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During a court hearing, a group of lawyers placed Ford on the witness stand in an attempt to prove that he was an “ignorant” man. Thus they began asking him a series of questions on various topics other than automobiles- questions like “how many soldiers did the British send over to America to put down the rebellion of 1776?”
With a dry grin on his face, Ford nonchalantly replied, “I do not know how just many, but I have heard that it was a lot more than ever went back.”
Of course this brought laughter in the whole room. Nobody had expected Ford to give such an answer.
As the line of interrogation continued for another hour or so, Ford finally ran out of patience and rebuked, “If I really want to answer that foolish question you’ve just asked, or any of the other questions you’ve been asking me, , let me remind you that I have a row of electronic push buttons on my desk, and by posting the right button, I can summon to my aid men who can answer any question I desire to ask concerning the business to which I am devoting most of my efforts. Now, will you kindly tell me, why should I clutter up my mind with general knowledge, for the purpose of being able to answer questions, when I have men around me who can supply any knowledge I require?”.
At that point, everyone in the courtroom realized it was the answer of an educated man. Though Ford was someone whose “formal education” didn’t even reach 6th grade, he was definitely the wisest among them.
(Excerpt from “Think and Grow Rich”)
Once there lived a fox and a hedgehog. Being a cunning creature, the fox had often devised a myriad of complex strategies to attack the hedgehog and catch its prey. From time to time, the fox would circle around the hedgehog’s den, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. Fast, sleek, beautiful, fleet of foot, and crafty, it seemed like the fox would emerge the sure winner.
On the other hand, the hedgehog, being a dowdier creature, looked like a genetic mix-up between a porcupine and a small armadillo. Everyday, he would just waddle along, going about his simple day, searching for food and
taking care of his home.
Finally, the time had arrived. As the fox waited in cunning silence at the juncture in the trail, the hedgehog
had unknowingly walk right into the path of the fox.
“Aha, I’ve got you now!” thought the fox. With that, he leaped out, bounding across the ground, lightning fast. Although slow to respond, the little hedgehog, sensing danger, looked up and thought to himself, “Here we go again. Will he ever learn?” Rolling up into a perfect little ball, the hedgehog instantly became a sphere of sharp spikes, pointing outward in all directions. When the fox saw this, it was too late. Badly injured, the fox quickly retreated back to the forest.
Back in the forest, the fox was demoralized yet determined to launch an attack on the hedgehog again. He began to calculate a new line of attack. Each day, some version of this battle between the hedgehog and the fox would take place, and despite the greater cunning of the fox, the hedgehog was always the winner.
Excerpt taken from philosopher Isaiah Berlin’s famous essay “The Hedgehog and the Fox”
What makes a difference between a relationship that works out well and one which does not? What is the secret formula for making love work? In this article, you are about to receive some valuable tips about making your relationship with your significant other a success:
1. Making time for each other, regardless of your hectic schedule. According to relationship and counselling experts, long-term couples who fail to make time for each other are likely to drift apart sooner or later. One common excuse is work. While work is important, it is equally important for you to allocate some time to spend with your partner. Find something that you can both do since the activity is your common interest.
2. Creating surprises. In making a relationship work out well, there’s a need for you to continuously provide your partner with surprises. Remember those days when you and your partner were dating… how was the experience different from now? Perhaps that was a time when you were constantly trying to please your partner, always finding creative and new ways to add passion and fun in the relationship.
3. Talk about your future together. It is only fair to let each other know that you relationship is going somewhere and that your efforts are not in vain. For example, I do know of a friend who’s having a fabulous relationship with his partner because both of them share a common vision not only as lovers, but as business partners too.
4. Communicate with each other on a regular basis. It doesn’t matter whether you accomplish this through the exchanging of sms, phone calls, face-to-face meetups etc. As John Piece once quoted, “Communication is not only the essence of being human, but also a vital property of life.”
5. Develop a deeper understanding of your partner’s needs. The map is not the territory. Whenever you start projecting your own set of “rules” in the life of your partner, you are likely to cause a strain in the relationship. To make any relationship a success, you will have to develop an understanding of other peoples’ “rules”. The more you play by their “rules”, the more you are in “control” of the relationship.
Deep within each heart
There lies a magic spark
That lights the fire of our imagination
And since the dawn of man
The strenght of just “I can”
Has brought together people of all nations
There’s nothing ordinary
In the living of each day
There’s a special part
Every one of us will play
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
As the world gives us its best
To stand apart from all the rest
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation
Every boy and girl
As they come into this world
They bring the gift of hope and inspiration
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
There’s so much strength in all of us
Every woman child and man
It’s the moment that you think you can’t
You’ll discover that you can
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world unites in hope and peace
We pray that it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
The power of the dream
The faith in things unseen
The courage to embrace your fear
No matter where you are
To reach for your own star
To realize the power of the dream
To realize the power of the dream
I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me
Chorus:
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
Chorus
And if by chance, that special place
That you’ve been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
Written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed
I get wings to fly
Oh, oh … I’m alive … Yeah
When you call on me
When I hear you breathe
I get wings to fly
I feel that I’m alive
When you look at me
I can touch the sky
I know that I’m alive
When you bless the day
I just drift away
All my worries die
I’m glad that I’m alive
You’ve set my heart on fire
Filled me with love
Made me a woman on clouds above
I couldn’t get much higher
My spirit takes flight
‘Cause I am alive
When you call on me
(When you call on me)
When I hear you breathe
(When I hear you breathe)
I get wings to fly
I feel that I’m alive
(I am alive)
When you reach for me
(When you reach for me)
Raising spirits high
God knows that…
That I’ll be the one
Standing by through good and through trying times
And it’s only begun
I can’t wait for the rest of my life
When you call on me
(When you call on me)
When you reach for me
(When you reach for me)
I get wings to fly
I feel that…
When you bless the day
(When you bless, you bless the day)
I just drift away
(I just drift away)
All my worries die
I know that I’m alive
I get wings to fly
God knows that I’m alive
Singer: Celine Dion
It was some time ago when I came across an article about ‘Women & Leadership’ in Newsweek (20 Oct 08 issue). It provoked me in different aspects of life.
Dara Torres, Olympic Medalist (a 41-year old women who has joined five Olympic Games in 24 years) once said, “I feel like I’m one with the water, like I was meant to be in the water. Strap some gills on me and I’ll just live in the water. It’s peaceful, serene. I feel comfortable in the water. No one bothers you when you’re in the water. You can think when you’re in the water.”
I totally agree with Dara. You can really think when you’re in the water.
I learnt swimming as late as I was 24 years old, when I moved from Hong Kong to Singapore. In Hong Kong, I have to say there’s not much chance to swim due to the crowded living conditions. In Singapore, I am living in a condominium where there is an Olympic swimming pool surrounded by nice palm tress. I had no excuse not to learn how to swim.
My partner is a good swimmer. He taught me how to swim. At the beginning, I was ever convinced that I would never be able to swim without my favorite dolphin buoy, my 24th year old birthday gift. Somehow I could never coordinate my arms and legs at the same time.
One day, I was sad to lose my buoy and had to swim without my buoy. Surprisingly and slowly, I was able to swim without a buoy, without stopping, for half lap, and then one lap. I thought it was like a magic.
Over the past two years, I finally could swim ‘quite well’. I could swim around six to eight laps every time. I call it a magic.
I am still working on my swimming skills, and am loving it.
I enjoy swimming not only because it’s a healthy, relaxing sport. But when I swim, I am alone in the water. I am alone to think. I am alone to be separated from the rest of the world just for a few moments. I am alone to keep this moment of time for myself. I like thinking about my daily life, my work, my relationship, my dreams and my future in the water. It is a perfect place, perfect time to be yourself, for yourself.
Luckily I discovered the beauty of swimming in my life.
(Article contributed by Sally Yip, a Hong Konger who is enjoying and exploring her life in Singapore)
