Having "Me" Time

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 August already and the end of the year is fast approaching. Just like that.  In a few months 2011 will be over and done with.  However, there are still a zillion things I want to do and so today I give you instead a list of places I still want to go to and things I want to do before the year is up.  I'll probably be adding to this list as the months go by so ideas are more than welcomed! Walk up to the Golden Mount Temple; Go inside Hualumphong Train Station; Take a one day train trip on Thailand's ancient railroad (steam engine if possible); Take the Chaophraya Express Cruise 9 Temple Tour; Take a one day trip to Pattaya; Take pictures of old shop house signs in Old Bangkok; Walk along Saphan Kwai, an old business district; Explore the weekend jatuchak market; Organize my photos and burn DVDs; Finish making my handmade books; Reorganize Having "Me" Time Website; Initiate an event; Run the 5K Bangkok Marathon; If you have any sugge...

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...

Suddenly, 2010 is over just like that.  Before I have a chance to give it a proper goodbye, 2011 creeps up on me faster than I can say farewell to all the marvelous experiences and lessons I have learnt throughout the past year.   Of course there were sad times, stressful times and not so pleasant times, but then I choose to remember the good times, the happy times and all the things that makes life pleasant. This year will definitely be one fascinating year.  In every aspect, the world is changing.  Climate change is causing many countries to experience snowfall unlike ever before.  Belgium is having their coldest winter.. when I lived there over 20 years ago, it hardly snowed.  When it did, it'll melt away so soon I never got to make a snowman.  Economies are recovering from the financial crisis, politics is changing  and of course, we are all growing a year older.   Age creeps up quietly on us like a cat watching a mo...

It's a day after the run, and although I only did 5K somehow my legs are still sore.  It must have been the way I "tiptoe" run or perhaps I'm just not used to so much running.  Funny though, even with sore legs,  the exhiliration from the run still lingers on.  I'm still very much stress free and happy.   I ran not for someone else but rather for myself.  It's something one does to challenge oneself.  When I signed up for 5K, I knew it wasn't much at all if you talk to a "real" runner, but for me who a year ago was still 15kgs (32lbs) heavier it was quite something.  I had started running to lose weight.  Prior to that, the last time I remember running was during my childhood days.   I had forgotten how it was to run and be "active."  So used was I to sitting in my office chair for 10 hours on end staring at the computer screen.  I had derived comfort from sitting, eating, and websurfing....

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...