We’re all equally vulnerable

I got up late today and expected it to be a slow day for me, being the beginning of the week but an sms and a phone call changed the pace for me.

Drama number one. I received an sms on my phone from Alex, my university friend saying that John, one of the guys from our batch was in the hospital. Subsequently my friend sms again saying he spoke to John’s wife and found out he’s been diagnosed with cancer and the cells were found in his liver, lungs and brain. He’s now awaiting chemotherapy. Though I’m not exactly acquainted with John, I was saddened by the news. It was even more depressing when the wife said he was pressing to be allowed to go home to see his kids.

Drama number two. Immediately following that sms, my pal Evelyn called to say she was having breathing difficulty and was at the doctor’s. She asked if she should check into the A&E, I thought that was the most logical thing to do so I told her to do just that. I quickly had my shower and took a cab to the hospital.

Drama number three. The ride to the hospital. The cab driver kept swerving the car when he was driving. I noticed that he also kept shaking his head so I suspected that he was feeling sleepy. When my phone sounded, he got a shock and jumped slightly. True enough, he was dozing off while driving! Then when we were going through the underground tunnel, I noticed that he slowed down for no reason. I couldn’t see his face from the mirror so I pretended to clear my throat and gave a loud “ahem!” and again, he was startled! He actually dozed off again! Thank goodness we were nearing the hospital. When we finally reached my destination, the total cab fare was $12.50. I gave him $14 and told him to keep the change to buy a coffee for himself. Told him not to endanger his life by driving when he’s feeling sleepy. He kept thanking me. He should be thanking his guardian angel that nothing happened during the journey.

At the hospital, I realised that my buddy too risked her life by driving there when she was actually feeling so sick. She didn’t get her colleagues to send her there. She didn’t want to inform her family because she didn’t want them to worry. Anyway, to be on the safe side, I told her to let her sis know. And not surprisingly, when her sis got the news, her mum and her other siblings all turned up one after another at the hospital. After running several tests and a few hours of observation, her condition had stabilised. Initially the doc said it could be stress induced. Yes, she was definitely highly stressed by her work recently. But the test results showed the problem was caused by an overdose of the thyroid drug she was taking. As her breathing had stablised, the doc allowed her to go home and gave her three days’ MC.

So much drama for a day which I expected to be slow and boring. It goes to prove that life is totally unpredictable and we are all equally vulnerable. Anything can happen anytime. A reminder to everyone to live every moment like it’s the last moment of your life. All those workaholics and perfectionists out there, please treasure your life, don’t take it for granted.

As for my pal, I hope she’ll recover by this week as I intend to take her on a short but much needed break next week. Thailand anyone?

常低頭

I saw this cute video clip on LZB's blog. I thought the song was quite nice and the lyrics meaningful…kind of zen. I reproduce part of the lyrics here and also added the clip. If you’re bored at work today, have some fun viewing this video. Enjoy and remember…mind your head! :p

常低頭

老師叫我常低頭
這樣不會撞到頭
高傲的人會撞到頭
因為他不肯低頭

老師叫我常低頭
這樣不會撞到頭
低頭看清楚自己的腳步
一步一步爬上那座山頭

山上的風景很美麗
美得讓人沖昏了頭
看過了山上的風景
又到了下山的時候

下山的路或許很難走
但是不能一直在山上停留
路邊有美麗的小野花
山上山下都是白雲悠悠

Ok, this translation is for the sake of a very hardworking Dimwit who insists on Apples while I feel Cookies are equally nice too. ^_^

Always Keep Your Head Low

Teacher always tells me to keep my head low
So as not to hit my head
Those whom are arrogant may hit their head
Because they refuse to keep their head low

Teacher always tells me to keep my head low
So as not to hit my head
Keep your head low to vividly see your moves
Step by step as you climb atop the hill

Such a lovely view from the top of the hill
That you get carried away by the view
But once you have seen the beautiful view
It’s time to go downhill

Descending the hill may be a difficult trail
But you can’t remain at the top of the hill
Beautiful wild flowers by the side of the trail
Everlasting clouds at the top and bottom of the hill

Should I “save” the snail?

Whenever I go for my jog at the park, I consciously remind myself not to step on the ant trails which can always be seen running across the footpath. But sometimes, when my mind gets hijacked away by a thought, I fail to notice the ant trails and accidentally step on them, killing how many innocent lives, I don’t really know.

Recently, I noticed that some garden snails stray onto the footpath and I have witnessed several gross-looking crushed snail carcass. They must have been trampled on by unaware joggers. So nowadays, whenever I see a live snail on the footpath, I have this urge to “rescue” them, to pick them up and put them in a safer part of the park whereby there’s minimal risk of them being crushed. But then, what if the snails feel that I’m a busybody and should not interfere with their lives? Moreover, that could be the path they have to take in life and they may just find their way back to the footpath again when I’m not around. After all, how often can I be there to save them?

Being human doesn’t give me the right to change the choice and path of a snail, does it? I’ve decided I will leave the snails alone and not change their paths. In the first place, I am not the snail and have no idea where the snail is heading. The presence of the ants, snails and other living things on the footpath shall be a good test for human beings - a test of our mindfulness and care for a lesser being. I do know there are some human beings who intentionally want to crush the snails and ants just because they don’t like the look of them. Why kill them when the snails and ants just cross our paths but do not interfere with our lives?

Live and let live…that’s what the PM said in parliament yesterday with regard to the appeal of the minority community. My message for the larger community, be more tolerant and whether you like it or not, there is a place for every one of us on this earth no matter how small the numbers. And for the smaller community, I also say live and let live. End all that name-calling. Instead of arguing about sins and rights, learn the true meaning of love. You can never strike off things or people you dislike from this earth. You do not need to agree with them but you can certainly learn to accept it.

I sincerely hope the government’s decision wasn’t swayed by any particular religious group just because they are more prominently represented in the parliament. We are one united people, regardless of race, language or religion. Hope our cabinet remembers that.

You are not me…neither am I

One day, Chuang-tzu and a friend were walking along a riverbank.
“How delightfully the fishes are enjoying themselves in the water!” Chuang-tzu exclaimed.
“You are not a fish,” his friend said. “How do you know whether or not the fishes are enjoying themselves?”
“You are not me,” Chuang-tzu said. “How do you know that I do not know that the fishes are enjoying themselves?”

How would others know when they are not me? I am me and even I don’t know. Who am I? I am not me.

Addendum to my last post

Looks like NMP Siew Kum Hong is not giving up his hope of getting the penal code repealed. He is going to present a petition in parliament on 22 Oct. But time is running short, he has to get the people’s signatures by 14 Oct. If you’re a Singaporean and would like to support this people’s request for equality regardless of race, language, religion, sex or sexual orientation, you can download the petition signing page from here: Link.

Several of our local artistes have even put together a video clip to support this petition. Quite cute. Here it is: Link2.

A Matter of Choice

There's been a lot of debate recently over a stupid penal code in our legislation that the government refuses to abolish. The affected community has hinted that it is due to the influence of a particular group among the men in white who are of a certain religion. I personally feel that the act is a joke because so far, the law has not and will not take action against those who breach that act and yet our parliament chooses to keep this archaic law that dates back to our colonial days. If I’m not wrong, even the British have repealed this act.

Although the act doesn’t affect me, I do find it ironical that the Prime Minister and his predecessors have publicly said we have to be tolerant and accept this particular community and yet they cannot convince the parliament to abolish it. The entire world is progressing and yet our country chooses to be archaic and stand firm on this issue. Are we really building “a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation?” Where is the democracy when cabinet decisions seems to be biased. Moreover, this is a matter of choice among consenting adults.

Can some kind soul explain to our Prime Minister the meaning of equality, happiness and progress. He and some of the men in white have memorised our pledge and say them every year at the national day parade but obviously they have failed to understand the significance of those words.

Hmmmm…I fear the day when someone decides to add a legislation that prohibits me from eating durian because a certain group of men in white cannot and will not tolerate the smell of durian. Those who dislike the smell or taste of durian, you have the choice to stay away from it but this durian-lover die die must eat it lor! Don’t you dare bar me from eating my durians hor!

Whatever religions may advocate, I only believe there is only one true religion in this world and that is love…unconditional love for every living thing on this earth. For the affected community, don’t be disheartened, just carry on living the life that brings you happiness. As what venerable Sheng Yan has said, “不论大路或小路，只要是依靠自己的力量所走出来的路，就是成功的好路。” Regardless whether the road is big or small, as long as the road was created through your own effort, it is a successful good road.

There is an online petition to repeal that penal code. If you’re interested to sign it, click here Link.