NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER
A Summer Of Inspiring Words! by JOHNNY TAN
Happy August, Everyone! Personally, for me, it is a month of reflection and introspection, as it is my birthday month. Thanks to my Malaysian mom, Nyah, in addition to the typical birthday cake and other goodies, including presents, I have been celebrating my personal new year since I was 15 years old. She taught me on my 15th birthday:“ The day we stop learning is the day we give up on living.”
I was in transition from junior high to senior high, and the process included a National 9th-grade examination on 10 academic subjects that I had been studying for the last three years. The National examination is a critical academic program, as it facilitates all students’ transition to what could possibly be the foundation of their entire future.
Students who passed moved on to high school. Those with excellent grades will attend the“ Science Stream,” while others will be enrolled in the“ Arts Stream” to finish their 10th and 11th grades, as we all graduate from high school at the end of the 11th grade.
Those who failed the National examination are given a second chance to attend vocational schools, a costly endeavor, to learn trade skills, ensuring they can live a productive life and support themselves financially as adults. Needless to say, staying in our public school system is the way to go!
4 | Inspirations for Better Living • August 2025
My mom did an excellent job of instilling in me the concept that we are born with a unique fingerprint of Divineness- our given instinctive traits, fears, passions, and desires. The summation of these ingredients makes us who we are- our authentic genius self. She believes that we are also born into a specific family, place, and face particular challenges that require specialized nurturing so that we can learn and grow into who we are destined to become, our ultimate higher self!
Nyah taught me that as we navigate life, we will always experience a series of challenges and rewards. The resulting awakenings propel us even further along the path of who we are destined to be. The knowledge gained and lessons learned naturally guide us to the next level in our life ' s journey, preparing us to encounter yet more new experiences. She believes we all have a calling, a drive to become something, whether it is a career or an internal state of purpose. This understanding empowers us to face challenges with resilience and learn from them, making us stronger and more capable.
Over the years, I have used the days leading up to my birthday to create quiet moments to reflect on the highlights and low points of my life over the past year. The introspection always provides me with“ A Rear View Vision of the Opportunities and A World of Possibilities Ahead.” When I know what went wrong and take ownership, I can proceed