Showing posts with label Life Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Lessons. Show all posts
Sunset Bay
Sunset Bay Bistro at East Coast Park (ECP).
It's one of those places in ECP that marked various events in my life. Key resting spot when I come here to skate. Favourite spot for people watching. One of my most memorable relationship started here. And also ended here.
It's one of those places in ECP that marked various events in my life. Key resting spot when I come here to skate. Favourite spot for people watching. One of my most memorable relationship started here. And also ended here.
Spent the afternoon with that someone who started and ended that relationship with me. 3 years ago I was very much an emotional mess, that skating past this bistro was an upsetting experience. 3 years later (actually it was very much earlier on), we have moved on from that "Yeah right, we can still be friends" awkward phase. Caught up with each other on our current lives, had a good laugh and dig over the relationship we left behind and discussed in depth about the various options to my future career path.
Ah, nothing like truly knowing you have been liberated from past :)
H2 2013
June is over before I even knew it started.
So that half year mark has passed :) I didn't set too many goals for myself at the beginning of the year. After getting rid of an emotional draining boss and ending a mid-term relationship (since it ain't short or long enough hehz), all I had wished for myself was to be a better person, and to walk out of all that doom and gloom of 2012. Ok fine, looking back it wasn't THAT bad. Reminder to self: things always feels worse when you are in them, and it is what it is, just a feeling. ;)
In the last 6 months, I stopped taking a sarcastic dig at my ex-boss (even when I had a chance to while chilling with the ex co folks), moved on from my last relationship (you can tell when you are neutral even hanging out with a group of friends with him), completed Sundown 21.1km, started travelling for work, fought for better opportunities in office, attended many investment conferences, made (many) new friends, finished my Elementary Bahasa Indonesia lessons and started on Intermediate, gave gym time priority, got spoiled entirely by friends who took me out to amazing dining places to satisfy my gastronomic desires and hosted a wedding for the first time. I'm pretty sure there's more but my memory is absolutely failing me. As usual.
What the last 6 months taught me was - when you start focusing on the things you want and love to do, all other negativity in your life melts away. It's one of those life lessons you preach endlessly to your friends but sometimes falls short on following it yourself.
At this mid-year checkpoint, I aim to do more for myself, be a better friend, child, team mate and person.
Will be kickstarting my second half of 2013 with a trip to Kota Kinabalu. Off to climb Mount Kinabalu next week! I haven't start packing my bag, so essentially I'm psyched but totally unprepared. So I better get down to buying my hiking shoes tonight and start climbing some stairs in them.
Can't wait to strike off another item off the 2013 to-dos and of course that ever-growing bucket list :)
Onward to an equally (or more) impressive 6 months!
So that half year mark has passed :) I didn't set too many goals for myself at the beginning of the year. After getting rid of an emotional draining boss and ending a mid-term relationship (since it ain't short or long enough hehz), all I had wished for myself was to be a better person, and to walk out of all that doom and gloom of 2012. Ok fine, looking back it wasn't THAT bad. Reminder to self: things always feels worse when you are in them, and it is what it is, just a feeling. ;)
In the last 6 months, I stopped taking a sarcastic dig at my ex-boss (even when I had a chance to while chilling with the ex co folks), moved on from my last relationship (you can tell when you are neutral even hanging out with a group of friends with him), completed Sundown 21.1km, started travelling for work, fought for better opportunities in office, attended many investment conferences, made (many) new friends, finished my Elementary Bahasa Indonesia lessons and started on Intermediate, gave gym time priority, got spoiled entirely by friends who took me out to amazing dining places to satisfy my gastronomic desires and hosted a wedding for the first time. I'm pretty sure there's more but my memory is absolutely failing me. As usual.
What the last 6 months taught me was - when you start focusing on the things you want and love to do, all other negativity in your life melts away. It's one of those life lessons you preach endlessly to your friends but sometimes falls short on following it yourself.
At this mid-year checkpoint, I aim to do more for myself, be a better friend, child, team mate and person.
Will be kickstarting my second half of 2013 with a trip to Kota Kinabalu. Off to climb Mount Kinabalu next week! I haven't start packing my bag, so essentially I'm psyched but totally unprepared. So I better get down to buying my hiking shoes tonight and start climbing some stairs in them.
Can't wait to strike off another item off the 2013 to-dos and of course that ever-growing bucket list :)
Onward to an equally (or more) impressive 6 months!
How I got to here
Days before our second anniversary, I learned I had breast cancer. Within months, I lost my hair, my eyelashes, everything that made me beautiful.
On Valentine's Day, we sat in front of the fire until I could smell plastic burn on the back of my wig. I couldn't taste the chocolate or drink the wine, but he seemed happy, eating shrimp and being together. He called me Lady Beautiful, but I thought he was just humouring me. It made me feel worse.
I didn't want him to see me like that, helpless and weak. The chemo fog descended and I couldn't get my words right or my thoughts clear. I felt stupid. I felt ugly. Most of all, I felt guilty.
"I'm so sorry," I said. "This is not what you signed up for."
"That may be true," he said. "But neither did you."
Now we sit in bed watching TV every night. My favourite fashion show is on and he turns to me. "This is the perfect date," he says.
I laugh, thinking he is teasing me as he rubs my aching legs. but when I look at his face, he is smiling, his attention already back on the screen.
And I realize that he was the one who did the bait and switch. He made me believe that he responded to my strength and beauty, so I felt strong and beautiful. Maybe this was never the romance I imagine. Maybe I was the shallow one. He saw more. As we sit in bed and watch the beautiful women, I am not jealous. He still thinks I am one of them.
All I have to do is breathe.
Beautiful :)
Read the full article here.
Power of Advice
I'm a sucker for anything inspiring - and nothing beats an amazing video (that's relevant to my field) from one of my ex companies.
About the film - On their journey to becoming trusted advisers, HVS Executive Search explores what business leaders are looking for in an advisor. They ask the question: "What is the power of advice?"
Leading personalities from the hospitality industry delve into the importance of mentorship, listening skills, empathy and objectivity when getting and giving advice. The film follows 20 hospitality leaders through Hong Kong, London, New York and Las Vegas as they oversee their global organizations.
"You will never succeed if you can't respect that other people have the knowledge that they can impart and help you improve."
"Best people attracts the best people"
"Advice is a part of what you get from people - it's part of the food that feeds you. Without it, you're alone."
Watch the video (here).
Picture/Words Credits: (The Power of Advice)
10 lessons from Bernanke
There's one thing I love about May/June. It's the graduating season in the USA and the period where inspiring and radical speeches by prominent figures make their rounds around the world wide web.
Various news site published Ben Bernanke's address to the graduating cohort of Princeton university. It's my favourite one this year and below is a summary of the key points of his speech.
1) Don't be afraid to let the drama play out
Nodding to Forrest Gump's "Life is like a box of chocolates", Bernanke remarked: "Life is amazingly unpredictable; any 22-year old who thinks they know where they will be in 10 years, much less in 30, is simply lacking imagination." He offered up a case study from his own life. "A dozen years ago I was minding my own business teaching Economics 101 in Alexander Hall and trying to think of good excuses for avoiding faculty meetings. Then I got a phone call..."
2) Focus on becoming a better human being
"If you are not happy with yourself, even the loftiest achievements won't bring you much satisfaction."
3) Those who are the luckiest also have the greatest responsibilities
"As the Gospel of Luke says (and I'm sure my rabbi will forgive me for quoting the New Testament in good cause): "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded."
4) Efforts matters
"I think most of us would agree that people who have, say, little formal schooling but labour honestly and diligently to help feed, clother, and educate their families are deserving of greater respect -- and help, if necessary -- than many people who are superficially more successful," Bernanke said. "They're more fun to have a beer with, too."
5) Most policymakers are trying to do the right thing
"The greatest forces in Washington are ideas, and people prepared to act on those ideas. Public service isn't easy. But, in the end, you are inclined in that direction, it is a worthy and challenging pursuit."
6) On economics
"Economics is a highly sophisticated field of thought that is superb at explaining to policymakers precisely why the choices they made in the past were wrong. About the future, not so much."
7) Money isn't everything
"I'm not going to tell you that money doesn't matter, because you wouldn't believe me anyway," Bernanke quipped. "If you are part of the lucky minority with the ability to choose, remember that money is a means, not an end."
8) Don't be afraid to fail
"Nobody likes to fail but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn't dirty, you haven't been in the game."
9) On choosing a partner
"Remember that physical beauty is evolution's way of assuring us that the other person doesn't have too many intestinal parasites. Don't get me wrong, I am all for beauty, romance, and sexual attraction -- where would Hollywood and Madison Avenue be without them? But while important, those are not the only things to look for in a partner."
"Speaking as somebody who has been happily married for 35 years, I can't imagine any choice more consequential for a lifelong journey than the choice of a travelling companion."
10) "Call you mom and dad once in a while"
"A time will come when you will want your own grown-up, busy, hyper-successful children to call you," said Bernanke, who has two adult children. "Also, remember who paid your tuition to Princeton."
The Fed chairman ended with a battle cry: "Congratulations, graduates. Give them hell!"
Article from: CNN Money
Full Transcript: The Federal Reserve
Love that battle cry :)
You attract what you are
Lesson for the day :)
On a separate note, it's Vesak Day this Friday in Singapore! 4-day work week yay! :))
Ways to a better life by Dave Grohl
(An interpretation of his Keynote speech at SXSW 2013 in Austin,TX)
1. No one is you and that is your biggest power.
“It’s YOUR VOICE. Cherish it. Respect it. Nurture it. Challenge it. Stretch it and scream until it’s f**king gone because everyone is blessed with at least that, and who knows how long it will last . . .”
“Who’s to say what’s a good voice, and what’s not a good voice? The Voice? Imagine Bob Dylan sitting there singing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ in front of Christina Aguilera.”
2. Don’t be afraid of not fitting in.
“I can truly say out loud that ‘Gangnam Style’ is one of my favorite f**king songs of the past decade. Is it any better or worse than the latest Atoms for Peace album? Hmmm… paging Pitchfork! Come in, come in, Pitchfork! We need you to help us determine the value of a song! Who f**king cares.” Don't be someone who designs their lives to impress others.
3. Give a damn about yourself.
It’s about taking care of yourself so you can be a better human being. A 2.0 version of you is way more equipped to help others in need. Take up yoga if you’re stressed. Ask for a big raise. Walk away from a relationship that is abusive or draining. Or just take a nap, for Christ’s sake.
4. Be humble.
No one wants to go to lunch with a supermodel who says things like, “My cheekbones, if you’ve noticed, have a similar incline to an escalator.” One thing I’ve noticed is that if you are good at something, people will acknowledge it. Appreciate the hell out of those people. Should you be blessed enough to have the fortitude to work so hard at something that people celebrate you, your first reaction should be gratitude. And know that there’s a ton of people out there from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds who can still teach you something. I don’t care if you’re Bill Clinton or Jay-Z – always be learning; always be improving.
5. Spark a revolution.
Always have the highest bar for yourself. Wake up everyday and no matter how crappy you feel, want to change something for the better. Do something that makes someone happy. Create something that inspires someone. Be someone’s light when they are hopeless.
1. No one is you and that is your biggest power.
“It’s YOUR VOICE. Cherish it. Respect it. Nurture it. Challenge it. Stretch it and scream until it’s f**king gone because everyone is blessed with at least that, and who knows how long it will last . . .”
“Who’s to say what’s a good voice, and what’s not a good voice? The Voice? Imagine Bob Dylan sitting there singing ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ in front of Christina Aguilera.”
2. Don’t be afraid of not fitting in.
“I can truly say out loud that ‘Gangnam Style’ is one of my favorite f**king songs of the past decade. Is it any better or worse than the latest Atoms for Peace album? Hmmm… paging Pitchfork! Come in, come in, Pitchfork! We need you to help us determine the value of a song! Who f**king cares.” Don't be someone who designs their lives to impress others.
3. Give a damn about yourself.
It’s about taking care of yourself so you can be a better human being. A 2.0 version of you is way more equipped to help others in need. Take up yoga if you’re stressed. Ask for a big raise. Walk away from a relationship that is abusive or draining. Or just take a nap, for Christ’s sake.
4. Be humble.
No one wants to go to lunch with a supermodel who says things like, “My cheekbones, if you’ve noticed, have a similar incline to an escalator.” One thing I’ve noticed is that if you are good at something, people will acknowledge it. Appreciate the hell out of those people. Should you be blessed enough to have the fortitude to work so hard at something that people celebrate you, your first reaction should be gratitude. And know that there’s a ton of people out there from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds who can still teach you something. I don’t care if you’re Bill Clinton or Jay-Z – always be learning; always be improving.
5. Spark a revolution.
Always have the highest bar for yourself. Wake up everyday and no matter how crappy you feel, want to change something for the better. Do something that makes someone happy. Create something that inspires someone. Be someone’s light when they are hopeless.
20 good habits you need to start in your 20s
Came across this on Facebook and thought its a list with substance. It's still not too late! :)
20. Focus on activities and people that make you happy
19. Trust your instincts on new opportunities
18. Build the courage to face your fears
17. Focus on the resources you do have access to
16. Be less busy, and more productive
15. Make your goals a priority
14. Accept your humanness
13. Seek less approval from others
12. Ignore society's comparisons
11. Believe in your ability to succeed
10. Manage your money before it starts to manage you
9. Let the wrong people go
8. Appreciate your true friends, and return the favour
7. Understand right from wrong
6. Choose happiness
5. Learn to cope with your anger effectively
4. Make your own destiny
3. Create priorities
2. Stay away from a routine based life
1. Always keep in mind that life is somewhere unpredictable.
For more details, click here.
Hello April!
Holy mama. The first quarter of the year is already over.
How was everyone's long weekend? I had an amazing one. Caught up with so many old friends over nice food and great music! Will write about it when I have more time at hand :)
And with the new month, I aim to move closer to what I aim to achieve for this year. Be kinder, be more compassionate, be more giving and be more loving! Amazing April ahead everyone! :))))
How was everyone's long weekend? I had an amazing one. Caught up with so many old friends over nice food and great music! Will write about it when I have more time at hand :)
And with the new month, I aim to move closer to what I aim to achieve for this year. Be kinder, be more compassionate, be more giving and be more loving! Amazing April ahead everyone! :))))
Thank you Professor Koh
So I went for my Prof's funeral and memorial service last Saturday. It was nice meeting many old classmates again, but little did we expect the gathering to be at our favourite professor's funeral. It's been a little over 2 weeks but most of us still found it hard to believe he was gone. Like truly gone. It wasn't until when we reached the church, saw his family and his urn of ashes, that we finally came to accept.
Professor Koh is no longer with us anymore :(
The service was heartbreaking especially when the church choir started singing while the Father performed the ritual. It moved on to a lighter note when his family and colleague gave their eulogies, sharing their side of Prof Koh that we as students never really saw.
He was, and still is a man that had various qualities that we could learn from. I was very moved by the fact that he touched many lives in the 50 years he spent on earth. Friends from all walks of life attended his memorial service, tracing back to people who knew him since his RI/Hwa Chong days. Students and friends turned up in racing gear, in ballroom dancing outfits, in their photographer gears. It was a celebration of his wonderful life and the number of friends he made in his lifetime.
It drives home the message that at the end of the day, it's not how much wealth you have or how popular you were, it's how many lives you touched in a positive way and how many remembers you fondly when you are no longer around.
"Never lose that sense of adventure in life" was his famous quote, which he first shared it as a part of speech to the graduating class of 2010.
Rest in Peace, Professor Koh. You are and will continue to be deeply missed. I'm sure your words and way of life will continue to inspire many.
Professor Koh is no longer with us anymore :(
The service was heartbreaking especially when the church choir started singing while the Father performed the ritual. It moved on to a lighter note when his family and colleague gave their eulogies, sharing their side of Prof Koh that we as students never really saw.
He was, and still is a man that had various qualities that we could learn from. I was very moved by the fact that he touched many lives in the 50 years he spent on earth. Friends from all walks of life attended his memorial service, tracing back to people who knew him since his RI/Hwa Chong days. Students and friends turned up in racing gear, in ballroom dancing outfits, in their photographer gears. It was a celebration of his wonderful life and the number of friends he made in his lifetime.
It drives home the message that at the end of the day, it's not how much wealth you have or how popular you were, it's how many lives you touched in a positive way and how many remembers you fondly when you are no longer around.
"Never lose that sense of adventure in life" was his famous quote, which he first shared it as a part of speech to the graduating class of 2010.
Rest in Peace, Professor Koh. You are and will continue to be deeply missed. I'm sure your words and way of life will continue to inspire many.
Source: Hong Huazheng
How to Love Yourself
Ryan O'Connell is one of my favourite writers on Thought Catalog. Granted sometimes there are misses, most of the time his pieces are pretty awesome to read.
Chanced upon this old piece of his and loved it very much:
Source: Thought Catalog
Chanced upon this old piece of his and loved it very much:
Since I’ve already told you how to hate yourself, it’s only fair that I tell you how to do the opposite.
There seems to be an unfair stigma attached to loving yourself. People write you off as conceited and stuck-up. God forbid you like who you are, you egomaniac! So before we dive into self-love, let me explain to you what it isn’t first.
Loving yourself doesn’t mean projecting an overwhelming sense of superiority. You know you’re awesome and you don’t need your license plate to say # 1 PRINCESS to prove it. You don’t need your Myspace page to say “LOVE ME OR HATE. I’M A BITCH. AND IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE IT, GET OUT.” or if you’re a dude, “I’M THE MOTHERF%%$ING KING. BOW DOWN 2 ME!” All of the people who walk around proclaiming they are a precious gift and deserve to be treated like a queen are usually in reality, insecure, delusional, and kind of mean. Loving yourself doesn’t translate to thinking you’re better than everyone else. People who are actually comfortable in their own skin don’t need to shout it from the mountaintops. It’s just evident in their day-to-day decision making. For example:
You: You know what band I actually really like?Diva friend: What?You: Los Lonely Boys! They’re awesome.Diva friend: Are you kidding me? They’re awful! How could you ever listen to that crap?!You: Because I like them….Diva friend: Oh.
Your diva friend was shut down by your conviction! They tried to make you feel bad about what you liked and you weren’t having it. In order to love yourself, you need to stand by everything you do. There’s no such thing as a guilty pleasure because if you enjoy it, it’s just pleasurable period. Don’t ever make apologies for the things that make you happy (unless it’s heroin or an abusive relationship). Have confidence in your decisions.
The quickest way to find out if you truly love yourself is to examine your relationships. I’ve known plenty of people who have high self-esteem and still manage to fall for people who will treat them like crap. It’s a giant “WTF?” about their personality. How could someone be a certain way in every facet of their life, and then act completely contrary when they get in a relationship? We’ve all done it. We’ve all disrespected ourselves for the person we “love.” We’ve all found ourselves going against everything we believe in for some sex and an “I love you” from someone who doesn’t even know what that means. When seeking the love of someone else, we often forget to love ourselves.
There needs to be a foundation of self-respect. The kind of foundation that allows you to look in the mirror without feeling like a hippo and listen to a band like Los Lonely Boys without shame. As long as you have that base level of self-love, you can survive the missteps, the assholes, the bad friends. Because at the end of day, you like yourself. You think you’re good company. You go to lunch by yourself, catch the occasional movie all by your lonesome, and are content in spending a solo star night in. You would hang out with you. Sure. Why not?
None of this simple. None of this is easy. You will betray yourself and your ideals at some point. But the key to recovery is to always know you want the best for yourself. As the wise Beyoncé once said, “It’s me, myself, and I, that’s all I got in the end.” Source: Thought Catalog
RIP, Professor Koh :(
Life is short and unpredictable. We all know it, read about it, talked about it. But how many of us actually really internalized it?
My afternoon took a turn for the worse when I receive news that my favourite professor and mentor from college has passed away. It was so sudden everyone who knew him was caught completely off guard. For the first few hours, we questioned the email we received via our Alma Mater's President. Is this a hoax? No this can't be real. We didn't read anything in the news. This can't be happening. Prof Koh couldn't have left us like that. You could say most of us were in complete denial.
Merely days ago, he was still updating his Facebook account of his latest marathon achievement and his diving lessons. And today, we received news that he has left us because of a diving mishap. That he was reported missing since Tuesday and his body was found yesterday.
Known as one of the most popular professors in school, Prof Koh was a shining example of living one's life to the fullest. He didn't just taught us Game Theory and Entrepreneurial Finance, he taught us the essence of life. We were always encouraged to venture beyond our textbooks and that the world was more than "sitting in the study cubicle and solving business cases". We were always taught to learn something new, pick up something we are completely unfamiliar, explore the world so we could tell him stories of our corporate adventures. He wasn't just a professor to us, he was a mentor, a friend, a father figure and a beacon of constant inspiration.
He was always the go-to person when I had doubts about life and career paths, and for the 4 years in school, he had always been my idol (pretty much like everyone else). We lived vicariously through the amazing photos of his adventures around the world, understood the mental strength he had for completing marathons after marathons, and learned that despite the hardships and harshness we faced at work - there was always someone out there who was more than happy to share some care and love.
I remembered penning him emails during my arduous months of hunting for my first job. Much as he was boggled down by probably a few hundreds of other students who were facing the same issue as me, long emails filled with care and advice were always sent back to me. Years later when I penned him yet another email to seek advice for a career switch, he highlighted that he still remembered the joy I had when I signed on my first job. "I still keep the emails you sent and I could still feel the joy when I read them again" was what he said. His emails are still kept safely in my inbox, where I refer back to them every now and then when I feel lost about where I wanted to move on in my career. He was a mentor who truly cared.
It's been hours since I got the news but I still find it unbelievable. We all still find it unbelievable. We wish the family courage and strength to bring them through this.
Facebook is still being flooded by words of all his friends, colleagues and ex-and current students. It serves as a stark reminder that at the end of the day, it's not about how much money you make in a lifetime, it's so many people you have impacted in your lifetime and how many remembers you as an inspiration when you are gone.
"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity" - Henry Van Dyke. Thank you prof for sharing this quote, thank you for being my professor, thank you for teaching me valuable lessons both in and outside of class, thank you for showing us what it is like to be living life to the fullest, thank you for showing us that sincere love and concern is possible even in difficult times. I am most definitely grateful to have met you and had the honour of being your student and mentee for 4 years of my college years. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, and that even in your passing, you remind us that life is short and we should never delay the pursue of our passions.
"Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity" - Henry Van Dyke. Thank you prof for sharing this quote, thank you for being my professor, thank you for teaching me valuable lessons both in and outside of class, thank you for showing us what it is like to be living life to the fullest, thank you for showing us that sincere love and concern is possible even in difficult times. I am most definitely grateful to have met you and had the honour of being your student and mentee for 4 years of my college years. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration, and that even in your passing, you remind us that life is short and we should never delay the pursue of our passions.
RIP, Professor Koh - you will be sorely missed :(((
There's more to life than being happy
Someone shared this article on Facebook and I found it an immensely refreshing viewpoint on the pursuit of happiness.
"But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue. One must have a reason to 'be happy."
"Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself -- be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself -- by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love -- the more human he is."I'm going to have to find Victor Frankl's book. Hurhur.
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