Parents, in the training of your children, study the lessons that
God has given in nature. If you would train a pink, or rose, or lily,
how would you do it? Ask the gardener by what process he makes every
branch and leaf to flourish so beautifully, and to develop in symmetry
and loveliness. He will tell you that it was by no rude touch, no
violent effort; for this would only break the delicate stems. It was by
little attentions, often repeated. He moistened the soil, and protected
the growing plants from the fierce blasts and from the scorching sun,
and God caused them to flourish and to blossom into loveliness. In
dealing with your children, follow the method of the gardener. By gentle
touches, by loving ministrations, seek to fashion their characters after
the pattern of the character of Christ. Desire of Ages, p. 516

Coffee or coffee cups?

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to
visit their old university Professor.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the Prof went to the kitchen and returned with
a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass,
some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help
themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said "If
you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving
behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want
only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and
stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups."

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are
the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, but the quality of
Life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail
to enjoy the coffee in it."

So friend, don't let the cups drive you... enjoy the coffee instead.

Riga, Latvia Auther:Shaheena
A family cuddles on Jurmala Beach, 14 miles outside of Riga, Latvia's capital. "A storm was rolling in, and soon after this photograph was taken, an afternoon-long downpour hit," says photographer Alexandra Avakian. "Weather changes very quickly in Latvia." Another sense of freedom. Yeah, i'm thinking about freedom alot tonight..lol.

This is Ephesus, Turkey.Visitors walk along Curetes Street to explore the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus, on Turkey's western coast. "In all its classical beauty, Ephesus looks important," says writer James Morgan ("Lost in Time," Traveler October 2004). "You can glance at a cobblestone and imagine it being touched by any of the passing personages there, from King Croesus to Alexander the Great." This picture gives a sense of freedom too. Visiting other places without a care for your work..lol

Man, this is the life..i think this is part of a grand tour but this image just gives me the idea of freedom. Having my own van and going to the beach front with a friend and sitting down with our portable chairs to have a cup of noodles...freedom.

May 14

It's a sunday and i just got up from an afternoon nap. I'm contemplating whether to have 2 blogs. One blog where i talk about me and money and the other on my life and spiritual issues. The good thing about having 2 blogs is i can freely talk about the specific category and not worry about who's reading it(my audience). It's good to specialize and not have a blog that is rojak. That way it's easier for the audience to know what to expect. I believe some people visiting here can't stand me talking about money so much and me retiring young..blah blah. The bad thing about it is ....hmm....can't think of any yet. Anyway, i hope to give that a try out maybe this week or so. I'm quite bored with this blog template so i'll change this too. One sad thing though for my readers, i don't think i'll be publicising my money blog as it contains some information that can be tempting and i don't want my friends to come after me after they made a "failed investment".

Currently at work i'm on this project. I'm given a deadline to finish by friday. My boss is on reservist this whole week so i'll have to finish the project when he gets back the following week. Once that is done, it'll be a whole load off my mind and it would free me up to concentrate on other issues and responsibilities i have.

I got one piece of advice to do with priorities on being financially free in life.
My pastor asked me yesterday when i'll be getting a new computer. I've delayed it since january due to unforseen circumstances but i'll hope to get one in the next few months. Anyway i replied that this was my priority list.

1) Relationships with people
2) Money making
3) Stuff

It's important to keep the relationships with people up on the list as it adds color to your life. Imagine if there were no one on earth, that would be disastrous. It'll be so boring! Third is Stuff which i would define as things which is paid by money which could have been used to make more money. It's either stuff which has little resale value (computer, handphone) or liabilities (house, car). It's been months since i splurged on myself (last september in bangkok) and i haven't bought any new piece of clothing or gadget. But this delayed gratification will be all worth while when i'm generating comfortable income streams. Anyway i've to go do some exercise!

i listened to this recently and thought it was real funny. It's for those who are politically inclined or up to date as it's a parody of the james gomez incident.

It's my bedtime but i thought i'll type something quick.

I just got back from a seminar that was so content-rice and useful that it made me seriously think about the possibility of being free in the next few months. In the seminar it asked "What type of freeom do you want most personally and professionally?"
My answers:
1) The FREEDOM to wake up at any time of the day
2) The FREEDOM to pursue education without worry for money
3) The FREEDOM to pursue my hobbies without worry for time
4) The FREEDOM to help other people financially

I met a guy in that seminar who said that he just lost his job and might be a bankrupt next week. Unfortunately he didn't have money so he couldn't apply those concepts that he's learnt. We exchanged contacts and i told him i'll help him out when i become successful. My target for achieving my first success is in 3 months.

What i want to say is that my future is bright and i've a big chance of fulfilling my dad's "prophecy" of me being a millionaire by 30 and as a result obtain the FREEDOM i want.

I'd like to thank God firstly for giving me this passion and giving me skills to be able to fulfill FREEDOM in my own life. I'd also like to thank my parents for giving me a good upbringing. I'll definitely give them a good life as they approach retirement. :)

P.S. I can't reveal too much information now since this is a public blog but i'll explain it more when the time is ripe.

oh man, i haven't updated this blog in ages. Anyway this morning while i was about to go to work i had a thought. What if i quit my job now?what would i do?
- Take up a part-time business diploma
- Do some online businesses full time

That moment of thinking what i could do excited me ALOT. But we're living in reality, so i gotta continue working.