Tiger's Tail - end of 2010

It's year end! Time to wrap this year up, since I have 2 days for myself and myself only. =D

This is not a glorious year, but a meaningful in its own way.

The proudest achivements that I have are:

1. Realizing my dreams to realize my parents' dream, travelling around the world. It does not stop here though, it's kinda something ongoing. =D

I know that Mom and Dad enjoying themselves. For Mom it's seeing the new places, experiencing something new. For dad it's the meeting with new people and of course, the photos snapping. For me, it's the gathering and the joy in seeing them happy. =D

2. I can finally SWIM. Yeah! I mean swim as it moves from one end to another end of a swimming pool. Best thing is It's NON-STOP! and the fact is I Love swimming!

While I am so proud in achieving the above, I had several other things that I think I could do slightly better. But done is done, so I am proud to say that I have achived what I have set in the past 12 months.

3. Read and Write more... I completed 9 new books (Being Happy, Things that I want my daughters to know, With a Little faith, Dear John, The Appeal, Love in Torn Land, Eat Pray Love, Open Heart, English as Second Language). It's lesser than I would like to, but when I recall, I had been pausing from reading, as I have problems with my eyes at the middle of the year. Once you stop, it takes time to warm up the engine again. Haha...

Butttttt... I write more this year~ 72 posts (including this one =D). There might be one or two more before the year really ends :)

4. The race... I ran for a cause in July this year, Race against cancer. Frankly, I love the feeling that I felt during the run, it was different in every kilometer that I had conquered. Really... finishing the race was nothing, it's more on the process. Will do it again next year~ =D

Then... there are actions that I had taken and I think they are good ones, such as;

5. Starting my 'piggy bank'~ Never too late is the word! I had started, and I just need to continue.

6. Moving in to a better place. Despite all the hassle, it's worth it! Stepping in to the house, I feel home! No screaming. While they care for me, I still have my privacy. A lot of laughter (especially grandma's laughter). What can be better when you are in a foreign land?

7. Giving back. I have decided that volunteers would not really in my list anymore. It does not close the chances that I will be doing it in the future, if I am given a chance. Greatest thing about giving, when I have no time, I am blessed enough to contribute in other form. As always, when I help others, I realize that they actually had helped me more~

I hate to admit it but this year, keeping a better health, is a Total Failure.

I can't recall when I started drinking coffee, by the time I realize that I love it and am addicted to it when I had it almost every day. Even with the knowledge that I am going to suffer if I do not stop, I still drank it. Anyway, lesson learnt, the hard way. Really Hard!

Also, I was not determined enough to get my butt in to the gym 2-3 times a week, even I know that I will feel good when I walk out from there.

No matter how it has been, it's the best 2010 that I can have~ :)

Majority that are NOT supposed to rule

Was reading the paper, that in Indonesia, some people are making noise because of the Christmas decoration that are being put up in the shopping mall during this festive season.

I was thinking, what's the problem with that? It's ridiculous!

Many Indonesians come to Singapore to celebrate Christmas and New Year, doesn't it something that they need to be worried about? People are no longer feeling safe in their own land, their home, at least I do, for the first time in my life. =(

It's a democratic country. Since young, we are taught that there are five religions that are acknowledged in our country. We were asked to mention it during our exam. It sticks! All of us have the right to choose our own believe (even if you do not believe any, you still need to choose, for your identity card purpose =p). Thus, all of us have the right to celebrate our own holy days.

I am not a Christian, I am not really celebrating Christmas, but you know what? It does not bother me that the believers are celebrating Christmas, in their very own ways, sharing the joy with others, non-believers. Respect others for that. If this is bother some people, does it mean being happy is a Crime now?

The decorations are not meant to 'christianized' others, and don't they think it's such a silly reason for people to convert because of that. Phew~

Majority does not always rule! For the sake of World Peace, Please RESPECT others!

Latest update

Merry Christmas! It's Christmas and I am home, luckily not alone. Haha...

Anyway, was doing 'Winter-Christmas' cleaning... Clearing all my tables top from all mediciations that I have dilligently consumed and used for the past few days. Being ill is BAD! REALLY BAD! especially when your mom is not around to take care of you. You feel pain, sick, and quite often you find yourselves crying to sleep. =( Anyway, recovering now, and am eating like a piggy, almost every hour! Phew~ After the suffering that I managed to shed off some weight, hope this does not gain me more of the pounds.

Cause of this, on the first list of resolution for next year and I really will commit (as of now =p) is to keep myself healthy! The reason is I Hate Hospital, despite I am working in one.

Anyway, Wish Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Wealthy New Year 2011.

P.S. Thanks to all friends & my landlord and the helper for taking care of me when I was sick! =D

Greatest Wealth

If you are granted one wish, ask for health and health only!

It's the greatest wealth that one can have.

You need it to enjoy your food!

You need it to gather with your family & friends, and to really have a good time!

You need it to do things you like!

You need it to make a living or... even a fortune!

Mommy Mommy

You will only know the feeling of being a mom when You have already become one, that what my sister told me...

A lot of emotional involvements in raising the children; the feeling of joy, proud, heartfelt symphaty, and sometimes, pain...

I would not say that my sister is the best mommy; she is emotionally unstable (I guess this is not genetic, but definitely it runs in the family of our generation) and sometimes can be very childish, but one thing for sure, she is hanging on there and doing her best! That's the best already, in my opinon.

Recently, she had unintentionally hurt her daughter, and was feeling so so so guilty, regret and most of it is pain.

To keep the story short, the daughter got 3 stitches on her upper lip after the unfortunate incident. Back from the hospital, my sister was still crying (my niece had already stop crying by then), then my niece come to her mom, wipe off her mom's tear and told her: "Mommy, adult cannot cry, only small kids who cry".

How sweet she is~

Then, my sis asked her "don't you hate mommy?"

My niece said "no la~~~" *smiling

She is like a warm sunshine, she melts my heart, she melts her mom's heart~

My sister is a proud and lucky mommy. My parents are proud and lucky grandparents. Not forgetting myself, I am a very proud aunt~

Confused?

The main character in the novel that I am reading, alternately with another book, has this part where the main character was faced with the formerly-hateful dorm-mate. The dorm mate is feeling down as he is just being dumped by his girlfriend because of political reason. Silly... but whatever it is, that's not my point...

The part that caught me is that the main character was said quite relief as the dorm-mate seemed to be finished with the actual sobbing.

The book mentioned that we all used to our own crying, but anyone else's made us uncomfortable. it's so true! It's already so hard to deal with our own, do not mention others. Phew~ You will never know what to do, or what they want you to do. Some people want hugging, and some people wish you would just leave them to it. It was all too confusing.

Most of the time, I will not ask too much when someone is not feeling well. I either will just stay quite, comfort a bit or sometime I will scold them, mind you though... if you are not too closed and that person does not feel loved enough to take your scolding, you better stay quite... I am not a pro in comforting others, and another consideration is that try to put yourself in their shoes. For me, it would be much easier to calm down when I am left alone.

Anyway, I have my own believe that living in this world is not easy, but it's not difficult as well, most of the time, when people need help, especially to people we are closed with, we will ask, or at least I will...

So, it might be confusing what one should do when they are faced with moody or emotionally unstable people, but just bear in mind, most people will tell you what to do... Some will start to share with you their issues, it means they need your pair of ears. Some will start asking you questions, it means they need your opinon. Some others would just stay quite, it means they would like you to do the same.

The reason that it's all very complicated, becuase you are dealing with human!

Someone...

Someone have dreamt of something, achieved it and now thinking whether the sacrifices made are worth what achieved.

Someone has been sitting on the car for 2 hours. Reason: Overwork! Business has been going so well, that he is trying so hard to cope, and now... tired. Instead of going back home, he chose to stay in his car, enjoying his own companion.

Someone is living in abundance, but has never stopped complaining. No time, No money, Have nothing. In fact, he has almost everything! A lot of people would love to be him, or rather to have whatever he has and live with gratitude.

Someone have chosen the path of life she will be living. She is now living it, not the perfect desired fairy tale, but she hangs on! Cried a bit, get herself up and seeing things clearer and happier now...

Someone... think differently

Someone... live different life story

Someone... hang on

Someone... continue to live on~

WWF Campaign: Sustainable Seafood

On my way to work, I passed by a few bus stops with the advertisment board displaying a plate of very delicious looking raw salmon/tuna (I was guessing). I, personally, am not a fan of raw food, but even so, I still think it looks so good that it will make salmon/tuna eaters' mouths water.

The advertisment attracted me, not only because of the picture of the tuna (which I later found out when my bus stopped right in front of the board, thus I can read a few lines of the ads copy), but I saw a logo of World Wild Life (WWF) on it. Yes, on my mission to care a bit for wild life, I signed up for WWF's newsletter a few years ago, but has stopped reading it now.

Anyway, the point is... Yes, the ads with the very well-taken picture of tuna is not the advertisments put up by any Japanese restaurants. It's the campaign by World Wild Life (WWF) to encourage Singaporeans to consume sustainable seafood and also as part of its marine conservation efforts. Read the details of the campaign which is conceptualized by the creative agency, Ogilvy and Mather.

It's actually a creative idea, the ads copy is Great! It makes you ashamed of yourself for eating the seafood. Read for yourself here.

However, I personally think the ads creates the opposite effect when I first look at it. My first impression is definitely not what WWF would love to hear. What do you think of the following?

Looking at the poster above, what's crossed your mind? I guess More of "Wow... It looks delicious", "Gourmet", "Haven't had raw salmon/tuna for a while..." and Less of "It's awful", "I am not going to have tuna or salmon anymore..."

P.S. I have no intention to offend the creative team. Just my personal opinion. I am fully supportive with the effort they put in promoting this campaign!

Ordinary Family Dinner

I have only one wish tonight, when I was passing by our neighbour's house. The family was having dinner together, an ordinary and Real family dinner.

I wish that when I am home, there will be mom in the kitchen, dad in the living room. Then after I finish bathing, I will help mom preparing our dinner.

*Slap*

I need to wake up! I am in a foreign land, all alone! No matter how ordinary my wish is, I can forsee that for the next few years, this "ordinary-family-dinner-routine" won't happen too often. It will be too sad for me to count, as it will be only a handful of days I have spend at home in a year. Believe it or not, for the past few years, I have only maximum of 7 days at home annually. ="(

I agree that I see more things here, I experience more, I learn more, I have become more open-minded. I am grateful for that. However, if I am allowed to be greedy, I will ask for one more thing: While I can still see, experience and learn more here, I also wish that I can be with my family more often. People I love and love me back without asking nothing in return~

Almost ended~

Time flies~ In few more days, it's DECEMBER, the last month of the year!

Was checking my resolutions for 2010, and I might not be too proud of myself. =(

What have I achieved? Where have I been? Have I improved?

Whatever it is, one thing for sure, I do not wish to go back. I just want to go forward and do my best again... At least, I still have a month time to do something that can add some values to Chapter 23 of my life.

Anyway, I might be afraid that this year ends with nothing significant, but for a few days already, I have been logging in to this blog, thinking to write a wrap up post for the year of 2010. I saw some valueable things in life, experienced it, one of my dream is realized. This part of me thinks this year is not completely a bad one. However, another part of me had made me to logout, to ensure that I make a good use of the month of December, so the posting, the year end wrap-up will not be too ugly, too disapointing.

Fighting~ (I intended to write "Good Luck", but it seems that luck is not what I need)