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    March 28

    1330 Recharge!!!

     
    Everday at 130pm, our mainframe system sets down for some servicing or techno stuff that beats my feeble grey cells.
     
    Hence 1330 is my happy moment everyday ... at work I mean.
     
    A moment to force me to take a break from the blue screen of numbers. An appropriate time for toilet break and have a cup of coffee.
     
    To catch my breath.
     
    Well this is office life. I am sure everyone feels the same.
    March 20

    Murder Boredom

     
    What to do if you are bored ... in the office. And have to stay trapped in the office.
     
    • Install Stumble! and keep clicking on it. It never fail to amaze me what interesting website it will bring me;
    • Take a formal, document-like piece of paper and go chat with some buddy colleagues of yours. (Only if their boredom level is as high as yours and work urgency is equally not as high).

         

    • Hide in the toilet and play whatever games there are in your cell phone.
    • Make yourself a nice cup of hot coffee and pray that time would go faster.
    • Send some flowers to your loved ones.
    • Boggle your mind with Sudoku or Tangram.

    If all else fails then take time off. For me, I am hanging on. Only about one and a half hours to knock-off!

    March 19

    Good Shoes

     
    Tired of nice shoes that come with complimentary blisters. This Timberland Sandal that I bought last Saturday is not only comfort for your heels but also appealing to the eyes.
     
    March 15

    Not Being #1

     
    CALL ME UNPATRIOTIC. But I don't see what the fuss is all about that our Changi Airport is not as near to the top as desired.
    Life doesn't always demand one to be constantly at the top. We are no KiaSus. It is the up and down and turning around that makes the roller-coaster ride exciting. We should look at how others manage to beat us this round and see how we could excel. Anyway, I happened to check up the web and found that we have been voted the Golden Pillow Award for the past ten years.
    March 14

    Lunch Break

     
    Have been lunching in for the past few weeks. Work volume demands me to work through the day in order to leave the office on time.
    I did, however, stole some moments from work during lunch today.
     
    It's been quite some time since I do any craft work. Glad that I succeeded in less than ten minutes! Here is "Fröbelstern".
    March 13

    Lesson from the Spartans

     
    Watched the movie, 300 last weekend. This is not the typical genre of movie that I usually go for. Surprising, it entertained me more than I expected. So here's what I learn from the Spartans:
     
    1. Life is a survival of the fittest. Spartans were taught to fight since very young. They were brought up knowing they should not take survival for granted.
    2. Never look down on small numbers. Xerxes' army outnumbered that of Leonidas so much. In terms of casualty, the Persians should be deemed as defeated.
    3. True Leaders lead by Example. Leonidas had a beautiful wife and a six-year-old son when he made the painful decision to lead the army to fight to death. It was a heroic exhibit of leading by example.
    4. Sheer Brute Force might not win the battle. In the Battle of Thermopylae, there was not much of tactical planning on the part of the spartans. They fought purely with brute force till the very end. Ready to sacrifice.
    5. During one's last breath, it is our loved ones that flash in our minds. Just before Leonidas collapsed under the thousands of arrows aimed at him, he shouted not for his country or kingship. But for his beloved wife.

    An interesting movie worth watching. I doubt if Xerxes of Persia were really so big compared to Leonidas. I also doubted if such gory creatures existed in Persia (now Iran), then.

     

    March 12

    Feel Good Monday

     
    There is a Chinese Saying, The Plan for a Year should be in Spring, The Plan for a Day should be in the Morning. I wish to extend that the anchor for the week should be planned on Mondays.
     
    Most people come to office on Mondays with heavy steps and grumpy minds. Reluctant to face the stress and common demands at work. You would observe that it is not uncommon for many to dorn attire in black to reflect their Blue Monday Mood. How many times have you heard a fellow worker commenting that he simply dreads coming back to office on Mondays?
     
    My sister works in Canon and a rule that has been running for nearly two years is that every employee must wear red on Mondays. Her boss calls Mondays, Passion Mondays. To use the fervent colour of red to chase the blues away. There are also many articles and tips one could read to chase the blues away.
     
    The first step to start with, is to have the desire to make Monday a Good One. The wish to defy the common drag that pulls us down. To take charge of the paradigm that we are in.
     
    Let's make all Mondays a Feel Good Monday. To get back to work. Where our potential is stretched and tested.
    March 09

    Fight

     
    Witness two managers fighting in the office right in front of everyone today. It really amused me. They were literally yelling at each other.
    The accused claimed that the defendant dirtied her working desk when she was not in the office in the morning.
    The defendant fought back saying that she is making a mountain out of a mole hill.
     
    Watching "Live" drama like this really amuses me. It also makes me wonder if age is a realistic gauge of a person maturity in life.

    4 Don'ts for a Healthy Mind

    1) Don't Hold Grudge. Remembering how unjust the past people and circumstances have done to us do us no ounce of good
        but to haunt us incessantly. The more grudges you hold, the more tainted the glasses you wear through which you look to your
        future.
        Hence it is not uncommon for us to notice that the older a person is, the more negative and doubtful of people and circumstances
        one tends to be.
        Such is a classic example of how one does not learn from experiences. But let experiences in life haunt her ... darkening the future.
        Eradicating hopes and optimism.
     
    2) Don't Compare. In the world today, media constantly force us to compare ourselves against entities that we fail to live up to.
        We fall into the trick of their attempt to make us spend in an illusive hope to want to match what the society "demands" us to be.
        But do we really need to have the LV bag, wear that Dior perfume, achieve that ideal-yet-impossible-to-attain figure, bring home that
        X-figure income .... to be just HAPPY?
        Be yourself. No matter what shape, size, income you fetch or how good (or simply mediocre) you look.
        There is just no end to comparison.  And changing ourselves to match that of what others demand of us is plain stressful
        and somewhat a total waste of energy.
     
    3) Don't Procrastinate. "Oh, I will do that ... tomorrow."
        Be it to start an exercise regime. To take charge of your own health or mental state.
        To clear that cluttered drawer of your work desk.
        To book that two-weeks trip to Europe that you have talked about for years.
        Do it. Do it now.
     
    4) Don't Lose Focus. How many times have I put down list of items to do in the morning and at the end of the day, nothing was done?
        You can't blame people from distracting you. But you stay focused despite all distractions. Prioritize and identify the most
        important tasks on hand instead of reacting to the constant phone calls or emails flooding in.
     
    Aristotle - "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."
     
    In Buddhist philosophy, the Mind is symbolic to that of a racing horse.
    The untamed mind races incessantly.
    Using up energy nontheless.
     
    Take the first step towards a cultured mind.
    I strongly feel that a healthy body starts from a healthy mind.
    Hence taming this inner racing horse might surpass the effects of vitamins or trips to the doctors.
     
     
     

    Accidental Victim

     
    Frustration at work reached critical point recently. Trapped between unsupportive staff and demanding boss reduced me to a manager of pure incompetence. Such a circumstance has affected my appetite, state of mind and sleep for quite some time. Often waking up in the middle of the night in anticipation of a nasty day I will wake up to. Such a state was really unpleasant to be in.
     
    Enlightenment some called it. Others brand it as turning point. I came to realise yesterday that such a state ain't adding an ounce of happiness to my life. Frequent bouts of exercise did not help to reduce the stress level. To make things worse, I took it out on my boy. The nice accommodating girl he used to have was suddently transformed to a nasty monster constantly picking on him.
     
    To the Love of my Life. I apologise.
    To the dear friends who walked by me during this low point of my life. I thank you.
    To my family who believe in me and stand by me. I appreciate.
     
    It's time I walk out of this dirt pit of depression.
     
    I can always find another job.
    But friends. love and family must not be sacrificed at all costs.