We were just talking about her last Sunday when we visited Sabati Women’s Museum, admiring these beautiful iron women for their contributions to the nation & its people.

May God bless the soul of our late Datuk Amar Puan Sri Laila Taib. Amen.

Chief Minister Taib Mahmud (2nd right) and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang (2nd left) viewing the exhibition. Accompanying them are the German Cultural Centre Director Dr. Volker Wolf (right), and German Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Dr. Gunter Gruber.

In conjunctions with German Days in Kuching, from 22 – 24 April 2009, I was invited to their farewell reception last night hosted by one of their participants.

There was an unusual roar of thunder & heavy downpour at sunset, only 1/3 of the invited 60 Germans attended the reception. ~ a frustrating waste of $ for the food over-catered by the host. Everyone was “toasted” (UNIMAS auditorium was not air-conditioned?) & weary soon after the exhibition in UNIMAS. Then all rushed to take their flights back to K.L.. So I never got to meet any German at all when I reached there by 9p.m.. This would not happen if it’s an October Fest ~ Yup, it’s going to be held again in the happening Penang this year!

Actually it was a sigh of relief! Otherwise, the whole night I would keep repeating “Scheiße!” Sorry folks! That’s the only German word I know how to pronounce.

As an Anak Malaysia, I do hope the advanced German technologies & strategies would help realising our Sarawakians’ vision to be Malaysia’s richest state by 2030.

Finally I went up to 2nd floor (I know it’s a good exercise though) today to check out my girl’s recently painted classroom in light blue & white since her class colour is white.

I’m not the type of parent who would carry her kids’ heavy school bags to the classroom (they should learn the value of the burden they carry everyday), seated them down, make sure they don’t run wildly in school (to some parents, schools are no different from zoos) and leave only when the teacher appears, what’s more? The bell rings for nothing.

I have discovered some notes written on the whiteboard which Cher has lied to me about, e.g. which chapters she should study for her on-going monthly exam. I won’t buy such lies from her on this in future anymore.

She’s so happy that her painting is pasted on the board for the first time. I hope this little “achievement” would encourage her to be more interested in Arts in future.

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God really has His mysterious ways of dealing with men. It was really hot in the middle of the night last night around 2a.m. something. I woke up to switch on the air-conditioner. Then I heard the chirping of my cellphone outside my bedroom inside my handbag on the bench, since I do not want to sleep with the negative ions. I knew it was from him.

He told me he was going to kill himself. I was afraid to be the murderer so I coaxed & soothed him to calm down. It was my fault to push him too hard by backing off, in order for him to seriously consider in proposing to his lady friend.

Apparently, he got upset with me and now he’s banishing himself from all romances to another country, faraway land. I guess, out of sight, out of mind? May he find the peace within himself.

A client, Mrs T, has been complaining to me for the past 4 months on our sub-con, Dan, for not fulfilling her requirements on our work done for her. I told her honestly that I have not seen Dan for 3 weeks since he has been working elsewhere on full-time basis ~ need more $ to pay off his debt.

To my amazement, when Mrs T threatened to sue us, I felt like she may be my “saviour”! She’s one of the nicest complainers I have encountered so far. I told her to go ahead with her good idea. I’m a consumer too so I understand her rights. What I cowardly dared not tell her was that I’m currently the “named” sole proprietor of this company. If she sues us, she’s suing me as well!

I texted Dan on what Mrs T is planning to do since he’s been avoiding phone calls. Not many have the luck to reach him, so I become the “call-centre”. I have also instructed him to complete all the work for the existing projects, collect all the monies & wind up this “non-profitable” business a.s.a.p.. At least this time he responded to my text which he usually ignored.

Speaking of devil!! My sub-con has just popped in to collect his mails. We didn’t utter a word about my text to him yesterday.

I know it’s not easy for me to get a good paid (cukup makan only lah) & convenient (so close to my girl’s school) job as this current one but I wish to clear off my title as a “boss” here a.s.a.p. to irresponsible co-worker like Dan. Enough of me having to be honest to backstab him all the time. Otherwise? Clean my own backside & waiting to be locked up behind the bars or declared myself as a bankrupt as well? If I’m not insane then God must be crazy!!

	how you feel about yourself now (The Moon) You feel confused, vulnerable and full of doubts, however, all is not as it seems. Feel the fear and do it anyway, because all will turn out well. Expect the new and unexpected into your life. Your turbulent emotions are muddying the waters so step back and try to find clarity of mind, although this may seem difficult. Things may seem tough or confusing but stick with it, it's right for you. The Moon is a good omen if you are in a clandestine affair. (If this refers to the change of my career, I would be most thrilled to go forth!)
	what you most want at this moment (The Sun) The cards suggest Ally, that what you most want at this time is some joy and pleasure in your life, perhaps a long needed holiday in the sun to re-charge your batteries. You may have been through a period of challenges or a time of limbo and inactivity. The Sun heralds an ending to difficulties and a time to celebrate with friends and loved ones, a time of pleasure and good news around children or the conception or birth of a longed-for baby. (Since our last Macau trip, “pokai” already. Have to put aside our annual vacation plan at the moment, who knows I may be out of my current job anytime from now?? Better save for rainy days!)
	your fears (The World) You are afraid of taking action and lack confidence and will power, but this is a time to be positive and proactive, otherwise you will experience loss of momentum, delays and stagnation. Completion and success are only a step away, don’t give up, lose heart or change direction when you are so close to the finish line. (I know I’m going really slow but I have faith in myself, especially when it comes to my recent discovery that most men nowadays also look out for career-minded & financially independent women…… how ironic!)
	what is going for you (The Hierophant) There is help at hand, just ask for it. If you are concerned about making the right decision there is someone with the right moral fibre that can help. You can receive Wise counsel and honest advice from a teacher, priest or parent, or just someone you have a lot of respect for. They are more than willing to help. (Keeping my eyes open & all ears to all smart gurus for F.O.C. consultation, particularly on career & finance)
	what is going against you (The Hermit) You are at risk of doing something hasty out of impatience and rage. This is not a time for irrational and impulsive behaviour - don’t be cantankerous (if closer to old than young!) or arrogant and resentful (if closer to young than old!) Try and remain calm and let the rage go, take time to make a cool and collected decision. The Hermit signals a warning not to make hasty decisions. (Umm…. umm….. ok, stay calm….. I’m cool!)
	outcome (The Devil) If your previous cards have been positive and your main consideration has been about a relationship then there’s a possibility of commitment, even a proposal of marriage. If this is not the case this a final opportunity for you to change course, because the temptation you are experiencing concerning a relationship, money or materialism or any other kind of addiction won’t lead to a happy ending. If you are feeling low in self-belief and self worth and doubt your abilities, don’t, have more confidence - its not too late to change direction. (Not sure if previous card is +ve but indeed, if I look down on myself, who else would employ me? I still have a daughter to feed…. )

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My love, I have tried with all my being to grasp a form comparable to thine own, but nothing seems worthy; I know now why Shakespeare could not compare his love to a summer’s day. It would be a crime to denounce the beauty of such a creature as thee, to simply cast away the precision God had placed in forging you. Each facet of your being whether it physical or spiritual is an ensnarement from which there is no release. But I do not wish release. I wish to stay entrapped forever. With you for all eternity. Our hearts, always as one. - Anthony Kolos -

This is the original but you changed it. You do not wish release & stay entrapped but you believe everything seems worthy. What more can I do? Nothing because you are who you want me to believe who you are. As long as you are happy, as long as I learn how to draw lines between us, as long as the fine lady gets what she deserves when you finally wake up from your fantasy…. yes, one fine day….

You can impossibly fathom my unselfish love for her.

My mother's name is Barbara Mabel Parnell. A couple of years after World War II she became a Moslem and adopted the 'Moslem' name Bariah Kamarudin.

Kamarudin is of course my father's name while the 'maiden' name Bariah was suggested by Tengku Ampuan Bariah of Terengganu who was in England then with the late Sultan of Terengganu (then the Raja Muda of Terengganu) and father to Malaysia 's current Agong.

You could say Tengku Ampuan Bariah Terengganu, who is my father's cousin, 'named' my mother (and they have the cheek to say I would have the gall to insult the Agong who is sort of my second-cousin by marriage).

About 25 years or so later, my wife too became a Moslem. She was informed by the then-Grand Imam of the National Mosque (Masjid Negara) that she can retain her original name, Mable James Anthony Lee.

The wife of Raja Adnan Raja Abdullah, the one-time Deputy Director of the Special Branch and my brother's father-in-law, suggested my wife take a 'Moslem' name and she proposed the name Marina . So my wife became Marina Lee @ Mable James Anthony Lee.

My sister, Norita, married an Englishman but he retained his English name when he converted to Islam in front of Pak Abas, my Tok Guru from Terengganu who is also one of the PAS grassroots leaders and the 'strongman' of Kampong Kolam in Kuala Ibai, a PAS stronghold on the outskirts of Kuala Terengganu which UMNO has never been able to conquer.

When my mother first stepped foot in Malaysia a year before Merdeka, my father's relatives were delighted that my father had married a 'Mem', a novelty in those days, and that she had 'masuk Melayu'.

My mother would indignantly correct them by saying that she 'masuk Islam', not 'masuk Melayu'. She had become a Moslem, not a Malay, and she was proud of her Welsh heritage.

Malays have this misconception that if you become a Moslem then you have become a Malay. And they would refer to converts as mualaf, in particular Chinese converts.

It is peculiar they do not regard Indian converts as mualaf  but Indian Moslems. Why are Chinese mualaf while Indians are Indian Moslems and Caucasians 'masuk Melayu'?

Did I not say that the Malay mind is a very weird thing?

I made about nine or ten trips to China from the early- to mid-1990s and have toured the remotest parts of China where Malaysians have never been before. Some parts of China that I visited the people there have never seen a Malaysian in their entire life or know where Malaysia is (and they were surprised that Malaysians look like Mat Salleh).

And there are many Moslem restaurants even in these remotest parts of China so food, therefore, was no problem.

There are probably around 110 million or so Moslems in China spread out all over the country with the majority in the four autonomous regions.

Beijing has a whole street of Moslem restaurants and the variety is so exciting because it is almost like a gourmet's United Nations.

In the rural areas the choices are not that varied and it is very difficult to detect which are halal restaurants and which are not.

But if you ask the locals they will be very happy to point to the right restaurant and only on entering the restaurant will you know that they are Moslem-owned from the verses of the Quran adorning the wall.

The oldest mosque in China is in Canton which was built 100 years after the birth of Islam. On the outside the mosque looks like a Chinese temple complete with moon-gate entrance and all; but once inside there is no mistaking that it is a mosque.

What awed me was that the Moslems I met speak Arabic and when I told them that I do not speak Arabic they were very surprised.

They asked me whether I can read the Quran and when I replied that I most certainly can they were perplexed.

They wanted to know how I can read the Quran when I do not speak Arabic.

And when I replied that I am just like 99% other Malaysian Moslems who read the Quran without being able to speak Arabic, they shook their heads in disbelief at this demonstration of Malaysia Boleh.

Yes, Chinese Moslems are mualaf as far as Malays are concerned.

But the Chinese were already Moslems 700 years or so before the Malays when the Malays were still Hindus, Buddhists or worshipped trees in the jungles.

And the Chinese Moslems speak Arabic while most Malays, save a handful, do not. And Malays look down on Chinese Moslems as second-class Moslems. Much the Malays do not know outside their very small world.

In an article called 'Si Binatang Raja Petra Jantan Jalang Biadab' that was published in an UMNO website, they asked this question:

Masihkah Raja Petra ke Gereja lagi menemani isteri? Nak tanya Raja Petra, apa agama isterinya sebenar? Nak tanya saja.

This is another peculiar trait of the Malays. They are very concerned about what religion you profess. They demand to know if you are a Moslem or Kafir (infidel).

They treat this as their right to demand you inform them of your religion. Moslems are good people because Islam is the true religion and is above all other religions which are considered false.

So they must know if you are a Moslem or Kafir so that they can gauge whether you are a good or bad person. "Islam adalah agama suci yang kita pegang," said this same article in that UMNO website.

This high and mighty attitude make Malays very arrogant and they carry this holier than thou chip on their shoulder.

Non-Moslems should not take offence though because they are not the only target of these people. Moslems like me who they view as not 'true' Moslems also suffer persecution.

Malays want to dictate what kind of Moslem you should be and if they discover through an anonymous SMS that you are in the process of leaving Islam they will rise in anger and demonstrate their displeasure, even if it is not true.

Heaven forbid you leak that you are really leaving Islam. You will face the full wrath of the Malays. And if for one second they suspect that you are not their type of Moslem but of a different 'sect' they will come down hard on you.

You must not only be a Moslem but you must be their type of Moslem as well. That is the Malay mind.

It is quite pathetic really and I sometimes do pity Malays who spend their whole life preoccupied with finding out what type of Moslem you are and whether you have secretly left Islam rather than worry whether they could instead be deviant Moslems.

They of course assume and insist that they are following the correct Islam and if they differ from you then you, and not them, are the deviants.

They will not accept the possibility that you are right and they are wrong. They are most definitely right and you are most certainly wrong.

Let us look at a hypothetical situation. Say you walk into a mosque on a Friday and shout, "The Bible is the true Holy Book and the Quran is false" or "Jesus is the Son of God and Muhammad is a fake".

This will be just like walking into a Manchester pub wearing a Liverpool jersey.

Rest assured you will not walk out of that mosque in one piece. Okay, now say you protest when Malays declare the Bible false and that Jesus is not the Son of God.

The Malays will argue that they are allowed to say this because Malaysia is a Moslem country.

See this email which was published in The People's Parliament<http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/> to demonstrate what I mean.

Most of my friends are Malays and through them I learnt the language. I feel that I've a certain bond with them, until the topics of Malay privileges and Islam are discussed. I usually just listen and do not put my two cents because I'm usually the only non-Malay.

From their discussion, I've come to understand how they view the non-Malays.

Generally, we should never question their privileges as we should be grateful that we still get to retain our Chinese names, surnames, Chinese schools etc.

We should never complain. And they have no qualms criticising Christianity to my face, e.g., the Bible is corrupted through many translations, comparing against the Koran being "suci" as directly from God.

I've always wondered what made them feel so special that they can criticise but we do not dare in their face.

Now I understand that no matter how they wronged other races, they are somehow protected – e.g., the May 13 incident. I think the govt owes the families of the victims an apology.

Because of that tragedy, the Chinese generally think that Malays have the tendency to be violent; and the Malays think that they have the upper hand as they can threaten the Chinese into silence. I'd be grateful if you would share your thoughts and view on what I've said.

Okay, here's another hypothetical situation. Say you repeat this same thing in England , which is not a Moslem country but a Christian country.

Will it then be considered allowed? No, of course not! The Moslems will still protest and hold demonstrations.

The bottom line is, Moslems are allowed to whack others but others are not supposed to whack Moslems. And this is the Malay mind as well.

So Malays, like these UMNO types, resent anyone whacking them, their party, Ketuanan Melayu, the New Economic Policy, and anything at all considered 'sacred cows'.

But they can scream, even in 'sacred' places like Parliament, that Islam is the religion of this country, the Malays own Malaysia, and if the non-Malays or non-Moslems do not like this they can leave the country and migrate to another country.

Malays can give Qurans to non-Moslems but non-Moslems who give Bibles to Moslems must be sent to prison.

Non-Moslems can convert to Islam in droves but even if just one Moslem leaves Islam there will be blood on the streets.

Malays can label DAP as racist but if the Chinese label UMNO as racist they will make a police report and charge you under the Sedition Act and try to take away your citizenship as well.

Malays can question as to whether you have left Islam and have become a Christian and now go to church but you must never question the Malays as to whether racial discrimination goes against Islamic teachings and whether both the Quran as well as the Prophet's last sermon lie testimony to this.

Malays are very concerned about whether you pray, how you pray, whether you believe in God, whether you really think that Prophet Muhammad is the true Prophet, and so on. Once you pass all these 'tests' of the articles of faith with flying colours this will make them very happy.

Their happiness rests with you being a Moslem and the type of Moslem that they approve of on top of that.

Okay, so you drink, gamble, have sex with another man's wife, visit the brothel once a week, and, to top it all, take bribes from Chinese contactors, pig farmers, brothels, illegal gambling outlets, drug haunts, etc.

That is okay. The Malays will not demonstrate on the streets because of all this.

But if you go to church, notwithstanding that you lead the life of Mother Theresa, then God have mercy on your soul. What bad you do is not important. Whether you share their same belief is.

And this is why that particular UMNO website is very concerned whether I still follow my wife to church.

That is the most important thing in the world to them and the entire future of this country and the fate of future generations depend on them knowing this most crucial piece of information.

Oh, by the way, more than 90% of those in our police lockups are Malays. And 90% of those Malays in the lockups are there because of drug-related offences. And 70% of those who are afflicted with AIDS are Malays. And 90% got AIDS because of their drug habit. And this has been going on since the 1970s. And states or areas that have the highest incidences are the predominantly Malay states or areas.

But none of these people go to church. They don't even go to the mosque, temple or synagogue.

So of course the UMNO website does not worry about them. It is when they go to church that the UMNO website will start getting very concerned.

That and only that is what matters.

At the age of 97 years, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Hinohara's magic touch is legendary: Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing.  After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school.

Today he serves as chairman of the board of trustees at both organizations. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. As the founder of the New Elderly Movement, Hinohara encourages others to live a long and happy life, a quest in which no role model is better than the doctor himself.

Energy comes from feeling good, not from eating well or sleeping a lot. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules such as lunchtime and bedtime.

All people who live long regardless of nationality, race or gender share one thing in common: None are overweight... For breakfast I drink coffee, a glass of milk and some orange juice with a tablespoon of olive oil in it. Olive oil is great for the arteries and keeps my skin healthy. Lunch is milk and a few cookies, or nothing when I am too busy to eat. I never get hungry because I focus on my work.. Dinner is veggies, a bit of fish and rice, and, twice a week, 100 grams of lean meat..

Always plan ahead. My schedule book is already full until 2014, with lectures and my usual hospital work. In 2016 I'll have some fun, though: I plan to attend the Tokyo Olympics!

There is no need to ever retire, but if one must, it should be a lot later than 65. The current retirement age was set at 65 half a century ago, when the average life-expectancy in Japan was 68 years and only 125 Japanese were over 100 years old. Today, Japanese women live to be around 86 and men 80, and we have 36,000 centenarians in our country. In 20 years we will have about 50,000 people over the age of 100...

Share what you know. I give 150 lectures a year, some for 100 elementary-school children, others for 4,500 business people. I usually speak for 60 to 90 minutes, standing, to stay strong.

When a doctor recommends you take a test or have some surgery, ask whether the doctor would suggest that his or her spouse or children go through such a procedure. Contrary to popular belief, doctors can't cure everyone. So why cause unnecessary pain with surgery  I think music and animal therapy can help more than most doctors imagine.

To stay healthy, always take the stairs and carry your own stuff. I take two stairs at a time, to get my muscles moving.

My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler". My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance.

Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. If a child has a toothache, and you start playing a game together, he or she immediately forgets the pain. Hospitals must cater to the basic need of patients: We all want to have fun. At St. Luke's we have music and animal therapies, and art classes.

Don't be crazy about amassing material things. Remember: You don't know when your number is up, and you can't take it with you to the next place.

Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. We designed St.... Luke's so we can operate anywhere: in the basement, in the corridors, in the chapel. Most people thought I was crazy to prepare for a catastrophe, but on March 20, 1995, I was unfortunately proven right when members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives.

Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones.

Life is filled with incidents. On March 31, 1970, when I was 59 years old, I boarded the Yodogo, a flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka. It was a beautiful sunny morning, and as Mount Fuji came into sight, the plane was hijacked by the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction. I spent the next four days handcuffed to my seat in 40-degree heat. As a doctor, I looked at it all as an experiment and was amazed at how the body slowed down in a crisis.

Find a role model and aim to achieve even more than they could ever do. My father went to the United States in 1900 to study at Duke University in North Carolina. He was a pioneer and one of my heroes. Later I found a few more life guides, and when I am stuck, I ask myself how they would deal with the problem.

It's wonderful to live long. Until one is 60 years old, it is easy to work for one's family and to achieve one's goals. But in our later years, we should strive to contribute to society. Since the age of 65, I have worked as a volunteer. I still put in 18 hours seven days a week and love every minute of it.

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Till this day, I haven’t got the guts to watch The Passion of the Christ. I know the movie is going to make me cry like a fool, being low in EQ. It’s more of a Good Friday (or is it Friday the 13th?) movie. The thought of the torments inflicted upon Jesus by men is enough to disturb my mind. But one of these days, I should brace up myself to watch it! Not for the crying sake, but to hypnotize myself to believe I’m strong enough to carry my own cross.

Are we willing to die for our loved ones? Not to mention for our enemies. No?? Because we are all smartasses, not a psycho like Jesus???? Get slashed in your flesh and think again. You have to be a psycho to be God!!

Born in Dortmund, Germany on February 16, 1948, Tolle experienced what he called "inner transformation," after suffering long periods of suicidal depression at 29 years of age. Since 1996, Eckhart Tolle has been a living author in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In keeping happiness fully in tact, Eckhart Tolle released ten powerful insightful steps he believes must be followed to attain and maintain true happiness. Here they are:

1. Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness. Happiness is ever elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it.
2. The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have 50 cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering.
3. See if you can catch the voice in your head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recognize it for what it is: the voice of the ego, no more than a thought. Whenever you notice that voice, you will also realize that you are not the voice, but the one who is aware of it. In fact, you are the awareness that is aware of the voice. In the background, there is the awareness. In the foreground, there is the voice, the thinker. In this way you are becoming free of the ego, free of the unobserved mind.
4. Wherever you look, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence for the reality of time—a rotting apple, your face in the bathroom mirror compared with your face in a photo taken 30 years ago—yet you never find any direct evidence, you never experience time itself. You only ever experience the present moment.
5. Why do anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important. One small error, one misperception, creates a world of suffering.
6. People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.
7. The more shared past there is in a relationship, the more present you need to be; otherwise, you will be forced to relive the past again and again.
8. Equating the physical body with "I," the body that is destined to grow old, wither, and die, always leads to suffering. To refrain from identifying with the body doesn't mean that you no longer care for it. If it is strong, beautiful, or vigorous, you can appreciate those attributes—while they last. You can also improve the body's condition through nutrition and exercise. If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in any way. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the light of consciousness can shine more easily.
9. You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.

10. If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace.

    

Exerpted from Oneness with All Life by Eckhart Tolle. Published by arrangement with Dutton, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. Copyright © 2008 by Eckhart Tolle

Most of the time, we only see the imperfections in people. Subconsciously, we become judgmental. Your mouth may say, “yes, I respect your different views from mine.” Then when you turn around, you sigh, “what a fool!”

Find at least one good quality in everyone, no matter how many defects are visible to you. The more you focus on the good, the more power you give to people, the sooner they will be able to change. Faith in others enables them to be powerful.

Projection: Faith in others is usually mistaken for blind faith - observing helplessly only hoping for the best in our heart. We then consciously don't do anything but just hope for the best.  In such a situation we subtly experience fear or tension. But this is not true faith nor is the outcome usually right.

Solution: Faith in others means to remain alert to what is going on and then to fill the other person with the strength of our faith to such an extent that they feel able to do whatever needs to be done. Our faith will fill them with confidence and they will be able to give their best to the task.

I only read Alison Day ~ Lotus Tarot Card Reading for fun. Take heed of the negative warning and don’t be too optimistic with the positive.

	How you feel about yourself now (The Star) You feel there is hope, or if you don’t, have faith - a tranquil period is imminent. If you have been ill, suffered bereavement or disappointment in love, take heart, good fortune is on its way. New horizons are indicated and you will feel a new zest for life. This is your wish card - if considering a new love affair, new job or career, or travel, then go for it. You may also receive a gift or gifts!
	What you most want at this moment (The Fool) The cards suggest Ally, that what you most want at this time is just to be happy, and you are searching for the one thing that will bring happiness. You want a new start but feel unsure of what you want or where you want to go. Romantically you have mixed feelings regarding another - part of you wants to enter the relationship wholeheartedly, part of you wants to hold back. So if you are in a relationship that empowers you, stay, if not it is time to move on.
	Your fears (The Hermit) You are frightened of being on your own and loneliness, and you simply don’t know quite what to do. Take time to relax and in time you will have the answers. The Hermit signals a warning not to make hasty decisions, so try not to get too stressed, and if you have been unwell this is a time for rest and recuperation.
	What is going for you (The Chariot) Drive, drive, drive, that’s what’s going for you. You certainly aren’t a quitter that’s for sure. The appearance of The Chariot tells of conflicts ending in victory, so don’t give up, battle on and you will succeed. This is a time of movement and change. Expect a journey relating to work, and if you’ve had you’re eye on that car, it will soon be yours.
	What is going against you (The Lovers) Are you suffering in silence in an unhappy relationship or feeling very lonely? Do you have the courage to make the decision you really know you should make? You have a great sense of duty but are you happy? A difficult decision has to be made - have courage and you will achieve emotional happiness.
	Outcome (The Hierophant) Help is at hand. If you want wise counsel and moral guidance put your trust in someone you have a lot of respect for. Don’t allow others to influence you too much with what they want you to conform to, be true to yourself. When considering your options go with tried and tested traditional values, rather than the unconventional novel approach. For example marriage is more likely to be your desire than a living together situation.

Hi Ally,

The Fool represents a free spirit with a lust for life, knowledge, and adventure, who has little fear of taking risks. Does this sound like your card? (Indeed I am a Fool alright!)
 
Innocence and naivety are associated with The Fool, for the young have no fear of new experiences or change. (Wish I were younger!)

As you grow older you can lose that childish innocence and enthusiasm, and can become fearful and cynical of change and new experiences. (Sometimes I do wonder where all my guts during those young days have gone to??)

The mind of The Fool is always open, an empty vessel eagerly waiting to be filled with new knowledge. Any experience, pleasant or challenging, is life knowledge that he accepts as part of his learning. (Hopefully I won’t be senile prematurely to learn)

The Fool does not sit on the fence waiting for life to come to him; he always takes the first step himself.  The Fool does not analyze all the possible risks of a new adventure; he learns as he goes along. (I know I will when the time comes…)

The fearlessness and sheer enthusiasm associated with The Fool makes for quite a maverick character, and often this card can signify such a person, male or female, may step into your life. (Really? Can’t wait for that! mmm…)

It is your attitude that influences the choices and decisions you make, and often your mind is so full of doubt and fear that you become closed-minded to the possibilities of change. (No lame excuses for me to deny this, I know :-X )

When The Fool appears, ask yourself how open-minded you are being at that moment in time, how enthusiastic are you about life, and do you desire new experiences and excitement but fear taking that first step? (Ok, ok, noted)

Any journey starts with the first step, and motivating yourself to take it is the hardest part. The Fool encourages you to discover your inner child and harness
that youthful enthusiasm to help you on your way to a new life and future. (This reminds me when I have just separated from my ex, jobless for the last 5 years, dragging a toddler along to start anew)

A time to exercise caution is when The Fool comes up as the first card in a reading for you. You may want to question your motives or judgment, since as this is the first card, it can indicate folly.  Perhaps you are motivated for the
wrong reasons, so look before you leap. (A leap of faith, isn’t it?)

You will have to deal with many twists and turns, paths and crossroads on your life journey and The Fool can help as a sign post when you need to take a new path. (Nothing compares with the sufferings Jesus has gone through dying for our sins)

Love and Joy,
Alison