The Ocean's Deadly Deception and Other Hard Lessons - 2025-03-01

"You won't believe what I just heard," my brother started, his voice heavy. "My friend... he drowned in Vietnam. A strong swimmer, too. It's a tragic irony, really. You know how some people are naturally gifted in the water? They become so confident, they seek out bigger challenges. But the ocean doesn't care about your local pool records. A familiar sea is nothing like a foreign one, with its unknown currents and hidden depths. That overconfidence? It can be a death sentence."

His words brought back a vivid memory. "Langkawi, when did your mum and I go? The tour took us to a beautiful island with a hidden lake. A big lake with deep water. I put on a life jacket, even though I can swim. Something about that dark water made me uneasy. I paddled around for a bit, then called it quits. Your mum, though? Fearless. I was picturing unseen dangers lurking below."

"And it's not just deep lakes, even the familiar shores of Singapore can be treacherous. I rarely swim far out, always staying parallel to the beach. You never know what's lurking beneath the surface. Jellyfish, for instance. I learned that lesson the hard way. Once, I felt a searing pain, like fire, as I was close to shore. I'm sure a jellyfish stung me but luckily it was a very mild one. But even that small encounter sent a jolt of fear through me. It was a stark reminder of how quickly things can turn. If I'd been further out, or if the sting had been more severe, I might have panicked, struggling to stay afloat. A stronger dose of that venom could easily have turned a pleasant swim into a life-threatening ordeal. And I’ll never forget another experience. When I was younger, a friend of mine, just standing next to the sea, and she was stung. The pain was extreme. Her horror story is etched in my memory, a constant reminder of the ocean's hidden dangers."

"It's not just the water, either,  another friend just told me his colleague died in a car accident. Speeding, no seatbelt and hitting a tree. Just like that, gone. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Why take such risks?"

This is a lesson I want you to remember, always. You might be naturally talented in certain areas, but that doesn't make you invincible. Never let overconfidence lure you into dangerous situations, especially ones where a single mistake can cost you everything. You only get one life.

"Be cautious in everything you do. If there's a chance of risking your life, say no. It's the same with investments. If you don't understand it, if it feels too good to be true, walk away. I'd never invest in some flashy scheme promising quick riches. And here's a simple rule: if losing your investment would devastate you, don't invest. Protect yourself, in the water, on the road, and with your money. Because life is precious, and some risks are simply not worth taking."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on 13 Years of Investing: A Wake-Up Call in 2024 -2025-01-28

After 13 years of investing, countless theories, and extensive study, the year 2024 has been another wake-up call for me. Looking back, my approach to long-term investing in the past was, in reality, still short-term and speculative. I would sell stocks when I believed their prices were too high, trying to time the market. This behavior, though seemingly logical, was speculative in nature. Warren Buffett’s teachings have made it clear that true financial growth comes from holding onto good companies for the long term. It’s important to remember that when we buy shares, we’re not just buying numbers on a screen—we’re buying a piece of a company. There are two ways to make money from the market: Speculation: Selling to someone willing to pay more than you did. Ownership: Earning profits as the company grows and performs well. Warren Buffett has shown us that while the first method can help accumulate an initial pot of gold, it’s not sustainable. It requires constant effort, exceptional f...
Read more

Property market - 2024-03-15

I came across an article claiming that China’s property market will be fine. The article cited a shrinking population, which could lead to more people concentrating in cities, creating demand for housing upgrades. It also pointed out that the average house size is still relatively small. The article seemed promising, suggesting that property developers are a good investment option. But hold on—why are China’s property developers going bankrupt? The article fails to address the real issue: property developers have taken on a massive amount of debt! Overleveraging can be disastrous if they are unable to sell properties, collect payments, or face project failures. It’s dangerous to rely solely on market analysis like this, as it won’t necessarily lead to success. We need to conduct our own analysis. If a company is overly reliant on debt to fund its operations, it will struggle when the economy worsens, and income drops. We should focus on individual companies that don’t depend on borrowi...
Read more

Rethinking Everyday Habits: The Lesson of the Towel - 2025-01-28

My big, fluffy towel. It was practically a family traditional. My mom used one, I used one – it was just the towel. Sure, it was a bit of a pain. After a wash, it took forever to dry, and packing it for trips was like wrestling an octopus into a suitcase. But hey, that's just how it was. For 40+ years, I never questioned it. It was my towel, end of story. Then, one day, I had a moment of… towel enlightenment. I decided to try a smaller towel. And guess what? It was perfect . Compact, quick-drying, easy to wash. Suddenly, travel became a towel-packing breeze. I could even clip it to my bag to dry! It was a revelation. Forty plus years I used a giant towel simply because that's what I'd always done. It hit me: Just because we've always done something a certain way doesn't mean it's the right way, or even the best way. My towel epiphany taught me a valuable lesson. Sometimes, we need to stop, take a look around, and ask, "Is there a better way?...
Read more