Having "Me" Time

The other day I read an interesting book called “I Moved Your Cheese.” It’s a book that follows on the famous “Who Moved My Cheese?” and I find it interesting for it tells a story of three mice in a maze that challenged the maze in which they lived. It’s fascinating. The story is simple and you could finish the book in one night, yet it makes one think. It is a reflection of what life should be. The three mice in the story were not like the other mice for they thought outside the box. They questioned the fact that “cheese” was indeed important for everyone and if they should in fact pursue this “cheese” just because everyone else is pursuing it. Follow the cheese and find it. Adapt so that one can consume this cheese. To put things short, the story basically teaches us to do some self reflection. Think about what this “cheese” is for us. To some, it may mean getting that limited edition bag, to others it could mean going on a trip, or for some it could just mean sitting...

Having just read the New York Times article "What if the Secret to Success is Failure?" I can't help but nod in agreement.  Yes, to have an education, finish school, graduate from highschool or even a college degree does not ensure you will have a successful life.  A degree does not guarantee that you won't jump off the balcony because of a broken heartache, nor does it guarantee you will know how to handle the stresses of life and stop yourself from falling victim to a nervous breakdown.  Traditional schooling paid attention to grades, to achievement tests, to placement exams and all the while, they forgot about focusing on the student's character.  How do they handle stress? How do they interact? Are they a good person?  Do they think of other people? The article mentions how those who succeeded in college were not always necessarily the ones who scored the highest in class and got the best grades.  They were the ones who knew how to get up after t...

It's been a few days since this writer last wrote and already I can feel the fingers and mind get a little rusty.  The words don't flow quite as easily and the fingers have a little hesitation.  Or perhaps its my headaches that are slowing things down.  Whatever it is, there's no excuse.  If you want to practice something or face a daunting task, I suggest do start doing it little by little. For example, if you want to practice writing.  Keeping a blog is wonderful.  It lets you write a little each day.  Little by little each day you get to practice writing.  If you don't want to publish, keep a little journal. Practice your handwriting.  My handwriting is awful now.  I type faster than I write. If you want to lose weight and you have a two digit goal like 10kgs, the task can seem very daunting.  Where do you start? Where to begin? Some people give up just thinking about it and revert back to eating.  It seems too di...

Today I'm taking a break from all the travel and want to share with you a funny story instead.  It happened to me this morning and thinking about it makes me laugh.  I do wonder though who is the culprit.  The active or the lazy me. You judge. The story goes like this.  Tuesdays being my running day, I prepare my things the night before and make a mental note before going to bed that I "must" wake up in the wee hours of the morning to get myself to the gym, run, shower, and then off to the office on time. It's a "must" because if I gave myself any excuse, I'll find myself in the vicious cycle of wake up late, no running, and sleeping late...Recipe for weight gain. So this morning as usual my iPhone alarm clock wakes me up with a lovely tune.  I reach out and turn off the sound. I get up, go to the bathroom and get dressed in my gym clothes.  Black running pants with an orange shirt today. That's my outfit.  I grab my things and I'm off to...

I like to dream.  I dream of all the things I want to do and be.  I dream that one day I'll be able to play golf like a pro.  I dream that one day I'll sing like a bluebird.  I dream of traveling the world and having my own set of books. I dream so many things that I wonder where to start.  Each day, each week, I come up with a new dream.  I wonder if this lifetime I'd be able to accomplish them all. There are just so many things to do in life. I have work, I have family, I have errands, I have social obligations.  Perhaps I need to have nine lives like a cat. As said matter of factly by Alex:  "We only have 24 hours in day." It's important to dream your dreams, but its also important to focus your energy on what dream you want to accomplish most and when. If your immediate goal is to lose weight, then ignore all your other dreams for the moment and focus on losing weight.  It'll take time.  It alway...

Time flies.  It seems to fly by faster the older one gets.  I remember when I was young, a day seemed so long. It was filled with going to school, having the afternoon nap, homework, playing with the dog, reading or doing other odd things.  I was always looking forward to birthdays and another year. Nowadays, a day is over even though you feel like it just started.  You're sitting there working and then before you know it, its already time to go home.  It goes by so fast, that years past like it was months.  My birthday seems to be coming by around faster.  Too fast.  I don't look forward to it as much anymore. Whenever people ask me how long I've been working, the answer is no longer one digit.  It is now two digits and I realize: "Gosh, I'm not that young anymore."   What happen to all my dreams and goals?  Have I  accomplished all I want to?  Grey hair is popping up. Despite all the bad news about t...