Hi All,
We have never seen so many teary eyes this past month in Singapore, and we will probably not witness another occasion/event that saw so many people shed tears for someone. You know who I am referring to, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the father of our nation.
I am a direct beneficiary of the country’s development and growth, benefiting from Mr Lee’s vision and strategy. Though I did not have the honor of knowing Mr. Lee personally, through all the media reports and TV clips, I feel I have gotten to know the person a little better, which I believe its true for many Singaporeans. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew lead an amazing life on some very sound and profound principles which makes him a such revered person and leader.
I came across a book by Robin Sharma, titled Who Will Cry When You Die, which questions and exemplifies authentic living and tries to illustrate what is really important and matters in life. At the end of the day, you will be most remembered for the differences you made to the people around you. That you cared, you tried and left the world in a better place then when you first found it.
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew has certainly lead a bona fide life and made Singapore what it is today. He made a difference for the 5 plus million people who reside and call this island home. Our lives path and trajectory are peppered with events and actions that is a result of Mr. Lee’s leadership; from registering for national identity card, serving national service, our CPF contributions, medisave and application for HDB flats. These have made our lives easier, safer, healthier and most times, more complete.
So, if you are wondering why so many shed a tear for Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, its simply because, he made a difference for the better for many, many of us. Its because he lead a life of integrity and had a life’s mission that is bigger than himself.
If you have not read the book by Robin Sharma, I do suggest you pick it up on your next visit to a book store. And for those who cannot spend the time to read a good book, you can click on the attached link for a quick summary; we are after all living in the internet era. In the internet age, where honor and veracity are getting harder to come by, the question is, who will cry when you die?