A bright young man had completed his studies on a scholarship and wanted to make himself worthy of his education and stellar grades. He felt that the world was his oyster and aspired to make a mark in his chosen field. So, he approached a wise man and asked him what the secret to success […]
It’s the “most wonderful time of the year” — rejoice and be immersed in the magic of Christmas. A time for parties, meaningful family get-togethers, reflections and thanksgivings. However, the current situation may warrant that not all can meet at the same time this year. Thanks to technological advances – extended families and loved ones […]
Using nicknames on others can be uncouth but they have a means of getting a point across — sometimes, they are socially acceptable with lots of chuckles accompanying them. Adults tend to give nicknames to their friends, not realising that their innocent children pick them up with the same fervour as what the nicknames were […]
Idioms are great fun to toy with. They are a type of phrases which uses figurative language whereby the words may not mean anything concerning the phrase. It’s a bizarre way to communicate — illogical and yet so effective! As students, it was common to add an idiomatic phrase into our composition to embellish it […]
I grew up in Redhill estate in Singapore where gotong royong (cooperation within the community) was the order of the day. Doors opened in the morning were left ajar till bedtime. There was a sense of belonging amongst the neighbours – we could just walk into one another’s home, unannounced. A constant buzz of interaction […]
What is etiquette? It is not just about how appropriately you hold your wine glass during fine-dining. It encompasses far more — it is how you behave in a responsible and socially acceptable manner. It is about showing respect for others and to oneself. Talking about etiquette and good manners, Maya Angelou unmistakably stated: “I’ve […]
In our daily lives, we may have come across terms which are good to know, but we might have overlooked them as we are bombarded with “infobesity” or information overload. Then again, some of these terms may be worth knowing as it gives a feeling of empowerment in our daily activities; e.g. while meeting our […]
“If only” — these must be the two saddest words in the world. And as the saying goes, “Regrets about yesterday and worries about tomorrow are two thieves that rob us of the moment”. Let us live the moment — do meaningful things now so that we don’t fall into the “regrets” entrapment. I have […]
Who would have thought that a homeless man would one day have a Hollywood movie made after him? Yes, in his darkest moments, Chris Gardner and his son had to find refuge in a bathroom at a railway station, in church shelters, park benches or anywhere they could find protection from the elements. Gardner did […]
You can win! The world is at your feet – Rise and be counted. A sense of euphoria erupted as *Raymond watched the presentation. He had just completed his tenure of a 7-year contract with a uniformed group when he chanced upon an advertisement. This led to attending the insurance recruitment talk. “You determine your […]