It's a huge chasm, but stitch it up!

Just because I haven't updated my blog doesn't mean I'm dead.

Not that anyone would notice, anyway.

Except one person.

The whole time when I have been putting up one blog entry per day for the last two years, I have only ever told one friend.

That is how low key and private I am.

Now why did I stop writing suddenly? And why am I resuming now?

Two major, major involvements - one involving my work and the other my study - forced me to stop.

Somehow, when it was all over, I couldn't find the momentum to pick up the habit again.

Maybe the spell was broken.

Maybe the effort was disrupted.

Maybe the determination was washed away.

It had stayed like that for a good while until I felt the urge to do it again.

Not only to do a blog a day, but also to plug the holes of the past few months.

The mere thought of having to make up for a few months' work is frightening.

But if I just take one step at a time...

And one or two more, if possible,

then, one day, there will be no seam.

A pretty good test, this.

The Fukushima 50

Whenever tragedies strike, especially those of the magnitude of this one in Japan, the question invevitably comes up as to why such tragedies befall so many innocent people and shatter their lives, why a God who is supposed to be just and benevolent should allow it, or even whether such a God exists at all.

There is no easy answer, certainly not for those who have been so afflicted.

I think perhaps one possible reason, a painful but poetic one, could be for the valliant Japanese people to show the rest of the world, especially those in the neighbouring nation who selfishly and senselessly scramble to panic-buy products that they foolishly believe can protect themselves from radioactivity, how to live a worthy life against all odds.

The "Fukushima 50", those heroes who were fully prepared to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of others, deserve the respect of the whole world and have taught us the true meaning of love, honour and courage.

"The future of the nuclear plant depends on how we resolve this crisis," one of the volunteers, a man who had worked for an electric company for 40 years, was reported to have told his daughter. "I feel it's my mission to help."

Such a commitment is never an easy one for these heroes, and it is certainly much less so for their loved ones. It must be very difficult for the families, not only because of the unknown immediate dangers these men are facing but also because of the problems that might result in years ahead.

"I didn't want him to go," one man's wife told a Japanese paper. "But he's been working in the nuclear industry since he was 18 and he's confident it's safe."

The "confidence" may just be something the man expressed to make his wife feel better. In any case, such courage has won them the admiration and gratitude of their people. "They are sacrificing themselves for the Japanese people," said a citizen in Tokyo. "I feel really grateful to those who continue to work there."

So best of luck, heroes.

Panic Buying of Salt

While buying some salt at the supermarket today (I swear that it was for no other reason than that I really ran out of that key ingredient for cooking! There were just a couple of spoonfuls left!), I saw a woman putting quite a few bags in her shopping basket - not a consumption habit that one will likely see in less turbulent times. With my own eyes, I testified the truth of the reports that Hong Kong people, along with those in China, scrambled for the iodine to protect themselves against possible radiation. I noticed, though, that the woman had very sparse hair on her head - an obvious sign of having undergone chemotherapy.

For her, at least, the panic may be understandable.

But not the pathetic behaviour of those ignorant and hysterical panic buyers.

They deserve to be mocked by the Japanese, who said sarcastically that there is nothing left on the shelves of their shops except salt, and the Chinese are welcome to trade it with their rice.

We really should be ashamed of ourselves.

Self-mastery is the DNA of life-mastery

Here is Robin S. Sharma's third virtue of enlightened living as introduced in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

The Symbol
The Sumo Wrestler: a symbol for continuous self-improvement

The Virtue
Practice Kaizen (constant and never ending improvement)

The Wisdom
‧Self mastery is the DNA of life mastery
‧Success on the outside begins within
‧Enlightenment comes through the consistent cultivation of your mind , body and soul

The Techniques
‧Do the things you fear
‧The 10 Ancient Rituals for Radiant Living

1. The Ritual of Solitude - Ensure that your daily schedule includes a mandatory period of peace
2. The Ritual of Physicality - Take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise
3. The Ritual of Life Nourishment - Go on a vegetarian diet
4. The Ritual of Abundant Knowledge - Become a student of life and use what you have learned in the classroom of your existence
5. The Ritual of Personal Reflection - Take the time to think; get into the habit of personal introspection
6. The Ritual of Early Awakening - Rise with the sun and start the day off well
7. The Ritual of Music - Spend a little time with music every day
8. The Ritual of the Spoken Word - Repeat a mantra
9. The Ritual of Congruent Character - Take daily incremental action to improve your character
10. The Ritual of Simplicity - Live a simple life

Some Good Quotes
"No man is free who is not a master of himself." - Epictetus

"Success on the outside begins with success on the inside."

"When you have cultivated a deep sense of faith in your abilities and an indomitable spirit, nothing can stop you from succeeding in all your pursuits and living with great rewards."

"Questions are the most effective method of eliciting knowledge."

"Ultimately, the degree of courage yo live with determines the amount of fulfillment you receive."

"The only limits on your life are those that you set yourself."

"When you dare to get out of your circle of comfort and explore the unknown, you start to liberate your true human potential."

"Do the things you fear... Do the things you have always wanted to do but didn't because you tricked yourself into believing that you were too young, too old, too rich or too poor."

"Fear is a conditioned response: a life-sucking habit that can easily consume your energy, creativity and spirit if you are not careful. When fear rears its ugly head, beat it down quickly. The best way to do that is to do the thing you fear. Understand the anatomy of fear: It is your own creation. Like any other creation, it is just as easy to tear it down as it is to erect it."

"Truly enlightened people ... are prepared to put off short-term pleasure for the sake of long-term fulfillment. So they tackle their weaknesses and fears head on, even if dipping into the zone of the unknown brings with it a measure of discomfort."

"Doing what you love... requires a great deal of courage. It requires you to step out of your comfort zone. And change is always a little uncomfortable at first. It is also more than a little risky. Having said this, this is the surest way to design a more joyful life."

"Solitude and quiet connects you to your creative source and releases the limitless intelligence of the Universe... The mind is like a lake... By simply taking the time to be still and quiet every day, the lake of the mind becomes as smooth as a plate of glass. The inner quietness brings with it a wealth of benefits including a deep sense of well being, inner peace and boundless energy."

"If at all possible, commune with nature daily. Being with nature... allows you to tune in to the infinite wisdom of your highest self. This self-knowledge will move you into the uncharted dimensions of your personal power."

"To breathe properly is to live properly."

"Try not to live your life bound by the shackles of your schedule. Instead, focus on the things that your conscience and heart tell you to do."

"To truly get the best out of a great book, you must study it, not just read it."

"Read as many books as you can...every answer to every problem you have ever faced is in print."

"The only way to improve tomorrow is to know what you did wrong today."

"Happiness comes through good judgment, , good judgment comes through experience, and experience comes through bad judgment."

"Figure out what is right and what is wrong in your days and in your life. Then set about making immediate improvements."

"The ten-minute period before you sleep and the ten-minute period after you wake up are profoundly influential on your subconscious mind. Only the most inspiring and serene thoughts should be programmed into your mind at those times."

"You are what you think about all day long. You are also what you say to yourself all day long."

"Your self-image is a governor of sorts. It will never let you act in a way that is inconsistent with it."

"You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action, you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a destiny."

"...industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and courage. When all your actions are congruent and aligned with these principles, you will feel a deep sense of inner harmony and peace. Living this way will inevitably lead you to spiritual success."

"Focus only on your priorities, those activities which are truly meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful."

"Every being on this Earth, every object on this Earth has a soul. All souls flow into one, this is the Soul of the Universe... When you nourish your own mind and your own spirit, you are really feeding the Soul of the Universe. When you improve yourself, you are improving the lives of all those around you. And when you have the courage to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams, you begin to draw upon the power of the universe... Life gives you what you ask of it. It is always listening."

"Failure is not having the courage to try, nothing more and nothing less. The only thing standing between most people and their dreams is the fear of failure. Yet failure is essential to success in any endeavor. Failure tests us and allows us to grow. It offers us lessons and guides us along the path of enlightenment... It is a fundamental Law of Nature to profit through loss. Never fear failure. Failure is your friend."

"The universe favors the brave. When you resolve, once and for all, to lift your life to its highest level, the strength of your soul will guide you."

Key Words
kaizen, self-improvement, courage, laugh, mantra