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...

Accidents do happen. When they do, no one wants it to happen and no matter what kind of accident it is, it always brings up a range of emotions. Yesterday, I crashed my car into the car in front of me while waiting for a turn. A dumb accident indeed caused by my somehow stepping on the accelerator instead of the brake. Good thing it wasn’t serious. It was my first real accident ever after over a decade of driving (that’s if you ignore motorcycles leaving their paint on my side mirror or another car hitting the corner of my bumpber). I’ve been fortunate and count my blessings. Most importantly though, yesterday’s lesson reminded me of an important lesson : have a positive attitude no matter what. When I realized what had happened and stopped the car, I immediately got out and went to see the lady in the car in front of me. Luckily she was alright and together we decided to move our cars to the side of the road to avoid causing any traffic jams. It was dark and for awhile both ...

A strange kind of peace seems to have transcended since the New Years.  Maybe it is because I am just getting a little older and a little calmer.   Or maybe it's because I have been enjoying the time truly having some much needed "me" time reading books and being alone with my thoughts.  I think being able to just stay home with uninterrupted time for a few hours on a weekend is indeed a time to cherish and value.  It allows one time to really prioritize and define what is indeed important in life. This year I thought about why we all like Christmas and New Years so much.  I always enjoyed it but never really gave much thought to why we can't spend the rest of our year thinking it's Christmas or New Years.  Wouldn't life be so much more pleasant? For me, I discovered that Christmas and New Years are a good time for one to re-tune and get back in touch with those most dear to us.   It's when we often go out to eat ...

Sometimes, happiness can be found in the littlest places.  You do not need much space to be happy as a friend of my discovered this past two months during the recent flooding in Bangkok.   Happiness is something that for different people comes from a number of reasons. Even though this flooding was disastrous it actually brought a little happiness to some people. Now, let me give you some background.  My friend is usually is a lady who is extremely house-proud and will spend most of her waking energy looking after the house, cleaning and putting things in order.  Yes, everything is top notch shining, bright and everything is set in its proper place.   Not an inch too far to the right or to the left.   She enjoys it and enjoys having a house that is always beautiful to look at.  No trash left lying around. No shoes or books left where they shouldn't be. Then the flood came.  Everything had to be moved to the second floor. Ev...

Have you ever had one of those moments when you want something, know you have it somewhere, just saw it the other day, but now that you need it, you can't find it? It's just not there?  I'm having one of those moments now.  It makes me wonder, if suddenly it is going to pop up out of the blue when I least expect it?  That is usually what happens to me. Days later, "Poof! Here it is! It was right before me all along, but it was hidden by something."  Now I wonder why it is not there when I first wanted it to be.  Why can't life be a little simpler? Maybe it's because we have to learn to really "see" things from another perspective before what we are looking for comes to us. Before we realize it was there all along. Sometimes, oftentimes, people spend their lives looking for love, happiness and peace.  They want a happier life, a more fulfilling life.  Some will go through extremes, move countries, build a business empire, maybe even climb mo...

The other day I went to Central World (yes I go there so often you'd wonder if I had a stake in it) and found a little box of happiness sitting in the car park giving out parking tickets to all those who entered.  Her name is Kanthong (Golden bowl) and she is just happiness all around, despite having what I must consider to be one of the most boring jobs in this world:  she keys in license plates and hands out parking cards to all those who enter central world. Traffic was awful, it was more than awful and beyond description.  It was raining outside, end month, and some convention was being held.  Roads were jammed packed outside, and even just coming up the garage ramp to the 3,000 car car-park, there was a long line of cars.  I had been stuck on the ramp for a good half hour and moods were not so good.  Others in the car and myself included were getting slightly bored, annoyed, and tired.  You are stuck in a ...

July has come and vanished before my eyes as if it were a firefly.  It's my birthday month and now I am officially another year older.  (Hopefully a little wiser. )  Birthdays are one of those days you can't wait for to arrive when you are a child, get a little anxious when it gets to a turning point, (like when you turn 30 or move up another notch), yet there remains a certain childish feeling of happiness one cannot quite put into words.  Though it dissipates over time, hints of it remain in the system as if it were a glowing glittering firefly that never dies. Birthdays for me have always been one of those days to celebrate with friends and families.   Three decades on they still are but of course things have evolved. No more days of hot potato games, blowing out candles (that actually reflect your actual birthday), or  playing hide and seek.  Now it's dinners and lunches in restaurants surrounded by those who matter ...

It's the little things that matter.  What is it that make one happy?  Is it money? Is it wealth? Is it getting that newest bag or that trendiest fashion item? Or is it the little things?  In my thirties, I realize that for me now it is the little things.  A thought, a gesture, an experience. The other day, I came home and since the weather was so lovely I sat on the front porch to take in some fresh air.  The weather was cool, the wind blew, trees wavered in the wind and birds flew here and there preparing their dinner (or so I think). This for me was happiness. I sat there looking out into the open sky whilst sounds of birds chirping filled the air.   Birds would fly and perch on the electrical wires forming a sihoulette against the darkeneing sky.  Someones one, sometimes two, or maybe more.  I could hear as the gush of wind ruffled leaves of nearby trees.   I wonder what makes birds happy.  Do birds know what happiness is? ...

Being in a contemplative mood today a title of a book pops suddenly into my head:  Harold Kushner's "When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough."  I have to admit I have not yet read this book by Rabbi Kushner but somehow the title has intriqued me on more occasions than one.  It's a title that grabs you whenever you walk by it at the bookstore.  It grabs your inner voice and leaves a mark in your brain as if it were your subconscious speaking the words "when all you've ever wanted isn't enough." So what happens I wonder when all I wanted isn't enough?  How much is enough?  Is there an end to enough?  The end seems far in sight.  It seems to be far out into the horizon like when you are looking out towards the sea.  There is no end.  The earth is not flat and we won't suddenly drop off the ocean even if we wanted to.  If we keep going and going, we'll go around in a circle and end up where we started.  We end up still...

In less than two day's time I'll be on my annual block leave and wondering around the land of the Samurais.  I've been planning this trip for years and for some reason or the other never made it.  I've made plans before with friends, bought the guidebook and even had an itinerary. Then something comes up and 'phoof' it's off and gone. This time though the trip is set in stone with tickets issued and an itinerary prepared.   It'll be by first time in Japan and I'm excited.  I have always loved the Japanese maple tree, the landscape, I die for japanese food, I crave to visit the zen temples and discover some peace, I admire the japanese sense of order and am enthralled by the strangeness of Murakami novels.  There is so much that is yet to be discovered in Japan.   I grew up with a wonderful Japanese friend, and I can't wait to see her once again. It's been many many years.  Much too many. Yet despite all thi...

At my usual driving range, there is a black dog that walks around greeting all the regulars. He sniffs your golf bag and if he recognizes the smell, starts wagging his tail. He's the driving range's Public Relations Officer. Some dogs are just good. He's one of them. I usually don't play with strange dogs I don't know in case it's aggressive and decides to taste a bit of my blood. This black dog is different. I call him the "black one." After a few visits there, he made a friendly approach. He walked right up to me with a big grin and a wagging tail. Not demanding anything, he just sat by my chair and at one point decided to just lie down next to my matt looking out towards the green driving range as I hit a few balls. He must be a happy dog. All day he has people coming around and greeting him. Not a bark nor a growl has been heard. (Not whilst I was there anyways) This evening I watched him walk from one matt to the other. Golfers would temporarily...

Happiness and weight-loss for me go hand-in-hand. In thinking about life and looking back to what motivates us to be the person we are or do the things we do, I realize that many things in life actually depend upon one's state of mind and perspective. My decision to be healthy and lose weight wasn't a decision I made overnight. It was a result of a journey of self discovery as I reflected upon the true meaning of life. Was being "successful" and "rich" what life was all about? Was working 12 hours a day for recognition and a promotion our ultimate goal? Was having power and influence the answer? Or was life simply a matter of being happy with oneself and grateful for the things we have in life. Could just being with the people we love and doing the things we like be enough? Was this too "simplistic" a view on life? Had I become too laid back and lazy? Had I taken the easy way out of life? Perhaps I wasn't living up to my full pot...