What defines Happiness? Who decides who is happy and who is not? Happiness means different things to different people. To a mother, it may be seeing her child grow up strong and healthy. To a Son to see his mother and father enjoying each others compnay even in old age.
The truly weird thing about happiness is the fact that most of us think we know what will make us truly happy, but the fact of the matter is... we don't.
To me, happiness is not earned but rather given. Most of the time it is the smallest and most insignificant things in your life that truly makes you feel that you are living in happiness.
Happiness catches you in the most unexpected way, u could be down and out in your work life or in relationship but when you stop pursuing your definition of happiness and let go just for one second. Suddenly you will start to realise that happiness starts pursuing you. Impossible as it may sound but it happens.
My definition of happiness would be that i will have enough money to allow me to stop working for the rest of my life and pursue what i always want to do that i have no money and no time for. Then you hear stories of people who have achieved that and can't wait to work again simply because their life got too mono and too boring. What gives?
Life is like dancing they say, you take a step forward and you may take one or two steps backwards. Ultimately, you end up where you started.
If there is a conclusion that i want to put to this post is that, be happy and when things don't turn out the way you think they should, don't fret, let go. Let happiness pursue you. Being happy could be sharing a drink or two with good friends and good company at fashion bar :) or even a good movie that makes you laugh and cry at the same time. Savour that moment when it comes but learn to let it go to welcome that next moment.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
The Bund
6 days in Shanghai, 3 days of preparations, 3 days of exhibition. Preparations includes sitting in a fancy bar on the 6th floor on the Bund overlooking the night scenery better known as "Ye Shanghai." This is to prepare the mind, give it some rest and you will have less stress.
Sitting there overhearing the many different travellers (Japanese, French, Germans etc.)who had stumbled into the same bar as i had made, wonder about the possibilities of travelling to the many other cities in the world. New York? Paris? Moscow? Tokyo? I'd love to travel more. In fact, i want to!
It is tiring to travel. Long hours in the plane, watching movies after movies, plastic cups of orange juice after orange juice. Especially when you are travelling to work, work will always be at the back of your mind even when you are enjoying your "Xi Li" (Heineken in Chinese) At this part i just got to credit mention Jacintha for handling most of the details of the trip. Without you, this trip would not have been a success. You go girl!
Sitting there overlooking the Whampoa river, reminded me of the Singapore river, somehow... The Singapore river is tiny compared to this one!
Well, if its any consolation, the whampoa we have in Singapore serves much better food then they have in Shanghai. Do not try the Hainanese chicken rice that they serve in the restaurants, i repeat... no i warn thee, DO NOT TRY! It is not even close. It is like they are trying to copy what we have in Singapore and duplicating it in the most horrible way ever. Period.
Piracy is pretty bad in Shanghai, they are selling the Channels and the Yang Siao Lings like nobody's business. They have shops that share similar colours and name like the real brands. Let me quote you an example, they have the brand Crocodile in Shanghai, a few steps down the same road after the authentic Crocodile boutique, you walk past another shop called "Clio codile" Same colour but with a more animated croc. Its pretty ridiculous but hilarious at the same time.
There are many toilets in Shanghai, the best part is the fact that they bothered to build many "toilet buildings" every 5-10 minutes of walking. I would have taken a picture of the toilet if it weren't for the fact that i was too worried that i would be mistaken as a voyeur if i stood too close to take a picture outside the toilet. Instead i took a picture of the map!
There were things during the trip that reminded me of my shortcomings. It is a resurfacing rther than new lessons. Guess i never really learnt my lessons well. All in all, Shanghai has been alright.
Sitting there overhearing the many different travellers (Japanese, French, Germans etc.)who had stumbled into the same bar as i had made, wonder about the possibilities of travelling to the many other cities in the world. New York? Paris? Moscow? Tokyo? I'd love to travel more. In fact, i want to!
It is tiring to travel. Long hours in the plane, watching movies after movies, plastic cups of orange juice after orange juice. Especially when you are travelling to work, work will always be at the back of your mind even when you are enjoying your "Xi Li" (Heineken in Chinese) At this part i just got to credit mention Jacintha for handling most of the details of the trip. Without you, this trip would not have been a success. You go girl!
Sitting there overlooking the Whampoa river, reminded me of the Singapore river, somehow... The Singapore river is tiny compared to this one!
Well, if its any consolation, the whampoa we have in Singapore serves much better food then they have in Shanghai. Do not try the Hainanese chicken rice that they serve in the restaurants, i repeat... no i warn thee, DO NOT TRY! It is not even close. It is like they are trying to copy what we have in Singapore and duplicating it in the most horrible way ever. Period.
Piracy is pretty bad in Shanghai, they are selling the Channels and the Yang Siao Lings like nobody's business. They have shops that share similar colours and name like the real brands. Let me quote you an example, they have the brand Crocodile in Shanghai, a few steps down the same road after the authentic Crocodile boutique, you walk past another shop called "Clio codile" Same colour but with a more animated croc. Its pretty ridiculous but hilarious at the same time.
There are many toilets in Shanghai, the best part is the fact that they bothered to build many "toilet buildings" every 5-10 minutes of walking. I would have taken a picture of the toilet if it weren't for the fact that i was too worried that i would be mistaken as a voyeur if i stood too close to take a picture outside the toilet. Instead i took a picture of the map!
There were things during the trip that reminded me of my shortcomings. It is a resurfacing rther than new lessons. Guess i never really learnt my lessons well. All in all, Shanghai has been alright.
Monday, 21 May 2007
Top Ten Favourite things to do
10. Laze around at home without a care in the world.
9. Spending time with Michelle in Singapore. (Too many paparazzis in Hk.)
8. Singing duet with Faye. (Her Hubby doesn't like it though)
7. Spending time at Central Perk bitching about Rachel and Ross with Joey.
6. Flying around in John's plane. Not forgetting about enjoying Kelly's cooking as well.
5. Partying with Paris and gang. (Might have to find new party frens since she is going into the slammer)
4. Helping Angie to adopt her next child. (Brad doesn't really like the idea of another one.)
3. Playing sunday football with Stevie and Jamie when they don't have matches.
2. Spending my saturday evening lost in translation with Scarlett and winning precious Match points playing tennis with her.
1. Sitting infront of my lap top in a delusional state and coming up with fantasy top ten list.
9. Spending time with Michelle in Singapore. (Too many paparazzis in Hk.)
8. Singing duet with Faye. (Her Hubby doesn't like it though)
7. Spending time at Central Perk bitching about Rachel and Ross with Joey.
6. Flying around in John's plane. Not forgetting about enjoying Kelly's cooking as well.
5. Partying with Paris and gang. (Might have to find new party frens since she is going into the slammer)
4. Helping Angie to adopt her next child. (Brad doesn't really like the idea of another one.)
3. Playing sunday football with Stevie and Jamie when they don't have matches.
2. Spending my saturday evening lost in translation with Scarlett and winning precious Match points playing tennis with her.
1. Sitting infront of my lap top in a delusional state and coming up with fantasy top ten list.
Saturday, 21 April 2007
My Comfort of letting go
It's been five years since my first job, a sales job. Not knowing what was in store for me, i took up the challenge of a sales job. It was one of the best thing that happened in my life!
Ever since then, i have been selling and accumulating experience in this field. Why a sales job, you may ask? It gives you the freedom, you are not desk bound, you earn more than a regular 9-5 job, its the best job in the world :)
I take pride in the fact that i am not just selling to my clients. Not just achieving a number or a value on my score card, i take pride in knowing my clients and converting many of them into friends in the course of a working relationship. That has become a motivation for me and a reason for me to work.
I value all the relationships that were built with clients and colleagues alike. This is the main reason why it's painful to leave where i am now. I have to learn to let go or i will never know the best of my abilities. I have to stretch myself and take comfort in losing the shoreline.
I think the sales team we have now is fantastic, a few tweaking here and there and in no time all the publications will be no.1 in Singapore.
I believe tweaking should include the new "shareholder" commission scheme that was introduced not too long ago. As its name suggest, this new scheme will benefit the shareholder's interest as company profit will increase. My advice, start investing in our company's stock!
In a nutshell, this new scheme doesn't make any bloody sense to me, all the sales people are forced to go at each other's throat to meet their individual target.
I suggest that we set up a boxing ring in front of Alice's office, any conflict of interest between sales colleagues will be settled by good old fashion cat/dog fights, bitting and scratching allowed. Kicking in the nuts is also allowed, but it can only be done to 2 limited number of person now that i am gone.
Fiona Ong can be the empire while Yan Ling can ring the bell. Commentary will be provided by the B & P team, Gin, Nic and Vick can take turns (i foresee many disputes that needs to be settled) We will leave VIP front row seats for CEO, COO and MD. Wait... we can sell tickets as well! That way the ticket sales can be split among the sales team since commissions are not forthcoming. One stone, two bloody birds! Am i a genius or what?
Disclaimer: The above does not represent the writer's actual views and beliefs. The writer absolutely loves and simply adores the way the whole company sets its policies. The above could be written in unexplained madness or the writer could be in a state of perpetual disillusion that by writing the above, he can change the minds of bureaucrats.
*Fellow colleagues please don't dua me and show this to Ceo or MD hoh? Don't send any links to anyone, top secret!
Ever since then, i have been selling and accumulating experience in this field. Why a sales job, you may ask? It gives you the freedom, you are not desk bound, you earn more than a regular 9-5 job, its the best job in the world :)
I take pride in the fact that i am not just selling to my clients. Not just achieving a number or a value on my score card, i take pride in knowing my clients and converting many of them into friends in the course of a working relationship. That has become a motivation for me and a reason for me to work.
I value all the relationships that were built with clients and colleagues alike. This is the main reason why it's painful to leave where i am now. I have to learn to let go or i will never know the best of my abilities. I have to stretch myself and take comfort in losing the shoreline.
I think the sales team we have now is fantastic, a few tweaking here and there and in no time all the publications will be no.1 in Singapore.
I believe tweaking should include the new "shareholder" commission scheme that was introduced not too long ago. As its name suggest, this new scheme will benefit the shareholder's interest as company profit will increase. My advice, start investing in our company's stock!
In a nutshell, this new scheme doesn't make any bloody sense to me, all the sales people are forced to go at each other's throat to meet their individual target.
I suggest that we set up a boxing ring in front of Alice's office, any conflict of interest between sales colleagues will be settled by good old fashion cat/dog fights, bitting and scratching allowed. Kicking in the nuts is also allowed, but it can only be done to 2 limited number of person now that i am gone.
Fiona Ong can be the empire while Yan Ling can ring the bell. Commentary will be provided by the B & P team, Gin, Nic and Vick can take turns (i foresee many disputes that needs to be settled) We will leave VIP front row seats for CEO, COO and MD. Wait... we can sell tickets as well! That way the ticket sales can be split among the sales team since commissions are not forthcoming. One stone, two bloody birds! Am i a genius or what?
Disclaimer: The above does not represent the writer's actual views and beliefs. The writer absolutely loves and simply adores the way the whole company sets its policies. The above could be written in unexplained madness or the writer could be in a state of perpetual disillusion that by writing the above, he can change the minds of bureaucrats.
*Fellow colleagues please don't dua me and show this to Ceo or MD hoh? Don't send any links to anyone, top secret!
Thursday, 29 March 2007
The ability of inability
Ever wondered why the life that others live always seem better? Everyone else seem to have direction and goals in life except you? Their life seems so fulfilling, so many things to do, so little time. They've got it made!
What do people do in their spare time anyway. Then again, everyone tells me how busy they are and have no time to spare.
You rarely hear people say that they are not busy. It makes sense actually, nobody wants people to know that they have lots of time on their hands. You make sure that you mess up your desk and make it look bloody messy. Better to be known as disorganize than to be known as a do nothing. (a.k.a zho bo)
In this day and age, nobody is ever free. Nobody ever has time.
Time is short, days are getting shorter, by the minutes, by the seconds. One fine day, we will wake up and realise that there is no longer any sense of destiny in our lives anymore.
We are no longer born for greatness, the childlikeness in us that believes that we were born for a divine purpose slowly fades away and you are left with a sense of inability. You are face with this new ability of inability. You have woken up to all your inadequacies, you have fallen short, what do you do next? Resign to mediocrity? Or do you hold on to your beliefs?
Probe further and you will be faced with more questions than answers. I am going down this path right now.
I believe that each one of us has a destiny to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Our thoughts and actions influences the people we are in contact with. You are as great as you can be to the person next to you, to the people who knows you.
I want to embrace my inabilities. I want to know that no one is without inadequacies or insecurities. In simple terms, i want to be as human as i can be.
Please forgive my humanity. I will do wrong and i will continue to do so. And i will always need forgiveness. So forgive me for i know not what i do. I know not what i ask for.
What do people do in their spare time anyway. Then again, everyone tells me how busy they are and have no time to spare.
You rarely hear people say that they are not busy. It makes sense actually, nobody wants people to know that they have lots of time on their hands. You make sure that you mess up your desk and make it look bloody messy. Better to be known as disorganize than to be known as a do nothing. (a.k.a zho bo)
In this day and age, nobody is ever free. Nobody ever has time.
Time is short, days are getting shorter, by the minutes, by the seconds. One fine day, we will wake up and realise that there is no longer any sense of destiny in our lives anymore.
We are no longer born for greatness, the childlikeness in us that believes that we were born for a divine purpose slowly fades away and you are left with a sense of inability. You are face with this new ability of inability. You have woken up to all your inadequacies, you have fallen short, what do you do next? Resign to mediocrity? Or do you hold on to your beliefs?
Probe further and you will be faced with more questions than answers. I am going down this path right now.
I believe that each one of us has a destiny to make a difference in the lives of the people around us. Our thoughts and actions influences the people we are in contact with. You are as great as you can be to the person next to you, to the people who knows you.
I want to embrace my inabilities. I want to know that no one is without inadequacies or insecurities. In simple terms, i want to be as human as i can be.
Please forgive my humanity. I will do wrong and i will continue to do so. And i will always need forgiveness. So forgive me for i know not what i do. I know not what i ask for.
Monday, 8 January 2007
Can someone pass me a microphone?
If i have a choice between singing for a living or doing what i am doing now, i would sing, damn i would sing. I know that i am not much of a performer to begin with but i can hold a tune pretty confidently and pretty well.
Well the next question is why not? I mean, i love singing, i wouldn't miss a K session if my friends invite. Let me give you some scenarios:
1.Choice between mahjong session or K session? I will choose K!
2.Choice between late night supper or late night k session? k session! (Friends please org more k session so i will have less suppers please... arrrggghhh!!! I will now type faster to loose some fats around my fingers...)
3. Choice between a date with someone i fancy or K session? I will choose going to k session with date :) sigh...If only life is so simple
I wouldn't exactly say i am passionate about singing but i like singing. Its like how i started singing in Church and i don't mind serving sundays after sundays as long as i sing every week.
I think in reality, you can hardly earn a decent living as a singer alone. I am not talking about the famous ones. I am talking your pub singers, seventh month chopstick sisters or fork and spoon brothers or what have you. It can be an after 6 job but not really full time i would think.
So I guess meanwhile i will have to stick with singing your song on the roof top, giving you the most precious a red rose and maybe even singing a sad fairy tale song while playing the piano. (Only veteran K singers need understand the above mentioned)
My vocal cords are getting itchy, very itchy.... that explains why i have been breaking into songs in the office lately. I will suggest to Serene tomorrow about installing a sound system in the office. Every table will have a micophone and a small screen. Everyone will have their chance to sing after dedicating their songs. (Fiona Ong will collect the slips of paper from every table)
After every song The small screen will indicate the next singer and table, "Next song: Table beside Fion at kowloon." (Our working areas are named after streets in Hk)
That way, Annie can sing her songs and dance to it at the same time! I must add that she can dance pretty well.
Then i can have my chance to sing without all the complains from my neighbouring colleagues.
" Uh...Don't touch my mic, its my personal one, thanks."
Well the next question is why not? I mean, i love singing, i wouldn't miss a K session if my friends invite. Let me give you some scenarios:
1.Choice between mahjong session or K session? I will choose K!
2.Choice between late night supper or late night k session? k session! (Friends please org more k session so i will have less suppers please... arrrggghhh!!! I will now type faster to loose some fats around my fingers...)
3. Choice between a date with someone i fancy or K session? I will choose going to k session with date :) sigh...If only life is so simple
I wouldn't exactly say i am passionate about singing but i like singing. Its like how i started singing in Church and i don't mind serving sundays after sundays as long as i sing every week.
I think in reality, you can hardly earn a decent living as a singer alone. I am not talking about the famous ones. I am talking your pub singers, seventh month chopstick sisters or fork and spoon brothers or what have you. It can be an after 6 job but not really full time i would think.
So I guess meanwhile i will have to stick with singing your song on the roof top, giving you the most precious a red rose and maybe even singing a sad fairy tale song while playing the piano. (Only veteran K singers need understand the above mentioned)
My vocal cords are getting itchy, very itchy.... that explains why i have been breaking into songs in the office lately. I will suggest to Serene tomorrow about installing a sound system in the office. Every table will have a micophone and a small screen. Everyone will have their chance to sing after dedicating their songs. (Fiona Ong will collect the slips of paper from every table)
After every song The small screen will indicate the next singer and table, "Next song: Table beside Fion at kowloon." (Our working areas are named after streets in Hk)
That way, Annie can sing her songs and dance to it at the same time! I must add that she can dance pretty well.
Then i can have my chance to sing without all the complains from my neighbouring colleagues.
" Uh...Don't touch my mic, its my personal one, thanks."
Sunday, 3 December 2006
Ask for directions
Many times at different juncture of my life i wonder where the hell is my life heading. I believe i'm not alone. You may wonder if you are working in the right industry? Am i getting the right pay? Am i heading anywhere with this dead end job? Am i with the right person in the relationship?
Recently, i started attending TCC in hope of finding that passion for life again. Its too early to tell though. I was glad that i managed to find some old friends in TCC. I actually just drove myself to the church and attended their service without knowing anyone there. May this be a good beginning.
Sundays are now merely a get together with friends at faith. Its been this way for weeks. Hanging out with the church guys. Visited Expo today for the JL Expo sale, Big Boyz Toyz and the lousy digital fair. Took us 45 mins just to drive into the carpark! Apparently that was not enough and we had to visit Ikea after that. It took us another half and hour to find the location.
I have to learn to ask for directions, it just make things so much easier. Its a good thing one of Emma's friend knew where Ikea was. Glad she had the cow sense to ask for directions.
I have got to get myself one of those Mentor they always mention in books that i've read. That would have probably saved me alot of "accused" road that i have wandered. That would have given me a pretty good road map to life.
Recently, i started attending TCC in hope of finding that passion for life again. Its too early to tell though. I was glad that i managed to find some old friends in TCC. I actually just drove myself to the church and attended their service without knowing anyone there. May this be a good beginning.
Sundays are now merely a get together with friends at faith. Its been this way for weeks. Hanging out with the church guys. Visited Expo today for the JL Expo sale, Big Boyz Toyz and the lousy digital fair. Took us 45 mins just to drive into the carpark! Apparently that was not enough and we had to visit Ikea after that. It took us another half and hour to find the location.
I have to learn to ask for directions, it just make things so much easier. Its a good thing one of Emma's friend knew where Ikea was. Glad she had the cow sense to ask for directions.
I have got to get myself one of those Mentor they always mention in books that i've read. That would have probably saved me alot of "accused" road that i have wandered. That would have given me a pretty good road map to life.
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