice. But some of us are scarred to make the choice for fear of losing their security. My point is that I always believe that if do not try, you will never know.

The best way to decide whether you should change or remain in your current job is to do up a check list. The list should contain "PROs" and "CONs" of leaving the job. Then do a list similarly for the job that you love to do. Give weightage to each point based on certain criteria.

Talk to a friend or a counselor. Air it out so that you can get a clearer picture. You need to bounce this of someone else. But at the end of the day you have to decide.

Good Luck!

Cheers,

Mark

Job Well Done!-SIET Charity Golf 2014

2014-09-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

Just a quick update on the amount of money raised for SIET Charity Golf 2014. My friends managed to raise over S$65,000 or more this year. There were 32 flights of golfers and there were a lot of generous cash donors. God Bless all those involved.

The good news is that more Indian Students who need help with their education will benefit from this exercise. Those who would like to donate can contact SIET-Singapore India Education Trust- http://www.siet-trust.org.sg/ .

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Best Regards,
Mark

Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET) Charity Golf 2014

2014-07-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

A friend of mine is organizing together with some friends the Singapore Indian Education Trust (SIET) Charity Golf 2014. The event is being held in Sembawang Country Club on 29th August. All proceeds will go to the Trust’s financial assistance programs supporting the education of needy students of the Singapore Indian Community.

ABOUT SIET

Established in 1967, SIET is an approved non-profit community based Charitable organization. The Trust is funded by donations from the public and endowments set up by benefactors in the name of their loved ones or their organizations.

The Trust’s primary objective is to help needy and deserving students who have difficulty achieving their educational aspirations due to financial difficulties. Financial assistance is provided by way of bursaries and interest free study loans. Besides financial assistance, all beneficiaries also receive mentoring, and other motivational program support. Many recipients of SIET’s financial assistance have recounted how the bursaries or study loans they received helped them at a critical juncture of their lives. Without the timely help, they would have missed out on the opportunity to pursue higher levels of education.

You can support by buying golf flights, sponsoring prizes or cash. You can send the cheque to “Singapore Indian Education Trust” , c/o 1 Beatty Road, #04-402, SINDA Building, Singapore 209943

Please support the event and share details about the event and about SIET with your friends. If you need more information please contact Shan, email shantana25@gmail.com .

Thank you for your support! God Bless!

Have a Great Day!

Best Regards,

Mark

Children Action Lanka!

2014-06-17T19:47:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I recently went to Sri Lanka. It was my first trip there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable holiday. It is a beautiful country with many attractive places. But at the same time it gave me a reality check. I met beggars both young and old. A small boy stopped a van we were travelling, to beg. He risked his life to beg. He wanted money to buy shoes. I don't know if the story was true but it was sad that instead of being in school the boy was on the street begging and risking his life stopping cars by standing in front of it. There was another boy who ran down a hill, about 5 or 6 bends on a hill just to sell flowers. He was always faster than the van we were travelling in. We did not want to buy initially but we were touched by his perseverance. If only he could put the same amount of effort in his studies, he will really do well in school.

Just to put things in perspective, a tea plantation worker who has to work rain or shine earns about Sri Lankan Rupees 18,000 which is about USD144 a month. That is how much they make while the tea plantation owners make tons of money. Such is life in Sri Lanka. Things are worse in Jaffna which has been ravaged by the war with the Tamil Tigers but Jaffna has not been given much attention since the war ended.

I had a chance to visit some children in Child Action Lanka in Kandy. They had street kids whose parents cannot effort to look after them as they needed to work. The children's age ranged from two months old to 18 years old. Child Action Lanka depended on support from Volunteers and Public Donation. The Churches also supported them. But the place they were based in is not the most ideal and it required a lot of work. One Volunteer named Tom from United Kingdom was there for two months during his University break to help the Centre. He was only about 20 years old. Another local girl aged 17, was there to help look after a toddler. Despite coming from a privileged family she was down to earth, caring and dedicated. Apparently, she had done very well in her "O" Levels. I was impressed by her devotion to the cause.

If you would like to help either as a Volunteer or donate cash, food or clothes, here is the link to the "Child Action Lanka"- www.childactionlanka.org or chilldaction@sltnet.lk or call them Tel- 077 9021730.

Thank you for your support in advance.

God Bless!

Best Regards,
Mark

Earth Hour 2014

2014-03-04T20:33:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,

Looking at the weather pattern around the world, it is quite scary how things will change in the next 50 to 100 years. Singapore faced the driest month in the last 100 years in February 2014. Drought in Malaysia is forcing them to ration water in many states. There are man-made fires in parts of Indonesia. In other, parts of the world, there are floods and landslides.We need to do something now to slow down and prevent major disasters.

Earth Hour is happening 29th of March 2014. Please do your part for the event by participating and spreading the message of being environmentally friends everyday of the year. Take 4 simple green actions:

1) Turn air-conditioning up by one degree
2) Switch to LED light bulbs
3) Use fewer plastic bags
4) Take shorter showers

"Spider-Man and stars to lead WWF’s largest Earth Hour event from Singapore". Please visit this website for more information : http://earthhour.wwf.sg/2014/

Attend the Global Earth Hour Event on 29th March (Saturday) @ The Float Marina Bay from 5 pm.

Lets do our part to save the Earth.

Love All, Serve All!

Best Regards,
Mark

2014 New Year Resolution-Make Things Happen!

2013-12-25T19:49:00.000-08:00

My friend Granville posted this simple message on Face Book. This is his message for 2014 and I totally agree with him. You can manifest what you want if you stop making excuses and do something about your problems, goals & targets. Plan how you want to achieve your wishes or New Year Resolutions whatever they may be. You can do it!!!

Good Luck!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Be Charitable This Christmas n New Year Season

2013-12-23T20:39:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends,

It is touching that many people have come forward to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyen and other disasters. But if you look at your own backyard you may find pockets of people needing help with food, clothes, a roof over their head. More people are becoming richer but the less well to do are being left behind.

It is always wonderful when someone thinks of others instead of themselves. I admire people who are able to feel for others. Not just talk about it but do something positive. But I feel that the world has become more selfish and inward looking. People want to become rich at the expense of others. They want to back stab others at work. They want to make use of people especially friends for their own selfish gain. If each person can think of helping others instead of just themselves, the world will be a better place. Help the poor who will be grateful for even $1 they receive to buy a meal or clothes. Donate food and clothes to your neighborhood charity, to Third World countries or to your neighbors (if they are in need of help). Instead, of buying the expensive "IT" bag or 100th pair of shoes, you can give that money to charity. The more you give....the more you get in return. Look at Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, and many others. It does not matter if you give $1 or $1 million dollars. You will be a better person by doing that and the person receiving will be happy and it will bring a smile to their face whether young or old.

We should be charitable on a day to day basis. But we should especially be Charitable This Christmas and New Year Season because we have the propensity to be extravagant with clothes, food, drinks and useless gifts.Please spare a thought for the less fortunate before you over indulge.

God Bless! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love All Serve All!

Cheers,
Mark

"A Meaningful life....."

2013-09-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,

"A meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect.....it is about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others. It is only then that we could have a full, happy and contented life."

Anonymous.

I love this quote! Something for all of us to ponder over? Are we living a fulfilling life or are we chasing material things and getting frustrated.

Have a Great Day!

Cheers,
Mark

Too beautiful not to share .....

2013-06-26T02:12:00.001-07:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams...."

Theodore Roosevelt

*************

Anger is a condition in which
The tongue works faster than the mind .

**************************
You can't change the past,
but you can ruin the present
By worrying over the future!

*********************************
Love...and you shall be loved.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&
God always gives His best to those
who leave the choice with Him.

***************************
All people smile in the same language.

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Everyone needs to be loved...
especially when they do not deserve it.

##################
The real measure of a man's wealth
is what he has invested in eternity.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Everyone has beauty
but not everyone sees it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow,
you have no today to be thankful for.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The choice you make today
will usually affect tomorrow.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take time to laugh, for it is
the music of the soul.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Patience is the ability to idle your motor
when you feel like stripping your gears.

****************************

Love is strengthened by working
through conflicts together.
==============================
Harsh words break no bones
but they do break hearts.

-------------------------------
To get out of a difficulty,
one usually must go through it.

++++++++++++++++++
We take for granted the things
that we should be giving thanks for.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Happiness is enhanced by others
but does not depend upon others.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For every minute you are angry with someone,
you lose 60 seconds of happiness
that you can never get back.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

" The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."

- Alvin Toffler

"The Cockroach Theory for Self Development"

2013-06-11T20:38:00.002-07:00

Hi Friends,

Important lesson to learn from an email I received from my uncle. We all can reduce the stress we face daily by changing the way we react to circumstances and incidents. We will be happier and less stressed.

Enjoy reading!

"At a restaurant, a cockroach suddenly flew from somewhere and sat on a lady. She started screaming out of fear. With a panic stricken face and trembling voice, she started jumping, with both her hands desperately trying to get rid of the cockroach.

Her reaction was contagious, as everyone in her group also got panicky.

The lady finally managed to push the cockroach away but ...it landed on another lady in the group.

Now, it was the turn of the other lady in the group to continue the drama.

The waiter rushed forward to their rescue.In the relay of throwing, the cockroach next fell upon the waiter.

The waiter stood firm, composed himself and observed the behavior of the cockroach on his shirt.
When he was confident enough, he grabbed it with his fingers and threw it out of the restaurant.

Sipping my coffee and watching the amusement, the antenna of my mind picked up a few thoughts and started wondering, was the cockroach
responsible for their histrionic behavior?
If so, then why was the waiter not disturbed?
He handled it near to perfection, without any chaos.

It is not the cockroach, but the inability of the ladies to handle the disturbance caused by the cockroach that disturbed the ladies.

I realized that, it is not the shouting of my father or my boss or my wife that disturbs me, but it's my inability to handle the disturbances caused by their shouting that disturbs me.

It's not the traffic jams on the road that disturbs me, but my inability to handle the disturbance caused by the traffic jam that disturbs me.

More than the problem, it's my reaction to the problem that creates chaos in my life.

Lessons learnt from the story:
I understood, I should not react in life.
I should always respond.
The women reacted, whereas the waiter responded.

Reactions are always instinctive whereas responses are always well thought of, just and right to save a situation from going out of hands, to avoid cracks in relationship, to avoid taking decisions in anger, anxiety, stress or hurry."

Have a Great Day!

Cheers,

Mark

Story of Appreciation

2013-04-18T07:24:00.002-07:00

I received this email, I felt like crying because miss my mother. My mother loved me and cared for me like the mother in the story below. But my mother passed on about seven years ago. I am grateful to my mother for all that she has done for me. You should appreciate people who have been good to you. And you should do this while they are alive. Otherwise you will live a life of regret. Parents should teach good values to their children. They should not spoil them by over protecting them or spoiling them by buying gifts when they have not done anything to earn them. If they done something wrong tell them and teach them what is right. Teach them to do charity work for the less fortunate, take care of the elderly, say "Thank-you!", be grateful for lives gift, etc.

"One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" the youth answered "none".

The director asked, " Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, " Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, " Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes, asked: " Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'

The Director asked, " please tell me your feelings."

The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, " This is what I am looking for to be my manager.I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop "entitlement mentality" and would always put himself first.

He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others.

For this kind of people, who may be good academically, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement.

He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more.

If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?*

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV.

But when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it.

After a meal, let them wash their plates and bowls together with their brothers and sisters.

It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.

You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person.

The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

You would have forwarded many mails to many and many of them would have back mailed you too...but try and forward this story to as many as possible...this may change somebody's fate... :)".

Thank you for reading this and for sharing this with your friends.

Dress for Success!

2013-04-10T06:32:00.002-07:00

Dear Friends,

Every person in the Corporate world as well as those who run their own business need to dress well. If you dress like a successful person then people will want to do business with you. But if you dress like a person who does care about his dressing then people will treat you that way as well. They will not care about you. So, pay some attention to your dressing!

If you want to feel good, one way to do that is to dress well. Your dressing can more often than not reflect how you feel. Your focus is on dressing well which can then change your mood for the better.

I am not asking anyone to be shallow and superficial. That's the way the world works. People do treat those who dress well better than those who do not dress well. I feel that we should treat everyone well regardless of their dressing. But it is only human to have a first impression and that will affect the way you treat the person. If you are guy looking to find a girlfriend, one of the first things to do is to dress well. You don't have to look like Brad Pitt or George Clooney. If you look and dress decent and if you have good mannerism and character you will attract the right girl. Likewise, for girls who are looking for boyfriend. Don't be shallow...don't just go for looks or the person's wallet. Good character is more important for long and lasting relationship and this goes beyond looks.

I like to dress for the occasion. I feel good when I dress well. If I dress like I just got out of bed, I will feel lousy. You should try to wear clothes that fit you well. If have put on a few pounds than choose clothes that can cover some of these flaws. A better option is for you to eat healthy food, get lots of rest and exercise at least 3 x a week. That way, you can maintain your ideal weight for your age and look younger because when look after yourself well you will feel younger, more energetic and look youthful.

If you need ideas on how to be fashionable, you need not go far. You have the YouTube, Google, fashion magazines such GQ, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Elle, etc. Another way, is to mirror your friend or your favorite star whose style and fashion you admire. Of course, you should choose someone who about the same built. That way, you are more likely to look better when you make a style switch. My rule: Dress according to the occasion. You do not want to stand out like a fashion victim.

Dress for Success! But sure you have substance as well otherwise you will be like a mannequin on a window display.

Cheers,
Mark

p.s. tell me your success stories about how you Dressing for Success has benefited you !