Fate and Tragedy

Sometimes in life, tragedies occur. You will feel very depressed. You will feel very sad. You will feel very frustrated. You will feel that it is unfair and that these happenings should not have happened.

What if it happens around you?

The magnitude of it amplifies and increases by many folds, seemingly filled with heartache and sadness. It is as if a part of you has been ripped apart and never to return ever again.

Well, to all readers out there, this is the inconvenient truth.

On the 17th of January 2010, 5 Chung Ling students and a teacher perished from a terrible accident during a dragon boat practice session.

I say this with heartfelt agony and pain. My heartfelt condolences goes to all the families and friends who have known them.

And right now, the blame game starts just so soon after this has happened. It just adds to the frustration which has already circulated the whole issue.

Perhaps it is time people try to rationalise that there is nothing left to be rationalised.

Perhaps, it is just fate. It is just fate that put everything into play causing this. On a day which everything got wrong, fate is just simply unavoidable.

No matter how you try to cheat death, one day, it will suffice. Even if you lay at home sitting down on a couch watching TV, you still cannot escape fate.

So, it is time people accept. It is a time people should stop all this blaming and pointing, which is just a nuisance to what already is a tragic event. It is time people should see that it was just not meant to be. Let's just mourn over their loss and carry on with our lives. Cherish every moment we have. Live life to the fullest and get up from this fall we have just experienced! I'm sure that is what those who are gone which we would do.

Life goes on...

May the five students and teacher rest in peace. Amen.

8 Days In A Lift?!

Woman survives eight days stuck in lift

Police and firefighters in Spain have rescued a woman who spent eight days trapped in the lift of her apartment building, police say.

The 35-year-old was found conscious but disorientated and was taken to hospital after she was found in the private lift in the town of Sitges near Barcelona.

The police were alerted by relatives in Madrid who had reported her missing, and then heard her cries for help when they visited the building.

Police said it was not clear how the woman, who lived alone, managed to survive for that length of time.

The lift had apparently stalled due to an electrical fault.

Source : ABC.net.au

LOL? That woman must be seriously on a very light diet to be able to get used to it. Gosh..... @_@

Of Positives from Negatives

So much for harmony.

It's about time something like this happened. With all the controversies and ridicule throughout the many years, does it really take all this to only make people realise? Gosh, I truly question the people's reaction time.

It might not seem as big a problem as it is. I mean, who the hell has the power to say that the term 'Allah' cannot be used by anyone else. By saying this, you are indirectly saying that you are as the likes of Prophet Muhammad perhaps, founder of the Islamic religion we all know of today.

First, you give history lessons to us dominated with that religion and its origins. Then, you come taint that very image. You know, this is not a bad thing after all. Giving us Sejarah on Islamic origins just makes us more aware of what Islam is all about. In fact, it made us realise that all this that you claim out of Islam is never part of Islam. Instead of serving its purpose to show Islam, it showed us the real side of this whole belief instead of what has been muttered out of politicians.

Maybe, it is better to not spark racial remarks. Hey, take the recent church arson attacks. Although I am not Christian, this just shows how intolerant some people are. It is just sad I tell you.

Well, perhaps let's take another look at this matter. Are there any positives out of this?

I'll answer, "Yes!"

In fact, there is a lot to be taken out of this. If it takes a few firebombs and wrecked churches to awaken the people, it certainly is worth it. Now, people can see the real side. People can now realise how irrational this can become. You say elections don't matter. Take another good look. First the whole dispute over the word was never supposed to happen. It takes them a whole 16 year period to realise that The Herald used to word and finally take action against it? I mean, come on. Common sense tells you this whole issue is a total ridicule.

Next, for once, this whole issue takes its appearance on CNN. That's right. At least now, the whole world can see it. It may not be a groundbreaking achievement to most of you. But at least, people from the outside world can get to see that, Malaysia is not as peaceful as it seems after all. Even now, foreigners can voice out their opinion on websites and say that this whole problem is a disgrace as well as how Wawasan 2020 can never be achieved if something like this cannot even be sought out. This is just very depressing.

I might not be right about everything. But if even foreigners can take a good look and say all this is crap, then it should be pretty obvious. Gosh, this is so not meant to be racist or anything. In fact, I respect every race out there. It is more like down to those individuals who can commit acts like this that deserve to be pointed to.

Malaysia is a country where many races live in peace alongside one another. I think this has been running away from us already. No doubt, this is every Malaysians dream....... Dreams do come true.... don't they?

Life goes on.

Ouch

Just some dish at the Dim Sum restaurant.

For some reason, it's delicious XD. *costs more than 5 AUD I suppose =X*

A New Post

A New Year.

A New Beginning.

A New Look.

A New Change.

A New Path.

A New Journey.

A New Challenge.

A New Me.

How is your glass?

Two, the milleniums.

Zeros, the centuries, the decades

Nine, the years.

After twenty four weeks,

three hundred and sixty five days.

All is to change in the coming hours.

Try reflecting over the minutes,

and even seconds which have gone by,

how would you judge this bottle of wine?

And there I stood, watching as those memoirs of yesteryear flash by. At one moment, there was a start of a new year, fresh and energizing. Always that way at the start. And now here we are, all standing by the tip of the canyon, the end of this journey, all ready and set to embark on a new one ahead as we watch the past fall behind, like it was just a matter of seconds.

Maybe those seconds mattered more than what it seemed to be. It has always been the human brain playing a trick on us, don't you think? Like some psychologists say, the brain cuts off less meaningful events, moving forward events to make them seem very near to us when in truth, we have gone through much more than we thought we would. Time had given us three hundred and sixty five days, only to have it converted into a matter of minutes.

On one hand, you might say I have not done much. I sometimes think so too. It is as if I have poured cheap dessert wine into my new wine glass. Bored is the term I usually use. Perhaps I indeed have not made much improvement or achievements from the eyes of the spectators, still planted in front of this little corner of mine as always. I guess this is what most think of themselves when they reflect, don't they? Try to think about it. How many on this Earth would think that they have done a lot and are extremely satisfied about how they have filled their wine glass? I'd say not more than ten percent. Sadly, when requested to give a suggestion for any amendment of time, everyone hoped they have more hours.

Yes we will never be satisfied. It is human nature. Coming out fresh from Psychology 1B, I dare say that according to various studies, the human happiness level is constant. When we experience significant events, it is then that we experience the significant change. Though, it still levels off soon after. We will then come into that same level of happiness as we once were. Many say they wish for happiness. Honestly, can this ever be achieved? I guess that question can be left for the bored in later days.

If I wrote what I have done in an essay and submit it to a superstar panel, I bet all of them would say I have wasted it. Give them to mega entrepreneurs, they would say I am stupid enough to waste income. What do you expect? Half a year of slacking plus half a year of slacking. I bet the only times I had ever made any progress can be shortened to a matter of weeks.

However, I dare say that 2009 has been the most productive year of my entire life. Physically, I may not have done much. But as far as how I thought I made my steps, I feel I have done so effectively. It could have been more, that I cannot deny. But it takes a little bit of self reflection to make someone get out of that little shell they were once guarding themselves with all these years.

I have not felt so proud of what I have been through for so long. 2009 brought me a change to my life. My perceptions, my ideas. It was when I realised what I had really wanted and what I had passion about. It was then I discovered the very pieces that form my soul. It was then that I finally reflected through all my life, and finally come to my senses on what I was to go through in the coming decade.

This may seem kind of small. But hey, who would dare say that they know what they want for themselves, truthfully and with confidence? That is an achievement itself that goes a long way. I found my interests, my goals and my soul. Finally, "我的自述" should not be much of a problem. Something that I should have mastered a long time ago. The question of the centuries.

Anyhow, words must be put into action. A new dawn looms ahead at the horizon, promising so much hope and excitement. Let the psychics say all they want about omens and predictions. It is not up to them to predict how we should run our lives. Destiny might ask you to predict your own life, making it your destiny to do it. But since it is our destiny to do all that we are supposed to do, why not look ahead with a smile and take the next footstep in our destiny's path. As for me, I'm just happy to have the privilege to do something I have not wanted to do for the last 16 years of my life. Haha. Don't you just love what your destiny can do to yourself? I do. And hopefully, those around the globe would love their destinies. Onward with the millenium!

Coming back to the wine glass. High class wine drinkers say dessert wine drinkers are low class. Red wine is the thing out there. I'd have to give them a slap in the face. A wine glass is meant for wine. If dessert wine is not wine, what is it? Besides, come to think of it, dessert wine can prove to be quite a lovely beverage too. As a new wine glass is placed before me, what should I pour into it? Well, that's the question I'd leave for tomorrow.

As for now, there is still 3 quarters of an hour to go here in the land down under. My best wishes to all that I have been so privileged to meet out there! To all in Penang and all over the world. Let us all have a toast with the last few sips of the wine in our wine glass and enjoy every moment of it!

To all readers out there,

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope you have an awesome glass of wine! =)

Covey-ing the Message

A passage I've come over a couple of times already. Not the first time. Yet, suddenly got reminded about this in an email (Thanks :) ). A bit long I know, but worthwhile. Just a little something I'd wish to share with all you delightful readers out there. =D

Discover the 90/10 Principle.

It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.

We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.

We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? ……….By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light. but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse.

You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home.

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? …. Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

• A) Did the coffee cause it?
• B) Did your daughter cause it?
• C) Did the policeman cause it?
• D) Did you cause it?

The answer is “D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why?

Because of how YOU REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job.

Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!

Many thanks to Stephen R. Covey for this article! Something to remind us all about how we should deal with problems and not overreact. Some things you might argue cannot be helped. But if a little bit of damage control can turn things around, it goes a long way. A thought I would like to share :)

Sometimes, we see things in a very simple way. Our very actions and activities day by day prove to be nothing but a routine to us, seemingly harmless in every way. A friend once told me that there is nothing to be afraid of, it's only the fear inside your heart.

That is in many ways, true. Yet, sometimes, you can't help but feel it.

I, myself, have a great flaw - paranoia. During situations where I feel I have no control of, freaking out is the first thing on my mind's to-do list for some reason. I certainly wished that I didn't have it, for if I didn't, I would have been a more successful person in life. At least, that's what I thought.

Come to think of it, though, I may have been a completely different person.

Well, that aside, sometimes, things can not be within your grasps any time. Try as you like to gain control over it, but it won't work.

Take life as an example. Everyone lives their own free lives, aiming to be the best that they will ever be.... constantly going higher and higher till you reach the top.

However, in this Rat Race, there is bound to be an "Mousetrap accident".

External forces would play their little game of disruption, constantly providing obstacles and danger in our way. Just as you'd play Monopoly. If you took a thousand turns, there is bound to be once where you'd lose cash... or even head to jail. Life is unfair as I've learned. People don't wish for calamities. You see rain dances, but not earthquake dances, right? Yet, they come inevitably and are unavoidable.

Such, as the news recently suggested. Although I might not know this person, the impact was still felt. The fact that the external force seemed to be of low danger to many just shows how little things deserved to be watched out for. No wonder the elders always tell us to be careful. Even in examinations, we are taught the concept of being cautious. This just highlights it all.

Though, cautious itself, sometimes, just isn't enough. "It's not like I've seen death on the news for the first time" as another friend blogged. But this one, considerably closer than most of them, just gives you a wake up call on how bloody precious life can be and how ridiculously cruel it can also be. It was........... out of our control.

For some reason, it just felt emotional. Just goes to show how much we should appreciate life and not whine about the little things we face everyday. We should live it to the maximum while we can.

want to be someone extraordinary in near future..

A big dream of the late James that could not be fulfilled. A reminder to us all who want to achieve greatness. Life, as it is, is not eternal and perfect. Fate, as it is, is hard to be changed. Instead of trying to change fate, work on what we have and do as much as we can. Live life well!

To the three, may you rest in peace.