Secrets, Insights and Instincts: Just Ask Grandma and Grandpa

By Terry Nettle

This book presents the many intimate and incisive conversations that Grandma Dolly and Grandpa Thomas had with their two young granddaughters. These conversations are about the secrets of life and the exciting learning journey of young people.

Five secrets for living life well. Five secrets of how to learn effectively. All these are the crystallization of the long and colorful life lived through by Grandpa Thomas. They reflect the precious insights and instincts that are the crucial ingredients for living life fully and successfully.

The art of learning various languages and writing skills. The importance of embracing multilingualism and starting them young. The need for injecting fun into all these are discussed thoroughly.

A number of special chapters dwell on the fun of learning interesting and useful subjects for everyone. There are insightful discussions on the achievements of the greatest women in history, the ill of the prevalent me me me mentality, the toxic bullying culture, the difficult teenage relationship issues, the divisive gender equality issue, the ever-present human predators in society, and the importance of mental health as illustrated by an innovative word game.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terry Nettle
• Release date: Jul 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201187019

Book preview

Chapter 2. Home Food And City Sights

Back at home, grandma had prepared a sumptuous meal for the whole family. Iris was so happy to see her favourite Spaghetti Bolognese and Aglio Olio Penne which was specially cooked for her by her grandma. She said: Oh, Grandma, I miss your food so much! Now I have to gorge myself! Marigold jumped right in and said: Yes, Grandma, these are my favourite food too!

Grandma said: My dear Iris and Marigold, you can have as much as you like. Just tell me what you guys are craving for, and I will cook them for the two of you tomorrow. OK?

Iris had two helpings of each of the two dishes, and said: Grandma, that was so... delicious.... Thank you so much for the wonderful food.

Marigold, amazingly, had three helpings of each and was too full to say anything!

The next morning, Grandpa took them for sightseeing in the city. They visited Gardens by the Bay to see the beautiful gardens and the towering supertrees. They went to the Botanic Gardens to see the magnificent Orchid Gardens as well as the unique Bromelia cold-house. They then went to the Ion Shopping Mall to do some shopping, and had lunch at their favourite Xiaolongbao restaurant there.

Chapter 3. Book Of Secrets

Back home after an exhausting day, they were sitting in the living room to relax. Iris said: Grandpa, I have a school assignment to write about what my grandparents taught me. Can you give me some tips on what to write? Marigold added: Yes, Grandpa, Iris has to do a lot of home work, and me too!

Grandpa said: "Sure, my darling, I can tell you two stories and stories until you are sick of them. But for a start, I think I will tell you about my Book of Secrets. It is something I have been working on for quite a while now. It is about the fantastic secrets of how to live a good life! These are really the secrets that, through the ages, everybody was trying everything they can to find out, but the secrets almost always seem to elude them.

"The secrets of life is a constant theme in the timeless search of human beings for the keys that can unlock the door to great happiness, tremendous success, and enormous wealth. It is the subject of countless stories and searches through the ages, and many legends and myths have been created. These are truly the greatest secrets of the world and the human mind.

"So, my dear Iris and Marigold, what are the secrets of success and happiness that everybody is looking for, and yet few have found?

I think I have the answers, or at least a part of the answers. Now, let me tell you what I have found to be the five secrets of life that will determine whether a person will succeed or fail in life.

Chapter 4. The Five Secrets of Life

"I have five very important secrets of life to share with you two. These are called secrets because they are often hidden from careless observers and are not well-known or are unappreciated by most people. Paradoxically, these are secrets that should not be secrets at all, and should be known to everyone

At first sight, they may seem to be plain and obvious, but they really are the most important secrets and critical truths of life. People really do not have to spend their whole life looking for the secrets of life, because they are all right here in front of everyone, if you care to just take a closer look!

Chapter 5. First Secret of Life: Self-control

"L ife is a Marathon race and not a 100-m sprint event. You need self-control to go the distance. Self-indulgence is something you might want to do for yourself once in a while, just like eating a rich chocolate mousse cake, or a juicy and fatty stewed belly pork. But too much of it will ruin your life.

"You are born with this key of self-control, so use it to unlock all the exciting possibilities of your DNA and live your incredible future! 

"You have a choice. You want to be in control of your own life, be the captain of your own ship, and not cede control to something or someone else.

"If you live cleanly and frugally, without the heavy yoke on your neck of the terrible addiction to tobacco and alcohol, you are more likely to be able to live healthily and happily.

"Young people like to party and have fun in a group. There is nothing wrong with that, but you must remember never to lose your self-control. Do not overdo things, and do not do silly things that you will regret later on. If you remember not to over-indulge, you will not get into trouble.

"But, heaven forbid, if you should ever be caught in an addictive or obsessive or violent situation or relationship, and find yourself trapped in a vicious circle of trying and failing, remember that self-control is also the key for you to get out of the dark dungeon that imprisons you. Remember that no one can help you if you do not want to help yourself.

"Most of all, the long and tortuous history of mankind should tell you how important it is for us to stay away from smoking, alcohols, addictive drugs, gambling, and other unhealthy habits and dangerous temptations. If anybody should have any idea that smoking is cool, just quote them the following passage from King James I of England in 1604 about the use of tobacco: 'A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is