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April 18 My Latest CatchIt's not the newest kid on the block. But the sleek and light-weight factor attracted me the moment I set eyes on her. April 13 No GovernmentAll bosses would be out of town next week.
It's going to be like a country before the elections.
No Government
 April 12 Setting Priorities RightSO LITTLE TIME AND YET SO MUCH TO DO. Such is a very common situation our modern society is offering to us. Work, Family, Friends, Fitness regimes, ... Work-Life Balance seems like such a hard-to-attain ideal. I was inspired by Leo's write-up on setting priorities at the beginning of the year/month/week/day.
So many times, we find ourselves struggling to juggle the issues that we have on hand. And very often, we attend to things that are calling out to us more loudly or frequently, instead of the really more important issues, ... unfortunately.
I recall reading First Things First by Stephen Covey some years ago. He basically categorized issues facing us as Important or Unimportant and Urgent or Non-Urgent.
At times, it is worth the while to stop for a moment and reflect ... it is of no point climbing the ladder so hard when you do not know if it is leaning on the correct side.
Guess this weekend would be a quiet, contemplative one for me.
Distance = (Stress Level x Work Load)/EffortBUSINESS IS PICKING UP. Everyone at work is busy. Furious and at times futile attempts to clear work on time. The sharing of gossips in the company transport that used to be part and parcel of every working day ... is now replaced by silence. Each in their own thoughts. Many in the same direction. How to try to finish work as quickly as possible to avoid staying late working or bring work home.
Alas! Every relationship takes effort to maintain. Social topics of conversation are rarely heard these days. Replaced by discussions, conference calls, emails. All about work.
Yes. BUSINESS IS PICKING UP. Along with that, Stress Level and Work Load increase proportionately as well.
April 04 Get Real about EnlightenmentI STUDIED BUDDHISM FOR TWO YEARS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL. It was then that I learnt about the life and transformation of the Buddha. From a prince with luxuries, fame and status in life, he chose the path of an ascetic and later attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.
I remembered asking my brother if there were a Bodhi Tree in Singapore. In my simple (or naive!) mind then, I thought that the wonder and mystic powers leading to Enlightenment came from the tree. My brother gave me no answer and I asked no more.
I grew up. Graduated. Started working. Faced all realities in life. FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE NEED FOR ENLIGHTENMENT.
As realities seem to defy the feasibility of all spiritual doctrines, I began to doubt if Enlightenment is even possible in the age today. I seriously believe that I would get more bored or frustrated than enlightened if I try to meditate under any holy tree in my current mental state. I seek desperately for peace. INNER PEACE.
The more I seek. The more it seems to delude me.
A thought fleed past my mind yesterday evening. Leading me to think deeply before I slept. There was once a spiritual leader who chose the path of living with bandits for 15 years. During this period of time, no Bodhi Tree was in his vicinity. He had to practise spirituality in this somewhat harsh condition in the midst of barbaric beings. In this state of injustice, he stayed for 15 years!!!
But during this period of time, his pure heart was not stained by the harsh realities of outside world. In fact, the harsh realities served to help him in attaining his realization then to deter him.
Strange is it not? So Enlightenment is independent of Bodhi Tree. Even a condusive, peaceful environment is not a must.
I realise that it is seeing things as they really are. To exist in the present. Experience NOW. April 03 Ideal vs RealityI was chatting with XBB on my way home yesterday after my two-hour exercise routine at Amore. As we discussed and shared the frustrations we faced at work, she told me about a book that she is currently reading that is made up of short insightful essays. In one of the essays, the writer wrote about the difference between Ideal & Reality.
Ideal is what we hope to have. Reality is what we actually face everyday.
Stress, Anger, Dissatisfaction and a host of other negative feelings basically arise when the Reality we face is far from our Ideal.
So what's the catch?
We can't change Reality.
But we can make adjustments to Our Ideal so that it is not so far from Reality. No matter what, Happiness is inversely proportional to the gap between the two.
We have many ideals in our heads ... A caring, rich and romantic boyfriend. A good paying job with understanding boss that is stressfree. A circle of supportive and understanding friends which is gossip and slander free ... the list never ends.
But hey, anyone who studied physics would know that Ideals rarely .. (or never) exists!
So kill those Ideals floating in your heads. Get Real. The Reality that you face is the Life Now!
Simply embrace it instead of wasting energies comparing it against your Ideals.
Life is Happy. Life would be Happier. 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 BoredomWhat to do if you are bored ... in the office. And have to stay trapped in the office.
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 ShoesTired 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 #1CALL 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 BreakHave 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 SpartansWatched 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:
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 MondayThere 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 FightWitness 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 Mind1) 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 VictimFrustration 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. February 26 As If I Care?For one who has >20years of experience more than me. Constantly boasting of his abilities by talking loudly punctuated with four letter words.
Thinking that by putting people down, he would be moving himself up.
In face of such aggression.
Ungentleman in every possible way.
Say however loudly you desire.
If such naive a behaviour can make you feel more important.
AS IF I CARE!
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