My friend Dr. Abdul Aziz forwarded this article to me and there is something that I think we can learn from it. I don’t know who wrote it. Almost all the sites that I went to got this article through email forwarded to them.

I spent 50 hours at work (excluding 2 to 3 hours at home for this blog). I believed most Asians are working longer hours compare to their European and Americans friends. How could Asia catch up with these developed nations if we slow down? Personally, I have lots of goals to achieve, is it logical for me to slow down? Anyhow, thanks for the writer for his or her insight. Enjoy the reading. It’s interesting!

It’s been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It’s a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:

1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.
2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.
3. Stockholm has 500,000 people.
4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn’t say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, “Do you have a fixed parking space? I’ve noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot.” To which he replied, “Since we’re here early we’ll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don’t you think? Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there’s a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of “hurry” and “craziness” generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of “having in quantity” (life status) versus “having with quality”, “life quality” or the “quality of being”. French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US’s attention, pupils of the fast and the “do it now!”.

This no-rush attitude doesn’t represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the “now”, present and concrete, versus the “global”, undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans’ essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It’s time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.

In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there’s a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, “I can’t, my boyfriend will be here any minute now”. To which Al responds, “A life is lived in an instant”. Then they dance to a tango.

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”.

Congratulations for reading till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this globalize world.

Jordan won its full independence on May 25, 1946 following the end of the British mandate.

Happy Independence Day Jordan!

The Sanja Matsuri festival is a three day weekend of traditional shrine processions through the streets of Asakusa, Tokyo; to bring wealth and good luck to the area and its inhabitants. It is one of the three greatest matsuri (festivals) in Tokyo and is celebrated annually over the third weekend of May. The drinking, music, dancing and celebrations attract over two million people every year.

The number three in Japanense is “san” and the Sanja Matsuri is a festival that honors the three men who founded the Asakusa Shrine. Two of the men were said to have found a Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) statuette caught in their fishing net around this time in the year 628. A wealthy man heard about the discovery and used the opportunity to share a Buddhist sermon with the two men. The two men were converted and devoted their life to teaching Buddhism. The wealthy man consecrated the Kannon statuette in a small temple in what is now know as Asakusa Shrine. These three men are recognized as the founders of Asakusa and are revered as deities (Gods).

The Asakusa shrine’s bearers all wear traditional festival clothing, and purposely rock and shake the shrine about during the procession. It is believed that the more that the shrine is shaken; the more blessings are bestowed on the neighborhood.

The Sanja Matsuri not only sees the traditional street processions, but is also host to more bizarre events. Dogs are welcome at the parade, and are often dressed in traditional coats. The Japanese Mafia, Yakuza, openly displays their body tattoos which are normally against the law, so you get chance to witness Tokyo’s gangsters under safe conditions.

The festival’s crowds are large but remain calm and good natured so it is a great day out for all the family. Visitors to the festival, both locals and holiday makers, will also enjoy the traditional food stalls found all along the parade route.

The best known date on the Buddhist calendar, familiar even to non-Buddhists, is the thrice sacred day of “Wesak”. Wesak is the name of a month in the ancient Indian calendar and it usually falls in May though sometimes it may commence in the later part of April or extend to the early part of June. For this year, it falls on today – May 19, 2008. Wesak is derived form the original Pali word “Wesakha” or Sanskrit “Waishakha”. In some countries it is also known simply as Buddha Day.

Wesak Day holds special significance for the millions of Buddhists who comprise a fifth of the world’s total population. In thousands of temples across the world from Tokyo in the East to San Francisco in the West, Buddhists will pay homage to an Indian Prince who forsook the pleasures of a royal household to bring peace and happiness to mankind. The Buddha was born in 623 B.C. on a Wesak full-moon day. The young Prince was named Siddhartha or “the one who has brought about all good.” His parents, King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya, ruled a small kingdom in Northern India.

It is said that when he was born an ancient sage called Asita came to visit him. The sage took the child in his arms and first smiled, then wept. Questioned about his extra-ordinary behavior the sage explained that he smiled because the child would one day become the greatest teacher the world have ever known and he wept because he would not live long enough to see the boy grow up.

On the 35th anniversary of his birth, again on the full-moon day of Wesak, and seated under a bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya, the ascetic Siddartha became the Buddha. For the next forty-five years the Buddha traveled around Northern India preaching his message of loving-kindness for all beings and realization of the nature of existence.

As with all other great religious teachers the Buddha found opposition to his teaching. But many saw the truth of his teachings and followed him, learning how to lead a proper religious life to free themselves from the misery of existence. Finally, after forty-five years, lying under two beautiful sala trees, before a large assembly of monks, the Buddha passed away at Kusinara. This passing away is also known as Mahaparinibbana or the attainment of ultimate peace and bliss. This great event also occurred on the full-moon day of Wesak. The Buddhist Era begins from the Mahaparinibbana – passing away of the Buddha.

Hence on Wesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate three great events: The Birth, Enlightenment and the Passing Away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India to all parts of the world, the teachings were readily assimilated with the cultures of the people who accepted the teachings. As a result, Buddhist art and culture took on a rich variety of forms with profound gentleness and kindness as the Buddha expressly forbade the use of force. The practice of Buddhism was adapted in many ways to suit the nature of the various cultures that accepted it.

As a result of this, Wesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world. But in essence many practices have become universal. It is most important to remember that this sacred day is purely and simply a religious festival and not a festive occasion for feasting, drinking and dancing. On this day all Buddhists are expected to reaffirm their faith in the Buddha Dhamma and to lead a noble religious life. It is a day for meditation and for radiating loving-kindness.

Celebrating Wesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick. To this end, Buddhists will distribute gifts in cash and kind to various charitable homes throughout the country. Wesak is also a time for great joy and happiness. But this joy is expressed not by pandering to one’s appetites but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, painting and creating exquisite scenes from the life of the Buddha for public dissemination. Devout Buddhists also vie with one another to provide refreshments and vegetarian food to devotees who visit the temple to pay homage to the Buddha.

To all Buddhists, happy Wesak day!

Don’t you wish you could find already-tied ties? Putting on a tie is considered a dreaded task for some men, but it really doesn’t have to be. Just follow these simple directions and you’ll know exactly how to tie a tie in no time.

Tie it in front of a mirror!

Give yourself a few extra minutes when tying a tie for the first time. Allow yourself time to re-tie the knot higher or lower until you get it the right length. Part of good grooming means paying attention to the details. Employers will notice and appreciate the effort.

When slipping the broad end through the knot, push a loop through with your finger, then pull the rest through. This helps keep the knot together.

Look for the spot on the tie where the narrow end becomes wider. This will often be the best place to pass the broad end over the narrow end. Try tying the tie with this widening section laying on top of the narrow end’s knot spot. Even if it does not make the perfect knot for you, it gives you a good way of gauging the distance the second time around.

Difficult? Read interesting overview by Toph Speaks.