Wow

Every so often you experienced something so new.. so delightful.. there is only one word for it

Wow.

Snowing in london

Its snowing in London!! Just a bit though. No wonder its so cold!!!

So cooold

You know its really cold when your ears ache when you stay outdoors

A job, the job, your job

We often hear people say I took a job I hate in order to make a lot of money, so someday I can quit and do what I love to do. Thats a big mistake. Dont waste your life on a job that doesnt expresses your heart. Remember the greatest things in Life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money. The richest man in the World once said "A simple God fearing life is far better than a rich life with a tonne of headaches."

Why are we here?

We were put on earth to make a contribution, to make a difference with our lives. We are healed to help others. We are blessed to be a blessing. We are saved to serve, not sit around and wait for Heaven

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Hank Paulson's decision to give away almost all of his $800m fortune is one of the most powerful philanthropic messages in recent years. Sure, it is dwarfed by the fortunes given away by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. But this is one of the most dramatic donations by somebody who made his money in the heart of Wall Street. And that's symbolic given that financial markets are where many of the world's biggest fortunes are currently being made. Paulson's donation - which has heightened visibility because he is now US Treasury Secretary - is a welcome antidote to the greed that is still predominant on Wall Street and in the City of London. Not that Paulson's gift would have surprised the founders of Goldman Sachs. They believed that: "Wealth creation for your clients and yourself is good, ostentation is appalling and philanthropy is expected." Paulson, who is a devout Christian Scientist and a keen environmentalist, took this mantra to heart. His fortune is reportedly being channelled to Bobolink, his environmental charity. He memorably said that he loved his two children too much to give them all his money. Nor is Paulson's decision to give generously unique in financial markets. Many hedge fund managers who collectively constitute the fastest-growing group of super-rich in the world have given generously to charity. But, for every philanthropist, there are many more traders and bankers queuing up to spend their bonuses on the latest Ferrari. There is also the conspicuous consumption of Russian oligarchs like Roman Abramovich, who has reportedly commissioned a 550ft yacht to add his existing flotilla. The name, Eclipse, seems almost designed to ram home how rich he is. Recent years have seen a widening gulf not just between the rich and the poor but between the super-rich and the ordinary middle classes. This inevitably creates envy and social tensions. Philanthropy isn't the only answer to the problem. But it certainly helps.

Refuse to give up

Be patient and persistent. Let the process goes on until your endurance is fully developed and you will find that you have become men of mature character..with no weak spots. Character building is a slow process. Whenever we try to avoid or escape the difficulties in life, we short circuit the process, delay our growth and actually end up with a worse kind of pain- the worthless type that accompanies denial and avoidance.

Sympathy

Another great excerpt

Sympathy neets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated. Every time you understand and affrim someone's feelings, you build fellowship. The problem is that we are often in so much of a hurry to fix things we dont have time to sympathise with people. Or we are too preoccupied with our own hurts. Self pity dries up sympathy for others.

What matters most

Excerpts from "The Purpose Driven Life"

"No matter what I say, what I believe and what I do. I am bankrupt without love."

- I Corinthians 13:3b

"Its not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters"

- Mother Theresa

"When life on earth is ending, people dont surround themselves with objects. Its not about your medals,your awards or the gold watch you were given. What we want around us is people - people we love and have relationships with."

The most desired gift of love is not chocolates or roses or diamods. Its focused attention. Love concentrates so intently on another that you forget yourself at that moment.

Whenver we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. Never tell your neighbour to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.

Why is now the best time to express love? Because you dont know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love. You had better do it now.

And my favorite part:

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love, is now.

Managed to dig up my farewell email

My dear friends,

How time flies. I came in as blur blur trainee officer 5 years ago and now. I will be leaving the organisation in a couple more hours time. In Sept later this year, I will be going to London to pursue a postgraduate degree in finance. Its been great knowing you all and thanks for all your patience and guidance. It will be a lie if I say I dont feel sad leaving this place. Shall we stay in touch pls? Do let me know if you drop by in London or anything..I am always good for coffee (will prob be hanging around in Singapore for the next 3 months...Do you envy me??)

Cheers and take care



I will leave you with this note on Happiness
'For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.'

I am so touched by a passage written by a good friend

2006 年5月26日是庆和在金管局工作的最后一天。他给同事们发了一则充满感性的告别电邮，除了感谢他们的提携及合作，还谦虚地说：“数小时内，我即将离开这栋大厦了。回想五年前初来金管局，我还是只懵懵懂懂的菜鸟。。。”

五年前庆和刚从大学毕业，就申请到金管局工作。当时新加坡的经济不景，金管局聘用员工人数不但很少，条件也非常严格。庆和能够在那时进入金管局工作，证明他具有一定的实力。

庆和的第一份差事，就是加入Adeline 带领的稽核小组，对某家银行进行现场检查。他积极地学习并勤奋地工作。旁人都可感受到他对工作的热忱和喜悦之情。可是不幸的事情却突然发生了。

有一天早晨，他接到家里的电话，立刻脸色大变，泪水纵流，声音喑哑。Adeline 等他的情绪稍微纾缓之后，才问明缘由。他哽咽着说：“我父亲刚去世。。。”他再也说不下去了。之后我们全队联袂到他家吊丧。他说：“父亲多年卧病在床，家境不是很好。如今我有了工作，原以为可以减轻家里的负担，哪知父亲却在这个时候撒手西归。” 言下不胜唏嘘。我们从他的话语中体会到他的孝心和遗憾。

他后来加入 Kek Tin带领的稽核小组。她对这位衣着朴素，格子高瘦的年轻同事的办事能力和工作态度也颇为赞赏。有一次，庆和与Jee Meng 同组共事。前者好学不怠，后者则诲人不倦。两人凑在一起，正是如鱼得水，后来都成了好友。

其时，中国人民银行派遣第三批代表团来新加坡学习银行监督业务。庆和与Lau Lee Chin 受委负责接待事宜。他们尽心尽力把既繁重又琐屑的接待工作办得很好。

不久，金管局改组，庆和被派到综合机构部（CI）负责信用风险的管理事宜，Kek Tin，Adeline 和Jee Meng则去了银行监督部(BD)，从此各有所属。数年后，他成功申请转到储备管理部负责管理美国债券。他由于工作表现优异而被擢升为经理。

五年后的今天，他为了全面提升自己在财务管理方面的专业水平，于是提出辞呈，预备到英国去深造。菜鸟已经变为鸿鹄，准备展翅高飞了。他临走时，我去电邮赠以“自强不息”四字。那是他的母校华中的校训，就镶在华岗的山坡上。他立刻回复说： “多年没见到这个成语了。”其实，这个成语一直都没离开过他，而是存活在他的心中。