Ups and Downs

Life is a miracle. It provides hope and opportunities everyday. Today is special day for me as it is not only my mum's birthday, the birth of bodhisattvas and it is a Good Friday.

I went to the bank to update my bank book. The amount go back to 2 years ago where I had my last salaried pay during that time, Aug 2012. Without any much finance literacy, on 17 Nov 2012, I was shocked to realize that in my bank account I was left with $13.40. How pathetic I was!

I didn't realize money is important until I saw $13.40! Perhaps $13.40 can only provide me the most 4 meals. How can I survive? How to clear my debts? How can I move on from here? Thinking to myself, I need a job! However, I do not want to work for people. (Still determine about it! Even I had only $13.40 in my bank account)

I needed a workable solution immediately.

I started to tell people I am doing designing in graphics and website designing. Thankfully through word of mouth, my first project came in that I managed to close at a couple of hundreds. At least, that could cover my daily expenses for the time being. I started to think that I would want to expand my workload, I started to be more aggressive, telling my friends that I am looking for projects, if there are any design "lobang", just let me know! I can't be selective, I just take one project after another.

A friend of mine, introduce me to BNI, Business Networking International. A morning networking place where all business owners come together to help each other, through word of mouth to get qualified referrals. I am very thankful to get some qualified leads there and make some money. Moreover, Alvin who is my old business contact, he has been helping me a lot to clinch bigger and well established government agencies, which makes my income much more stable and increase my profit.

Now, my mindset has shifted. Money is an energy. When I feel I deserve the money, it will come to me naturally. Last time, I don't think money is important. Hence, my money was limited. Now, I realise that with money, I can do even more good deeds and contribute even more to the society. It feels wonderful to have money as I can see the benefits of having money for the right purpose and right intention. I genuinely hope that I am able to put my money into good use and benefit more people. This is my ultimate goal.

In order to keep my business going and stable, I have registered my company. I could see the vision in 10 years time to have a company at one of the shophouses, with loving colleagues who can work hand in hand with me to build the business together.

Looking where I am at, seeing the reality clearly and still being hopeful at that time, I am able to grow so much as make myself a stronger and more reliable person. It is like a transformation for me. Now, my focus currently would be to see my business at a greater heights and bring in more businesses to my design agency. I am really excited and I feel charged up because I finally I see that I can grow to be wiser and more capable when I believe in myself and do my best in everything that I do. I have no regrets and I felt appreciative towards myself, my family and my friends who genuinely wish to see me succeed and be who I am.

The Downs make me understand that there are learnings I need to know so that I can be back on track again. The Ups make me understand that the things which I have done right and done well. Thank you the Universe, thank you Buddha, thank you lots of bodhisattvas and thank you people!

《天冷就回来》If There're Seasons...

Watched If There're Seasons... last night. Siew and I enjoyed musical thoroughly.

The performance is great. I like the part where the cast mentioned, "Everybody wants to be somebody but one day when he becomes somebody, he realized that nobody is a blessing as well." I think contentment what it is all about. To be who we are and accept ourselves completely.

Though I do feel that there are room for performance such as putting the "Gay" contents, which I felt a bit too off for a childhood and dreams settings. Moreover, there is no education value in such segments.

Overall, it is still worth the tickets, sitting at the 1st row and time to sat there for almost 3 hours! and we get to meet Liang Wen Fu in person! It is indeed a Pleasant Surprise!

Re-affirmation

I like today's quote of mine: I will never know the answer until I do it.

常问自己我可以吗? 现在不问了, 做了就有答案。

I always ask myself,"Can I do it?" I never have any answers until I start to take actions and work towards my goals. Surprisingly, most of the outcome are better than what I expected. Hence, if we never try anything new, we never learn anything new.

Compare to my previous self, I am more determine and more preserver. It is a good sign, at least I give myself more opportunities to learn. I will find my way to success :)

Hindu Wedding

Recently, I met Chenlee at "How to make Ideas into Profits" workshop. We built rapport very soon and as we chat, she told me that she will be having her wedding soon. I was happy for her. I was very curious about her wedding as she and her hubby will be going through a Hindu Wedding. I asked if I can attend her wedding. With a big heart, she said yes and sent me a well designed Indian wedding invitation card.

It is quite an interesting experience. Having a Hindu wedding at the temple is similar as having a Christian wedding in the Church. They had rituals for the bridegroom, followed by, bride, bride and bridegroom parents and finally back to the bride and bridegroom. The whole procedure is traditional and formal. However, there are still interesting parts which I quite enjoy myself.

What I like best is the throwing of Indian Rice at the wedding couple as they tied the knots. According to Indians, they believe that throwing the Indian Rice at the couple is symbolize showers of blessings. It will be better if the rice can land on the couple heads. Even myself feel happy and blessed after throwing the rice at the couple.

The interesting game that they play is the bride and bridegroom will try to put the flower ring around each other. The first person who did it first, will have the say in future in their marriage. This is pretty interesting segment of the wedding.

After the wedding ritual, the couple sat at the sofa to wait for family and friends to come forward to take photos with them. As I don't know the procedures, I quickly went up to the stage to have the first photo-taking.

Oh yar, forgot to mention about the great Indian vegetarian meal I had at the temple and I get to know an American lady, also known as Rachel :D

Really to thanks Chenlee and Vinresh for giving me this opportunity to attend my first Hindu wedding :D May they be filled with joy and blessing for their marriage.

Dining in the Dark

Katie and I together with 18 new friends attended Dining in the Dark at SAVH. Really an interesting experience of having a meal in the dark. Thanks Maggie for organizing the Dining in the Dark the second time.

I felt humbled to be served by a blind, Ziruth. He lost his retina when he was at the young age. He shared with us what are the do and don't to help the blind. Tina who is a event guide, was sharing that some of the people who wanted to help the blind but they didn't know how. Ended up, brings more confusion to the blind. Hence, we need to give clear instructions to the blind so that they know what to look out for.

In the dark, he is no different from any people. In fact, we are amazed on how he uses his skillful means to serve 20 of us. Some of us felt panic and even stressed when we can't see anything. To make the dining more fun, many of the guys crack jokes to break the awkward silence. We had lots of laughter that even the cook in the kitchen can hear our laughters. They are happy that we enjoyed the meal very much.

After the meal, I felt the handicap are much tougher that I thought them to be and of course, I appreciate my eyes better. It gives me a better understanding about myself, I don't afraid to be in the dark, in fact, I feel calm and peaceful. Perhaps I know that I will be in a total darkness situation before entering the room. Hence, I can manage my emotions better. My other senses become sharper when my sight is not in use and I know how to help the blind better in future.

Tidy up my blog

Haven't been really housekeeping my blog for some time, clears away broken links and update things that I like to do currently. 

It makes me realize I could be the only person reading my blog, probably with Siew who may comes in to read once awhile. I do like most of things that I wrote because it serves me as a guide and in a way I make this blog as a self reflection learning spot. Although some thoughts in the past, I may not agreed now. Due to my mindset has shifted and being more open to my learnings.

I do have a friend, Geraldin, whose blog is still active. however I find that her blog is still full of complaints. She makes me ponder, is it right to use blog as an anger outlet?

From what I have learnt about law of attraction, the more you believe and say, the more incidents you will receive.  Hence, her outlet could be more destructive than any people could have done or say to her. It is self believing thoughts.

I am not here to judge her neither I have the right to comment about what she wrote. What I feel is if a person is unable to breakthrough her own negative thoughts or self destructive belief, the person may feel suffering and gives unwelcoming attitude to other people. This may sabotaged his/her life because everything he sees or says are against his wish and leads to more and more unhappiness to his life.

I am not saying I have a perfect life. But I am able to make do with what I have and make the best out of it. Hence, the chances of me feeling suffered is lower. Life, itself is indeed unsatisfactory, however looking at brighter side of life makes us stronger and positive to make a difference in our own life and other people life. 

Junkie Food Day

Yes, I know it doesn't sound right: Having a day as Junkie Food Day. Sometimes over controlling can be backfired. I haven't been eating mee rebus, fried chicken wing and white chocolate for the longest time. Perhaps mee rebus is once a month while fried chicken wing and white chocolate can be counted as years.

Looks like I am trying hard to justify, perhaps I should pamper myself like once every 3 months to have a Junkie Food Day, partly to reduce craving and also post gratification so that I don't feel guilty of eating junkie food as and when I want to eat. 

Having a healthy lifestyle is my life mission. Hence, the selection of food is important. 

Honestly, my body actually don't fancy fried chicken wing and white chocolate anymore. Perhaps partly due to I didn't feed my body with fried food for quite some time. That's why even my body rejects oily food. This is a good sign because my body knows and able to detect unhealthy food and gives me warning that I no longer able to eat food that is harmful to my body.

Since every 3 month is Junkie Food Day, the 4 Aug will be next Junkie Food Day. 

I read somewhere that vegetables and fruits take 1 day to digest whereas meat take 3 days to be fully digest. Think, I should really cut down on meat and take in more fruits and vegetables which my body likes them better.

New Insights about Journaling

Today I met Sian, who asked me to teach her wordpress. I gladly taught her and she is happy to learn from me. As I chat with her, I find that both of us have a lot of things in common. Both of us like nature and both of us have interest in personal self development.

After chatting with her, we wanted to have a journaling workshop together. She can share the joy and tips of journaling, while I can teach the students to make journaling book. I think it is a good partnership to make such workshop.

It is worth considering to collaborate with her. Afterall, learning to share and give is an act of goodness. Hoping to explore more with her.

I just shared with her that "Once a person can master himself, he can master anything." Hope that I am able to be more discipline and tidy, so that I will have more clarity. Simplicity is Wisdom.

If time is perceived as money...

If time is perceived as money, will we still look at things in the same way?

Recently, Chenlee showed me a video of a famous designer who perceive every sec as money. If everyday you are given $86,400 in your bank account and the money will wipe out every single day, how would you spend the money purposefully without wasting every single cent?

It sets me thinking that I would want to use my time purposefully. Time is indeed precious. I would rather spend time doing things that I enjoy, things that I love to do, things that I am good at. I am blessed to be able to do things that I enjoy: Designing work, things that I love to do: Arts and things that I am good at: Craft work

I will continue to hone my skills and build a name for myself. This is what I hope to achieve. I value the projects that are given to me. I will focus and do it well. This is the promise I give to myself.

I just calculate if I live up to 80 years old, with my current age, I have only left 44 years, minus Sleeping time (14 years) & Ad hoc things, Travel (14 years). I only left with 16 years or even lesser time to do things that I want to achieve. Hence, this 16 years are crucial and precious to me. I need to use the time wisely and effectively.