Friday, June 1, 2007

Let the climb begin.

I read in the newspapers the other day and it reported, too much smoking is bad for health. So I stopped smoking. Then I read again in the newspapers and it said that too much alcohol is bad for health. So I cut consuming alcohol. Then I read again in the newspapers that too much sex is bad for health. I stopped reading the newspapers. Heard this one before?
There are too much advice going around and its making me confused. Problem is, like it or not I need these reminders. Why? Because I stopped learning. I thought the day I left school or varsity, my education stopped. Joe Louis, former world heavyweight boxing champion once said, 'Go to school. I tell you go to school. I'm well known and I made a lot of money and I lost a lot of money. I'd be better off if I had gone to school longer, and so will you'.
I used to think that furthering ones education is a waste of time and money. This is what Derek Bok, then President of Harvard University had to say....If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
For over 20 years of my life, when working with the press, I think I only read not more than 5 books on either personal development, fiction or spiritual. That's education stagnated. Didn't realise it then. Now, as I move with people who are positive thinking, love reading books, always filled with positive energy, I find myself drawn towards self improvement, reading books on personal development and trying very very hard to view all things in a positive light. Its difficult considering years of complaining, complaining and complaining. I find I have to unlearn and relearn. Being around bloggers motivated me to start my own blog. A positive move, I think. Not that it was the fashion nor the flovour of the day. Being among bloggers stimulates my thinking which had been dormant fooooorrrrrr years. For me life has just begun and I'm enjoying my new educational journey. So let me soak up all the advice, all the teachings and all that is to experience. Let the climb begin. For the higher I climb, the more tired I'll be but the view will be more intense, more clear.

17 comments:

J.T. said...

Amen Tony!
Education never stops. It need not necessarily be at a formal institution. Every day, every opportunity, every experience is an education in life.
Thanks for being my motivation and inspiration. :)

tony -stand-up philosopher said...

Hey JT,
Me! your motivation, your inspiration? Aah, I'll accept the compliment anyway. Now you go and be someone else's motivation and inspiration.

J.T. said...

I will try Tony. I am probably hard to swallow, at times. haha
But if I have made a difference in one life, it will give me motivation to do more.

Pi Bani said...

Hi Tony,
Life in itself is an education. I used to think that education is all about schools, books, etc. But once I started to OBSERVE things around me, I found out there are many things I could learn from them. Am still in the learning process... and I don't have to be a bookworm to do that.

Otherwise by now I think my brains will already be dead due to lack of use... :)

Anonymous said...

I feel the same way as you, Stand-up. I was around belly-button gazers for so long that I was getting a little too judgmental and started nit-picking. I realised that my world was starting to shrink like an old lemon. Then I began to be around very positive people - people who talked about the changes in technology, people who did their little bit for society, people who were thinking global, etc - and then was when the interest to learn gripped me. Just like you, I began to read on several topics (but never really got around to finishing most of those books), and suddenly the world has become bigger and brighter. Besides, there is so much going on out there that we need to try and stay on the wave. Otherwise, we'll join the 'frog and coconut shell' community.

-vanitha-

Anonymous said...

Ahhh... Tony!! You're back !
Was wondering what happened to you.
Carry on learning, as we all NEED to...
Morais

zorro said...

Tony, the moment we tell ourselves that we are done with learning and there is nothing more to learn, is the signal that we must start learning again. Learning is a process, there is no beginning and there is no end. It is not a program, its a process, continually continuous.Aaaaaammmmennnnnnnnn.

zorro said...

Tony, for got to say, it was a good post. Jolted me.

Anonymous said...

Dearest Tony,

Learning is a journey isnt it? Hmmm, been doing a lot of thinking in my Secret Tre House? Care to join me? It serves latte and good books.

Yeah, trying to give up the smoke too. Damn it was a hard thing to do. Take care

Shanghai Fish said...

Hey, SUP,
whats with the "short" stand-up-philosopher huh ??
Keeping it relative yeah,....right ! good to have you on the blog again man !
Cheers...to a good post !

Unknown said...

Hahaha... I just love your last 3 lines of the first paragraph... Sex is good to boost immune system, do you know that? Yeah, better stop reading the paper...

Glad that you note life for you has just begun... and for me...aiyahhh... loose here and loose there, a little paddling the last time really made my body ached in vain... but like you said... be motivated, be positive, You are right bro... I'm picking something good from you...

Thanks, take care and cheeerrrrssss

tony -stand-up philosopher said...

zorro sir,
you'll always be my teacher.

elviza,
The Thais have a very interesting saying..don't think too much otherwise you become ting-tong..In Thai, ting-tong means going crazy.
As much as we need our sanctuary, we must also be on the ground, with our two feet firmly rooted to our principles we hold dearly. If you're around Kenny Hills area, do drop by for some latte and good books.

ShanghaiS,
Short is relative. Trouble is most of my relatives are also 'short'.

RG,
Like is mentioned in your blog, you heve a very good spirit. Please, please visit my blog more often as I'm sure your positive spirit and attitude will also attract the same..to my blog and yours.

J.T. said...

Hi Tony
I like the new look of your blog. That Chihuahua is so cute. Reminds me of the dog in the Taco Bell ad in the States.

By the way, people who come in small packages (I mean short la) ... almost always pack the strongest personality. :)

Daphne Ling said...

"Let the climb begin. For the higher I climb, the more tired I'll be but the view will be more intense, more clear"...

I'll drink to that.

I am young, but even then, I am exhausted of my climb at times...Only thing spurring me on is the fact that I will reach the top one day, and if I stop, I'll be surrounded by rocks...

tony -stand-up philosopher said...

Hi Daphne,
Thanks for dropping by.
Exhaustion is in the vocab of all who tries. Only by trying we feel the strain and the pain. Thats why I like Elviza's Tree House concept. While climbing the tree, we can rest on every branch on the way up. But make sure the branch is strong la.

J.T. said...

By the way Tony, following up on our chat last week.. I found quote from Gandhi - Be the change you wish to see in the world..

Change has to start from within. :)

Shanghai Fish said...

Mr. SUP,
Can you please get another shot of that chihuahua...this bugger has got major hernia problems...trust me ...you should put it to sleep, cos I don't like the way he's staring at me whenever I on your blog !yelp...yelp !!