【2012 udn talks聯合大講堂】簡靜惠：越活越華麗

把快樂當成老年唯一的工作－「老年不再是黃昏，而是人生黃金時段。」

Happiness and creative effort

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)

32nd President of the United States

The happiest of men

Who is the happiest of men? 

He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t'were his own.

Johann von Goethe (1749-1832) 

German Poet and Dramatist

Happiness

Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles but in avoiding them. 

A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.


Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) American Methodist Minister
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As it is, sometimes it is good to go away and do some travelling instead of fighting battles that exhaust your energy!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Selling car: my experience in 2015

After driving for almost three decades, I finally decided to sell my car on 23 March 2015.

I had the car hand over to the buyer Hoe Beng Auto Trading on 30 March 2015.

Now I join many Singaporean to be the full-time supporter of public transport system and find life quite easy to move on without a car.

I am glad that the second hand car dealer who bought over my car is listed in CaseTrust, and the experience is a positive one.

In case you like to know, here is the information:

Hoe Beng Auto Trading
TEL: 6745 0138
Person in Charge: Ms Agnes



LIST OF CASETRUST-SVTA ACCREDITED MEMBERS

http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publish/onemotoring/en/autoshop/motoring_directory/List_of_CaseTrust-SVTA_Accredited_Members.html

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Here is the overall experience in selling my car:


Happiness is sometime very simple, that is:

You find thing you trust is worth trusting!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Enjoying the in-house "Train ride"

These were photos taken on a Saturday night in Jan 2015:

 

After the Art and Craft session, the kids were enjoying the ride on the in-house "Train", leading the way is our young JoyJoy and the train master is uncle ThaneThane!

I am "Er Yi Po", the in house Train station Security Officer!

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

posted on April Fool Day!

 

浮生一日闲 / A timeless afternoon : a precise moment

浮生一日闲！
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A timeless afternoon : a precise moment
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回到新加坡河口，感觉似熟习，又有些陌生！

以前鱼尾狮在我的前方 ，现在移到我的身后数十米外。

过去这里是河的尽头，如今却是滨海湾的起点！

多年前一眼望过去，这里是浪花飞千的海墘，是河与海的交汇点！

当下却是风平浪静，坐在堤上，上面是高速公路，下面是可蔽蔭的长廊！也是一道新的景观！

一物有三用！是意外的收获，还是有心思的工程师尽心尽力的创建！

石头做的长堤将海岸线移到遥远的南滨。沦海桑田，从无到有，是许多前人的功劳！

享受当下，也记得这是一种恩典！

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Being bare footed once in a while, to relax and recharge!

Taking a afternoon break and have a good look at the "Mouth of Singapore River" on the eve of April fool day!

Photo taken under the High way next to One Fullerton.

Today is 31st March 2015 and many people working in the office are busy closing accounts before the end of Financial Year.

Enjoy the timeless walk along this path! It is a PRECISE moment hard to come by!

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难得有这样的一个下午，办好公事！

顺道想喝咖啡，走着、走着，一口一口地喝，放慢脚步，看着旅客，以作客的心情，看自己成长的新加坡河！

难得浮生一日闲，却也得来全不费功夫！

Happiness

Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled.

--- Dr. Benjamin Spock

Wholeheartedly...

Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly,
one-directionally, without regret or reservation.

--- William H. Sheldon

Not to win the approval of everyone we meet

The sooner we accept the inevitable dilemma of not being able to win the approval of everyone we meet, the easier our lives will become.  

When you expect to be dished out your share of disapproval instead of struggling against this fact, you’ll develop a helpful perspective to assist your life journey. 

Rather than feeling rejected by disapproval, you can remind yourself, “Here it is again. That’s okay.”  

You can learn to be pleasantly surprised, even grateful when you receive the approval you’re hoping for.

---  Richard Carlson

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Richard Carlson (May 16, 1961 – December 13, 2006) was an American author, psychotherapist, and motivational speaker.

Happiness is made, not found.

Happiness is made, not found.

- Wilson Kanadi
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The joy in my life journey is: to search for books to read and things to make or create.

I love reading, and I pursue the career in librarianship.

I enjoy arts and craft, hence I learn how to be innovative and how to translate my learning into courses that I conducted through INNO HANDS-ON from 1999 to 2014, the last fifteen years!

In addition, many of the part-time courses in Temesek Polytechnic (between 1998 and 2000), like the library displays ideas, pop-up book making, gift wrapping and bow making ideas, were the brain child of my interesting pursue in the process of teaching and training teachers and librarians.

Reading create joyful moments, and I like to be able to create books that give others the same joyful moment. Hence, the course of using newspaper clipping of a certain topic was created for the Temasek Polytechnic students in 1990's in the course called Recording and Transmission of Knowledge, and there after, translated to 3D and pop-up book making for other groups of learners.


I feel contented when I browse meaningful quotations and creative art and craft works via Google search.

Google always returns with thousands of great sites for you to explore. The joy of reading webpages is always exciting at the beginning, tiring at the end.

I like to read quotations that motivate people. In 2001 to 2007, when I conducted the Digital Literacy Skill course for the SM2/3 students, I asked them to create web pages, and added the quotation page as an optional page requirement.  Many students liked it and I hope this add-on gave them something to remember when they recall their time studying the NIE bridging course.

After finding a good quote, happiness is ignited at that moment.  After a while, the flame disappears. Live goes back to normal.

To extend the blissful moment, it is good to have the quotation copied down by hand, saved in e-copy, or shared by blogging.

We can spend all our lives, here and there, looking for happiness, we will never really find it.

Hence, we understand: 

Happiness is made, not found.

It is not outside of us. What is outside of us is not real­ly ours, and can be lost. What cannot be lost, does not get lost, if it is inside us.

That is why we are never really happy with what is outside of us, whether they are people or things.

So keep the joy within us and ride our life journey with it. To me, reading, arts and crafts has been and still is that joy.

What we can search via google, is the world outside us, what we can make or create, is from our mind, body and soul, it is the world inside us.

Now I  see the possibility of a new hobby in creating new joy and happiness in my journey ahead...

So, I hope to have the experience of joyful moments from time to time!

When I am able to learn and create something, I joy over it, and I truly understand this quotation by Wilson Kanadi:

Happiness is made, not found.



Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

How to be happy

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Published on Oct 5, 2012

How to be happy in life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_718559&feature=iv&src_vid=HoFNs-3r0Go&v=sycZZrYvCNw
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Be happy with practical stress management tips & resilience tips for staying happy, positive, healthy and sane with Mark Walsh of Integration Training and Achilles. The basics of how to be happy - exercise and sleep, centring , cognitive reframing, gratitude, social support and humour are discussed.

http://www.integrationtraining.co.uk/...

http://www.integrationtraining.co.uk/...

cover the physical basics - stuff my mum said - food, sleep, water, toxin intake, also touch. Need to have a minimum in in all of these - you can't cheat your basic biological system

• social support and empathy
• centre
• reframe your thoughts - realistic optimism, avoid resentment and victim thinking. It's ourt thinking about events not the events themselves that creates stress
• acceptance - illusion of control and this is stressful
• play and recreation
• exercise - relaxed like tai chi or yoga, or fast like squash or running to burn off some energy
• Meditate - evidence base -it works better than drugs
• manage environment - order and beauty, nature helps
• gratitude
• humour

This video includes the "embodied" approach.

The embodied work practiced by Mark Walsh and Integration Training is based upon a number of disciplines such as aikido, meditation, body therapy and dance.

It is strongly influenced by teachers such as Dr Richard Strozzi-Heckler and the Strozzi Institute (http://www.strozziinstitute.com/), Paul Linden (http://www.being-in-movement.com/), Wendy Palmer (http://embodimentinternational.com/) and Dylan Newcomb (http://www.uzazu.org/). These people are all masters in the field.

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Source of information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_718559&feature=iv&src_vid=HoFNs-3r0Go&v=sycZZrYvCNw

Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind

<iframe src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/lisa_bu_how_books_can_open_your_mind.html" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

Daily Survival Kit

Just like to share this message I received today:

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Today, I am giving  you a DAILY  SURVIVAL  KIT to help you each  day...

Toothpick ...
to remind you to  pick the good qualities in everyone, including  yourself.

Rubber band ...
to remind you to be flexible.
Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.
Eraser ...
to remind you everyone makes mistakes.
That's okay, we learn from our  errors.

Candy Kiss ...
to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.

Mint  ...
to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family  & Me.

Bubble Gum ...
to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.

Pencil ...
to remind you to list your blessings every day.

Tea Bag ...
to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of blessings.

This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day!

Wishing you love, gratitude, friends to cherish, caring, sharing, laughter, music, and warm feelings in your heart in the new year!

开心就笑

开心就笑。

人生性自然，笑的意识自然流露。

不开心装笑，苦笑，心念也苦。

笑的意识，自然自在，不自然，装笑自然就苦。

有的笑不自然，能表达不自然的苦。

不开心装笑，苦笑，心念也就自然苦。

一个笑，角度不同，意识也不同。

心念自然，开心就笑。

心眼笑，意也笑，觉也笑，都自然笑。

懂就自然，不懂装懂就苦。

道在自然，笑，道亦在自然。

Saturday night: Fun with handicrafts

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.

-- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

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Borrowing Helen Keller's words:

It is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks, like having "Fun with handicrafts" as if they were great and noble!

With such a small task repeated many times, and hopefully "practice makes perfect" I may turn the small tasks into a great and noble one!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

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For over two years, Saturday evening gathering at my mum's apartment around 8.00 pm to 9.30pm has been "Fun with Handicrafts" night for my junior relatives!

 

Art and craft is rather addictive for kids! When they have completed one piece of craft work, the next minute they will ask for new ones to do!

If I am out for dinner or attending talks/events on Saturday night, they will be very disappointed and other stand-by commercial DIY kits may be used to keep them occupied. Yet, they prefer *"Er Yi Po"* Dexterine's creative ways of teaching! Learning from the Mastermind, according to them, is more fun and easy!

Note: "Er Yi Po" is "Second great-aunt" in English" pronounced in Mandarin.

Most of them are just pre-schoolers, and they enjoy paper cut-out, heart-shape pop-up, 3D works, origami and many other kinds of paper craft I teach in Schools and Libraries!

To them, cutting is interesting, drawing is challenging and pasting is difficult!

Yet, they amaze their parents by how creative they can be!

I enjoy the time spent with them, and it is their love of art and craft that unveils their creativity in many other fields! They learn to look at things in detail, and see things in their own way which is different from other kids! I am glad that I am a candle to brighten their path in their quest for creativity!

Many family members do not see the value of art and craft until they see how kids transform themselves through innovative art and craft done at home! Their creativity move their ideas and love in craft work beyond the art zone and their attention span and quest for learning is extended very much beyond kids of the same age!

The Golden Snake year in 2013 will be another great year for their quest in "Art and Craft!"

Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

人來地球不是來受苦的

Just view the video and like the following statement:

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生命
是喜悅的!

人來地球不是來受苦的,
是來經驗一個物質的人間天堂!

快樂是生命的本質!
受苦和病痛是是不必要的,所以你要有智慧把它解脫掉!

人為何輪迴?
最大的目的是為了愛,
體驗各式各樣的愛,
增加世俗的經驗!
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For more details, view the video on youtube:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hpemehq_YxA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cheer yourself up

Most of the time positive thought generate a steady and creative influence on us at work.

We might gain success if we channel our creativity into working well under pressure.

Occassionally, petty disputes may arise with people, so be sure you don't say anything that will add fuel to the fire.

When you are depressed or your mood is low, spend some quiet time reading a humorous book or watch a funny movie to cheer yourself up.

Alternatively, do some exercise, or just walk away and you may change your focus and recharged yourself!


Dexterine Ho Soo Miang

Japan's 97-year-old physician educator offers advice for seniors

I just received the following from an email through a good friend and here is my summary with additional info and links after searching the web for supporting sources:

Author/Physician Shigeaki Hinohara

By JUDIT KAWAGUCHI

Judit Kawaguchi loves to listen. She is a volunteer counselor and a TV reporter on NHK's "Out & About." Learn more at: http://juditfan.blog58.fc2.com/

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Japan's 97-year-old physician educator offers advice for seniors ~ Japan Times
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http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090129jk.html

At the age of 97 years and 4 months, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators.

Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing. ...
top medical facility and nursing school.

Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies.

As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot.

All people who live long — regardless of nationality, race or gender — share one thing in common: None are overweight.

Always plan ahead.

There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65.

Share what you know.

When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure.

To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff.

My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler."

Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it.

Don't be crazy about amassing material things.

Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors.

Science alone can't cure or help people.

Life is filled with incidents.

Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do.

It's wonderful to live long.

Read the full text and look at the photo of Author/Physician Shigeaki Honorary at
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090129jk.html

Words to live by
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl-jk-all.html
is the series of over 150 stories written by Judit Kawaguchi.

If you find this story inspiring, you may like to read other stories by the same writer to get more inspiration!

Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler" in full text is available from:
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/abt-vogler/

In the Armstrong Browning Library, the central double window in the Entrance Foyer represents Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler" (http://www.browninglibrary.org/index.php?id=48319) and I like the Poetry for Lower Section of Window:

On the earth the broken arcs;
in the heaven a perfect round.


I read the poetry and like Shigeaki Hinohara's comment:

"It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance."

If you like to understand more about Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler", just google for more info or visit the following links:

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/abt-vogler/

http://www.browninglibrary.org/index.php?id=48319

Hope you enjoy reading this summary!

Cheers


Dexterine Ho

Believe in doing good!

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

-- Dr. Kent M. Keith