Saturday, May 09, 2009

believe

Tequila and Salt

-- received from Louisa --
This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

So ...
If you are a loving friend, send this to everyone, including the one that sent it to you.
If you get it back, then they really do love you.

And always remember ...
"When life hands you Lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!"

I've actually given up on forwards a while ago to the point where I generally just delete email forwards. But, I do really like the last sentence *LOL*, plus it was from Louisa. :)

"Louisa, there goes... I really do love you. :) Then again, it's hard to not love you, cause you're one very lovable gal. :) Be sure to stay that way! (HUGS)"

Personally, I only agree with the ones I've bold-ed. Here's some further comments...
#2: I don't actually like the use of a certain number - why 15? But agree with the idea of there are more than a handful of people who loves me. Surely there is! :P).
#6: I prefer to think that I mean the WORLD to more than someone! :P
#8: It's a little creepy isn't it?
#9: If you think it's not true, then you need to make it true. Learn from your mistake!
#10: The world is round. It can't turn its back on anything. There is now front or back. :P
#11: Hmm.. Actually, don't forget the rude remarks; just strip it off! Don't take the delivery method personally. Find the actual message of how you can be better. If it comes from someone close, try and understand why it's been delivered that way. Even better, explain to them that they could probably work on the delivery method. :)

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Quarter Life Reset Button

Looking at how I spend my time, some of the things that I do or feel out of habit are pretty silly. But I guess it is how it is. I mean if I think of myself as a program, it's only normal that after almost 27 years of continuously running I am quite lacking in efficiency - which is the issue here. I've got too many little useless background tasks that needs trimming or even idle processes (or zombies).

So - I'm pressing the RESET button! I'm so excited!

I've noticed lately that I'm at the happiest when I'm doing things, when I'm busy, when I've got deadline to meet. Basically when I feel productive. I love it! I don't have time to think about useless dragging my self down thoughts. Hmm.. I probably should fix my head and learn to stop those dragging-me-down thoughts. But at the same time, just doing things work too. Surely it's more difficult to get those dragging-me-down thoughts when I have achieve some sense of accomplishment.

Lately I've been lacking that sense of accomplishment. Time to make it happen.

I've got a few things I can do and want to do.

Step 1: De-cluttering. Sort out my priorities. Throw out old useless / meaningless routines that are mere habits. Use the time to do things that have meaning or useful for me!.

I shall put my focus and attention on spending what little time I have on things that I "enjoy doing" or "need to do". For example:
* I need to control my eating habit - for health and cause I care about how I feel and look.
* I need to do and enjoy doing yoga - cause it keeps me sane and happy.
* I need to work - for money.
* I need to find something that I enjoy to do for work - so my days become better.
* I enjoy taking photos.
* I need to find a home with my hubby - and this will also attribute to my contentment level.
* I need to cook at home more - because this helps me appreciate the eating out more and helps my eating habit in check. Plus, I enjoy it too.
* I enjoy eating out and love catching up with friends n my siblings, I can join these two together :)
* I love getting massages - so I've decided that this will be my splurge / indulgence from now on.
* etc etc ...

I am going to stop doing the habitual should dos that are basically just time sink. I mean, come to think of it, I now only look at my money thing about 1-2 times a week. It's pretty great considering I used to spend half an hour everyday on it (what a waste of time).

Step 2: The other thing that I've noticed is the important of "positive thoughts". I have the tendency to think that the "glass half empty". It's not all that bad except that this pessimism doesn't go very well with my insecurity issue. It creates this big loop full of jumps from pessimism to insecurity to pessimism to insecurity (am I making sense?). Oh well - anyway - I find that when I'm happy, I'm more likely to be productive which leads to sense of accomplishment, which then makes me happy and makes me want to do even more things. So - time to think happy thoughts. After all, I have such great life. Full of amazing and loving people. Full of opportunity. Great things. Nothing really to put me down. ^.^

Step 3: Stop procrastinating! Just do. I'm shedding my piles. For the next month, I'll do whatever I have in my pile. I'm putting deadline to all those books and papers. They need to be done by 5th June or they're gone from the pile. I'm doing it. If I actually care and want to do them, they'll be done by then. Doing it! Doing it! Doing it!

Whoa! I feel like a train with full steam ahead but can't go anywhere cause I'm still chain to my desk. :P LOL - but it's OK - I'll use this steam to clean up my work to do list. I'm doing it.

Darling, GAMBATTE with the Lit. Review! Love you so much!

Monday, May 04, 2009

Splurges vs Habits

Last week I talk about how to keep enjoying indulgences. Found this article on The Simple Dollar that's definitely relevant and worth reading.

The Simple Dollar » Splurges, Habits, and Projection

In short,
"A splurge is healthy every once in a while. It’s an irregular expense - not one that you spend money on every day or even every week. It also fills you with joy when you do it - and you still feel happy about it a day later. In short, you derive quality of life from that purchase.

A habit is never healthy. When an experience (particularly one tied to spending) becomes routine and normal, it should either fulfill a basic need in a simple way or it should be reconsidered.

...

The difficulty for many people is that splurges become habits without the person realizing it.

I like!

Problem Solving

Issue: "I start or want to do all sorts of tasks / things / projects but don't finish them!"
Priority: HIGH
Life Impact: Major

OK - I'm sick of this. I have a big pile of things sitting on my desk at home waiting for me to do it. I have a long list of to-do things in my mobile always waiting for me to action on. I have a few emails in my mailbox waiting to be replied to. I have a very pretty and constantly growing Excel spreadsheet at work consisting of things I need / would like to do.

Bleh!!!! Nooooooo!!!

Action: "Stop Procrastinating! Just DO!"

"I Don't Know" vs "I'll Find Out"

Have a read at this article from Zen Habits, "Are These Three Words Ruining Your Life?".

This is so applicable to me at the moment.

I keep saying "I don't know" what I would love or like to do for a living. The fact is if I keep saying this, I will never know.

It's time to change it to "I will find out" what I want to do instead of waiting and hoping for it to fall on my lap (in a million years time).