Our Deepest Fear....

Believing in People, Al Pacino's Speech....

One of my favorite speeches in all movies is Al Pacino's speech in Scent of a Woman. The speech talks about integrity, about the difficulty of choosing the right path, of doing the right thing and most importantly of believing in people. Pacino is powerful. It's inspirational, character building. Enjoy.

Mr. Simms
doesn't want it.
He doesn't need
to be labeled...
"still worthy of
being a Baird man."
What the hell
is that ?
What is your motto here ?
"Boys, inform on your
classmates, save your hide;
anything short of that,
we're gonna burn you at the stake" ?
Well, gentlemen,
when the shit hits the fan,
some guys run...
and some guys stay.
Here's Charlie facin' the fire,
and there's George...
hidin' in
big daddy's pocket.
And what are you doin' ?
You're gonna
reward George...
and destroy Charlie.

No, I'm just gettin' warmed up.
I don't know who
went to this place.
William Howard Taft,
William Jennings Bryant,
William Tell, whoever.
Their spirit is dead,
if they ever had one.
It's gone.
You're buildin'
a rat ship here,
a vessel for
seagoin' snitches.
And if you think you're
preparin' these minnows for manhood,
you better think again,
because I say you are
killin' the very spirit...
this institution
proclaims it instills.
What a sham.
What kind of a show
are you guys puttin' on here today ?
I mean, the only class
in this act is sittin' next to me.
I'm here to tell you
this boy's soul is intact.
It's non-negotiable.
You know how I know ?
Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who,
offered to buy it.
Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'

I'll show you out of order.
You don't know what
out of order is, Mr. Trask.
I'd show you,
but I'm too old,
I'm too tired,
too fuckin' blind.
If I were the man I was
five years ago, I'd take...
a flamethrower
to this place !
Out of order ? Who the hell
you think you're talkin' to ?
I've been around,
you know ?
There was a time
I could see.
And I have seen.
Boys like these,
younger than these,
their arms torn out,
their legs ripped off.
But there is nothin'
like the sight...
of an amputated spirit.
There is
no prosthetic for that.
You think you're merely sendin'
this splendid foot soldier...
back home to Oregon with
his tail between his legs,
but I say you are...
executin' his soul !
And why ?
Because he's not
a Baird man.
Baird men.
You hurt this boy,
you're gonna be Baird bums,
the lot of you.
And, Harry, Jimmy,
Trent, wherever
you are out there,
fuck you too !

I'm not finished.
As I came in here,
I heard those words:
"cradle of leadership."
Well, when
the bough breaks,
the cradle will fall,
and it has fallen here.
It has fallen.
Makers of men,
creators of leaders.
Be careful what kind of leaders
you're producin' here.
I don't know if Charlie's
silence here today...
is right or wrong;
I'm not a judge or jury.
But I can tell you this:
he won't sell
anybody out...
to buy his future !
And that, my friends,
is called integrity.
That's called courage.
Now that's the stuff
leaders should be made of.
Now I have come to
the crossroads in my life.
I always knew
what the right path was.
Without exception, I knew,
but I never took it.
You know why ?
It was too damn hard.
Now here's Charlie.
He's come to the crossroads.
He has chosen a path.
It's the right path.
It's a path
made of principle...
that leads to character.
Let him continue
on his journey.
You hold this boy's future
in your hands, Committee.
It's a valuable future,
believe me.
Don't destroy it.
Protect it.
Embrace it.
It's gonna make you proud
one day, I promise you.

Amazing truths. Words to listen to and remember for living and for others.

Choosing Attitudes....

...is very important for people. Our attitude will is the key to our success or failure.

I am just reading John C Maxwell's Four Pillar's of Leadership again. It is one of my favorite books on leadership and life. It is simple, poignant and really practical in its intent. Maxwell argues that the four main pillars of leadership are relationships, equipping, attitude and influence. Attitude is one I wish to focus on here. What attitude do we wake up with, bring to the office, interact with others with etc. etc. etc. Everyday we are in the frontlines of our life and everyday our life is a mixture of blessings and curses. How we face victory and defeat is a reflection of our attitude to life and what we bring to the table everyday. Being positive is powerful progenitor for success and happiness in life. Our attitude conditions our minds, our souls and our hearts. Our attitude conditions those around us. Our attitude is critical to our success as human beings, not only in the work place, but in life in general. Consider friendships: I myself do not want to hang around with naysayers. I do, but I don't want to. My mom always used to say: When you laugh, the world laughs with you but when you cry, you cry alone. It is true! People are naturally attracted to those who are positive about life, about the people around them, about the circumstances they find themselves in. This is not to say those with negative attitudes won't have social circles and friends: its just hard to believe they have much fun and joy in life. I believe life is here to be lived, to be enjoyed and to use as a tool for growth. Each morning when you wake up, check your attitude and at each moment of the day and check your attitude and when new and difficult circumstance present themsleves to you, check your attitude.

Choose your attitude, your responses, they way you react in life. Be bold, be brave and choose joy.....
PKS

Making Fat Illegal

Well I just found out that being fat in Japan is illegal:

According to Japan, Seeking Trim Waists, Measures Millions

Under a national law that came into effect two months ago, companies and local governments must now measure the waistlines of Japanese people between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of their annual checkups. That represents more than 56 million waistlines, or about 44 percent of the entire population.

Those exceeding government limits — 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women, which are identical to thresholds established in 2005 for Japan by the International Diabetes Federation as an easy guideline for identifying health risks — and having a weight-related ailment will be given dieting guidance if after three months they do not lose weight. If necessary, those people will be steered toward further re-education after six more months.

To reach its goals of shrinking the overweight population by 10 percent over the next four years and 25 percent over the next seven years, the government will impose financial penalties on companies and local governments that fail to meet specific targets. The country’s Ministry of Health argues that the campaign will keep the spread of diseases like diabetes and strokes in check.

And in How Japan Defines 'Fat' David Nakumura writes:

In Japan, being fat remains noteworthy, something that makes you stand out in a shameful way in a conformist society. Even now, despite government statistics and anecdotal evidence that Japanese people are getting heavier, I can go days without seeing a single fat person in Tokyo. As I write today in Globalpost, the Japanese government is not content that the country is among the slimmest in the world. Last year, lawmakers established a national limit on waistlines for people 40 and older: 33.5 inches for men and 35.4 inches for women. The program, which aims to cut down on metabolic syndrome, a leading indicator for heart disease and diabetes, has been controversial and critics say it misses the mark scientifically.....

When I see overweight Westerners on the streets or in restaurants here, I become embarrassed and angry; so many seem to have given up on staying fit.

I agree, we do have a responsibility to ourselves to stay healthy.
PKS

Mental Health and Well Being

So have been talking a lot about physical health, what about mental health?

Its all very well having a healthy body. What about a healthy mind. Recently I have been writing a lot about physical health (see Health is a Choice & Cycling Goals) but nothing about mental health and mental well being. What do I know about this? Not much to be honest! But I have always had a fairly active and inquiring mind and so I am hopeful I may have some insights. To be honest, I haven't really challeneged my mind outside work for a long time now. I mean, my job is pretty challenging, but outside of work, well, I don't really do much. I used to go home and watch TV, spend time with the family, play with nieces and nephews and watch mindless TV. Of late I have cut out SOME of the TV and substituted that with excercise (not bad) but there must be a space for mental growth outside of work and outside of excercise.

Setting mental health goals seems fairly ephemeral to me. Its hard to put your finger on exactly what they are. I suppose one could set, for example, language goals: Master Chinese or Japanese, or mathematical goals: Master Real Analysis and Calculus. Of course the latter will never really benefit you unless you work in that area where it requires that sort of mental ability. The former, well that is something that could be achieved and is useful. I live in Taiwan and Chinese would be incredibly useful (I do speak a bit, but I am not fluent) and Japanese, well it could be useful as many Japanese people visit Taiwan. It seems therefore, it might be neccessary to set goals that will be useful in your day-to-day life to make sense of them.

Some other goals one could set is to read more high-quality literature: e.g. Read all of Shakespeares plays in a year. This is something I used to do fairly well: I used to read a lot. Not so much anymore. Perhaps that should be one of my goals. Also, something esle that has always fascinated me is economics. Perhaps I should set this as a goal, but once again it seems intangible. At least I would be able to understand better what people write in The Economist! And there is something else you can do: Set a goal to read high-quality journals (like The Economist) at least once a week. You gain knowledge of the world and challenge yourself.

You could set very clear and tangible goals for yourself such as getting a degree. For example a few years ago I challenged myself to do an MBA. It worked, I am now a graduate. You could too.

I need to figure out my own intellectual goals that I hope to achieve in the next few years. Not sure what they are yet. Will write them down once I know. But I think getting back onto the Chinese bandwagon and reading Shakespeare is a good place to start. How about you? What will your mental goals be?

Hope you can define your intellectual goals more clearly than me.
PKS

Cycling Goals

I love cycling and decided to set some new goals.

My last big ride ended in disaster - Cycle Trip to Tamsui, Via Keelung - and since then I have only had a few smaller rides around Taipei (not many). I decided to set some new goals. The first goal is a one day ride up through Yangming Shan, from Shihlin, and back down to Jingshan - turning left to head to Tamsui - I reckon about 150km but the climb up Yangmingshan will be brutal but beautiful - and hey - if I get tired, I can always turn around and be going downhill. The second goal is a two day ride from Taipei to Jiaoshi and back again. The first day would be riding to Keelung and then turning South to Jiaoshi. The second day would be going along the Tonghua Trail from Jiaoshi to Wulai and back to Taipei. Basically copy another ride: Mountain biking the Tonghou trail. My legs would be pretty stiff by the end of either ride. I am trying to get a couple of friends to go along with me. If we did, it would be great. If not, I will need to find the space to do it myself and get there and back alone! Anyway, I think both trips would be gorgeous and I am looking forward to trying them. Hopefully I can find the time and space to do it. I will keep you posted. If you don't ride, do it! You will find immense peace and joy, especially in nature, there is so much peace.

Hope to see you on the trails.
PKS

Health is a Choice

Been thinking a lot about health lately...

Basically I am unfit, unhealthy and out of shape. I accept that. I look in the mirror and think this is not the guy I want to be. I want to be strong. I want to be fit. I want to be healthy. And I want to look it, not for vanity's sake but to know I am doing the right things to be healthy and fit. I bought a new scale the other day and stood on it. I was 104.6kg. That is a lot. Too much in fact! I started to eat better and excercise more and last night I weighed 101.7kg. Thats almost 3kg in three weeks. Not bad. My resting heart rate is around 70 and my waist line is about 41". This is not the guy I want to be. But its MY CHOICE really. Your health, your fitness, your energy levels are your choice, every single step of the way.

I have made a decision to get healthy! No more fast food, no more french fries, no more fried chicken, no more soft drinks, much less beer (have to have some), no more unhealthy snacking during the day (the afternoon Kit Kat or the morning muffin are gone). More fruit, more non-fatty, high-protein meat (e.g. fish), more fruit and vegetables, smaller portions and a commitment to researching healthier diets online (although I think a lot of it is common sense). And oh yes, lots of water. My goal is 2.0l a day. That's a lot, but I like it. The other decision, excercise more. Right now doing P90X, every day for 15 days (yes I have just started but will make sure I finish). You see these are my choices. I chose to eat unhealthy, I chose to lounge around the house and watch TV, I chose not to excercise. I made many bad choices with regards to my health. Its time to change. Only I can make that choice for myself. Nobody else can.

How about you? Are you making the right choices for your life. Are you choosing to live healthy or unhealthy? Are you still eating those cheesy pizzas and drink lots of coke (even diet coke or coke zero), still chugging away those milkshakes and munching fries. Trust me, being healthy, fit and at the right weight empowers you to do so much more in life. You have more energy, you feel great, you can do more with your life, especially outdoor activities like hiking and cycling, you will improve the things you like to do like swimming and walking etc. So what do you say. Do you want to be unhealthy, risk heart disease, risk obesity related illnesses, risk diabetes? Say no, choose life. Its your choice, only you can make it.

Hope you have a great life, a healthy life, a long life, a life fille with wonder and joy.
PKS