I'm sick and tired of doing the same old mundane things that require not much effort.
Can't I get to do other things????

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

Pace.

The recent bout of illness/pain forced me to go slow.
Reallllyyyy slow I mean. It actually halved my speed. I took twice the time walking to the same places. -__-" I took time to simply stand up from my seat. I took time to count my steps, not literally.

In a way, it made me mindful of how I usually walk. Fast paces, rushing in and out -- to where? To the washroom? To the printing machines? To meetings? To lunch? 
These few days, I also took notice of the way I sat. I took care to stand in an appropriate position. I straighten my back whenever I caught myself slouching. 

Now, while the physical condition is forcing me to go slow, the external environment is silently pushing me to go fast, fast, fast and faster.

I never fail to lament in life's ironies.

When I was ready to go fast, things' pace took their own stride.
Now when I was forced to go slow, things' pace picked up speed.
Hey! Who's actually faster or slower relatively? 

I realized things changed too.
In the past when entrusted with a task of collation, I will tend to rush others (especially for tight deadlines). Not that I did not now, I began to appreciate the lack of urgency.. give some space for things that ain't so urgent. Somehow, I don't know it's the age (no.. I'm not old. Neither am I very senior in this job), or it's the change in goals, or simply, growing up.


Maybe the fisherman in me is randomly taking time off from fishing, to appreciate the beauty of the sun.

~ catharsis in action ~

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

Real Food 真食 episode II

Raw cocoa + Banana (new in the menu!)

Organic Fried Brown Rice (pineapple, capsicum, french beans and carrots)

It's either the food is great, or I just love the quiet conducive atmosphere. It's difficult to find a quiet place, with good (and economical) food to simply chill with me, myself and I.
The beverages are definitely great, but now I am looking for more flavour (which explains the chilli paste). heheh.

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

The Rose - Bette Midler

The Rose

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dyin'
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.



Update: 3/9/14

Cover of The Rose by Westlife

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

Today was perfect and very very very much better than expected!!!
Punctuality, team work, initiative, coordination!!
It's even better than winning! :)
Thank you for the wonderful day despite the hot burning sun!

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

一颗星的陨落

Sometimes, the saddest people are the ones who always have a smile ready for you. Or the ones who are the cheerleaders for everyone else, except for themselves.
RIP Mr Williams. I love your movies. I teared, I cried, I laughed, I enjoyed and were enlightened by your movies.

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

天涯 凭栏 望不穿 谁来书信 和我说洛阳牡丹

Even though I never watch the recent Investiture of the Gods, but I love the ending song.
It's the same feel as the ending song for Scarlet Heart 《三寸天堂》。

雨落长安           演唱：金琳
电视剧《封神英雄榜》片尾曲
作词：吴嘉伦 郑楠
作曲：闫泽          编曲：杨昊东

十里寒塘 红楼灯火阑珊
晓风残月 思念醒了一半
晨钟催落月 淑气催黄鸟
而花 千树 而你还  未还

三月烟花 只剩远影孤帆
珠箔飘灯 大雁独自来返
柳絮铺地 桃花落了晼晚
琴声弹起 雨落长安

长夜漫漫 细雨漫过河岸
谁的情思 琴声日夜窥探
愁重 流水 载不动
只想陪你 再游一回江南
 

长夜漫漫 今夜雨落长安
谁的情思 纸上被风吹乱
天涯 凭栏 望不穿
谁来书信 和我说洛阳牡丹

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)

Sparing a thought for others goes a long way.

Somehow, this realization hit me today. Not that such a thought didn't occur to me all along, but it's when things happened, and you compared it to the previous way an issue was managed, versus how it is being managed now, you see quite the stark difference.

One's way of doing things was to spare a thought for others, and plan based on others' need. Whether is there clashes or repercussions etc. But I always thought it was too... troublesome. Too nice. Since it's work (putting it bluntly, equivalent to "order"), why bother?
[Even for myself, I don't ever think I ever had the choice in choosing what I wanted or not to do. Why question when the ball will be thrown back in your court eventually?!?! And what is the point of giving feedback to higher-ups? Issues do get surfaced, but so what? Unless it's too incorrigible, then I believe a cause in giving "feedback". But yeah, I do have grouses. Who doesn't?? But I daresay at the end of the day, I am not shameful to say I will do it well regardless of how much grouses I have. I still have my pride of delivering what's expected, and not do a slipshod job (despite my grouses).]

Now another person was in charge of this job, where the working and planning style is different.
Then, it happens that the plan turned out different, and issues arise here and there. The eventual firefighting might just take a while. Without the thought in mind, what was generated was completely different.

It isn't about the authority anymore, but it is more like negotiation and working together. If we do not find a balance between these, things might not be able to go smoothly.  If everyone is out to gain, everyone loses in the long run. Losing more or less depends on the bargaining chips you have on hand. So why lose (even for a little) when you can gain (even for that little bit)? Especially for what I do, why are we doing these at the expense of the young ones (most of the times, but not every time)? This is not why and what we are here for. It's for a greater purpose and calling.

Then again, this is where my respect for one rose. This is someone who really infuses the Confucian philosophy into the way one does things. Like the saying goes, when you can forgive, you forgive and forget, and leave a leeway for others (得饶人处且饶人). Okay. Not very appropriate in this context, but you don't go the extreme when doing things, but always leave some space for everyone. You spare a thought for others, regardless whether they acknowledge or appreciate you for what you have done for them, at least you have earned yourself positive karma. You don't do it for applause or appreciation. At least, I believed there are others around, though he/she might not be a direct beneficiary of your kindness, who have seen it. Just as I did of the one.

Think positive, do positive. Think good, do good.


Update 110814

Received this short story today. 

Quite meaningful and shed more light on my thoughts.

《善良是我們為自己留下的路標》

撒哈拉沙漠，又被稱為「死亡之海」。

進入沙漠者的命運只有一個：有去無回。

直到1814年，一支考古隊第一次打破了這個死亡魔咒。

當時，荒漠中隨處可見逝者的骸骨，隊長總讓大家停下來，選擇高地挖坑，把骸骨掩埋起來，還用樹枝或石塊為他們樹個簡易的墓碑。

但是，沙漠中骸骨實在太多，掩埋工作占用了大量時間。

隊員們抱怨：「我們是來考古的，不是來替死人收屍的。」

但隊長固執地說：「每一堆白骨，都曾是我們的同行，怎能忍心讓他們陳屍荒野呢？」

約一個星期後，考古隊在沙漠中心發現了許多古人遺跡和足以震驚世界的文物。

但當他們離開時，突然刮起風暴，幾天幾夜不見天日。

接著，指南針都失靈了，考古隊完全迷失方向，食物和淡水開始匱乏，他們這才明白了為什麼從前那些同行沒能走出來。

危難之時，隊長突然說：「不要絕望，我們來時在路上留下了路標！」

他們沿著來時一路掩埋骸骨樹起的墓碑，最終走出了死亡之海。

在接受《泰晤士報》記者的采訪時，考古隊的隊員們都感慨：「善良是我們為自己留下的路標」

~ whatever happens, happens for a reason. =)