Daily Lessons from Life 19 May - 01 June 2011

Were in PRC since 19 May and only got back this morning. So, as usual, not able to blog on blogger.com!

Well, a quick summary of the major happenings that I learned from life:

1. Barcelona crowned Champions of European football
The victory was sweet. The football as it should be played - flowing passing movements and scoring goals. Credit to Man United for playing hard but fair and making a go at the start of the game.

Lessons for me are: humility - Abidal being asked to hoist the European Cup show Barca a club with a heart! His teammates, men of intelligence and big hearts uncommon in this macho footballing world. Not to mention some of the shameless players, club owners and officials of FIFA. Beautiful game played by beautiful people for a world in need of more beauties!!

2. Singapore Ministers Go to Work
Some said it was wayang i.e. put up a show when the new Transportation Minister took the bus and then the MRT Train to see and feel for himself what the grouses voiced by the common commuters were real or fictitious? I sincerely hope that it was NOT wayang. As that will the saddest and most unforgivable mistake by the ruling party.

It is hard to change. And it is harder to accept cynicism and skepticism from onlookers that you really meant it. So, actions speak louder than words. There are heightened expectations with this new government line up and the promises made by the new PM Lee, one without the 2 clutches and all his to show and run. They better not fail through wayanging!

3. Food Scares Around the World
First it was the 'quite expectantly' Mainland China's suppliers and merchants and what have you. Then the Taiwanese manufacturers joined in the game of 'add whatever additive that can make your food grows faster, looks better, and make you loads of money' after seeing the Mainland Chinese's 'feats'! Then just a day ago, the deadly E Colli bacterias were found in Germany resulting in, todate, 15 deaths! Perhaps there are other bad news in other parts of the world that never see daylight! To eat or not to eat? WHO is calling for some new food regulations or something.

It goes back to the smallest unit of the whole supplies chain (or values chain) - the Individual. Would that Individual, regardless of who she or he is or where she or he is located, consciously 'add anything that she or he KNOWS are NOT right' to make that extra money? If ANYONE will, the whole defence broke down. Or it will be breached as NOBODY can supervise EVERYBODY ALL the time!

So, get back to basic: teach moral values to the Individual. Geared ALL incentives toward encouraging ethical conducts and PUNISHED severely the people who knowingly put the lives of others at risks for an extra dollar!!

4. I did get to jog in Suzhou this time. It was a good jog. I did get to meet MANY friends while in Shanghai on this trip. It felt great to continue to be connected with long time friends while making new ones. I did get to job again on home soil this evening. It felt wonderful though a bit tiring as it is hotter and more humid. I am back!! I am grateful to be alive!! Thank you.