Tis the Festive Season to be JOLLY!

Yes!

This is THE festive Season to be jolly. Feeling down in the dumps? Feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? Feeling un-loved? Throw all of that away! With a mighty HO HO HO, laugh away your troubles for this is the season to be jolly. It is the time of giving and forgiving.

Why are people exceptionally happy in this time of the year? It's because they receive presents and GIVE presents. Giving presents in fact brings more joy than receiving. Why? Because going through all that hard work and finding a present for that special someone, then seeing that smile creep in onto their face when their tear open the wrapping before finally erupting into a ear-to-ear smile is just.....satisfying. Immensely satisfying! Nothing feels better than making other people happy. We all like to give love, its in our genes, we are social animals.

So how can giving help bring you out from the dumps? Firstly, finding the present is tough and it will redirect attention and keep bad bad thoughts out of the head. Secondly, having the intention of making another person happy causes unseen changes in us; minute, invisible forces work in our bodies and soon we find that we start, bit by bit to get happier. Finally, we all like to have some shopping therapy once in a while don't we?

This is the time of the year dear readers, so go out there, immerse yourselves in Christmas carols, meet up with long lost friends, rekindle extinguished flames, spread the love.

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle All the way!

Music and Life!

From Ages past to the present day, Music has been part and parcel of every day life.

Every single culture on this planet has a musical chord in their blood. From the violins and pianos of Europe, the Angklongs of Indonesia, the Dijeritoos of Australia to the Berimbau of Africa. It is in us as it is in Nature. In the day, birds chirp, monkeys shrill, Hippotamuses give a strong bass, Lions with a roar; At night, crickets chirp, bats squeak, owls hoot, the air is alive with music!

Since birth, we have been accustomed to sounds , rhythms and music. Even in our mother's womb, we hear an orchestra of sounds; the dub-dub heartbeats, the slushes of blood pumping through the vessels, the digestive groans and grunts of the stomach, the squelches of the intestines. We have developed rhythm since we were young and have embraced it in almost every thing we do. When we walk, if you take note, every one walks to a certain rhythm. When we talk, we talk with a certain rhythm too! So even if you have not learned a musical instrument in an institute, be not discouraged, for your body has two instruments too! Your Voice and your hands. Clapping is used in many cultures as a bass rhythm. You see, music is just in the air.

Music has always been used in ceremonies and celebrations. It uplifts the mood or brings you to a solemn state. It holds that power to lift you up when you're down. Songs like Ave Maria lets people feel awe and get touched by the holiness. There are just so many songs out there with so many benefits.

How can this help you? Well, to simply put, when you're feeling down, try playing a song that you like. When you're feeling stressed, play some soothing songs in the background quietly. Soon with experimentation and patience, you will find your song.

Sports Excellence!

How many of you still exercise regularly every day? How many of us are watching that belly of ours slowly bulge an inch every week?  I apologize but have to blunt here, lives are at stake; You will most likely fall ill sooner than your counter parts and then pass the remaining days of your life in torment.

Run! Swim! Play ball! Just do something! Our Ministry of Health has suggested 5 times a week and 30 mins each day. I know of someone who has polio yet swims regularly. Why not you with healthy legs? Don't wait till you can't see your toes...act on it!

Regular exercise has been shown to improve your sleep, reduce stress, give you better confidence, give you better skin, uplifts your prone-to-sag body parts and most of all, look good. 

Don't know where to start? Visit your local park and just run or visit your community center to take part in activities or join some alternative sport such as Rock Climbing , Capoeira or even Martial Arts. Most importantly, find something you like and enjoy doing. After all, paying for your health is the BEST investment with the MOST returns.

Here are some links to some sports you can take part in:

http://www.zambiacongo.com.sg/ (A Local Brazilian Martial Art Group)

http://www.womenandsports.sg/  (A website meant for sports for women)

http://www.ssc.gov.sg/publish/Corporate/en/our_services0/courses/learn.html ( Listings of activities in Sports and  Recreational Centers)

http://www.fightg.com/courseindex.htm ( A Local Martial Arts Gym )

That Subtle Drag

Yes, that very subtle and transient feeling of yourself slowing down, not yet to a halt, but just at a crawl. When you find you stop performing at top speed, stop giving results on time, and start taking your time.. you know you are suffering from that poison. That particular poison is called Procrastination.

We all have our Ups and Downs, just as our priorities in life. At different periods in our life, we will have different priorities. Our priorities are ever changing and when they do change, things with lower priority gets paid lesser attention and we fulfill them less quickly. However, when there is a misplacement of our priorities, such as things that are supposed to be of higher priority getting placed in lower priority regions, I'm sorry to say but you have picked up the bug of procrastination

I must admit, even I get victimized by it sometimes. Well here's a story to share:

Bob was called up one day. A deep voice sounded through the receiver, " May i speak to Bob please?" "Speaking, how may I help you?" replied Bob. "Congratulations young man, We would like to give you a place in our establishment. When may I expect you?" Said the man. "Wow...gosh...Ok, could you give me a month to settle my personal affairs first? I'll definitely be there in a month's time. How may I address you?" said Bob. " No worries at all Bob. You can call me Charlie or Mr Brucker. Well we'll see you in a month!"

A month passed but Bob hasnt turned up at the office yet. Charlie called again, " Hi Bob, I'm just calling to check on you. Will I be seeing you soon?" "Yes! Definitely, but in a week's time." said Bob. "Oh all right then, see you then Bob".

And so a week passed but still no sign of Bob in the office. Charlie called again, " Hi bob, I'm just checking on you, how's things?" "Much apologies Mr Brucker. I will be at the office tomorrow at 9 am."replied Bob.

And the next day, Bob did not appear at 9 am. Charlier called Bob again." Hi Bob.." "Oh yes! Mr Brucker! I was just about to call you and tell you that I would be there at 1pm."replied Bob. "Oh its all right Bob, save the trouble. We've decided to give your post to someone else. Good day."said Charlie and with that, the phone disengaged.

* End *

I hope this story strikes a chord or two in you readers. As Nike says: Just Do It!

Kung Fu Panda!

I watched Kung Fu Panda recently ( please... I know I am a little slow because it was released two months back, but at least i watched it.

How many times have we strived to achieve something, strive to learn something but stop short because we feel that we cannot attain mastery over the subject? Even though we slogged our life, with perspiration dotting our foreheads, knotted brows, clenched teeth? How many times have we felt like we have learned so much from our teacher, from books, from the guy on the TV and yet sense that there is something in us that is misplaced?

That my friends, as Po the Panda discovers is the element of belief in oneself. We need to believe in ourselves, just as Master Wu Gui did in Po. The Artist who believes in himself produces Art, the artist who does not is not even an Artist.

That my friends is the secret to go beyond Einstein, Van Gogh, Carl Lewis, Michael Jordan, Gandhi and the many other familiar figures of the world.

To know more about Hypnosis

Visit our website at

http://www.hypnae.com/

Addicted

Somebody please help me.

I'm addicted. I don't really know how to describe to you what I'm addicted to. I just feel like I can't get enough of it. I feel the urge to get a dose of it every single second. I can just feel the urge pulsating in my arteries and veins like a bullet train running through every vessel, bringing with it tremors and surges of electricity each time I don't get a dose of it. Without it, I'm useless, a frail hollow cocoon, lifeless and limp. Without it, I cannot go on.

I do know that each time i get a dose of it, it feels like a rush of blood to my head. It feels like heaven, instant euphoria, miraculous lightness. Like a truck load of gold and heavenly manna sent through the body to the brain. With every dose of my addiction, I can't help but feel happiness, relief and a sigh occasionally escape my lips. Each time i breath out I just feel all that pent up frustration going out. Each time I breath in my dosage, the magic just floods my senses, gushing in from every single orifice in my body and leaks gently out through my pores like an ice cube melting, the magic just gently seeps out my pores. The day that I get enough of this magical substance is the day I die. I dare say that I'm even willing to die for it.

Ladies and gentlemen, WE are all addicted to it. This is the only necessary addiction that we can and should never quit. I'm addicted to oxygen and the byproduct of life that comes with it. Some of us may have other addictions like drinking or smoking or other unhealthy habits. But why take up or continue with those habits when you won't die for it but rather die of it? Why not switch to an endless and limitless supply of practically free substance. Why not try my ganga of life? Take a dose, I'm sure you'll like it. Beware though, that taking in too much in one dosage will lead to hyperventilation and that can get very very ugly.

And in the event you need an outlet to stop addiction, quick, painless, non-invasive, non-medicated, with lots of oxygen, friendly and with a cupful of the personal touch, well you could always give us a call ;) .

To know more about Hypnosis

Visit our website at

http://www.hypnae.com/

The Secret of Happiness

     A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn the secrets of happiness from the wisest man in the world.  The lad wondered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wiseman lived.

    Rather than finding a saintly man, though our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world. The wise man conversed with every one, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man's attention.

    The wise man listened attentively to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He sugested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.

    'Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something', said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. 'As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.'

    The boy began climbing and descending the main stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

    'Well,' asked the wise man, 'did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?'

   The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

   'Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,' said the wise man. ' You cannot trust a man if you don;t know his house.'

   'Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all the works of art on the ceiling and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which every thing had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail every thing he had seen.

   'But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?' Asked the wise man.

   Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

   'Well , there is only one piece of advice I can give you.' said the wisest of wise men. 'The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.'

   - Adapted from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.

   - Photo: warm enough? Courtesy of Vato Bob