Poor Confused Lost Souls

Nope - it is not about the souls roaming the streets during the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. FYI - the festival falls on August 14th, 2008. So, keep your windows shut, lock your doors and get home early! Sometimes, people ask me - do you believe. To me, it is darn simple. If there is no harm in believing, what the heck - I believe and respect it. I rather err on the safe side!

Anyway, back to the topic. My acquaintance and colleague, Liz, is getting married soon. Naturally, it would be a big event for her - or for any gal for that matter. As a guy, I could understand, althought it would matter a lot less for guys in general.

Lately, I have noticed Liz to be darn stressed out at work. Apparently her to-be-hubby wants her in a green tutu which would make her look like a bright green Granny Smith. That's among her many problems. Mind you, the bloody wedding is still at least 6 months away. Talk about planning. There has also been other disagreement between Liz and her future hubby.

So, I asked her a question which really stir things up. "Do you want a happy wedding or the perfect wedding?" Ah. She gave me the LOST look. She wanted both I guess, but there is only so much we mortals can do. I asked her again, would she choose a perfect wedding or a happy wedding? She kept quiet. I decided not to push it any more. Making a gal sob at the workplace would be the last nail in the coffin for me as far as my reputation at work is concerned.

Really? Which would you prefer? Something with many screw ups that we can have a good laugh at the end of the day or something perfect but so tense. Hmmm. After all, this is what life is all about. So what if things are not perfect. The least we can do is be happy! Let me know your thoughts.

The biggest, the smartest, the best...

A long time ago, I was listening to a debate in Melbourne, on TV, about fundings for government schools. A Catholic nun was on the panel. There's one statement which she made, and it has profound impact on me. She said "Everyone wants the smartest kid, a kid to be a doctor, a lawyer, the best in mathematics, best in sports, fastest sprinter, but why not, the kindest student? The most compasionate person?".

It is true. In Malaysia, everyone wants to be the top student. Everyone wants to be rich, but hey, why not be the kindest? Be the most helpful? Be the most generous? Be kind. I am listening to some Buddhist talks now (which surprises me because it talks more of lifestyle and not much, if ever, about God) - and this guy says, why bother to be the richest in the cemetary?

So, I think it is time, to be a kinder, more compasionate person. Our education ministry should seriously look into this. It does remind me of the show, CJ7 - it is to a large extend, a reflection of our society.