I love my mother.....

Recently I attended a Chinese New Year gathering, specially for the old folks together with their children and sponsored by one of our local Chinese Newspaper. To qualify for the function, one of the parents of each family must be above eighty of age. There were 80 eligible senior veterans, ranging from age 80 to 101, and the total years added among them came to 6800. 

The President of the dinner related a story which was worth listening. The President is a lady who was working as a nurse when she was young. During her working experience she encountered a true incident. There was a sickly old mother who came to her hospital for regular treatment. Each time without fail, a son would accompany her. The consultations were lengthy and both mother and son had to wait for her turn. The son would also bring along a mat. While waiting he would sleep and rest on the mat. He would not complain and had all the patience to see her mother complete her visit. The eye of the son could tell he is a very kind and obedient child.

Out of curiosity, one day the nurse asked the mother whether this son was the only child in the family. Spontaneously the old lady replied, "I have 10 children. All my children are doing very well. Some have migrated and the rest have left for the cities. This is the only son who didn't do well in his study".

The nurse cried in her heart. What the world is this? Those who are educated and are successful have forgotten the word of kindness. While the one who isn't, has all the love, kindness and time for the mother. I too was crying.

Good to remember - "For the mother's sake the child was dear, and dearer was the mother for the child" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Words and understanding help a client....

Continue from yesterday posting...

Most husbands and wives argued and quarrelled in the house could be due to financial problems. Once that happened, the easy way out is to terminate insurance bills. A good insurance agent helps to resolve and provide solution to ease out matters. 

Knowing my client is always busy at their work, I sent a text message to him. It was written, "On checking you can still withdraw xxxxxk cash from your own plans together with your wife and daughters policies. If this amount can solve your immediate need, pls let me know and I would help to withdraw immediately".

Client was surprised with the savings he has with us. His reply, "Should be okay for now. Pls proceed".

RF: OK Once the cheques are out will contact you again.

Client: Thanks but I will be on leave from 10 to 22 Feb.

RF: Let me have your wife and your bank account. I would deposit cheques once they are here.

Client: Std Chart 00000007

RF: Is it joint name account.

Client:  Yes!

RF: That's a very lucky number you have there. Both account holder names will be blessed with wealth. On condition they must love each other. OK?

Client: Thanks because I do not consider you as my agent or advisor but my true and trusted friend that can confide at all times.

RF: Those words touched my heart. You really make my day.

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

       - William Shakespeare

House Rules for the family...

As life insurance agent, I received such message at time...

From a client.. "I know that u are still on holiday but I would like to see your opinion. U know that I have two daughters studying at the varsities, one in Egypt. But I just found out that my wife is very calculative with regards to Finance. U know that everything is on me. What is your advice if I were to cancel all the insurances under my wife's name. Please take your time to answer me . Thanks"

Though I was abroad then, I immediately replied.. "House Rules. #1. The wife is always right. #2. What happen when wife is wrong. Follow rule #1". Second message to him... "Since your wife's policies are taken many years back, the premiums are definitely cheaper. Advise..  please don't stop. Try to bite the bullets happily. After all, they are all your loved one at home. Love them unconditionally".

Moral of the story: Husband or man should be more generous than wife or woman. Man should have a richer heart.

Poem I like... From John Wesley

Do All the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

Musical Inspiration....

The other week while staying in my son's home in Singapore, I learned something interesting from my daughter in law, Chee Ying. She works as a legal advisor with an International Firm. A great lady who works and at the same time a strong and caring mother, husband and daughter to her family. Most of the time, she remains in her home to do her daily work and assignments for her company. 

I asked her how she could perform so well for her boss while she has to fence for the family. While taking care of her three growing children and attending her sickly mum, she has to surf and interact through her laptop most of the time. There were calls coming in and she had to speak effectively to all her clients too. Definitely not me! I won't be able to perform and work efficiently with so much of distraction in the house. Back at home, I have my own locked office room where I do my daily planning and write up.

According to Chee Ying, she enjoyed working while seeing her family around. They were their motivators who give her the inspiration to excel. The noise and disturbance could never distract her. Even when she was young, she needed the music and TV for excitement to make her studied. I think she is totally right because Alvin, my eldest son was the same. When he was a kid, I had to scold him endlessly for listening to his walk-man's music and switching on the TV for entertainment while preparing for his examination. I stopped bothering him until when he could pass with flying colour in all his studies. He ended his education with a super Honour in England later.

Moral of the story - Each individual thinks differently. We require different energies to spur our brains. Some need the softer approaches, while the others might need more sophisticated and creative ways. You have to soul search yourself. So the next time when you see your children who love the music while studying, try not to nag at them so soon. Be more observance to understand.

Without music life would be a mistake - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Don't ask for discount when you want a good job to be done

Ah Soon is my car repairer and sprayer. Last week my car was slightly hit at the back with a dented mudguard. Since the New Year was drawing near and I needed to drive to Singapore, I called Ah Soon to pick up my car for  repairing. He is a guy who could give a shine to one without the brightness. I mean to change the look of an old car like mine.

Ah Soon came in the early morning to take my car and promised to bring it back after three days. I just told him what I wanted to be done and not one word was asked over the charges. Later of the day, little darling was curious about the repairs bill. I told her it's up to Ah Soon. 

The reason was simply I trusted him who would do a good job as promised. When one trusts another person, you don't doubt the other person's creditability and value. In fact by not even knowing what was the final cost of the repair, I had put a lot of pressure on my friend. He knew I have the fullest confidence in him, and he knew he had to deliver. He had to give his best to an unquestionable customer, who seldom comes by in life. True enough! Three days later when he brought back my Honda, it was almost like a brand new motor car. Every corner was properly done with shines from inside to the outside. Believe me, the charges were very reasonable. Not forgetting he had to provide home delivery as well. I was  totally a satisfied customer and I paid him immediately without question.

My personal view.. A lousy customer is one who would request for discount prior to any buying or transaction. The more one who demands, the least he might gain. After all, the seller or the repairer isn't a fool too. Be reasonable and be fair, and the outcome would always turn fruitful and satisfying. And I'm sure little darling learns as she reads my contents.

I like this proverb - “Be realistic, demand the impossible!” - Che Guevara quote

What is golf???

Ranjit, my good friend was trying to persuade me to take up golfing. He sent me a list of explanation.

GOLF AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS

  Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Golf ! You hit down to make the ball go up. You swing left and the ball goes right. The lowest score wins, on top of that, the winner buys the drinks.

Golf is harder than baseball. In Golf, you have to play your foul balls.

If you find you do not mind playing Golf in the rain, the snow, even during a hurricane, here's a valuable tip ........ your life is in trouble.

Golfers who try to make everything perfect before taking the shot rarely make a perfect shot.

A 'gimme' can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers ...neither of whom can putt very well.

An interesting thing about Golf is that no matter how badly you play, it is always possible to get worse.

Golf's a hard game to figure. One day you'll go out and slice it and shank it, hit into all the traps and miss every green. The next day you go out and for no reason at all you really stink.

If your best shots are the practice swing and the 'gimme putt', you might wish to reconsider this game.

Golf is the only sport where the most feared opponent is you.

Golf is like marriage, If you take yourself too seriously it won't work, and both are expensive.

The best wood in most amateurs' bags is the pencil.
SENIOR'S DAY AT THE COURSE

David Letterman's Top Ten Reasons Why Golf Is Better Than Sex...

#10... A below par performance is considered damn good.
#09... You can stop in the middle and have a cheeseburger and a couple of beers.
#08... It's much easier to find the sweet spot.
#07... Foursomes are encouraged.
#06... You can still make money doing it as a senior.
#05... Three times a day is possible.
#04... Your partner doesn't hire a lawyer if you play with someone else.
#03... If you live in Florida , you can do it almost every day.
#02... You don't have to cuddle with your partner when you're finished.
And the NUMBER ONE reason why golf is better than sex.....
#01... When your equipment gets old you can replace it!

Instead! I told him... I still prefer the one hole golf at home.

I just helped him to cry....

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
Talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the
Contest was to find the most caring child.

    The winner was:

A four-year-old child, whose next door
neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his
wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
   When his mother asked him what he had
said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just
Helped him cry.'