Change

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How we change things that we’re unhappy of? Something we’re not satisfied of?

Do we just complain? Or just pray? Or just wake up the next morning and things will be better?

Most probably not.

Someone need to do something, and it starts from ourselves.

is a 3 stage process. It sounds easy, but achieving it is far from easy.

1. Acceptance of

This is the preparation stage and the most important of all. Before we can change anything, we need to accept that the change we want could really happen. Our minds need to be conditioned that this can really happen.

We should see in our minds the final picture; the images, the voices and imagine us being there. Otherwise, how could we know what sort of change we would want?

We all know the mind is the most powerful tool we could ever have. Like Napoleon Hill once said, for whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

If our minds are not ready for change, change will never come to us. Period.

Now, ever wondered why Barack Obama’s campaign phrase is, ‘, Yes We Can!‘?

2. Feedback & Comments

Why do we need change? Isn’t the answer obvious?

No one would ask for a change if things are perfect. But the reality is, we never stop to look for perfection. We want the best of things for ourselves. That’s just basic human behavior.

We can see a difference between what is good and what is bad and we all want to be at the good side. We say to ourselves that we need a change.

Therefore, we come up with lots of feedback and comments to those people who can influence change. Read : Obama.

3. - Acting On It

First, there are people who, on the surface screamed together with us that they wanted a change. But deep down they’re not even ready to change. Maybe they’re afraid of change, or they just a bunch of hypocrites. They themselves know best.

Second, there are people who are ready for change. But when they’re given the chance to influence the change or make the change happen, they simply backed away.

The thing that really irritates me is that when the change don’t happen, they start screaming again.

Complaining..moaning..grumbling..

And then, there are people who wanted change and act on it, and done it when history shows it’s impossible.

Barack Obama’s monumental rise to become the first black and 44th President of the was truly inspirational, not only within the USA but worldwide.

I followed the campaign trail on CNN every night for the pasy 2.5 months and most of his speeches were truly inspirational and motivational.

He spreads a very clear and simple message throughout the whole country regardless of one’s skin color, religion and ethnicity that change can happen if you believe in it happening.

I know he hasn’t take office so we won’t have any idea of what he’s made of yet until January. But I’m very sure his rise to become the first black president will inspire change in a lot of countries and organizations a like.

And finally, change has gone to America. Will make a stop here in ?

November 8, 2008 | Filed Under Life, Opinions | Leave a Comment 

A Brief History Class - Part 2

I think it was almost 10 minutes that we were chatting at the river banks.

“Did I bore you off? Do you want me to continue?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“Because of the Treaty of Versailles, our country was weakened. They took away our lands and military because they were afraid we’ll be more powerful than they are. They didn’t want to lose their powers in Europe to us.”

“So there came . He was a nationalist at that time and he wanted back those lands that were given away by the Treaty or Versailles. So he gathered all his men and said to the Allied Forces; We want our lands back and if you’re not giving them back, we’ll take it!”

“He attacked and invaded Rhineland, Austria, the borders of Czechoslovakia and then Poland.”

Suddenly he stopped and started at me.

“And do you know how started in Europe?”

I shook my head.

“It was the 1st of September of 1939 when attacked Poland. Very soon after that, Poland’s allies declared war on us. Everyone, including the UK, France, Australia, US, New Zealand, Canada and a few more countries.”

“You see, everything they wrote on the papers labeled as the bad guy. In fact, he’s a nationalist and hero in , you know? He’s just taking back what was taken away from us.”

By now, it was coming to 20 minutes that we were chatting.

“Oh, I can see my friend waiting for me opposite the road. I got to go. I hope you’ve learned something and have a wonderful trip back.”

We shook hands and I thanked him for his brief history class.

This was the second time that someone was talking to me about the history of the place since I was here 2 months ago. The first was in Berchtesgaden where a 80+ year old man talked to me how happy he was to be back there since he was there during as an American soldier.

October 22, 2008 | Filed Under Opinions, Travels | 1 Comment 

A Brief History Class - Part I

I was strolling along the banks of river Neckar the other day, taking some photographs of the Old Bridge while waiting for the sun to set.

“Too bad it’s under renovation, huh.”

I thought I heard someone talking to me from behind. So I turned around and there was this middle aged man smiling at me.

“Yeah. I came all way here……and it’s under renovation. What a bad timing..”

And then he pointed towards the castle sitting on top of the hill behind the bridge.

“Have you been up there before? Do you know who destroyed it?”

He was referring to the Heidelberg Castle ( in German), the landmark of . It was first built as a fortress in the 12th century and then upgraded to a palace in the 15th century.

But what remains today is only it’s ruins. It was destroyed by Louis XIV and his French troops in 1689 when the war erupted.

“Do you know what they did to it”

“They stuffed the bottom of the watch tower with black gun powders and blew the hell out of it!”

Then he went on explaining the conflicts and wars between and France up to the first World War.

“Heard of the Treaty of Versailles?”

I shook my head.

It seems that I’m in for a brief European history class.

“There was this leader, you know. Gustav Bauer. I think he must be crazy and went to sign this murderous treaty with the Allied Forces after World War 1″

“Because of this treaty, we have to give back East & West Prussia (today’s Poland) back to Poland, Eupen Malmedy to Belgium (near to where I am), Saarland & Danzig to the League of Nations, Alsace-Lorraine to the Frech and a few more that I couldn’t remember exactly.”

“We had to give back our colonies in Africa, Tanganyika (today’s Tanzania), Namibia, Botswana and Rwanda-Burundi.”

“And the worse thing ever was we accepted full responsibility for causing World War 1 and we have to pay out compensations to other countries for the damages!”

“You see, we were getting stronger and stronger in the early 1900’s and was about to overtake England and France as the main powers in Europe, economically and military strengths. They couldn’t let this happen as it would cause an imbalance of powers in Europe.”

“So, they put restrictions on us. They forced us to reduce our army, they reduce our lands…”

“And we went backwards..”

“Until a nationalist came and woke up the country in 1939…”

To be continued in Part 2.

October 19, 2008 | Filed Under Opinions, Travels | 1 Comment 

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