o v e r f l u o

For my job I do marketing (and well, everyone does some sort of marketing in life but... y'know) and I have to say – man, this world moves so so quickly. It's crazy to keep up with all the changes and upgrades. From what size Facebook posts should be now, to Google's search engine optimisation secret-not-so-secret recipe changes, to what the best metrics for analysis are. But well, you gotta keep up huh. And actually, while it can be a little crazy to try sometimes, it's actually pretty interesting. It changes the way we work and sell our products. But it also changes the way we think and shapes our habits. It's a funny cycle – how we create tools to respond to needs, then people take those tools and become in need of them (not necessarily in a good or bad way). It was not so long ago that technology (in terms of world wide web, mobile phones and computers) was not a part of most people's daily lives. But look how that has changed. I've been thinking m...

Many people are trying to find their calling.   But that doesn't explain Marianne Money, bank manager, or Jim Kardwell, who owns a card company. Or Thomas Duck who started Ugly Duckling rent-a-car and Tito Beveridge who makes vodka. It doesn't explain why people named Dennis are more likely to become dentists...   I'm not sure that anyone has a calling. I think, instead, our culture creates situations where passionate people find a place where they can make an impact. When what you do is something that you make important, it doesn't matter so much what you do.   It's not that important where. It matters a lot how . With passion and care. — Seth Godin  Calling. Is there such thing as a "calling" – a person's ultimate purpose in life? The thing they were "meant" to do? I believe there's such a thing as "calling" for some. I also think sometimes we get too caught up in "finding our calling" that we don'...

Slightly embarrassing but yes I identify with that page on Facebook which posts things like these and it makes me laugh because it's true or it's me. #sigh #honesty #buttheshowiscool #nextepisodenowplease #iwatchkoreandramas #heplayscomputergames #fairtrade

I was reading the news and came across a few sad stories. One about a child who plotted to kill her parents, and another about teens who killed their friend because he was "so boring" – and stabbed him 120 times. Who does that? Why do they do that? And then I read a story about how people don't receive proper (mental) treatment when they need it, or they are not followed up on appropriately and this leads to negative consequences. It made me think. It made me think that we all need to have a sense that what we do really matters . The daily things we do might seem minor to us; things such as calling a patient, clearing away broken glass, not texting while driving etc. In actual fact, those very actions could mean so much to others. It could be the difference of a future and a life changed.

"We live in a world where experts tell us we have a sleep debt bigger than the national debt. An estimated 24,000 people die every year in car accidents caused by sleep deprivation and fatigue. Lack of sleep causes people to argue with spouses and friends, do subpar work, be less loving and more irritable." –From sorry-I-forgot-to-note-the-source Okay, goodnight!

Yesterday evening I volunteered at a kitchen which provided dinner for the homeless. Under direction of the chef I buttered bread, chopped rockmelons and strained vegetables. We then served a meal of rice, mince meat and potato stew, mixed vegetables and bread, accompanied with a dessert of banana bread, fruits and custard. We sat down to have dinner together. Honestly I was shy at first because well, I generally can be in an unfamiliar environment. But the guys my friend and I sat with were pretty chatty. It was interesting to hear what they had to say and I would call it a cultural exchange of sorts. There's not much I can share as some of what they shared was quite personal, but here is a mish mash of some thoughts: We all have different circumstances, many of which we cannot control. It's tough when you have a bad record that stays in the system and doesn't get erased. It's necessary for people who never truly want to turn from evil ways - and we have to keep...

At 7 years old, Francis was sent far from his village, Gando, to study in the city. Later, he was granted a scholarship to study architecture in Germany. As a student, he wanted to go back to contribute to his community. After raising US$50 000, he went back and together with his community, built a school out of clay and other relatively cheap materials. It's a story of innovation, dreams, hopes and community at work. Francis ended the talk by telling of how when he left Gando at 7 years old, the lady of each household gave him a coin. In essence, they were contributing what little they had to his education, and hoped he would come back to use it for the community. There is power in community, and communities can shape their own future. It reminded me of people like myself – students who have had the opportunity to study overseas. There is always that question of – should I go back home, or live here? It also reminded me of finding meaning in what we do. A job as an Executi...

One thing I learnt from the movie Frozen is that sometimes, it's the very thing we keep away from, that could heal us. Queen Elsa has the power to turn things to snow, but it is a power she cannot control. After near-fatally accidentally hitting her sister Anna with ice, Elsa's parents keep her away from the world, including Anna. Elsa lives in solitude and sadness, telling herself to not feel, because that is what seems to trigger her powers. It is only after a whole crazy situation of her majorly losing control, endangering her country, running deep into the woods to hide, and hitting her sister's heart with snow, that they discover the solution – that to control her powers, Elsa requires love – the very thing she was deprived of because she was kept away from people and discouraged from feeling. The very thing that we keep away from, is what could heal us.  The funny thing is, long ago when young Elsa and Anna were playing with snow before Anna...

^ Happy mail is on its way! ^ 6 months later, we will be having round 2. Yes, round 2 of a wedding. Not the actual saying of vows because once you say those, it's a promise for life. Rather, a wedding dinner.  Don't be too surprised. It's actually quite common when people from two different countries marry, at least for Chinese. I know of someone who had 3 wedding dinners – one in their current place of residence, one in the groom's country of origin, and one in the bride's – spaced out in two years. Reasons for the time lag include budget, and not being able to take so much leave off work at a time. Anyway, we're happy to be having a second wedding dinner because our celebrations in Australia were small (by Chinese standards), so we're glad to be able to have more family and friends celebrate with us this time round.

A Facebook Page has been set up to campaign against Ashley Madison from setting up shop in Singapore from 2014. Ashley Madison is a company that encourages adultery, encouraging casual encounters and extramarital affairs. Read more at the  Facebook Page . To show support and my stand, I've "liked" the Page. It's a small act, but a way I know to raise my voice; a tiny voice in the crowd, but still, a voice.  One person commented on the page that it is of no use to campaign, because we campaigned against casinos but casinos were built in Singapore in the end. I disagree. Just because the main goal did not score does not mean nothing happened. A lot would have happened "in the field". In the process, Singaporeans were brought to awareness of the casino situation and what was actually happening. Because there was hype, some people thought more about the situation and what it actually meant to them.  So back to Ashley Madison. I know about this...

This article has been making rounds on Facebook. I also read about a claim to say it isn't true. Well, true or not, such cases do happen, and they are serious, disgusting, and wrong. There are things people do in the name of religion or culture that are baffling. There are things people do when they are angry and raging. Then again, some of these people have been brought up with certain ideologies drilled into their heads and possibly, hearts. They believe that there is nothing wrong with it. Some take sadistic pleasure in their "entitlements" even if their conscience may have once ever told them that it is wrong. This is proved by social psychology studies which show aggression is triggered from things such as imitation as children, and cultures which promote male honour and machismo. To some, this – the marginalisation of women – is just their way of life, because it's the only thing they have ever known. That is, until e...

You know how some people say they don't want to bring kids into this world because the world is such a dark and gloomy place with wars and mistrust, and will only get worse? Well, I can understand their argument because it's true that there can be a lot to face in life, and hey, why let someone else go through the difficulties? But I was just thinking – but, there are so many things in life to be experienced. The feeling of sorrowful betrayal but also long-standing loyalty, sadness but also unexplainable joy, loneliness but also overwhelming love. Friendship, family, accomplishments, satisfaction, discovering purpose, and even discovering yourself. So many things to experience. I am reminded of Steven Curtis Chapman's song which goes, But I've been shown the Saviour's love The grace of God has raised me up To show me things the angels long to look into And I know things the angels only wish they knew Yes, I think life is ...

Ashton Kutcher's message to teens at the Teen Choice Awards: Opportunities look a lot like work The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart, thoughtful, and generous. Build your life, don't live one: Everything around us that we call life was made up by people that are no smarter than you. You can build you own thing, your own life.  Watch it here .

27 September 2012 Cutest taxi ride ever. Old grandfather driver. Conversation about life (he said people who have lived overseas have a hint of caucasian in their look haha). Wasn't embarassed by my bare chinese punctuated with english. Could tell he was really contented and fulfilled. People like him show you what really matters - family. 11 October 2012 A contrast to the previous cab ride with a content grandfather driver. I was trying to figure out what made me feel somewhat burdened from tonight's cab driver. Was it loneliness? Or what? After some mulling, I realised: Judged.  That's how the uncle felt. Judged. The first thing he asked once I got in the cab was: What are your views on older men (uncle type) going out with a twenty something year old young girl? I said I didn't have an opinion (partly because I didn't have the ability to express it adeptly enough in Mandarin. He was speaking very fast. Chimification). He told me he does that s...

What difference does believing, make? Last night I watched Rise of the Guardians with Ian. It was pretty good! I loved the way they imagined and portrayed the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Santa Claus, and the part they play in children's lives. Loved it! But anyway. The point: The Guardians are protectors of children's innocence – the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman and Santa Claus. But they are threatened by the Boogeyman who has launched an assault on Earth. His greatest gripe is that he is not believed in and hence cannot be seen. Nobody thinks he exists. To change that, he turns Sandman's dreams for children to nightmares. He steals teeth, which contain children's memories, from the Tooth Fairy. He ruins all Easter eggs so children cannot not find any on Easter. And he wrecks Santa's workshop so Santa has no presents to deliver. Through these he robs children's hopes and sense of wonder, and one by one, children stop believing in each ...

Indeed! Honestly, I never knew politics and a General Election could get me so... so... like... I feel so much for it. Social media has probably helped a lot because I see all these news and comments and it's more fun that I have friends expressing their opinions, and not just the mass media which is barely fulfilling its purposed function as a fourth estate ayes. My Dad's favourite thing to do in the past week or so has been to turn on the computer once he gets home from work and start watching rally videos and reading people's comments about the GE. I find it quite funny actually - that my Dad is discovering the power of social media :P I actually genuinely feel sad for Mr Chiam See Tong (SPP) who has had a hold on the Potong Pasir ward for the past 27 years, till now. SPP lost Potong Pasir by just 0.36%, to the PAP. Angry Singaporeans are petitioning for a revote . This was apparently his "office" where he would meet the people of Potong Pasir - a ...

We don't watch that much TV in this home, but since we needed a new Internet sign up and SingTel's cheapest (all we need) included mio TV , we now have more basic channels to pick from. Meanwhile, we have also been offered a few other channels, free for the first month; ie, being lured to suscribe for more months. And so, I've been busy. Busy watching movies :D Busy watching them before the month of free movies is up. In the past 3 days... As you might have noticed, these movies are quite old (hence free har har). But I've really enjoyed them. Some serious, some not so; for a good balance. Sometimes you just need a little chick flick, you know. Thaw your brains a bit, laugh. And it helps that out TV is now bigger - thank you Siew Jie! ^.^ \m/ happy. haha. It's okay, don't worry. I won't be a sloth too much – I might be starting work soon, praise God! More on that some other time :) And. I do other things in the day too okay...

This time, from Boundless , a site for young adults I'm sure we'll be interested in - do go take a look. Again, bolded parts by me (to help with scanning through)! Vocabulary of Grace by Rachel Starr Thomson Growing up, my 11 siblings and I were never allowed to say "shut up." Calling each other names was right out, and "stupid" was anathema — along with most forms of complaining. My parents recognized the power of the tongue and trained us, as best they could, to use ours carefully. As a writer, I deal with the power of words every day. Words damage or heal; impart grace or condemn. On a deep level, they alter the way we see life and respond to challenges. They create safe places or dangerous ones — in my home, thanks to my parents' rules, the overwhelming atmosphere is one of harmony. Of everything in life we tend to be most careless with our words, yet they are powerful and worthy of care. Language of Faith When I was 13 or so, my dad put the kibosh o...

You know what? I think Mike Guglielmucci (no I can't spell his surname - I had to google it) can sing Healer for himself with much meaning now. Not that he didn’t before - I wouldn’t know. I guess is must have been a crazy struggle for him to know God’s Word so well (if not he wouldn’t have been able to come up with such songs. Plus, he was brought up in a good Christian home), yet live a double life for so long. My assumption is that living with such conflict in his conscience, he must have felt very tormented and trapped. Perhaps it was because he could no longer live with such deceit, that he chose to reveal his secrets. Honestly, one of my first thoughts was that it was very brave of him. After all, he’s a well-known guy whom many look up to, and admittance (to the world – it made the news) was an act of humility that would change a lot of things. Well, I guess that while there’s all the talk, shame and guilt that some people are heaping even more on him, at least for himself,...

Okay so here is a picture of me in a dress: Okay you can't really see the dress well. But still, it is a picture of me in a dress. That's the bestest eldest sister in the world beside me. The hair you see is the flower girl's. My mom did it! And that's my third uncle - looking a younger version of my Dad. Anyway, I'm back in Melbourne! I brought a photo of me and my brother :D Plus that cool little boat. Wanting to use up my Kino voucher, I bought the book, Empress Orchid , and was so absorbed in it! It was good enough for me to buy the sequel, The Last Empress . My father cultivated in us some interest in the history of China. And now, my housemate Shierly, and I, have Uncle Oliver to tell us more stories, usually at dinner time. I haven't read storybooks in so long, this was refreshing. Let me tell you a bit about it. The world painted the empress as an ugly, scheming, power-hungry woman, but Anchee Min puts her in a completely different light. Perspectives ...