~small opportunity~

“Day by day, I watched the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening not knowing what I could do to improve my situation. It feels like I am waiting for time to pass me by and waiting for the grim reaper to take me back to my maker”, said the old man who was gazing at the plants and flower he whole heartedly planted in his garden.

The old man was talking to a once famous professional poker player who had everything a man could want – fame, money, women, recognition, etc. Now he is but a part-time worker who makes end meet in a plants nursery. For an ex-gambler, Mike sure knew a lot about plants. Apparently, it made him feel peaceful in the inside every time he was working the garden and caring for the plants. He felt it could help him forget the painful past of losing everything he had.

What about the old man?

The old man is the owner of a large casino chain.

"Why don't you join me? I am planning to open up a new casino and I would like someone to head it. You have the experience and I am sure we can rub the rust of your poker skills once you get your groove back. What do you think?"

"Who? Me? I couldn't possibly head a casino. I gave up gambling after I lost everything years ago. After losing everything in the '97 world poker competition in the Philippines, I came back only to find my parents had passed away and my little brother was kidnapped. Now, I am just a happy part time gardener in a nursery. That's all there is to it. I don't have much, but I am happy.........."

"My friend. You are still young. Not that young but no way older than me. You lost it all last time but you still have your pair of hands, legs and your brains. Let me give you a tip. Wealth is not measured based on the net worth of your assets, wealth is what you have in your head and your member between your thighs."

Mike burst out laughing hearing the old man's anecdote but he knew what he said was true.

The old man continued, "I know a whole bunch of people who think they know it all, seen it all, done it all. But I can tell you they don't know jack for one simple reason - there's no one in this world who has done it all, seen it all and know it all. Only one person can have that attributes - it ain't me, it ain't you and it sure ain't any other person. It's God. Because you and I can never have it all, why not seize the opportunity to turn your life around. You are happy in a nursery don't mean you can't be happy in a casino, right?"

Mike nodded.

"Let's just say we forget I mentioned about heading the casino bit. Small, tiny opportunities can present itself in the weirdest of places and situations. Sometimes the small opportunities could have big results and the only way to find out is to seize the opportunity. Even if nothing big comes out of it, you'll still learn something in the end. But I shall qualify myself by saying some experiences can be painful. Not all, but some. Imagine you have fallen head over heels for a girl, I bet your arse you are going to go all out going after her. Small opportunity right? But if she falls in love with you, big result right? And you wouldn't know if she falls for you unless you confess your feelings to her and show her that you have feeling for her right?"

Mike nodded.

"So give it a thought........ I don't need an answer right away. Alright?"

Mike nodded.

That's the scene I saw in a show my mom was watching. Whether Mike took the opportunity, I'll leave it to your imagination. :)

All it takes is a little encouragement

"A Life at Work" by Thomas Moore is currently the book I am reading. I have reached about half way so far and it has really given me a lot of in sight about my destiny or at least pointers to get me on my way to figure out what my life work is (i.e. your ideal work, work that fulfills you from the inside, food-for-the-soul kind of work). It's still a work in progress thing for me; a long way from reaching the full discovery point (if I ever reach it). Your life work can be as simple as helping old folks in need in a nursing home to something as simple as being a life guard. Simplest of work can be the most rewarding to a person's hear that's deep down. Of course, there's no denying that it is different for everyone. But sometimes, if not all the time, all it takes is a little encouragement from the people around you. Sometimes it is as simple as, "a job well done chump!" or "way to go bud!" or "you hit the home run mate!" or even

one foot in the past, another in the future........ what about the present?

All of us go through a cycle, what we commonly call - the past, present and the future. It can probably be summed up by this simple phrase: " we come from the past to be in the present and look forward to the future ". Now, what I want you to do is take a step back, or just give your mind a minute or two to digest the above mentioned phrase. Ask yourself if it applies to you. Really ask yourself; and I mean REALLY ask yourself in the most honest of manner, whether it really applies to you. You may find it difficult to arrive at a 'yes' and even if you do, you probably find yourself in a paralysis state of mind trying to justify the 'yes'. If you really ponder about it, you are likely to find that most of us would find this phrase more relevant instead: " we come from the past and look forward to the future " You will find many of us either hang on to the past or look far too forward into the future, or likely for some to even be dwelling too much in

Quick update.........

Having graduated last year in August and taking a break in Australia visiting my brother for a month, I really felt good about everything. Things just got better after that, having landed a job at Ernst & Young! :) Aaaaaahhhhh.... how fast time actually goes by! Passing the 10th of January 2007, I have already been working for 3 months. The feeling of getting older and learning new things everyday at work brings about a feeling of satisfication. Although, work is generally tough and tedious (what do you expect in the auditing line?). I must admit though, when I fast started off I did feel demotivated and some what unhappy with the job having to go back home at 3am and back to work by 8am the next day. I did think about quitting at that time........ :( However, a miracle happened to me! That miracle brought along a girl named Vern Cheng. Without her support, I would have struggled a lot more. After work, just seeing her brings about a feeling of happiness and a feeling of being cont

The Path of Time

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