Will It Still Matter?

Will it matter, after all is said and done? The hydrangea shrub has its leaves and stems roasted after three days of extraordinary temperatures in summer. I cut the damaged parts off and await new growth. There are moments when one does not feel like having a full meal. This is an opportunity to fast and do other things away from the kitchen. There are also occasions when our appetite is spiking up so well, that we eat more than usual. We have found the optimal time to treat our culinary desires, so why not? We may not have all the ingredients on hand when cooking, so we improvise with substitutes and experiment with other techniques. We may create a new recipe, or we make do with whatever on hand to use up what is available right now. What does it matter, when we open our mindset and just move on? When our known and usual routes we take are blocked or hindered, we can go on the path less trodden. When we have unexpected spare time, we can dabble in something our inner longings have pondered upon. When wifi supply breaks down, we can read a book instead of device screens. We can walk when the car is not available. We can consciously choose to have fresh produce instead of manufactured and processed packaged food. We can opt for not following the masses and not worry about missing out on what a herd mentality demands. What matters at a single point of time can differ in various individuals, but when we take a longer view over time, a lot of things truly do not matter. At the end of the day, many things are forgotten, the heat of opinions dissipitated, the relevance of matters no longer there. This is especially for transactional matters in micro politics, social interactions and irritating inconveniences. Like delays at airports, machine breakdowns and on the road. When touchy episodes involve religions, there is a different kettle of fish. Things that then matter can fester in individuals because of long held beliefs, so called education and hardened attitudes. While one realises that some matters do not matter due to the grace of time and distance, such matters dissolve into less and zilch importance. When and where it still matters, the human pysche and wiring makes us do something about it - challenge, flee or accept. #yongkevthoughts

Quotes from Others I Like

 If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart. A jug fills up drop by drop. Delight in heedfulness.

If you do not change your own direction, you may end up where you are heading.

You are a seeker. Delight in the mastery of your hands and your feet, of your words and your thoughts.

An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that just stays in the mind.

What you are is what you have been.
What you will be is what you do now.

Life is like the harp string, if it is strung too tight it won’t play, if it is too loose it hangs, the tension that produces the beautiful sound lies in the middle.

Everything in moderation, including moderation.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little.

The root of suffering is attachment.
There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.

Nothing is forever except change.

Ardently do today what needs to be done.  If we could see the miracle of a flower clearly, our whole life would change.

(Quotes are obviously not mine).

If You Are Relocating

As the contemporary world offers continued mobility, physical entry across national borders also face increasing restrictions. Yet technology frees up such constrictions across the world while at the same time provides greater control within a country.

The human spirit thrives on migration - across economic, spiritual, intellectual, cultural, political and military platforms.

On the cusp of 2020, would you leave where you have grown up or stayed for so long to move to another part of the world?

Would you consider relocating to a so called remote part of Earth, seemingly far from most of humankind's problems, or still prefer to be close to world centres of activity?

We see that the apple falls near the tree, but so do lemons. Centuries of human attachment to a place of heritage, whether as an individual or community, are still challenged by the vibes, reality and consequences of invasion, discrimination, oppression and economic disadvantage.

If you had to select a different nation to move to in the next 12 months, what criteria would you utilise?

1. Economic opportunity and improvement at the personal and family level.

2. A more innovative mindset in business, education and social order.

3. Less chance of personal involvement in warfare.

4. Less risks of experiencing violence in the community, whether through better social relationships, less access to weapons or due to better cultural bonds.

5. Better quality of health care.

6. Relevance to the preferred cultural and religious environment.

7. Higher emphasis on kindness, shared values and pastoral care in society.

8. Lifestyle requirements, for example, in choice of climate, more urbanised environments, countryside access, eco friendly regimes or commuting arrangements.

9. The level of personal expression and rights as allowed by authorities.

10. The pace of social infrastructure developments and responsiveness in community affairs.

11. Continuing relationship with and access to original country.

12. The quality of technological facilities and enablers.

#yongkevthoughts

Passing Thoughts Too

Perfumes and aromatics used to be found only in uptown counters of elegant retail outlets. Now they are also sold in warehouse environments.

There was an opportunity to develop, practise and enjoy the art of conversation when using the phone. Now misspellings, acronyms and graphics are used for instant communication.

A beauty of a business starts to go downhill when the fancy exceeds the substance, when the greed subsides the inspiration and when demand is taken for granted.

The masses can only suffer so long, before the heavens churn to bring in a new order in human society.

Soon customers will no longer mind paying more for services which interact with just human beings.

Try to be like Earth's Moon, consistently reflecting the light when you can, even if others choose to harp over the dark side, for which you have no say in.

Uniqueness can be celebrated if they bring positive outcomes. The herd mentality can be consuming, addictive and falsely comforting.

Approach is everything.

Run when you can, even when you just smell the hint of a train wreck in the air.

Having too much choice can be a prison unto itself. A purposeful structure in life can be rewarding.

#yongkevthoughts