It's time to take stock of my gains and losses for 2009.
In 2009, I pledged to achieve the following:
1. To perservere and complete the make-up diploma and hopefully put the skills to good use.
I would think that I have done very well in this aspect indeed! :D This would not be possible without the continued support of my friends and the 'lobangs' that they bring to me.
Thank you Pamela, Joe, Yanling, Alice, James, Kaiting, Grace, Caroline, Chun Yan, Fiona, Weizhen, Shmoo, and others who trusted me with their faces and hair and allowed me to style them.
Thank you Hendri, Mabel, Felicia, Yanling, Fairuz, Chon Wee, Gloria, Ros, Vincent, Sai Ho and others who promoted my business on my behalf or for using my services. I am deeply appreciative of your support and trust.
Thank you to my dearest friends, Ching Yee, Alice, Yanling, Yanfen, Fanny and Jean, for all the make-up products that you guys gave me. They can't be anymore precious and helpful.
Thank you Edmund, Ching Yee, Fanny and Alex for the referrals to other professionals in the business. Knowing new people is ABSOLUTELY GREAT!
Thanks to my hubby for being my chauffeur and assistant on so many occasions. I seldom have to lug my tools around and I consider myself blessed.
To the people mentioned above, you have made a difference to my life and I'm grateful! :)
2. To not lose 'me' in work.
While it is truly very hard to alter my innate obsessive nature, I have learnt to let go of many things at work. So why am I still busy? Because I now use my free time to obsess over other new things ... Haha... but seriously, I have experienced (or still am experiencing) a paradigm shift in my mind and am learning to focus on only what is truly of value and worth. I need to focus on my goals and not allow other things to distract me from the path I want to take. I cannot please everyone and if I cannot win it all, then I must pick my battles and allocate my time and resources wisely.
Believe that you can!
3. To work in passion and wisdom.
I have some ideas formed about the educational business now. Making the move this year is good, I manage to get a bigger picture of the educational landscape and what it is about.
At the end of the day, despite temporal setbacks, I am convinced that education has immense value and has an important economic and social role to play in all societies.
I would love to pursue further studies in this area should the opportuntity arise.
4. To seek new grounds.
Done!
5. To diversify my leisure activities.
Oops. Will work on it :(
6. To pray about being a mom.
Not much praying was done, honestly. Loads of thought have been placed into it though. I am not emotionally and mentally ready right now because I am truly distracted by many other things that I wish to accomplish. But by the grace of God, I hope to have a kid within the next few years though.
7. To seek growth in spiritual life.
Oops again.
8. To cook and eat healthily.
Another oops.
9. To exercise.
Oooooops!
10. To rework the balcony area.
Can't find the garden set that I want yet.
***
On the whole, I am proud of my accomplishments this year. Hmm, on hindsight, I seem to be not doing very well in taking care of my personal life (again) although work-wise, I think I have set out to finish what I want to do. But I do think that I have grown wiser, calmer and less likely to sweat over the small stuff. I hope to be even braver!
Look out for my post for next year's resolution! :D
Friday, January 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Life At 28: The Most Important Lesson That I've Learnt
It doesn't always pay to be polite or nice.
I need to speak my mind.
Adulthood is all about negotiations.
I need to speak my mind.
Adulthood is all about negotiations.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Happy Birthday To Me
"Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation."
- Susan B. Anthony
- Susan B. Anthony
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The Bucket List
What are the lessons that I learned from the movie, The Bucket List?
1. You only live once, so why not go out in style?
2. Two important questions that people must ask and answer themselves before they die:
a) Have you found joy in your life?
b) Have you brought joy to others?
3. The best time of all is right now.
Postscript: The term 'bucket list' refers to the things that people hope to do before they kick the bucket.
1. You only live once, so why not go out in style?
2. Two important questions that people must ask and answer themselves before they die:
a) Have you found joy in your life?
b) Have you brought joy to others?
3. The best time of all is right now.
Postscript: The term 'bucket list' refers to the things that people hope to do before they kick the bucket.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
My Kind of Holiday
Hubby and I went for a couple's retreat recently to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. To avoid quarreling over directions in a foreign land, we did what we do best- check into a local hotel for a 'staycation'.
We admired the city's skyline.
Snuggled.
And gorged!
What a perfect holiday... :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Day When the 'Emo' Part of Me Died And Other Random Thoughts
I knew it happened when I could not even write a 'thank you' card to a colleague whom I love and am indebted to greatly.
The 'emo' part of me died.
Don't get me wrong. I feel a lot for the colleague whom I am writing to. But I just could not say everything that I want to say on paper. It just felt that the words I started to write on the card were hardly justifying or capturing how I feel.
Let me say this in the worst form of English possible: in my current state of life, I am officially 'zenified'.
In this current zen state, may I also announce in the most perfunctory manner that I am ready to be a mother and I hope to conceive mid or late next year. Don't ask me how is it possible for me to time everything nicely; to tell you the truth, it is not possible. It is a logical decision I have made after considering the biological aspect of life. I have also sold the idea to my hubby that it is in my best health interest to conceive before I am thirty (oh my gosh, and did I say 3-0?) and he bought it. I will be going for full body check-up tomorrow to ascertain my health before embarking on my family planning. (Yes, I am a control freak.)
Maybe action speaks louder than words for me these days. I am not sure if it is good (on hindsight, I am very sure that it isn't good) to run my life like I am going through a checklist. What if I reach the end of the list earlier than expected?
Eastman Kodak, the builder of a billion-dollar company, faced this problem. Upon reaching the pinnacle of his career success, he left a suicide note on his desk before putting a bullet through his head which read, "My work is done, why wait?"
I am hardly Eastman Kodak, so I guess this grim end to life will probably not apply to me. But I guess we all are searching for something that makes our lives worthwhile at the end of the day and like Stephen Covey warned, people could work very hard to climb the ladder of success only to discover it's leaning against the wrong wall. Scary, eh?
So, Lord, here's a personal prayer from me to please humble my human pride and help me to see my purpose in life.
"Then I realised that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given him- for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work- this is a gift of God. He seldom reflect on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honour, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."- Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:2
The 'emo' part of me died.
Don't get me wrong. I feel a lot for the colleague whom I am writing to. But I just could not say everything that I want to say on paper. It just felt that the words I started to write on the card were hardly justifying or capturing how I feel.
Let me say this in the worst form of English possible: in my current state of life, I am officially 'zenified'.
In this current zen state, may I also announce in the most perfunctory manner that I am ready to be a mother and I hope to conceive mid or late next year. Don't ask me how is it possible for me to time everything nicely; to tell you the truth, it is not possible. It is a logical decision I have made after considering the biological aspect of life. I have also sold the idea to my hubby that it is in my best health interest to conceive before I am thirty (oh my gosh, and did I say 3-0?) and he bought it. I will be going for full body check-up tomorrow to ascertain my health before embarking on my family planning. (Yes, I am a control freak.)
Maybe action speaks louder than words for me these days. I am not sure if it is good (on hindsight, I am very sure that it isn't good) to run my life like I am going through a checklist. What if I reach the end of the list earlier than expected?
Eastman Kodak, the builder of a billion-dollar company, faced this problem. Upon reaching the pinnacle of his career success, he left a suicide note on his desk before putting a bullet through his head which read, "My work is done, why wait?"
I am hardly Eastman Kodak, so I guess this grim end to life will probably not apply to me. But I guess we all are searching for something that makes our lives worthwhile at the end of the day and like Stephen Covey warned, people could work very hard to climb the ladder of success only to discover it's leaning against the wrong wall. Scary, eh?
So, Lord, here's a personal prayer from me to please humble my human pride and help me to see my purpose in life.
"Then I realised that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given him- for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work- this is a gift of God. He seldom reflect on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honour, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil."- Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:2
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How Much Is Marriage Worth?
This isn't my story. This is a real story of a Singaporean man, probably in his forties.
The TV documentary recounted the story of a man and woman who were together for fifteen years but unmarried. They both felt that it was good enough for them stay together and be happy; marriage was afterall just about owning a certificate and in their opinion, meaningless.
Three years ago, the lady was diagnosed with breast cancer; she did not get better. The man then quit his job as a taxi driver to care for her full-time. By then, the woman had grown gaunt, frail and ugly.
He stood by her nonetheless, and -a surprise- proposed.
After 15 years of fighting against the idea, he strangely became resolutely sure that this was what he wanted.
Why has it suddenly become so easy to make a difficult decision?
Their wedding was held at the hospice. I watched as their quiet wedding unfolded. Her make-up was done on the hospital bed as she was too weak to walk. A wig was worn as she had lost her hair to cancer. At the procession, she went down the aisle on a wheelchair with tubes in her nose. Loving friends and family members applauded lovingly to congratulate and encourage her. But she was too frail to talk and could only wave back with whatever remaining strength she had to thank them for their blessings. After the vows were exchanged, the husband and wife wept. The guests wept. And I cried too. The newfound marriage bliss ended 2 weeks later when she died.
Why does it take difficult times to make an easy decision?
The TV documentary recounted the story of a man and woman who were together for fifteen years but unmarried. They both felt that it was good enough for them stay together and be happy; marriage was afterall just about owning a certificate and in their opinion, meaningless.
Three years ago, the lady was diagnosed with breast cancer; she did not get better. The man then quit his job as a taxi driver to care for her full-time. By then, the woman had grown gaunt, frail and ugly.
He stood by her nonetheless, and -a surprise- proposed.
After 15 years of fighting against the idea, he strangely became resolutely sure that this was what he wanted.
Why has it suddenly become so easy to make a difficult decision?
Their wedding was held at the hospice. I watched as their quiet wedding unfolded. Her make-up was done on the hospital bed as she was too weak to walk. A wig was worn as she had lost her hair to cancer. At the procession, she went down the aisle on a wheelchair with tubes in her nose. Loving friends and family members applauded lovingly to congratulate and encourage her. But she was too frail to talk and could only wave back with whatever remaining strength she had to thank them for their blessings. After the vows were exchanged, the husband and wife wept. The guests wept. And I cried too. The newfound marriage bliss ended 2 weeks later when she died.
Why does it take difficult times to make an easy decision?
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