Daily Lessons from Life 10-11 February 2013 - Chinese Lunar New Year ...

10 February is the 1st Day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. We had our reunion dinner without mum as she is in Auckland, New Zealand.

This Chinese LNY is over a week end and there are a lot of people decided to leave town for an overseas holidays while we continue to stay home and do the visiting of our elderly relatives whom many we only meet once a year.

While some may say that it is so superficial to just keep in touch with relatives on once a year basis, I feel otherwise. It is BETTER than no contact at all.

Many of them are above 75 years old. They once helped my parents to look after us at different period of times or different situations that needed their help. They did. Without hesitation. I am grateful to many of them. So, even if I meet them just once a year, which is not the case since many of them do hang around together weekly or once every 2-week for a game of mah-jong game at my cousin's place.

As they are old now, I find the time with them even more precious. I enjoyed the visitation and I am glad that our kids still come along with us.

As for those who decided to go away for an oversea holiday, I do not know what are the motivations. Maybe it is one of the 'what are Singapore's values?' topic that Singapore needs to define and promote. A part which PM Lee said in his concluding remark during the Population White Paper (PWP) parliamentary debate was not specifically mentioned but is in the mind of the national leaders.

Indeed, 'What type of Singapore do Singaporeans want - including the values of Singapore?' is hopefully what the National Conversation will reveal at the end of the year long conversation.

My belief is: Leaders Envision (preferably with alignment from the people themselves), Enable (providing the Capability and Commitment to achieve the Aligned Vision envisaged), Empower (by allowing the people do it with appropriate supervision and guidance depending on the Capability and Commitment shown), Execute (by doing the right things, providing timely and constructive feedback so people know if they are on the right track or if they need to improve/change course), Energize (by providing rewards and recognition that meets their varied motivational needs as well as encouraging 'keep trying despite initial setbacks' spirit, and Evolve (when the initial vision is accomplished through being dissatisfy with the status quo, be bold to question existing successes and ask 'what more and better things/goals can we aim for next?' ALL grounded in ETHICS (being clear about WHY you want to be a leader and WHY do you want to set those Visions - that it is to 'Create A Bigger Good for the Majority of the People of Singapore'!

p/s: The last 2 days have also being a test of how Discipline one is in keeping to healthy eating! I failed in this department though I did get on my mechanical bike machine on Day 1 night and went for my job on Day 2 night after overeating!! :-)