Fighting terrorism on all fronts in every land at all times

WE all know what terrorism is all about. We have seen it on TV. We have read about it. Some of us may even have felt it personally.
Now's the time to actively take part in shutting down the juggernaut called Terrorism.
First, we must know where it has sunk its roots. Second, we must let all the people across all regions where man has made home that there's a better alternative to terror.
We must convince people that NOT supporting terror is not good enough. They must actively participate in bringing down the House of Terror. If a man stands on a soapbox and advocates terror as an answer to some of the ills that exist, then somebody better call the cops.
Terrorists are able to survive for so long because good people continue to keep to themselves. They mind their own business. Minding your own business simply means you are turning your face away in plain sight of a crime being committed in your presence.
What does that tell the criminal? It sends a message to him that he can mug, rob and beat up anybody in the street because he knows nobody has the guts to stop him.
That is basically what is happening around the world. The silent majority is unconsciously aiding the cause of terrorism.
We simply must not remain quiet. Terrorists kill people in large numbers. That is their aim. They want as much chaos as they can muster. They want to eliminate as many innocent people as they can. They want to rob everybody of their peace of mind.
Now, why do the world allow these evil people from acting with impunity? It puzzles me all the time.
If people decide today that they have had enough, no terrorist will find sanctuary anywhere on earth. Simply because there's no place to hide. How do you hide in a neighbourhood of good people.
Good folks know every inch of their own backyard. If a stranger intrudes, even a child knows he's not your usual Joe.
The crime committed by so-called intelligent, hardworking masses is to let the authorities take care of the problem. If we don't actively help the authorities, we are just as guilty as the guilty ones because we refuse to lift a finger to help mankind.
Before the Second World War, the world was in such a stage. People the world over clamour for peace. They march for peace, they cry for peace and they compromise with Hitler. And the price Hitler exacted on these peace-loving people was about 40 million lives. A high price indeed.
Today, at this very hour, if you know you can help to keep terrorism at bay and you do not because you feel it's "not your business", then mankind is in trouble. If the situation is allowed to continue, soon you too will be in trouble.
Terrorism is like a forest fire that threatens all the homes in its path. If you don't help the firemen and your neighbours to put out the fire, soon the flames will spread to your house and engulf it. It is really that simple.
Help yourself, help your neighbour, help your children to see a better tomorrow.
Terrorism finds hope in people who have a habit of "looking the other way". Give these rascals no hope, no shelter, no sanctuary.
Give the rest of the world hope, Instill in them that a peaceful world means food on the tables, safety in cafes, joy in homes, and smiles on human faces.
Why do we allow ourselves to be bullied incessantly and relentlessly by people who harbour suicidal tendencies? Why do we allow our children to be robbed of their future? Why do we allow our parents to grieve unnecessarily for us, should anything happen to us unexpectedly?
Of course, we can do something about it. We should act as one, we should behave as one, and we should tell terrorists and all those who use other people to kill themselves for their own selfish ends to go away and atone for their sins.
If enough people stand up and be counted, the House of Terror will fall tomorrow, and the march of peace will surge to the fore, bringing hope, peace and joy to every home across the globe. This is our right. Let's do it!!

Whither journalism?

FOR A better part of 100 years, journalism was the profession that made nice Hollywood stories. Everybody outside the field of journalism thinks this profession is glamorous, exciting and adventurous.
The fact that they thought so was understand. Many of those aspiring to be journalists found out to their horror about a year or two after joining a newspaper or magazine that it wasn't what they had made it out to be.
Journalism is actually zilch on the excitement level three-quarters of the time. One veteran journalist told me once: Savour this moment, my friend. We spent years walking in darkness and in obscurity. Occasionally, something really exciting happens and we are right in the forefront, so enjoy the moment."
How right he was, too.
Journalists are just working class people who seek to tell an ordinary story in the most intelligible and exciting manner as possible. Many of us us actually can't write to save our own lives. "Save me, Save me!" doesn't count.
The really good journalists go on to become authors. Some of them turn out to be good book writers. But that's just about it. Journalists are a dime a dozen these days. There are so many of the. They have become just like ants. You squash one, and there are 10,000 more under the woodwork.
Most of us wish we can right but we are just too lazy to. Anybody with a pre-school education can write a few simple lines. To really write, you need to be a good story teller. Otherwise, you will be just spitting in the wind.
On the bright side, journalists have been known to cause changes in a country or corporation that have affected thousands - for the better.
Today, we read newspapers for information, written by people who sell news as a commodity. Journalism is therefore a much needed profession. People want to know if their lives are the same as others living 1,000 miles away.
We read about individuals striking a multi-million dollar lottery and all of us wish we were in that person's shoes. Then we read about a double-murder near our neighbourhood and become totally grateful that it wasn't our turn to go.
These days, I am slightly worried about journalism. I read foreign newspapers and asked myself: "Is this journalism?" Or, sometimes I say to myself, "these writers are half-insane. They are actually shaming their country in front of strangers."
Very often, journalists write on the side of caution. There are laws against libel and slander. Most journalists who intend to hang around longer than five years tend to refer to their superiors with regard to the laws that govern journalism.
Journalists have been known to be jailed, killed and deported out of unfriendly countries.
Very few journalists write exciting memoirs after they have retired. Simply because their lives were one big boring session. Journalism is not exactly living the life of Indiana Jones.
Journalists are messenger of news. It is an honourble profession with some excitement in store. Nobody knows when will this quality showed up but many people have been known to wait till they are actually given the walking certificate.
One of the good attributes of journalism is the freedom to act as a catalyst to change things for the better. Many a corrupt government has been asked to leave because journalists have been doing their jobs.
However, in recent years, I notice some journalists have great liberties with this freedom of expression clause. They cast aspersions on the characters of dead celebrities and other personalities of national importance. Their only defence is that they say they found this "fact", that "fact" or have interviewed several people.
It is rather sad when I come across stories like this in reputed dailies.
Hey, journalism is an honourable profession. Let's not sully it with innuendoes and libellous stuff that put dead people in bad light and good people who are still alive in trouble.
Journalism is not a licence to smear. I guess most hardworking, intelligent journalists know that. But this rule has been broken more than once.
I believe as far as possible journalists should strive to pursue the line of justice, truth and fair-play. We are not here on Earth to play God, even though some members of our profession mistakenly think they are on the right side of heaven.
We could be construed as the conscience of the nation and we must abide by this principle as far as possible and as long as possible, so help us, God!
Therefore, in the light of my personal revelations, let it not be said that journalists are mostly hacks who can't think straight without a beer on one hand and a handphone on the other.
Fortunately for the profession, more good has been done than bad but as usual we must not rest on our laurels. Otherwise, we will be spiked with our own pens!

Bad luck - what's that? Knock on wood!

I AM putting the final touches to my latest personal philosophy on the notion of bad luck. First and foremost, I wish to declare that there's no such thing as bad luck.
Bad luck does not fall on anybody...things do happen to individuals. Nothing personal, you know.
There are some people who are always cursing their fate or putting bad careers and unhappy personal experiences on bad luck. I subscribe to the belief that all things happen for a reason.
It is not my wish or inclination or in my limited wisdom to expound on those "reasons". Suffice to say, those events that take place in all our lives have a reason for happening.
Have you ever come across a person who gets into an accident, breaks his leg and says "Oh, broke my leg! Must be for a good reason!" Or, another guy saying, "my house was burnt down last night. I think that's a good reason as any to move away from the present neighbourhood."
Few people actually say things like that. And if they do, they will be candidates for a swift visit to the doctor for psychiatric evaluation.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if most of us take all those unpleasant things that happen to you in our stride. There's something to be said about not getting too worked up over them.
There have been occasions when I tell colleagues, "bad luck - there's no such thing!" I almost never fail to come up with my famous, and sometimes irritating line, "one door closes, two more open."
There were a few instances when I was almost on the receiving end of a tight slap. If you have lived as long as I have, you tend to look at life and all its related activities as things that happen for your own sake.
The thing is to look at it from a positive manner. Now you are asking, how do you interpret a personal tragedy? What if a really unhappy incident takes place?
Well, the pain will go away in time. Grief is part of our lives but you are not supposed to hold on to it like a nice, comfy pillow. It will suck the life out of you.
Pain is a way of reminding us that we need to get over it and overcome some aspects of our lives that need correcting.
So next time, if a flower pot falls from the window latch and falls on your toes. Ouch if you must but first clean up the wound, apply the correct medicine, take a day off and watch TV. I think life could be telling you to take a rest. You have been too hard on yourself.

Sleep - life's most pleasurable final frontier

I THINK sleep is under-rated. Some people actually think sleeping is a waste of time. By the time we die, experts say, we would have slept away one-third of our lives.
To these people I say, "so what?! I get a lot of rest out of this "senseless" one-third. Personally, sleep has been a most productive arena for me. From my thousands of hours of sleep, I have gained so much.
For those who understand the active playground of the human subconscious, sleep can be the solver of all human problems. There have been times in my life when I couldn't find a solution to certain personal problems. Out of desperation and probably tiredness as well, I go to sleep.
More often than not, I woke up later on with a solution that came from the most unexpected sources. I attributed a lot of these "breakthroughs" to these unconscious moments when I was gallivanting in the playfields of my mind.
Notice how long babies sleep? Notice that babies are always happy. Anyway, I guess I am lucky I always come across happy, laughing babies. I believe sleep is a great de-stressor. When the mind is troubled, followed by a tired body, the chief physical symptom is a craving to hit the sack.
Sleep is one of life's safety valves. It puts a person on a recovery mode, much like a computer when it goes into a loop. As unconsciousness seeps in, the body and mind go into reverse gear and finds a solution to life's troubling situations.
Of course, answers and solutions are not found all the time but they do come occasionally. Scientists are only beginning to find out recently that if a person sends a mental command to himself to find a solution to what seems like an intractable problem, the mind activates its own built-in mechanism to seek out the best possible answer.
I believe this technique is called image streaming. Genuises are known to use this method, even though most of them don't have a label on it. Albert Einstein says the human imagination is much more superior to the brain. I believe that was how he came up with the theory of relativity, and this theory revolutionised the world for the next 100 years.
Sleep is the best antidote for every life-form found on earth. Insects and animals sleep. If sleep has got no advantages then it wouldn't be created in all our bodies, whether human or animal.
It serves a purpose but more than what we think it is for. One day in the future, hopefully not too far in the future, man will discover the real purpose of sleep. And it's not just rest for these tired, old bones of ours.
Sleep on this one and tell me what you think.

What to do with the rest of your life - starting today!

If you are 20 years old, then you read someone else's blog, but if you are middle-aged then perhaps you can spare five minutes.
Listen, I am not a guru of some obscure semi-religious movements who has practically all the answers to human woes. I am just like you, middle-aged, slightly unsure what the future holds and are a bit hopeful that life will be better for me from today on.
Middle-aged people (middle-income wage earners) usually have a house, a car, maybe two kids and a little nest-egg (savings) by now. You are not the millionaire-next-door yet but you think you can make it to that category in about 7 to 10 years.
If you believe life can only get better from now on, then you have come to the right place. No, I have no money to give you but I have some nuggets of advice. How useful they are, is really up to you. Some people hear opportunity knocking at their door and think that it's the branches outside hitting the wooden panelling. Others hear the same noise, get up without hesitation and open the door. Which type are you?
Life is one long or short process of learning experiences. Most of them are actually opportunities for you to better yourself and in the process help improve other people's lives.
Even so-called enemies fall into this category. For example, sometimes someone you dislike intensely bugs you for no reason. It spurs you on to do something different from the way you normally do things. Suddenly, that "thing" changes your life and you find yourself on a winning streak.
You may not realise it but that "enemy" actually helped you to find the right path. Of course, you won't be in a hurry to thank him. Most probably, you don't even know it was him who prompted you to move in that direction.
The point is to recognise a good thing when it comes your way.
One of the ways of recognising a "good thing" is to ask yourself, how will I benefit if I make use of this or that? Will it harm me in any way? What does it cost me in terms of time? Since, you are already middle-age, you have plenty of time.
Reduce some of the time you spend losing all those balls at the golf course.
One of the best kept secrets in this universe is this: If you want something for yourself, make sure someone else gets it first. In other words, you help others to succeed. Wow! You must be thinking, what kind of insane theory is this?
Not insane but logical. Logical because a person who becomes successful because of your help will in turn try to help you. If you have helped enough people in the long run, there will be a sufficient number among them who will return to lend you a helping hand.
Be determined in doing all the right things. A lot of people don't succeed, not because they are stupid or not intelligent or not street-savvy enough. It is simply because they are not persistent, not determined and don't have faith in their own abilities.
Afraid of failure? Who isn't? It is a normal feeling. It is so normal that practically nine out of 10 people stop themselves from improving because they are being labelled as a "loser". You know that big alphabet "L".
Uncaring people are usually the ones who pull others down with them. Don't let these people discourage you. There are plenty of people like that out there. No need to be angry with them, that's life. Just be determined and focused on your own goals.
If I may, will you spare some time on a spiritual quest. This is the line of most resistance. Most people when they hear the word "God", they feel as if someone has put a red-hot poker on their arm.
Why in heaven's name should anyone be afraid of being spiritual, religious or in touch with divinity. We are all spiritual beings in human form anyway. If you don't look beyond this world for some of your answers, you won't find much on the earthly plane.
Be aware of what's intangible. It's like faith. Sometimes you have to move from here to there beyond. It's not something shameful. It's not something "duh" (as the young people would call it). It's something quintessential to the core of our being.
OK, let me stop leaning too heavily on this subject before you lodge a complaint with the council of churches. Just a reminder, think of the kind things in life always, and you are not far from the right path.
Don't be obsessed with wealth. It will come soon enough once you are doing the right thing.
The rest of your life can be one long trip or a very short walk, depending on your life-line. Just joking. Don't think too much about how long more you got to live. Think about maximising the rest of the time you have in your hands.
Remember to have fun. Fun is so important that I can't overstate it. People achieve wonderful and marvellous things when they are happy. It's true. When was the last time, you were really happy?
Happiness is a decision. If you decide right now that you are going to be happy, nothing in the world can stop you. Even if you are in solitary confinement in some so-called remote region in Outer Mongolia, you still can be fantastically happy. It's very easy. Just tell yourself, "I am one big, fat happy dude and I know it now!"
Believe it, act on it and smile, Brother, God is on your side. Whoever heard of a sad God. If anybody tell you that God is always sad, give him a swift kick to the butt because he's obviously talking about some Hollywood comedian.
If you want to be happy, then make others happy. That's the whole wonderful silly formula. Don't believe me, try it yourself.

Bringing hope to the bone-weary

THESE days I find myself almost unconsciously always cheering those downtrodden, depressed, utterly frustrated people whom I know. I don't know why but I feel this irresistible urge to give them some kind of hope when all they do see is a long, dark tunnel with no light either coming in or at the end of it.
I guess I remember vaguely that when I was in that state of mind many moons ago, there was nobody I really remember giving me hope and optimism. How I survived those times is really hard to tell. All I do remember is that I was always praying for help.
You can't imagine how good a guy can get at this praying thing until he seems always in the thick of trouble. I pray just before I sleep. I prayed at the school chapel. I prayed in church every Sunday. I pray so much I thought I might as well become a priest. No, just joking.
Anyway, the praying part was real. I learnt from that experience that many people suffer from a lack of hope in their lives. They are always moving from depression to depression. Nothing in their lives seems to give them any reason to carry on.
Perhaps that is why the suicide rate keeps on going up. People just find it too hard to continue living the kind of life they have leading. The easiest way to cheer a depressed guy is to giving him or her a free meal.
One must be careful not to make it look like charity. The last thing a depressed person wants is pity but they do appreciate an attentive audience. So they are not perfect but I don't care.
One of the techniques I used is to employ encouraging words. Everybody, regardless of his background, should be supported by kind words or gestures. It gives them hope to carry on. Of course, there will those who look upon words of encouragement as some kind of HIV virus. They feel they don't need it, they don't want it and they absolutely can't stand others having pity for them.
It is so easy to light up a person's day. When you next see a guy whose head is hanging down, don't ask him what's troubling him, instead say, "I am feeling generous today, drinks on me!"
Or, "don't look so down. It could be worse. You could be born on the wrong side of New Orleans!" There is a dearth of messages of good hope in today's world. A lot of people walk around thinking that life has been very unfair to them.
They complain incessantly that life has dealt them a raw deal. They never thought of the times when they had a meal to eat at least twice a day. They forgotten the fact that there's a roof over their heads and colour TV is at their disposal next or day.
It is our duty as a fellow human being to prop up our struggling brother. One day, it may be our turn. Who knows how well we can cope the situation. Everyone sometime in his life will have to undergo sufferings of the human kind. We can't avoid it but we can certainly not make a big deal about it.
One of the things this world needs less of are whiners. People who feel sorry for themselves are suckers for punishment. Why punish yourself in such an obvious way.
We the so-called knowing kind must help all those who need it, to stand up, walk a bit straighter and speak softly and gently to our neighbours.
Loneliness is not the monopoly of anyone. All of us are entitled to it. There are cases of individuals who wallow in so much pity that they go to their graves withe the look of enormous stress.
We must put the smiles back on our brethren (men or women).When we have done the needful, the smiles will trigger an effect that will reverbrate around the world. Whenever I hear laughter in the distance, I always tell myself: How lucky these people are. They are laughing all the time. Surely, their lives must be rather cheerful.
Those who have benefited from Cheers from the Heart should in time help others so that they can in turn help others when the time comes.
The magic of bringing hope to others needs no capital. It cannot be taken for granted because the guy is next to you may be on his last leg. Sometimes you could very well be his last hope. If you don't say the right thing, that's just like pushing him over the cliff.
One day when we have cheered enough people in this world, our lives will suddenly veer around and thank us for a job well done. The words, Faith, Hope and Charity, were created so that one day, we will remind ourselves and others that we can help ourselves by helping others.
The opportunities will always present themselves. We must be prepared. Even if for the rest of our lives, we don't achieve anything outstanding, we can take consolation in the fact that our kind words have turned many an individual around. God bless us all.

Climb every mountain, cross every stream, walk every byway, till you find your dream!

That line comes from a song sang by the Mother Superior in the movie Sound of Music. I have lost track of that song for decades until recently when I heard strains of it again from a staged play.
Now that I am in phase three of my life, this song has a much deeper meaning for me than when I first heard it in my teens.
Of course, I did not literally climbed every mountain, or cross every stream. What I did during those growing-up years was to take some risks here and there. And when I get all fired up, I moved a little faster and pounded the pavement a little harder than usual.
All in all, life had been a blast so far. Yes, I admit sometimes it has been a bit of a whimper than an explosion. That's what's called vicissitudes of life.
Still, I am pursuing my dream. A dream of having the freedom to do anything I want on a daily basis. I dream of a time in the not-too-distant future when I don't have to adhere to office regulations because I can set my own rules.
I desire to get up anytime I want to; I seek to buy anything I want but not too excessive; I look forward to a time when I can share my wealth with those who deserve a helping hand, or who really need a helping hand, and I hold on to my dream of being one with the universe. The last one can be a bit dicey because I am not "really operating on that level yet".
I know it begins with a dream. The idea is to hold on to it and don't give up. That sounds simple enough but the majority of us tend to give up even before we can begin.
The masters have advised those who seek to fulfil their dreams to keep working at it, even if the journey seems long and tiresome. Focus on the destination and don't lose sight of the scenery. I have been told this more than once.
Yes, it's true, the scenery along the journey has been proven to be as beautiful as it can get. We should enjoy our trip, because once you have arrived at your destination, you will have to make new plans. Otherwise, it can get a bit boring.
I am surprised that sometimes the wisest answers come not from a bare-chested old chap sitting on a boulder on top of a mountain but from some familiar songs which I have heard many times before, except that this time, I paid attention to its lyrics.
The message has always been there, except I have not heard it. I guess I was too busy walking up the wrong avenue.

Is Intelligence over-rated?

The emphasis from the day you were born to the day you expire is how intelligent you were while you were alive.
Parents are always making a big fuss over the big preschool for their children, then it is the best high school and if at all possible, best college or university as well.
All this points to one thing - how intelligent you are and how proud they are of you. Most of the time, bragging about your scholastic achievements. Some of us know that while intelligence can determine to some extent your chances of success in many fields, it is not the overriding factor in the final outcome of an individual's life.
The original question: Is intelligence then over-rated. Yes in many instances and no in some. If a particular profession requires that a person be intelligent in an obvious manner, then it is probably a prerequisite. Some companies do conduct preliminary IQ tests for potential candidates for a particular post.
However, intelligence does not factor in if a person is determined to succeed despite the lack of education. In many cases, success is dependent on a person's desire to succeed inspite of the odds.
Intelligence is also not a determinant of future personal happiness. Some of the most successful people on earth are very unhappy. There are so many reasons. Chief among which is the mistaken notion that money can buy happiness.
People like to say "I have been unhappy and poor, and I have happy and rich. I prefer to be rich and unhappy." That's a conversation classic. It can be argued to its unsuccessful conclusion every time till it's time to leave the guest's house.
Women are particularly impressed by men who are intelligent. Somehow, nature's instinct kicks in and women unconsciously believe that intelligent men will produce better offsprings whose chances of survival or being successful would be much higher. This is a throwback to the theory of the fittest and the most intelligent survives.
Men, however, may not want their women to be too intelligent. Something to do with ego, although at present I do not have statistics to support my case. But I think I am right to a large degree.
Thus, we can safely conclude that intelligence is not over-rated if a particular profession demands it. For example, space aeronautics. You obviously need to have at least a PhD in nuclear physics or pure mathematics or theoretical physics to qualify for a senior position in Nasa. A high school qualification simply won't wash in this instance.
Now, if you just want to be like Donald Trump, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, then it's fairly easy. Gates is a drop-out. I think Jobs too. All you need is an obsessive compulsion to succeed in a field you love. In Jobs and Gates' case, they were and still are about computers. Because they developed a lifelong interest in the field of their personal desire, they succeed beyond their families' expectations.
We all wish we were as smart as Albert Einstein but we are not. Hence, we have to leave it to the chosen few to have fame thrust on them. For the rest of the ordinary mortals, we must abide by Mother Teresa's advice - "don't small things with great love."
It is my personal opinion then that intelligence is a nice human trait but I wouldn't want to rest all my hopes and dreams on it. In many instances, it is overrated.
I prefer the most human qualities like compassion, kindness, forgiveness and most of all love. These qualities are more enduring and they transcend time and distance. Clearly they are the winners.

All that fuss over caption writing

WRITING FANTASTIC CAPTIONS

Writing good captions is an art. Everybody outside the newpaper office thinks it is the easiest thing to do next to wiping your face with a tissue. Wrong. Great captions fire the imagination of the reader.
It doesn't tell you what you are already seeing. The precious as gold caption is witty, makes you laugh and leaves a satisfied feeling in your tummy.
If you have a picture of two nuns crossing the street. One of them in the picture is holding on to her crucifix. What are you going to tell your reader? See, I told you it won't be easy.
Don't make fun of the nuns. The Catholic Church won't be amused. The idea is to make it tasteful and pleasant without sounding like you are just a smart alec who needs a smack on the head.
The catch is to make the caption short and sweet. Some captions are too long, some are too short. Don't make a caption so long that the reader runs out of breath. He won't forgive you or the newspaper you are working for. And if your boss finds out, you may just be the company's new office boy.
One tip on writing captions. Buy the best gossip magazines in the magazine racks. Some of them have some of the best captions in the world. No harm in learning from others. You need all the help you can get.
Also, develop a cheerful outlook on life. People like that normally make good caption writers.

Creative route to producing saleable copy

The Not-So-Hidden Secret of Writing Creative Copy

THOSE people who don't know often come to the conclusion that creative copywriters are some kind of special people who have special skills in writing copy that will hold their audience spellbound.
Not really, and I don't mean to throw cold water on them. It is true, the really good copywriters can capture the imagination of consumers. That's why they get big, fat paychecks.
Some of the attributes of good to excellent copywriters are:
1. Thrive under pressure. The greater the stress, the bigger their smiles (strange people, I know).
2. Above-average command of English, or Spanish (if you are working in Barcelona or Madrid).
3. Non-conformist type of person. Usually it's the slightly wacky chaps who can ferret out the wittest copy. This is not to say the black tie-type of guy can't produce good copy too but it's rare.
4. Pays great attention to details. Creative thinking and writing comes from a finely honed skill of observing the ordinary in the most extraordinary way. Ask Leonardo da Vinci, he was an expert at that. That means you need to see a leaf and then discover a world. That kind of thing, if you catch my drift.
5. Great creative copy also comes from a very relaxed state of mind. Don't ask me to explain but it has something to do with getting in touch with the outer limits. Sounds like science fiction until you actually tap onto the true source. Sounds scary, doesn't it?
6. Again, genius-type creative writing is crystal clear. It can trigger a chain of mental images and the language used is simple to sometimes being idiotic. Ah, but you didn't think of that in the first place.
7. Creative maestros do not walk the beaten path, they normally stray. They are like that - huge nuisance (makes everybody go looking for them).
8. Conceptualise. That's a terrible word. Those jokers in the creative dept like to use this term. They actually mean form "the big picture". In other words, develop a theme of some kind and throw it at your targeted audience. Get the picture?
9. Take lots of break. Don't think ideas are only confined to your workplace. Very often the best ideas for copy writing comes when you are in the toilet. Honest. Try that sometime but don't stay there for too long. It may cause suspicions.
10. Listen to your heart. Yes, that's true. Don't ignore your intuition. Sometimes when you are suffering from a mental block. Just forget it. Literally. It may happen or it may not but you may get a hunch. Latch on to it and milk it for your dear life.

Time Magazine's Man of the Half-Century

BACK about 20 years ago, I was in England, sort of loitering around. One day, I found myself outside Blenheim Palace.
One of the features about the magnificent building was its massive library. I have always love books and anything that has anything to do with books. The sight of the stupendous multi-tiered book shelves took my breath away.
"This guy was certainly born rich," I told myself. Blenheim Palace was Winston Churchill's birth home. Its grounds are magnificent. Even the grass looks like a massive Persian green carpet.
Can anyone be any richer? I asked myself again. Churchill was related to the famous Duke of Malborough who was reported never to have lost a single battle.
Back to the man of that hour - Winston Spenser Churchill, who was born to be great. Before Blenheim, Churchill was just that craggy-faced Brit who looked like a bulldog or had a bulldog tenacity as the media had reported him to be.
Outside Blenheim Palace, I stumbled onto a souvenir shop and some books on Churchill were on sale. Since, my pockets were generally empty, I bought a paperback entitled "My Early Years by Winston Churchill". That night, I returned to my room and started reading the paperback.
By the time, I finished the book I became thoroughly fascinated by this Englishman who had died in 1965 at the age of 95. What a fantastic life he led.
One of Churchill's strongest points was his ability to convince his countrymen to fight on despite overwhelming odds. Churchill was labelled as Britain's Last Lion. His roar could be heard through the war years.
He rallied frightened citizens to fight for survival, to fight on until victory is ensured and then on achieving victory, be maganimous about the whole triumph.
Since that visit to Blenheim Palace, I have read most of Churchill's books. He writes with a force and a passion that holds the reader right up to its fateful end.
I can understand why Britain is so proud of her famous son. It's true that Churchill at the end of the day is still a man but what a character he was.
He had his faults, weaknesses just like you and I, the only difference was he overcame all his shortcomings and rose to the occasion and kept his many dates with destiny. Churchill really believed he was meant to feature prominently in the Second World War.
When the war started, Churchill was almost immediately appointed the Prime Minister of Britain. He said he felt as if his entire life was a major preparation for that hour and that time. And he was right.
His encouraging words, his fighting messages and his bulldog determination fired the imagination of all of England and gave his countrymen courage "to fight on for years if necessary, and if necessary, alone". Such were the power of those words that even I was stirred when I first read them.
Today, Winston Churchill continues to be an icon or symbol for Britain's fighting spirit. In desperate times when the shadow of darkness and evil descended on Europe, Churchill walked right through the heart of darkness and fear and led his people through.
After the Battle of Britain, he said those famous words: "Never in the field of human conflict, have so many owed so much to so few (referring to the British pilots)."
Indeed when Churchill's war years could be described in his own words as "Britain's finest hour".
Without sounding over sentimental, it is my personal opinion that Winston Churchill is one of Britain's brightest shining lights in modern times. I continue to follow the man through his books and books written about him.

Secrets of the Chicken soup guy

JACK Canfield is a man known to many who have read his Chicken Soup series. Together with his partner Mark Victor Hansen, both men have produced more than 75 titles under the Chicken Soup banner.
Recently, I came across Jack's latest contribution to society. It is called The Success Principles. It is about 473 pages. Not exactly your usual run-of-the-mill book which totals about 270 pages.
Success Principles is a fun book. Fun in the sense that it makes you want to go out and apply some of the principles to your own life. The principles are simple and straightforward. They are not state secrets.
In fact, they are so simply and down-to-earth, they may make you think of your mum or your dad because you have heard some of the principles of most of them from your parents.
The book is reader-friendly because the language is simple, the chapters are short and it is very well organised.
Some people are put off by inspirational and motivational books. I really can't understand why. Motivational books are like those by Norman Vincent Peale's Positive Thinking series, or Dale Carnegie's How to Win and Influence People, or even Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich.
Those are all marvellous books which have inspired many individuals to improve their own lives and then go on to help many others stuck in their own predicaments.
There are 64 principles discussed, explained and anecdoted with examples throughout the book. Canfield is realistic enough to point out that to achieve a fair measure of success in life, an individual needs to work hard, take risks and persists until victory is finally achieved.
It is not a magic formula where you only have to rest on the couch and everything good falls on your lap. This is not the kind of book that you read and then forget about it.
The tips you read about will have to be applied and applied constantly. You also have to practise and practise and practise. Like a beginner who start learning piano, you need to train over and over again the proper steps until it becomes second nature to you.
Success Principles won't be the kind of book that Jack Canfield will be proud of, if it doesn't taste and read like a Chicken Soup book. Indeed, it does but in a significantly different way.
Canfield has culled from his world travels and his countless hours of meeting motivational gurus and other leaders the information and gems of knowledge that proffered in this book.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone above the age of 10. Maybe, I should lower the age limit to six, after all anyone with rudimentary education can understand Canfield's way of speaking.
Beg, borrow or appeal for this book. There is no such thing as "waiting for the right time" to read. Anytime is a good time. Don't be too proud to say that you don't know all the answers.
Here are all the answers you need. All you need to do is to memorise them and apply them one by one to your life and watch miracles happen. It's that simple, really.

The Price of Material Possessions

ALL of us are guilty of this sin at one time or another. We hold material items too dear and near to ourselves for our own good. I experienced this feeling recently. On hindsight, it was rather puerile on my part.
A friend has promised, or so I thought, an item which I had wanted for a long time. When he finally showed up, I discovered he has disposed of the object to another colleague at a price he wanted.
Naturally, the feeling of justice surfaced rather quickly. This led to a feeling of betrayal. A feeling which I found out is born of selfish desire to possess something which ultimately has no real value.
The item of real value was the friendship we share. It is times like that when I understand the meaning of human weakness, I search for the light from my inner Self. And the answer comes like a fresh, cool breeze sweeping in from the sea, across the coconut palms and lightly brushing my cheeks.
Suddenly, I realise that something which I desired is no longer of any importance. The memory of which fades as the light of knowledge shines on the temporal stuff.
Most individuals want nice cars, big house (preferably two), designer clothes and good looks. Frankly, as human beings, we are almost never satisfied. We are pitiable creatures. We buy the things we don't really need and hunt down objects which we will eventually discard.
What good are a roomful of gold bullion when the things which really bring us happiness are intangible. These are the love of our dear ones; the warmth of friendship; the joy in people's faces when they meet us; the laughter we share with family and friends, and the peace of mind that comes from doing good and giving much.
It is true what has been said a long time ago: There's enough for everyone's needs but not enough for everyone's greed.
I am humbled by my recent experience. I have always thought I know better but I was wrong. I know no better than my neighbour. I remain humble after this slightly shameful experience. Now, I really know better.
Peace be with you, my friends.

The other side of midnight

WHEN darkness falls....... No, I do not put on my cape and fly out to protect the city. I think one guy by the name of Bruce Wayne doing that is more than enough.
Seriously though, all my five senses heighten as the hours draw nearer to the midnight hour. I am what some people called "a night person". Ever since I can remember, I have always been extra alert in the hours of the night.
To say that I am a nocturnal creature would be stretching the truth a little. Some researchers, that include scientists, have found out that for every individual, there are periods in a day or night when he is more productive or his brain reaches that optimum level.
The Chinese say that the time of your birth is a factor that influences your adult years. It means if you are born in the morning, you will be "fresh and robust" in the day time. If you are born at night, you become as alert as a tiger moving through the jungle looking for its prey.
The idea is to find out which are the times when your cerebrum hits its natural peak. For me, as I found out during my student days that while others are preparing to retire for the night, the solitude and serenity that come with the restful land brings fresh impetus to my entire being.
Being productive in the night has its advantages. For one thing, there's nobody to interrupt me. I am flying solo, so to speak and loving every minute of it. There's something to be said about a person all alone with this thoughts, without any worries, goes on an overdrive to do the thing he wants.
My personal observation on this matter is that when most of the world shuts down, there are fewer awkward movements and unnecessary distractions. There is a total shutdown of outside influences. My entire being becomes as focused as a laser beam. I begin to see things more clearly. My thoughts are sharper and my senses on a hyper-drive.
In a matter of two to three hours, I normally produce more useful work than 10 hours of slogging away during daylight.
Sportsmen like to talk about "being in the zone". I guess that's about describes my situation at times. Of course, I don't achieve this level all the time but at least half the time, I am there. There is no scientific explanation for it.
My biorhythm stabilises and goes on an even keel. It's like a boat out there alone in the open sea, with nothing in between except the calm waters and the stars above.
I have strolled thousands of miles on the other side of midnight and I return each time fresh and at peace with myself. Happy the man who knows his productive times and takes full advantage of them.
We are all creatures which are influenced to some extent by external forces working in tandem with our inner energies. If we are able to muster our inner strength and bring them in alignment with the external forces, we will gain much and lose nothing.
Perhaps one day in the distant future, such a human phenomenon will no longer be seen as bizzare. For the time being, homo sapiens are generally not aware of such advantages surrounding their existence.
Those who know of this are inventors, geniuses in their own fields, composers of music and masterminds of the games they play.
There is nothing very secret of enhancing your own natural gifts. All you need to do is recognise where they are coming from, where they are at right now, and put them to use to your greatest advantage.

Is it work, hobby or passion?

THERE must be hundreds of millions of people out there, men, women and children, who drag themselves out of bed every morning to go to work. For a selected few, it could be evening hours because their jobs make it so.
Those who force themselves to report for work every day or night are obviously less than happy with what they do. We shall not ask why they do that because the answer is too obvious.
Sometimes, when I am relaxing on my day-off and it drizzles outside, I look beyond the horizon and ask: "Isn't it a shame that this worldwide working world has so many unhappy employees?"
Personally, I feel misery and frustration over doing what you do not like is avoidable. Nobody should force himself to do what makes him sad. "We don't have a choice!" I can almost hear the deafening roar.
No, that's not true. Everyone has a choice. It just takes commitment and a sense of self-determination to tell yourself: "OK, that's enough. I am not going to make myself miserable for the rest of my life."
Once having admitted so, you can either make a choice of continuing with what you are doing and not complaining or resigning and find another job, or better still, find another job and then quit.
Work must be done with a happy heart, otherwise it is going to eat at your soul. You will end up be the guy with the longest face in the entire department and the sulkiest guy in your household.
What woman would want to put up with such a sourpuss for the rest of best years in life? Now, you are beginning to get a glimpse of the story behind the divorce rates.
If your job is one big manure pit, then you either start planting tomatoes on theat manure pit, learn to learn the smell or drop that shovel and find yourself some greener pastures.
Every single human being who is still breathing even as I type should not allow himself to be subjected to such a sorrowful existence. Do what you love.
One day when you are free, preferably the next hour (don't wait until your retirement), think about things that make you happy. Then think some more. Figure out if you can make money or a decent living from doing what you love.
I believe if you think hard enough, you will find some way to be happy every day for the rest of your life.
If you are anything less than 65 years old, you shouldn't have any excuse. Life's going to come only once for you. Forget about the reincarnation bit. That's not going to work.
This is the only life you know as a person right now, right here. It doesn't take a genius to know that you, like many, many others out there, can decide your own futurre. That's the wonderful part of existence. If you fail, you can try again, and again, and again.
Sometimes, just to irritate my friends, I tell those who ask me, "how's work?". My reply: "Work? What work? It's a playground everyday. I love it. I revel in it. I have so much fun in the office that when it's time to go home, I put on a long face."
The benefits of doing something you love are: no stress, good health, cheerful disposition, positive outlook, bounce in your walk, enthusiasm and optimism by the bucketful.
If you are still not convinced by now, go to the nearest mirror and slap yourself. And if you are still not convinced, slap yourself again. This time, hard. Slap yourself twice. If it really doesn't work, then tell yourself, you need to kneel down and pray. This is where God comes in because I have exhausted all my humanly efforts to tell you the simple truth.

Have a good day. Chin up.

I Fell Into A Drain - Eureka!

A couple of nights ago, I was in such a hurry, I decided to take a shortcut through a row of eatery stalls in my neighbourhood. The stalls were closed for the evening and just behind the stalls was a playground.
It was the shortest route I knew to get to my destination. And so I plunged along. Well, plunge became the operative word because I stepped right into a dirty, stinking drain filled with food refuse and other putrefying stuff.
The experience was akin to someone giving me an unexpected big shove and down I went, right foot first. I sustained a cut on my little right toe and a blue-black bruise on my left shin. The bags I was holding went flying in several directions, so did my spectacles.
My ego was more hurt than my physical form. Naturally, I was cursing and swearing. Half an hour later, I realised I was bleeding, though not profusely. After a quick getaway to home sweet home, I settled down to disinfecting the wounds. Had both feet dipped in Dettol solution to kill the bacteria. There was nothing for the bruised ego.
I am always prided myself in being careful. So the story is no matter how careful you are, sometimes the unexpected happens. Thus, the best plans can be altered without one's permission or to one's favour.
There's another thing I learnt, always carry a flashlight in dark places. I have no excuse because I have about 20 flashlights at home and some of them are high-end stuff. So much for being prepared.
On hindsight, I reviewed the entire experience from this angle: Never take a leap in the dark, either figuratively or literally, because you have a great chance of falling flat on your face. As I did.
A "bad" experience is always a good lesson if you think about it long enough.
The good news is my little injuries are healing well. There's no bad news.
In a way, I am glad I had taken a fall. Now I am more sympathetic towards those who are seen limping along the streets. There was a time when I give absolutely no thought to people who hobble along the road. Not that I wish them any ill but I harbour no feelings towards those who are in great physical discomfort.
Now I know better. Anyone can get a heavy dose of physical inconvenience. In my case, I was lucky, I didn't break anything. Next time, I will be better prepared.
On top of that, I can advise others against doing the same thing I did. From my little fall in the dark, I have seen the light at "the end of the drain."
Thank God, I didn't fall face first into the drain. What a horrendous outcome that would have been. I will smell to high heaven.
When I told my friend what I had on my birthday (yes, that was the day when it happened), he laughed his pants off. Well, I am glad in a way I brought cheer to someone on my birthday, even though it was at my expense.
The moral of the story is: Life is not one long, smooth sailing expedition. There are bound to be bumps here and there. If you laugh over it, you will get over it fast. Why bother to wallop in the drain, I mean, pity.
Next time, I will be more careful where I put my feet, where angels fear to tread.
Somewhere in heaven, the angels are laughing because they actually float, I was told.

Eat heartily, enjoy life

THE Chinese have a saying: he who eats with great gusto normally enjoys living. That is not far from the truth. From my personal experience, I can safely come to the conclusion that those who love to eat, usually display a zest for life that is uncommon in others.
Have you seen some people who eat as if they are picking a fight with their food? Some of these friends or relatives give one the impression that it is almost a chore to eat. Eating three meals a day for these people can be an exercise in nuisance-living.
I do not share in these people's surprising habit. Eating is one of the few pleasures in life that really doesn't cost us much. One can eat most joyfully even an ear of corn.
Have you taken a look at a hungry child who tears away at a piece of roast chicken? Children have no inhibitions. They wear all their emotions on their sleeves. So you can actually tell whether they are happy or sad.
When it comes to food and eating, we adults are beaten silly by little children. We, some of us anyway, have lost the ability to enjoy food. Food consumed must be enjoyed to its fullest extent. Otherwise why bother?
Human beings have the unique ability to relish their food. Animals, I am not sure. I have not talked to any animal with regard to their opinions on food.
People all over the world eat different kinds of food. Some of us eat more meat than others. Others eat more vegetables than half of the world. Whatever their choice, I am sure a number of them really tuck in during chow time!
Some people say they feel hungry when they see me eat. I take that as a compliment. Why look sad when you are eating? There are millions starving to death for want of food in Sudan, North Korea, Biafra and other remote parts of the world. And we are so lucky, and yet we do not recognise that fact that we are born into a society that frowns on hunger and lawlessness.
People in Asia are always eating, and at all hours too. I think they realise the value of a good meal. A great culinary session also means great conversations, quality time with family or friends and a chance to try new stuff on the menu.
Not many are that lucky. For the unlucky ones, they eat only when providence allows them that privilege. For the rest of us, sometimes we take things for granted.
I say, eat and be merry, for tomorrow you may not be here anymore!!

From Quiet Desperation to Joyous Inspiration

YOU probably have heard the phrase a million times: Living a life of quiet desperation. Before you embark on your second thought, be aware that there are millions of people, mostly living in the city, who are living lives of quiet desperation.
The definition of "quiet desperation" in the urban context means you go to work, you slog almostly mindlessly, then you go home but not before you get caught in the traffic jam. Once home, you take out your TV dinner, sit in front of the TV naturally and watch the shows until you think it's time to go to sleep. And you do this for months and years.
There's a chance, you may be single, very ordinary-looking, nothing spectacular in the skills department and you are normally not included in the "hottest-party-of-year" list.
Your parents are staying too far away from your work place. You go home once a year or you may never go home because that's why you flee to the city anyway. If you are all these or more, then you qualify to be "living a life of quiet desperation".
Here are a few tips of breaking out of this vicious and desperate cycle or circle, you prefer.
First, join a society of good intentions, meaning helping others. It could be the Befrienders, Soup Kitchen of some sort, Meals-on-Wheels Society, St Vincent de Paul Society, anything, so long as you get to help others more unfortunate than you.
The idea is not to feel so sorry for yourself until you are sucked into this great vortex of self-pity and become paralysed by your own inertia.
Second, indulge in some healthy hobby. It could be salsa dancing, taking Spanish or Mandarin classes. When you seek to improve your mind, you will inadvertently find like-minded people who also happen to be interesting people. Socialise, be a bit of a gossiper with good intentions.
When you crawl out of your own little cave, you will be surprised to find there are lots of interesting people and things which will take up at least three lifetimes to complete and enjoy.
Third, volunteer to do things for people free of charge. At first, they may think you are a bit of a looney. Whoever heard of a selfless human being living in a dog-eat-dog world?
Pay no heed to doubters of your good-self and people who are constantly plagued by other's good intentions. Do this act for fun. Do it to bewilder others. Do it for yourself.
Fourth, set a target or project which is achievable for yourself. Perhaps you want to visit Paris or Salsburg next year. Well, plan that holiday, 12 months ahead. Read up about your destination. Hook up with some travel agency. Some of life's best memories come from meeting fellow holiday makers who are also "struggling in life" like you. Not everybody is Bill Gates or Donald Trump. Most travellers save for years to go on holidays.
Fifth, go to church now and then. Nobody, especially yourself, wants to be called a religious fanatic. Pray a little at times. Tell God you want to get in touch with your soul or him. Don't blackmail or threaten God. Many have tried, none has succeeded. If you pray sincerely, ask the right things with only kindness in your heart, watch the heavens open. Don't put a time-table to your spiritual requests. When God is ready, you will know. Good things will happen. And don't laugh about it. Just accept it. All prayers are answered in one form or another.
Sixth, learn to inspire others. It is not difficult. There are lots of people who are always cursing their own fate. They think they deserve everything that those "lucky people next door" have got.
Say kind words to people. Mean it. Give encouragement to others who may be feeling a bit low on a particular day. Give moral support to those who feel they are all alone in this big, cruel world. They have you, and sometimes it is more than enough.
Seventh, perform random acts of kindness. There was once a book written on this subject. The author mentions various episodes of random acts of kindness and how the world suddenly became brighter and more joyful to the do-gooders.
Eighth, expect nothing from friends, colleagues, family and strangers but do much for those you love and those you hardly know. The trick here is to really EXPECT NOTHING. If you always harbour a secret intention of being rewarded or receive recogntion, then your deed will be ruined by the ulterior motive.
Good things spring from "nothing".
Ninth, learn to be humble about your achievements but don't belittle yourself. In other words, don't sell yourself short. If you have achieved something, nothing magnificent, mind you, just an ordinary act of normal proportions,accept that singular act of achievement as triggering an inner joy which only you experience.
Once you have gained some measure of respect for yourself and at the same time, sparking a love for yourself, you can begin to share that love in your heart with others. If you don't have love in you, you don't have it to give to others. With love, it is intangible and inexhaustible. The idea is to create it and watch it grow. Love comes from an eternal source. Its reservoir is not found on earth but its contents can be tapped by all mankind. It is your duty and mission on earth to find it and share it. That's the only way, you will enjoy its benefits.
Tenth, be everlastingly optimistic. Find hope in every act or deed of despair. Don't be incorrigible agent of confidence and joy. Others may find such behaviour irritating, but don't be deterred. Don't be discouraged. In fact, infect others with low spirits with your high spirits.
See hope and love in others more lowly than you. Share your enthusiasm with those who least deserve it. You are the walking fountain of hope and joy. Let the confidence shine through your eyes and you see forevermore.

You cannot be ignored, You cannot be denied

HAVE you not heard those words "I have been rejected and ignored so many times, I no longer want to be humiliated anymore!" Well, let me give you some unsolicited advice: you as an individual cannot be denied, ignored or rejected.
That's because you are as unique as a fingerprint, your teeth-marks and your DNA. If you want to be heard, then you must find the best possible avenue in communicating your needs or wants.
Many have been ignored and rejected because they do not adopt the right approach. For example, if you feel strongly that an employee of a supermarket has been rude to you and should be reported to her/his superior, then what you need to do is to lodge a written or vocal complaint to the relevant people.
In cases of seeking justice, the recourse must be detailed and complete. Higher-ups normally don't entertain complaints if it comes from people who refuse to identify themselves, leave no permanent address and let out all the important details of the alleged incident.
If you want to tell someone something important then you will have to supply ample information on the incident. If you feel that some official at some government department has been found grossly negligent in his official duties, you can exercise your right as a tax-paying citizen by complaining to the higher authorities, probably a carbon-copy to several consumer associations, detailing the incident, name of officer, the place where it took place and if there were any other witnesses or maybe you have kept some tangible evidence linking that incident and your complaint.
This "can't be ignored" personal philosophy also works the other way. If you find someone worthy of receiving compliments from a satisfied customer or as a citizen, feel free to put it in writing and pass it on to his superior. Again, detailing the incident and the identity of that hardworking and honest person.
You really have nothing to gain from this but that person whom you have just praised may include you in her prayers that very night itself before she retires for the night.
This is how our world evolves. A good deed goes around, comes around. A bad deed if allowed to fester, continues to affect others, especially the innocent.
On the other end of the spectrum, say you are a struggling writer and you think you have written some fantastic stuff and somewhere in this wide world, some publisher should give you due recognition, then you mustn't lose faith in yourself.
This is this English writer called John Creasey. Before he become famous and successful, he received about 743 rejection slips. Now if you even received half of that number of rejection slips, don't make a fuss over it. Keep on trying. In the end, you cannot be denied, you cannot be rejected and you simply don't want to be rejected.
Never, never, never ever give up.

Old fashioned way of writing letters

I AM sure there are still lots of people writing letters the old fashioned way, meaning using pen and paper. Even though the Internet is having a massive intrusive effect on our present line of communication, the "old way" of pen and paper has its own charm.
I miss that old world style of communication. There used to be a time when "talking" to relatives staying far away means taking out a clean sheet of paper and using your most legible writing to pen one's thoughts.
I used to write to friends in faraway regions in the early part of my life. Not so long ago, my wife showed me several boxes of letters which I once had written to her before we were married. It was most complimentary of her.
If you were to ask any 60-year-old whether they treasure those written letters eons ago, I am sure you will know the answer before it is said.
Writing letters is an art. It tends to make us feel on guard. Sometimes, it is like a river of torrential words. Occasionally, it is a like thunderstorm -- words hitting ground with great force. In whatever manner they are delivered, the message is permanent. That is why your lawyer is always you NOT to put in writing what you may regret in future.
Some of the letters of finest thoughts are treated like national treasures these days. Letters written by Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, etc. Can you imagine in modern times, any of the great letters being cherished or treasured. If they are communicated through the Internet, the recipient will be hard put to prove its authenticity.
If the message or letter is written, a graphologists can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, the person who had written it. On computers over the Internet, proof will be hard to come by.
That is why, I strong recommend that if you want to communicate your most precious thoughts to someone whom you hold most dear, then do it in writing so that in decades past, she or he may have the presence of mind to keep the letters you have written as reminders of the feelings that cannot be destroyed.
I still do write the old fashioned way sometimes and when I do, I take out one of my better fountain pens to add that dash of flamboyance to dutifully impress the other side. I realise this borders on the weaker side of vanity but what do I care, I just love to write and would be immensely happy if the other side understands the length I have gone through to pen my thoughts of that moment and imprinted them for posterity.
So write with pen and paper whenever you feel like it, especially if you are far away from home. Writing to your parents is like telling them in your presence how much you miss them. Even if you don't really say those words, they can always take out your letter and re-read them time and again.
Can you imagine the trouble your old folks will have to go through to boot up the computer, look into the files and retrieve your email? There's nothing like a simple handwritten letter, kept in a box in the drawer of a dressing table. It has the charm whose fragrance lingers long after the message has been digested.
It is something that people who care about others, and are sensitive to their needs know about.