Tournament

Most Tuesdays, after dinner,
I play a little game with my 2 boys.
Help them to develop the Right Mindset, stay focused.

I once asked boys each to write down 3 reasons,
Why I asked them playing a badminton tournament,
That I knew they'd NO chance in winning.

They put down :
To enhance skill, to exercise, to improve attitude?
To experience, to make friends, to have a go?

Very Sensible Answers.
Very Good Observations.
But not exactly what I'd in mind.

I eventually told my boys of my 3 reasons.
1st, to see for themselves how good other younger kids were.
Anyone can be good at anything when putting in Time & Efforts.

2nd, to see how they dealt with Failures AND in public.
Even though my boys were beaten very badly,
They kept their head high, trying their best - never gave up.

3rd, to stimulate them to think at what age they could start...
Helping their child to develop their potentials, good habits.
Because one day they'll be a father too.

Fate
Tournament is about Knowing Oneself through Others
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.co.uk

Word

After taking his seat in our car,
Younger Boy started asking me.

YB : Dad, can you give me a number?

I : Of course, I can. Any number?

YB : Well, a single digit number.

I : O.K. 4.

YB : Now, give me a letter.

I : R?

YB : Now, we're going to play a game.
Take turn to say a 4-letter word beginning with a R.

I : O.K. Should I start?

YB : No, wait. I start.  Rain.

I :  Ruin.

YB : Rule.

I : Role.

YB : R....

I : R.....

(We arrived car park & started walking)

YB : Read.

I : Raid.

YB : Wait. Dad. We've to walk slowly, very slowly.

I : Why?

YB : Because the game stops when we reach school gate.
And I still haven't found the next word!

Fate
Good Spelling comes from Good Playing
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.co.uk

Tools

My wife & I have been using various Tools,
Trying to help our boys getting the Ultimate Goal,
Enjoying True, Longlasting Happiness in Life.

So, we encourage them to take up various activities.
Piano, Badminton, Swimming, Table Tennis, Chess etc.
Helping them to develop the Essential Life Skills.

Concentration, Devotion, Precision, Determination....
And of course, Asking Questions,
'How did he do it?'  'Why the shuttle went that way?' 'What..'

I Think therefore I Exist. Indeed.
But as the world is getting More Competitive,
So, one has to, 'I Question, I Improve & therefore I Advance'.

And one's to be both Mentally & Physically fit.
Not meaning one has to win trophies like a Champion.
But to have a Champion's Attitude.

Always having a Vision on why they're doing.
Always Enjoying on what they're doing.
Always Improving on how they're doing.

Then, very soon,
Always in a Happier & Healthy Life.
Life is, in most cases, Very Fair.

Fate
What Happens Next depends on What You Do Now
www.fatersecrets.blogspot.co.uk

Dream

While us walking to his school,
Younger Boy started a chat.

YB : Did I tell you I'd a dream last night?

I : No, you didn't.

YB : Alright. I'd a dream that you'd won a lottery.

I : Really?

YB : Do you want to guess how much you'd won?

I : £25 Million?

YB: No. More than that.

I : £35 Million?

YB : No. More than that.

I : OK. £50 Million?

YB : No. Less than that.

I : Alright. £45 Million?

YB : No. Do you want me to tell you?

I : Oh, please.

YB : It's £47 Million.

I : Oh, yes, of course, £47 Million.

YB : How are you to use that £47 Million?

I : Hm.....it's an odd number.

YB : OK. Let's make it £50 Million.

I : Then, I'll ... .
Wait.... how would you spend the money then?

YB : I'll divide it into.......

Fate 
Children Give us the Best Dreams
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.co.uk

Real

One of the MAIN duties of parents,
Is to help their children to prepare...
For the Challenges in the REAL world.

And I've been using the news as a tool.
To give our boys a snapshot of the Real world,
Help them to stay Focused, enjoy Real Happiness.

So, I briefed them a report about Friends.
Thanks to FB, children now have abt 200 Friends.
Abt 4 times More than their parents.

I then asked boys,
'Is there a difference between an online & a Real friend?'
'Does one have More friends = have More Happiness?'

Then, a report about 50% Youth Unemployment in Spain.
I then asked boys,
'Why there're so many youngsters unemployed there?'

It's about helping boys to develop ESSENTIAL Life Skills.
Not to force them to, Not to talk them into,
But let them understand it's their DUTY to develop such Skills.

Fate
Develop Real Skills or Face Real Disaster
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.co.uk

More

While me driving home from school,
Younger Boy started a conversation.

YB : Dad, I'm going to ask you a question.

I : O.K. Go on then.

YB : Well, you should know the question.

I : Really? Come on, ask me then.

YB : Well, you know......the usual question.

I : The Usual?

YB : Yeah. The one about.......
Which one do you like more, me or XXX?
(XXX is our Elder Boy)

I : Well, you know.... the usual answer.

YB : The Usual?

I : Yes.
The one is More Behaved, the one I like more.

YB : So, what if we're both equally Behaved?
Which one do you like more?

I : Hm....the one that's More Independent.

YB : OK. What if we're both equally Independent?

I : Hm....the one that's More Helpful to others.

YB : Alright. What if we're both equally Helpful?

I : That's Impossible.
Even Identical Twins are not equal in everything.

YB : Well, just want to know.

I : Alright. Let me ask you this question.
Which one do you like More, me or your mum?

YB : Hm..........

Fate
Life's hard to compare - to few is lemon, to few is pear
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.com

Girl

New Year Day.
Family Day.
Driving around in Exeter Centre,
Trying to find an ideal place for a family dinner.

The Chinese Restaurant was not open.
Boys suggested the nearby Pizza Hut.
It's surprisingly...........quiet.
And we'd a surprise encounter.

My wife & I were impressed by a young waitress.
She's Professional : Tidy Uniform, Tidy Hair & Tidy up table Quietly.
She's Alert, always looking to see if she could help.
She showed Respect, looking at your eyes when speaking.

We guessed she's a student.
Most likely attending a top uni.
And we're right.
She's attending Oxford for medical training.

She told us she's from a local comprehensive college.
It's hard as most students did not seem to work hard.
2 of her friends also applying Oxford.
But she's the only got accepted.

I asked her what had been motivating her.
She replied without thinking,
'To make my mum Proud.
She's done so much for me.'

I later told my boys.
'This girl is amusing. Self-Motivated. Totally Focus.
She's NOT even from a grammar school.
She's proven that ' As long as there's a Will, there's a way'

'She wants to make her mum Proud.
But for me,
It's NOT about getting into Oxford, Cambridge, IC...
'It's NOT about making me or your mum Proud.

'It's about making YOURSELF Proud.
Proving to Yourself that you can be whatever you want to be,
Provided that you put in the time & effort, never give up.
All your hard work will pay off One Day...just like that girl.'

Fate
See Further, Achieve Better, Life Happier
www.fatesecrets.blogspot.com