Wish 12: Undying Appreciation
When I was six, I came to a very shocking realization. The baby born on Christmas Day was the same person who was nailed to a cross!
(I think it's that same realization for our kids when they discover cute Annakin Skywalker was going to become a mean Darth Vader. But the stories aren't related, by the way. I'm just emphasizing that childhood realization.)
I think it takes a while to develop the long-term memory about Christmas, and then put two and two together. But anyway, why was this innocent baby going to sacrifice a painful death? And we all know, it was for our redemption. If Jesus did that for me, I should be thankful.
So, we celebrate Christmas, and remember the Passion of Christ at the appropriate times. These and other celebrations are there to remind us about being thankful for everything that we have today. Thankfulness is not limited to Thanksgiving Day.
And yet, we will see children who are not satisfied with their new gifts on Christmas morning. We will see people who curse others for their predicament. We will see politicians take for granted the sacrifices of soldiers who are fighting to protect our freedom.
As we know, we are born as selfish babies - demanding food and attention, because it is part of our survival. But along the way, our parents or guardians teach us about unselfishness and appreciation. We learn three things: "please", "thank you" and "I'm sorry". A person who doesn't know how to say "Thank You" likely doesn't know the other two either.
Saying thank you, and thinking thank you, are good for our soul. We should appreciate what we have, and make the most of it. When we appreciate what people have done for us, they will do more for us. And maybe we will do more for others too.
My wish is for parents and guardians to keep teaching selfish little minds about appreciation. There are people who appreciate many things because they have nothing. It should not take a desperate situation like that for our loved ones to learn about appreciation.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Day 11: Just the Way You Are
Wish 11: The Right Perception of Beauty
If only everybody was born handsome and beautiful. That will change everybody's perception of beauty. No more plastic surgery. No more crash diets.
As a teen, my wife used to read fashion magazines. She is still perhaps the most elegantly dressed person I know, using her clothes wisely and knowing how to buy for the right value. But those same fashion magazines started changing the way we view beauty. They tell us how slim we should be. They show us flawless complexion, enhanced curves, and other things we have to pay an arm and a leg for. For that reason, she doesn't read those magazines anymore.
So, as our kids grow up, they get the wrong impressions about beauty. The reason Jonbenet Ramsey's death was celebrated was because of her stature as a beauty pageant contestant. When children are given a chance to choose from two teachers with the same qualifications, the prettier one is considered more intelligent and nicer. The more handsome and taller you are, the higher your salary - a study proves that. We seem to perceive beauty is better.
But pretty does not necessarily mean better. Recently, Miss USA was caught partying and drinking even though she is not old enough to drink alcohol. Donald Trump makes a questionable decision to let her keep her crown because she apologized. It's good that he can forgive, but his moral authority is questioned by Rosie O'Donnell. He then shoots back that Rosie is a slob. Though I don't favor Donald or Rosie over the other, I'm afraid Trump just confirmed our wrong perception about beauty and good: the partying beauty queen is forgivable, but the heavy-set critic is a slob. Rosie was talking about moral authority. Donald was talking about appearances.
A Dove commercial illustrates how the illusion of billboard beauty is created. There is no denying that my wife or my mom or my sister cannot possibly put enough makeup in under 10 minutes every morning to look that great. The goalposts of perceived beauty are too high.
My wish is for people to learn that beauty is not skin-deep. If men don't like the idea that a woman will try to change them into something they're not, then men should not expect women to look like someone they cannot achieve.
I take back what I said in my first sentence. Everyone is born beautiful. Only our perceptions make people ugly.
If only everybody was born handsome and beautiful. That will change everybody's perception of beauty. No more plastic surgery. No more crash diets.
As a teen, my wife used to read fashion magazines. She is still perhaps the most elegantly dressed person I know, using her clothes wisely and knowing how to buy for the right value. But those same fashion magazines started changing the way we view beauty. They tell us how slim we should be. They show us flawless complexion, enhanced curves, and other things we have to pay an arm and a leg for. For that reason, she doesn't read those magazines anymore.
So, as our kids grow up, they get the wrong impressions about beauty. The reason Jonbenet Ramsey's death was celebrated was because of her stature as a beauty pageant contestant. When children are given a chance to choose from two teachers with the same qualifications, the prettier one is considered more intelligent and nicer. The more handsome and taller you are, the higher your salary - a study proves that. We seem to perceive beauty is better.
But pretty does not necessarily mean better. Recently, Miss USA was caught partying and drinking even though she is not old enough to drink alcohol. Donald Trump makes a questionable decision to let her keep her crown because she apologized. It's good that he can forgive, but his moral authority is questioned by Rosie O'Donnell. He then shoots back that Rosie is a slob. Though I don't favor Donald or Rosie over the other, I'm afraid Trump just confirmed our wrong perception about beauty and good: the partying beauty queen is forgivable, but the heavy-set critic is a slob. Rosie was talking about moral authority. Donald was talking about appearances.
A Dove commercial illustrates how the illusion of billboard beauty is created. There is no denying that my wife or my mom or my sister cannot possibly put enough makeup in under 10 minutes every morning to look that great. The goalposts of perceived beauty are too high.
My wish is for people to learn that beauty is not skin-deep. If men don't like the idea that a woman will try to change them into something they're not, then men should not expect women to look like someone they cannot achieve.
I take back what I said in my first sentence. Everyone is born beautiful. Only our perceptions make people ugly.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Day 10: Fifteen Minutes of Tame
Wish 10: Time to Reflect
This year, just before the change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, people were surveyed about how they would spend the extra hour in the day. Can you guess the most popular answer? Sleep. People want to catch up with their sleep. Is it such a busy world we live in that we need to use any extra time we have to rest up?
My friends in New Jersey are two of millions of working Americans who can't make everything fit in a day. They spend 8-9 hours at an office, commute 2-3 hours and rush around the rest of their day's time to eat and to prepare to work or commute. So, they are lucky to get six hours of sleep a night. They so look forward to a vacation, where they can fit a lot of activities in that don't relate to work. So, throughout the year, they are managing their time.
Here's an interesting scenario. What if you were granted 15 more minutes in a day - all to yourself? What if everyday, you had 24 hours and 15 minutes in a day, and it started tomorrow? What would you do with the extra quarter hour? Would you also sleep in? Would you use it to plan better?
I think that extra 15 minutes should be used to reflect. I believe reflection is the one thing we should do but we don't have enough time to do.
Reflection is what made our civilization. Thousands of years ago, time and energy was spent on hunting for food. When sources of meat were domesticated and crops were planted, there was time saved. When people found ways to store food, time was saved again. That saved time was used to increase capacity and to look back. Reflection gave us the vast knowledge in arts and sciences that we enjoy today.
With that extra time to reflect, one should look back at their day, and just simply think, as if to meditate. There are a lot of insights into yourself that you could learn. Reflection works. When you go out to a seminar or workshop for a whole day, you get to do or learn something different from your everyday life. Learning time is time to reflect. You realize there is something you could not have figured out by yourself if you just kept on working and commuting and eating and sleeping.
With reflection you can look at your relationships with your family, friends, colleagues and everyone else. You could recall how your teenage son looked like as a baby. You could think about what you really want to do with your life. You can have a frank discussion with God. You can determine your passion.
My wish is for extra time in the day to reflect on anything, because my thoughts and aspirations, and not my job, will define me into the future.
This year, just before the change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, people were surveyed about how they would spend the extra hour in the day. Can you guess the most popular answer? Sleep. People want to catch up with their sleep. Is it such a busy world we live in that we need to use any extra time we have to rest up?
My friends in New Jersey are two of millions of working Americans who can't make everything fit in a day. They spend 8-9 hours at an office, commute 2-3 hours and rush around the rest of their day's time to eat and to prepare to work or commute. So, they are lucky to get six hours of sleep a night. They so look forward to a vacation, where they can fit a lot of activities in that don't relate to work. So, throughout the year, they are managing their time.
Here's an interesting scenario. What if you were granted 15 more minutes in a day - all to yourself? What if everyday, you had 24 hours and 15 minutes in a day, and it started tomorrow? What would you do with the extra quarter hour? Would you also sleep in? Would you use it to plan better?
I think that extra 15 minutes should be used to reflect. I believe reflection is the one thing we should do but we don't have enough time to do.
Reflection is what made our civilization. Thousands of years ago, time and energy was spent on hunting for food. When sources of meat were domesticated and crops were planted, there was time saved. When people found ways to store food, time was saved again. That saved time was used to increase capacity and to look back. Reflection gave us the vast knowledge in arts and sciences that we enjoy today.
With that extra time to reflect, one should look back at their day, and just simply think, as if to meditate. There are a lot of insights into yourself that you could learn. Reflection works. When you go out to a seminar or workshop for a whole day, you get to do or learn something different from your everyday life. Learning time is time to reflect. You realize there is something you could not have figured out by yourself if you just kept on working and commuting and eating and sleeping.
With reflection you can look at your relationships with your family, friends, colleagues and everyone else. You could recall how your teenage son looked like as a baby. You could think about what you really want to do with your life. You can have a frank discussion with God. You can determine your passion.
My wish is for extra time in the day to reflect on anything, because my thoughts and aspirations, and not my job, will define me into the future.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Day 9: A Roof Over Their Heads
Wish 9: Affordable Housing
Calgary in Alberta, Canada, is becoming the country's richest, thanks to the city's predominantly oil-based businesses. Known to locals as Cow Town, the city grows by leaps and bounds - it has become a boom town. Urban sprawl appears in its perimeters. New shopping centers are built. New house prices have doubled in the past two years.
Despite this economic prosperity, there is a labor shortage. This should be good, you may think, because almost anyone can get a job. But even with starting salaries at 20% above other cities in Canada, there are few takers. Local businesses are wondering why this is happening, some of whom have had to shut down a few days at a time. But for a visitor like me, the reason is clear.
How can a town attract entry-level workers when all their salary would go into housing?
In many cities of North America, the cost of having a roof over your head is rising. And affordable rental places are disappearing in favor of more profitable condominium projects. In order to have a safe place to live, low wage earners have less to spend on food. This is surprising: In 2003, nearly one in four children in British Columbia was living in poverty.
Sustainable cities have to consider all kinds of housing so that there is something for everyone. My wish is for local governments, developers and non-governmental organizations to find solutions to keeping everyone safe from the elements.
Calgary in Alberta, Canada, is becoming the country's richest, thanks to the city's predominantly oil-based businesses. Known to locals as Cow Town, the city grows by leaps and bounds - it has become a boom town. Urban sprawl appears in its perimeters. New shopping centers are built. New house prices have doubled in the past two years.
Despite this economic prosperity, there is a labor shortage. This should be good, you may think, because almost anyone can get a job. But even with starting salaries at 20% above other cities in Canada, there are few takers. Local businesses are wondering why this is happening, some of whom have had to shut down a few days at a time. But for a visitor like me, the reason is clear.
How can a town attract entry-level workers when all their salary would go into housing?
In many cities of North America, the cost of having a roof over your head is rising. And affordable rental places are disappearing in favor of more profitable condominium projects. In order to have a safe place to live, low wage earners have less to spend on food. This is surprising: In 2003, nearly one in four children in British Columbia was living in poverty.
Sustainable cities have to consider all kinds of housing so that there is something for everyone. My wish is for local governments, developers and non-governmental organizations to find solutions to keeping everyone safe from the elements.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Day 8: Trump, Iaccocca, Welch and Fiorina
Wish 8: Leadership from within
Can you name a great business leader? Do you think Donald Trump is great? How about Lee Iaccocca, Jack Welch or Carly Fiorina? A lot of people think they are great leaders. Their book sales say so. We know about these buccaneer leaders through their constant public appearances, at least at the time they were in charge of some of America's big companies.
Are these the leaders we should aspire to emulate? Half a million applicants to Trump's TV hit The Apprentice seem to think so. Before you go out and buy these buccaneers' books, consider this. These leaders take credit for whatever successes their companies achieve. They think that their companies cannot survive without them. They always think they are right. And if mistakes are made, they find someone or something to blame.
In contrast, great business leaders do not brag; they try to get the job done. They make themselves accountable for their companies' failures. Then if things go right, they attribute their successes to the people around them. This are some of the findings of Jim Collins on leaders of enduring corporations.
It was good to know that good things can happen to good people. When I started my working life, I often wondered how business leaders get to where they are. Those leaders that made the most noise were buccaneers: competition-loving, winner-takes-all, take-no-prisoners leaders. For these leaders to prevail, someone else has to lose. The only ethical and practical leaders I knew growing up were my grandparents. They conduct businesses with win-win attitudes. For them to win, others must win too. The "others" include clients, employees, suppliers, and the community. It was good to read that America's longest-running corporations have been around because of leaders that stay true to core values and fundamental principles.
This is where my wish comes in. I wish that good people realize that they can become leaders because they have some of the key traits - that they are ethical and sincere. For me, skill is secondary to attitude.
This means that anyone can be a leader, not just buccaneer CEOs. I like to call it leading from within. To become this type of leader, you need to know yourself. Know your own values. Then you have to act within your core values. A simple concept. And a very accessible leadership principle.
Can you name a great business leader? Do you think Donald Trump is great? How about Lee Iaccocca, Jack Welch or Carly Fiorina? A lot of people think they are great leaders. Their book sales say so. We know about these buccaneer leaders through their constant public appearances, at least at the time they were in charge of some of America's big companies.
Are these the leaders we should aspire to emulate? Half a million applicants to Trump's TV hit The Apprentice seem to think so. Before you go out and buy these buccaneers' books, consider this. These leaders take credit for whatever successes their companies achieve. They think that their companies cannot survive without them. They always think they are right. And if mistakes are made, they find someone or something to blame.
In contrast, great business leaders do not brag; they try to get the job done. They make themselves accountable for their companies' failures. Then if things go right, they attribute their successes to the people around them. This are some of the findings of Jim Collins on leaders of enduring corporations.
It was good to know that good things can happen to good people. When I started my working life, I often wondered how business leaders get to where they are. Those leaders that made the most noise were buccaneers: competition-loving, winner-takes-all, take-no-prisoners leaders. For these leaders to prevail, someone else has to lose. The only ethical and practical leaders I knew growing up were my grandparents. They conduct businesses with win-win attitudes. For them to win, others must win too. The "others" include clients, employees, suppliers, and the community. It was good to read that America's longest-running corporations have been around because of leaders that stay true to core values and fundamental principles.
This is where my wish comes in. I wish that good people realize that they can become leaders because they have some of the key traits - that they are ethical and sincere. For me, skill is secondary to attitude.
This means that anyone can be a leader, not just buccaneer CEOs. I like to call it leading from within. To become this type of leader, you need to know yourself. Know your own values. Then you have to act within your core values. A simple concept. And a very accessible leadership principle.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Day 7: What's Wrong with Re-Gifting?
Wish 7: In-Kind Charity
It's the time of year when we get gifts. As we know, long ago in Bethlehem, three wise men visited the child Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense (as a kid, I used to think it was Frankenstein), and myrrh. And so, we are imitating that event with gift-giving during the Christmas season.
But let's be honest. Not all of us like what we get on Christmas. When I was a kid, I kept wondering why I got clothes for Christmas. I wanted a 1:72 replica of a Saturn V rocket with matching command and lunar modules. And then I get a shirt with a small alligator on it. What were Mama and Papa thinking?
But part of the tradition is to be thankful and nice. We accept the gifts given to us, and the thoughtfulness of those who gave us these tokens that we didn't want. We do this by parading the sweater our aunt made for us, or walking around in those new shoes pretending they don't hurt. But we have to wear those clothes, at least for a while, because we don't want to disappoint our benefactors. If we are lucky, we outgrow them quickly, so that they could be passed down to our younger brother or sister.
As we grow older, we can find better ways to get rid of gifts we really didn't like. One way is called re-gifting.
I dare any of you readers to say you have never re-gifted. You might get a CD of Pet Store Punks, but you don't like their music. So, you re-wrap it and give it to someone else. Do you think that Mary and Joseph actually kept all those gifts? I mean, what would you do with frankincense and myrrh? I can't even imagine what these two gifts look like!
But what a great concept! We can recycle gifts we don't want. The person we re-gifted to will feel guilty he/she didn't buy you something. You have won a "considerate person" victory... and it didn't cost you a thing.
Of course, you should always remember who gave the gift to you in the first place. You should never re-gift back to the same giver. That is just plain shameful. (And also a great laugh for everybody else because they now know that you are cheap!) The consolation is this: if the gift was tacky enough, it may have been re-gifted many times over. It would be fun to see how many Christmases or birthdays will pass before you get your gift back.
But there is one re-gifting where you will not be called "cheap". You could re-gift to charity. There are people who need that pair of shoes more than you do. There are kids living in poverty who will accept a toy - any toy - just to get something this Christmas. These people in need don't care if you like or hate the gift you are giving away, as long as it is clean and not broken.
I know your next question: What about an expensive leather bag, or a gift certificate to a shop you don't like? How can the needy have any use for those? This is where you can think outside the gift box. Listen up.
In North America, you can return your unwanted gifts back to the store. Considerate givers will provide an exchange receipt for clothes and goods. You can take the gift and the receipt back to the store after Christmas Day. Most stores will not refund money, but they will give you a replacement (usually for a different size of clothes), or a store credit.
A store credit is as good as cash if you donate it. However, it has to be a practical donation in-kind. You wouldn't give a store credit slip from Versace to Our Lady of Divine Mercy Orphanage, would you? But a K-mart or Walmart store credit is more appropriate. Here's a good tip: donations of store credit or gift certificates can be receipted. Therefore, you can save on your income taxes because donations are tax-deductible.
Here's another tip. If you get gift certificates and store credits for shops you prefer not to buy from, then sell them on an online buy-and-sell forum or auction. A lot of savvy shoppers will be willing to buy $100 in store credit for $80. This will give you hard cash that you can give to charity. As always, ask for a tax-deduction receipt from your chosen charity.
My wish today is for creative ways to give to charities. Because while we are so lucky, there are many who aren't, and they need your help.
It's the time of year when we get gifts. As we know, long ago in Bethlehem, three wise men visited the child Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense (as a kid, I used to think it was Frankenstein), and myrrh. And so, we are imitating that event with gift-giving during the Christmas season.
But let's be honest. Not all of us like what we get on Christmas. When I was a kid, I kept wondering why I got clothes for Christmas. I wanted a 1:72 replica of a Saturn V rocket with matching command and lunar modules. And then I get a shirt with a small alligator on it. What were Mama and Papa thinking?
But part of the tradition is to be thankful and nice. We accept the gifts given to us, and the thoughtfulness of those who gave us these tokens that we didn't want. We do this by parading the sweater our aunt made for us, or walking around in those new shoes pretending they don't hurt. But we have to wear those clothes, at least for a while, because we don't want to disappoint our benefactors. If we are lucky, we outgrow them quickly, so that they could be passed down to our younger brother or sister.
As we grow older, we can find better ways to get rid of gifts we really didn't like. One way is called re-gifting.
I dare any of you readers to say you have never re-gifted. You might get a CD of Pet Store Punks, but you don't like their music. So, you re-wrap it and give it to someone else. Do you think that Mary and Joseph actually kept all those gifts? I mean, what would you do with frankincense and myrrh? I can't even imagine what these two gifts look like!
But what a great concept! We can recycle gifts we don't want. The person we re-gifted to will feel guilty he/she didn't buy you something. You have won a "considerate person" victory... and it didn't cost you a thing.
Of course, you should always remember who gave the gift to you in the first place. You should never re-gift back to the same giver. That is just plain shameful. (And also a great laugh for everybody else because they now know that you are cheap!) The consolation is this: if the gift was tacky enough, it may have been re-gifted many times over. It would be fun to see how many Christmases or birthdays will pass before you get your gift back.
But there is one re-gifting where you will not be called "cheap". You could re-gift to charity. There are people who need that pair of shoes more than you do. There are kids living in poverty who will accept a toy - any toy - just to get something this Christmas. These people in need don't care if you like or hate the gift you are giving away, as long as it is clean and not broken.
I know your next question: What about an expensive leather bag, or a gift certificate to a shop you don't like? How can the needy have any use for those? This is where you can think outside the gift box. Listen up.
In North America, you can return your unwanted gifts back to the store. Considerate givers will provide an exchange receipt for clothes and goods. You can take the gift and the receipt back to the store after Christmas Day. Most stores will not refund money, but they will give you a replacement (usually for a different size of clothes), or a store credit.
A store credit is as good as cash if you donate it. However, it has to be a practical donation in-kind. You wouldn't give a store credit slip from Versace to Our Lady of Divine Mercy Orphanage, would you? But a K-mart or Walmart store credit is more appropriate. Here's a good tip: donations of store credit or gift certificates can be receipted. Therefore, you can save on your income taxes because donations are tax-deductible.
Here's another tip. If you get gift certificates and store credits for shops you prefer not to buy from, then sell them on an online buy-and-sell forum or auction. A lot of savvy shoppers will be willing to buy $100 in store credit for $80. This will give you hard cash that you can give to charity. As always, ask for a tax-deduction receipt from your chosen charity.
My wish today is for creative ways to give to charities. Because while we are so lucky, there are many who aren't, and they need your help.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Day 6: The Best Medicine
Wish 6: Humor
Today, we'll talk about humor and tell jokes. That's it.
A really short joke: A blind carpenter picked up a hammer and saw.
Have you ever sat through a lecture led by a boring teacher? A monotone voice, and an uninteresting subject, not only puts you to sleep, but also changes your impression about the course you are taking. The solution: humor.
Man: Does your restaurant serve shrimp?
Waiter: Sir, we serve anybody.
I'm no expert, but I think hearing a joke releases certain chemicals in the brain that makes a person feel good. When people feel good, they do good things, like become generous. They have a positive outlook. They live longer. Yup, laughter is medicine.
John Kerry enters a bar. The bartender asks him, "Why the long face?"
As a speaker and facilitator, humor is a great way to teach. I tell jokes and run games in the courses I run. Then, the participants leave feeling good. They remember the concepts better because they were associated with a fun event.
I went to three dieticians and got three diet plans. So, I take nine meals a day.
If I want to tell jokes, I'm careful not to use insulting language. The only kind of insult I use is towards myself. I talk about my disappointing weight, but not anyone else's. Joking about myself reveals my fallability, and my audience can connect with me better.
A scientist cloned himself, only to discover that his copy was horribly foul-mouthed. In his anger he threw the clone out of his 10th floor apartment. He was accused of making an obscene clone fall.
Laughter is like food. It is universal. You can meet people of different cultures, and share a meal and a joke. Laughter is the repitition of a simple syllable. ha-ha-ha! ho-ho-ho! It has no meaning, but it is spoken around the world. Humor is good for world peace.
A rabbi, a minister and a priest enter a bar. The bartender asks them, "Is this a joke?"
My wish today is for people to have and maintain a good sense of humor.
Now, it's your turn. Send me your favorite jokes. I'll compile them for a final blog right after Christmas - to help lift your spirits.
Man: Doctor, doctor. I swallowed a bone!
Doctor: Are you choking?
Man: No, I'm serious!
Today, we'll talk about humor and tell jokes. That's it.
A really short joke: A blind carpenter picked up a hammer and saw.
Have you ever sat through a lecture led by a boring teacher? A monotone voice, and an uninteresting subject, not only puts you to sleep, but also changes your impression about the course you are taking. The solution: humor.
Man: Does your restaurant serve shrimp?
Waiter: Sir, we serve anybody.
I'm no expert, but I think hearing a joke releases certain chemicals in the brain that makes a person feel good. When people feel good, they do good things, like become generous. They have a positive outlook. They live longer. Yup, laughter is medicine.
John Kerry enters a bar. The bartender asks him, "Why the long face?"
As a speaker and facilitator, humor is a great way to teach. I tell jokes and run games in the courses I run. Then, the participants leave feeling good. They remember the concepts better because they were associated with a fun event.
I went to three dieticians and got three diet plans. So, I take nine meals a day.
If I want to tell jokes, I'm careful not to use insulting language. The only kind of insult I use is towards myself. I talk about my disappointing weight, but not anyone else's. Joking about myself reveals my fallability, and my audience can connect with me better.
A scientist cloned himself, only to discover that his copy was horribly foul-mouthed. In his anger he threw the clone out of his 10th floor apartment. He was accused of making an obscene clone fall.
Laughter is like food. It is universal. You can meet people of different cultures, and share a meal and a joke. Laughter is the repitition of a simple syllable. ha-ha-ha! ho-ho-ho! It has no meaning, but it is spoken around the world. Humor is good for world peace.
A rabbi, a minister and a priest enter a bar. The bartender asks them, "Is this a joke?"
My wish today is for people to have and maintain a good sense of humor.
Now, it's your turn. Send me your favorite jokes. I'll compile them for a final blog right after Christmas - to help lift your spirits.
Man: Doctor, doctor. I swallowed a bone!
Doctor: Are you choking?
Man: No, I'm serious!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Day 5: A Level Playing Field
Wish 5: End Corruption
This particular wish is anticlimactic. There isn't much to talk about when it comes to corruption because it seems to be found anywhere. I have three thoughts to bring up here.
First, corruption has grave economic effects. If a single government official takes money from the coffers, it means that hundreds or thousands of taxpayers are wronged. If that is systematically present in all levels of a national government, then there is less money for infrastructure, social programs and sustainability. That's a formula for economic disaster.
Secondly, corruption is simply wrong. If you're Catholic, it was in today's gospel: Jesus told tax collectors to collect only what they are supposed to. The same is true for other religions and their teachings on taking possession illegally. Yet, it is practiced more by people who seem to be more God-fearing.
Finally, it can be measured by country. Or at least the perception of corruption is measurable. This is an interesting site to check out. It is called Transparency International. www.transparency.org. The website has just launched the Global Corruption Barometer, a research which looks as corruption from the eyes of ordinary people.
But what I want you to look at is the Corruption Perceptions Index or CPI: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi. It ranks over 150 countries in terms of their corruption levels. Find your country's ranking. In 2006, Canada is number 14 and the USA is number 20. A high ranking is good. If you look closely, countries with higher rankings tend to have better economic activity than those with lower rankings. It's just a fact, business thrives better in countries that have a fair playing field.
It is interesting also to see the previous reports to compare if your country is getting better or worse.
So, my simple wish today, is for an end to corruption. It's wrong and it has dire economic effects.
[For tomorrow, we'll look into humor. Don't miss it.]
This particular wish is anticlimactic. There isn't much to talk about when it comes to corruption because it seems to be found anywhere. I have three thoughts to bring up here.
First, corruption has grave economic effects. If a single government official takes money from the coffers, it means that hundreds or thousands of taxpayers are wronged. If that is systematically present in all levels of a national government, then there is less money for infrastructure, social programs and sustainability. That's a formula for economic disaster.
Secondly, corruption is simply wrong. If you're Catholic, it was in today's gospel: Jesus told tax collectors to collect only what they are supposed to. The same is true for other religions and their teachings on taking possession illegally. Yet, it is practiced more by people who seem to be more God-fearing.
Finally, it can be measured by country. Or at least the perception of corruption is measurable. This is an interesting site to check out. It is called Transparency International. www.transparency.org. The website has just launched the Global Corruption Barometer, a research which looks as corruption from the eyes of ordinary people.
But what I want you to look at is the Corruption Perceptions Index or CPI: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi. It ranks over 150 countries in terms of their corruption levels. Find your country's ranking. In 2006, Canada is number 14 and the USA is number 20. A high ranking is good. If you look closely, countries with higher rankings tend to have better economic activity than those with lower rankings. It's just a fact, business thrives better in countries that have a fair playing field.
It is interesting also to see the previous reports to compare if your country is getting better or worse.
So, my simple wish today, is for an end to corruption. It's wrong and it has dire economic effects.
[For tomorrow, we'll look into humor. Don't miss it.]
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Day 4: Brain Downtime
Wish 4: Considerate Mindlessness
Mindlessness is a new term I've picked up in the past two years. I think that it is when we shift down our mental gears. It happens when we don't run our brains at our regular or full capacity. In verbal communication, it results in misunderstanding.
Mindlessness happens to everybody. When we're tired, we might not make much sense. When we want to wind down, we let our TV set stop at any channel, even one where they show steak knives that can cut tin cans.
It can happen to the most admirable people we know. In my first job, I carpooled with an excellent training manager, and when it was her turn to drive, she seemed oblivious to danger. You might have an impressive boss who watches staged wresting at night. How about timid accounting managers who wear leather and ride Harley-Davidson bikes on weekends? Why would otherwise rational people paint themselves in preparation for a sporting event? Mindlessness. It's downtime for our brains.
We hear a lot about mindlessness in media today. For example, there are those incoherent text messages sent by actress Lindsay Lohan. Kids do crazy things when the video camera is on them, such that it becomes a TV sport. (A documentary simply called this phenomenon "stupidity".) A personality doesn't realize he or she is insulting a group until told so - then you know what comes next: remorseful appearances filled with apologies.
Mindlessness is not wrong in itself. It is our body's mechanism to prevent depression or burnout. When we go to see a movie, sometimes we are in the mood for a thought-provoking drama or documentary, and sometimes we're looking for slapstick. Men, here is a tip for you. A great gift for your significant other is a spa, or time alone. It's nothing short of the ultimate scheduled mindlessness for a busy woman.
But when mindlessness hits people in a social context, it is dangerous. You can't wind down while operating a crane or driving a car. You can't lose coherence and sensitivity when you're with people in a prankish mood. You shouldn't abandon thought when speaking with family or friends. What would happen if someone took a brain break while hunting?
Today, I saw kids throw a juice box at a guy in a chicken suit. Okay it does sound funny. But not when you think that this kid is just trying to earn a decent living. But just extrapolate that a bit. Two kids hold a rock over a pedestrian overpass to see what would happen to a windshield when it drops. You ask, "what were they thinking?" And the answer is, "they weren't". At the wrong time and with the wrong company, all forethought of consequences are abandoned. And mindlessness becomes a deadly weapon.
My wish today is for considerate mindlessness. It is for people to gear down in their own time, instead of when they are with others. And if they do reduce brain function in social events, let it not be a total abandonment of consideration.
Mindlessness is a new term I've picked up in the past two years. I think that it is when we shift down our mental gears. It happens when we don't run our brains at our regular or full capacity. In verbal communication, it results in misunderstanding.
Mindlessness happens to everybody. When we're tired, we might not make much sense. When we want to wind down, we let our TV set stop at any channel, even one where they show steak knives that can cut tin cans.
It can happen to the most admirable people we know. In my first job, I carpooled with an excellent training manager, and when it was her turn to drive, she seemed oblivious to danger. You might have an impressive boss who watches staged wresting at night. How about timid accounting managers who wear leather and ride Harley-Davidson bikes on weekends? Why would otherwise rational people paint themselves in preparation for a sporting event? Mindlessness. It's downtime for our brains.
We hear a lot about mindlessness in media today. For example, there are those incoherent text messages sent by actress Lindsay Lohan. Kids do crazy things when the video camera is on them, such that it becomes a TV sport. (A documentary simply called this phenomenon "stupidity".) A personality doesn't realize he or she is insulting a group until told so - then you know what comes next: remorseful appearances filled with apologies.
Mindlessness is not wrong in itself. It is our body's mechanism to prevent depression or burnout. When we go to see a movie, sometimes we are in the mood for a thought-provoking drama or documentary, and sometimes we're looking for slapstick. Men, here is a tip for you. A great gift for your significant other is a spa, or time alone. It's nothing short of the ultimate scheduled mindlessness for a busy woman.
But when mindlessness hits people in a social context, it is dangerous. You can't wind down while operating a crane or driving a car. You can't lose coherence and sensitivity when you're with people in a prankish mood. You shouldn't abandon thought when speaking with family or friends. What would happen if someone took a brain break while hunting?
Today, I saw kids throw a juice box at a guy in a chicken suit. Okay it does sound funny. But not when you think that this kid is just trying to earn a decent living. But just extrapolate that a bit. Two kids hold a rock over a pedestrian overpass to see what would happen to a windshield when it drops. You ask, "what were they thinking?" And the answer is, "they weren't". At the wrong time and with the wrong company, all forethought of consequences are abandoned. And mindlessness becomes a deadly weapon.
My wish today is for considerate mindlessness. It is for people to gear down in their own time, instead of when they are with others. And if they do reduce brain function in social events, let it not be a total abandonment of consideration.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Day 3: You Must Remember This
Wish 3: Remembering
Last Remembrance Day, November 11, in Canada, there were only three surviving veterans from World War I. As you read their stories, you realize that they are alive today because they lied about their ages when they enlisted. Two of them were only 16 years old when they joined. Only one of them was a survivor of the great Battle at Vimy Ridge in 1917.
The passing of 14 WWI veterans since 2002 has prompted Canadians to work hard at keeping the memory of that deciding battle, the heroism of Canadians and the freedoms we have earned. And the preservation of that memory seems to work. Almost all Canadian school children know the poem "In Flanders Fields". Two-thirds of adult Canadians think that November 11 is more significant than September 11. My daughter even wrote about it in her school paper.
Compared to the surviving veterans, my Papa is a kid. But he has lived an exciting life. In his lifetime, he experienced radio shows, World War II, hi-fi, lunar landings, color TV, plastic bags, microwave ovens, personal computers and cell phones. He's dabbled with complicated wiring and remotes in his music room. He mixed elaborate drinks in his bar. He built his own blend of coffee. Papa and Mama have traveled around the world.
Papa was the life of a party. His signature laugh could be heard at a party a block away. He puffed twice when he was excited. And then he would tell you a story, with lots of by-the-ways, and a heavy dose of embellishment. Even if you've heard the story before, it would sound more vibrant, more engaging than before. He was pulling everyone's leg, but they didn't mind.
And now he is forgetting all that. He is no longer comfortable with technology and remote controls. He can't recall the cities he visited in Europe. His older brothers have passed away, and he wonders why he hasn't heard from them. Papa goes about his days quietly - a stark contrast from his loud and outgoing personality. The one thing that still reminds us of his old self is his sense of humor.
My Papa, like millions of people around the world, is going through dementia, or Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD robs people of their memories and personalities. When AD hits, it is too late to document the memories. Nothing can restore the synaptic links destroyed by plaque in the brain. Papa's memories are disappearing. They slowly fade away, starting with the most recent memories.
And it affects all those around him. His personality is changing. I can't imagine what Mama is feeling when the decisive man that she married is more and more dependent on her. I feel for my siblings who live nearby and check up on them regularly. So, when I visit my parents and siblings in the old country, they rejoice in my presence. They share what they are going through. It helps them and me.
It pains me, when I head back to Canada, to say goodbye. A few months ago, I kissed Papa on the forehead before heading out the door. I told him that I will be back soon. Then he looked up at me with the eyes of a kid and said, "you promise?" I know I can't make that promise because I'm not sure when I'll be back again. But I do know that when I return, he will tell me that I kept my promise.
My wish is for longer remembering - that people's parents can keep conversations going so that memories are passed down. I know I cannot wish for Papa's memories to come back, but I can wish for whatever memories he has to stay as long as possible. And I pray that even if he should forget our faces and our names, that the last thing he still remembers is how much we love him.
Last Remembrance Day, November 11, in Canada, there were only three surviving veterans from World War I. As you read their stories, you realize that they are alive today because they lied about their ages when they enlisted. Two of them were only 16 years old when they joined. Only one of them was a survivor of the great Battle at Vimy Ridge in 1917.
The passing of 14 WWI veterans since 2002 has prompted Canadians to work hard at keeping the memory of that deciding battle, the heroism of Canadians and the freedoms we have earned. And the preservation of that memory seems to work. Almost all Canadian school children know the poem "In Flanders Fields". Two-thirds of adult Canadians think that November 11 is more significant than September 11. My daughter even wrote about it in her school paper.
Compared to the surviving veterans, my Papa is a kid. But he has lived an exciting life. In his lifetime, he experienced radio shows, World War II, hi-fi, lunar landings, color TV, plastic bags, microwave ovens, personal computers and cell phones. He's dabbled with complicated wiring and remotes in his music room. He mixed elaborate drinks in his bar. He built his own blend of coffee. Papa and Mama have traveled around the world.
Papa was the life of a party. His signature laugh could be heard at a party a block away. He puffed twice when he was excited. And then he would tell you a story, with lots of by-the-ways, and a heavy dose of embellishment. Even if you've heard the story before, it would sound more vibrant, more engaging than before. He was pulling everyone's leg, but they didn't mind.
And now he is forgetting all that. He is no longer comfortable with technology and remote controls. He can't recall the cities he visited in Europe. His older brothers have passed away, and he wonders why he hasn't heard from them. Papa goes about his days quietly - a stark contrast from his loud and outgoing personality. The one thing that still reminds us of his old self is his sense of humor.
My Papa, like millions of people around the world, is going through dementia, or Alzheimer's Disease (AD). AD robs people of their memories and personalities. When AD hits, it is too late to document the memories. Nothing can restore the synaptic links destroyed by plaque in the brain. Papa's memories are disappearing. They slowly fade away, starting with the most recent memories.
And it affects all those around him. His personality is changing. I can't imagine what Mama is feeling when the decisive man that she married is more and more dependent on her. I feel for my siblings who live nearby and check up on them regularly. So, when I visit my parents and siblings in the old country, they rejoice in my presence. They share what they are going through. It helps them and me.
It pains me, when I head back to Canada, to say goodbye. A few months ago, I kissed Papa on the forehead before heading out the door. I told him that I will be back soon. Then he looked up at me with the eyes of a kid and said, "you promise?" I know I can't make that promise because I'm not sure when I'll be back again. But I do know that when I return, he will tell me that I kept my promise.
My wish is for longer remembering - that people's parents can keep conversations going so that memories are passed down. I know I cannot wish for Papa's memories to come back, but I can wish for whatever memories he has to stay as long as possible. And I pray that even if he should forget our faces and our names, that the last thing he still remembers is how much we love him.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Day 2: Oh! Christmas Tree
Wish 2: Preserve Christmas Traditions
Who's afraid of the big good tree? Does a Christmas tree insult you?
A judge in Toronto ordered a Christmas tree out of a downtown provincial courthouse lobby because she says it makes the non-Christian visitors feel they are not part of the institution.
At the capitol in Michigan, an aetheist group is protesting that calling the lobby's tree a Christmas tree endorses Christianity and violates the First Amendment.
A few days ago, 14 Christmas trees at the Seattle-Tacoma airport were brought down because a rabbi suggested that the airport include at least one menorah, or he would sue.
Gosh! These are just trees. With lights. And decorations.
But don't get angry with those who order Christmas trees to be brought down. These things happen because people are worried that, in a growing multicultural society, certain symbols are not inclusive, and can insult.
I know I'm asking the wrong crowd - you - if you are insulted by Christmas trees. If you're reading the Twelve Wishes of Christmas, I guess you at least like Christmas, trees included.
But do other known traditions insult you? Imagine you enter a restaurant and there's a Maneki Neko (beckoning cat - the ceramic cat that waves). Do you tell your companion, "Dude, that waving cat freaks me out!"? If you're walking down the street and there's a dragon parade passing by, do you walk away in disgust? I can't imagine a national or religious festival or event that is deliberately meant to alienate me in particular.
So if you are a Christian, or you believe in Christmas, then stand tall (you trees included). Let those trees get decorated and lighted. There is nothing wrong with spreading joy the way you know. Never ever worry that the PC police will ask you not to mention Christmas. Say Merry Christmas! like you mean it.
Actually, in all the situations above, people around were disappointed. A informal survey determined that hardly anyone is insulted by Christmas trees. (Duh!) All over America, you hear stories of balancing.
The removal of Christmas decorations in offices is balanced by staff putting small, more elaborately decorated Christmas trees in their cubicles. Airline employees pitched in to buy and put up their own Christmas trees in Seattle (and by the way, the 14 trees have been restored by popular demand).
My second wish is to preserve our Christmas traditions, at least for the next two thousand years. And to never ever think we insult anyone by following those traditions.
Who's afraid of the big good tree? Does a Christmas tree insult you?
A judge in Toronto ordered a Christmas tree out of a downtown provincial courthouse lobby because she says it makes the non-Christian visitors feel they are not part of the institution.
At the capitol in Michigan, an aetheist group is protesting that calling the lobby's tree a Christmas tree endorses Christianity and violates the First Amendment.
A few days ago, 14 Christmas trees at the Seattle-Tacoma airport were brought down because a rabbi suggested that the airport include at least one menorah, or he would sue.
Gosh! These are just trees. With lights. And decorations.
But don't get angry with those who order Christmas trees to be brought down. These things happen because people are worried that, in a growing multicultural society, certain symbols are not inclusive, and can insult.
I know I'm asking the wrong crowd - you - if you are insulted by Christmas trees. If you're reading the Twelve Wishes of Christmas, I guess you at least like Christmas, trees included.
But do other known traditions insult you? Imagine you enter a restaurant and there's a Maneki Neko (beckoning cat - the ceramic cat that waves). Do you tell your companion, "Dude, that waving cat freaks me out!"? If you're walking down the street and there's a dragon parade passing by, do you walk away in disgust? I can't imagine a national or religious festival or event that is deliberately meant to alienate me in particular.
So if you are a Christian, or you believe in Christmas, then stand tall (you trees included). Let those trees get decorated and lighted. There is nothing wrong with spreading joy the way you know. Never ever worry that the PC police will ask you not to mention Christmas. Say Merry Christmas! like you mean it.
Actually, in all the situations above, people around were disappointed. A informal survey determined that hardly anyone is insulted by Christmas trees. (Duh!) All over America, you hear stories of balancing.
The removal of Christmas decorations in offices is balanced by staff putting small, more elaborately decorated Christmas trees in their cubicles. Airline employees pitched in to buy and put up their own Christmas trees in Seattle (and by the way, the 14 trees have been restored by popular demand).
My second wish is to preserve our Christmas traditions, at least for the next two thousand years. And to never ever think we insult anyone by following those traditions.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Day 1: A Quiet Worldwide Celebration
Wish 1: Inclusion
The following scenarios are not for the squeamish. First, imagine you are surfing TV stations, and you get to a channel that shows images of sick children in Africa. Do you stop to watch, or quickly change the channel? Imagine you are driving your car. And as you stop at a traffic light, you are approached by a scruffy man who is carrying a squeegee and spray bottle. Do you let him wash your windshied or tell him to go away? Imagine walking a shopping street after getting cash from an Automated Teller Machine, and a smelly fellow asks you if you have some spare change. Will you oblige or ignore the panhandler?
You know what I would do? My gut feel is to do the wrong thing. I would keep surfing my TV channels. I would tell the squeegee guy to buzz off. I would ignore the panhandler. I am not going to defend my actions. But, I have a good feeling a lot of people will react this way anyway.
The reason I think that we would react this way is the manner by which the charity is requested. In all the above scenarios, you have to react quickly to an emotional appeal. Actually, we really want to give to these charities. But we have limited resources, and we choose to give to charities that are reputable. Planned charity is better thought out than spontaneous. That's why I'd give to a charity that sent me the right information, and I'd reject a telemarketer.
Now, let's add something to those scenarios: What if your neighbor told you she just started giving to a charity for sick children in Africa? What if you saw another driver invite the squeegee guy to clean his windshield and then give him a quarter? What if you saw a pedestrian give the panhandler a whole dollar? What would you feel?
I believe your first feeling is relief. You really wanted to give, but your first reaction was rejection. You are relieved that someone gave, because you've put yourself in a position not to. And I think your second feeling is guilt. "Why didn't I give when I had a chance?"
If you felt relief and guilt, I believe you are not a bad person - even if you didn't give. You really have a good heart, but you don't want to be coerced. If you go through any of these scenarios with some discomfort (as opposed to feeling oblivious), you are charitable, and you are concerned for others.
Change gears. Now consider persons with disabilities. A blind man with a cane walking on the same sidewalk towards you. A wheelchair user trying to get a door open. Two deaf women who are conversing using their hands. Should you have the same discomfort?
The last thing you should feel towards them is charitable. Why? Because, unless they're begging, they just want to live normal lives - like you and me. They want to be included in society. And something happened today that will promote that.
Today, December 13, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly approved a new convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. In a few years, it will become a treaty, adding these rights to all the human rights instruments already in place. That's why 650 million people who are disabled, about 10% of the world's population, have a reason to celebrate. Although a lot of persons with disabilities are dependent on charity, persons with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity.
What can this convention do for us? First, it will bring awareness. In many countries, disability is looked at as a curse, or something to be ashamed of. Disabled persons are seen as charity cases. The convention will ask all of us recognize the dignity of every person. It will ask us to recognize their rights to education, information, work, and social inclusion, among others. You can start by being aware. And that will affect your attitudes and your actions.
I consider myself temporarily enabled. As I get older, my hearing will go, and so will my eyesight. If I live long enough, I'll have mobility problems. So, if 10% of the world's population is disabled, the other 90% are temporarily enabled. We're all really the same.
My wish for today is inclusion. For us to consider how we can remove barriers to participation - including our own attitudes. For us not to be squeamish about persons with disabilities. Because they are also people (who so happen to be differently enabled).
The following scenarios are not for the squeamish. First, imagine you are surfing TV stations, and you get to a channel that shows images of sick children in Africa. Do you stop to watch, or quickly change the channel? Imagine you are driving your car. And as you stop at a traffic light, you are approached by a scruffy man who is carrying a squeegee and spray bottle. Do you let him wash your windshied or tell him to go away? Imagine walking a shopping street after getting cash from an Automated Teller Machine, and a smelly fellow asks you if you have some spare change. Will you oblige or ignore the panhandler?
You know what I would do? My gut feel is to do the wrong thing. I would keep surfing my TV channels. I would tell the squeegee guy to buzz off. I would ignore the panhandler. I am not going to defend my actions. But, I have a good feeling a lot of people will react this way anyway.
The reason I think that we would react this way is the manner by which the charity is requested. In all the above scenarios, you have to react quickly to an emotional appeal. Actually, we really want to give to these charities. But we have limited resources, and we choose to give to charities that are reputable. Planned charity is better thought out than spontaneous. That's why I'd give to a charity that sent me the right information, and I'd reject a telemarketer.
Now, let's add something to those scenarios: What if your neighbor told you she just started giving to a charity for sick children in Africa? What if you saw another driver invite the squeegee guy to clean his windshield and then give him a quarter? What if you saw a pedestrian give the panhandler a whole dollar? What would you feel?
I believe your first feeling is relief. You really wanted to give, but your first reaction was rejection. You are relieved that someone gave, because you've put yourself in a position not to. And I think your second feeling is guilt. "Why didn't I give when I had a chance?"
If you felt relief and guilt, I believe you are not a bad person - even if you didn't give. You really have a good heart, but you don't want to be coerced. If you go through any of these scenarios with some discomfort (as opposed to feeling oblivious), you are charitable, and you are concerned for others.
Change gears. Now consider persons with disabilities. A blind man with a cane walking on the same sidewalk towards you. A wheelchair user trying to get a door open. Two deaf women who are conversing using their hands. Should you have the same discomfort?
The last thing you should feel towards them is charitable. Why? Because, unless they're begging, they just want to live normal lives - like you and me. They want to be included in society. And something happened today that will promote that.
Today, December 13, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly approved a new convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. In a few years, it will become a treaty, adding these rights to all the human rights instruments already in place. That's why 650 million people who are disabled, about 10% of the world's population, have a reason to celebrate. Although a lot of persons with disabilities are dependent on charity, persons with disabilities deserve to be treated with dignity.
What can this convention do for us? First, it will bring awareness. In many countries, disability is looked at as a curse, or something to be ashamed of. Disabled persons are seen as charity cases. The convention will ask all of us recognize the dignity of every person. It will ask us to recognize their rights to education, information, work, and social inclusion, among others. You can start by being aware. And that will affect your attitudes and your actions.
I consider myself temporarily enabled. As I get older, my hearing will go, and so will my eyesight. If I live long enough, I'll have mobility problems. So, if 10% of the world's population is disabled, the other 90% are temporarily enabled. We're all really the same.
My wish for today is inclusion. For us to consider how we can remove barriers to participation - including our own attitudes. For us not to be squeamish about persons with disabilities. Because they are also people (who so happen to be differently enabled).
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Day 0: I wish for... More Wishes!
As a kid, you probably imagined what you would wish for if you were Alladin. A genie grants you three wishes. But you want a lot of stuff, and three wishes are not enough.
Lightbulb. You pat yourself in the back because you know what to wish for: "I wish for a million wishes!" Nice.
Well, I'm wishing for your wishes. Tell me what you want to include in this site. I'll write one blog a day from December 13 to 24, about a wish that I choose.
Don't worry, if you can't come up with some wishes, I'll think of something.
Lightbulb. You pat yourself in the back because you know what to wish for: "I wish for a million wishes!" Nice.
Well, I'm wishing for your wishes. Tell me what you want to include in this site. I'll write one blog a day from December 13 to 24, about a wish that I choose.
Don't worry, if you can't come up with some wishes, I'll think of something.
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