What is happiness? How can we define it?
During last weekend, I had lunch with 2 friends and the topic of happiness came up in our conversation.

I found one interesting and inspiring point: Challenge in life (perhaps difficulty from time to time) is an important element of happiness.

Imagine a life only to enjoy oneself and there is no challenge nor progress. Even in the fairy tales (Disneyland), there are challenges and difficulties before the happy ending. For example, Snow White was poisoned by her step-mother before being saved by her Prince Charming.

Actually “living happily till the end of their days” includes challenges and triumphs during their lives.
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Qu’est-ce que le bonheur? Comment peut-on le définir?

Pendant le week-end dernier, j’ai déjeuné avec deux amis et le sujet du bonheur est arrivé dans nos conversations.

Je trouve un point intéressant et inspirant est l’élément important du bonheur qui est le challenge (peut-être la difficulté de temps en temps) dans la vie.

Imaginez une vie seulement faite pour s’amuser sans défis, ni progrès. En effet, dans les histoires pour les enfants (Disneyland), il y a des défis et difficultés avant une fin heureuse! Ainsi Blanche-Neige, qui a été empoisonnée par sa belle-mère et après sauvée par le prince charmant :>

« Ils vécurent heureux jusqu’à la fin de leurs jours » en fait inclut des challenges et des triomphes au cours de leur vie!

Well – it is not the first time that I talk about a difficult subject (won’t be the last time neither). On the advice of my doctor (the same doctor from the previous blog), I went to see a specialist for my allergy (my nose). Mr. Specialist looked at me and said, “You have a slightly-broken nose, but it is part of your charm. I would not worry about it.”
In fact, for a long time (certainly when I was a teenager), I was conscious and embarrassed about my broken nose. Fortunately, like Mr. Specialist said, I finally accepted it and it became part of me (my charm).

I think there are many parallelisms and examples in life. For example, Jane Birkin, the known English actress, keeps her English accent when she speaks French because it is her charm and “signature”. In reality, she can speak French without any accent at all. Another example is Angelina Jolie who did not change her lips even if they look a bit too “strong”.

In summary, I think one lesson for us is when we accept the way we are, we can transform our weakness (physical or not) into our charm and show the world that it is a part of us (perfect or not).
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Transformer une faiblesse apparente en un charme
Bon – ce n’est pas la première fois où je parle d’un sujet difficile (ni la dernière fois).
A l’avis de mon médecin (le même médecin que dans mon dernier message), je suis allé chez un spécialiste médicale pour mon problème d’allergie (mon nez).
Monsieur le spécialiste m’a regardé et a dit, « Bon, vous avez un nez légèrement cassé. Mais c’est votre charme et je trouve que ça ne dérange pas ».
En fait, depuis longtemps (certainement quand j’étais adolescent), j’étais conscient et gêné de mon nez cassé. Heureusement comme monsieur le spécialiste a dit, je l’ai finalement accepté et il est devenu une partie de moi (mon charme).

Je pense qu’il y a des parallèles et des exemples dans la vie. Par exemple, Jane Birkin, une actrice anglaise connue, garde son accent anglais quand elle parle français parce que son accent est son charme et sa « signature ». En réalité, Jane peut parler français sans accent. Autre exemple, Angelina Jolie n’ai modifié pas ses lèvres même si elles sont un peu trop voluptueuses.

En résumé, je pense que la leçon pour nous est que si on s’accepte comme on est, on peut transformer notre faiblesse (physique ou non) en notre charme et montrer au monde que c’est une partie de nous, parfaite ou non.

I went for my annual medical check last week. I would like to share some advice that I found useful from that visit.
#1) Do cardiovascular exercises as simple as walking to the office for at least 30 minutes every day.
#2) Drink more water (ideally 2 litres a day).
#3) Avoid too much orange juice for breakfast as it contains a lot of sugar.
#4) Improve your body balance by Yoga or Pilates in particular for people of a certain age.
One common accident (sometimes fatal) among older people is falling (to the ground).
#5) Have sufficient sleep for at least 7 hours to maintain good health.

Good health to all:>
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Conseils médicaux
Je suis allé chez le médecin pour mon examen annuel la semaine dernière. Je veux partager les conseils que j’ai trouvé utiles avec vous.
#1) Faire des exercices cardiovasculaire aussi simples que marcher au bureau au moins 30 minutes chaque jour.
#2) Boire plus d’eau (idéalement 2 litres).
#3) Éviter trop de jus d’orange au petit déjeuner parce qu’il a plein de sucre.
#4) Améliorer votre équilibre du corps par le yoga ou le pilate particulièrement pour les personnes âgés. Un accident chez les personnes âgés (souvent fatal) est tomber par terre.
#5) Dormir suffisamment au moins 7 heures pour maintenir une bonne santé

Bonne santé à vous 🙂

What is your view of competition or the world? Is it a boxing ring meaning only ONE person (preferably your very good self) out of two wins? Or is it similar to the Noah’s Ark that everyone on board tries to help one another to survive and create a new (better) world?

I think it depends on individual cases, but more often than not, there is more than one winner and we don’t have to live a “cut-throat” overly-competitive life.

Healthy competition helps us progress and reach a higher ground and the key is to do our best regardless of the competition. Offer genuine congratulations to others who won (though you wish it was you)!

There is a place for one-to-one competition, but be mindful that good sportsmanship is always appreciated. In other cases, we can aim to grow and progress collectively while in competition with one another (and our previous best) in a positive and honest way.

On such a cheerful note, I would like to wish everyone a wonderful start of the year and a new year better than last.

The timing could not have been better. I was working on a blog to conclude this mini blog on more mature people in the modern world as well as my last blog for the year. I came across an article in the current issue of the Time magazine (17-Dec-2018) featuring the 41st US President George Herbert Walker Bush who has passed away recently.

The article is called “What the 42st president taught us” by Richard Haass. “Bush also exemplified how there is nothing you cannot accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit. Bush understood that his presidency was temporary, that public service was a noble calling, that politics can unite. But that requires a willingness to compromise, to see those on the other side as opponents – not enemies – and to put shared love of the country before all else.”

To echo that, I think being more mature, we can be more “generous” with our credit and more willing to pass it onto others (deserve it or not). Don’t let “who is getting the credit” get in the way of achieving our goal and sometimes compromise may be needed. I recall an ex-colleague once took me aside after a long group meeting and said, “Raymond, it is so refreshing to work with more mature people like you that don’t always cling onto who is getting the credit!” . I took it as a compliment. To me, accomplishing the goal is more important personally than getting the credit.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
All the best in 2019 and beyond :>

I am back from my vacation (it has been a while) and let us continue on this topic. I actually have gained more insights by discussing this very subject with some of my friends during my vacation. The next element on my list is the suggestion that people with more experience tend to possess a greater appreciation and understanding of diversity and difference.
This may be a controversial point as some people may argue that more mature people may be more “set in their own ways”.
I would argue that for a person with the SAME degree of open-mindedness (not sure if such term exists yet), with more life experiences to various people and encounters would enable him/her to evaluate as well as come up with different opinions. Furthermore, they may have experiences similar to the current situation and/or the realization that there can be more than one viable solution to a problem.

The fifth element is having a deep sense of balance. I think having more experience in life often helps people put things in perspective as well as look at things beyond the immediate future. Some people may call this attribute stillness and solidness of one’s character. In other words, more mature people tend to have a greater capacity to “weather the storm”. They probably have encountered something similar in life that they (hopefully) have learned a lesson or two which can come in handy when life gets tough at times.
Hold your ground and breathe deep into the diaphragm – Yes, you can!

Self-understanding and reflection constitute the fourth element that I would like to discuss.
The more experienced people can look back in their own longer histories (on work and life) and reflect on what has worked and what can be improved on.
Assuming the same state of mind, we do have more experience and lessons to be drawn on when we are faced with challenges and problems.
Having said that, it should not stop us from being creative in seeking new solutions.
Use it wisely.

The third element that I would like to highlight is the sense of inner security from the more seasoned people.
What I meant is the security and confidence built by your years (decades for some) of experience accumulated at work and in life.
You have already accomplished something being worked and lived for “so long” :> As they said, “you must have done something right to get this far in life.”
One can always do better or worse and personal accomplishment itself can be quite subjective. Regardless of what – You should give yourself “a pat on your shoulder” and walk tall.

Continuing on my previous blog, I think the second important point is networking.
Everything being equal, a more seasoned professional should have a bigger network of colleagues, friends and family.
We should take advantage of that and make the best out of it.
Our network is extremely crucial for getting feedback, support and referral for new opportunities.
Take it seriously and don’t miss out on the power of network that we spent years (if not decades :>) to build.