Thought 01OCT2009

ON PREPARATION
You should practice with a purpose. Personally, it would really frustrate me to practice for three or four hours in the morning, walk away, and two hours later say to myself, "Gee, I wish I had worked a little harder on this or that." It's the quality of the time you spend practicing that counts, not the length of time.
Jimmy Connors, Tennis professional - Cited in BITS & PIECES
Ausencias causan olvido / Long absent, soon forgotten - Spanish Proverb

Thought 30SEP2009

EACH DAY
Make each day useful and cheerful and prove that you know the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be happy, elders will be without regret and life will be a beautiful success.
Extracted from Bits & Pieces, The Economics Press, Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, USA. From the Library of Puan Hajah Zaihani Abdul Hamid (Lady of Leisure)
Al desdichado hace consuelo tener compania en su suerte y duelo / Two in distress makes sorrow less - Spanish Proverb

Thought 29SEP2009

YOU'D BETTER RUN
Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up you'd better be running.
From Siemens Nixdorf Welcoming New Customer Card (many many moons ago)
Abundancia y soberbia andan en pareja / Plenty breed pride - Spanish Proverb

Thought 28SEP2009

ON FAILURES
Most successes have been built on failures, not on one failure alone but several. A majority of the great history accomplishments of the past have been the final result of a persistent struggle against discouragement and failure. A man is never beaten until he thinks he is.
Charles Gow - Extracted from 'Speaker's Sourcebook II', Glen Van Ekeren, Prentice Hall, 1994.
Amor con amor se paga; y lo demas con dinero / Love does much, money does everything - Spanish Proverb

Apai - Back to London (another year)

Apai @ KLIA
on his way back to London
26th September 2009

On EMIRATES EK347 (B747-400)
bound for Dubai Dep 0200 Arr 0450 Transit in Dubai for 2 hours
On EMIRATES EK001 (A380)
Bound for London Dep 0745 Arr 1215
Already early morning 27th September 2009By the time we reached home
(Apai already boarded aircraft)

Thought 25SEP2009

A HIGHLY RESILIENT PERSON (2 of 2)
Highly resilient people show many similar qualities :
Express feelings honestly : Can experience and express anger, love, dislike, appreciation, grief – the entire human emotions honestly and openly. Can also choose to suppress their feelings when they believe it would be best to do so.
Expect things to work out well : Deep optimism guided by internal values and standards. high tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. Can work without a job description, is a good role model of professionalism. Has a synergistic effect, brings stability to crises and chaos. Ask "How can I interact with this so that things turn out well for all of us?"
Read others with empathy : See things through perspective of others, even antagonists. Win/win/win attitude in conflicts. Ask "What do others think and feel? What is it like to be them? How do they experience me? What is legitimate about what they feel, say and do?"
Use intuition, creative hunches : Accept subliminal perception and intuition as valid, useful sources of information. Ask "What is my body telling me? Did that daydream mean anything? Why don’t I believe what I’m being told? What if I did this?"
Defend self well : Avoid and block attacks, fight back. See through and side-step cons, "games" and manipulations that others attempt. Find allies, resources and support.
Have a talent for serendipity : Learning lessons in the school of life is the antidote to feeling victimized. They can convert a situation that is emotionally toxic for others into something emotionally nutritious for them. They thrive in situations distressing to others because they learn good lessons from bad experiences. They convert misfortune into good luck and gain strength from adversity.
Get better and better every decade : Become increasingly life competent, resilient, durable, playful and free. Spend less time surviving than others and survive major adversities better. Enjoy life more and more.
Al Siebert, PH. D - Got this from Wendy A Rodrigues (AFFIN Bank, Treasury); many many many moons ago
Al buen pagador no le duelen prendas / A good payer will not object to leaving a deposit - Spanish Proverb

Thought 24SEP2009

A HIGHLY RESILIENT PERSON (1 of 2)
Highly resilient people show many similar qualities :
Playful, childlike curiosity : Ask lots of questions, want to know how things work. Play with new developments. Enjoy themselves as children do. Have a god time almost anywhere. Wonder about things, experiment, make mistakes, get hurt, laugh. Ask: "What is different now? What if I did this? Who can answer my questions? What is funny about this?"
Constantly learn from experience : Rapidly assimilate new or unexpected experiences and facilitate being changed by them. Ask "What is the lesson here? What ever clues did I ignore? The next time that happens I will ….."
Adapt quickly : Very mentally and emotionally flexible. Comfortable with contradictory personality qualities. Can be both strong and gentle, sensitive and tough, logical and intuitive, calm and emotional, serious and playful, and so forth. The more the better. Can think in negative ways to reach positive outcomes. "What could go wrong, so it can be avoided?"
Have solid self-esteem and self-confidence : Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. It determines how much you learn after something goes wrong. It allows you to receive praise and compliments. It acts as a buffer against hurtful statements while being receptive to constructive criticism. "I like, appreciate, and love myself …"
Self-confidence is your reputation with yourself : It allows you to take risks without waiting for approval or reassurance from others. You expect to handle new situations well because on your past successes. "These are my reliable strengths"
Have good friendships, loving relationships : Research shows that people in toxic working conditions are more stress resistant and are less likely to get sick when they have a loving family and good friendships. Loners are more vulnerable to distressing conditions. Talking with friends and family diminishes the impact of difficulties and increases feelings of self-worth and self-confidence.
Al Siebert, PH. D - Got this from Wendy A Rodrigues (AFFIN Bank, Treasury); many many many moons ago
A quien no le sobra pan, no crie can / Never spend your money before you have it - Spanish Proverb

Aidilfitri - September 2009

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Minal Aidil Wal Fa'Izin
Happy Eid Mubarak
20th September 2009

Thought 23SEP2009

ACTION
Action is indeed therapy. It erases doubts and fears, anxieties and worries. It capitalizes on failures and mistakes and turns them into positive influences. It exercises the mind for problem solving and for creativity. It develops poise under pressure and uses wisdom and experience to consider alternatives and to provide a back-up plan. It calls forth the best in us all and it becomes the password to success. Action is work and work is happiness.
George Shinn - Extracted from 'Speaker's Sourcebook II', Glen Van Ekeren, Prentice Hall, 1994.
A la ocasion la pintan calva / You have to strike while the iron is hot - Spanish Proverb

Eid Greetings received via sms

From Azhar
Andai tangan tak sempat berjabat, andai diri tak mampu berhadap, setidaknya temali batin masih bersahut. Adakalanya mata silap memandang, telinga salah mendengar, lidah terlanjur berkata, fikiran salah mentafsir, hati silap menduga. Saya mohon berbyk2 kemafan, zahir & batin. SALAM AIDILFITRI DAN MESRAABADI dari Azhar skluarga
From Azahar
SELAMAT HARI RAYA. MAAF ZAHIR BATIN. Ikhlas dari: azahar sekeluarga
From Ab Rahim Hassan
Di Edul Fitr mulia, maaf dipinta andainya:
TERkasar bahasa..
TERsilap bicara..
TERmarah yang tak kena..
TERtanya tak tentu hala..
TERsasul yang tak sengaja..
TERpukul kat mana-mana..
TERpekik di telinga..
TERhantuk di kepala..
TERpinjam harta bnda..
TERmoody tak semena-mena..
TERmengumpat bila-bila..
TERusik yg sengaja dan macam-macam lagi yang adaaa..
Selamat Hari Raya Edul Fitr & Maaf Zahir Batin.
Drpd Ab Rahim Hassan & tiga anak sekeluarga
From Yarina Osman, Perlis
Dalam rendah hari ada tinggi budi, dalam miskin harta ada kaya jiwa..dalam lembut lidah ada juga tersilap kata..ampun dan maaf jua dipinta..selamat hari raya aidil fitri, minal aizin walfaizin, mohon maaf zahir dan batin..Yarina
From Haji Mohamed, Bukit Jelutong
AsSalamu'alaikum, Sawal alMubarak, bersama2 kita menemui, Ramadhan yg penuh rahmah, barakah, nikmah dan keampunan. Semoga Allat SWT menerima do'a2 hamba2nya sempena Ramadhan yg mulia suka d akhir2 ini, Alhamdullilah Malam menerima ganjaran surga dr Allah SWT hambaNya yg bersyukur, Mohon Maaf zahir batin Selamat hari raya drpda Hj Mohd saribudin (Bkt) Jltng)
FromNurmial Zainal, Shah Alam
Dengan ingatan tulus ikhlas. Maf Zahir Batin- Nurmiah dan famili
From Md Shariff Manat
Selamat hari raya aidil fitri maaf zahir batin, Shariff manat &keluarga
From Prof Madya Dr Hajah Hanim (UiTM Lendu) and Family
Hati semakin hiba, Ramadhan hampir ke peghujungnya. Mungkinkah Ramadhan ini kali yang terakhir? Dalam Ramadhan yang masih bersisa - tangan dihulur tanpa berjabat, memohon kemaafan zahir dan batin. Semoga persaudaraan yang terjalin kekal abadi. SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI. Dr Hanim dan keluarga

From Mad Yusof Yazid, Menara Maybank
Kalau dilipek sebosar kuku. Kalau dibontang sebosar alam.
Kok hilang dicaghi. Kok hanyut dipinteh. Kok tonggolam disolam. Datang biarla nampak muko. Kok poei biarla nampak belakang. Jauh diimbau, dokek digamit. Seuntai salam, sejombak kato. Dogup bicagho, menghisik raso.
Salam Ramadhan, Selamat hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir & Batin buek soisi keuargo.
Ikhlas daghi esey sekuargo. Mad Yusof Yazid
From Tuan Haji Faaiz Md Isa, TTDI Kuala Lumpur
:-D "SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI" ASSALAMUALAIKOKOM bermula bicara, untuk saudaraku sekeluarga yang teristimewa, kaseh sayangku tak luntur jua, malah menebal setiap masa. Tangan ku hulur memohon ampun dan maaf, agar persaudaraan bertambah erat, keikhlasan terpancar dari jiwa yang mulia, semoga ALLAH kurniakan Rahmatnya setiap masa pada mu sekeluarga. Dari Faaiz&Kamariah Sekeluarga. (TTDI KLumpur)
From Haji Osman Langkab, Kota Kinabalu
Asskum SMS adalah pengganti diri/kad ... Slmat Hariraya Aidilfitri dgn ingatan tulus ikhlas Maaf Zahir dan Batin dari kami sekeluarga. Hj Osman Langkab
From Mokhtar Mohd Noh, Kuala Terengganu
Selamat Hari Raya Idilfitri Maaf Zahir dan Batin untuk anda sekeluarge dari Mokhtar Mohd Noh dan Salbiah Agil Kuala Terengganu
From Aree Masaman, Haadyai
Selamat Hari Raya Edil Fitri. Maaf Zahir Batin. Daripada Aree dan Keluarga. TQ
From Haji Norrahaman Sidmann, Kuantan
Raya datang lagi. Bermaaf kita semula. Macan lidah dengan gigi terkadang tergigit juga. Dulu kite muda. Sekarang dah semakin tua. Dulu gurau jadi suka. Sekarang hati mula terasa. TAk ada angpau atau duit raya, cuma SALAM dihulur MAAF dipinta. SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI ... dari NORRAHMAN SIDMANN sekeluarga
From Haji Alizuren, Subang Jaya
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Semoga lembaran kali ni akan lebih bermakna & penuh keinsafan .. sepuluh jari disusun memohon kemaafan .. MAAF ZAHIR & BATIN. Salam drpd Alizuren sekeluarga
From Amizon Borhan, Kuala Lumpur
Sempena ramadhan yg penuh bakah ini, hulurkan kami ampun dam maaf. Moga bergembira menyambut syawal. Drpd Amizon dan keluarga

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri - Happy Eid Mubarak

To All My Muslim Friends

(in the whole 'World Wide Web')
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir dan Batin
Semoga Allah swt Memelihara Anda Semua Sekeluarga Sentiasa
Selamat Hari Lebaran - Minal Aidil Wal Fa' Izin
Happy Eid Mubarak - Enjoy The Holidays -

The Whole Month Over. May Allah swt takes care of you and the family always
Drive Carefully, Take Care, Give More Money, Eat More Food
BE GOOD - DO GOOD - THINK GOOD - FEEL GOOD
From All of Us in Seksyen 9, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
Haji Abdul Aziz Masod & Associate Professor Dr Hajah Noormala Dato' Amir Ishak

And The Children : Apai / Meen / Ang / Amel

Thought 18SEP2009

ONE AND ONLY YOU
Every single blade of grass, And every flake of snow - Is just a wee bit different... There's no two alike, you know. From something small, like grains of sand, All were made with THIS in mind: To be what they are!

How foolish then, to imitate - How useless to pretend! Since each one of us comes from a MIND Whose ideas never end.

There'll only be just ONE of ME. To show what I can do - And you should likewise feel very proud, There's only ONE of YOU. That is where it all starts With you, a wonderful unlimited human being.
James T Moore - from a Book by Bob Proctor - Got this from Shamsiah Muhzir, many many moons ago
A wise man remembers his friends at all times; a fool, only when he has need of them - Kurdish proverb

Thought 17SEP2009

THE NEXT TIME
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, "To travel hopefully is better than to arrive." This could be written for fishermen, "It is better to fish hopefully than to catch fish." Fishing is hope experienced. To be optimistic in a slow bite is to thrive on hope alone. When asked, "How can you fish all day without a bite?" the true fisherman replies, "Hold it! I think I felt something." If the line goes slack, he says, "He'll be back!"

When it comes to the human spirit, hope is all. Without hope, there is no yearning, no desire for a better tomorrow and no belief that the next cast will bring the big strike.
Pavlov's Trout - Extracted from Reader's Digest, November 1995 - Points to Ponder
A hungry stomach has no ears - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 16SEP2009

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Marshall Field, founder of the Chicago department store that bears his name, once overheard one of his clerks arguing with a customer. He asked what was going on.

"I'm settling a complaint," said the clerk.

"No, you're not," said Field. "Give the lady what she wants."
Extracted from Bits & Pieces, The Economics Press, Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey, USA. From the Library of Puan Hajah Zaihani Abdul Hamid
Better a wise foe than a foolish friend - Kurdish Proverb

Thought 15SEP2009

TAKE CHARGE
It is not enough to work conscientiously. No matter what kind of job [you have], you should think of yourself as being completely in charge of and responsible for your work, like being the president of your own company.

By doing so, not only the appropriate devices be made [and] new discoveries be born, [you will] also greatly assist your own self development.
Konosuke Matsushita - from the book The Matshushita Leadership by John P. Kotter
A small key opens big doors - Kurdish Proverb

TWO HAPPINESS TRAPS
We postpone our happiness - “ I’ll be happy when....” (When the house is paid off, when we go to Phuket, Bali, or Hawaii, when I find a better job...). We look back to the past and say, “If I have known today was going to be so awful, I would have been happy yesterday.”

HAPPINESS is not a when - Happiness is a now.
Extracted from 'Being Happy' by Andrew Matthews
Ulungen mu ava u kakedkeran mu / Do not gore the peg where you are tied (do not forget your heritage)- Ivatan Proverb

Thought 11SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (9 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(41) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
(42) The best is yet to come.
(43) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
(44) Yield. (Give Way)
(45) Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Para amigos, todos; para enemigos, uno solo / One enemy is too many; and a hundred friends too few - Spanish Proverb

Thought 10SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (8 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(36) Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
(37) Your children get only one childhood.
(38) All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
(39) Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
(40) If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Pesadumbres no pagan deudas / A pound of care will not pay a pound of debt - Spanish Proverb

Thought 09SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (7 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(31) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
(32) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
(33) Believe in miracles.
(34) God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
(35) Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Primero es la salud que el dinero / Health is better than wealth - Spanish Proverb

Thought 08SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (6 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(26) Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
(27) Always choose life.
(28) Forgive everyone everything.
(29) What other people think of you is none of your business.
(30) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Procura lo mejor, espera lo peor y toma lo que viniere / Hope for the best and prepare for the worst - Spanish Proverb

Thought 07SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (5 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(21) Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
(22) Over prepare, then go with the flow.
(23) Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
(24) The most important sex organ is the brain.
(25) No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Que cada palo aguante su vela / Each of us must face our own responsibilities - Spanish Proverb

Thought 04SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (4 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(16) Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
(17) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
(18) Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
(19) It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
(20) When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Quien canta sus males espanta / Problems don't seem so bad if you keep cheerful - Spanish Proverb

Thought 03SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (3 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(11) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
(12) It's OK to let your children see you cry.
(13) Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
(14) If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
(15) Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Quien comenta, inventa / Where there's gossiping, there's lying - Spanish Proverb

Thought 02SEP2009

LIFE'S LESSONS (2 of 9)
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

(6) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
(7) Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
(8) It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
(9) Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
(10) When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio. Got this from 'Alin TB' of AFFIN Bank Bangsar
Si, quitate de en medio / If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen - Spanish Proverb