What comes next?

Have you ever wondered what comes next? We come into the world, just like everyone else, go through the phases of life - childhood, adolescence, adulthood - accumulate memories of each phase, both pleasant and unpleasant, and in the rat race to survive, build a life and a family, settle into a routine and face whatever comes each day.

But have you ever stopped to wonder what's next? Maybe we are too busy to ponder on this. When we look through the newspapers, we read of accidents that maim or bring fatal consequences; the obituaries that announce the passing of people, old and young. The passing, where do they pass to?

Religion states that we come from God. We have souls clothed in earthly form and when we pass on or depart from life, we discard this earthly form and return to God. Through the milleniums, there would have been millions of souls who have passed through the stages of birth and death. So what happens to souls after death?

My grandmother who was a Buddhist, used to tell me about the 18 stages of Hell which is depicted graphically in the Tiger Balm gardens (Haw Par Villa). I dont know if this is still in existence. She said that people who were kind would not go to hell where the wicked were tortured but could look forward to being reborn to a better life. Thus was I introduced to the importance of being kind and to do good and also the concept of reincarnation.

Reincarnation - many do not subscribe to this at all. However, what happens to the millions of souls then? WHere do they go? Is there a place which shelters all who have passed on? Such a vast space? OR are souls recycled? Do animals, creatures created to populate the earth also have souls? Are they recycled as well into animals again or into some other form?

Is there another realm that exists alongside ours? That which we cannot see, since we are earthlings in mortal form. There could be another dimension alongside ours, perhaps layers of dimensions into which souls pass once they shed their mortal form. Have you ever felt the presence of "others", especially those of kith and kin who have passed on?

I have felt such presence, of my family members and loved ones. The feeling is such as if they were still with me in our earthly realm except that I cannot see them. I feel their presence and recall their voices, remember their smiles, what they said. This feeling is always a happy feeling and the closeness of their presence is such that I feel that I could touch them. Sometimes I even feel the hug of a close one.

I dont know. Has anyone felt this way, or share my view about this other dimension?

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Birthdays

Birthdays are milestones in one's life journey. Some are ignored or even forgotten in the busy whirl of activities. Birthdays are usually celebrated by loved ones to show their love for the birthday girl/boy.

Children love birthdays for the occasion means food and friends to share the fun and games. I remember my children's birthdays. They would get very excited as they could choose the type of birthday cakes they wanted. There was a train and three carriages one year, a beautiful doll in an exquisite ballgown, an aeroplane, a teddy bear, etc. etc. Then there were the presents to open and the oohs and ahs as their friends' gifts came to light.

Not all adults celebrate their birthdays though some may have an evening out with close friends or do something special to mark that day. Older adults have their birthdays celebrated for them by their offspring, in the form of a meal and gifts.

I am blessed with loving children, siblings and beloved friends. Each year, they never fail to mark the occasion of my birthday with a special meal, a birthday cake and presents. This year was truly special. My second daughter flew home giving me such a beautiful surprise. My dear old friend asked me out for tea with a couple of other friends and throughout the day greetings and good wishes came in via sms and ecards. My siblings called from Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur; my son from Singapore. That I was in their thoughts made my day. My young grandchildren made special birthday cards wishing me good health and longetivity. My grandson wished that I will always be as healthy as the two potted flowering plants that he drew in his card and my granddaughter drew a birthday cake with lots of candles. They really touched my heart.

Each birthday brings the thought "how many more??" No wonder the greeting "many happy returns" becomes more significant with each passing year. Whatever it is, how many more to come, nothing is more important than enjoying the day, relishing the love that surrounds one, and counting one's blessings. It can be a time to take stock and to see how one can improve oneself and make the effort to do some good, leaving footprints of note behind.

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All kinds to make the world

This morning my husband and I had our blood tests at the hospital. When we got back to the car park, we found that we couldn't get out because an inconsiderate driver had parked his car indiscriminately behind ours, not only obstructing the flow of traffic but also leaving us no room to reverse out of the parking lot.

My poor husband spent half an hour trying to manouvre his car this way and that, to get out but to no avail. His car was too long. By and by, more people came and tried to help. But we were still stuck, inspite of all the well-meant suggestions. Then someone saw a tow truck at the far end of the car park and went to get the driver to help. The young man came and he quickly let down the chains and hooked up to the car and he towed it a distance away, thereby enabling us to get out of the parking lot. A couple of them even suggested that the car be towed to the far end of the car park as he deserved it. I could see the glee on their faces at that suggestion. But in the end, they didn't cos they knew that the driver would have a nasty shock to see his car not there.

We were very grateful to all the folks who had come by to try and help. It gave us renewed faith in human nature. One bad 'un who simply parked his car in a place where he had no business to be, and the many others who had come to help in one way or another. The tow truck driver did not ask for any money too. It was out of the goodness of his heart when he saw the untenable situation of the silver-haired man who couldn't get his car out because of an inconsiderate driver.

I hope none of you out there will ever encounter this situation.

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Random Invitation

I would like to share this poem with you. I wrote it last year and it appears in "Casey and Penny's Guide to English " Book 1, authored by me. Incidentally, Peggy Lim is also known as Mrs Peggy Chan.

No R.S.V.P.

Young or old, rich or poor

One day, sooner or later,

All will R.I.P.,

Pushing up daisies or sealed in

Niches, arranged in concrete rows

In the Garden of Remembrance.

Whatever we can, do it out of kindness;

Wherever we can, help to make

Today a good day for someone.

The invitation without any R.S.V.P.

Comes out of the blue,

Often taking the invitees by surprise;

But all respond without fail,

For choice there is none.

Remember to slow down to smell the roses and along the way, do stop to lend a helping hand and reach out to those less fortunate than oneself. Doing so is good for the soul and believe me, you will certainly feel happier when you can make a difference to someone who's down.

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Random Thoughts

Have you ever stopped to think what happens next? What will happen in the next hour, next day, next week?

Most folks carry on doing what they do everyday, without really thinking of what could happen, that which is unthinkable or what is likely to happen if they are not aware of the consequences of their actions.

Has anything like that happened before to you or your friend?

It happened to a dear friend. He was so engrossed in his work, always snowed under a heavy schedule that he didn't have the time to smell the roses and ping! He found out he had an incurable disease which evaporated all his dreams. Dreams he held dear were bubbles bursting before him.

So don't rush through life, taking on more than you can really cope with. Slow down and smell the roses. Do you realise that roses smell different? They are not all of the same fragrance. Some don't even have any while others are so cloyingly sweet. There are thousands of varieties and their colors are so subtly different.

Enjoy your sojourn here while you may for you'll never know when you'll be pushing up the daisies. Cheers!

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