Saturday, October 16, 2010

Pearls of Wisdom

One day, you and I are going to die. There’s simply no avoiding it. The last person who went to heaven alive was the prophet Elijah and it’s not likely to happen again. So you will die, and your family and friends will mourn you and say nice things about you which they never said when you were alive. Then they will move on, Maybe they will remember you all their lives, but you will still be one more person who passed through their lives. Your photos will become old fashioned, your belongings will be distributed or thrown away. The books and pictures that you valued so much, the clothes that you hoarded in case they come back in fashion, the music you treasured, the little knick-knacks you collected will become junk, a dead person’s belongings. And it’s not likely that you will become a world famous celebrity so there’s no chance of your stuff being auctioned off for millions. Your loved ones may cry seeing your things, but the tears will dry. Slowly, you will be forgotten.

And what legacy will you leave? What will you be remembered for? Will your footprints be easily blown away in the wind, or will you leave a mark that’s forever embedded in everyone’s memory? And if you have children, what pearls of wisdom will you pass on to them?

Anyway, why are pearls of wisdom called “Pearls of wisdom”? Why not Rubies of wisdom, or Diamonds of wisdom? I guess it’s because pearls are very difficult to collect and not everyone can do it.

I don’t know when death’s cold hands will reach out for me, so here are a few drops of wisdom, just in case, you know.
  • Don’t stand in doorways and chitchat with other people, you are blocking the way.
  • If you are going to the first floor, take the stairs.
  • Treat public toilets as your own.
  • Yes I know I am overweight, I have warts; I don’t need you to tell me.
  • People are not really interested in knowing your state or mind, or body; they are just polite. Don’t answer with a paragraph what you can say in a sentence.
  • Don’t ever lend books. You may be called selfish but at least you won’t lose any book.
  • Don’t smoke while people are eating.
  • Hate your job? Quit complaining, simply quit!! You are not a slave or serf, you will find some other job that you love.
  • Be nice to people. You never know when you may need their help.
  • Don’t call someone stupid or ignorant just because they don’t know something that you do. There will be something they know about which you are totally clueless, and where does that leave you?
  • Don’t make fun of old people. You too are going to be old someday.

10 comments:

  1. I especially agree with 'don't lend books'. Even seemingly normal people turn out to be pretty lazy at returning books. And people chatting and walking slowly on busy sidewalks are a pain too. You do have a lot of wisdom to dispense :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Read Aduhi's blog, and you will find your pearls of wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  3. If you are going to the first floor, take the stairs.

    The other day, I was at a client meeting and their office was on the 47th floor. We had to go to the first floor after that meeting. We didn't take the stairs. Sorry Aduh.

    :D

    Don’t ever lend books. You may be called selfish but at least you won’t lose any book.

    I use this same rule for my DVD collection. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Don't sweep while people are eating tih hi ka'n lo belh ve ang e. Aduhi blog nge nge thufing a tam bik thin mang e.

    ReplyDelete
  5. diary - heheh this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Actually maybe I shouldn't have called it pearls of wisdom, Daily Living Tips is more appropriate, methinks.

    daniel - You do flatter me so

    Kims - Haha you make me laugh.No seriously I'm not kidding. You oughta see me right now, laughing so hard, barely able to type.

    Yes, books and music should never be lent to anybody. But I think this concept will soon become old fashioned because now we have e-books and music is readily available online. The times when if you happen to own a new book or cassette it got passed around until it finally gets lost, are now lost in time. Sad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. caribou - Thanks for visiting and for the lovely comment. You hit the bullseye right there. There are still some people who swirl up dust right in front of your face when you are ready to enjoy a meal, and the mood is spoiled.

    ReplyDelete
  7. One precious rule that I've known for years but can't seem to follow as diligently as I would like - don't lend books. I keep telling myself to say no next time anyone asks, but I always stumble.

    And those lines about dying. How true!...and sad! Waaahh! I don't want to be forgotten!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aduh, I believe the legacy we leave to our children should be more on the quality of life we have lived rather than on material possessions! I really liked your pearls of wisdom! Do keep on writing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. If you are going to the first floor, take the stairs.
    - AMEN!! And for that matter, people who travel from the 5th floor to the 4th, etc!

    Treat public toilets as your own.
    - Can't do that if that poop ain't mine! :P

    Don’t ever lend books. You may be called selfish but at least you won’t lose any book.
    - No one touches my 1TB but me.

    Don’t think someone is stupid or ignorant just because they don’t know something that you do. There will be something they know about which you are totally clueless, and where does that leave you?
    - Need to work on that!

    Pearls of Sanity, Snatches of Wisdom, it's all Good.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jerusha - Being forgotten is the worst part of dying. After a couple of decades nobody will remember us and the younger generation will not even spare a minute to think about us. Nobody will remember that we lived and loved, cried and laughed just like they do, that we were once living talking human beings. One day, all we will be is a name on a tombstone.

    Maisek - Exactly. Material things will not last, but it's the impression we leave on their minds that will last forever.

    blackestred - Vai ho hian an ching i ti ve em? 1st floor a kal tur te hian lift hi an nghak reng zel. I live and work on the 3rd floor, and never take lifts unless I'm carrying something heavy. Walking on the stairs is the only exercise I get all day. Another reason I don't take the lift much is I hate it when it stops at every floor.

    ReplyDelete