What Am I Grateful For This Week ...

Days seemed to turn dark faster as we move into the last quarter of the year here in Malaysia ... at least that's what I've noticed. There just seemed to be shorter days now, especially when there are a lot of excitement and merriment during this period of the year.

Three quarters of 2012 ends today and the last one is left to re-evaluate, revise and redirect our directions towards achieving a balance life that we are happy with. Whatever progress that is not forthcoming and whatever inconvenient and annoying elements in life that are harping us should be resolved as soon as possible before we can embark to make any new resolutions for the coming year.

First and foremost, it is important to get rid of the emotional junks that plagues us throughout the last three quarters. Being thankful is the best attitude towards life that is likely to help us feel that everything will work out for the best in the end. Gratitude is the best remedy to get rid of all our emotional junks and mindless clutters. We become more expansive and tolerant and will be under less stress than usual. We will be less inclined to sweat the small stuff and take up life with more vitality.

Let's start to appreciate the good things in our life now and rise above petty concerns in order to achieve a more balanced approach to life. I will start the ball rolling with my list of gratitude;

1.  I am grateful that all my efforts towards restructuring and organizing my life has begin to pay off.

2.  I am grateful for the freedom I am enjoying in life nowadays.

3.  I am grateful to discover my dream job of working from home.

4.  I am grateful for the long-distance business opportunities that has come my way.

5.  I am grateful for the opportunities to travel and expand my horizons.

6.  I am grateful that my son has graduated with a diploma and is now pursuing his degree.

7.  I am grateful to have taken vacant possession of my new home and all works are underway to spruce up the place for cozy living soon.

8.  I am grateful that lo kong is now relocated to work nearer to home which means lesser traffic jams, longer sleep and more family time.

Are you ready for an attitude of gratitude yet?  Start now and you will soon discover a more solid base to pull up your inner strength that defines your authentic ability, confidence and vigor to go after what you want in life.  Good luck!

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Poetry: When Life Feels Like A Mountain

At times life can seem too much to cope with. This poem reminds us that a fresh perspective can help. If you are seeking to motivate yourself in whatever circumstances you may be in right now, check out http://www.key-to-self-confidence.com/poems.html for more messages in the form of peoms to boost yourself with confidence.

Mount Titlis on the Urner Alps of Switzerland

When Life Feels Like A Mountain

When life feels like a mountain

Standing high in front of me

I pretend I am a bird

Flying fast and free

Winging up the mountainside

The peak now sharp defined

Draws me ever upwards

Fear and doubt are left behind

Soaring above the summit

The world lies at my feet

A carpet rich in possibility

Unfolds beneath

So when life feels like a mountain

Spread your wings and fly

Concentrate your mind

And aim for the sky

On the wings of confidence

You'll find everything you need

The birds-eye view clearly shows

The best way to succeed

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Affirmation of the Week ...

I am enjoying my life each day. What tomorrow and the future brings is not in my hands but I have control over my thoughts and emotions to influence life's magic wand. I choose to keep a positive frame of mind because I want to live effectively and efficiently. I can and it's because I have control over my choices ... you can too!

This is my affirmation of the week ...

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What Am I Grateful For This Week ...

It is understandable to be worrisome sometimes about what life has in store for us.  No one knows what tomorrow holds or what awaits ahead for us in the future.  In truth, worrying does not change anything but perhaps creates an added burden.  Why allow ourselves to be so negatively affected by a tomorrow or a future that we have yet to know or escape from?  Worrying is based on our assumptions of the worst.

"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy.  

The amount of work is the same."

~ Carlos Castaneda

With these said, the point is to focus ourselves on the positive aspect of life ... always look for the good in life.  So stop worrying about a past that cannot be changed ... learn from it!  Stop worrying about the future because it is not in our hands but know that we have the gift of choice to make it work better for us.  The law of attractions is in motion 24-hours irrespective you are in positive or negative state.  Doesn't it make more sense to feel optimistic and be thankful so that we can attract more of the abundance life has to offer.

As human beings, it is understandably impossible to be worry-proof.  Logically, we can't ignore some deserving worries in life but when we learn to live in gratitude, we are able to set aside all the unnecessary 'what if' and deal with issues as and when they arise.  It is living life effectively and efficiently.

So start adopting an attitude of gratitude and start living a life that you are able to enjoy.  Gratitude is a powerful tool to change our mindset and it is contagious.  Gratitude breeds optimism and you are going to be contagious!

Let me share my thankfulness.  I am thankful for the life I have been given and the eye-opening journey that has turned me into the person I am today ... wiser and definitely still learning.  I am grateful to have found my passion that makes my life purposeful each day.  I am thankful for the opportunities that life has sent my way ... to create friendships, to share my value, experience and knowledge, to see the world beyond mine and to make some pocket-money.  I am grateful I am enjoying life!

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Random Bubbles ...

Argus Attitudes Are Contagious Poster

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." 

- William James

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Note of Awareness #54

Confidence … this is the power-gel that’s going to make the law of attraction work for you. It is a positive feeling and should always be enjoyed by everyone.

"What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?"
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Confidence in yourself is to feel good about yourself. It enhances your emotions and improves your mood. You feel happier, do things quicker and a result you achieve what you want easier. One of the steps of manifestation is to believe that you already have it. That’s confidence!

According to the law of attraction, when you feel good, you’ll draw more good feelings onto you. Others constantly see you as lucky in life but it’s because you have taken full advantage of the universal law.

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My Bubble: Free & Easy Around Perth

When lo kong and I planned to travel to Paris, we were forewarned of pick-pockets.  When we wanted to go Beijing, we were forewarned about tricksters and cheats.  When we wanted to see Tokyo, we were forewarned of their complicated transits in the city.  When we wanted to travel Down Under, we were forewarned to be careful of what we are bringing with us into the country ... no dairy products, no meat and no greens.

Travelling to a foreign land can sometimes be terrifying especially when you know nuts about the language.  To top it off, you are sometimes frightened by other people's bad experience or some based on hearsay.  Ridiculously, sometimes these comments may come from people who may not have even stepped out of their homeland before.  Let's not be cheated out of our own travelling experiences.  Take every opinion and caution with a pinch of salt and travel.  Let's go and create our own experiences with an open-mind.

Having survived a city that's notorious with pick-pockets, a city famous for tricksters and conmen and a city that's packed with mind-boggling super-fast transits, we know going to Perth in Australia  will definitely be a breeze!  Believe me, going about Perth is simple, straightforward and most importantly, feeling secure.

While the original purpose of the trip was meant to be marathon cum vacation, we decided to keep it free and easy around the city since lo kong has not fully recovered to run the full marathon in the Perth City to Surf Marathon.  It became a leisurely but fun trip with no rush and no fixed itineraries except for the 12km run and pre-booked accommodations in Perth CBD, Fremantle and Scarborough Beach.

The beautiful spring weather in Perth was an automatic stimulus to get active and go out into the sunshine to enjoy their beaches and natural parklands.  Except for the run, there's just no opportunity to break a sweat going about from one place to another.  Frankly, I didn't mind basking in the sun!

Within the 6 days, we managed to finished our run, meet-up with my facebook friend [Moy Tai and her family], check-out the flora and fauna in King's Park, went biking on Rottnest Island, soak in the beach life in Scarborough, took a wine-tasting river cruise, tried out luck at Burswood Casino, sightseeing on their free CAT buses around Perth and Fremantle as well as eat and drink to our hearts' content!

There was just one thing missing this time though ... No Shopping!!

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My Bubble: Beers & Bikes!!

While our hotel room in Fremantle wasn't anything close to luxurious, the cold weather made sleeping in so inviting.  But it was not to be when lo kong woke me up early so that we can catch the morning ferry to Rottnest Island which is located 19km of the coast of Western Australian from Fremantle.

It will be an outdoor excursion and I intended to travel as light as possible ... no additional weight from the iPad, fixed lens or all the camera accessories.  In my haste to be light and free, I unwittingly left behind my shades and my digital camera.

There was a crowd when we arrived at the pier.  The fare for the return trip to Rottnest Island was AU$36 per person on a 'Love My Rotto' Telethon Tuesday deal.  No idea what was the normal fare though.  It was full onboard and the sea was so choppy making the ride stomach-churning ... I threw up half-way to the island.  Thankfully, the ride back was so much calmer.

By the time we arrived on the island was already mid-afternoon and it wasn't worthwhile to rent a bike for 24 hours.  Instead we waited till 12 noon to take up the rentals at AUD16.00 per bike that came with a helmet each.  It has been long while since I've cycled but surprisingly I've not lost the touch.  As we had to return the bikes by 4.00 pm, we didn't have enough time to cycle round the whole island.  Instead we took the 10km route and made it just in time back to the bike depot.

Apart from being awed by some unusual animals, the scenery around the island was spectacular.  The terrain was undulating with many steep hills followed by speeding drops which made cycling so exciting.  However, the winds were a force to be reckoned with ... even taking photos with our DSLR were made unstable.  We met most of the same people from our Rottnest shuttle biking around the same route with us, some struggling to balance themselves on their respective bicycles.  It was indeed a fun and relaxing day out on the island ... just wished we had more time.

Upon arriving back at the pier in Fremantle, we went to check out the Little Creatures Brewery.  The local brew came recommended by my FB friend's hubby, Andrew.  It was timely for us as there was a promotion for the beer.  6 bottles of any mix going for only AUD20.00.  It was half the price per bottle from the ones sold at the supermart!  We found the most expensive of the 8 different types of beer were sold at over AUD7.00 at the supermart. The beers lasted us for 2 days along with a couple of  bottles of Australian wine.  I regretted for not choosing their Pear Cider though as I couldn't find it anywhere else in the city ... I was told it is better than the Apple Cider.

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Poetry: Touched By An Angel

Touched by An Angel

by Maya Angelou

Image from Angels in America poster

We, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.

Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free.

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Affirmation of the Week ...

Having been extremely under the weather the past 2 weeks, things are picking up again. I've regain my energy and focus again. While my body is steadily recovering, my spirit and mind is jumping with joy to being my bubbly self again. All are well again!!

This is my affirmation of the week ...

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What Am I Grateful For This Week ...

"Being thankful for life itself is a way of making life better. When we look away from our problems, even for a short time, and generate joy in our hearts, we find that the world seems to change a bit." ~ John Harricharan

I believe if you were to put this to the try, you will find John's words to be so true.  To formally think about a list of gratitude, our mind can sometimes ring hollow.  No doubt being thankful depends pretty much on our mood of the day or time, lest we should forget, life itself is the greatest gift from the heavens to top our list of gratitude.  Just this will suffice even if we are unable to figure out an entire list of gratitude. 

It takes wisdom and maturity to realize that we have enough in spite of whatever situation or predicament we are in.  We have been provided sufficiently but it is only our high expectations out of life and sometimes greed that creates the void of lack in us.  As the law of attraction goes, when we feel lacking then the more of the same experience shall continue.

Having gratitude allows us to live life with passion and purpose.  Call it living by design or living deliberately, we are giving purpose to our gift of life and in return we get to enjoy the abundance of happiness. Sound simple right?  It is, just as Confucius said "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated!"

I have been in sick-mode for the past 2 weeks and gratitude can at times be the last thing on my mind ... I must admit.  However, whenever I'm able to muster the will, the first thing that I am thankful for is my dear life and all my family members and friends who have taken their respective places within.  I am also thankful for all my life experiences, good or bad, because they have made me stronger and wiser.  What more can I ask for but to continually live in constant gratitude pursuing the things I am passionate about and hopefully encouraging others along the way.  

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My Bubble: A Walk In King's Park

It threatened to be a rainy day that morning but we still had to proceed with our plan to visit the iconic landmark in Perth ... King's Park.

As we were due to check-in at our hotel in Fremantle, we realized we won't be able to spend a full day roaming the park.  While we had intended to rent a bicycle to go around the over 4 sq km park and botanical garden, thankfully we had heeded the advice from my FB friend, Moy Tai to walk instead.  Actually, we hardly saw anyone riding bikes at the park.  Most people were strolling and some simply sat and relaxed on the vast landscaped grounds.

We took the free city bus shuttle service which is a free hop-on-hop-off public transport within the city centre limits.  We were supposed to get off at Mounts Bay Road but we missed it the first time and ended back at their busport (bus depot).  Instead of getting off, we continued on its full route to take in some sights of Perth and got off at the second last stop of their route which is right on the edge of King's Park.  Prompted by the Blue CAT bus driver, we found our way up Jacob's Ladder ... all 242 steps upwards to the entrance of King's Park.  There were a lot of people running up and down the stairs, burning calories and building endurance.

It was an awesome sight when we reach Fraser Avenue, a street neatly lined by gum trees with individually dedicated plaques to fallen Western Australian service men and women.  Green and clean lawns flanked both sides of the street.  It was a beautiful park and since it is almost the beginning of spring, there were many types of wild flowers blooming while others were just beginning to sprout their shoot or buds and pods.  The park located at the edge of Perth CBD allow an amazing almost 360-deg panoramic view of the city and Swan River.  The place is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city to relax or to jog.  Eventhough it rained, it wasn't that cold and by noon, it was pretty sunny. I simply loved the cool breeze because I could walk for hours without breaking a sweat ... just have to worry about sunburn though which I got during the Perth City to Surf run the day before.

We did not cover the entire park but just a few of the popular touristy spots like the State War Memorial, Honour Avenue, Bali Memorial, DNA Tower and part of the botanical garden such as the Gija Jumulu Boab Tree, Pioneer Women's Memorial Fountain and the Lotterywest Federation Walkway that eventually led us to the Glass Bridge.  I believe it would take at least 2 days to leisurely cover the entire park but too bad we did not have the time to spare since we were already booked to stay in Fremantle for the next 2 nights.

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What Am I Grateful For This Week ...

The moment I boarded the plane heading back to Kuala Lumpur, I can hear a lady letting out coughs every few minutes. By the time I'm seated, I realized the coughing lady was sitting just the front row of me.

For the entire duration of the flight that took 5 hours and 25 minutes, she could not stop talking. Doesn't she realize that talking makes her cough more?! Moreover, she was kinda being inconsiderate towards the other passengers who were trying to catch a shut eye. There were also several toddlers and babies on the flight and she should have been conscientious enough to request for a surgical mask from the crew to prevent spreading her virus to the kids.

I don't know about the other passengers but I have been suffering from coughs, runny nose, sore-throat and headaches since the day after touch-down. I know for sure I caught the virus onboard. Rather than her, I should have ask the crew for a surgical mask myself! Regrets! Regrets!!

Too close for comfort ...

The same thing happened when I was flying into Hongkong earlier in February and also when I was flying back from Tokyo in early March. It's funny that my immune system is so susceptible to the flu virus despite all the supplements that I am swallowing every day. Even during those days when I was still in the workforce, anytime anyone suffers from the flu I will always stand to be the next in line.

I've already finished the doctor's medication and I'm still no better. It's been more than a week now and I am still out-of-order!

I have been too sickly to pen regular entries this past and I've certainly missed a couple of weeks in my gratitude journal.  Anyhow, I am grateful that I had a successful run at the Perth City to Surf event with a relaxing free and easy trip to boot as well as a wonderful get-together with an Australian Facebook friend in Perth.

CHEERS!!!

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Poetry: Change Your World

Change Your World

by: Brian Tracy

You cannot change the world,

But you can present the world with one improved person -

Yourself.

You can go to work on yourself to make yourself

Into the kind of person you admire and respect.

You can become a role model and set a standard for others.

You can control and discipline yourself to resist acting

Or speaking in a negative way

Toward anyone for any reason.

You can insist upon always doing things the loving way,

Rather than the hurtful way.

By doing these things each day,

You can continue on your journey

Toward becoming an exceptional human being.

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My Bubble: No More Pen Pals ... It's FB Pals!

Long ago, the popularity of long distance friendships were through this thing called pen pals. Getting abreast with each other took a little longer route via the post. A pen pal may stay in touch for a short while while some may last a lifetime. Some pen pals eventually do meet face-to-face with some leading to more serious relationships including marriages.

Today, strangers worlds apart meet on Facebook every second of the day. This is the modern variation of pen pals and the communication is real-time. This is the wonder and awesomeness of our internet era!

I was always attracted to this bright spark that appeared on a friend's Facebook. I like her outspoken jovial spontaneity whenever she commented and we somehow managed to click! No sooner, we are Facebook friends and I met her and her beautiful family for the first time when I visited Perth recently.

As I was only in town for a week, we had agreed to meet on the Sunday evening after my Perth City to Surf run. Sharp 4pm, Moy Tai came to pick lo kong and I at our hotel in her sports car ... now I claim I've ridden in a Porsche! By the way, it's tough getting in and out for old people like the two of us. Revving the engine a bit, she took us on a short sightseeing tour around the neighborhood on the way to her house. Her home has a spacious garden teeming with live thanks to her green thumb. The flowers blooming gloriously, the lemon tree full of gargantuan lemons, the olive tree and the grapevines beginning to flower and I finally learned the difference between kumquat and loquat! Wasn't mistaken though ... both tastes sour! We savored her very unique Savory Smoked Salmon swissrolls right there in her garden, sipping hot green tea while the cold breeze creates shivers on lo kong ... but I love it! I love the weather in Perth!

Not wanting to be too 'keipo', there were awkward moments when our conversation hit a silent note. Moy Tai had been such a lovely host, preparing a sumptuous dinner for us with her family. We had two types of beef steak, lamb chops and the much anticipated kangaroo steak ... too engrossed I had forgotten to take a shot of it! I completely loved the starter of juicy pan-fried scallops with healthy greens. The dinner finished with a freshly baked Mud Cake ... whatever diabetes problem just had to stand aside for a moment! We even had 2 slices of Mud Cake packed on the go which lo kong gobbled down on Rottnest Island!

While it had been a wonderful opportunity to meet up with Moy Tai and her family, I felt kinda imposing putting her through so much trouble. More so when I realised that our visit had actually coincided with her younger daughter's calisthenics concert. She brought home 2 trophies that evening and this little girl of 8 had only been into it for just 6 months. Well done!!

To Moy Tai, thank you so much to you and your family for the warm hospitality and a gastronomic evening!

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My Bubble: Perth City To Surf 2012

Call me a meanie or a bully coz I ran the 12km in the Perth City To Surf so that lo kong cannot participate in the full marathon. The truth of the matter is lo kong's still recovering from his injuries ...  if he continues to itch running the full how will he ever recover totally?

I do not have much passion for running frankly although I do run regularly in order to keep my diabetes under check. The closest I've ever participated in any running events had only been twice in the relays.  This time our deal was for lo kong to pace me for the 12km ... this means he'll still get to run some.   Not too deprived I think and he'll also take over as the cameraman.

It was a fine sunny day on the race day for my first 12km race. The continuous cold breeze was perfect to prevent me from sweating profusely like when back in our hot country! The route was very hilly ... I counted 4 steep slopes. There were ample water stations at every 2km which lo kong insisted I stop. It was a very well-organised event with over 45,000 participants. Thankfully, I finished the race in one piece at 1hr 26:57mins but with a slight sunburn on my shoulders ... should have worn a sleeved T! I do believe I could have achieved my targeted timing minus the hills and photo-shoots.

Anyway, after finishing our race we waited for Uncle Chew who completed his full marathon at 6hrs 07:45mins. As the all the categories started in the city but ends elsewhere outside the city, the organizers had prepared free bus transits for all participants back to the city center.

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Affirmation of the Week ...

I'm back!  Life's just beautiful as it unfolds new experiences to make new memories to be treasured.  I had a wonderful break Down Under and it's back to the routine nitty-gritty.  Everything in my life is moving in the right direction in their appropriate speed and timing.  I feel so blessed and I am thankful for this brand new week!

This is my affirmation of the week ...

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