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MY PAPER TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A13
From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya281210cnd_opf_files/mya281210cnd.js&ver=Gen
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asian%2BOpinions/Story/A1Story20101228-255101.html
By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Dec 28, 2010

PHOTO: Very happy to wish you all Happy New Year 2011
http://ajitkumar.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/happy-new-year-wallpaper-017.jpg
http://www.designsmag.com/2010/12/65-glorious-new-year-2011-wallpapers/

PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010, VIEWPOINTS, PAGE A13

IN A few days' time, we're going to leave 2010 behind and welcome a brand-new year.

At this juncture, I would like to pose a question to everyone: "Have we grown a year older or have we grown up by a year?"

Readers who have been following my column would know that I love to embellish (Make a statement or story more interesting or entertaining) my "viewpoints" with stories which I have read. This piece is no different! Take the story of an 87-year-old woman, Rose, who was determined to pursue a university education.

She enrolled in a university and - because of her bubbly personality and affable (being pleasant and at ease in talking to others) demeanour - quickly became the campus icon, making friends easily wherever she went.

Rose's sense of humour, coupled with her love for dressing up, went down very well with her much-younger peers.

When invited to speak at the annual football banquet, she gave a memorable and inspiring address.

She said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.

"You have to laugh and find humour every day.

"You must also have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

"We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will still turn 20.

"If I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will still turn 88.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability.

The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

Rose died one week after her graduation, and over 2,000 students turned up at her funeral to pay tribute to the wonderful woman who taught them by example that it is never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Although I never knew Rose personally, reading this inspirational story has certainly stirred up the somewhat-complacent giant in me.

And, being a music man, I can appreciate what Rose meant when she challenged the people around her to live out the lyrics of The Rose, a heartrending ballad made famous by Bette Midler.

PHOTO: Once you have discovered it, then follow that passion and live a life of eternal bliss.
http://d3cwz66e8e5nz1.cloudfront.net/discover-your-passion.jpg http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/change_your_thoughts

The second verse of the song goes:

"It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.

"It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.

"It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.

"And the soul afraid of dyin' that never learns to live."

This reminds me always to take the bull by its horns and live life with passion - passion fueled by a determination to find opportunity in change.

May next year signal the start of a new journey for you and me, a journey during which we "grow up" more than we "grow old".

Happy New Year everyone!

By GEOFF TAN, Tue, Dec 28, 2010
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.

PHOTO: Happy New Year everyone!
http://ultimatebakugan.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/0_thumb.jpg?w=455&h=393
http://ultimatebakugan.wordpress.com/

HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Juncture: 关头 guān tóu
Affable: 和蔼可亲的 hé ǎi kě qīn de
Banquet: 宴会 yàn huì
Heartrending: 令人心碎的 lìng rén xīn suì de

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