Arigato, Obasama...

I met a nice old lady in the train after I left Vivocity last Saturday.

We chat all the way to clarke quay and she gave me a lot of practical advice. She said she's 65 but I can tell you she's very healthy and active.

She was also a cancer survivor.

Well, some of her advice is somewhat normal, live healthy, don't smoke, don't drink, exercise... (I don't smoke, but I drink as "often" as I exercise.)

She also told me some prescription for good and healthy life: avoid white rice and white bread as much as possible, opt for wholemeal bread and brown rice instead. (I don't like white bread as I prefer multi grain but where on earth you can find brown rice in Singapore?) Eat breakfast with lots of fibre, lots of liquid. Have a hearty lunch (you know, I heard a lot of word "hearty" but I still don't get the meaning. Is hearty mean good for your heart?) and limit your dinner to a very light dinner.

Thanks, ah Mah. I'll take your advice and start to live healthy. I wish I have the chance to get your name but I'd love to hear from you if I ever meet you again.

Oreo Strawberry

I always love Oreo...

And I love strawberry...

So when I tried the new Oreo strawberry...

...

I almost puked to death.

So I decided to stick on the original Oreo. The one made in Indonesia.

I love Oreo. Just the original, please.

Bye bye Viny. Have a safe trip!

It has been a month my old friend Viny came to Singapore for job assignment. (which I'm not very sure what it is)

It's sure fun to see her after so much time we never met. She's now married and having a loving hubby who really want her to have a baby soon.

It had been nice moments spending time with you, your cheerfulness and your laughter... and your nonsense. (which ultimately still haven't really surpass my nonsense)


And no, it's not that I don't want to treat you dinner. You see, when I picked you up at the seaport, I have prepare to treat you Thai food. But then there were 3 of you and I'd burn a hole in my holey pocket if I had to pay for 4.

The following Saturday, you've got your meal and on Sunday, I really can't afford the sushi bill myself. So so sorry...

Last week I asked if I can get you for a nice dim sum teatime but you were busy to finish the project and you can't come for teatime, you can't come for the lunch as well. (which I also plan in case you do able to see me for lunch.)

So this afternoon I was rushing for time and guess what, for 5th consecutive weeks I missed my kids fellowship again. and I'm going to miss it again next week for another seminar.

Thanks for the meal and the drinks. It was very nice of you. Next time you come here, do spend some time for dim sum buffet. Bring your hubby along so we can get to know each other. (and I can sell him some insurance plans) It'll be on me. hon to.

And thanks for the pink t-shirt. It's my 3rd pink t from Giordano (you surely don't expect me having none of Giordano's pink shirt, do you?). I love it.

Well, my old friend. have a safe journey back home, and see how your hubby missed you so much. Get a baby, dear... (and get a child education plan from me as well :P)

We're going to miss you.

Making Friends?

I've been thinking that making friends could be one of my most difficult things to do. Making friends is hard. Maintaining the relationship is even harder.

I'm actually a kind of person that dislikes a lot of things. Seriously. When I dislike people, I tends to stay away from the person even though I never actually knew what deep inside the person. Obviously, same things happen to me as I realized some friends are actually staying away from me.

So what is it the factor inside me that people actually dislike? Or why do it's hard for me to make friends? Am I losing self confidence because of my appearance? (do I look fat? Do I smells? Do I look good?)

My boss just consult me and from his assessment he highlighted that I'm actually lacking of self confidence. I'm an insurance professional. I know my products and I know what I'm talking about. But why I chalked so many failure rate? So high it's embarrassing.

Here goes my help: my brother recommend me this book I've been reading now. It's good. The first 3 chapters already tells me where I've gone wrong. (since I've only read 3 chaps). Let me highlight the main ideas:

1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
I felt that I easily criticize people based on their appearance. However, I expect people to forgive me for the things I might won't forgive them. So the very first thing is I'm going to look at people as what they are. With love and passion. whatever they appear with.

2. Give honest and sincere appreciation
Well... this is hard. Honestly and sincerely hard. But I need to try, eh?

3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
So it's not what I want... It's what the other want. I think that's why I never get what I want simply because I don't care about what other's want.

There it goes. I just read the book until the third chapter and I found out: the book is simply amazing! It's a slow food that you need to digest slowly.

This book is amazing! I'll tell you what book is it on my next posting.

Success, defined?

Success, is a very peculiar word. Indeed on many path to success, a lot of people suffer and die. Also, a lot of people seemed to be success but ultimately, they are people who gets an F in life.

Some, attain success in one subject but failed miserably in others. We knew of celebrities and movie stars who are very famous and seemed to be successful in life. But then, a lot of these people don't have a successful marriage life. In being rich and famous, they are successful, but they failed to maintain a good and healthy family life.

So I guess all in all, it depends on your priority and purpose. It seemed the successful people are individuals with an ultimate purpose, a grand purpose that support all the reason in their life.

As for me, what's my purpose? What's the purpose behind the purpose? What's the reason of me being here? Why am I exist? I don't know. I haven't answer any of that. But if you can help me, do help.

I guess why I still haven't been able to consider myself success is I still don't know what's my definition of success. Life must go on... I shall delve more into this ASAP.

Subconscious Programming

In the book, "Think and Grow Rich", Napoleon Hill asked the reader to visualize and program his goal into the subconscious mind. repeat it all the time, memorize it and make it something that you converge your way into. Well, I'm a very simple man but I think here's what I really want.

So within my heart I tried to find what I wanted and here goes. It may sounds big but I will give a lot in return as well. Here goes.

By the First Day of January 2009,

I will have in my possession a cash of $100,000 which will come to me in various amounts from various sources.

In return for this money I desired, I will give the most efficient service of which I am capable, rendering the fullest possible quantity and the best possible quality of service in my capacity of Financial Services Consultant in my Insurance Company. I will spend at least 60 hours a week for my work to achieve my goals.

I believe that I will have this money in my possession. My faith is so strong that I can now see this money before my eyes. I can touch it with my hands. It is now awaiting transfer to me at the time and in proportion that I deliver the service I intend to render in return for it.

I am awaiting a plan by which to accumulate this money and I will follow that plan when it is received.

There! It's written there. Now it's all up to me on how I will render my service to. It'll be big and I guess I'll need a huge miracle to achieve it. But I don't think I should be discouraged or getting pessimistic just because it sounds big.

Anyway my second goal is for me myself. I've been so fat lately and I'm currently grossing at 87Kg. So my second goal is to be 75Kg by 1st January 2008. Impossible? Maybe. But I believe I can.

If you know how to lose weight fast or been in quick diet in anyway (starving, exercising, water, whatever or the combo of all that) do give your comment. I'd love to hear it.

A brand new life

My life had been a wandering ship in the last few months. I guess I was kinda lost in my direction and indeed I lost my motivation and purpose.

Well, I'd love to start a new life. A new beginning.

When I just arrived in Jakarta, my mum said I stinks. Stinks as in smells bad. Very bad. I was fat, very fat (87 Kg) and I'm having a low self esteem. Very low.

So I undergo a mental refreshment in Jakarta last week and I think it's exactly what I need. I need a new life, a new motivation and a new focus.

Anyway, reading Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, makes me able to refocus on what I want to achieve and I decided that this will be the day I start my new life. A life full of abundant love and purpose. A life to be shared and help other people. My life, ... starts today.