Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Light from within...




“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 from within.”

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004)
psychiatrist, author


Photography:
Suntec City Fountain of Fortune, Singapore

Friday, June 24, 2011

Inspiration for your day...



“...it is not joy that makes us grateful; 
it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”

David Steindl-Rast (born 1926)
Catholic theologian









Photography:
Tanjiong Pagar Railway

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Today Matters!


Yesterday is not ours to recover, 
but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose.

Lyndon B. Johnson

1. Just for today, I will choose and display the RIGHT ATTITUDE!
2. Just for today, I will determine and act on IMPORTANT PRIORITIES!
3. Just for today, I will know and follow HEALTHY GUIDLINES!
4. Just for today, I will communicate with and care for MY FAMILY!
5. Just for today, I will practice and develop GOOD THINKING!
6 Just for today, I will make and keep PROPER COMMITMENT!
7 Just for today, I will earn and properly manage MY FINANCES!
8. Just for today, I will deepen and live out MY FAITH!
9. Just for today, I will initiate and invest in SOLID RELATIONSHIPS!
10. Just for today, I will plan for and model GENEROSITY!
11. Just for today, I will embrace and practice GOOD VALUES!
12. Just for today, I will seek and experience IMPROVEMENTS!

From Today Matters by John C. Maxwell, 2004. New York: Warner Books.



Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Inspiration for your day...


A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. 
It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. 
The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. 
If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl.

 Stephan Hoeller

Monday, June 20, 2011

1-Room Flats in Singapore





Took a walk with my Panny GF1, 14-45 mm f3.5-5.6 lens to some old 1-room HDB housing estates. Something you don't see everyday. For these people, this is their reality.


Saw this man lying on his bed with his door wide opened. 
Asked him for permission to take a shot, to my surprise, he said YES!


This is my bedroom


Relaxing afternoon nap


We are buddies! Carefree and no worries. Life is simple here.


This lady was very nice. She even asked me if she needs to stand up for me to take the shot. Look at her kind and gentle smile. She looks lonely and this photographer was a pleasant surprise visitor for her day...I guess.


This old man took the trouble to walk all the way to his door to meet me...very slowly. 
Uncle no need! Stay where you are...


This shot tells it all... :(


Innocence...


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Inspiration for your day...


When all you see are shadows, 
you never see the light.

Ron Shayka

Photography: Walk about Shoot @ Chinatown, Singapore

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”


LeadershipLeadership is essential to personal & professional success. As we look around us, we see that leaders are among the highest paid and most respected people in the world. There’s a reason that leadership is such a prized commodity: great leaders help pave the way for the world to walk a path of excellence.

Have faith in yourself! If you don’t see yourself as a leader, it will be difficult at best to develop your leadership qualities and evolve into the fantastic leader you can be. We all have talents and strengths so use yours to help master leadership. Remember that the only limitations you have as a person are those you set up in your mind.

Master & eliminate the habit of procrastination, taking daily consistent action is one of the primary keys to success. Highly successful leaders share the trait of being disciplined and able to consistently take steps to move them closer to their goals.

Teach what you know. You have a talent or gift that you may not be using to the fullest extent. What knowledge or expertise do you have that’s being unused? If you have specialized knowledge, look for a way to teach others what you know. This could be as simple as starting a blog about the topic or starting a small business assisting others with the topic.

Become a Lifelong learner! Many people stop learning once they finish school. However, leaders are always learning & developing themselves. How often are you reading or listening to books? Do you attend seminars? Do you have a mentor? The investments you make into your personal development will be revealed in the quality of your life.

Invest in relationships! Leaders need to have great relationships with their followers in order to maintain their respect and loyalty. How good are you at forming and sustaining healthy relationships? Part of being a great leader is not just your ability to reveal yourself as a great person but to inspire greatness in others.

Go above and beyond. Leaders are people who do not nickel & dime themselves or others. They consistently achieve excellence by being willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Be accountable. Great leaders account for the results they create. If they meet with temporary defeat, they do not look for others to blame. They take responsibility for being the leader and they look for ways to improve.

Be willing to fail! Many would-be leaders will never realize their full potential because they’re afraid of being judged or of failing. Remember that the only person who never fails is the one who never attempts anything. In order to become an exceptional leader, you must be willing to accept risk and to press on, even in the face of defeat. Persistence will be an important trait to develop as you leverage your failures into success.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Do your little bit of good...




“Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”


Archbishop Desmond Tutu (born 1931)
Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Count your blessing


“Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Photography: Portraiture

Friday, June 3, 2011

The path to our destination is not always a straight one...



“The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark. ”

Barbara Hall (born 1961)
writer, producer

Jim's Reflections...
  • This is life. It is never a bed of roses. There will be a lot of challenges along the way. It is not about how we fall, but how we get up and move on. Most importantly, we must learn and be wiser in the process.
  • I have fallen several times in my life. Screwed up my A levels, career got derailed, etc. But, I kept telling myself not the give up but to fight on. We got to stand up, learn and move on...These wrong roads and challenges along the way make us a better person if our attitude is correct. It builds you up in terms of your Character. These failures in life helps you to know yourself better and master yourself! This is priceless.
  • Today, our young ones are not failing enough. Their lives are too protected and shielded. If they don't fail now and learn to pick themselves up in small little ways, I am not sure if they will have the resilience to face bigger life challenges ahead of them.

Jim

image source: http://hindimoviesong.net/Blog/category/hollywood/page/2/