I believe most would agree with me that life isn’t always easy and some of you would agree that if it is easy, it wouldn’t be fun and exciting. I like the part that life isn’t always easy; in fact I will grow to love all the challenges that life throws at me eventually. It is human nature that at times I would still grumble a little. However, I am grateful for every challenges that had come my way and they provided me with the opportunity to better myself. There were times when I doubted myself and thought that I couldn’t do it. But time and again, I proved to myself that I could actually do it. When we focus on what we can do, the challenges will eventually work out.

How about you, were there times when you doubted your own ability to overcome challenges that came your way? Did you also focus on what you could do and eventually the challenges worked out? We may not be able to overcome every challenges always … at least not at the initial stage when we meet it.

But as the saying goes, “We will not be dealt with any challenges which are too big for us to handle.” I believe and trust in that. Challenges are but invisible steps which we must take towards our destination. Taking each step requires Faith as the step would only show itself when we have already taken it. Just as what Steve Job said in his first story about ‘connecting the dots,’ we wouldn’t know where we are heading until we look back and connect the dots. Thus, the truth of the matter is we wouldn’t know exactly where we are heading a lot of times and that is where we make mistakes along the way. Just keep the Faith and keep moving!

Life isn’t always easy and it is not supposed to be easy also but that is where all the excitements are! Quoting from Jim Rohn:

“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.”

Life Isn’t Always Easy

Life can be unfair at times
When you must maintain Faith
And Never Let Go.

It is especially during the difficult times
That you must live your life
To its fullest potential.
Those are the times to Triumph
Over circumstances
With Hope and Courage.

Life isn’t always easy,
But if you keep Going and Persevere
To the very best of your Ability,
You will gain Strength to manage
The new Challenges ahead.

Each Goal that you reach
Is another important Step Forward.

Believe that there are
Bright and wonderful days
Ahead for you and you will find them.

My journey today began with a cup of milk tea. It was a short trip home and I was on my way again. Although short, travelling back home was a much needed trip to reconnect with family and friends. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to meet up with most of them.

As I was writing this, on the coach towards the destination, my mind went back to the valuable lesson I had learnt from my trip home; how easily one could forget about the blessings and fell into a state surrounded by negativity.

Please allow me to explain. When I first got to Cheras, Malaysia, I felt that I have lost my pair of legs; I wasn’t able to get from one point to another without someone fetching me to and fro. You may question why? I was equally puzzled. There are practically no public transports for traveling from one place to another. Even if there is, the locals told me that one couldn’t rely on the punctuality of the buses and at time they may need to wait for up to half an hour between buses. It is almost three months now and I still have this handicap feeling.

This is totally different from Singapore; in Singapore, one can easily go from one place to another using either buses or the Mass Rapit Train (MRT for short). One would also see cabs on the road. Thus I can safely say there is no lack of public transport. I felt so bless; I love the feeling of independent and not having to trouble others for such little thing as going from one point to another. That is besides the point; I am not interested in comparing the two places.

What I am more keen to discuss is the negativity part: as I was waiting for the MRT to go home the other day, the MRT was sort of delay and the wait was slightly longer than expected. I started to ‘complain’ in my mind about how inefficient the system was. Luckily, almost instantly, I told myself, “There wasn’t even a public transport system from where I was coming from in the first place. Immediately everything fell into perspective and I was grateful for this one lesson.

How quickly one falls into a state of negativity – if one gives it the attention. We really need to guard our mind, which is a very valuable asset, from all kinds of negativity. Always choose what you want to focus on and the Universe will respond to your thoughts in the most interesting way.

Somehow that one quotation touched me deeply and within an hour of reading it, I had shared it in my Facebook’s profile, with groups and friends. If there is a way to reach out to all people in the world, I would be doing it happily. Such a simple and direct thought, yet it can truly benefit us.

Gratitude is a positive thought that can empower the mind. In good times, it keeps us in check and remind us to share our blessings by giving unconditionally, without expectation to people around us and to the less fortunate. In bad times, Gratitude is probably the next best companion, besides support from family and friends.

In fact, there would be times when even our family and friends might not be there to root for us. However, like a loyal servant, Gratitude is always there; it is patiently waiting for us to summon it and ever ready to serve us. It works with us and give us the strength to get back on our feet during bad times. When life hits us with bricks on the head, it gives us the faith to move on and positively change our perspective of the situation.

I am consciously reminding myself to count my blessings especially when times are bad (I should be doing it even in good times), so that I can instantly re-frame my mind to be grateful for what is happening and to learn from the situation; sometimes it can be effortless but at times it can be a real challenge.

But like muscles in our body, which we need to work out regularly to make them stronger, we also need to regularly work out on counting the blessings; the more we do it, the better we get at tapping on the positive power of Gratitude.

Some of us will question, “How could one be grateful for the natural calamity which happened to one? The lost of loved ones, the lost of properties, the pain and suffering one went through!” However, we had witnessed how some of these strong individuals had re-bounced instantly, put asides their own lost and miseries, to reach out to others. I couldn’t hope to speak or know what was at the back of their mind, but I believe the feeling of Gratitude was one of the inner strengths within them.

However, we have very often heard from many who had near death experience to find new meaning in life and they become greater beings. Had you personally fought with cancer or knew of someone around you who did and triumphed over it? What was going through your mind? I couldn’t hope to speak anyone’s mind too but I believe there was definitely a feeling of Gratitude; the gratefulness to be alive.

I, too, am grateful to be alive and sharing with you the above quotation by Charles Dickens, “Reflect upon your present blessings…” As you were reading this, what were the blessings which came across your mind? Please feel free to share your blessings with us.

I was there last week for a morning walk with a group of friends and had unintentionally left my footprint at the summit. Since we were in a nature reserve, I thought it was only naturally to walk barefooted and be connected to nature. It had been a long time since I last did a barefooted walk but nevertheless it was an enjoyable experience.

A morning walk in the goodness of nature was both refreshing and revitalising; followed by a simple and yet good breakfast. The goodness of life can be so simple and yet fulfilling to the heart and soul.

Take a break and take a walk in the goodness of nature and feel the positive energy of nature going through your body!

I am truly thankful and grateful for the foot that left the footprint!

If you happen to be in Singapore and want to take a morning walk in Bukit Timah Hill, you can take a look at the below information:

By Bus
SBS service 170.
TIBs services 67, 75, 171, 173, 184, 852 and 961.

Alight along Upper Bukit Timah Road, opposite Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Beauty World Centre, or along Jalan Anak Bukit, opposite Courts furniture store, and walk to the end of Hindhede Drive.