Closing

I want to go home. I do not ever want to see another campsite or another stone.
The tent I sleep in is hot; the water I drink is bad, all around me I see faces that are sad.
The sun is burning my face; the ground is breaking my legs.
I had to cook my own food;  I had to wash my own clothes. I have never been made to suffer like this
I want to go home.

I want to go home.
I have never felt so alone until I have come to this island on my own.

Away from my family, my bed, my maid, and my handphone.
The instructors made me do away with all this.
How I hate them so.

Then the faces started to change, lifeless eyes began to shine,
And lazy feet started to march step by step.

The backpacks are still heavy, but they no longer crush my spirits.
The kayak expeditions are still long, but they no longer seem endless.

I have taken the worst that instructors and nature can throw at me.
No longer am I the irresponsible and selfish child that left home.
To my old fears and new challenges, now I can stand up on my own.
This is all that I have to say, I want to go home and show others the new me.

Now I can go home.

Instructor
Lum Tang Liang
1st June 2006

As I made my way to school

Never I felt like such a fool

Seeing long faces as though being pulled

Going for OBS is just not cool

The stories my senior shared

It sounded like nobody cared

The heavy bags made me scared

Kayaking journey almost made me snapped

I heard the water here taste so bad

I've never felt so sad

Mixing with people who drives me mad

Missing the Wi-Fi I’ve always had

But then I decided to have an open mind

Hoping there's something new I could find

Discovered the OBS course was mine

And most of my friends were actually kind

I overcame my fear through climbing

And pushed my limits during trekking

Encouraged my classmates while kayaking

And made new friends just by helping

Funny how things can turn out to be

So many values I learnt and see

The final time I returned my store key

Why was there a heavy feeling in me?

Will we ever sleep in a tent?

Will we ever straighten tent pegs that are bent?

As much as I hate flattening cans

I really don’t want this to end

But then I look left and right

And see all smiling so bright

We have tried with all our might

Our experiences reached new height

It's time to go home now

And I’m proud to take a bow

For all the learnings I’ve gotten

Shall be applied and never forgotten.

There was a little world, spinning in a great sky, With lands, oceans, rivers and mountains high.

On one side of this world, was a little square land, Square people watered little square flowers in square bits of sand.

In another place on this world, was shaped like a triangle, Triangular people grew triangular plants, flowers and leaves, all in tangle.

On another side of this world, was a little rhombus spot,

Where rhombus people grew flowers in rhombus-shaped spots.

In another part of this world was a country completely round,

Round people tend to round trees; round grass covered the ground.

And in a further corner of this world was a little rectangular spot, Rectangular people lived there, and the weather was very hot.

Then….on a particular day, people gathered on every shore, Groups from every country decided to explore.

Each place sent out boats to search across the sea, Round, triangular, square, rectangle, rhombus…what a surprise it would be!

And when it came about, that they reached new shores at last, They all wondered, How do we get along…with differences so vast?

As square little people discovered round trees, And triangular and rhombus people saw their first rectangular bees.

Who knows which is better, a round or square song?

Which shape is a heart? Is any shape wrong?

All shapes work better, together than alone, Circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and rhombuses come together to make a loving, peaceful home!

Carry the sun inside you, and reach out for the dreams that guide you.
You have everything you need to take you where you want to go.
You have abilities and talents and attributes that belong to you alone, and you have what it takes to make your path of success….lead to happiness.

You’re a very special person.
You have qualities that get better every day!
You have the courage and strength to see things through.
You have smiles that will serve as your guides.
You have a light that will shine in you until the end of time…

You have known the truth of yesterday, and you have an inner map that will lead the way to a very beautiful tomorrow.
You have gifts that have never even been opened and personal journeys waiting to be explored.
You have so much going for you.
You are a special person, and you have a future that is in the best of hands
And you need to remember: if you have plans you want to act on and dreams you’ve always wanted to come true
You have what it takes, because
You have you.

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.”

A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said, “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones.

While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.

In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…Then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this:
- Life is the coffee; the jobs money and position in society are the cups.
- They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. Enjoy your coffee!

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. “They just make the best of everything.”

• Live simply.

• Love generously.

• Care deeply.

• Speak kindly.

• Leave the rest to God. You are the miracle, my friend; Your life either shines a light OR casts a shadow! Shine a light and enjoy the coffee!! COFFEE OR CUP

Recently, I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.

They had announced her plane’s departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, “I love you. I wish you enough.”

She said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy.”  They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see he wanted and needed o cry.

I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “ Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied.

Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognising that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

“ Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?” I asked.

“I am old, and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is her next trip back will be for my funeral,” he said.

“When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say ‘I wish you enough’. May I know what that means?”

He began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parent used to say it to everyone.” He paused for a moment, and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. “When we said  ‘I wish you enough’, we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them,” he continued and then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory. 

I wish you enough sun to keep you attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirits alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough ‘ Hellos’ to get you through the final ‘goodbye’

He then began to sob and walked away.

My friends and loved ones, I wish you enough!!!!

Happiness.  Deep down within.

Serenity. With each sunrise.

Success.  In each facet of your life.

Close and caring friends.

Love. That never ends.

Special memories. Of all the yesterdays.

A bright today. Worth so much to be thankful for.

A path. That leads to beautiful tomorrows.

Dreams. That do their best to come true.

And appreciation. Of all the wonderful things about you.

Comfort on difficult days, 

Smiles when sadness intrudes, 

Rainbows to follow the clouds, 

Laughter to kiss your lips, 

Sunsets to warm your heart, 

Gentle hugs when spirits sag, 

Friendships to brighten your being, 

Beauty for your eyes to see, 

Confidence for when you doubt, 

Faith so that you can believe, 

Courage to know yourself, 

Patience to accept the truth, 

And love to complete your life. 

I wish you enough.

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it may be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles a rainy day and lost luggage.

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life”.

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Your presence is a present to the world.
You’re unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You’ll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don’t put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realised.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal your prize…

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don’t take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot….goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life’s treasures are people…together.

Realise that it’s never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don’t ever forget…for even a day…how very special you are.

You can’t change the past. Whatever has happened in your life so far – the good, the bad, and the ugly – cannot be altered, and all the decisions and events that have made you what you are today are indelibly inscribed in the story of your life.

But you can change your future. The future doesn’t need to be a copy of the past. No matter what your life has been like so far, you have a choice to put your feet on a new path. But this doesn’t just happen. An architect draws the plans for a new building – but it still has to be built. A chef devises a new recipe – but the ingredients still have to be cooked. In the same way, you must have a blueprint for living and then put it into action. Because Life is a Journey.

Like every other journey, it has a starting point. You had no choice about it any more than you had a choice about your parents or your race, or gender. The minute you were born, you embarked on a journey – the journey of life. As in any journey, it also has a middle – and that is our real journey – those years between our birth and death. And as in any journey, the middle process and progress is the most exciting. Many people may not have stopped to think about the road they are traveling, and I hope that this short article will inspire you to think and plan for the rest of your life’s journey. Let your life journey be filled with joy and purpose, with even the most ordinary events.

What happened in the past isn’t as important as what lies ahead in the future. As the saying goes, “No matter what a person’s past may have been, his future is spotless.” You can begin pursuing your life-purpose today.

As you travel in this (life) journey of yours, you may want to take the following 5 pointers into consideration:

1. Believe in your ability to succeed. No person can consistently perform in a manner that is inconsistent with the way he sees himself. You must believe that you can succeed if you are to succeed.

2. Get rid of your pride. People full of themselves usually don’t have much room left over for a life-changing purpose. Pride puts your focus on appearance instead of potential. And stop focusing on yourself, your effort, your hard-work, etc. People who tried too hard to prove to others are also filled with pride – it became a “Me, Myself, and I” philosophy in life - and it is very easy to get side-tracked with disappointments, frustrations, anger, and aggressions.

3. Cultivate constructive discontent. Discontent is the driving force that makes people search for their purpose. Complacency never brings success. You must desire positive change. Only constructive discontent will motivate you to find your purpose and grow to reach your potential. As I said in most of my seminars “Cultivate a ‘More-than-Better-Than Attitude in life” – always asked yourself “how can I do more than better than today?”; “How can I live my life more than better than now?”.

4. Creativity with Creating. When it comes to their dreams, truly successful people have enough creativity to think it out and enough character to try it out. All the dreaming in the world won’t do a bit of good unless you’re ready to wake up and go to work. Lots of people have dreams, and many of them have strong feelings about them, But what separates the developer of a successful dream from a mere daydreamer is committed action.

5. Create Successful Relationships. One of the most important factor in life is to be able to create successful relationships with everyone. Most communications resembles a Ping-Pong game in which people are merely preparing to slam their next point across; but pausing to understand differing points of view and associated feelings (empathy) can turn everyone into true members of the same team.

Don’t waste years of your life. Decide that you are capable of doing anything you want and start working toward it now. The secret of getting ahead is getting started, the secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.,

Remember, along the journey of life, bring along with you the five elements that will bring you success in your life – that is love, peace, joy, hope and grace. Be joyful for all things in your life, and be at peace with everyone you meet, having hope for the expectations of good things to come and giving hope to others to help them make their dreams come true; and be gracious to people that you come across in your life; and love one another always.

Have a successful journey in life!

There was a little world, spinning in a great sky,
With lands, oceans, rivers and mountains high.

On one side of this world, was a little square land,
Square people watered little square flowers in square bits of sand.

In another place on this world, was shaped like a triangle,
Triangular people grew triangular plants, flowers and leaves, all in tangle.

On another side of this world, was a little rhombus spot,
Where rhombus people grew flowers in rhombus-shaped spots

In another part of this world was a country completely round,
Round people tend to round trees; round grass covered the ground.

And in a further corner of this world was a little rectangular spot,
Rectangular people lived there, and the weather was very hot.

Then….on a particular day, people gathered on every shore,
Groups from every country decided to explore.

Each place sent out boats to search across the sea,
Round, triangular, square, rectangle, rhombus…what a surprise it would be!

And when it came about, that they reached new shores at last,
They all wondered, How do we get along…with differences so vast?

As square little people discovered round trees,
And triangular and rhombus people saw their first rectangular bees.

Who knows which is better, a round or square song?
Which shape is a heart? Is any shape wrong?

All shapes work better, together than alone,
Circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and rhombuses come together to make a loving, peaceful home!

Our lives are made up of
a million different ways.

Some are spent searching for
love, peace, and harmony. Others
are spent surviving day by day.

But there is no greater moments than
that life, with all its joys and sorrows,
is meant to be lived one day at a time.
It's in this knowledge that we discover
the most wonderful truth of all.

Whether we live in a forty room mansion,
surrounded by servants and wealth,
or find it a struggle to manage the
rent month to month we have
it within our power to be fully
satisfied and live a life
with true meaning.

One day at a time we have that ability,
through cherishing each moment
and rejoicing in each dream.

We can experience each day anew,
and with this fresh start we have
what it takes to make all our
dreams come true.

Each day is new, and living
one day at a time enables us to truly
enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

Author Unknown

May you always have an angel by your side
Watching out for you in all the things you do
Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days
Finding ways for your wishes and dreams to come true
Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun
Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide
May you always have love and comfort and courage
And may you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all.

In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel, may the miles be a thousand times more lovely than lonely
May they give you gifts that never, ever end: someone wonderful to love and a dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm
And may you always have an angel by your side

Our lives are made up of a million moments, spent in a million different ways. Some are spent searching for love, peace, and harmony. Others are spent surviving day to day. But there is no greater moment than when we find that life – with all its joys and sorrows –is meant to be lived one day at a time.

It’s in this knowledge that we discover the most wonderful truth of all. Whether we live in a forty-room mansion surrounded by servants and wealth, or find it a struggle to manage the rent month to month, we have it within our power to be fully satisfied and live a life with true meaning.

One day at a time – we have that ability, through cherishing each moment and rejoicing in each dream. We can experience each day anew, and with this fresh start we have what it takes to make all of our dreams come true. Each day is new, ad living one day at a time enables us to truly enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

Regina Hill

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget and you will become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. 

Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you, Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

When choosing the path to follow, I selected the road headed west.
It began in the Forest of Childhood, and ceased at the City of Success.

My bag was packed full of knowledge, but also some fears and some weights.
My most precious cargo was a vision of entering the city’s bright gates.

I reached an impassable river, and feared that my dream had been lost.
But I found a sharp rock, cut down a tree, and created a bridge, which I crossed.

It started to rain, and I was so cold, I shivered and started to doubt.
But I made an umbrella, cut some leaves and kept all the cold water out.

The journey took longer than I had planned; I had no food left in my dish.
Rather than starve before reaching my dream, I taught myself how to fish.

I grew awfully tired as I walked on and on, and I thought of the weights in my pack.
I tossed them aside, and I sped up again.
Fear was all that was holding me back.

I could see the City of Success, just beyond a small grove of trees.
At last, I thought, I have reached my goal!
The whole world will envy me!

I arrived at the city, but the gate was locked.
The man at the door frowned and hissed,
“You have wasted your time. I can’t let you in. Your name is not on my list.”

I cried and I screamed, I kicked and I shook;
I felt that my life had just ceased.
For the first time ever, I turned my head, and for once in my life faced the east.

I saw all the things I had done on my way, all the obstacles I’d overcome.
I couldn’t enter the city, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t won.

I had taught myself how to ford rivers, and how to stay dry in the rain.
I had learned how to keep my heart open, even if sometimes it lets in some pain.

I learned, facing backwards, that life meant more than just survival.
My success was in my journey, not in my arrival.

Nancy Hammel

There may be days when you get up in the morning
and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would be.
That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will get better.
There are times when people disappoint you and let you down,
but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions,
to keep your life focused on believing in yourself
and all that you are capable of.

There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you.
It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle
you will find a stronger sense of who you are,
and you will also see yourself developing
into the person you have always wanted to be.

Life is a journey through time, filled with many choices;
each of us will experience life in our own special way.
So when the days come that are filled
with frustration and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be,
because the challenges and changes will only help you to find
the dreams that you know are meant to come true for you.

Deanna Beisser

Life’s circumstances are not always what you might wish them to be. The pattern of life does not necessarily go as you plan. Beyond any understanding, you may at times be led in different directions that you never imagined, dreamed, or designed. Yet if you had never put any effort into choosing a path, or tried to carry out your dream, then perhaps you would have no direction at all.

Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction you life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now. Shake off the “whys” and “what ifs”, and rid yourself of confusion. Whatever was – is in the past whatever is – is what’s important. The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realised. Today is here.

Walk you path one step at a time – with courage, faith, and determination. Keep your head up, and cast your dreams to the stars. Soon your steps will become firm and your footing will be solid again. A path that you never imagined will become the most comfortable direction you could have ever hoped to follow.

Keep your belief in yourself and walk into your new journey. You will find it magnificent, spectacular, and beyond your wildest imaginings.

Vicki Silvers

Do not undermine your worth by
Comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different
That each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what
Other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.

Do not take for granted the things
Closest to your heart.
Cling to them as you would your life,
for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not let your life slip through your fingers
By living in the past nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time,
You live all the days of your life.

Do not give up when you
Still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the
Moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that
you are less than perfect,
It is a fragile thread that
Binds us to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances
That we learn how to be brave.

Do not shut love out of your life by
Saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive
Love is to give love;
The fastest way to lose love
Is too hold it too tightly;
In addition, the best way to keep
Love is to give it wings.

Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams
Is to be without hope;
To be without hope
Is to be without purpose.

Do not run through life
So fast that you forget
Not only where you have been,
But also where you are going.

Life is not a race,
But a journey to be savored
Each step of the way.

Anonymous