THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER

It has been for a few years now that a revolutionary (revolutionary to me) body of thought has been slowly growing in my mind, stemming from when I first read two great books - The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz. I am convinced that we are all loaded with talent, ability and capability. We are seeds that contain the capacity of the life expanse. As Paula White, an American minister sums it up, "the life God put in you is bigger than the life you're living".

These epiphanies have been coagulating, adjusting and recoagulating adding a richness to my worldview. New epiphanies occur, and as I internalize them, they add even more flavour to this broadening worldview.

For me, the problem is getting it all out! Internalizing it all thoroughly that it spills over enough to nullify areas of weakness and bring visible and progressive results. I must be careful though to find a good grounding in all this as it runs deeper than just the "rah rah I can do it" mentality that finds attractiveness in the minds of youth. Nevertheless :

If you want a thing bad enough
To want to go out and fight for it
Work day and night for it
Give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it
And all you dream and scheme is about it
If life seems empty and useless without it
If gladly you'd sweat for it, fret for it, plan for it
Lose all terror of man for it
If you simply go after the thing you want
With all your capacity, strength and sagacity
Faith, hope, confidence and stern tenacity
If neither cold, poverty, famish and god
Nor sickness, nor pain of body and brain
Can keep you away from the thing you want
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it
You'll get it!!

By Berton Bradley



Pic : My family who all jolly wish I would get some of that "hidden talent" out there and functioning!

A TOAST!

David and Dorene Niotakis.

Congratulations to my sister Dorene and her fiance David who got married this 1st of September. It was a charming garden wedding in Carcosa Seri Negara here in Kuala Lumpur and here are a few stills of the delightful occasion.

The place.

Sisters International.

The mother of the bride and the celebrant aka brother of the bride.

Silver bells?

Pretty maids all in a row.

The garden aisle.

The pledge.

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amidst 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 quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and 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 perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of the spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with 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 labours 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. Strive to be happy.

Found in Old St. Pauls Church
Dated 1692

Picture : An age old doorway; Rothenberg, Germany