Prologue
Dear Members,
Last week I received from a dear friend the following text;
My Resignation
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to
accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old. I want to go to McDonald’s and think that it’s
a four star restaurant. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk
with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them. I want
to lie under a big palm tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends. I want to return
to a time when life was simple; when all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and
nursery rhymes, but that didn’t bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know
and you didn’t care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware
of all the things that should make you worried or upset. I want to think the world is fair.
That everyone is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be
oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again. I want
to live simple again. I don’t want my day to consist of depressing news, hearing about how
bad the stock markets are doing, that banks are going bankrupt, the mountains of paperwork
on my desk, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor
bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones. I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs,
a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in
the snow. So... here’s my checkbook and my car-keys and my credit card bills. I am officially
resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you’ll have to catch me
first, cause..............” Tag! You’re it.”
I don’t how it was for you when you read the text, but when read it I thought for a moment,
yes great to be 8 year old again, certainly in these times we live in at the moment. There is
so much happening in the world around us that I even prefer not to pick up the newspaper or
listen to the news. Just trying to ignore what is happening. But “luckily” the other inner voice
speaks then to me and says take your responsibility and act as a grown up. So I start to write the
prologue for the ADB magazine, make the questions for the survey for the December/January
issue of the ADB magazine (which of course we hope all the members will fill in), send an email
to the always busy members of the editorial committee that I still miss some articles and that
the deadline already has passed. Even though it would be great from time to time to be for
a short moment 8 years old, how often do we really allow it ourselves?
Enjoy reading the new ADB magazine, with articles to dream with and of course articles that
are more serious!
Frank Kuijsters
ADB mission:
‘To share meaningful and business-related information amongst the Dutch business community
in Singapore, whilst networking in a fun environment’
Welcome to the ADB
ADB, Your key to the Singapore business community!
 The "Association of Dutch Businessmen in Singapore" is THE business organization
for men and woman, living and working in Singapore with the ability to speak Dutch.
Every month the members convene after working hours to share their thoughts and
experiences over a drink. This get-together is followed by a presentation, forum
discussion, or company visit.
The ADB was formally established in November 1990. Several Dutch businessmen
in Singapore were of the view that communication, understanding and, where possible,
cooperation among Dutch businessmen and women could be much improved. Accordingly,
it was felt that a business association had to be established and presently the
ADB counts approximately 350 members (all natural persons rather than companies).
The members represent all layers of Dutch business activities in Singapore:
from director to entrepreneur, from researcher to trainee, from legal advisor
to sales manager. All share a common interest in the business environment of Singapore
and its surrounding countries.
The ADB does not contemplate to be a Chamber of Commerce or a trade institution,
seeking to formally represent the interests of Dutch business in Singapore. The
ADB, however, constitutes a platform for Dutch businessmen to share their thoughts
and experiences. Thus the ADB provides an easy and friendly entrance to the Singapore
business community. |
