To live an optimal life...

I saw the following writings on a friend's facebook wall post:

人生最遗憾 ： 人死了，钱没花完。
人生最痛苦 ： 钱花完了，人没死。

and I am inspired not to live my life as it is but to live it to the fullest. Of course, a friend remarked that these words are true only with all responsibilities to the people around me taken care of. And with that, I no longer think my life should revolve around just home and work but to enjoy living.

I have decided to see how far I can see this world with my own eyes. I shall be embarking on a journey soon...

[Read off an email] Slow Dance

I was clearing my mailbox the other day and found this email with a beautiful poem:

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's
Erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun
Into the fading night?

You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast
To get somewhere
You miss half the fun
Of getting there.

When you worry and
Hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

我太喜欢这首歌的词

曲：逍遥最好

歌手：张茜 专辑：天下无双原声碟

我们的世界太多纷纷扰扰
忘了哪里才有最真的微笑
纵然有若水三千
我也只取一瓢
人生短短何必自寻苦恼

春花和秋月一样都是最好
才知道天下无双多难找
太多的温柔怀抱
只有你的依靠
愿你所有烦恼云散烟消

这世界真爱多难找
烦恼一旦抛
只想要和你一起快乐逍遥

庸人自扰是最可笑
恩怨皆可抛
对酒当歌共看那云淡天高

这世界真爱多难找
烦恼一旦抛
只想要和你一起快乐逍遥

庸人自扰是最可笑
恩怨皆可抛
对酒当歌共看那云淡天高

就这样一直到老

新加坡人讨厌中国人的真正原因

前几天在报纸上看到一篇报道，指中国有人写了一篇文章，企图说明新加坡人为何讨厌中国人。作者认为其原因是中国人抢了新加坡人的饭碗，因为新加坡人懒惰，不愿从事某些工作。我没有找出这篇文章的原文，但从报道中可以大略知道这内容。

报道原本可以针对文章好好地探讨新加坡人讨厌中国人的问题，只可惜它只是围绕着新加坡人是否真是懒惰这点，浪费题材。首先我要指出，新加坡人不因为中国人抢我们的饭碗而讨厌你们，因为那些被大多数中国人取代的工作本来就是由其他外劳做的。中国人要取代新加坡人的工作还是有限的，不管是政府规定还是商业考量。

中国人之所以可以取代其他外劳，抢他们的饭碗，是因为中国劳工相对比较便宜。要是中国劳工知道他们应有的价值，他们应该会不满而要求更高的薪酬。那时别人也会说中国人懒惰而取代他们，因此这里说的是一个钱的问题。

那到底是什么原因使到新加坡人会讨厌中国人呢？那就是大多数到新加坡的中国人让我们见识到了什么是没礼貌、不文明。他们破坏了，或最低限度影响了，我们的社会文化次序与习惯。我要问：难道排队买东西、搭公共交通很难吗？

我本身在上个星期就碰过这么一件事。我和我的同事在吃中饭，我的同事离座买吃的去。很多人过来询问可以不可以拿我的同事的椅子，有印度人，菲律宾人等等。哪知突然有个中国人不问自取地就把椅子拉走。我必须喊住他他才把椅子放回。

新加坡人其实不讨厌外劳，也不会针对任何一个国家的人。所谓入乡随俗，我们只是希望中国人能尊重新加坡的社会次序和生活习惯。当然，我们不能一竹竿打翻一条船。新加坡没公德心得人不少，好心的中国人也有。我就曾经碰过一对热心的中国情侣帮我截计程车。