In previous post, we have discussed on how a little gesture of kindness towards other people can change our life. Now today, we are going to look at how a little gesture may not always be 'small'. At here, I mean the result it brings.
Once a time, a reporter from a publication made an appoinment with a well-know professor. The professor agreed immediately. The appoinment meant to last for 2 hours. However, the professor politely asked to stop the interview within the first 3 minutes they met. The reporter then felt ackward.
She didn't understand how this could happen, and therefore search for the answer. After a while, a student of that well known professor told her the reason why the professor left after only 3 minutes meeting her. It is all because she took off her shoe straight in front of him and crossed her legs. After hearing it, the reporter was shocked!
In fact, everytime when she's not walking, she has a habit of taking off her shoes everytime she sits. It helps her to relax, and that 'politeness' and 'ethic' have never cross her mind. Unfortunately, her small habits could create such a big problem.
People will never tripped off by a mountain. We are often tripped off because of a small stone. In fact, a small matter might not be that small at all.
Personally, I think a small habit of reflecting our behaviour and action every night before we sleep will help us in improving ourself. The truth and elderly advice can often be our standards in how to treat other people.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Good people will have good return
This story happened when Lincoln owned a grocery shop. One day, he realised that his customer had forgotten to bring home the tea he bought. He then quickly closed the shop and send the tea leaves to the customer personally.
On another occasion, he realised that he made mistakes when returning some change to customer. Again, he closed the shop and returned the remaining change to his customer.
Finally, his shop was closed and he went bankrupt. Therefore he needs to auction off his horse carriage to pay off debt. A farmer brought the carriage and returned it to him, saying: "A good man should not went through misfortune, I believe that God will help you".
Indeed, ten years later, he became U.S president.
If other people wish for your success, then you definitely will achieve it. But when others wish for your failure, then you will fail for sure.
My parents always remind me that a business often depends on many elements to succeed. One of the elements is the people we deal with (that includes customer, suppliers and even our competitors).
Furthermore, the supports from other people can turn someones failure into success. Lets improve our attitudes toward everybody and help others. Every small thing like what Lincoln did in the story will definitely brighten our future.
Can we all do it starting from tomorrow?
On another occasion, he realised that he made mistakes when returning some change to customer. Again, he closed the shop and returned the remaining change to his customer.
Finally, his shop was closed and he went bankrupt. Therefore he needs to auction off his horse carriage to pay off debt. A farmer brought the carriage and returned it to him, saying: "A good man should not went through misfortune, I believe that God will help you".
Indeed, ten years later, he became U.S president.
If other people wish for your success, then you definitely will achieve it. But when others wish for your failure, then you will fail for sure.
My parents always remind me that a business often depends on many elements to succeed. One of the elements is the people we deal with (that includes customer, suppliers and even our competitors).
Furthermore, the supports from other people can turn someones failure into success. Lets improve our attitudes toward everybody and help others. Every small thing like what Lincoln did in the story will definitely brighten our future.
Can we all do it starting from tomorrow?
Step one - be quiet and calm
There was a carpenter who accidentally lost his watch when he worked. Holding his axe, he started to search for his watch on the floor. He searched under all furniture, moving all the utensils.
His partners started to help and they came up with lots of ideas on how to find the watch. However, they all failed to find the watch.
During lunch time, a boy went to search and found the watch in no time. The carpenter was surprised and asked him how he could find it easily. The boy then replied: "I only kneel down quietly and the sound of your watch tickling became clear. That's how I found it."
There are many times in life when we only need to calm our self down and quietly listen to our brain 'tickling'. The solution will came up itself!
Calm down and be quiet can always be the first step to solution every time we face problems or even during emergency.
Even more, inspiration often comes from a quiet state of mind.
His partners started to help and they came up with lots of ideas on how to find the watch. However, they all failed to find the watch.
During lunch time, a boy went to search and found the watch in no time. The carpenter was surprised and asked him how he could find it easily. The boy then replied: "I only kneel down quietly and the sound of your watch tickling became clear. That's how I found it."
There are many times in life when we only need to calm our self down and quietly listen to our brain 'tickling'. The solution will came up itself!
Calm down and be quiet can always be the first step to solution every time we face problems or even during emergency.
Even more, inspiration often comes from a quiet state of mind.
Premiere again
Dear readers,
Hello again to fellow readers! It's been awhile since I updated this blog.
It's not because Wisdom cafe doesn't have anything to offer, it's only lack of inspiration and courage ;-p
We all have our time when we reach certain point in life and suddenly feel discouraged. At that time, all our normal activities seem to be less attractive and even boring. Also, socializing can suddenly become too much energy consuming and in one word, we just want to be alone. I call it as 'off timing' stage in life.
So how can these 'off timing' stage happened? I used to enjoy those activities before and how could I lost interest? Well, world changes. Weather can change. Spring can come and go. Similarly, human heart changes all the time. Therefore something we used to love in the past might not be the one we love to do anymore.
Nevertheless, life moves on. Once we discover things that we love to do, we'll up to the road again! It can be hobbies or activities like drawing/reading/watching movies or even be some passions developed towards one or two particular things.
To find those things that will interest us, we need to explore! Try something you have never done before! Observe people surround you, look for new and fresh activities you think you might enjoy! Read news, magazines and your local magazine/newspaper. Check on what happenned in your communities. We all may come up with the jewels that will add colours to our life.
The next posts will contain some short inspiring stories from a collection. Hope it could benefit all our readers and motivate all of us in our journey to a better future.
Love,
J
Hello again to fellow readers! It's been awhile since I updated this blog.
It's not because Wisdom cafe doesn't have anything to offer, it's only lack of inspiration and courage ;-p
We all have our time when we reach certain point in life and suddenly feel discouraged. At that time, all our normal activities seem to be less attractive and even boring. Also, socializing can suddenly become too much energy consuming and in one word, we just want to be alone. I call it as 'off timing' stage in life.
So how can these 'off timing' stage happened? I used to enjoy those activities before and how could I lost interest? Well, world changes. Weather can change. Spring can come and go. Similarly, human heart changes all the time. Therefore something we used to love in the past might not be the one we love to do anymore.
Nevertheless, life moves on. Once we discover things that we love to do, we'll up to the road again! It can be hobbies or activities like drawing/reading/watching movies or even be some passions developed towards one or two particular things.
To find those things that will interest us, we need to explore! Try something you have never done before! Observe people surround you, look for new and fresh activities you think you might enjoy! Read news, magazines and your local magazine/newspaper. Check on what happenned in your communities. We all may come up with the jewels that will add colours to our life.
The next posts will contain some short inspiring stories from a collection. Hope it could benefit all our readers and motivate all of us in our journey to a better future.
Love,
J
Sunday, September 7, 2008
When we make comments
We are living in the world where there are millions of people with millions of different perspectives. Inevitable, some matters can be seen in different ways. As a result, even a simple matter can be right or at the same time can be wrong. Is this matter right or wrong, good or bad, useful or useless?
Instead of working out the decision, what about if we go back to the source of the question. Are we the right person to judge? Do we really understand about this particular subject/person? Are we an expert and have done a research in this subject? These are questions we need ask ourselves prior to making personal comment.
If we answer NO in any of those questions, it means we are unqualified to do that. On one hand, our comment will not be objective. On the other hand, what effect can our comment bring to the subjected person?
Depending on the person who judge, a matter can be right or wrong, good or bad. Whatever a person looking for might be something that the other person hate. We can never please everybody.
There are so many people with different tastes, different perspectives. Therefore lets not get depressed or even give up when someone critises us. Because there must be another people who might be interested with what we do.
Similarly, we might get confused when there are people who praise us and at the same time critise us. To clear this up, we have to think carefully whether it comes from a person who truly understand us or not. Same way goes to a subject matter. When someone praises about a subject, we have to consider carefully if this person is an expert in that area.
To conclude, we need to learn to be objective and not easily affected by comments, criticism and continuous changing fashion.
Instead of working out the decision, what about if we go back to the source of the question. Are we the right person to judge? Do we really understand about this particular subject/person? Are we an expert and have done a research in this subject? These are questions we need ask ourselves prior to making personal comment.
If we answer NO in any of those questions, it means we are unqualified to do that. On one hand, our comment will not be objective. On the other hand, what effect can our comment bring to the subjected person?
Depending on the person who judge, a matter can be right or wrong, good or bad. Whatever a person looking for might be something that the other person hate. We can never please everybody.
There are so many people with different tastes, different perspectives. Therefore lets not get depressed or even give up when someone critises us. Because there must be another people who might be interested with what we do.
Similarly, we might get confused when there are people who praise us and at the same time critise us. To clear this up, we have to think carefully whether it comes from a person who truly understand us or not. Same way goes to a subject matter. When someone praises about a subject, we have to consider carefully if this person is an expert in that area.
To conclude, we need to learn to be objective and not easily affected by comments, criticism and continuous changing fashion.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Envy me?
There are many times in life when we would meet someone that we think is better than us. He/she is smart, good looking, high achiever and all boys/girls are going after her/him. Looking at those people who seem to own everything we want can sometimes be depressing.
What's more when our eyes are flashing green, we would often sulk into self conscious. Questions like "I wish I was like her", "why it is not me?", "how can she has those things that I would never have?" and "I'm so useless, why I can not be like her?" would keep popping up.
However, you will never know a story behind a book just from its front cover. You gotta dig down into a person in order to know if he/she is really what you think he/she is. And most of the time, the result can be shocking!
Once upon a time, there was a youngster who needs to go to another village. He has to cross a deep forest and climb a mountain in order to arrive at that village. When he is about to depart, his family remind him: "When you meet any beasts, don't panic, quickly climb up a tree and you'll be saved."
He remembered it and then walked carefully on his own. After quite a long time, he didn't see any dangerous animals. He thought that maybe his family was overly exaggerating. Thus he relaxed down and began to walk freely. But at the same time, a tiger rushed out of nowhere and targeted him. He then climbed the tree quickly.
The tiger then circling the tree and tried to jump up to it. The youngster was so scared and panicked. As the result, he fell down from the tree and coincidentally fell on the top of the tiger.
He held to the tiger tightly. Afterwards, the tiger got scared and ran away. On the opposite site of the area, a man looked at the youngster that had just rode a tiger. He was impressed and said: "This person is so charismatic that he could ride a tiger! He looks so good and seems like enjoying himself so freely."
Then the youngster could only replied: "You thought that I was so charismatic and enjoying myself? But you have no idea that I'm scared to death."
This story summed up that when we see someone's appearance, he/she might look like so well polished. While we envy them, we might never know what exactly they are thinking. Or even what they've been through.
Once we understand what exactly he/she needs, then we probably won't feel envy. Or we can even feel sad for him/her. Therefore, lets not feel envious toward others without knowing the truth. We should walk our own path and get a real feeling about our life.
Let us work hard to add colours to our own life. Let us develop our good habits and personal qualities. We should always remember that there is always a purpose for a person to be born into this world.
Do not envy others because each person has his/her own situation
What's more when our eyes are flashing green, we would often sulk into self conscious. Questions like "I wish I was like her", "why it is not me?", "how can she has those things that I would never have?" and "I'm so useless, why I can not be like her?" would keep popping up.
However, you will never know a story behind a book just from its front cover. You gotta dig down into a person in order to know if he/she is really what you think he/she is. And most of the time, the result can be shocking!
Once upon a time, there was a youngster who needs to go to another village. He has to cross a deep forest and climb a mountain in order to arrive at that village. When he is about to depart, his family remind him: "When you meet any beasts, don't panic, quickly climb up a tree and you'll be saved."
He remembered it and then walked carefully on his own. After quite a long time, he didn't see any dangerous animals. He thought that maybe his family was overly exaggerating. Thus he relaxed down and began to walk freely. But at the same time, a tiger rushed out of nowhere and targeted him. He then climbed the tree quickly.
The tiger then circling the tree and tried to jump up to it. The youngster was so scared and panicked. As the result, he fell down from the tree and coincidentally fell on the top of the tiger.
He held to the tiger tightly. Afterwards, the tiger got scared and ran away. On the opposite site of the area, a man looked at the youngster that had just rode a tiger. He was impressed and said: "This person is so charismatic that he could ride a tiger! He looks so good and seems like enjoying himself so freely."
Then the youngster could only replied: "You thought that I was so charismatic and enjoying myself? But you have no idea that I'm scared to death."
This story summed up that when we see someone's appearance, he/she might look like so well polished. While we envy them, we might never know what exactly they are thinking. Or even what they've been through.
Once we understand what exactly he/she needs, then we probably won't feel envy. Or we can even feel sad for him/her. Therefore, lets not feel envious toward others without knowing the truth. We should walk our own path and get a real feeling about our life.
Let us work hard to add colours to our own life. Let us develop our good habits and personal qualities. We should always remember that there is always a purpose for a person to be born into this world.
Do not envy others because each person has his/her own situation
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Just follow the flow
There is a temple that has a big yard surrounding it. The yard is full of different trees and when it's windy, the leaves would fell everywhere.
In the temple, there was a little monk who looks after those leaves. However this job is getting harder when it comes to winter and autumn. It also takes longer to clean up all the leaves. Therefore the little monk could no longer be patient and decided to come up with some plan.
Another monk knows about this problem, thus he told the little monk: "Tomorrow before you start cleaning, why don't you shake the tree and let all the nearly-fall leaves to fall? Then there won't be any leave fall down the next day and you don't have to sweep it anymore."
The little monk thinks that it is actually a good idea and the next day, he shakes the tree as hard as he could. He then cleaned up all the fallen leaves deligently. Although he is perspiring so much, he feels happy as tomorrow he doesn't need to sweep the yard anymore.
Next day, this little monk walked confidently to the backyard. To his suprise, the situation is the same as the day before: the yard is covered in leaves. For a second, the little monk is lost.
Then, a wise old monk comes and tell him: "Silly child, everything in this world comes and goes. It doesn't matter how hard you shook the tree yesterday, there are leaves that will still fall today. Let me give you some words, it could be useful."
The old monk then picks up a branch and writes on floor: "Old hair will eventually fell from the head, old leaves will also fell off from the tree. Everything no matter big or small, it will be gone once the time arrives."
Finally, the little monk understands. There are many things in this world that cannot be rushed. We are only looking for trouble if we try to overthrow the rule of nature.
The only way is to face all the bitterness/sweetness/sourness in this life bravely. In fact, sending away an old one and welcoming a new one is a form of happiness in this life.
Since then, the little monk has changed. He works hard everyday to clean the yard. After seeing this, the old monk feels happy and said: "Today we sweep the old leaves off floor and tomorrow we welcome new flowers to the trees."
In the temple, there was a little monk who looks after those leaves. However this job is getting harder when it comes to winter and autumn. It also takes longer to clean up all the leaves. Therefore the little monk could no longer be patient and decided to come up with some plan.
Another monk knows about this problem, thus he told the little monk: "Tomorrow before you start cleaning, why don't you shake the tree and let all the nearly-fall leaves to fall? Then there won't be any leave fall down the next day and you don't have to sweep it anymore."
The little monk thinks that it is actually a good idea and the next day, he shakes the tree as hard as he could. He then cleaned up all the fallen leaves deligently. Although he is perspiring so much, he feels happy as tomorrow he doesn't need to sweep the yard anymore.
Next day, this little monk walked confidently to the backyard. To his suprise, the situation is the same as the day before: the yard is covered in leaves. For a second, the little monk is lost.
Then, a wise old monk comes and tell him: "Silly child, everything in this world comes and goes. It doesn't matter how hard you shook the tree yesterday, there are leaves that will still fall today. Let me give you some words, it could be useful."
The old monk then picks up a branch and writes on floor: "Old hair will eventually fell from the head, old leaves will also fell off from the tree. Everything no matter big or small, it will be gone once the time arrives."
Finally, the little monk understands. There are many things in this world that cannot be rushed. We are only looking for trouble if we try to overthrow the rule of nature.
The only way is to face all the bitterness/sweetness/sourness in this life bravely. In fact, sending away an old one and welcoming a new one is a form of happiness in this life.
Since then, the little monk has changed. He works hard everyday to clean the yard. After seeing this, the old monk feels happy and said: "Today we sweep the old leaves off floor and tomorrow we welcome new flowers to the trees."
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