7 Key Life Principles I Learned from Lee Kuan Yew

“We won’t see another man like him.” Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his tribute to his father

tribute to LKY

It has been an emotionally exhausting week. Singapore plunged into grief since the news of the death of our founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, was announced. I wasn’t expecting it to be this way. Used to reading and hearing complaints about the government, I found the outpouring of love and support by Singaporeans quite a change. In fact, to my surprise, I became one of those who had to process my grief.

As it turned out, Singaporeans came together, sharing, reminiscing and tearing together over memories of Lee Kuan Yew. Many felt that a 10-hour overnight wait in a standing queue at the Padang to pay last respects to Lee Kuan Yew seemed little compared to what he has done. Friends and strangers would cheer each other on for the wait. In the end, more than a million made their final bows in one way or another.

Many took to Facebook to express their gratitude and to share article links about anything and everything celebrating the accomplishments and life of Lee Kuan Yew. Almost everyone I know experienced a sense of loss. It is a fact that our lives have been transformed in one way or another because of one man.

For the most part, we are known to be a logical, practical and efficient lot. However, in the space of one short week, Singaporeans demonstrated a side that was seldom seen: respectful, grateful, united, resilient, thoughtful, considerate and loving. Many Singaporeans came forward with unconditional acts of kindness during the grieving period.

I am glad for the unprecedented show of emotions. I was not alone. For the first time, I felt a oneness in the Singapore spirit and a unity that is beyond any experience I previously had during any of our past National Day Parades.

How Our Lives Had Been Transformed

It took death for us to grasp fully that while there have been imperfections, there are also much good that is going on in our lives. We took stock. Clearly there was much to celebrate about. In addition to my thoughts in the last post, I would like to share more for the benefit of those who know little about Singapore.

Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew put Singapore, a little red dot, on the world map. Due to his efforts to engage world leaders and his often-accurate insights into world affairs, our influence became far-reaching; so much so that it became totally disproportionate to the size of our nation. LKY was a statesman whose views were widely sought after. The result was that a number of world leaders such as Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, became friends who flew in to attend his funeral.

Because of his vision and leadership, Lee Kuan Yew led our country through numerous challenges and from third world to first world thriving city. Singapore is safe, secure and conducive for foreign investment. The GDP numbers speak for themselves. We do not tolerate corruption and we take a tough stance against drugs or guns.

On a personal level, I am grateful to have a roof over my head and clean water that comes out of my tap. I don’t have to worry whenever my girls take the public transport or if they come back late by themselves at night. Additionally, I hold a Singapore passport that is considered valuable, allowing me unrestricted access to many parts of the world.

Still, despite my many speeches to my girls not to take things for granted, I am embarrassed to realise that I have done so myself. I have to also confess that until last week, I haven’t paid much attention to the story of Lee Kuan Yew.

To say the least, I have had little interest in what goes on in the political landscape. Despite having his books on my shelf, I had barely flipped one page. However, with his death, I experienced a flow of tears. My tears fell as I read some of the accounts by the various people who knew him. I was sorry for judging him excessively without first understanding the person that he truly was.

7 Life Principles I learned from Lee Kuan Yew

And so, in the last one week, I learned some key principles set by the example of this extraordinary person:

1. Live a life of passion and dedication. Lee Kuan Yew’s abiding passion had always been Singapore. His constant focus was Singapore’s ability to thrive. He breathed and lived Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore, in every sense of the word. He demonstrated care for the people through his dedication and service.

What is telling? Lee Kuan Yew had a red box, which held what he was working on. He was using the red box right up to the day before he was last hospitalized. He was 91.

“I have no regrets. I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There’s nothing more that I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.” Lee Kuan Yew

2. Live a life of vision. Lee Kuan Yew had foresight. He had dreams of how he would like Singapore to be. He also anticipated problems and put in place measures that would ensure our safety and survival. He not only led us into Independence but also helped to build a nation on solid footing. Our nation is what it is today because of his ideals.

3. Live a life of integrity. Lee Kuan Yew lived a life of principles. He did not just say it, but he walked his talk. He famously once boldly declared that “10 years from now, this will be a metropolis. Never fear!” Well, he made it happen.

Lee Kuan Yew had no qualms about implementing unpopular policies, on what he thought best for the country. “I always tried to be correct,” he said, “not politically correct”. He not only walked the talk publicly but also in his personal and family life, more of which were revealed in the last week.

4. Life a life of health and wellness. Lee Kuan Yew practiced discipline when it came to exercise; be it swimming, cycling or walking. He did not give excuses that he was too busy. Rather, he stuck to his regime as best he could. Even when he was frail, he insisted on taking the stairs and not the lift.

Lee Kuan Yew also took up meditation to beat stress. “The problem is to keep the monkey mind from running off into all kinds of thoughts,” he said. “A certain tranquility settles over you. The day’s pressures and worries are pushed out. Then there’s less problem sleeping.”

5. Live a life of learning. Lee Kuan Yew was a keen proponent of continuous learning, which he deemed as essential. He was mildly dyslexic to begin with. However, that did not stop him from mastering at least four languages. At 91, he was still having regular Chinese lessons by his teacher.

6. Live a life of greenery. Lee Kuan Yew is called the Chief Gardener. He recognised that the introduction of greenery would soften the harshness of urbanisation and improve the quality of life in the city. And so, he pushed to keep nature intact even as we developed the country. Despite his busy schedule, he will personally spend time pursuing his tree-planting campaign.

Today, we have a beautiful garden island city. I am forever grateful as I would not have such a green landscape in my neighborhood without his inspiration. His legacy is felt everywhere – on the streets that are lined with bushes, trees and shrubs and in every park including the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay.

“I have always believed that a blighted urban landscape, a concrete jungle destroys the human spirit. We need the greenery of nature to lift our spirits.”
– Mr Lee Kuan Yew, 1995

7. Life a life of true love. Not just about the nation, Lee Kuan Yew touched me with his personal love story. He provided an excellent example of how a marriage should be. The reports of how he cared and loved his wife – who was his soul mate, partner and greatest supporter – and of how his health deteriorated badly after her death – moved me deeply.

Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter reported on the conversation between her parents. He was speaking to his wife after she had her first stroke.

Lee Kuan Yew: “We have been together for most of our lives. You cannot leave me alone now. I will make your life worth living in spite of your physical handicap.”
Kwa Geok Choo: “That is a big promise.”
Lee Kuan Yew: “Have I ever let you down?”

“We have never allowed the other to feel abandoned and alone in any moment of crisis.” Lee Kuan Yew

Live a life of No Regrets

Lee Kuan Yew led a life with no regrets. It was a life well lived.

“I have no regrets.I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There’s nothing more that I need to do.
At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore.
What have I given up? My life.”
– Mr Lee Kuan Yew

In the last one week, I had been inspired, moved and touched beyond words.

“For the young let me tell you the sky has turned brighter.
There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure.
And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow.
To the young and to the not so old, I say,
look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it” – Lee Kuan Yew

By his life, he left a meaningful legacy: love deeply, serve passionately and live fully.

7 Key Life Principles I Learned from Lee Kuan Yew

Evelyn