Turk's Cap

A little history which is fascinating to me so I hope it is for you as well. This unique flower, scientifically known as Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii, was named after a Thomas Drummond in the 1700s. He was a Scottish botanist who travelled to Texas and Mexico to collect specimens of plants and birds.

The name Turk's Cap transpired from a fez, a red felt hat worn by Turkish men in the olden days.

However, I do not understand, yet, what's the connection between Thomas Drummond and turkish hats! To me, this flower looks more like an epee, a fencing sword... don't you think so?

So today... as this rare beautiful flower carries a name which symbolizes protection, let us journey on to the subject of Confidence: Today's most important virtue of life. 

Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, and on unselfish performance. Without them, it cannot live. (Franklin D Roosevelt)

We all learn our virtues at home before we hit the schools and society.  Amongst the many important virtues of life, self-confidence is today's most important virtue. Confidence encompasses other virtues such as courage, discipline, and diligence... which directly shows society you are also someone who is kind, patient, and respectful.   

You were born with 100% confidence and as life goes on, our confidence bounces up and down because of good and bad experiences. Have you thought about your own level of confidence? Have you gone astray or backslid a bit? Or, have you advanced up the ladder?

Protect your confidence. 

The only person who can pull me down is myself (C. Joybell)

Defend what you believe in.

As long as you have life and breath, BELIEVE!  Believe for those who cannot. Believe even if you have stopped believing. Believe for love.  Believe to keep your heart beating. (Mark Helprin)

Safeguard your heart 

"May your heart keep fast hold of my words. Keep my commandments and continue living. Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding. Do not leave wisdom and it will keep you.  Love it and it will safeguard you." (Proverbs 4:4-6)

Own your confidence...

Live positively. 

Boost strengths. 

Steer clear from doubt. 

Ignore when necessary.

Integrity is first. 

Above all, know who you are, accept you, love yourself unconditionally!

Lollipop Plant (Pachystachys Lutea)

 What a cute name for an exotic flower! Lollipop!!

When one hears "lollipop"... it's always associated with fun, adventure, surprises, childhood experiences, or simple pleasures in life.

Have you ever noticed that it is often the small comforts, the simple pleasures, that soothe us the most and make us feel that everything is okay, or will be?

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things (Robert Brault)

Simple pleasures is recognizing tiny gems of joy that is right there with you at that moment. It would be a pity if you fail to see them come and go, especially when you are so caught up with the rush and clutter of life.

We spend too much time making a living and too little time living and making. (Rachel Dillon)

 Go ahead! When was the last time you enjoyed a lollipop?

When was the last time you took off your flip-flops and walk along the beach without worrying the dirt sticking to your skin or your hair?

When was the last time you had a glass of wine with a precious friend and just talk about anything under the big blue sky?

These little yellow Lollipops make me look back and smile because I have lived... and will continue to do so.

Every moment has its pleasures and its hope. (Jane Austen)

The little things? The little moments? They aren't little.  (John Zabat-Zinn)

Nope! Life's simply pleasures are not meant to be taken for granted. They are little opportunities for you to grab so you may live a more quality and meaningful life; in thoughts, dreams, hopes, and love.

Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana

"Wan Zi Qian Hong" ( million purple thousand red) is the name the Chinese calls these beautiful little flowers. Especially around this Chinese New Year season... these tiny symbols of abundance of wealth and prosperity are most befitting.

"Million purple"... and I am thinking of a giant garden of lavender blooms... calming and relaxing.

"Thousand red"... luck, red packets of money, and gold coins come to my mind. Wealth that easily comes into our lives...and easily disappears into thin air.

Therefore, this new year of 2014, and with Chinese New Year around the corner, I wish everyone ever-lasting abundance of good health. These little beauties clearly reminded me that health is of far greater importance than wealth.

A Nursery Rhyme by Wayne Fields

The best 6 doctors anywhere, and no one can deny it

Are sunshine, water, rest, and air

Exercise and diet

These 6 will glad you attend, if only you are willing

Your mind they'll ease, your will they'll mend

And charge you not a shilling! 

The first wealth is health. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Admit it! Wouldn't life be a lot happier if we didn't have to battle with illnesses and other health challenges... wishful thinking of course, because some of us are unfortunate to have to go through health obstacles in life. Nevertheless, let us all at least be conscious enough to choose a healthy and positive way of going on with our lives.

The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude. (Oprah Winfrey)

Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow. (Seth Godin)

Reflecting...

I look back at 2013 and I have no idea how I went through all 365 days and came out in one piece! Fatigued, emotionally drained, cranky, grumpy... get the picture? Still, I never gave up; reminding myself every single day that I have the power to make me happy or unhappy every day. Like my students keep chanting... "Positive vibes! Positive vibes!"
Surprisingly, in the midst of all that, dreams did come true. Wishes were granted. I learnt to live in moments. I took chances. No regrets. Most important of all, I am still the original me. A happier, wiser original me though. And, a happy, wise original me I will continue to be, with God's blessings and care.

Happy new year, everyone!

True Colors

This morning I woke up to a bush of beautiful rose blooms. And while taking shots of them with my mobile, testing out various effects (which I'd just learnt), I was amazed at the assorted impressions that these gorgeous roses formed.

True colors came to mind this beautiful sunny day...

Trust and having faith in people slowly diminishes into the air in many friendships today. It is indeed a somber issue but it is so real to many people. Just like the dazzling, fascinating special-effects photos of these roses - it is exactly when one starts to create a whole different image of oneself in order to be accepted and admired. Thus, the construction of a whole new body cast starts piling from bombast, mimicry, and egocentrism...amongst others!

God has given you one face and you make yourself another... William Shakespeare

My students would labelled these people as "fake people" but I call them TOXIC. And...  it's all from having low self-worth. Honestly, what much are you worth in terms of genuinity? 

Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you? Fanny Brice

I truly believe that every single one of us, in our authentic God-given nature, with our unique gifts, has an impact on lives, in mysterious ways. If only you get to know yourself better. If only you value yourself. Understand your behavior. Recognize your character traits well.

Your true colors reflects in the way you operate in the world, your strengths and weaknesses, your vulnerabilities, your deepest needs, and your challenges at different times of your life.

Love yourself! Your true self, and not your created self. When you learn to do so, you will take pride in who you are and what you have to offer. I trust that this is the basic foundation to personal growth.

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are... E. E. Cummings

Being selfish and being YOURSELF are two incomparable meanings.

Oscar Wilde quoted that selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live. Being convinced that the world revolves around you is one loathed character trait.

However, when you see someone living their life with positivity, when you witness joy in their ways, when you observe intrinsic and extrinsic love... what would you conclude?

I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! Theodore Roosevelt

Adenium (Fu Gui Hua)

The Prosperity flower, known to many as the flower that would bring luck, success, and wealth to homes.

Do you agree that prosperity is your way of living and thinking?

What do you hold precious to your hearts?

Money?

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. (Thomas Jefferson)

Satisfaction?

Life is not about having all you want; it's about appreciating all that you have! To failed means you have tried. To hurt means you have loved. To survive means you have learned. (Anonymous)

Love?

Never expect love to always be at its best cause if you do, you'll never learn to appreciate its existence. (Anonymous)

Gratitude?

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. (Lionel Hampton)

Develop a habit of Appreciation and you will see how Prosperous you already are!

Let your soul expand, let your heart reach out to others in loving and generous warmth, and great and lasting will be your joy, and all prosperity will come to you. (James Allen)

Nothing is forever

Life passes way too fast

Every second, every minute, once gone it will never be back

So, live the moment

Take chances

Cherish and Love

Be prosperous in your thoughts and way of life.