Reflecting on 2012

While most people set new year resolutions, I think it is even more important to reflect on the year that has passed to reflect on what can be improved and give thanks to what has gone well.

I have done it for the past 2 years and although slightly late this year, I think it is something that I wish to continue. 2012 has really been a significant year full of changes.

Top of the list to be thankful for is of course the birth of my super duper handsome baby boy. 

A lot of people say he looks like me. Just saying.

Reflecting on 2011

Merry Christmas!


Had an entry Reflecting on 2010 last year, and I thought I should have one again to mark the end of 2011.
Not that my life is all smooth-sailing and happy-go-lucky... but as usual.. I always prefer to spread "positivity"... look back... be thankful.. and count my blessings...




Biggest news of 2011
The biggest news for me this year... If you have not heard yet...

Rest In Peace

Friends and loved ones would have known by now, my father-in-law passed away last Friday on 16 Dec 2011.


Everyone has different ways of coping with grief, I do it by remembering the beautiful memories left behind.
I believe that the best way to honour loved ones who have passed on is to live your life the best that you can. That's what they would want.


How nice was my father-in-law to me? I remember with fondness my previous

Jump martial arts show

JUMP the martial arts show / performance group from Korea is going to be in town..


I think it is a must watch because they have 3 superstars highly skilled in martial arts!!....






Their poster is amazing!!!......

Be in awe..

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Short and Fat - Note to self

Note to self regarding height and weight...
The short and fat of it all...




Reminder to self:

"You can be short....

But you cannot be fat...

Coz you can't choose your height...

But you can choose your weight!!" 

You may be interested in the following entries:

My Weight Loss Secret Revealed - How to lose weight in an instant!

My wifey and I - one dark and stormy night...

URBAN HOMME - Urban Icon Challenge

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Work it out...

Reflecting on 2010

Did you miss me while I was away?! Haha..
Was away for 5 days to Bangkok with Wifey and in-laws...
That explains why I haven't been blogging much lately...


Anyway.. decided to have an entry to take a look back at how 2010 went for me... one last entry before the year ends...
(check out my Top 15 Blog Posts in 2010)...






Though it feels soooooo long ago... The company incentive trip to Seoul, Korea was in Jan.. (Check my FB for more pics.. realized I didn't write much about the trip...)
Totally loved it with the great company of Wifey and colleagues/friends...
Also, it was the first time I've experienced snow... ("suaku" I know!)..
Perhaps we got more than we bargained for.. as it was the heaviest snowfall in like 70 (or 100?) years...

Snow in Seoul, Korea - www.ginsengtonic.blogspot.com

Can anything be more important than family?

Had a family lunch over the weekend...
We brought our mum out to Pan Pac for a buffet lunch...
Also coz Wifey and I bought a book for our nephew.. 
It has been a while since I've seen my nephew...
Any longer I think he'll forget my face already...

Feeling grouchy coz he just woke up

Didn't take long for him to warm up

He's squatting down coz I was squatting down trying to take pics of him

The Grandma

His way of showing love....

Made my wifey cried...

The world is full of love

Life can be Cruel...

Usually my blog entries are very light-hearted..
I'm always glad when I have people telling me that they enjoyed reading my blog and had a really good laugh for some of them...


Today.. it's slightly different...
Can't help but blog about this that I read..
You should have read about this by now..


Widow of deceased bridegroom found dead


Remember the bridegroom who was found dead at Hilton Hotel on the night of his wedding dinner?
How terrible it must have been for the lady..
From the happiest day in her life to the worst...


Cannot imagine the pain she must have gone through..
But I do not think taking your own life solves anything..
People you leave behind goes through the pain all over again..


Once in a while, articles like this remind me that we should all learn to take things easy...
And there's definitely more to life than just materialistic pursuits...


Live life!


--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Get high on life!

Thomas Chua Chee Siong

Thomas Chua Chee Siong... remember the name?

Most probably not.. But.. you may remember his story..

Coz I did.. and it has been a decade...

He was a invited guest speaker at our recent seminar for our organisation..

When I first heard his name, the first thing that came to my mind..

"Who the hell is he?"...

Then a reminder of his story..

More than a decade ago (1998).. I remembered reading an article about a teen.. Who got dead drunk at a party.. (How many of us haven't?).. the difference was.. he got so drunk.. he fell from the 3rd storey!.. Paralysed neck down..

Remember reading about it?..

That was more than 10years ago. Read it.. Felt sorry.. Sympathised.. And life moves on.. that's for the rest of us..

Seeing him in person.. in his wheelchair.. in his condition.. so many years since he is forgotten.. Life is never going to be the same again for him..

Luckily he had SOME insurance payout.. and he admitted in the past he HATED insurance agents.. that is till the accident... 10 years on.. His monthly expenses because of his condition.. is still more than $2,000 a month! Unfortunately, for most people, they wait til it's too late...

And incidents like this.. Reinforces and reminds me what I do for a living.. for my clients benefits more than I can imagine.. And that is the miracel of life insurance.. When a promise is delivered.. To take care of oneself or their loved ones.. simply by the magic of ink and paper..

This day on.. Thomas Chua the name may be forgotten again.. We will all lead our lives again.. But I do hope things get better for him.. And he remains as positive as he is now..

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Insurance is like a parachute.. When you are out of the plane.. It's too late...

Quote of the Day

"Brave the rain with me..
And I will enjoy the breeze with you forever.."
- Ginseng Tonic Maker

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Fruits of OUR labour.. When it's ripe for the picking...

It's the only way I know..

A friend mentioned.. Something along the line of me being overly in love and plunging in whole heartedly when I'm in a relationship..
He mentioned it more out of concern.. after what had happened when I went through shit..
Well, I do appreciate it..
But when I'm in a relationship.. That's the only way I know... And that's the only way I want it to be..
Because I give it my all in things that are important to me.. Why else would I want to be in a relationship then?

-- Ginsent Tonic Maker -- Give it my all.. Or not at all...

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes all that happens when your dream comes true..
Is a slow, melting realisation that it wasn't what you thought."

Another notable quote from Mitch Albom's For One More Day..
Quite a scary thought isn't it?..
I've always loved his books because sometimes we can be so focused on pursuing careers.. success.. status.. that we lose sight of life and what's important around us like our loved ones..
His books help to put things in perspective.. and get you to reflect on life..

With reference to the above quote though.. Which do you think is worse.. For you to achieve your dream and realise it isn't what you thought?.. Or for you to never achieve your dream and wonder what it could have been?..

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Never believe in what if...

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes all that happens when your dream comes true..
Is a slow, melting realisation that it wasn't what you thought."

Another notable quote from Mitch Albom's For One More Day..
Quite a scary thought isn't it..
I've always loved his books because sometimes we can be so focused on pursuing careers.. success.. status.. that we lose sight of life and what's important around us like our loved ones..
His books help to put things in perspective.. and get you to reflect on life..

With reference to the above quote though..
Which do you think is worse..
For you to achieve your dream and realise it isn't what you thought?..
Or for you to never achieve your dream and wonder what it could have been?..

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Never believe in what if...

Fair-Weather Fans (Friends/ Girlfriends/ Spouses etc..)

Did you see on the news.. how many fans there were at the airport to receive the national soccer team back from their ASEAN cup triumph?

Would you feel happy if you were one of the players?..
I think I would feel disgusted..
Where were the fans when the team was losing.. and going through a rough patch?.. Where were the fans when the team was leaving for the tournament?..

Just like fans.. Friends are the same.. The ones that were with you when you are down.. The ones that were there to support you and encourage you when you were starting out and struggling.. These are the friendships and brotherhood that is sealed for life!..

And it's friends..brothers.. girlfriend.. spouse.. loved ones.. that helped you along the way.. that you remember and treasure.. that you would love to enjoy your success with in future... the ones that really stuck with you.. through thick and thin...

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker -- Die hard fans.. the only fans you need!..