Facing Burdens

Here are a few reminders or checklist when you
feel bogged down by difficulties. Don't really know
these ladies whom I'm quoting- whether they are
truly good role models in their personal lives. But
they make sense as far as their quotes below go:

1. "If a care is too small to be turned into a
prayer, it is too small to be made into a
burden." (Unknown)
What a great reminder! If a care bothers me, then
I should talk to God about it ; bring it before Him.
1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your anxiety on Him, because
He cares for you." If not, then it shouldn't bother me.


2. "It's not the load that breaks you down,
it's the way you carry it." - Lena Horne
There is a 'right' way of going through tough times,
isn't there? The negative way is the way that wears
you down. The complaining, unrealistic expectations,
blaming, self-pity .....

3. "The greatest part of our happiness
depends on our dispositions, not our
circumstances." - Martha Washington -
Some people are truly to be admired and emulated.
They carry their load uncomplainingly, quietly and
steadily. How I wish I could do that.

Can this virtue be cultivated, nurtured? Or is it a
natural disposition? I suppose if it' is because of
their disposition, then these people don't know how
to do it any other way. They can't bring themselves
to voice thier frustrations. They 'dare' not point a
finger in case more fingers point back at them.

But whether it comes from disposition or cultivation,
it is a virtue to be able to carry your load well. And if
it doesn't come naturally, it ought to be cultivated.
For your own good.


4. "Only good things come from God's
hands. He never gives you more than
you can bear. Every burden prepares
you for eternity." - Basilea Schlink -
I like that - "Every burden prepares you
for eternity." Somehow it helps you to take
it better, doesn't it? The pain, the struggles,
etc ...they're not in vain but for a purpose,
a purpose that is not temporary but for
eternity.

Giving Advice

Borrowed this book of quotes,
"Bursting at the Seams" by
Killy John and Alie Stibbe.

There is this quote from
Hannah Whitall Smith about
giving advice which caught
my attention:

"The true secret of giving advice is,
after you have honestly given it,
to be perfectly indifferent whether
it is taken or not, and never persist
in trying to set people right."

A great reminder - "be perfectly
indifferent whether it is taken
or not".
Don't take it personally when the
the person doesn't take your advice.
Just give and leave it as that.

"And never persist in trying
to set people right."
Don't be presumptuous that you are
right and others are wrong. And even
if you are right, why "persist" in
trying to correct them?

I have another to add. A point I have
been made acutely aware of recently
and quite guilty of not practising.
And what is that?

As a German proverb has it:
Never give advice unless asked.

Why?

As Joseph Addison put it:
"There is nothing which we receive
with so much reluctance as advice."

"Everyone likes to give advice, but
no one likes to take it."

And usually the advice that is given
in a talking down, patronising or
didactic tone. Unknowingly.

So remember- Be slow to dish out
unsolicited advice. Be quick to want
to listen with the heart.

Movie Spree

Month of August also sees me going on a movie

spree. Watched 3 movies within 2 weeks!






Started with "The Dark Knight".






Watched it because of curiosity because I'm no fan of such
superhero shows. But "The Dark Knight" was declared the
best of the Batman series. And Heath Ledger was so praised
for his acting as The Joker.

Then soon after the release, he was found dead of "a possible
drug overdose". Not suicide, his family members said, but
accidental. He was prescribed sleeping pills to help him to sleep
but he overdosed himself.

Tragic. Only 28.

With all this background, thought perhaps I would give it a shot.

It was depressing. The plot was truly not your usual kind of
family entertainment where good is strong, clever and can easily
defeat evil.

Here, the evil portrayed by The Joker is just as smart, always
one up. And subtle and slippery.

And good is shown struggling to triumph. And when it finally
succeeds in defeating the wily, evil, devious tactics of The Joker,
it came at such a great cost. There was the death of idealism
portrayed by Harvey Dent also well acted by Aaron Eckhart.
A bitter sweet ending.

Heath Ledger was truly marvelous and brilliant in his acting as
The Joker. His flippant moves, his twisted smiles, teasing and
provoking in clear diction - really very, very impressive acting.
He deserves a posthumous Oscar award.





The second movie was
"Money No Enough II".






I think it deserves more than one and half stars given
by John Liu of ST. He said it was "mawkish" melodrama
and had a "contrived conclusion".

But I remember I enjoyed the first one, "Money No Enough".
So this sequel is that bad, meh? Went to watch it to judge for
myself.

I enjoyed the local jokes especially those in Hokkein. And I
found Henry Thia very entertaining in his role as the eldest
and least capable son trying to be rich so he wouldn't be looked
down on. And as a filial son, he was also good in it.

I would give it a 3.




The third one was
"Mad About English".
Directed by our own
local talent, Lian Pek.






And John Liu gave it 4 and half stars!
He described it as "huge fun from start to finish"
and declared that "You'll be mad to miss this."
There's "crisp editing, clever photography
and perfectly formed soundbites."

I found it similar to "Feet Unbound".
A documentary/drama.
True, it was very well directed.
True, I found it entertaining.
But "huge fun from start to finish"?
Hmmm .... I kind of disagree.
3 - 4 stars maybe. But 4 and half?
A bit too much.

As I Was Passing

Besides fixing jigsaw puzzle, was also reading this

book "As I was Passing". It's actually a compilation

of all the articles she wrote for the Straits Times

back in the 70's under the pseudonym, Sri Delima.

Remembered enjoying them and now they're all in

two books. This one is the first.

Finished - At Last!

At 11pm on 19th August, some 20 or 30 days
of unrelenting work - the Irises was completed!


All 1000 pieces of them, fitted perfectly!


What is left to do? Frame it for the birthday girl.

And no more jigsaw puzzles for some time.
At least not 1000 pieces and of such difficulty like the Irises.

But maybe, just maybe, I might just do the Charlie Brown puzzle that is sitting
quite neglected in the storeroom.
But it's just a maybe.

Beauty

To want to be beautiful and young is innate in the females.
Why? The quote below perhaps explains half of the story:

"The average girl would rather have beauty
than brains because she knows the average
man can see better than he can think."

But in the early days, while we don't deny this instinctive
desire, there was also the encouragement to develop inner
beauty. Quotes like this one by Elisabeth Kubler -Ross
reflects the sentiment:

"People are like stained-glass windows. They
sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when
the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light within."

or this one:
"Some people, no matter how old they
get, never lose their beauty - they merely
move it from their face into their hearts."

or this by Marie Stopes:
"You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen.
But if you are beautiful at sixty,
it will be your own soul's doing."

Sadly this message of inner beauty is no longer
promoted. Just look at the content in the media.

August 1st 2008

Wow, another month has just gone and now
it's August.

And what have I been occupying
myself with?

Besides the usual routine, there is a new 'job' -

to finish this 1000 -piece jigsaw -




-Van Gogh's "Irisis".






Hopefully by 26th.

Bit it ain't easy!
All the blues in different shades;
All the green in different strokes;
And strewn right across from left to right,
right to left.

And what about the orche?
Is this piece top or bottom?
Not only eye straining but also back-breaking.

Ah, but what satisfaction when you put a piece
and it - fits!
Especially after a trying time.

That's how you can get 'addicted'!