Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Showing posts with label meaningful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meaningful. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
But why, Universe?
Why must I go through all that first? Why can't you just tell me now?
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The damned weather makes me emo.
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The damned weather makes me emo.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I Wrote This For You.
No, I didn't write this, but it's for you anyway.
"But if we kiss, it will end the world. And I've ended the world before. No one survived. Least of all me."
"Tell me one true, real thing that brings me to my fucking knees that I've never heard before and I'm yours."
"So if you can't stay, walk away slowly. Rip the plaster off bit by bit. Because I'd rather feel that than nothing at all."
"And there are thousands in the crowd outside everyday. And they love me. And I don't care. Because they're not you."
"Sometimes I touch the things you used to touch, looking for the echoes of your fingers."
"I let the clock face the mirror so that each second takes me closer towards you. Instead of further away."
"You can see the far blue edge of forever behind distant suns. Yet, nothing's that clear here, and I'm sitting right next to you."
"And if you can't say yes, answer anyway. Because I'd rather live with the answer than die with the question."
"But if we kiss, it will end the world. And I've ended the world before. No one survived. Least of all me."
"Tell me one true, real thing that brings me to my fucking knees that I've never heard before and I'm yours."
"So if you can't stay, walk away slowly. Rip the plaster off bit by bit. Because I'd rather feel that than nothing at all."
"And there are thousands in the crowd outside everyday. And they love me. And I don't care. Because they're not you."
"Sometimes I touch the things you used to touch, looking for the echoes of your fingers."
"I let the clock face the mirror so that each second takes me closer towards you. Instead of further away."
"You can see the far blue edge of forever behind distant suns. Yet, nothing's that clear here, and I'm sitting right next to you."
"And if you can't say yes, answer anyway. Because I'd rather live with the answer than die with the question."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Decisions.
I can't remember if i've posted this before.
"A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use, while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track; the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
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Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was a rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally.
But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place? Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how far-sighted and knowledgeable the minority are.
The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track!
Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one. 'Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right.'
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils."
"A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use, while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track; the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
-
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was a rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally.
But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place? Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how far-sighted and knowledgeable the minority are.
The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track!
Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one. 'Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right.'
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils."
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sorry for the lack of updates.
The photo editing for my Taiwan trip has been a bitch, what with an extremely slow computer that takes like a minute to simply rotate, resize, and save each picture [and i have several hundred pictures].
My trip was really nothing out of the ordinary. Probably because of all the research i've done and all the pictures i've seen from the people who were there just a few weeks before i went, the trip was pretty much what i had already foreseen it to be. I had come up with an itinerary, but we ended up not following it. By the fourth day we had pretty much run out of things to do, and with the rain, we didn't really go anywhere else.
I did lots of shopping and we spent our last dollar [at least what we thought was the last dollar; the boyfriend found a NTD 50 coin in one of his pants pockets when he was doing his laundry after we came home].
We received nothing short of the hospitality we were promised. The people were lovely, the lifestyle was laid back, which i love, and the trip on the whole was great.
Anyway. A few days ago i found out about Fmylife.com's affiliated sites - Mylifeisaverage and Mylifeisg. While FML and MLIA are funny, MLIG has made me tear from the stories on the site. Call me emotional or whatever, but the site has restored my faith in humanity [more Singaporeans need to read that site].
So, just a lil story of mine. When we were at Taiwan, they had this government-initiated thing that allowed purchase receipts to be used like vouchers, in place of cash. So outside 7-Eleven and some other convenience stores at Xi Men Ding, there were elderly people standing outside, hoping for shoppers to donate their receipts. KS and i were in the habit of keeping our receipts so we could keep track of our expenses, so by the last day we had collected quite a number of receipts. We walked past one of the convenience stores and there was this old lady sitting outside with a box, collecting receipts and other donations.
She didn't notice both of us because we had just walked past, but when i took the stack of receipts and placed them in her box, she looked up at me and i could really feel her gratitude when she said, "谢谢 ..." in her grandmotherly voice.
Just a simple gesture that left me feeling good all day :) KS didn't even want to bother donating any of the receipts; he'd rather throw them away. But before i call him heartless, he's also had his share of being nice. When he went to buy Macs lunch for me one rainy afternoon, he offered to send an old lady to the MRT station under his umbrella. What made me really glad was that he was the one who offered, and not the lady who asked him for help :)
MLIG :)
Here's a cute and sweet video i came across on Cute Overload the other day. Not recommended for diabetics.
My trip was really nothing out of the ordinary. Probably because of all the research i've done and all the pictures i've seen from the people who were there just a few weeks before i went, the trip was pretty much what i had already foreseen it to be. I had come up with an itinerary, but we ended up not following it. By the fourth day we had pretty much run out of things to do, and with the rain, we didn't really go anywhere else.
I did lots of shopping and we spent our last dollar [at least what we thought was the last dollar; the boyfriend found a NTD 50 coin in one of his pants pockets when he was doing his laundry after we came home].
We received nothing short of the hospitality we were promised. The people were lovely, the lifestyle was laid back, which i love, and the trip on the whole was great.
Anyway. A few days ago i found out about Fmylife.com's affiliated sites - Mylifeisaverage and Mylifeisg. While FML and MLIA are funny, MLIG has made me tear from the stories on the site. Call me emotional or whatever, but the site has restored my faith in humanity [more Singaporeans need to read that site].
So, just a lil story of mine. When we were at Taiwan, they had this government-initiated thing that allowed purchase receipts to be used like vouchers, in place of cash. So outside 7-Eleven and some other convenience stores at Xi Men Ding, there were elderly people standing outside, hoping for shoppers to donate their receipts. KS and i were in the habit of keeping our receipts so we could keep track of our expenses, so by the last day we had collected quite a number of receipts. We walked past one of the convenience stores and there was this old lady sitting outside with a box, collecting receipts and other donations.
She didn't notice both of us because we had just walked past, but when i took the stack of receipts and placed them in her box, she looked up at me and i could really feel her gratitude when she said, "谢谢 ..." in her grandmotherly voice.
Just a simple gesture that left me feeling good all day :) KS didn't even want to bother donating any of the receipts; he'd rather throw them away. But before i call him heartless, he's also had his share of being nice. When he went to buy Macs lunch for me one rainy afternoon, he offered to send an old lady to the MRT station under his umbrella. What made me really glad was that he was the one who offered, and not the lady who asked him for help :)
MLIG :)
Here's a cute and sweet video i came across on Cute Overload the other day. Not recommended for diabetics.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again." - Benjamin Button [in a letter to his daughter]
"Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?" - Mrs. Maple
"Along the way you bump into people who make a dent on your life. Some people were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance. " - Benjamin Button
I love the movie. It tells so much about life, death, and perspective, through a whole random bunch of love, sex, war and lightning.
And Brad Pitt is HOT. [Only when he's playing the 40 to 30-year-old role.]
"Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?" - Mrs. Maple
"Along the way you bump into people who make a dent on your life. Some people were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance. " - Benjamin Button
I love the movie. It tells so much about life, death, and perspective, through a whole random bunch of love, sex, war and lightning.
And Brad Pitt is HOT. [Only when he's playing the 40 to 30-year-old role.]
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Team Hoyt; a father's love for his son.
It's as if life's trying to tell me something. My friend's father just passed away a few days back, waking me up to reality. Whatever thought that was recurring in my mind some time ago might not just remain as a thought. I'm afraid, but helpless.
Then there was the item in yesterday's performance. And just now when i checked my email, someone sent me a link to an inspirational video [not the one above; the one above i searched myself on Youtube]. Do watch.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Quote
They say that your entire life flashes in front of you when you die. I want to make my life interesting so i'll have something nice to watch at the end.
...Or something to that effect. If anyone can remember the exact quote/where it was from please let me know :)
...Or something to that effect. If anyone can remember the exact quote/where it was from please let me know :)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Learned Helplessness
Let me share something i learnt in Psych about learning. It's something called 'learned helplessness'.
It was accidentally discovered by this person called Seligman around the time Don Campbell invented the lock [late 1960s]. Basically there were 3 different groups of dogs. The 1st group was the control group and was just harnessed with nothing happening to them. The 2nd and 3rd group of dogs were subject to the same electric shocks. The dogs in the 2nd group were able to stop the shocks by pressing on some lever thingy, whereas the dogs in the 3rd group had no control at all over the shocks. If it stopped, it was thanks to the dogs in the 2nd group, but otherwise, the shocks were just random and there was nothing they could do about it.
So anyway, all 3 groups of dogs were then put into a box with a low hurdle thingy that they could easily jump over. When subjected to the electric shock, the dogs in the 1st group jumped over the hurdle thingy and escaped the shock. The dogs in the 2nd group also jumped over to escape.
However, the dogs in the 3rd group appeared distressed, but simply remained where they were and accepted the shock. Why did this happen? They had learnt previously that they could not escape the shock and believed that they were helpless in this situation too. Therefore, they didn't even bother trying.
BUTTT.
A number of the dogs in the 3rd group actually attempted to jump over the hurdle thingy, and they managed to escape! Despite all the previous failed attempts at escaping, they still continued trying.
That's optimism.
I choose to be like those dogs who continued to try. How about you? :)
It was accidentally discovered by this person called Seligman around the time Don Campbell invented the lock [late 1960s]. Basically there were 3 different groups of dogs. The 1st group was the control group and was just harnessed with nothing happening to them. The 2nd and 3rd group of dogs were subject to the same electric shocks. The dogs in the 2nd group were able to stop the shocks by pressing on some lever thingy, whereas the dogs in the 3rd group had no control at all over the shocks. If it stopped, it was thanks to the dogs in the 2nd group, but otherwise, the shocks were just random and there was nothing they could do about it.
So anyway, all 3 groups of dogs were then put into a box with a low hurdle thingy that they could easily jump over. When subjected to the electric shock, the dogs in the 1st group jumped over the hurdle thingy and escaped the shock. The dogs in the 2nd group also jumped over to escape.
However, the dogs in the 3rd group appeared distressed, but simply remained where they were and accepted the shock. Why did this happen? They had learnt previously that they could not escape the shock and believed that they were helpless in this situation too. Therefore, they didn't even bother trying.
BUTTT.
A number of the dogs in the 3rd group actually attempted to jump over the hurdle thingy, and they managed to escape! Despite all the previous failed attempts at escaping, they still continued trying.
That's optimism.
I choose to be like those dogs who continued to try. How about you? :)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Strength from within
Live. Love. Believe. These three words are extremely powerful. They keep me alive and remind me of who i am. And they make me powerful too.
If you're stressed out by anything, just keep in mind - you've taken all the stress till now. Being able to do that is no mean feat. You should be proud of yourself. Reassure yourself that you're strong. And since you've done so well so far, nothing else is gonna stop you. You are in control of your life, and if you don't want to help yourself, no one else can.
Believe in yourself.
I am proud of myself for taking a step to make my own life better. It's not easy. Really. But eventually, because of what i did, i'll stand to gain.
I've matured mentally. And there's still so much more to learn.
If you're stressed out by anything, just keep in mind - you've taken all the stress till now. Being able to do that is no mean feat. You should be proud of yourself. Reassure yourself that you're strong. And since you've done so well so far, nothing else is gonna stop you. You are in control of your life, and if you don't want to help yourself, no one else can.
Believe in yourself.
I am proud of myself for taking a step to make my own life better. It's not easy. Really. But eventually, because of what i did, i'll stand to gain.
I've matured mentally. And there's still so much more to learn.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
This Too Shall Pass
Once upon a time, there lived a king who tended to feel blue. Whenever he felt content, he would be afraid that it wouldn't last forever. And whenever he felt discontent, he would be afraid that it would last forever.
One night, he had a dream in which he saw a special ring, which he felt would remove his blues, solving his problem once and for all. When he awoke, he asked his advisors to find him the ring. But none of them could find it. The wisest advisor then decided to get a jeweller, to create a ring which fitted the king's description. However, it was actually an ordinary ring. The difference were the few words inscribed onto it - "This too shall pass."
When it was announced that the ring was found, the king received it with great anticipation. As he sees and reflects on the words it, his sorrows suddenly gave way to joy, as his joys gave way to sorrow, before they both gave way to equanimity... which is the balanced state of mind that has neither attachment to joy nor aversion to sorrow. Thereafter, when he felt discontent, he would look at the ring to remind him of its words of truth. The king had finally found peace.
How did the king find peace? It was through his realisation that both worldly joys and sorrows are fleeting in nature, even if some experiences last for relatively longer times. The source of his real sorrow was not that joys always eventually give way to sorrow. The root of the problem lies in his attachment to joys and his aversion to sorrows, and his refusal to accept the truth that both are transient in nature, that joy and sorrow will always alternate.
It is making peace with the truth of the impermanence of our experiences that brings True Happiness, which should not be mistaken as the normal "highs" of life. No one can sustain "delirious happiness" for extended periods, just as no one can sustain "manic depression" indefinitely. Things change - whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not.
Deep down, we know True Happiness is the "real joy" beyond ordinary joy - which is why we find the Buddha's calm and composed smile so pleasingly soothing. The Buddha had already realised True Happiness. Will you too?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/266
Mom forwarded this to me in an email. The first thing i thought after i read it was, "Dang, should have inked these four words instead." But then it wouldn't really make sense because then it'll be as if the tattoo would 'pass' as well. Lol.
I agree with this quite a lot. Been a little stressed recently due to school, but to all the people that i've been complaining to, i also mentioned that i know things will eventually get better :) And yup, that's the way life is :D
One night, he had a dream in which he saw a special ring, which he felt would remove his blues, solving his problem once and for all. When he awoke, he asked his advisors to find him the ring. But none of them could find it. The wisest advisor then decided to get a jeweller, to create a ring which fitted the king's description. However, it was actually an ordinary ring. The difference were the few words inscribed onto it - "This too shall pass."
When it was announced that the ring was found, the king received it with great anticipation. As he sees and reflects on the words it, his sorrows suddenly gave way to joy, as his joys gave way to sorrow, before they both gave way to equanimity... which is the balanced state of mind that has neither attachment to joy nor aversion to sorrow. Thereafter, when he felt discontent, he would look at the ring to remind him of its words of truth. The king had finally found peace.
How did the king find peace? It was through his realisation that both worldly joys and sorrows are fleeting in nature, even if some experiences last for relatively longer times. The source of his real sorrow was not that joys always eventually give way to sorrow. The root of the problem lies in his attachment to joys and his aversion to sorrows, and his refusal to accept the truth that both are transient in nature, that joy and sorrow will always alternate.
It is making peace with the truth of the impermanence of our experiences that brings True Happiness, which should not be mistaken as the normal "highs" of life. No one can sustain "delirious happiness" for extended periods, just as no one can sustain "manic depression" indefinitely. Things change - whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not.
Deep down, we know True Happiness is the "real joy" beyond ordinary joy - which is why we find the Buddha's calm and composed smile so pleasingly soothing. The Buddha had already realised True Happiness. Will you too?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/266
Mom forwarded this to me in an email. The first thing i thought after i read it was, "Dang, should have inked these four words instead." But then it wouldn't really make sense because then it'll be as if the tattoo would 'pass' as well. Lol.
I agree with this quite a lot. Been a little stressed recently due to school, but to all the people that i've been complaining to, i also mentioned that i know things will eventually get better :) And yup, that's the way life is :D
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