The True Essence of TIME

Am reading a book these few days - "Chasing Daylight" by Eugene O'Kelly, autobiography of the previous CEO of KPMG (USA). He was diagnosed with advanced stage brain cancer in May 2005 and the book chronicled his journey of this last phase of his life - planning his own death and saying goodbye. He passed away last Sept.

Had some realisations while reading the book. He said he was blessed to receive the death sentence while he was alive. Indeed, come to think of it, isn't it true? How many of us will have the chance to know an estimation of how much time we have got left in this world... enough for us to plan our death and to say good bye to our loved ones..and to this world. To read about how a super high-flyer like Eugene to take a step back (or down, literally) to slow down his lifestyle, reorganising his priorities, learning new things and viewing life and his surroundings in a new perspective is indeed insightful. Even though it doesnt make me want to rethink about my life (yet) and what's it all about, it certainly has enlightened me in certain aspects. One of it is the true meaning and value of TIME.

Only a dying person will comprehend the true meaning and value of TIME. Not the time spent (the past), nor the time ahead (the future), but the NOW time (the present). There's no time to look back and wish one can turn back the clock... neither is there any chance of living beyond one's own death. The only time one can possess and enjoy is the present. The NOW time is in itself, a present (a gift).

I learnt - "Being present in the present time is the best present you can give to those around you."

Where have the gentle-men gone too?

Last Sat I attended a friend's wedding dinner. It was my first time wearing a tea dress. Nothing great right? But I seldom wear such "formal" dress, so it was definitely quite an experience for me ;) Anyway, it was a nice wedding dinner. Tho, there were a couple of incidents that irked me!

The solemnisation ceremony was held in the events hall, where the dinner would be held too. While the pastor was giving the message, three times a mobile phone rang and we could hear people talking non-stop at the back of the room (the hall wasn't that big). Such irritating and discourteous behaviour!

Another incident that annoyed me was the inconsiderate behaviour of two men. I was coming out of the restroom and there was this young man in front of me, holding on to an elderly man, who was walking very slowly. As we turned the corner and approached the glass doors to the dining hall, I saw 2 men standing at the other side of the doors. I should think that they saw us coming? It was obvious that the young man would need help to open the heavy door while holding on the old man, right? But there wasn't any proactive act of opening the door for the young man with the elderly man...or even for me, as I walked on faster than the two in front of me! I was appalled that I, a lady, had to move forward to open and hold the door for the young man and the elderly man to walk thru! Those two men merely looked and turned away, continuing with their conversation! Mm...am I unreasonable to demand some gentlemanly act from those two guys? Even in this modern times, women are and will still be impressed when a guy acts in a gentleman way. It's not treating the woman as a weakling, but simply remembering and showing respect for the woman! Even to fellow men when the needs arises. In general, a man (and a woman) should be considerate in his dealing wih others, isn't it?

beta - The Dummy's Guide to Blogging

Heard from my bro that blogspot beta version is much simpler to navigate...esp for new blogger (not exactly a dummy) like me. Today Bro taught me how to add a site meter, so that I can track the number of visitors to my blog. Not as if many will visit my blog becos mine's a private blog! Haha! Well, maybe in time to come when it's more established.

What does it mean when a blog is "more established"? Now I know why an older friend didn't inform us that she has started blogging. It was only during a casual conversation that she let slip that she blogs... and that was a month after she started... and guess what?! She already had about 1000 visitors when she accidentally let the cat out of the bag! And to think she told us she was considering telling us only when her blog is, well, "more established". Mm... so about 1000 visitors before it's considered "more established"? Or do I go by how much I know about blogging? Or is it the content and the number of blogs I've written? Well, when the time comes, you will know ;)

Scratched on the MRT!

Was taking the MRT to town today. I decided to go shopping for Christmas gifts, u see. It's hols now, so it was real crowded even at noon. Got on the train, packed with people. Nothing to do during the train journey and I did what most people would do - people watch. I noticed this lady standing beside me... from her dressing, she seemed to be from our neighbour country up North. Don't ask me how I know, I think you'd somehow know too, if u've been staying here for some time & one of your hobbies is people-watch.

I was minding my own business, when all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain on my right arm! It was really a sharp pain! I almost yelled 'ouch' out of natural reaction but didn't, as I didn't want to kick up a fuss. So I simply gently rubbed the area while glaring at that lady on my right. Alas, I reached my destination and I got off the train. I totally forgot about the incident till...

I was in the fitting room, trying on a dress for this Sat wedding dinner when, to my horror! I noticed a thin red line across my right arm! Oh no! It dawned upon me that it must be the scratch from that lady in the MRT! Look at it! It's such a long scar!!

No chance of complaining now.... I can only complain to my Darling who said the lady should consider herself lucky that he wasn't there....

Comics for you...

Work or Holiday?

When we're busy with our work and schedule gets real hectic, we long for a holiday... but, when holiday comes and stays for quite some time, we laze around and look for something to occupy the holiday, sometimes, not knowing what to do. Isn't it contradicting?

There was quite a list of things I wanted to do before the holiday started, the time when I was still embroiled in the hit & run, rushy hours of work and studies. I was perpetually distracted by the things around that threatened my attention span on more 'serious' stuff like work & studies. Less 'serious' stuff such as reading, watching DVD - movies & drama series, shopping, trival little things, etc, yelled for my attention. Strangely enough, once the real holidays arrive, 'boom', the pull of all these distractions started to wane... well, perhaps to laze around and 'nua*' a little is good...it's such a luxurious thing to be able to sit around and do nothing. Yup, tho' a little boring, but u know, when work starts again, there's no time to 'nua' at all!

So, might as well, take this opportunity to laze around and do nothing, don't you agree? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, blogging is not on the list too! Ha!

*nua - a dialect word meaning staring into space, doing nothing

3rd Week of Hols

Time flies!! Now is already the third week of hols! Cant believe it that 2 weeks just flew past like this. What have I done the past 2 weeks? Attending meetings and workshops... Now it's time to tidy up my work station..the whole year of work that's piled up at my work station needs some packing and trashing! So many things to dump! So, does it mean that I've been storing up rubbish all this time??

Often, there're things that we don't bear to discard as we sometimes think that we would need them one day. But, seriously, when would that "one day" be here? Sometimes, that "one day" never arrives! Hahaha... and in the end, those items are with us many years! So, over the years, I've learnt to dump those stuff that have been in my cupboard, hidden from sight (and mind)... Things that I don't even remember I own or have kept! These are things that I should throw. Well, err...but...err... what if one day, I realise I do need that thing I've thrown away?? Aiya, easy lah, buy new one lah! But, but, then again, folks, things that are of utmost importance (like legal documents), even stuff you don't wish to keep anymore, you really need to store them carefully, ya? But, photos of ex-gf/bf and those love letters & love gifts should be dumped..ok?

With cupboards and table cleared...mm...does that mean in the new year, I have more space to store more "rubbish" that needs to be cleared again end of next year??? That's for me to know! HAHA =P