My brother and I brought our nephews to the barber for their regular haircut. I saw these blooming red flowers and just had to take out my Sony Cybershot camera phone again. And one of the photos was taken by my 5 years old niece. Sony Cybershot camera phone is indeed quite easy to use. I just have to give my 5 years old niece some simple instructions and I was amazed at how her shot turned out.

Could you tell which shot was taken by my 5 years old niece? And what is your reason for choosing the particular shot?

Now to unveil the mystery: The second one is the one taken by my 5 years old niece. Some of you have made a logical guess that the first photo is the one taken by my niece as children like close up. You could have been right if not for a small drain between the flower and my niece. Her arms were not long enough to get a close up at the flower.

There were some of you who guessed the second one because there are more details in the first shot. I must say you are absolutely right as I had intentionally gone up very close to the flower and set the macro mode to take the shot. Yes, the Sony Cybershot camera phone has a macro mode that allows you to take decent close up shot.

So have you guessed the right one?

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Thank you Jack from Tom’s Cats for passing me the Zombie Chicken Award. Don’t know what is this award about. Beats me too! But when I read about this award at Tom’s Cats, I was humbled by what I read. I can only continue to strive to love and to inspire.

“The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…“

What does a renown house like the Fallingwater has anything to do with the meaning of life? To you and I, the connection may not be so direct. However, to Frank Lloyd Wright, could the meaning of his life be, ‘to create masterpieces like the Fallingwater.’ Or did he give his life meaning by creating masterpieces like the Fallingwater?

In Viktor E. Frankl‘s book, ‘Man’s Search For Meaning,’ he said that a lot of people are going through life asking, ‘what is the meaning of life,’ when they should be giving their lives meaning by what they are doing everyday. Previously I was also constantly asking myself what is the meaning of life and it was like a dog chasing its own tail; I was going round and round in circle.

Then what I read in Viktor’s book made sense to me. When one is searching for the meaning of life, one is not in control of whatever life throws at one. However, when one gives his/her life meaning, one is in control of whatever he/she does. Then what meaning should one gives to his/her life?

In Bill Strickland‘s book, ‘Make the Impossible Possible,’ he mentioned, “… a good life isn’t something you wait for, or chase after, or try to possess; it’s something you must create, moment by moment, on the foundation of your dreams.” What Bill said resonates with what Viktor had mentioned in his book isn’t it?

The connecting dots are then in the dreams that each individual holds. In so speaking, there is a need to know what are one’s dreams. Failing to know one’s dreams in life will make it impossible to live a fulfilled and happy life. Then how does one know his/her dreams? The question is, ‘what are we passionate about in life?’ Found out what we are passionate about and then build our dreams based on our passion.

Now, “What is the meaning are you giving to life?”

It has been more than two months into the new year. Have you already made your new year resolutions and following them faithfully? I believe many would have resolved to be a better person this year or to have a better health. Or do you resolve to improve your relationships with loved ones and people around you? Or could it be to be more successful and wealthy this year? More spiritual and to help more people this year? Or could it be what I want to share with you in the following?

I remember reading a quotation in one of the blogs, while dropping entrecards at the start of the new year, that goes something like this, “new year is a time for us to redeem ourselves; to set things right and to right any wrongdoings and to relive our lives.”

Did you put up a quotation like this in your blog at the start of the new year? If you did, I would love to give you the credit by linking back to your blog. Do let me know in the comment.

The quotation got me in deep reflection. I thought initially that new year is indeed a good time when we can start everything on a fresh note. Then again, it is only true to certain extent. Is new year the only time when we should collectively reflect upon our lives in the past year? 365 days is a long stretch of period; do you still remember exactly what you had done last year at this time?

The thing is why do we have to wait for another 365 days to pass before we start reflecting on our lives again. Who says that resolution can only be made yearly and before the start or at the start of a new year?

I am grateful for the fact that I am still alive and writing this at this very moment. I am grateful to be still breathing in the air that you are breathing. I have learnt that if I wanted to do any good, I have to be alive in the first place. What? You knew that simple truth a long time ago? Alright, I admit I am slow in some areas; better late than never.

I have reminded myself almost every night to be grateful that I am still alive. What is the meaning of being alive? To me, everyday I get to wake up in the morning, I’m bless with a gift – the unique gift of life. This gift of life continues to allow me to make a difference in the lives of others and to correct whatever wrongs done in yesterday. The unlimited potential of doing good.

Quoting a paragraph from the book, ‘Make The Impossible Possible,’ by Bill Strickland, “Sometimes, the hardest thing about living an exceptional life is realizing what it means, in simplest and most essential terms, to be alive. Just waking up to the fact that you are alive – that each day and each moment you’re on the planet gives you once-in-a-lifetime chance to build the future you dream of …”

If I can make life easier for at least one person a day, that will be 365 people a year and around 13,000 people in my lifetime; assuming the average lifespan of a man is 70 years old. Not very impressive but not bad also. Of course, these numbers can be reduced drastically if someone up there decides that my time is up today. One must really make full use of his or her time given and live it to the fullest!

As I took in another breath, I am filled with gratitude. Time is bad now especially with the financial crisis happening everywhere and it may have taken its toiled on you, but to be alive, you are open to greater possibilities and potentials. It will get better! Quoting something John Gokongwei, Jr. said, “The important thing to know is that life will always deal us a few bad cards. But we have to play those cards the best we can. And we can play to win!”

Last but not least, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Yes, it is that time of the year again where lovers will re-pledge their loves for their loved ones. Take this day to renew your vow towards your loved one but always remind yourself that everyday is a Valentine’s Day.

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Thank you iWalk from iWalk, U2? for giving me the passionate blogger award and to Michele from Digital Artisan for giving me the Lemonade Award.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Aldon from Orient Lodge for informing me of the Trojan alert coming from my website a few days ago and for helping me to test it after I cleared the site of the alert. Thank you for taking the time to do that. And I hope that none of you were affected by it yesterday. My sincere apology for any inconvenience caused to all of you.

Is it possible for one idea to change the world? I believe it can. In the movie ‘Pay It Forward,’ an 11-year-old schoolboy in Las Vegas, Nevada is given a class project to complete by his social studies teacher. His task is to come up with a plan that will change the world through direct action. Trevor then comes up with the plan to “pay it forward” by doing a good deed for three people who must in turn each do good deeds for three other people.

This concept, in fact, is not new; according to Wikipedia, the concept was described by Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784. The term “pay it forward” was coined, or at least popularized, by Robert A. Heinlein in his book Between Planets, published in 1951.

In 2006, I created an eBook Symphony of Love, which is a pictorial eBook of love quotations. I have compiled 365 love quotations into this eBook and every love quotation comes with a picture of flower.

From the birth of the eBook comes the website Symphony of Love, which is created with the initial motive to share with people the wisdom in love quotations. The website later expands to share with people other areas in love through stories and articles, which I received in my past email. Symphony of Love further evolves and aims to share with people reflections in life. I hope that readers can find love and inspiration through Symphony of Love.

Today, I would like to bring forward the concept of ‘paying it forward’ in Symphony of Love. I have been selling the Symphony of Love, Pictorial eBook of Love Quotations for $6.95 almost ever since it was created. However, starting today, I would be giving it away for free. The only thing that you need to do to download a free copy of it is to ‘Pay It Forward.’

No, I do not mean forwarding the copy that you downloaded to your family and friends. Like the concept, after you downloaded a copy of Symphony of Love, you must “pay it forward” by doing a good deed for three people; what you are gonna do, is entirely up to you. Simple enough? You can have a preview of the eBook below:

Download Your Copy of Symphony of Love

If you like, you can post the same slide show and a link to this post.

Last but not least. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let us always remember the spirit of loving, giving and sharing.

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Thank you Janet from Dolly’s Daily Dairy once again for giving me another two awards; the Butterfly award and the Blog Love Award.