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Doing the right thing when it feels wrong can be hard. Forgiving, when the other person has clearly hurt you. Giving, when our bank balance is low. Smiling, when dark clouds loom overhead. Love, when a loved one becomes unlovable. Or hope, when all hope seems lost. Yet, we know that doing the right thing always produces the right results. We reap what we sow. The seeds we plant from the onset determine the fruits we eventually get.

Feelings – Good or Bad?

The real problem for most people is that simple-yet-complex thing we all know too well – feelings. For many, it’s a love-hate relationship. We love the feeling of being loved, being treated kind, being showered with praises, and being successful at what we do. And yet, that same feeling of euphoria can suddenly – and unexpectedly – turn nasty. The reverse shows its ugly side – bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, insecurity, and fear. It’s like a mixed bag of emotions we wished we could empty and be devoid of at times. But it just doesn’t happen that way. We can’t choose how we feel; but we can choose how we act.

Do Right, And Let Your Feelings Catch Up

What I’ve found to be helpful when times get rough and our feelings don’t seem to match up is to do what we know to be right anyway – and let the feelings catch up later.
Decide to forgive. Decide to submit to your leadership. Decide to be generous even when it seems you don’t have enough. Decide to encourage others when you are yourself discouraged. Decide to involve yourself with meaningful work instead of having a pity party at home. Decide to honour your parents with your time and money. Decide to complete the task you’ve been given even if it doesn’t seem fair. The list goes on.
It’s the daily actions that count. In the face of the drudgery that life brings, doing what’s right may seem like a futile endeavour. After all, isn’t it nice at times to be able to indulge in our little grievances and complaints?

Turn On The Light

There’s a saying that goes, “Do not be overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good.”
This does make a lot of sense. Evil – in whatever shape or form it may take in one’s life – can be overcome with good. That means continuing to do what’s right in the face of all that is wrong or feels wrong. Instead of fighting darkness, switch on the light of good, and let the darkness flee.
It’s by no means easy to stay committed to doing the right thing all the time. After all, none of us are perfect or capable of being so. But do what you know to be right anyway – it will change your life for the better. The best results always come with an initial sacrifice; an initial discomfort. But the fruits (and good feelings) that follow will be well worth the effort.

Clement Lim

A guy who loves to write and express anything positive, encouraging or feel-good. Loves modernity and its buzz, but relishes good-old tradition. Values books, relationships and God. Hopes to inspire, lead and help others find their true selves.

Ink and Paperie

We are a Singapore grown online shop for beautiful and affordable stationeries.We believe in working hard and looking sleek while at it. We are the authorised retailer for the minimalist Moleskine notebooks, wonderfullly engineered Lamy fountain pens and the elegant Parker Pen. Don’t leave before checking them out =)

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“I will be happy when ___________”?

When I get my hands on that new phone.

When I am promoted.

When I am married.

When I drive that car.

When I am rich.

When I have a new spouse…..

So how will you fill the blanks in?

But what if…..

What if we never achieve those things? Will you then be constantly in the high strung state of giving chase, with no rest? Happiness is always one purchase away, one award away, one person away, one toto ticket away. And in the midst of giving chase, are we actually giving happiness a miss? Giving living a miss?

How strange it is, our little procession of life! The child says, “When I am a big boy.” But what is that? The big boy says, “When I grow up.” And then, grown up, he says, “When I get married.” But to be married, what is that after all? The thought changes to “When I’m able to retire.” And then, when retirement comes, he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind seems to sweep over it; somehow he has missed it all, and it is gone.

Stephen Leacock

Life is this second.

I think Mr Leacock is trying to tell us that LIFE is this second. This moment.
Probably, the key to happiness is to appreciate every moment of the time God bestowed on us. Once this second of yours flows down the hour glass, it’s not coming back up. And we do not know how many seconds we have left.

With thanks-giving. Savour.

Savour this moment.

Savour the things which we already have.

Savour the time with the person already beside us.

The simple joy of a nice book on the train to work. The simple joy of a meal with your loved ones. The simple joy of expressing your love by doing the dishes for them. The simple joy of walking with your spouse and lego-ing with your kids.

Be happy. Now. It’s your choice.

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Ink and Paperie

A Singapore grown online shop carrying sleek and affordable stationeries. Work hard and look sleek while at it. We are the authorised retailer for the minimalist Moleskine notebooks, effortlessly smooth Lamy fountain pens and the timeless Parker Pen. Do check them out for your loved ones. =)

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The days escalating to Christmas and New Year is a period of anticipation. A time to prepare for the celebration to come. But it may come bundled with stress and anxiety. Robbing us of the joy that we should have.

So many to-dos! Getting the right presents; clocking quality time with family and friends; getting the Christmas tree and decorations up; cooking up a feast and the list goes on. It can get demanding and stressful.

Here are 7 ways to ensure that joy is not robbed from you during this season.

Be aware of your feelings. Don’t brush it off. Let it heal. If you are not able to spend time with your loved ones and friends for some reasons e.g. being overseas, broken relationship or if you have lost a closed one, then know that it is normal to feel down. You do not have to pretend to be happy just because it is a holiday season. Take some time for yourself to construct and sort out your thoughts. As the wise book beautifully puts it:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Have realistic holiday expectations. Know that things will never be perfect. Embrace and accept. Things do not have to be perfectly planned and executed all the times. Items may get out of stock, the caterer may be late, the oven may break down and sometimes others have plans of their own and cannot be at your gathering. Be open to new possibilities. Simply be thankful for every moment.

Stick to your holiday budget. But remember, a present from the store may not be what he or she wants. Before you go out to spend money and shop for presents, plan your holiday budget and stick to it. During the holiday season, when you see the people around you frantically splurging, it is easy to fall into the trap of spending more than you can afford. That brings additional stress and anxiety. A simple card with genuine words of appreciation and adoration may mean more than the gift from the departmental store. (But if you are really in the mood for buying, do check out our full range of minimalist Moleskine Notebooks, sleek LAMY Fountain Pens and timeless Parker Pen collections ☺)

Plan in advance. So you can enjoy the process. Plan and set aside realistic time for crafting of invitations, sending of invitations, buying of presents, marketing, cooking, decorating and quiet quality time with people who matters. If you plan in advance, you will avoid the stressful mad rushes. You get to do it all at your leisure.

The reward is the journey, not the destination.

Delegate the task. Your husband can be trusted to choose the right gift. What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t have to do everything. Get your spouse and kids to help. Things may not turn out exactly how you want it. They may add their own twist and flavour to it. But that’s what makes life fun. For the new year, get your inner perfectionist out of that door!

Keep your healthy habits. It is a slippery slope. Don’t let the holidays be an excuse for over indulgence in food and drinks; Or to return to habits such as smoking and drinking which you are trying to quit.

Get active. Yes and it is also not an excuse to disrupt your exercise regime. Working out keeps you happy, makes you productive. Keep it up. Put on the jogging shoes and hit the road. Multiply your joy!

Finally, thank you for reading this. Thank you for stumbling into our humble shop. We hope we have helped. Have a blessed Christmas and may Love, Peace and Joy be with you always!

From
Ink and Paperie team

Cracked pots

The problem of pain bugs us all. For some, it comes like an occasional visitor. For others, it is a lifelong burden. And yet for many, it is a familiar feeling we wished we never had to deal with.

Like “cracked pots”, we all experience pain to varying degrees – from the disappointment of a relationship with a loved one, to the perpetual sense of not measuring up, to the crushing weight of a medical condition.

A cracked pot is inherently broken and hard to fix, and if not handled with care, may shatter.

But at the heart of every crack (pain and suffering) is a redeeming quality – a light that shines brightest through cracked pots.

Shine bright

The light that pierces through every crack emerges as rays of hope and healing to others. The greater the pain, the greater the “rewards” that come with overcoming it. You will end up with more than if you had not gone through that pain.

Think of what could result from your pain: perseverance, faith, strength of character, hope and resilience.

Overcoming it may not be easy, but with a little bit of faith, belief and support from loved ones, not impossible.

A story to inspire

Take heart! Don’t let your pain go to waste. Turn it into gain, a story of hope and healing for others confronted with the same mountain.

Turn your test into a testimony, your mess into a message. The light that shines the brightest will also bring the most hope.

Best of all, you now have a story to tell and inspire others with.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels….” 2 Cor 4:7

Clement Lim

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We are a Singapore grown online shop carrying sleek and affordable stationeries. We are the authorised retailer for the minimalist Moleskine notebooks, smooth Lamy fountain pens and the timeless Parker Pen. Do check them out for your loved ones. =)

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Stay amazed

I once chanced upon two words that still resonate with me today: Stay amazed. I thought to myself then, “What does it mean to stay amazed? When was the last time I actually felt in awe or amazement at something?”

“Amazed” is a word used to describe one’s deep admiration, appreciation or marvel at something or someone. It didn’t take long for me to realize that amid the daily grind of life and its challenges, I seemed to have lost that sense of awe for the things and people around me – that simple, child-like awe. That, perhaps, is also true for many of us today.

It’s what we focus on

We tend to focus on what we can’t do instead of what we can do. We also tend to focus (a lot) on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. Truth be told, all of us have weaknesses or challenges we wished we didn’t have to confront. No one is spared from them. But we learn to recognise our shortcomings, overcome them, and become a better person. The problem arises when, in trying to overcome our failings, we fault ourselves for everything that has gone wrong around us (or in us). It’s been said that we are often our harshest critic, demanding from ourselves standards that others wouldn’t even expect of us. Or we become too consumed by the thorn in our flesh (or pebble in our shoe) that we forget the life we have, the loved ones around us, or the job we are employed in.

Enjoy the journey

Granted, some challenges are real, and serious. A debilitating health problem that affects one’s daily life and performance at work is no small matter. But there are things this person can still be grateful for – if one looks no further than what is before him: his family, friends, job, or simply, being alive.

The recovery journey can be a much more meaningful and worthwhile experience if one remains focused (and grateful) for what he can do and what he has, in the face of challenges. I love a quote I once read from a book by a Christian author:

“I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be. I’m OK and I’m on my way. I’ll enjoy where I’m at, on my way to where I’m going.”

What perspective! Life in itself is already a miracle. It doesn’t wait for us – so go on and cherish each passing moment. We may stumble along the way, but we stumble forward if we choose to keep our eyes on what lies ahead.

Toward victory

Start by writing down a list of things you are grateful for, and remind yourself of them each day. Ponder on them, and change your perspective about yourself or your challenges. They might appear miniscule in the light of all that you have and are grateful for.

Thank your way to happiness, to freedom, to victory

It’s really the little things that count. Try it. Sometimes, the simplest things can also be the most powerful.

Clement Lim

Ink and Paperie

A Singapore based online shop for sleek and affordable stationeries. We believe in working hard and looking sleek while you are at it. Do click in to our Moleskine collection of minimalist notebooks once carried by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.

Or if you have heard how effortless a fountain pen glides and how beautiful it is when ink glisters on the pages, click into our full collection of Lamy fountain pens. See the much talked about pens.

Lastly, thank you for stumbling into our humble shop!

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Moleskine Art Plus Sketch Album. Made for Instagram.

The need to share

Sketching is one of my “me-time” activity. An activity that re-charges me. I am a level 0-1 sketcher (in other word: amateurish). The only ones that appreciate my “art” are my very supportive wife and 3 year-old-daughter. They often shower me with praise and squeals of delight when I proudly present my sketches. That is enough for me. Enough to spurt me on to create my next masterpiece. So I can deeply understand how important it is that you as an artist, is able to share your masterpieces easily and in their full glory to people that really matters to you. By sharing, you get feedback to improve. You get encouragement to go on.

Just Sketch

The lightweight Moleskine Sketch Album comes in pocket size and 72 rounds (I mean 72 pages). Stuff this into your pocket with a hardy sketching tool (consider a LAMY fountain Pen) and you are ready to take on any beautiful scenes that assaults you. Sketchers don’t have to be blogged down with heavy tools and instruments. Its an impromptu activity. You sketch when you see a vision so beautiful. You sketch when an idea strikes. You sketch when you feel like it. Anytime.

Just share

Instagram has quickly become a strong platform for artist to share their creation. Much is attributed to its convenience and simplicity. Also, the square format works. Giving each memory shared a retro, polaroid feel. So instant, so impromptu.

The pages of the Moleskine Sketch Album is square in dimension. Same as the default Instagram frame. This means that everything you sketch on it is Instagram-ready. Share your work in its full glory with no cropping needed. Sketch with sharing in mind, with community and connectedness in mind.

The Moleskine Sketch Album. Made for Instagram.

Part of a larger family

The Moleskine Sketch Album comes in pocket and large size. The perfect way to begin a lifestyle of frequent expressions through sketching. It is part of a larger family of creativity tools called Moleskine Art Plus that Moleskine has created for us. Check out the video here and click in to our Moleskine collection to find the perfect sketch book for yourself.

Photo credit: https://goo.gl/unKUvJ

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The power of words

Words are a powerful collection of thoughts and ideas. They influence and stay with a person long after they are read or heard. They linger in the deep recesses of one’s soul. There is an old proverb that goes:

“Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit”.

Words – for better or for worse

One reads of encouraging stories of life amid adversity, a friend’s blissful travel experiences, or the insightful opinion of an expert.

Or one hears the speech of an influential leader, the rousing rhetoric of an inspiring politician or a motivational guru – all of whose words continue to linger and influence beyond even their generation.

These words, carefully crafted and thought-out, pervade positive emotions of peace, joy and hope.

The converse is also true when one reads of stories that incite negative reactions, or writing that dispels the truth and uses inappropriate language.

Encourage and inspire

We are privileged to be “authors” in our own right today. All we need is a pen, or the keyboard. Let’s not take this privilege for granted, and use it as an instrument for good.

Go ahead and write a story that inspires; cheer a friend up with an encouraging text message; write a note of appreciation to a family member; share new and creative ideas with a colleague, or sow a word of hope to a person in need.

Above all, enjoy the process. The word that encourages others might lift you up in return.

Clement Lim
Guest Writer

Ink and Paperie

A Singapore based online shop that carries beautiful, affordable and authentic stationeries. We believe in working hard and looking sleek while you are at it. Do click in to our Moleskine Singapore collection of beautiful, timeless and minimalist notebooks.

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Slowing it down

The thrill of modern technology – with the lightning-fast speed at which information is accessible at our fingertips – has produced a generation of people who have forgotten how to slow it down in life. After all, our bodies – and brains – aren’t meant to function without rest.

Has the information overload that is the internet brought us further in terms of knowledge gained and quality of life? The answer to this question would depend on how one measures and deems this notion of “quality”.

Seeking fulfilment

Fulfilment in life tends to be less elusive when one begins to discover, all over again, how to think, imagine, dream and inspire – like a blank canvas waiting to be the next masterpiece. Could it be that this stems from a life – and mind – free from the excesses of technology?

Back to basics

I find time away from modern gadgetry a useful way to achieve this. In this day and age, the good-old tradition of pen, paper and old-fashioned journaling has become a rarity. Instead of penning ideas or thoughts in our notebooks, we see the ubiquitous use of electronic tablets in its place. Instead of a good novel to stimulate our imagination, we are tempted to “candy-crush” or “face-book” our way to school/work. Instead of jotting down inspirations that come in a flash, we allow these same inspirations to drift away and be forgotten.

A pen, a notebook and a good book

Truth be told, I love the sense of virtual connectedness one gets through the social media (this post is one such example!); but time spent with a pen, a journal, or a good book is irreplaceable. It makes one take stock of his/her thoughts, express them in the written word, record them down, and find time to reflect and ponder. This experience – once the norm when life was much simpler – is a bliss worth savouring again.

Make time today

Slow it down. Think it through. Get a good notebook (consider Moleskine). Start penning down your thoughts, inspirations and ideas. And who knows, you might find yourself happier – just like before.

Clement Lim
Guest Writer

Ink and Paperie

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Solution to Stop Worrying

Do you often worry? About things to come, things undone or making wrong decisions? It is a costly activity. Worry robs you of your joy. Anxiety divides your mind when it is trying to make the best decisions. Worry is associated with high blood pressure, heart trouble, migraine, thyroid disorders and other diseases. So if you want to curb it, read on for a quick fix.

Soak in and internalise the fact that worrying is pointless and does not help in the situation at all. As one author Max Lucado puts it: “Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease.” So clam down. Focus your intelligence and give the problem your best shot.

And if you miss, what’s the worst that can happen? Fearlessly and honestly think about what is the worst that can possibly happen (jot them down in a Moleskine). Is anyone going to shoot you? You might lose your job, but you can also find a new one. Accept the worst and calmly plan to improve on from the worst. By doing so, you have pulled yourself out of tumbling un-constructively in the cumulonimbus grey clouds and plant yourself once again on the solid grounds of recovery. Disarm fear and its torture chambers.

Then remind yourself to live in today and enjoy the present. Because we are designed to. In fact, we have to. “Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.” – Thomas Carlyle.

We often hear people pray “Give us today our daily bread” not tomorrow’s, not next week’s. So don’t start dealing with tomorrow’s problem today. We are not given tomorrow’s strength yet; therefore we cannot deal with tomorrow’s problem. You only have enough for today. Work at the task beside your elbow. That is sufficient for the day. Today.

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