Responding to one particular feedback ...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

2 min? 3 min? 4 min? or 5 min?

Ha! It has been a long time since I have a session like today's. It was cool and I enjoyed myself. I look forward to the many more sessions that we will have.

Hmm, I wonder when was the last time Siew, Huishan and I trained on the same court. Yio Chu Kang days? My JC days? Gosh, it has been that long ago ... It is fun to play with them again and it is certainly exciting to think about how much better we can become ... :)

Cheers!

Setting out ...

I wrote this mail on 1 Feb and then went down with a bad flu. Have fully recovered now ... Time to go! And have fun ... =)

___________________________________________________________________


It has been 2.5 years since I have left for the States and I have asked myself constantly what I have really achieved during this time. I have done a lot of things, but what exactly have I achieved?

I have also asked myself where I see myself in 5, 10 years' time. It is a question I really hate answering, esp during interviews ... I mean who the hell knows what would happen so many years down the road. But yet during the recent Strategic Thinking Paper session w Prof Tom K, he reaffirmed the facts that you create your own future and only you can decide if your choices will bring you happiness.

I thought about I want to achieve in the next 5, 10 years ... Earn $10k per month? Reach some really high up position somewhere? Own a car? A house? Find that special someone?

But where does my passion lie? What choices will bring me happiness? Eventually I came back to sports, to playing squash as one of the answers.

I have decided to continue this path for several reasons ...

1) Squash is fun. I really enjoy playing this game very much.

2) I want to be on a pursuit for excellence and do something really well. Squash is the chosen vehicle and I believe it is a worthwhile pursuit.

3) I have set certain targets previously, targets that have not been achieved. At this point of time, I still can't explain to myself satisfactorily for not having done so. I know I have not reached the point where I can tell myself very honestly that "This is the best I can do given my innate ability, the circumstances and the resources. I have pushed to the max and I will stop here now." Thus I want to go back and complete what I have set out to do ...

Do join me ...

Ithaka

Ithaka

Setting out on the voyage to Ithaka
You must pray the way be long,
Full of adventures and experiences.
The Laistrygonians, and the Kyklopes,
Angry Poseidon, don't be afraid of them:
You will never find such things on your way.
If only your thoughts be high, and a select
Emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians, the Kyklopes,
Poseidon raging - you will never meet them,
Unless you carry them with you in your soul,
If your soul does not raise them up before you.

You must pray that the way be long;
Many be the summer mornings
When with what pleasure, with what delight
You enter harbours never seen before;
At Phoenician trading stations you must stop,
And must acquire good merchandise,
Mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
And sensuous perfumes of every kind;
As much as you can get of the sensuous perfumes;
You must go to many cities of Egypt,
To learn and still to learn from those who know.

You must always have Ithaka in your mind,
Arrival there is your predestination.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better that it should last many years;
Be quite old when you anchor at the island,
Rich with all you have gained on the way,
Not expecting Ithaka to give you riches.

Ithaka has given you your lovely journey.
Without Ithaka you would not have set out.
Ithaka has no more to give you now.

Poor though you find it, Ithaka has not cheated you.
Wise as you have become, with all your experience,
You will have understood the meaning of an Ithaka.

Cavafy