Corfu

Post 144 The Euro Crisis When I was a school boy, I thought of European countries as very rich. Tourists from these already developed nations were greatly welcome to the then Malaya. The western countries were rich because of the exploitation of natural resources from the host countries they colonised. Nevertheless they also left behind good administration and education systems when the colonised nations became independent. After that there was no more free supply of natural resources which have to be bought through international trades. The Euro crisis in Greece is affecting its neighbours like Spain and Italy, with Germany trying to save the Euro. In the long term, the whole financial world will also be affected. This crisis invariably brought back my memory of Corfu. It is a very green Greek island in the Ionian Sea. During my Mediterranean cruise of 8D7N in 2006, I was on a one-day tour of Corfu during a stop-over. Corfu is definitely not a boring place to be on. The mild Mediterranean climate, excellent beaches and historical sites and architectures impressed an Asian tourist like me very much. I remember walking past a Square where the Greeks were leisurely having their afternoon tea. The tour guide leading our group told us that by joining the European Union, food had become more expensive than the days of the drachma, the currency used in Greece before it was last replaced by the Euro in 2001. I wonder how the Greeks, who were enjoying their tea on that afternoon, are doing now. I really wish them well. Panic is the word when our money keeps shrinking. – Quote by Ho Nee Yong 22 May 2012

Learn when to say 'No'

Post 143 Saying ‘No’ can be difficult. In the 1990s, I attended a one-week motivational course which cost RM4, 800. I found it very useful because there was a lecture on learning to say ‘No’. ‘No’ can be a very difficult word to utter. Many people find it hard to turn down requests from others. In the end they end up shouldering other people’s problems. In fact when we know that we really are not able to help, we should say so politely. It is a joy and virtue to be able to help others. We should not be too egoistic as to refuse to give help to others at all. We do ask our friends for help once in a while. What is important is that we say ‘No’ with sincerity without offending others. By learning to say ‘No’ at the right time and occasion, we may find ourselves less pressurized. As a matter of courtesy, we should also learn not to burden others by asking them to bend rules to suit us. However for requests which are difficult to fulfill, we can explain to them gently why help cannot be extended to them. It is better to say ‘No’ first rather than holding on to problems which we cannot solve. Otherwise the nightmare will come when they start to call and ask for the progress of their requests. The word ‘No’ is short but one may take a long time to learn to say it. – Quote by Ho Nee Yong 15 May 2012

Retirement

Post 142 A new dimension in life. I have retired for 10 years. Before my retirement I was controlled by time: woke up early to beat the traffic jam and be on time for work, kept to work schedules, rushed for meetings, and hurried for appointments. Everything was done under the control of time. Very often I could feel my blood pressures rising and temper flaring due to frustration for being late. For me, and I believe for many retirees, there is a new dimension in life on retirement. I do not really need to look at the clock or my watch often as I did when I was working. I am no more in control by time and I do what I want to at my own leisure. It is good to feel that I am in control of my life and am no more dictated by official routine works. There was an article which caught my attention when the writer wrote that he knew of two professors at the same university who became reclusive on retirement. He had difficulty tracing their whereabouts. When the writer finally came face to face with one of them in a park, he was only given a ‘Hi’ greeting by his long lost friend who then walked away quickly. I too have a friend who has chosen to lead a life of voluntary seclusion from friends and social activities on retirement. He has chosen to keep away from his old friends and be an island. That is his new dimension in life. There are people who may not subscribe to the reclusive lifestyle of these retirees, but their choice ought to be respected. It will be unbearable when others should tell us how to spend our remaining years. Life takes on a new dimension at sun set. – Quote by Ho Nee Yong 8 May 2012 (No post on 1 May 2012- Labour Day)