Chen Song Ping

Oh, my kids’ English! – I borrow him my toy…

Oh, my kids’ English! – I borrow him my toy…

I grew up in a family where all my siblings were Chinese-educated. But my children grew up speaking English, Malay and Chinese dialect (Hokkien). I started reading the “Peter and Jane” series to them when they were about the age of two. Oh, my kids’ English is about some of the amusing words they used as kids!

boy in red long sleeves holding toy car — Toy (Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com)

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Both boys were screaming and having a tug-of-war over a toy car!

“I borrow him my toy car. Now he doesn’t want to give back!“

“If you lend your toy to your younger brother, I am sure you would want him to return it to you, right?”

I have heard this ‘borrowing and lending mixed-ups’ even with adults at work place!

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Learning English is like duck takes to water for them. They usually scored distinction, even my youngest and special child!

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A clear pond – painting by Master Jinbodhi

A clear pond – painting by Master Jinbodhi

I chanced upon this magazine while in a waiting room.

Topics in this Vol.6. No. 3 Issue NO.16

Gratitude is an essential of life – message from Master JinBodhi

Diabetes: A Global Concern – Causes and Prevention

Meditation Impacts Genes -Relaxation Changes Gene Expression

The Warmth of the Dining Room- Feng Shui Wisdom

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When I saw the painting ‘a clear pond’ here, there was no description of the painting. There are no colours surrounding the stalks as I would normally paint the murky water when I learned Chinese painting.

I like and agree with the first message, too. Gratitude is an essential of life.

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A cancer patient said: Life is a short journey

“在这里看到这条电源线。它固定在墙上的电源上。生命是一个短暂的旅程（他沿着电线指向）。患癌症只是我旅途的一部分。很快我将回到原来的地方（指着墙上的源头）-回到上帝，回到天堂。”

“See this power cord here. It’s attached to the power source on the wall. Life is a short journey (he points along the cord). Having cancer is just part of my journey. Soon I’ll be back to where I came from (pointing to the source on the wall) – back to God, back to Heaven.”

Tomb visiting: Embracing life impermanence

A reminder of life impermanence (Photo by Arina Krasnikova on Pexels.com)

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Once I was cradled in your arm,

so warm, so comforting.

Once I was fed on your bosom,

so nourishing, so fulfilling.

Once I rode on your shoulder,

so happy, such fun!

Once I was created inside you,

such a wonder is life!

Now you both lie in here,

back to dust, back to earth,

embracing the truths of life,

such is, life impermanence!

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Things worth pursuing in life.

1.Making many friends.It will make you realize why you shouldn’t make many friends. 2.Gift something to your parents with your first salary.Trust me, the sheer joy you’ll see on their faces will be something you will cherish for the rest of your life. 3.Dance like nobody’s watching, that too in a stranger’s wedding.Your most enjoyable […]
Things worth pursuing in life.

Tai Chi Fan dance

Tai Chi Fan dance

Learning Tai Chi to strengthen my knees years ago was one of the best exercises I have ever done.

It stresses on bending one’s knees and slow meditative movements: looks easy but deceptively challenging! But it surely solves my weak knees problem!

Later, I went into tai chi cane, tai chi long sick, and tai chi kong fu fan dance. The latter is the one I enjoyed most: fast-track musical movements!

Chensp doing the Tai Chi Kung fu fan dance

My wobbly knees and Tai Chi

My wobbly knees and Tai Chi

A decade ago, a friend and I were walking up the stairs.
The lift was not functioning that day.
We cursed as we climbed.

She said, “next month I will be going for my knee operation.”
That got me thinking. For a year or so,
my wobbly, weak, and painful knees made climbing a challenge.

I enrolled for Tai Chi the following week.
I have never looked back since.
I don’t need to take knee supplements too.

I called Tai Chi, the ‘dancing meditation’!
Graceful yet deceptively challenging movements!

One of the toughest movements
is ‘snake creeps down. (see pose in picture above)
Many new students, including myself, looked on.
We (about thirty to sixty years old) shook our heads.
‘There is no way we can do this pose!’

It took me about three years
before I could do the ‘snake creeping down’!

…and my Tai Chi sifu was more than seventy years old! Still graceful and flexible!

Are you too young to retire?

Underused experiences and skills
of retired people

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a female director in her eighties

but was still walking around

the whole hospital grounds.

I bet retirement

was never in her vocabulary.

So, I shouldn’t complain if

I have to cover

a whole hospital compound, too!

I would take it

as a good exercise!

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Yet I feared for her

when I saw her walking alone

up a stage to give a speech one evening.

I told the organiser that someone

should have accompanied her

up and down the stage.

And they did

when she was about

to walk down the stage.

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I personally had requested a chaperon

to walk me up a stage

for an award winning ceremony

in Pattaya, Thailand.

I was in my fifties, then.

The stair was made of wooden planks

with holes in between!

The drum roll for each announcement

was a shattering, frightening,

and unnerving experience.

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So, one may be too young to retire,

but never defy

the fragility of old age!

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Some countries are increasing

their retirement age.

Are you too young to retire?

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Salt significantly improves the taste of food, extends the shelf life of food by acting as a preservative. Salt is not harmful, but excess salt is harmful

Salt significantly improves the taste of food, extends the shelf life of food by acting as a preservative. Salt is not harmful, but excess salt is harmful