Search the Community

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/top-30-things-to-be-thankful-for-if-you-live-in-013838692.html Scientific studies have found that you only need to do one thing: Be grateful. In the spirit of the holiday season, I thought it’d be a good idea to remind ourselves of what we have to be thankful for. My work is all about helping teenagers to become happy and successful – and gratitude is a big part of that. So I’ve listed 30 things to be grateful for if you live in Singapore, and if you’re reading this article. 1. Cheap and good food: Singapore has plenty of it. 2. 24-hour eateries: You never need to go hungry. 3. Greenery: Trees abound. You forget how nice this is until you visit other countries where there’s little greenery. 4. Singlish: We don’t usually think about how unique and amazing this language is! 5. No natural disasters: This is something we – or at least I – often take for granted. 6. Racial and ethnic diversity: This is one of the most special things about Singapore. 7. Religious freedom and tolerance: It’s nice how we all get along pretty well. 8. Internet access: You’re reading this, which means you have Internet access. (You’re in the privileged 40 per cent that does.) 9. You have a smartphone or a computer: These powerful tools are only available to a minority of the world’s population. 10. Connectivity: Referring to Points #8 and 9, you can communicate with people around the world instantaneously. 11. Opportunities for generosity: Referring to Point #10, you can potentially add value to millions of people through a blog post, video or podcast. The Internet allows us to be tremendously generous! 12. You can read: 774 million adults can’t, so let’s appreciate this gift. 13. In all likelihood, you went to school: Referring to Point #12, this probably means that you’ve had an education. (121 million children are out of education.) 14. Libraries: Singapore has more than 25 National Library Board libraries, where you can read thousands of books for free. 15. Endless ways to learn and improve: Referring to Points #8 and 14, if you want to learn about almost anything in the world, you can. You can improve yourself as long as you have the drive to. 16. Clean drinking water: You have access to clean drinking water (780 million people don’t.) 17. Electricity: You have electricity in your home. (1.3 billion people don’t.) 18. Clean streets: Thank you to all the hardworking people who keep our streets clean, every single day! 19. Nice public housing: In most other countries, you wouldn’t use “public housing” and “nice” in the same sentence. 20. Safety: It’s (generally) safe to walk the streets after dark. 21. Changi Airport: Our airport is so nice that people go there to hang out. There are few airports in the world where people do that. 22. Parks and beaches: We have plenty of well-maintained parks and beaches. 23. Clean government: No matter what your views are on the government, you’ll probably agree that, at least, it’s not corrupt. 24. Air-conditioned shopping malls: If you want air-conditioning, you can walk into any shopping mall. And we have a lot of shopping malls. 25. Air-conditioned public transportation: 97 per cent of public buses are air-conditioned, and so are our trains. 26. MRT and LRT: The train system works well (in general), and the network is expanding. Getting around is becoming even more convenient. 27. People line up at MRT stations: People line up when waiting for the train. I remember the time when this wasn’t the case! 28. We “chope” seats using packets of tissue paper: This practice is more remarkable than we give it credit for. 29. “Aunties” and “Uncles”: We call every somewhat old person either “Auntie” or “Uncle”. Visitors to Singapore find this curious, which reminds me that it’s a fascinating practice. 30. You’re alive: This is the most important one, because it means that you can make a difference to someone today. As Maya Angelou once said, “As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.” I don’t deny that we all face problems and challenges daily. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be full of thanksgiving. So for the rest of this month, I encourage you to write down just one thing a day you’re grateful for. I can almost guarantee that you’ll see an improvement in your mood and overall well-being. Wishing you great health and happiness this holiday season!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysian-states-face/1011176.html

Too much complains and complains and complains in the forum. How about for a change, someone share something that he or she is thankful about.

Another don't know head, don't know tail ignorant foreigner with one of who run-of-the-mill-you-don't-know-how-lucky-you-are (yawn) letters and only look at things from one narrow perspective. How ancient is the British metro? Does he know ours is a modern world-class land transportation system according to LTA? From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_753580.html Disruptions quite normal for British metro and rail Published on Jan 10, 2012 AS A Briton on holiday in Singapore this New Year, I am amused by the brouhaha over the disruptions to the MRT system, which culminated in the resignation of SMRT chief executive officer Saw Phaik Hwa ('SMRT chief quits'; last Saturday). In Britain, disruptions to city metro systems and the national rail are as ubiquitous as char siew paus here. When travelling in London, it is quite normal for 'signalling problems' to mean that commuters have to find alternative transport, sometimes wasting hours of time. It is also quite normal for a train to another city to be cancelled at the last minute, wasting half a day, and disrupting schedules. I have to say to Singaporeans who enjoy the MRT system here: The MRT is brilliant; it is cheap, efficient, clean and smooth... I can go on. Given how wonderful it is, I think the occasional lapse in efficiency can be forgiven. Cut Ms Saw some slack, and be thankful you don't live in Britain! Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones

Curious to see what are the things that bros and sis here are thankful about....will be good to know what are things we take things for granted... Let me start the ball rolling: 1. Family is healthy 2. My little girl is growing up healthy and bright 3. I think about what to buy....rather than where to find money 4. I have a good stable job which allows me to plan for the future 5. I have PS3 to play at night

...as mentioned by Bro Turboflat4, here goes. We should be thankful that we have what we have: There is this one saying or a list of sayings 1. I am thankful I got a parking fine as I have a car for transport 2. I am thankful for walking so far to my carpark lot as I ahve legs 3. I am thankful that I get called by the bank, as I have a credit card to boot 4. I am thankful for hdb billing me conservancy charges as I have a roof over my head 5. I am thankful for paying more income tax as I have made more money last year 6. I am thankful for ERP as I am not taking the MRT in the morning 7. I am thankful that I have to pay a premium for SCV as I don't have to watch Channel 5 & 8. 8. I am thankful to pay more and more for utilities, because at least we get constant power and clean water. 9. I am thankful for more GST, because it helps the poor. 10. I am thankful for GE walkovers, because I get a free public holiday and I don't need to waste time voting. 11. I am thankful for petrol taxes, because it helps me be a greener motorist. 12. I am thankful for road hoggers, it teaches me Anger Management 13. I am thankful for lady drivers, at least I know my driving skills not the WORST 14. I am thankful for ahbeng in their civics, it makes my 5 yr old car look brand new 15. I am thankful that we here only squabble over inclusion or exclusion over zodiac toys (THIS I am SERIOUS)

[/size]I AM THANKFUL: FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS. FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS. FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED . FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME . FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. . FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION . FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM. FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR. FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR. FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD. FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE. AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E- MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME. SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID. Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!