The Notebook

Was watching this movie, The Notebook (2004), quite an old movie, though quite nice ending there.

This is an epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman whom he regularly visits. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. To make it short, the story is actually Their story.

Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind courtship that soon blossoms into tender intimacy. But, the young couple is quickly separated by Allie's upper-class parents who insist that Noah isn't right for her. Several years pass, and, when they meet again, their passion is rekindled, forcing Allie to choose between her soul mate and class order.

For me this movie is just Ok. But I like the last scene best. When the old gentleman and lady died together, with hand holding each other. T.T Despite that it is always sad for the family who is left behind, but it's just Beautiful.

This story reminds me of my neighbor, a sweet married couple. The old lady really took a good care of me when I was little. She lived next door (before she moved hundreds metres away, which is still in the same 'village') and I were a friend of her great grandchildren who lived in different city. She taught me a lot of things and I really feel grateful for her companion, 'shelter' and lessons of life given. And I think she was really a lucky lady. She was married to a gentleman, a very nice indeed, and they reallly made up a sweet couple.

The day when the lady left, forever, the old gentleman was sitting quite in the chair, sad for sure. My father and I were sitting beside him, he told my father one thing and only, he said "We are married for ## years." (I can't remember exactly how many years, I was eleven that time, but there would be 50 years, at least) One thing for sure, he was grieving. I remember that I was crying that time, I was sad. Now, I just feel that is so Beautiful. Even if I still will shed tears for them, it will be for a different reason this time.

Grateful to have them in my life =)

Who you wanna be?

Familiar with this guy? YuP!!!! he is Harrison Ford who stars in Indiana Jones. A nice looking guy =D and I give him two thumbs up for the way he sees thing and what he'd done in preserving the environtment (For me, what he's done is just a lot better than some other celebrities). (See RD's interview with Ford)

When I read through the interview, there is one question that attracts me so much:

RD: If you could take over one person's job for just a day, whose would it be?

Ford: I'd like to be George W. Bush, and boy, I'd get a lot done. You'd remember me for a long, long time.

Wondering how would I answer this kind of question?

I want to be useful for others, my family at least. So, I would like to be one of character from Disney, Mulan, my favorite. I just want to taste what has Mulan gone through and merely be strong as her. To be able to sacrifice oneself for others, it's just great! Come back from that one day, I want to continue to live in that way, Strong! Then, hopefully can contribute more to others. It's simple, the key to be useful and helpful for other is to be useful and helpful for ourselves. And be Strong is one way, I suppose.

How 'bout you? If given a chance, who you wanna be? why? and what would you do?

Dear, Dear...

'What do you think, Christopher Robin?' asked Eeyore a little anxiously, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Christopher Robin has a question to ask first, and he was wondering how to ask it.
'Well,' he said at last, 'it's a very nice house is blown down, you must go somewhere else, mustn't you, Piglet? What would you do, if your house was blown down?'
Before Piglet could think, Pooh answered him.
'He'd come and live with me,' said pooh, 'wouldn't you, Piglet?'

- The House at Pooh Corner -

Am currently reading a book by Jannete Marshall. The scenario and conversation above are a piece of quote taken from that book. If you realize, Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Christopher Robin are in there. Yes! The author takes this quote from story of Winnie the Pooh, the famous very-little-brain bear character from Disney.

This quote is one of the Sweetest quotes I found in that book. That's what Friends are for. If we are lucky to have one, everything would be just Fine =D Or, We shall be the one...

How would "Love Unselfishly" be?

Was chatting to a friend this morning. Topic reached on the tragic love story of another friend of us. He is QUITE close, but I, myself, doubt that our closeness are to the extent that we all really know him. And I could easily answer that doubt. I choose not to go to far in this case.

But I just doubt that the guy's insistence to go for the girl is worthy enough? Let me make up a similar scenario:

"They are together, but people just cannot see that they ARE together. The guy (Mr. G) just loves the girl (Ms. G) so much. While, Mr. G is easily satisfied with the every little-nice-sweet treatement he gets from Ms. G, but Ms. G is just still childish, does not know how to appreciate it. What Mr. G can do is: sharing his story sadly, asking for opinion, and nothing is changed in their relationship. Mr. G tries anyhing he can to 'please' Ms. G, anything. Again, nothing is changed, nothing. Times flies, and time for Ms. G to make thing straight. End of this relationship. Pain and Dissapointment. In fact, it should be End of Misery.

Time heals almost everything, but scar remains. Scar's always reminded Mr. G of Ms. G. Now, Mr. G, again, in confused state: amid in fears of regular dissapointment, he wanna put more effort to chase back Ms. G, no matters whatever it takes."

Really a sad love story indeed. When every detail of the story is put in, it is just tragic. But how would you handle this kind of situation? Keep in mind, people who are in the situation, will hardly see the truth, they are blinded by too many sweet and misery. There are only two things in their mind in denying the truth, the truth is too angelic for their misery or the truth is too distressing for their happiness. So I kinda understand Mr. G's feeling.

In my very clear state now, (might be wrong as am not in their shoes) logically thinking...

Ms. G should never gives any hope while she can said "I like you, but it's just impossible between two of us". It is a false hope.

Mr. G should see with his heart, but he still needs to think with his brain with all the suffer he had, and no good brught, is it worthy enough to sacrifice more things? He probably knows that the end that they had met has been a good start for him. But, it is just too much love in him left for her.

Is this what so called as love unselfishly?

Brain Exercise

"What is the best exercise for your brain?"

Read such a question in one article. What would be your answer then?

I got a shock when the answer reveal is "Sneakers". What is the relationship between Brain which locates in our head (toppest level of human anatomy), and Sneakers that we wear to protect your feet (lowest level in human anatomy)? The idea is wear sneakers to do some work-out that could train up our brain. Think of it, this answer makes sense and just simply the truth. When we do more exercise which main intention is to firm up our body or any other physical and health concern, in fact in bring more good than its look, healthy mind and sharper brain. My friend said this question reminds her to her physic teacher in secondary school which always promote his subject by the motto "In healthy body, there will always be healthy mind". Yes, sir!!! You got it right this time - simply because your brain is in your body, afterall.

Other than just simply move your body, there are some other things to keep your brain sharp and healthy (an intersting article derived from Reader's Digest). Here we go:

1. Feed it
Food has always been main important thing in this world. =) Let's be a bit scientific. Study found that antioxidant in some foods has been a good cancer fighter by neutralizing the harmful free radicals will energize your brain as well. Some of rich antioxidant foods are: beans, whole grain, nuts and spices. But... Balance nutrition kinda superior. Too much is just too much and can be harmful to your body and brain. Consume in the right way. Nice huh? Getting healthy in so much fun way, by eating. What are you waiting for? Go Go Go!!!

2. Speed it Up
How to speed up a brain? Treadmill definetely won't do this time. But the same logic as applied in treadmill will do for your brain. There are more researches and development have been done to train up our brain which is simply our basic asset. Smart brain is one simple reason of the "Smart-ass" complement originates. If you wish to be one, train it up. How? might be able to go for a handheld game from Nintendo called "Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day" to train up your brain or patented computer-based training regimen from Michael Merzenich, PhD., a neurologist at the University of California. Although there is no approvement from FDA that these tools can be treatment for brain impairment, but it is proven that scientific studies show that these tools might help in slowing down the brain aging. Anyway, any activities that need the engagement of focus would be worthy to do. How lucky we are to have all these fun things to do, while it improves our brain's capabilities.

3. Stay Calm
As 'moving' you brain is important, staying calm is equally so. While Yoga and Meditation activities are professional and cooler choices, there is other simple way to remain calm. Breathe. Relax. Good.

Further from just breathe and relax, have a good night sleep! Believe it or not, sometimes solving complex problem, calculus proof, even to the simplest thing in choosing family car might worth to just "sleep on it".

4. Laugh a Bit
Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. That puts laughter in the category of activities you want to do over and over again, such as eating chocolate or having sex. Laughter is pleasurable, perhaps even "addictive," to the brain.
Although it might not make us smarter, it is still worth to do, as it costs us nothing, no?

5. Get Better with Age
As we age, means millions even billions scenarios in life are recorded. What does it mean? You just have to recall it to be applied in another aspects of your life. This is the scientific explanation on the saying "wisdom of older people", and this explains why a 20-years-old man is not allowed to run for president. It is good to know that some things are getting better as we age, isn't?

Interesting to know that exercising and energizing brain would be so much fun, isn't?

How would you respond?

Lists of questions to ask ourselves (taken from Three- physical theater by Helena foo)

What is the meaning of our Existence?
Everyone need to find their true self. I won't say I have found mine, but I do realize, I need to dig up a way to that. I'm working it out. It is just not simply something that u can google then list of articles will come out providing the answer. Long way to go, man...

Do our ordinary lives make a difference?
Obviously YES! Each of us have different role to the world, to the society, to our family, to our friends, and even to our pet. Ordinary never just means 'ordinary', sometimes, it can be Xtraordinary. It is not exclusive for everyone. Even a small kids that smile to you might make difference in your life by showing that there are still smiles, kindness, love, that surrondings are offered. Start to make a list of cause-effect chain from what we had already done, and do not be too shocked to find out how we had make differences to our life and others'. Hopefully, most of them are in a good way =P

Will we look back with regret and feel that we contributed nothing significant in our lifetime? Or will we rejoice with all the accomplishments that we have made throughout?
Regret always comes late, and... it is just a fact. Just remember: Nobody and nothing is perfect in nature. When regret come, there are other way to overcome it, rather than sitting and drowning in the regretful feeling. I will move my butt and keep going, impossible is just impossible. Again, whatever we've done (do it right though =D) we have already contributed something. If someone were to argue how small our contribution is, ask them which dictionary has defined contribution must be in big scale?

- Everything we do might be insignificant. But, it is significant that we do it -