Musings on a birthday, and after a memorable run at East Coast Park

                                                                    8 km done and dusted. 

Today I turned a year older. Hopefully wiser and most definately weaker in the physical sense of things. 

However, as I ran a fast 4 km for the first part of the run this morning (starting at 6.35 am) and then trotted back the remaining 4km for the second part of my run, I am reminded that indeed I will be running and coming to the last km of my life sooner rather than later.

What have I learned ? What do I want to continue to do ? Am I happy ? 

What's Next ? 

What have I learned ?

I have learned that achievement in life comes to those who have a goal, and strive hard to make those goals a reality. I have set myself goals for close to 20 years and I have missed many but also hit a number too. I have also set a Raison D'ete for my life and it is my mission statement.

I have learned that humility is a virtue and that in everything you need to start small and grow from there. Setbacks are part of the learning process and people with the toughest mindsets and most positive attitudes more often than not, succeed in achieveing their goals. Pain, luck in buckets, sacrifice, sweat, some blood and some tears are the price of success. There is no short cuts to achieving huge goals.

Huge goals can and must be broken down to bite sized ones and from the accumulation of each bite sized goal, you can one day build up your abilities or whatever you want to get to in life, with determination, perseverance and sheer hard work.

What do I want to continue to do ? 

I want to a) have a humble and positive attitude that as my business continues to grow from strength to strength, I can rely on my family, close friends and school mates for support during the toughest times. Today I want to applaud the people who stood by me. My wife, family, good friends from school, karate mates, classmates from SMU and my far flung family all over the world.

b) be able to transmit good values like honesty, hard work, positive attitude, and committment to a cause to teach the next generation as these will always be relevant in any times now and in the future.

c) to be selective with whom I want to associate with. Time is of the essence, and I cannot be omnipresent and omnipotent. It is impossible. I will need to say "no" many times as I do have a goal and a set time frame to achieve that goal. 

d) to be able to be a mentor and a good friend when I am called upon - for the right cause.

e) To continue to stop and smell, appreciate the roses, and the bad stuff like birdshit and mess. For without this mess, I would not fully appreciate when something truly is good. If I eat sharks fin every day, I will appreciate it less and find it increasingly mundane. Hence, when life gives us lemons, we need to make lemonade with them - not curse why we receive such lousy fruit which is so bitter and practically inedible.

Am I happy ?

I am not miserable. I am satisfied with my station in life. So by that token I can say I am reasonably happy with the way things have turned out for me.

Happiness should not be viewed as an ends by itself but as a by-product of one's life when he or she chooses wisely and attains what he sets out to do.

There will be sad and sorrowful days, I am sure. That is what life is all about. Its how we deal with these situations which are thrust to us, sometimes in the most unfortunate manner and we have to be adaptable and motivated to get out of that situation or make the best of that very difficult situation.

What's Next ?

I will need to think deeply on this and give my findings in the next posts hopefully before end of the year. 

  

Wolves bring Title Chasers West Ham down to Earth with Great Display of Teamwork !

Improve Every Run (recovery) by doing this first

Thoughts after having had a bout of COVID

 Its been 2 weeks since my return to normal life after testing positive for COVID. I was fortunate to have a very mild case of it, and my symptoms were typical of an asymptomatic patient.

I did not have any fever, body aches, running nose.

I only had some sore throat, and a dry cough which came and went.

The most telling symptom of the COVID was the loss of smell and taste. This most precious of my body's function came back after 5 days and I am so thankful for this. 

So, 2 days before the very day when I tested positive, I had an inkling that I may have been exposed to it, as my friend whom I had lunch 2 days ago told me that he had tested positive and was feeling awful.

I immediately self isolated myself in my own attic room, and informed my family that I was a 'close contact' of a confirmed COVID case. 

2 days later, after taking ART tests every day since he informed me, I tested positive.

I was prepared, and I am considered one of the lucky ones who had a case of mild COVID.

The number of vaccinations I took could have also have acted as a 'shield immunity' for my system as I had taken in total, 4 jabs. Let me elaborate.

On April 7th, I registered and took my first jab of Moderna.

6 days later, I came down with a bad case of hives and was almost warded in Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Fortunately my hives subsided after 3 days, after taking antihistamine and steroids to control the outbreak.

I then was put on a program by the MOH to take the Chinese Sinovac (2 doses) in August.

In September, when undergoing a routine blood test, my doctor advised me to take the annual 'flu vaccine which I readily did and paid for.

Hence, my opinion was that because I had 4 shots against COVID and 'flu which is also a coronavirus, I believe my system held up very well against this dreaded virus which has decimated millions of people around the world and led to untold economic hardship and struggles from China to all parts of the world.

My self isolation meant that I had to do the following :

a) No direct contact with anyone for up to 10 days.

b) All food and drink had to be in separate utensils and plates, cups which were separately washed.

c) On the 9th day, I managed to get a negative COVID test. Although it gave me the all clear to go out, I decided to stay away for 1 more day just to play it safe.

d) Hence I only resumed daily activities outside of my room from the 10th day onwards.

My thoughts about having the COVID : 

1. Singapore is a wealthy country and we have the means to keep the death rate low. We are indeed fortunate as we have funds to get the best vaccines, best medical care, and services to manage the pandemic.

2. I will never ever neglect to take my annual 'flu vaccine.

3. I have resolved to cut my drinking by 50% until it reaches a level of perhaps once a month.

    It currently is once every 2 weeks. This will not only manage my weight and also keep diabetes and other illnesses in check.

4. I resolve to remain as healthy by allocating one meal per day soley for fruits and vegetables 

5. I realise that I can deal with isolation pretty well, as I do not need physical presence as much as some other people who also need to be around people. My personality type is 

ENTJ - which is Commander and that means he who leads other people. 

Most commanders do not have the luxury of having many friends as they have to make many crucial decisions which affect the armies, companies with a very cold and calculated thought process wthich ultimately affects the lives of many of their solders and their employees.

I do enjoy the solitude of that 9 days. I am not totally in a cave with no access to the outside world. Far from it, but the fact that I do not desire the interpersonal presence of people as much as some in our society. The animal most associated with this is the Eagle. 

Going forward, I can advise whoever who reads this blog post to practice 

1. maintain a full vaccination status ; 

2. avoid going to crowded places

3. take the annual 'flu jabs

4. stay as healthy as you can possibly be. Your immune system is your first and last line of defence. Do not sabotage yourself by excessive drinking, partying, overwork or denying yourself sleep.

5. Minimise social interaction. We are still 70% on the recovery trend but not totally. So we need to be street smart and vigilant every single day.  

It is not worth catching this disease if you did not observe point no. 4 above.

Carpe Diem ! 

 

Learning is a Life Long and Never Ending Process.

I manage a small business. Times are tough and business is not easy. We have been through ups and downs, and COVID endemic Singapore is pivoting into the new uncharted territories and my company is ready to take on the new challenges and opportunities.

I am thankful for the Government to make available, 2 training courses at practically zero cost to me in the last 2 years. 

1. SGUnited Skills Business and Digital Transformation Programme conducted by SMU Academy from 7 Oct 2020 till 6 July 2021.

2. SMU Innovation Program Cohort Innovative Mindset 

SMU Academy 6 March 2021 - 17 April 2021.

These 2 course have helped me take stock of where I was as a business owner. I had the tremendous opportunity to learn new things and apply new mindsets to pivot my business using the omni channel strategy to market our products and services worldwide.

The takeaways from these courses I will keep and more importantly, implement in the triumvurate of my mindset, my thought processes and my actions going forward.

The 2 courses and the people I have met recently have given me clarity of thought, solidified my values, made me change my old and bad habits and most importantly, shown me a path ahead which will ultimately lead my small business into (hopefully) many good things.

I will write about the takeaways in separate blog posts soon.

I have understood the true meaning of Lifelong Learning. 

I must never stand still and think that I have 'made it'. That is the biggest lie I will be telling to myself and those around me.

The journey of life is the reward. The accumulation of physical things like assets, property, awards and money along our lives is nothing more than rosettes to validate that we indeed made a mark in our own little biosphere. Pass on the knowledge and experience gained to the next generation to help make our complex world more equitable and less maleovent. We have only one precious earth to live in.

Suffering, change and life's challenges are inevitable. 

Learn  to adapt with those dynamic events. They help us grow in wisdom.

Help the disadvantaged, as with each act of kindness, we validate our existence to serve and continue to build on our capabilities. 

Hwang Hee Chan - Remember this Name.

        Previously from Red Bull Salzberg 

In the summer, Wolves manager Bruno Lage secured the loan of this striker Hwang Hee Chan, from RB Salzberg. The option was also to make him a permanent transfer of BGP 14 milion after 1 season.

With 7 appearences under his belt, he has scored an AMAZING 4 (+1 disallowed against Everton) goals in the Premier League.

A versatile player who can shoot from both feet, I wasn;t impressed that they signed a South Korean player. Boy I was wrong. 

He is emerging to be a top class striker taking to the Premier League like a duck to water. He is big, strong, useful on both feet, unselfish (like a certain Diogo Jota) and can create as well as he can score goals.

His first came from a scramble at Vicarage Road (Watford home ground).

The next 2 came against Newcastle at Molineux.

The 4th goal came at Ellend Road (Leeds home ground) 

The 5th (disallowed) was a superb toe - in against Everton which was deemed to be offiside by VAR.

This boy is a great compliment to Raul Jiminez as they are both out and out strikers, with killer instinct and impeccable timing.

Wolves now have a potent strike force who can deliver the goods any day anytime against all opponents.

In their forwards department, they now have

a) Raul Jiminez

b) Hwang Hee Chan

c) Adama Traore

d) Francisco Trincao

e) Pedro Neto (injured)

f) Daniel Podence

As long as the back 3 are strong, with the likes of Coady, Saiss, Kilman, then their wingbacks of Semedo / Boly and Marcal / Dendoncker compliment the engine room boys of Neves and Moutinho.

 I predict Wolves to be in the top 4 by the end of the season to battle for Champions League place with the top clubs.

GO THE WOLVES !! 

  

Bruno Lage Interview post Everton victory 01 Nov 2021

 

I am so wrong about this manager, Bruno. I take my hat off to you.