Basic Needs

Oh yeah... I just want to revise the thing I have learnt during my secondary school. It's about the basic needs, what we know as physiological needs. These are the needs that should be met before chasing to fulfill other higher level 'good-to-have-things" in life, as elaborated in the Maslow's Hierarchy of needs.

It had been more than a month since I had trouble sleeping, soundly. Normally, I did not wake up in the middle of the night, no matter what happen,'til my alarm woke me up. However, for the past month, I will wake up around 5a.m. or 6a.m., and can't go back to sleep anymore.

Then... last week, it reached the climax! I had only 2 hours sleep in 2 days. We, human, need 6 - 8 hours of sleep daily, and can you imagine if you only have 2 hours for 2 days? BAD!!! It is no longer like school/college time, where you can skip a class and no one will chase you. (of course, if you do it too often, you might not be able to sit for your exam... blah~)

Let me remind you some facts, about human's basic needs!

1. We need to go toilet regularly, either for the "big" one or the "small" one. The business just needs to be settled!

2. We need to sleep to recharge... We have our phone, notebook and other gadgets charged to enable them working properly. How could you expect human to function well if we are not fully charged?

3. We need to Eat! Believe me that there is only odd no of people who can survive without food. If people can survive with no food, we won't need the words like "hunger" and "famine". Religiously, Buddha does not recommend the extreme way by starving yourself to get enlightment. You have not been blessed by a goddes who had blessed the Indian man who made to the headline news for staying alive and healthy food for the past 70 years.

All in all... without fulfillng the above 3 things, we are just incomplete, and cannot be happy inside out! At least, it applies for myself! So be grateful if you got to eat, you go toilet regularly and able to sleep well. Happiness will just follow~

What's more important?

On the way back, there was ticket-check on the bus. Then there was this uncle beside me with so many shopping bags, he was asleep (too tired I guess)... Then the bus ticket checker (BTC), or whatever you call him, waked him up. The passenger uncle was digging through his right hand-side pocket to find his tiny small receipt printout for the bus fare that he had paid. So... case's closed, for now...

10 minutes after that... BTC came to the uncle again...

BTC: "Uncle... why you haven't alight? You only paid $1, you have passed 2 bus stops already. "

Everyone in the bus was looking, if not listening...

Uncle: "MacPherson Right?"
BTC: "You only pay for $1... Macpershon should be $1.2"
Uncle: "$1 meh?" Digging up the receipt again... Found it... "It's $1.20" ... passed the receipt to BTC. BTC saw the the receipt...
BTC: "Owww... Sorry about that"

First of all, BTC should do a better job, making sure that his vision is not blinded with whatever assumption he had about this uncle even before checking on the uncle's receipt. I believe he had the impression that this uncle may have cheated by paying less fare, because this uncle had 'pretended' to be asleep when BTC approached him and of course from the way he dresses. Thus, he kept an eye on the uncle.

Long long time ago, there was another lady, a very decent looking lady, she paid lesser fare than what she supposed to pay. The BTC (different person that time) did the checked after the lady had passed the stop that she paid for... The lady was making excuses saying that "she thought it's only $x insttead of $x.y. It's quite embarrasing scene I thought, being scolded because of $0.y...

Things I have learnt from the two scenes above:
1. Appearance is important to 'impress' others
2. Yet... appearance may sometimes deceive our eyes
3. At the end... what counts most is integrity... doing the right thing even no one is looking...

The not-so-decent looking uncle had win, while the young decent looking lady had lost...

Time to Act!

I am upset and glad at the same time.

Upset with the fact that I know that I can do more in so many things, instead I wasted my time for nothing good. I just did my first table topic (after 3 prepared speeches) and realize I am no good at thinking on my feet and organizing my thought in a beautiful flow... All these can be improved with more practice, which I have not been doing.

Glad that I discover it now than later...

Time to act! Do more... So that I won't regret later...

I just want...

Life should be lived to the fullest! No one know what would happen tomorrow.

Lately, there are so many bad news...

My deepest condolences to my friend and his family who lost his 2 brothers in a tragic accident!

My prayer to another friend of us, whose mom requires a major surgery. Hope she makes through it and recover fast!

Also... wish my sister strength! She is in joy welcoming a new family member in her life, but she seemed to be at the lowest point of her life. Whatever it is, time heals everything for me, I hope it will too for you.

I just want everyone to live happily with less worry...

Healthy Baby Boy

Yeah... I was looking for topic to write, to be remembered, and here it is...

Welcome my nephew to this new world, that may be cruel sometimes, but he should know that we, all his family, most of all his mom, love him ...:)

He was born on Aug 23, 2011 (Lunar Calendar: 7th Month 24th Day)

Can't wait to hold you in my arms when November comes.

P.S. His parents are struggling to decide a 'good' name for him. =.='

Looking Forward

A might-useful-tip for you :)

We all may have heard about the saying: the past is history, the future is mystery and today is a gift, that's why we call it present.

However, there are times when we just want the present to pass, as it is not as what we have desired... something that may be of help is to look forward. Not too far... we have to take a small step at a time to prevent us from falling down, don't we? Scientifically speaking, it is more measurable.

Looking forward give you hope! Hope give you strength! Strength keep you moving! Moving keep you ALIVE!

I am looking forward to:
September: For the Voyage de Lavie show
October: For good friends' visit
November: It's HOME!
December: It's Festive season... of course Loads and loads of HOLIDAY!

You can see I am pretty much alive now compare to the beginning of this year. Most importantly, I hope to settle something before the year ends, no matter what the outcome will be... Again, don't look too far that you forget to enjoy the current!

The Wise One

I was reading the Fifth Harry Potter, AGAIN (never bored)... And I always admire the character of the headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore.

He is a wise old man that may be very difficult to be found in this real life. He speaks, shows up, acts ONLY when it is needed.

In one of the chapter, when the new term starts, he supposed to give a speech, welcoming the newbees and the old hands, as always before the dinner started. However, a simple realization that his students is hungry, and he only said "... now tuck in," is a gesture that much appreciated by all. This what made him Loved!

He is wise enough to see the good in people, appreciates those who might not have the brightest brain, but the good soul they have always had, e.g. Sybill Trelawney (Prof of Divinitation) and Neville Longbottom. He knows who have always stood by his side and fought for the same goals all along and show his appreciation to them (most of the time by believing in them and lead them to the right way, when they are lost.)

I, myself believe that we all might make a 'good' life with good brain, but it will never guarantee the quality of your life, won't it? Especially if you are acting like a proud a**hole with that brain of yours. Yeah, straight down to hell. Excuse me (ehmm ehmm)...

What's the point of this post? Nothing! I just want to jot this down, so that one day, I can come back here and being reminded how I hate those people who are the exact opposite of Prof Dumbledore, and I shouldn't be one! *Fingercrossed

Serving People

Do you ever read or listen the story below?

Two of God' closest disciples were sisters named Martha and Mary. On one occasion, when God came to visit their household, the two sisters responded in very different ways. Martha, who was hard-working and conscientious, went to a lot of trouble and effort to make sure the house was in order. Meanwhile, Mary did nothing but sit at God's feet and listen as he spoke. When Martha complained about her sisters laziness, she was surprised to hear God defend Marys wise decision. Mary had chosen to focus on what was necessary her relationship with God, through God rather than what was merely useful.

You know what I am not in favor for this.

I hate when people say "I put God first than anything" - no matter who your God is.

Do we realize how many people are hurt and souls taken because people put their God first than their fellow human? How Al-Qaeda fight to change people to believe in Muslim, his God. How different races in Indonesia fight against each other, because 'your God and my God is different'? - so the God of the winning side rules! Bullshit!

Do you know there are great people in this world, who have extreme faith in God and still doing the right thing, with the believe serving people you love, people around you, people in need, and and that's how they serve their God.

Have you ever thought how mother Theresa serves his God? She served people who are in need. How about Mahatma Gandhi? Same, he served his people. How people who fight for the independence of his country are called Heroes? Because they are seving their nations, their people.

It was too egoist to sit in God's house and listening to sermons, thinking that you are doing something right. Just like the stories above, by arranging the house to be in order, Martha might have done his God a great favor. There might be more people will come in to the house (or God House), and His words will be heard by many more than only the two sisters.

My point is don't be too fanatic in whatever you are believe in. Too much is not always good!

The Past 6 Months...

Yeah... It's July! Half of the year has passed, the question is "What have I achieved?"

I am currently reading a book from Ajahn Brahm, "Opening the door of your heart". I like the short stories inside. It's not because I am a religious person, but the stories are so close to our life. I believe in Buddhism, because the teaching is so logical. To paraphrase it "What goes around comes around". Yeah! You may not believe in how Karma works, but I believe you do not have to a Buddhist to believe in the phrase.

Back to the topic, one of the phrases I love is "What's done is finished." Yeah... We will never finish our work, but what's done is finished.

I remember one of my lecturers said that I have the rest of my life working, so do not be too desperate to get a job (that time I was a few months to the end of my college years, and I was busy planning to get a job). I admit it... I am now longing for a break all the time!

Anyway, when I was grieving, my life did not stop, I still need to go on, with tears, with dissapointment, and helplessness. Finally, all passed! Now continuing living this life... Let see what I have been doing for the past 6 months.

:

:

:

Mmmmm... Apparently, not that many:

1. Mission to be healthy? Not so healthy after all. But the last 2 weeks, I survived with a few days off the drugs (... my gastric and headache pills)

2. Toastmaster? Aha... This one is fun! I enjoy attending the meeting. The atmosphere is just positive. Although, sometimes I get nervous when it's my turn to speak ;( Anyway, practice makes perfect!

3. Reading? Been off for quite sometimes. The only reasons... too busy... too tired... But am back to reading now. Warming up and once the 'engine' is hot, then hope that I am not straining my eyes. Just like how difficult to start something, it's also difficult to stop.

Yeah... Boringgggg~ I am waiting for end of the year.... Going to spend more time with family :) I have another half of the year to make up for everything I have lost during the past six months.

I wanna 'restart' this year fresh~

Run for Dad

This morning, I just finished my second 5km run. Frankly speaking, I was nervous about the run. I had not been practising as I was supposed to. Anyway, I still went for it, with light head (not enough sleep) and unprepared physic. The only thing I know, I should finish the run no matter what. Today is dad's birthday, so I am going to do it for him. :)

Anyway, nothing's fantastic. I finished it in an hour =( can be better? Of course, first if I trained myself and second if the route is better (this morning, it was so jammed that we practically need to stop and 'queue' to pass the small passage)

It was tiring, and I am still tired now, but it was good!

Next run on July 24, I must do better! Most importantly, I should be more prepared for it!

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad! I talked to him over the phone. Can tell that he is happy, especially when he told me that my niece sang for him happy birthday song and say "我喜欢公公". =D We all love you, Dad =)