Category: Lifestyle EN

Don’t Hide Imperfections, Display Them with Pride Feeling broken? There are many teachings, practices and philosophies that can help you deal with disappointment, embrace imperfection and remain optimistic. One such practice is the Japanese art form of Kintsugi, which means joining with gold. It has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as both an art technique, a worldview and...

The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. To combat this, experts recommend increasing the reuse, upcycling, and recycling of old garments. Fabric waste constituted 3.1% (432,901 tonnes) of the total waste generated (13.9 million tonnes) in 2021 in Malaysia. Globally, 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced annually, according to the United Nations...

A Story about Perspective In a parable, six blind men were challenged to describe an elephant accurately. To add to the challenge, each man was taken to the elephant alone and allowed to touch only one area of the animal. When they were asked to describe the elephant they each have a completely different perspective. One blind man grabs the tusk and says, “An elephant is like a spear!”...

Here’s a truism to keep in mind as we head into 2026 with new resolutions for growth and progress. A man asked a gardener why his plants grew so beautifully. The gardener replied, "I don't force them to grow. I remove what stops them." The gardener’s wisdom: Growth comes from eliminating obstacles (weeds, bad soil) rather than forcing, a lesson applicable to life by removing limiting beliefs...

SPEND SENSIBLY, BUY WITH PURPOSE The most expensive part of the holidays isn’t the gifts. It’s the regret after the lights are gone. Sales are everywhere. Everything feels urgent. Every promo looks like a “once-in-a-lifetime” deal. But when you buy something your budget can’t really afford, the happiness doesn’t last. January comes with bills. Money feels tight. And the stress hits...

They didn’t just sell us convenience. They sold us the idea that exhaustion is normal – and that dependence equals progress. Somewhere along the way, cooking turned into a chore instead of a ritual. Gardening became a “hobby,” not a birthright. Preserving food shifted from a survival skill to a lifestyle aesthetic. But that knowledge never disappeared. It was only interrupted. The soil...

Nestled in the lush, subtropical hills of northern Okinawa, Japan, lies a small village that has captured the world’s attention for an extraordinary reason: its people live longer than almost anyone else on Earth. Ogimi Village, home to just over 3,000 residents, boasts the highest percentage of centenarians in the world, earning it recognition by the World Health Organization as the...

Humans need more than just productivity; we need connection, joy, rest, and meaning, not just endless output. We need deeper living. We need to prioritise simple pleasures like sunsets and music, and to recognise our inherent worth beyond tasks. We are body (health), mind (choices and will), and soul (connectedness, purpose, meaning), so it’s important for us to live a balanced life. Here are...

Real respect isn’t about status – it’s about seeing people, honouring their presence, and choosing kindness every time. Make it a habit to respect people – not for their position, but for their presence. You don’t need a nameplate to deserve kindness. You don’t need a title to be seen. Respect is not a reward for status – it’s a reflection of your character. Because status fades,...

LIBRARIES THAT PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOL SHARING In Finland, libraries are expanding their mission beyond books by lending sewing machines to the public, encouraging people to repair clothing rather than discard it. This small but powerful idea helps low-income communities maintain essential items without needing to buy new ones. Alongside the sewing machines are boxes of donated fabric, thread...