Life is all about Choices...

i found a beautiful positive quote to share before i hibernate for the night

As your mind is your immediate environment,
when your mind changes, the world changes. - Stonepeace

So it's all in your mind. Isn't it? Are u still procrastinating?

I'm not sure should i be happy or feel heavy hearted when i see this change. It's very clearly marked wherever i go.
Alright. I've been working quite a few places ever since i finished school. Being in the service sector, giving good service is part of every personnel's work. However, it has never been so taken for granted till today. I realised how Singaporeans or many cities dwellers had changed. We no longer yearn for just the basic needs in life. We want more and expecting more or should i say demanding for more. i.e. good service to them whether or not it's entitled to them.

I've just make a career move recently and both i wouldn't say it's exactly in the service sector. At least, the core business is not service. Not like u compared with hospitality, F&B or retail industry. BUT, BUT, times has changed. Every company are now gearing towards meeting the needs of people. And SIngaporeans expect it. If their demands were not heard, they'll complain, write in, switch their business partners to someone else etc. So companies who would want to have that good image and making people happy, they started to 'bow' down to every single request of we Singaporeans. I'm not sure is it something i would applause that wow Singapore has actually moved on to this level where service is what they feel is entitled to them. Not like a few decades ago where basic needs and 5Cs are all they want.

Or were i in service for quite sometime to feel the heavy pressure that every companies were trying their best just to satisfy their clients and public just to make them happy, create positive image. And i mean they would go all out to do that. Well i applaud providing genuine good service that comes straight from your heart, but overly doing it just to satisfy, i'm not sure about it. How far to u want to go to satisfy? It's a weakness of Man to ask for more and more, when will he be contented?

I read the papers Forum section and in the past, there isn't such a column putting up letters of compliments written in by the public. But i noticed for the past year, even local papers are publishing these compliment letters. May I question what is the rationale in publishing them? Now in some service sector, these compliments letters are taken so seriously that service doesn't comes straight from the heart but out of fear that the public is goin to write in something bad or vying for more compliment letters. And companies themselves pushed staff to perform by ranking their performance through the number of compliments received. How positive is this?

As a staff, i feel it is not the best way in wanting staff to perform genuine good service. As a receiver of service, u may feel this is a good motivator for staff to strive harder to provide good service. I quite missed those days in the past how things works many times though. But gone are the days. We're in a different era now.

Have u have times when u're just lost in no where getting to a place? Was rushin to spin a while this morning then had nicely planned enough time to go to work. still have 45 min when i'm out from gym. But was just trying my luck, saw a bus coming and remembering it should go there. I just got on. *dang* it didn't turn the way i expected. But it's ok. Got down the next stop and back track. Cos i saw a landmark where i just need to cross over from the back of the building to the front.

I thought " no problem, no big deal, i'll find a small road to walk through over to the other side. Found i turn in towards the direction and i just walked. It's a windy road up a slope with a small sign indicating only 2 big houses units. I thought wow, never been up here before and can get to see rich people houses. No bad. So i walked. I was quite sure it'll link me to the other side of the road. But the more i walk, i just felt my goose bump coming out. There's not a single soul on this windy road i'm walking. INside the 2 big houses i walked pass, seems vacant. No cars parked. Then i continued, i saw a building which looks like it but it's at the back, i need to get to the front, i was hoping there's a small linkway for me to walk through. So close. My buddy ranged me and was talkin to her, she's already there and i'm still walking trying to act calm that i just took wrong bus. Walked to the end, dead end. Turned and walk to the other end, dead end. No choice, i've to return to walk down the windy path to where i came to back track again. I walked real fast this time back as i'm really the only soul here!...

As i near a round about bush, saw an Indian guy in the bush, seems to be pee-ing, with his taxi parked at the side. Was hoping he didn't see me, but i think he saw. I just act normal and walked real fast and then i ran a bit down hill. OMG, as if my morning spinning wasn't enough, i've walked so long. Continued the other road which i'm sure this time should be the correct one. But as i walked towards the end, *dang* It's the back gate of the building which can link me through. I've to walked back again!dead end! As i walked back, my heart dropped. hiaz. my luck. Then i saw 2 guys walking towards me and they 'saved' my life as i think they can predict i'm tryin to find my way over the other side. They pointed to a small mud trail at the dead end road & directed me. Finally, i hit the main road. How relieved i am. Imagine i'm in my own city and have to feel so relieved?

A few yrs back, i did a similar thing in finding a place. Walking in another road which went quite deep in with not a single person i meet along the way, just constructions, tall trees and occasional trucks. The feelin of seeing a decent person coming your way, the relief feeling phew. It's my habit i guess that one can never get lost and can always walked your way through anywhere. As long as i see my landmark from afar.
Anyone have similar experiences?

Welcome to the new Extreme Skate park at ECP. For the aggressive skaters and bikers, here is the place for you. Even when i'm wearing just flat shoes, standing next to the deep pit makes me wobbly man. I've never seen this deep a pit.
Warning: It's only for the Advanced Skaters for the deepest pit.

There is actually a safety rope in case u can't climb out of it
For parents of little kids, pls look after your child. It is your responsibility, my advise is not to even bring your young kids inside here if u're not tending to them all the time. I'm not sure what's going to happen if ur child falls into one of them!

I make it a point to start being a vegetarian from tomorrow onwards. Reason, it's not because of religion. Towards the end of last year, cos of wanting to drop my weight a little, i read into a few books on detox and found out somethings about vegetables and fruits. And actually found out a little more about our body nature. I did in fact drop 4kg from my heaviest 55kg. Of course, one should always include a little exercise. Beginning of this year, as a read on a book from the temple about killing of animals, i suddenly find myself not being able to eat even mutton apart from beef. And i've cut down on pork and chicken. Only ate those cooked by mum at home.

But after today, i really decided to go into plant-based nutrition. ( i don't wish to call it vegetarian if some have it associated with religion). I decision is due to wanting to take care of my body and giving what it's meant to take in. This is 'science' i call it? and it just happened to tie in with what buddhism actually discouraging people killing animals to eat. It's coincidental? or is it the truth.(my definition of Buddhism= The science of seeking the truth in life) . Note, not only does buddhism promotes this, so does christianity. I rem reading somewhere about god wanting adam and eve to actually go back to surviving on fruits and seeds? Something along that line. So all religions somehow are similar in some ways.

I attended a talk by T.Colin Campbell who wrote the book "The China Study". I got the book as well but have yet to read it. If any of you interested, can borrow from me Many had changed to a plant based diet after reading the book. You can visit his website to find out more information: http://www.tcolincampbell.org/

I don't wish to preach buddhism as a religion to people around me, but i hope people can see the truth in life if they are seeking one in any phase of their life. Since young, I followed my mum to temples to pray or chanting session without knowing what i'm chanting. As i grew up, i felt like a free thinker but i 'group' myself as buddhist when wrote in forms if required. And then now, i understood why.
I hope in any part of what i wrote or spoke from now on doesn't appears to be preaching anything. But just to tell what i believe to be truth and hopefully anyone who believes, can experience on their own to know themselves.

My definition of Buddhism = The science of seeking the truth of Life

A few days ago, a retired colleague of mine popped by my desk, actually asking for a 'card' but i told him it was not ready yet. We ended talking on buddhism. He told me that Buddhism is actually a science. It's just a name given for religion sake. But it's actually Science. He stressed to me. And i do agree. why? For me per se, i'm someone who needs reason and logic or even evidence for me to believe or agree. Not just talking. And buddhism answers my questions. I quote from Sir Albert Enstein himself:" If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism."

But i do sometimes want my friends or closed ones to see my view in certain things cos i wish them to see the truth too to benefit from it. I guess i may do it wrongly i feel. I can't preach or just talk it out for others to see my view. So now, i hope like buddha did, to just give you what i see and experienced, and it's left for you to experience and find out on your own. No one can find out the truth for you, only you yourself can.

Religion is just a name. U can call 'buddhism' as another name. It doesn't matter. What is truth, will be the truth. Likewise, for other religions. I don't know each well enough to comment. But i know, if u study each religion deligently and in it's most truthful form, each will lead u to the same destination at the end of the road. It's just the path each chose to walk, is different. And i've found the path to walk that appears most logical for me to believe.

I'm saddened to see many going a little astray with religious politics and riots occuring in many parts of the world today.
May all seek the truthful way and do good in life.

Is this in Spore? Ask me if interested hahaha

Don't give up Dr William Tan. I haven have the chance and honour to attend any of Dr Tan's motivational talks. But i've seen him in one of the local race for the disabled. You are an inspiration to many. So please fight on. You can make it again!

I miss my home these days and i'm so happy being able to go home and have dinner and watch TV with my family right after work. 2days ago, i think i'm almost 'jumping' home. Now is close to 1am. My brain isn't really thinking. My body is exhuasted. This month i'm doing admin so all i do was sit down in front of the computer. My eyes are 'crying' for help. My bones & muscles are begging to move.

So today being fri, i rushed to gym in town. Which is so far! The train were packed. I was spinning with a mild headacahe i think from my contact lens and facing the computer the entire week. My heartbeat was unusually beating too high at the last track. I regretted pushing too hard a bit. Too high isn't so good. Maybe wasn't concentrating when i'm in the front row with the instructor right in front of me. Then went to drop by my fav museum cos there's free entry and i'm queuing for the Spore History Gallery which was opened tonight. Many times this wasn't offered free. So being a sporean again, i QUENE. haha. But by the time i entered, i was like a walking zombie. It was such a big long gallery about singapore history! We were given headphones and a menu set to press as we walk. It was just too lengthy and i just skip after the person introduce the first line! The place was crowded! and i don't like. It gives me headache sometimes to face so many people. Like suffocating. There's outdoor movie and it's jam packed. Given the choice, i like visitin during non-peak period where i can 'waltz' through the empty halls & galleries. 11pm, Still, outside the museum were packed with even bigger crowded awaiting for a performance to appear. I give it up to them. I just wish i can grab a cab home but nahhh...SAVE money.

I really wish i can laze at home. It's a luxury sometimes. haha. to just eat slowly mum's home cooked food, watch TV, read books, clear my table and slowly peacefully going to dreamland. I was reading about Eczema cos i suspect i'm having a mild one now without realising it. Starting since end last yr on my scalp. Many a times, i feel illness comes out as a signal from the body crying for help and some imbalance. U may wish to visit the site below to understand more about Eczema.
http://www.eczema-natural-healing.com/causes-of-eczema.html
Ok body, i'm sorry, I'm gona give u a rest ya....
I'm really tired of facing crowds everyday, day in , day out, the crowds on the train, on the bus, people rushing to fight for the available seats on the MRT.
I think i need some meditation.... sadly it was cancelled
ahh..my baby nephew is growing up very fast...so big already

Different people have different resistance to hot and cold. I realised my body can take heat more than cold even though when weather is hot, i'm always complaining. How do i know?
Last wkend was going gym with Melissa and it's my first time going steam bath at my gym though i've been going for the past few yrs. It was really relaxing and shiok. Melissa is dripping wet but my skin was still quite ok. And then comes next day, i go Sauna myself, it was damn hot, but i can take it, but felt was too drying to the skin so i walk to the next steam bath and cool down a bit. Free facial at the same time haha.
It felt good inside the heat. I rem when i'm inside very cold air-con room, the chill can be so cold that the shiver touches right to my bone and i can't take it. Even a few years back at cold season at north thailand. It's too cold, shivering and right to the bone that kind.

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I was accompanying my buddy to a talk today about being a wedding planner. I just tag along maybe can learn something new too. But what left a mark in what the speaker was saying was about protecting one's reputation. Is it that important? Many of you(not only him) agree that one's reputation is important especially perhaps in your line of work. But can you bring that reputation to your grave? Is it really THAT impt? Think again.
But something positive i got from him is the reminder of not judging the people you see. And not to work for your pay cheque each month. It doesn't means if your pay is really little, u only work that much compared to your friends or relatives who's earning big bucks. It doesn't work that way. Well, that is your choice, what u give, what u get
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I was reading the Heart Sutra this few weeks while on train and finally finishing to the last few pages. Something caught me that really reflect the fears and worries of people. (on one of the entry previously, i mentioned about listening to a CD-ROM talk by Ven Hyon Gak Sunim, he briefly mentioned about the Heart Sutra, i was curious and found it at the temple.)
1. fear of being left without sustenance after giving away all possessions
2. fear of being insignificant after giving up one's reputation of accomplishment
3. fear of dying in situations that call for self-sacrifice
4. fear of falling into evil circumstances
5. fear of addressing an assembly, especially one with important people present.
" These 5fears, then, obstruct Dharma practice, and without them there is no more obstruction to action."

Everyone understand that we're here for only but a limited time.
So why tie yourself down and buried in hatred or sorrow?
We'll never know when our clock will stop,
so why hang on to the anger a minute ago?
Why shed the tears of someone no longer there?

Learning to let go, to be not attached is the key.
The path i've walked, they're not mistakes but learning journey.
I've walked on and each step is where i'll be present.
I hope the past will not catch up with me.

As i write...i'm falling into dreamland...Zzzz