sukku

This is what I wrote 2 years ago and when I read what I had written, I guess nothing much has changed except the fact that I am lucky to celebrate my 49th birthday with my loved ones and now I know for sure that I would be able to spend many more Birthdays without any heart problems but other problems I wouldn't be able to guarantee. Now let me see, over the years I have removed my appendix, my gall bladder and recently a bypass with an open heart surgery (I guess the mother of all operations). This will keep me ticking for many years as I will be following a strict diet and having a healthy life style as I know what it is to go through whole thing. I am going to post the article that I had posted on Opera below and also I have a birthday photo of me taken when I was 1 year old. Don't I look sweet with the knife in my hand waiting to do justice to the cake. Happy Birthday post Monday, 29. October 2007, 02:44:57 Today is my birthday and with me turning a different age ever...

My first trip abroad (Twilight Zone). Saturday, 3. May 2008, 13:47:35 The surrounding was a little strange as the plane landed at the airport. I can glance from the window that the landscape looked very parched and the grass was brown. I can also see the mirage on the runway. As the pilot announced the local time at the airport that I was about to land, I changed the time at my watch and this was a brand new watch that I got as a gift for my overseas trip for my studies. I had to wind two and half hours back from the place where I was flying from. To my surprise I saw some workers working at the airport, their skin tanned working under the blazing heat and they were wearing only loin cloths. They were doing manual work, just like a scene from a movie where you find jailbirds toiling away breaking rocks in some hill with a sledge hammer. Now this was about thirty years ago, when I was a student in pursue of higher education to be a Doctor (now that I am engineer). Sitting alone on t...

Why do you blog? Wednesday, 24. October 2007, 13:34:54 I am sitting here pondering on the reasons why do I blog? Has this thought ever crossed your mind too? Could it be to keep track of my moods,feelings and my state of being at that particular moment in time captured like a photograph but in my case its a photograph of my thoughts and my feelings. A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.” Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly. Blogs use a conversational style of documentation. This is what I blogged on 18.10.2006 about a year back and it transported me back to that very day: You know as I read my previous blogs, I see a pattern emerging b...

Rule One: Never let another person dictate the terms for living your life. Not your parents. Not your spouse. Not your kids. Leading your life means you can accept the input of other people, but the final decision is yours. This means that career choice, relationships, beliefs and way of life are to be judged by you, not anyone else. This rule holds especially when you have doubts. Don’t let your moment of doubt become a weakness to be exploited by others. Not sure what you want to do with your life? Don’t sit passively and let other people decide for you. Rule Two: Don’t allow yourself to be chained by consumerism. The world is filled with stuff. Don’t let stuff get in the way of what is important. When you become chained to your stuff, you are no longer leading your life. Ask yourself: if you had to give up 90% of your net worth tomorrow to pursue your dream, could you do it effortlessly? If you hesitated, perhaps your ability to lead your own life has been weakened by your attachme...

Steve Jobs' rules for success: First thing: As soon as you join/start a company, make a list of strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your company on a piece of paper. Don't hesitate in throwing bad apples out of the company. Don't worry about too many things at once. Take a handful of simple things to begin with, and then progress to more complex ones. People judge you by your performance, so focus on the outcome. Success generates more success. So be hungry for it. "I've always wanted to own and control the primary technology in everything we do." Ask for feedback, from people with diverse backgrounds. Each one will tell you one useful thing. If you're at the top of the chain, sometimes people won't give you honest feedback because they're afraid. In this case, disguise yourself, or get feedback from other sources (Steve Jobs actually called Apple Customer Care disguising himself as a customer, just to check on them). Focus on those wh...

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it. Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. Rule 3: You will not make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes, and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forests from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own r...

Some say rules were made to be broken. If we make an effort to follow a few simple rules life would be so much easier. Here’s 15 Rules To Live By: »If you move it, put it back. »If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone. » If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission. »If you borrow it, return it. »If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. »If you broke it, admit it. »If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can. »If you open it, close it. »If you turn it on, turn it off. »If you unlock it, lock it up. »If you value it, take care of it. »If you make a mess, clean it up. » If it will brighten someone’s day, say it, do it! » If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions. »If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself. (Author Unknown)

There’s really no way to sum up the game of life with a simple set of rules, but I’ve come up with a set of guidelines that have served me pretty good. I would love to hear your own. 1. Focus on what you want: Do you focus on the road ahead or in the rearview mirror filled with the past? By focusing on the past, you tend to worry about the future because your focus carries the negative experiences from your past into your present. “Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind’s eye, and you will be drawn toward it.” - Napoleon Hill 2. Never give up: Thomas Edison said it best — “”Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” 3. One day at a time: We achieve our dreams one day at a time, so set goals for each day that will take you, step by step, toward your desire. The pyramids weren’t built in a week so learn to be patient. Do the best you can, enjoy this day, and be satisfied with what you’ve a...

(Carter Scott references this quotation:) "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." (Helen Keller) Rule One - You will receive a body. Whether you love it or hate it, it's yours for life, so accept it. What counts is what's inside. Rule Two - You will be presented with lessons. Life is a constant learning experience, which every day provides opportunities for you to learn more. These lessons specific to you, and learning them 'is the key to discovering and fulfilling the meaning and relevance of your own life'. Rule Three - There are no mistakes, only lessons. Your development towards wisdom is a process of experimentation, trial and error, so it's inevitable things will not always go to plan or turn out how you'd want. Compassion is the remedy for harsh judgement - of ourselves and others. Forgiveness is not only divine - it's also 'the act of erasing an emotional debt'. Behaving ethically, with integrit...

"So many assume the truth is either black or white... It's all evolution or it's totally creation, for example. Reality creates consciousness; consciousness creates reality. Actually truth is inclusive, neither black nor white, nor a shade of grey. Indeed, truth is a multicolored spectrum, a beautiful hologram!" --Peter Shepherd "Freedom is actually a bigger game than power. Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash." --Harriet Rubin "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life and don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become." --Steve Jobs

This is a chapter from Dr. Wayne Dyer's book entitled "Wisdom of the Ages". Let me copy down the 6 mistakes so that you can ponder and reflect on your mistakes. The illusion that personal gain is made up of crushing others. The tendency to worry about things that cannot be changed or corrected. Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it. Refusing to set aside trivial preferences. Neglecting development and refinement of the mind, and not acquiring the habit of reading and study. Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do. MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO (106 B.C. – 43 B.C.) Let me dwell on No. 2, as "First it makes no sense t worry about the things you have no control over, because if you have no control over them, it makes no sense to worry about them. Second, it makes no sense to about the things you do have control over, because if you have control, it makes no sense to worry." I am sure you would be having your...

This is taken from my collection of conversations for transformation by Landmark Education. I just wanted to share this with you and please read between the lines to appreciate the deep philosophy involved here. This essay is the  a collection of six on Nothing : 1.   Nothing 2.   There Is Nothing To Get 3.   High Class Zen 4.   Joshua Is Doing Nothing 5.   A Paradigm For Nothing 6.   Nothing We Can Achieve Keep your fingers out of the machinery. Notice your tendency to want to fix the machine. That is your most human quality. But the machine is already fixed. Actually it never was broken. It doesn't need you to fix it. The machine is OK the way it is. This is the way it turned out. It turned out this way whether you have an opinion or not that it should have turned out this way or differently. Be gracious with the outcome. Your energy is better spent being with it rather than resisting it ...

I have been rather impatient with the progress of my healing; not realizing that I had a major surgery (open heart) where they had cut my sternum and it takes time to heal. I came to terms that I have be patient after I read this chapter on Patience from the book titled "Wisdom of the Ages" by Wayne W. Dyer. Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.          Confucius (551 B.C – 479 B.C) I am feeling restless as I want to get back to normal life but if I apply my impatience, then I will be preventing the healing process. There is another proverb from the book, "With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown", and also he says that impatience breeds fear, stress and discouragement. So let nature take its own course and have a stress fre...

I would love to share the following quotes by Robin Sharma from his book "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari". I have read this book a couple of times but what got me was when I was in the Hospital after my heart attack waiting for my surgery, the book had a profound impact as I could identify myself with Julian on how he had valued work more then life and had neglected it...until he had a heart attack...and that gave him a second lease of life...where he changed ....in life we never treasure anything as we take things for granted...until we are hit by "the lightning" or given a shock treatment....thats when we wake up...like I did ....so please "WAKE UP"....before it is too late...enjoy the little pleasures in life...take time to see the sunset... Here are the Quotes: # "Blaming others is nothing more than excusing yourself.." # "Learn More to Earn More" # "We receive from life not what we want but who we are". # "Go...

"Many of our fears are tissue paper thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them." --Brendan Francis "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." --Marie Curie "Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here. The spiritual journey is the relinquishment, or unlearning, of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts." --Marianne Williamson

Just felt like sharing this article and also as a reminder for those who are still smoking....for heaven's safe ...please stop. When smokers quit, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes. At 20 minutes after quitting: blood pressure decreases pulse rate drops body temperature of hands and feet increases At 8 hours: carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal oxygen level in blood increases to normal At 24 hours: chance of a heart attack decreases At 48 hours: nerve endings start regrowing ability to smell and taste is enhanced The first year after quitting: At 2 weeks to 3 months: circulation improves walking becomes easier lung function increases 1 to 9 months: coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases 1 year: excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker Long-term Benefits of Quitting At 5 years: from 5 to 15 years after qui...

I went to a party Mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, So I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, The way you said I would. I didn't drink and drive, Mom, Even though the others said I should. I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right. Now the party is finally ending, Mom, As everyone is driving out of sight. As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, So responsible and sweet. I started to drive away, Mom, But as I pulled out into the road, The other car didn't see me, Mom, And hit me like a load. As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say, "The other guy is drunk," Mom, And now I'm the one who will pay. I'm lying here dying, Mom..... I wish you'd get here soon. How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst l...

Sounds like a restaurant or a shopping mall? No I was talking about my blogs and I don't see many bloggers commenting on what I write. I do see a lot of visitors but they could be window shopping or they must have wandered into my blog accidentally. So what does it really takes to pull the crowd? I guess by now you must have been sick of reading stuff about my heart attack and all the minute details that I am giving you. Now who in the hell would actually have a heart attack and have the time to blog? Beats me!!! So can I list down my suggestions to get the crowd in and not that I have so many of them at my blogs that I don't have time replying. Write controversial articles. Visit other bloggers and leave your comments. Have an interesting template. Update your blogs on a regular basis. Post a lot of photos. Be as witty as possible. Think before you write. Have a camera handy so that you can take candid photos for your blogs. I am out of ideas....at this sta...

I was going through my blog on what I was doing at about the same time last year. I was with Ho Hup Construction Company Berhad and was in charge of Bukit Jalil project. I came back from India by the end of July 2008 and made a few trips after that to sort out the litigation with the Housing Board. Was I dissatisfied with my work? I guess so and being stuck at a housing development project was not my cup of tea. Now the excitement came back into my life when I left Ho Hup and joined Econpile and took charge of a project in Johor and the pressure was really exciting and I got my adrenaline pumping back. Maybe the problem was that I was pushing myself very hard and wanted to complete the job in record time with savings for the company. Now that I had my heart attack on site and I am to take rest until middle of November 2009, I have to relook at all my options. Where would I be next year from now? The answer is very simple, I wouldn't know. But if I have my way, I would like to b...

How time flies and it is my first month anniversary since my heart attack. It happened on a Sunday in Johor Bahru, which is about 350 km from Kuala Lumpur. I was in charge of the Iskandar Waterfront Development project comprising of foundation works, bored piles and spun piles. The contract duration was 5 months and I managed to get ahead of schedule and things wer moving on smoothly until I had a heart attack. I guess the heart attack was slotted for me from upstairs but only the timing. I guess I am lucky with the timing as I had it just before the Id or the Muslim festival of Idulfitri, otherwise things would have been pretty messy with the entire highway jammed with travellers and the hospitals working on half strength. The worst case scenario would be I might be travelling on the highway and God only knows what I would have done if I had the attack while I was on the highway, maybe pop in a few anti-acid tablets and maybe get a one way ticket to heaven. What has changed in my...

"We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility." --Albert Einstein "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not." --George Bernard Shaw "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." --T. S. Eliot

It's about 8.00 am and I have already finished my breakfast of oats and a cup of tea with skim milk (it really taste awful). Now what shall I write or share with you that would be helpful. And the best topic that I can think of at the moment is sharing with you my experience of undergoing a CABG operation. I have been searching for blogs which can help me clear all my doubts that I have on my mind and there don't seem to be much on the web. For those who has been diagnosed with heart problems or had a heart attack and the Doctor has informed you after angiogram, boy you sure do have a lot of blockages and we can't do angioplasty due to blah....blah....blah... and they refer you to a surgeon. He will talk to you on what he is going to do....so to say the best option based on the reports and the condition that you are in. In my case I was relieved to know that I had 3 major blocks and look at the bright side, I was in a position to discuss with the Doctor on the CABG and I ...

Ever since I am recuperating at home, I am looking at various ways whereby I can work on my blog and I always felt restricted when I work on blogger web page. You can do the blogging on Microsoft Word by pressing the Microsoft Button and open the new blank document and blog template. After that you have to register your blog i.e. mine was blogger and I keyed in the username and then the password and voila I am in for business. I am waiting for a special day that is one week from today and it is when Nokia N97 releases its latest upgrade software V 2.0 which would bring the phones performance on par with iphone. Now if the upgrade is so important, why in the hell did they market the phone with version V 1.0 in the first place? Maybe it is to take suckers like us for a ride. I have tried everything possible to make my stay at home as comfortable as possible and I just don't want to think about what is in store after November 15 th . I know something good would happen and I am goi...

This is where I walk, at my residence and it is called Canal Gardens. You can see the oversized drain where the water is stagnant, whereby the surface runoff water from the highway is channelled to this so called Canal. And we paid a premium for the Canal Gardens, in terms of view, it looks nice and green, and I guess with plenty of mosquitoes. Anyway I shouldn't be complaining, I at least have an area to walk everyday sheltered from the traffic and pollutants. Thank God for the little mercies...and Thank God that I still could walk in the evening.