Inspiration Looking Forward

A few things inspired me today. Just when I received an email from Ed commenting that it is hard to find people that inspire us these days, which i agreed totally.

I attended a farewell party for Kevin, Vincent and Leslie, whom will be leaving us for NS, and after working in NUM for a good close to 3 years. It is time to bid goodbye, for awhile.

People ask me if I would miss them, of course I will. For most of them, I spent a great deal of my time the last 3 years with, and we have gone through thick and thin building the company to where it is today. At the same time, I feel proud for them, and happy to see them moving on, knowing that they are ready to take on another phase of their lives. Whatever I have shared with them, taught, it is time to put them all in good use, all by themselves.

The emotion is pretty much the same when a father sends his daughter off at the wedding ceremony. Sad that she is no longer a little girl, happy at the same time knowing that she is moving towards another phase of her life. For the better of course.

So I wish them all the best, I know we will continue to stay very close in many ways.

In a week's time, NUM dragon boat team will be racing again. Just like all the races we have had over the last 5 years, we are there to give our best and that many will once again be awed at our cohesiveness and of course our jersey. Then I received this email from one of the rowers. Very inspiring. This is the true value of team work, friendship and sportsmanship really. Win or lose.

It has been a wonderful experience rowing with this team because this team is eager and committed.

For all the months of hard pounding, it has come to this. Hours of preparation yet the moment of that elusive glory lasts no longer than 4 minutes. Even drinking coffee as I would always say to my students takes far longer time. So, for just four or so minutes of our lives, we deserve to honour all our efforts: every bead of perspiration, every twitch of our aching muscle, every gasp of air we desperately took in during our trainings must come down to something worthy come this Saturday and Sunday.

We have about 6 more days to Singapore Dragon Boat Festival '08. Till then, have a good workout to keep the pace going, a good rest to recover from the intense training, a good diet to nourish our exhausted bodies and most importantly of all, have a good MENTAL PREPARATION. The last will bind every ounce of effort we will put in as we surge forward, fearlessly and FEROCIOUSLY during the race.

My maxim: FAST AND FURIOUS on the outside, calm and steady on the inside, signifying a true marriage of Art and Science.

In my calculation, imagination is also key. Let's Imagine and visualise ourselves peeking at every opportunity we have to plunge the paddle down and yank it back with such enormous force during the days leading to this Saturday and Sunday. And, on that day itself, JUST DO IT. The body will manage itself when THE MIND IS READY.

When the command "Are you ready?" is issued, every individual rower will start racing with himself/herself. It's MIND OVER MATTER. Again, FAST AND FURIOUS on the outside, CALM AND STEADY on the inside.

Let's be unrelenting. Let's pursue our course with utmost zeal. Let's fix our steady gaze FAR AND BEYOND THE LAST BUOY. Leave fear aside for we need only COURAGE now. It's JUST FOUR MINUTES OR SO. That's all.

Let's get ready for our hardest tens and the most elegant, swift, jaw-dropping, breath-taking LAST CHARGE.

Surge on NUM to BEYOND the last buoy! The race has already started - don't wait till Saturday or Sunday.