Tuesday, January 27, 2009

It's my year... I'm born on the year of the Ox!

I've read this from Wikipedia describing those that are born on the year of the Ox and I'm one.

"The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Ox people need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.

People born under the influence of the Ox are kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.

The Ox works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.

The Ox is not extravagant, and the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.

Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome because of their honesty and patience. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.

It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them."

Well, I find that I possess mostly of the above attributes though some are not and some are quite so ideal maybe. Anyway, I've had undergone several personality lectures and evaluations on my psychology course but it is most important to have "adequate" self-knowledge. In fact, I'm tempted to use the term "full self-knowledge" but to know ones self fully is a long and life-time process. Having some guide in further understanding our selves wouldn't make any harm but if we rely merely on these type of external inputs then it's like foregoing our innate capabilities as "intelligent" being.

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Financial Meltdown: Causes, Consequences, and Options

I've been quite wondering on the topic of the current financial crisis and here I've found a video documentary discussing on: The Financial Meltdown: Causes, Consequences, and Options...


A Chinese New Year Post

2009-01-26, Yishun, Singapore -- (Chinese New Year for the Lunar Year of the Ox)  It's twilight time and since it's non-working holiday, I have the opportunity of writing down some of my thoughts.  It's also just now that I start using this online journal -- intentionally for myself.  I have maintained before a manual book journal which was stored somewhere else I just never recall.  

I love twilight time and I could hardly explain why.  I love to look at the horizon in plain white color as it turns darker and darker and while feeling the strong cooling winds.  It's the most ideal time that you can see the farthest horizon not being hindered by the so much strong light of the sun.  It's certainly why it is the best time to take horizon and landscape photographs.  For me it appeals to be the 'coolest' part of the day, when there seems to have the most perfect balance of sun light and the night coming by.

In the same way, perhaps, as it marks today the start of another year in the Chinese Calendar, twilight times signify the current changes in our lives.  I feel that I must be attuned to changes and that in fact I must love and appreciate that these dynamic changes are integral to my life's growth.  Be it through the hard times or the achieving times of my life, the progression or regression of things simply makes time more meaningful and more worthwhile.  

It's also either in the regression or progression of things that we are able to see a clearer perspective of our vision in life.  Throughout the world, there is no daily news without the topic of "global deep recession", unemployment and encomic downfall of even the greatest economy of the world.  On the otherhand, people are becoming more and more sensitive of their social responsibility that wealth must be in balance and is not ought to be just for the few.  And hopefully for the world's economic and political leaders, they may realize that it requires a long term understanding and appreciation of economic development rather than just being after instant economic growth.

And as I reflect on myself, I have the great responsibility also to pursue.  Sometimes, I have been guilty of binge spending and I realize that while we work hard to earn a single penny, we must work harder to saving our earnings.  This venture entails a great deal of sacrifice but I believe it would be most rewarding at the end.

Even if how much diligently we work throughout the day, but if we are not prepared for the coming night, it is a disaster.   And as I am fond of making jokes saying "At the end of the day... it is still night".  ***