Doha Qatar 2022
Think big or go home. That's my motto for this year.This year will be special for me and my readers.
Help me to achieve the mid year goal of 300,000 hits by June. Thats another 69,000 views in less than 6 months. That is roughly 11,500 views per month.
Crazy ?
Well I will never know until I put out that audacious goal in front of me and my readers. I am doing it today.
Carpe Diem.
The last few weeks have given me pause for reflection over my life. While at 62, I am considered 'young old' with 75 as the 'old' classification, I cant help but feel that my body needs more sleep to recover as well as having the right balance between the following
a) stress and anxiety
b) exercise
c) financial security
d) good health
e) family relationships
f) friends relationships
Stress and Anxiety
I need some stress and anxiety in my life. This is not to say that having no stress is ideal, or a lot of stress is bad. I need to be engaged in the world both mentally, physically and spiritually. This is the concept of 'in the present'.
Being in the present means that there will be things to be concerned about, like our families, children's well being and the circumstances which we are surrounded by. Cost of living pressures, aging issues, mental well being, and peace of mind are all what I would say would contribute to the stress and anxiety level.
Would I want to live a less stressful life ? Well, yes, but then again, if I am faced with challenges each day which necessitates me to use my wisdom, life experience and street smarts, I would say that keeps me and and my mind on my toes.
So, I choose not to take big financial risks at my age, that is the No # 1 Rule. So I can sleep easy each night.
Exercise
Tons of research has shown that vigorous exercise releases a) dopamine and b) endorphins.
These are the 'feel good' chemicals naturally released by the body, and this aids in the overall well being of the person who partakes in exercise. There are 2 components to exercise :
a) Cardiovascular - this is for the heart and legs, primarily for proper functioning of the heart, valves and the most common exercises would be running, bring walking, swimming, hiking and (if we live in the temperate zones) cross country skiing.
b) Weight bearing exercises - Push ups, situps, load carrying using shoulder, upper and lower back and pull ups, all would be necessary as part of my weekly regimen to be ready for the third age.
c) Financial Security
a) A comfortable home, with no outstanding mortgage
b) transport - a reliable car (mine is the Mercedes E250, with COE paid till 2029).
c) Enough in Medisave and a comprehensive Integrated Health Plan for all health contingencies.
d) A comprehensive payout plan for me, in the event of any of the 35 deadly diseases. I took this plan just before I turned 60 years of age.
d) Good Health - Top Most Prized Asset
I am fortunate to be able to say, that I am in good health and go for a complete health screening check up of my blood, stool and urine. I have been doing this since I was 25 years of age.
I am now encouraging my 2 sons to do the same, and go for the same,.
My most recent blood, urine and stool test showed no major health issues. I must not be complacent. At a recent get together with friends, there were some who had
a) triple heart bypass
b) diabetes (at least 5)
c) double heart attack, and heart attack.
d) stents inserted and stents within the stents.
e) Cancer survivors (at least one succumbed to the disease last year)
f) Mental issues (depression)
Health Supplements
I have been taking health supplements since I was in m/y early 40s, so a good 20 years of accumulated nutrients have been ingested. Has this been a boost to my health over these last 2 decades ?
I would say a resounding "Yes".
In another post I will highlight all the supplement tablets and softgels I have been taking on a daily basis. It has not done me any harm, in fact, it has boosted my immune system over the years. !
Family Relationships
Nov 2022
A happy and united family is the key to each and every person's well being. A capable, supportive and engaging wife is my most treasured asset. Not everybody is destined to be married or in a relationship, so I can only speak for myself.
I also have a pretty good relationship with my 2 sons, 30 and 27 and treasure each conversation I hold with them, and it is a 2 way street - I have learnt to respect their way of life and they, mine.
Happier Times with my 2 Cousins in KL
Peter (passed on in Feb 2024) and Gerard
For my relatives, I pledge to be a more participating cousin for the future, I was so shocked and saddened when my first cousin Peter Abisheganaden passed away on 8 Feb 2024, just one day before the eve of Chinese New Year at the very young age of 63. Is brought me to realise that relationships are very important and keeping up with the meetups with first, immediate family, extended family and friends are so so important.
Friends Relationships
Many of my old school friends are reconnecting. We realise ever so objectively
a) Life is short
b) People forget about you, about one week after you are gone
c) How much you amass is of no concern to anybody outside of your next of kin. Even then, the next of kin, probably would want to get on with their lives sooner rather than later. The only good thing is that if you have left a great legacy in terms of sharing life experiences, coaching and right values, together with some assets.
Hence the rush to reconnect with the people from my youth. There is no agenda, with the only goal of
a) Shared Happy Co experiences of the remaining time I have left
b) Bonding with people of my generation. They are the true survivors and the outlook they have will be totally different with mine. Why ? Because each will walk his own path, each will face challenges, failures and setbacks time and again. How they react or not at all eventually moulds into their character.
I do not judge, for who am I ? Just another ordinary human being.
c) Bonding with the younger generation. They hold the future, so the AI and robotic landscape, the sky high property prices and the fascination with all things environmentally friendly is in their frame of mind.
I need to adapt and at least be accepting. This will be their world, in a few short years, (hopefully decades), my influence, mental cognizance and relevance will all be reduced to next to nothing. In the meantime, I need to adapt or be left by the side of the information and AI superhighway.
Happy New Year Everyone !
Unlike many of my peers, I had a very uneventful New Year's Eve and I am so glad that I did.
This morning, on New Year's Day, at 9am, I managed to ger myself to Dalvey Estate Road to put in a 6 km run in the early morning.
I am so glad that I did, as this reflects my desire to push through come whatever may, to achieve my set goals, how high these might be and achieve them.
2025 Goals - Business and Work
1. Sales Revenue
$ 3 Million minimum
2. Profit Target
$ 1 Million
2025 Goals - Personal
1. Run 2 marathons
2. Weight of 69 kg
3. Keep Healthy and Happy.
4. On time for every appointment
5. Say 'No' whenever necessary.
There it is.
Carpe Diem
This is the time of year for us to reflect on what we cherish the most. The meaning of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus of Nazareth's birth some 2024 years ago. While many people do understand the meaning of Christmas, the retailers (E retailers and physical ones) use any opportunity to promote consumerism and drive up revenue and profits.
The act of gift giving was started by the 3 kings or Magi in those days. They came (according to Chat GPT LOL) from
a) Persia (modern day Iran)
b) Babylon (modern day Iraq)
c) Arabia (modern day Saudi Arabia and Yemen)
It is so much better to give than to receive and at this time of family and friends gettogethers, feasting and merry making , lets not forget that there are millions of people suffering in the world today. Pray for their safety and security and I hope that 2025 will be a recovery year for all of these people.
I wish to give thanks to my family, my relations, my friends, acquaintences and business associates, clients
Let bygones be bygones, and lets move forward this Christmas with love, forgiveness and with the spirit of love towards our fellow man.
Joint Protec Xtra from LAC (formerly GNC) and Cartilege Sensei from ACP
Take it from me, I am a seasoned runner. With 20 odd years of running, I have been taking first Glucosomine and Chondroitine tablets, (2 a day) since my mid 40s. As an enlightened health enthusiast, I have over the years, increased my dosage to my current level, which is
4 tablets daily of
a) Glucosamine (1500 mg),
b) Chondroitine Sulphate (1000 mg)
c) MSM or Methylsulfonlymethane (900mg)
d) Hyaluronic Acid 5.1 mg
After I hit the big 60, my joints were giving some aches and pains, and I was taking a longer time to recover, especially after I ran a rather long distance (now that I am in my 7th decade of life). I thought this was a natural degression in the circle of life, as everything wears over time.
In addition to my 4 tablets of GC, CH,MSM and HLA tablets, I took 2 tablets of collagen (my previous brand was Holistic Way). It helped to grow the cartilege between the knee joints, as well as the ACL and LCL joints and other parts of my spine.
However, I thought that age catches up with me, so the aches and stiffness was on par for the course. That means, I am getting old and the joint pains and Osteoarthritis are all part and parcel of aging.
So, naturally, my running frequency and distances, started to slow down.
I was wrong.
Much to my pleasant surprise, after I switched from the previous brand to SCP Cartilege Sensei, I realised that VOILA ! my aches and pains completely dissipated !
I could feel a spring in my step and I could do multiple exercises on back to back days.
What an amazing surprise !
Proper diet, control of sugar intake, ample sleep and a healthy state of mind.
I will aim for another 3 marathons by 65 years of age. And in good time too !
I will do it !!!
2. Glutinous Rice Cake with Blue Pea Flower.
This is the first time I am dining at Candle Nut which is part of the Como group at Dempsey.
Here are the photos of the 'Ah Mah Kasee', which we took that day. The best small dishes or tapas we ate, in my opinion are the following.
Rating
a) Lobster Kueh Pie Tie with tumeric on candlenut base. 9 / 10
b) Chicken Satay with peanut sauce 9 / 10
With the legend himself Kaicho Wong Tuan Seng, yesterday at the release of his book Shitoryu Karate, documenting the history of Shitoryu Karate from Japan to Singapore and then internationally.
Yesterday, I was honored and truly grateful to be given a copy of the Shitoryu Karate book, by Kaicho Wong. My sensei, Hanshi Chia Kwek Fah invited me over and Kaicho Wong graciously sigend a copy for me.
I have been practising, and then dispensing with the traditional school of Shitoryu karate for over 20 years (22 to be exact) but this is nothing compared to these 2 luminary gentelmen, who each have close to 60 years of experience, training, fighting and teaching the martial art in Singapore and internationally.
May the art and sport continue to grow and flourish in the coming years and decades.
My contribution to the sport is very minor compared to these 2 luminaries, and my respect and admiration for these 2 men is immense.
Long may they live and prosper, bountifully.
Doha Qatar 2022 Think big or go home. That's my motto for this year.This year will be special for me and my readers. Help me to achie...
