To do or not to do?

To do or not to do? $38 for 21km…(super price inflation compared to only $12 two years ago!!) And today is the last day to decide before the price jerks up to $48… (H*ly Sh*t!)

I am talking about the Singapore Bay Run on 24 Aug.

Sat - Sentosa Day

I spent my Sat at Sentosa… My bro got 4 tickets at his company at a discounted price. So I just tagged along. I mean what is fun without me around? Ha…

So we watched the 4D movie, experienced the simulated ride at Cinemax, took the Sky Ride twice, as well as the Luge rides… Woohs, the luge rides were fun, just that the distance was a bit too short to make us feel shiok.

Oh yes, there was some commotion while we were queuing at Cinemax. For some reasons, the whole Sentosa was packed with Indians that day. That aside, there was a big crowd at Cinemax and the weather was really hot, and all of us had been queuing for 45min just to get into the Cinemax. So we had this bunch of inconsiderate Indians just in front of us. They were big, fat, noisy and simply rude. I think all of our limits were tested when they simply waved to their kakis (not 1, not 2, but a total of 6 of them!) and asked them to cut the queue when they were at the entrance… Well, for those who have yet to know, one of my hottest buttons is for someone to cut my Q just right in front of me. I would bite off their heads regardless of who they are. So, yes, they got it. I was loud enough to make them feel embarrassed though they still attempted to justify that they got a kid, and they were there all along at the side (that was definitely NOT true). However, heaven was on our side - the people attempting to cut Q did not have the tickets with them. So much for their intelligence. All thumbs down for their rudeness, inconsiderate behaviour and their high-and-mighty air… I wonder if they were ever bothered by the disgusted looks of the others in the queue. But of course, we did not allow such people to spoil our fun at Sentosa…

The best part - I fell into a slumber after a super duper unhealthy feast of chicken wings, fried bee hoon, luncheon meat etc for dinner… The time then was 7.30pm. By the time I regained FULL conscious, it was 8.30am… the next day. A total of 13 hours of sleep! Another record-breaking sleep!!! OMG!

My lunch today

I attended a networking lunch cum presentation at noon today. It was a networking session meant for marketers in the financial industry. Arrghh, I do hate sessions like this… But well, my boss requested me to join… so I did not have much a choice.

Aside all the stuff that I resist at an occasion like this, I must say I was very glad to have attended this presentation. It was… such a moving one. Yes, it was supposed to be a presentation from this guy whom has been through Bali bombing, the Tsunami etc, so it was supposed to be a presentation on how you can strive in adverse situation and changes, yet still able to deliver results in the corporate world.

Yet, this Peter, all he touched on was how he was at the Tsunami (he is a forensic, assisting them in helping to identify the bodies) - how all these people had been, showed us video clips of the actual situation and the orphans, some stories from him. Peter was indeed captivating - he moved many of us on the personal level, especially those parents. You could see tears in some of those eyes when you cast your sight across the 4 round tables…

Peter brought up a few important points during his 40mins presentation, on “clear objectives and purposes”, “results matter, not excuses”, “leadership”, “leadership without authority”, as well as reaching out on a personal level to get people moving and making choices to stop or to go on… At the last of his slide, he got this: “You only have ONE go.”

To me, it was a very in-depth presentation that overtly highlighted about the less fortunate, being very clear on the objectives and delivering the results. On the 2nd level, it touched on how we, in the corporate world could apply those… On the deeper level, it is a presentation that cleverly and covertly brings together the whole lesson of life itself, about how you need to be clear about your compelling desire or purpose, so that you can get through both the good and bad days, making choices, getting to where you want to go, about team work, team players, about reaching out to the less fortunate and that we only have ONE life – so cherish today.

Such a powerful presentation, such a great life lesson… I am totally humbled by him.

My 25 Blessings

I have been thinking quite a fair bit recently…(But then again, some people whom know me intimately will say when did I ever stop thinking?! Lolz…)

I suppose human beings can be greedy at times – good and want better, have and want more… I always think it is a thin line between contentment and laid back, being competitive and creating more results, determined and stubborn… The only difference is the space you are operating from…

Thus, I want to count my blessings today…so that I reground myself to appreciate all stuff that are happening in my life now… to focus on the positives, not the negatives… to have my energies on what are working, and not to dwell on what are not…

My list of 25 blessings:

1. I am still alive and kicking…
2. I am healthy and fit… in fact in a much better physical fitness than I was few years back
3. I have a loving man who takes care of me well and good
4. I have some quality friends who embrace me with grace and stand by me always
5. I am in a job with no micro managing boss
6. I can leave office by 6pm most of the days, and still see daylight when I reach home
7. My colleagues are generally ok and helpful
8. I have the luxury to sleep in late over the weekends
9. When my heart desires, I simply go for runs or swims
10. I always have a worthy companion who joins me in all the above activities
11. My parents have no major ailments that are that worrying
12. My brothers are grown up and can take care of themselves
13. I am close to my 2 brothers… we have fun together, pig out together, can raise our voices with one another and know that nothing is going to spoil the bonding…
14. I get to go on holidays many times a year
15. Able to dive and explore the deep blue sea are eye-opening and breathtaking experiences
16. I have fun loving travel companions who are forever interesting
17. To be able to admire the beauty of the clouds, sunrises, and sunsets…
18. I always trip and fall, but there are people who will reach out to hold me
19. I earn a decent income, enough to sustain my style of living
20. I do not have a high debt ratio
21. When I fall sick, I always get undivided attention from my man :P
22. At least my stubborn dad still listens to me, so I still have my ways around him
23. I do not need to do most of the housework… Haa
24. To have luxury for simple enjoyment such as the time to listen to all my favourite songs, be in my quiet space, read my books…
25. I always get to eat my favourite food and tibits!

YIPPEE!

My day...

Yup, sick. Fighting off a fever, sore throat… and apparently a cold since yesterday… I could feel my mucus back flowing down my throat! Icky! And that was what I told the doctor when I was there to see him in the later afternoon… and then I realized that I got blood in my urine... Apparently I was not dreaming though I initially thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Then I saw it the 2nd time, and the 3rd, and felt the burning sensation… and the urge to visit the Ladies even though I had just been there 5 minutes ago…

So I went back to the same doctor within an hour and did a urinary test to confirm that… Win!

So well, have been a really LON…..NNG time since I have had a fever. Usually that spells bad news for me – my body really cannot fight it off… But I have taken the pills and feeling much better now… The best news is I am still in office now, one of the rare few occasions that I am still in office after 7pm… But I am not exactly doing work now… I just need to wait for my transport to get me home. I am too exhausted to get onto the train and be a squashed up sardine.

Still alive and kicking certainly. And no need to come to work tomorrow. Hooray?! Haa….

From Socrates to Goleman: Some quotes

Below are some stuff that I came across. Yes, as usual, they caught my attention…

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“ The unexamined life is not worth living… know thyself.”

Socrates, 399 BC, Ancient Greek Philosopher

“He who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it”

George Santayana, 1905, Spanish born US Philosopher

“If we are too busy, if we are carried away every day by our projects, our uncertainty, our craving, how can we have the time to stop and look deeply into our situation?"

Thich Nhat Hanh, Contemporary Buddhist Philosopher

“Emotional Intelligence begins with this trait (self-awareness). People with a high degree of self-awareness know their weaknesses and are not afraid to talk about them…”

“Self-awareness is defined as the ability to recognize and understand one’s moods, emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others”

Daniel Goleman, 21st Century Author

Self-awareness is the foundation upon which all growth and development is built. Only when you have developed a high sense of self-awareness will you be able to free yourself from your unconscious habits and begin to rediscover the ability to make conscious choices based on the needs of the situation you face.

It is our belief that we always need to grow. In order for growth to be present, we need to know from where to start. It is like any journey. You need to know where you are going but also from where you are setting out. Not where you think you are, but where you really are!

Letting go

A stretch it is
A limit it drags
Gone with the wind is ignoring
As the thoughts fondle louder

The only way out is through
Though pain is deep true
The door is only one:
Letting go

In the Room

There was no one particularly that I knew in the room. In fact all of them are strangers to me. It had been quite awhile since I had stepped inside too. However, as I walked around the room experiencing each and everyone of them in that 5mins, I was overwhelmed. My heart melted, and could not be helped but be totally touched. I knew they had done a lot of hard work over the past few days. They were at a different energy level with new realisation and understanding of themselves, ready to go out in life to create breakthroughs.

Being someone who had been through it many years back, I still could remember vividly how I was as I stood there with my eyes closed. It was an experience at least a 100x more powerful than the Basics for me. It shaped of how I am today - I did not change, but I built on a stronger foundation, and tap on my abilities in better forward moving ways. It opened up a new spectrum of perspectives for me, letting me see possibilities and soar to heights that I have never imagined. It was a journey that I never ever regretted.

Experience is something that money may not buy, something that cannot be expressed by just words. It could not be achieved simply by staring at books too – it is foolish and wishful thinking that all the understanding will sink in if you memorise every bit of it. Wanting to share this with the people that I know or close to, yet it is not always successful. Sometime I am puzzled; sometime I get impatient; sometime I just get totally fed up. Even for many who went through it, they did themselves enough disservice by not taking along with them what they need to or invalidating everything that they have experienced and understood. Quoting someone "some things cannot be taught, they got to be learnt", I agree with that.

It is not easy out there - it requires lots of personal effort, there is no magic about it. It is all about being open, making conscious and consistent effort each time and taking steps that are purposeful and serving. Learning is a continuous process.

Easier said than done.

<传说> MV

Be a little patient with the download. It is the ending song for 'The Legend' i.e.《太王四神记》. It is a indeed a nice song especially if you have been following the show... I must watch too much of the drama within too short a time that the song keeps repeating in my tweeny brain. And still must say that this OST is good, just that the ending is left a little hanging...

最好的距离

Extracted part thereof from what I read today:

兩颗心之间最好的距离，就好像一条橡皮胶。
捆绑得太紧，迟早失去弹性，落个断掉的下场。
拉得太远，橡皮承受不了压力，也会断。

适当的空间，给了双方足够的自由，
适当的距离，反而保证了一定程度的安全感。

相处的距离有伸有缩，即给了对方一定的空间，又可以很紧密地连在一起。

Sundown Marathon

The Sundown marathon was indeed challenging… 1st, the run flagged off at midnight. There was no sun to worry about, yet that was a timing that my body would go into a shutdown mode for sleeping.

2nd, the route was very stretchy, especially during 22-30km, where we were at the Bedok park connector before Bedok reservoir. The route was so narrow, and there were so many up slopes! The last 5km were not better either – the legs were almost giving way and yet it was a continuous uphill stretch. Think we climbed 3-4 overhead bridges during this run too.

3rd, I was having some gastric problems since Wed, and had in fact seen a doc for it. The stomach bloatedness acted up during the run, thus I was feeling so uncomfortable for the whole journey. And yes, I got stitches every now and then too! @#&^$~(@$*!

4th, because I ran like a tortoise, thus we got caught in the sudden downpour at our last 3km! And it was such a heavy rain that we couldn’t even quite see what was ahead... So we were drenched chickens when we crossed the finishing line, not to say that we queued in the rain to get the finisher medal and T-shirt… To add to misery, the dying rain suddenly turned full force again when we were struggling to crawl back to our car parked quite a distance away...

Thus I took a total of 6h 3min to finish the whole 42km. Not a fantastic timing at all, I know. I can only blame my own laziness in training… But well, at least I finished the run in one whole piece… Just do not know if my legs will still function tomorrow, and if my back and shoulders will ache like anything or not.