Are You a ‘Maybe’ Person?

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I know someone whom I have started calling a ‘Maybe Person’.

“Are we meeting this weekend?” “Maybe. I’ll let you know.”

“Are you planning to take any days off?” “Maybe. I am still thinking.”

“I really need to start exercising. Maybe I’ll start jogging, or perhaps swimming, hopefully soon.”

“I don’t want to miss that movie. Maybe this weekend. Or maybe next Tuesday.”

“I may be late.” “I may want to borrow that book.” “I may not be able to do that.”

I am not close enough to this person to figure out whether it’s lack of commitment or procrastination or just indecisiveness. But there’s an obvious lack of certainly and absence of any passion for life. Can a Maybe person ever lead others, inspire someone, be fun to be with, be reliable and dependable? I doubt it.

Do you know anyone like that? How does it feel to be with a Maybe person?

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Power of the Human Will: 100km Trek for Fundraising

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Three university students, Hamza, Tom and Chris, trekked the 100km MacLehose Trail of Hong Kong to raise funds for the millions affected by the floods in Pakistan. It’s the same trail that’s attempted by over 10,000 people every year who participate in the Oxfam event – only 3,000 or so are able to complete it within the 48 hours time limit, despite many months of training.

Hamza, Tom and Chris walked and climbed for 38 hours, without much rest or sleep, in extreme weather conditions (hot and humid during the day; cold and stormy at night), without any training, experience or professional gear! There were times when they wanted to give up due to bad weather, dehydration, blistered feet, sprained ankles, sleep deprivation… but it was sheer will power, absolute commitment to the goal, and the support of family and friends that kept them going. And their only purpose was to raise awareness and funds for the millions affected by the floods in Pakistan. So far, they have raised GBP5,000 against the very ambitious target of GBP10,000! You can read the full story and still support them here.

What’s also inspiring is that three men from three different countries and faiths could be so committed to a humanitarian cause, and to making a difference.

[Photo taken on Friday 20th morning when we met them to replenish their supply of water and snacks. From L to R: Chris Tsao, Tom Owens, Hamza Mush. Some more photos here.]

Update (3rd Sep. 2010): JustGiving named them the Fundraisers of the Month for raising GBP8000 in just three weeks, without much planning or previous experience! Read the story here.

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Be a Weekday Vegetarian

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We all know the arguments that being vegetarian is better for the environment, animals and our own health — but in a carnivorous culture, it can be hard to make the change. Graham Hill has a powerful, pragmatic suggestion: Be a weekday vegetarian.

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Help the millions affected by the floods in Pakistan!

Inspiring Quotes: Making a Difference

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Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.  ~Author Unknown

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little – do what you can.  ~Sydney Smith

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.  ~Mother Teresa

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.  ~Author Unknown

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.  ~Winston Churchill

It’s easy to make a buck.  It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.  ~Tom Brokaw

You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.  ~Kahlil Gibran

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.  ~Mother Teresa

Inspired by Hamza’s plan to raise funds for the 20 million people affected by the floods in Pakistan. Hamza and his two friends, Tom and Chris, will be hiking the 100-km MacLehose Trail in Hong Kong on 19th August. It’s one of the toughest hikes that takes up to 36 hours to complete; they plan to do it in 24 hours. They are making good progress towards their target of raising GBP10,000. You can make a difference too – check out details here.

Book Recommendation: Three Cups of Tea

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A very inspiring book by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. There are hundred of beautiful reviews of this book on the Internet. The following represent my views most closely:

“Three Cups of Tea is one of the most remarkable adventure stories of our time. Greg Mortenson’s dangerous and difficult quest to build schools in the wildest parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only a thrilling read, it’s proof that one ordinary person, with the right combination of character and determination, really can change the world.” (Tom Brokaw)

“Three Cups of Tea is beautifully written. It is also a critically important book at this time in history. The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan are both failing their students on a massive scale. The work Mortenson is doing, providing the poorest students with a balanced education, is making them much more difficult for the extremist madrassas to recruit.” (Ahmed Rashid, best-selling author of Taliban: Militant Islam)

“Mortenson and Relin argue that the United States must fight Islamic extremism in the region through collaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access to education, especially for girls. Captivating and suspenseful, with engrossing accounts of both hostilities and unlikely friendships, this book will win many readers’ hearts.” (Publishers Weekly)

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What are the Benefits of Fasting?

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A repost from last year:

I found enormous amounts of material when I started looking for the health benefits of fasting. It seemed that every expert in medicine, health and fitness had something to say about the benefits of fasting. But the following piece from Dr. Cinque summarizes it all very well:

  1. Fasting promotes detoxification. As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and eliminates stored toxins.
  2. Fasting gives the digestive system a much-needed rest. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are invigorated.
  3. Fasting promotes the resolution of inflammatory processes, such as in rheumatoid arthritis.
  4. Fasting quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever.
  5. Fasting promotes the drying up of abnormal fluid accumulations, such as edema in the ankles and legs and swelling in the abdomen.
  6. Fasting corrects high blood pressure without drugs. Fasting will normalize blood pressure in the vast majority of cases, the blood pressure will remain low after the fast, if the person follows a health-supporting diet and lifestyle.
  7. Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting, and even drug addictions. Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and other drugs.
  8. Fasting clears the skin and whitens the eyes. It is common to see skin eruptions clear while fasting, and the whites of the eyes never look so clear and bright as they do after fasting.
  9. Fasting restores taste appreciation for wholesome natural foods. People say that their taste buds come alive after fasting and that food never tasted so good.
  10. Fasting is the perfect gateway to a healthful diet and lifestyle. Going on a fast gives you the motivation and enthusiasm to make a fresh start.
  11. Fasting initiates rapid weight loss with little or no hunger. Most people are surprised at how little desire for food they have while fasting.

Here’s another article on the health benefits of fasting.

Millions of Muslims around the world just started their holy month of fasting, called Ramadhan. For 30 days, they will refrain from eating and drinking from dawn till sunset.

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Inspiring Quotes on Success

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“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” (Vincent Van Gogh)

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” (Albert Einstein)

“Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it.The time will pass anyway; we might as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” (Earl Nightingale)

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” (Mark Twain)

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” (Calvin Coolidge)

“You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to reach your destination” (Unknown)

Please share your favorite quote on success through comments. Thanks.

[Photo taken recently near Tap Mun Island in Hong Kong]

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The Power of Human Will – Lewis Pugh did it again!

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Another inspiring video from TED! After Lewis Pugh swam the North Pole, he vowed never to take another cold-water dip. Then he heard of Lake Imja in the Himalayas, created by recent glacial melting, and Lake Pumori, a body of water at an altitude of 5300 m on Everest. And so began a journey that would teach him a radical new way to approach swimming, new challenges and think about climate change.

What’s your biggest challenge today? And do you need a radical new way to handle it?

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Smaller the Better

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Why do they keep only small size plates with food in most airline lounges? Do they expect people to eat less while traveling, or do they want them to eat less? I think the latter. There’s only so much you can fill up in a small plate; and there are only so many rounds you can make to the buffet tables. I think it’s an effective strategy. And I believe the concept could apply to many things in life…

A smaller apartment could encourage you to minimize your possessions. A smaller office could help you keep it clutter-free. A smaller bag could mean traveling light. A smaller wallet would have fewer essentials. A smaller fridge could help eat more fresh foods. What else can you add to the list?

Of course, not everything is better when smaller.

[Photo of my new half-size, two-pocket wallet :)]

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Does Rice Make You Fat?

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Every time I travel to Indonesia, India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, I notice the amount of rice consumed at every meal. For many, rice is a big part of their breakfast, lunch and dinner. And very often, it’s fried rice and in huge portions – unlike the rice consumed in Japan or Hong Kong where it’s usually steamed rice and limited to a small bowl per meal. And it’s all white rice! I wondered if there’s a connection between the consumption of rice and obesity in these countries. I did some quick reading and research and here are some of the facts:

  • Indonesia and China are amongst the top five consumers of rice with 150kg and 90kg per person per year, respectively. US and France consume only 9kg and 4kg of rice per person per year! World rice consumption has increased 40 percent in the last 30 years, from 62kg per capita to 86kg per capita.
  • Carbohydrates like rice break down as sugar and are stored as fat when not burned as energy. According to WikiAnswers: White rice is a simple carb; it is converted to sugar with very little calorie usage. In itself rice does not make you gain weight. However if you would like to lose weight it is best to stick to whole grains e.g. brown rice and whole wheat bread, these take more processes to get converted into sugar so they use more calories.
  • Brown rice is an excellent source of dietary fibre; one cup provides 14% of the daily value. Consumption of brown rice can reduce high cholesterol and prevent constipation.
  • A Harvard Med study on 74,000 females between the ages of 38-63 suggested that weight was directly related with the consumption of refined grains like white rice. The women who had brown rice in their diets were not only slimmer, but were also 49% less likely to gain weight.

In summary, there are compelling reasons to switch from white rice to brown rice. And obesity, as we all know, is a result of too many calories in and too few out. And eating less, eating natural food and regular exercise are the surest ways of staying healthy and in good shape. Please provide your thoughts and tips through comments.

[Photo of Nasi Goreng from Indonesia – white fried rice mixed with meat or vegetable, usually served with a fried egg and some salad]

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The Bonus Hour (Inspiration from Garuda Flight 343)!

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Couple of days ago, at the end of a flight from Denpasar (Bali) to Surabaya, the pilot announced a one-hour time difference between the two cities. And while I was changing the time on my watch, I suddenly realized (for the first time, though I have done this many times) that I was going to live that one hour all over again! I was given a bonus hour! What was I going to do with that extra hour? Well the problem was, the rest of my day was already planned as per the local time 🙂

But for the rest of the afternoon, I was somehow more aware of every hour and of making the best of it. The soup at a roadside cafe tasted like the best soup I had ever had. The flowers at the hotel entrance looked more beautiful than ever. I was able to notice and admire the trees I could see from the lobby while in a business meeting. Everyone seemed a lot nicer. The whole world seemed to have slowed down a little bit. I’ve had an amazing couple of days, as I’ve been trying to live every moment, and I hope it lasts!

What would you do if you had an hour, or a day, to live all over again? Would you spend it at work – meetings and emails – or with a loved one? Would you do something for which you haven’t had the time, like calling or writing to someone, or reading that book…? (Please share through comments)

Why wait for a flight to a time zone behind us? Why not do it today? You know, you really do have that bonus hour, whenever you wish.

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The Other Hand by Chris Cleave

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The Other Hand is a captivating and inspiring story of a 16-year old Nigerian refugee, who calls herself Little Bee, and her relationship with a British woman. It’s a novel based on facts about refugees, asylum seekers and the immigration detention centers in the UK.

Instead of summarizing the story, the back cover of the book reads: “We don’t want to tell you what happens in this book. It is a truly special story and we don’t want to spoil it… once you have read it, you’ll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds.”

Buy softcover book from Amazon.

Have you read any inspiring book lately? Please tell us through comments.

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An Inspiring Talk by Jacqueline Novogratz

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Jacqueline Novogratz tells a moving story of an encounter in a Nairobi slum with Jane, a former prostitute, whose dreams of escaping poverty, of becoming a doctor and of getting married were fulfilled in an unexpected way.

Please leave your comments if you found this inspiring.

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What’s Normal? (by Paulo Coelho)

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I had first posted this exactly a year ago, and it continues to be one of the most visited posts. So here’s a repost. It was written by Paulo Coelho on his blog:

I decided to conduct a survey among my friends about what society considers to be normal behavior. What follows is a list I have made of some of the absurd situations we face in day-to-day life, just because society sees them as normal:

1] Anything that makes us forget our true identity and our dreams and makes us only work to produce and reproduce.

2] Making rules for a war (the Geneva Convention).

3] Spending years at university and then not being able to find a job.

4] Working from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon at something that does not give us the least pleasure, so that we can retire after 30 years.

5] Retiring only to discover that we have no more energy to enjoy life, and then dying of boredom after a few years.

6] Using Botox.

7] Trying to be financially successful instead of seeking happiness.

8] Ridiculing those who seek happiness instead of money by calling them “people with no ambition”.

9] Comparing objects like cars, houses and clothes, and defining life according to these comparisons instead of really trying to find out the true reason for being alive.

10] Not talking to strangers. Saying nasty things about our neighbors. Continue reading →

No time to read? Try audio books!

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In an earlier post I wrote about the pros and cons of audiobooks. The article was quite popular and did a few rounds around cyberspace. Check it out if you had missed it.

Since writing that post, I have become a big fan of audiobooks. I often listen to them while driving (alone), taking long walks and during sleepless nights on long flights. Besides the seven advantages I listed in the earlier post, I also find it easier to preview an audio version before buying a hardcopy.

Audible has become my favorite place to download audiobooks. There are different subscription plans that offer up to 30% savings and let you download a book of your choice every month. There are thousands of books in various categories, both fiction and non-fiction. If you have a computer with iTune and an MP3 player, try it once. ‘No time to read’ is no more an excuse!

PS. Just downloaded Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk for the overnight flight to Dubai – in case none of my fellow passengers wants to tell me her life story 🙂 Off to a bookshop now to buy a real book, just in case the battery on my iPhone runs out 🙂

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What’s the Perfect Time?

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What’s the perfect time…

  • to start exercising?
  • to start eating healthy?
  • to start learning a new thing?
  • to start reading?
  • to get organized?
  • to help someone in need?
  • to stop procrastination?
  • to say ‘i love you’?
  • to say ‘thank you’?
  • to quit smoking?
  • to quit drinking?
  • to follow your dream?
  • to take a vacation, to travel?
  • to volunteer for a cause?

So many people spend their lives waiting for the perfect time to do what needs to be done now. What are you procrastinating?

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Nick Vujicic’s Inspiring Video on Winning and Losing

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Inspiration from a man with no limbs…

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Reflections from the World Refugee Day

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Sara wrote this inspiring piece on her website a couple of days ago…

How many of us are aware that there are more than 6,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Hong Kong at the moment? How many of us realize that even within HK there are still people suffering, people who are in limbo, who have no country to call their home, people whose lives’ are controlled not by them, but by government. Then there are those selfless people, who are blessed with goodness and purity, who within this ridiculous money-driven society are still willing to give their all – their efforts, their time and devote their lives to improving other people’s lives, without ever asking anything in return! But they are rewarded, with the gratefulness and the prayers of the lives they touch every single day with their passion and their commitment!

The World Refugee Day 2010, was organized by Christian Action Hong Kong’s only drop-in service centre for refugees and asylum seekers. It’s a place of love, laughter, healing and more than anything else… it’s a place of hope. Along with providing all the basic necessities of everyday lives – things that we so easily take for granted such as food, clothing and shelter, these people ensure that none of these refugees and asylum seekers ever feel alone. They provide them with something us humans need the most – love, care and affection.

Doing henna at the World Refugee Day really opened my eyes Continue reading →

Flower Girl in Vietnam

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She is a 15-year old girl who goes to school in the morning and sells flowers at night. She lives with her aunt who gives her ten bouquets every night. And she can’t return home until she sells them all. It can take her anywhere from two to six hours to sell all ten bouquets, depending on the day of the week and time of the year. The price of USD1 per bouquet doesn’t make it any easier. She goes to the road-side restaurants and coffee shops around the Cathedral in HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City), where she can find foreigners who are usually better customers.

She considers herself fortunate to be be living in a city, to have an aunt who takes care of her, to have a job that pays for her food and school, to have customers who buy her bouquets.

Do you feel a little more fortunate, if not incredibly blessed? Please share your thoughts through comments.

[An estimated 300 million children worldwide are subjected to violence, exploitation and abuse including the worst forms of child labour in communities, schools and institutions. As reported by UNICEF]

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Rethink Your Drink and Hydration Choices

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There are few reasons why we should be aware of what we drink, how much we drink, and the caloric contents of what we drink:

  1. While staying hydrated is important for our health, fitness and energy levels, our hydration choices are also critical to our health.
  2. While water may be the healthiest and the best drink, everyone can’t live on just water. Most of us have some tea, coffee, juices and other drinks in our daily routine.
  3. While we pay attention to the calories in our food, it’s important to know the caloric contents of our drinks for any weight management program.

Here’s one of the most comprehensive articles on calories in everyday drinks, nutritional information, types of sugar, and loads of useful suggestions, presented in a very easy-to-read format. Click here to download. And please share your own tips and thoughts through comments.

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