Thursday, December 08, 2011

11 Things to Know at 25(ish)

found this article to read from a friend's sharing on fb. found it quite relevant and in fact, are things that i've personally thought about. such as having time to find a job i love, staying out of debt, volunteering, learning to feed yourself and others (i really really do wanna learn cooking properly - being able to serve a 像样的 dinner party would be nice), finding a rhythm for spiritual disciplines and i guess, quite importantly, not getting stuck.

and then there are those that i have not really given much thought about - finding a mentor and getting counselling. i guess most people think they don't need any help, but the fact is, advice from an older person with more experience, and advice from professional help is sometimes very much needed (whether one sees it or not). i have meet-ups with colleagues (past and present) to have coffees or lunches with occasionally, and they have many times always provided me with questions to ponder about. i guess perhaps i should make an effort to meet up with them more frequently.

i regret to say that, being in the mid of my late twenties, i have yet to discover what job i would love to do, yet to do any volunteer work for the past few years, yet to learn to cook - my cooking skills are only at a very basic level (frying an egg, cooking rice/instant noodles, boiling simple soups) and yet to develop a prayer life (other than sunday, it's almost nonexistent).

unfortunately, my past three years have mostly been spent recovering from my injuries sustained from my car accident. each time i thought i would have completely recovered (that's never going to happen actually, some impairments are here to stay), a 'residue' from an old injury happens and i go back to square one - taking long medical leave, and having to extent into no-pay leave from work.

but from these period of calamity, i have discovered friends whom i know i will have to keep. friends who have been there for me throughout the entire time. friends who go out of the way to help me, providing me much needed comfort. and there were even some relatively new friends who made an effort to keep themselves updated with my condition. and of course, there is my family, who have been there for me every step of the way. there is definitely no way i could have gotten through this without them. they were there when i first regained consciousness from my nine-hour emergency operation after the accident all the way in another country, they were with me throughout my recovery, of course including now. they were just there, no complaints, because we were family. the accident may have delayed my plans to get on with life, but it has shown me that i am really blessed with very supportive and caring family and friends.

with that i am comforted. at least my past three years have not been entirely wasted, though i could probably think of ten thousand and one things i could have done, would have done during that time. well i could have thought of them, but i have never indulged myself into thinking of the 'what could have been' at all. perhaps i do not know how. honestly, i have already long forgotten how it's like to be able to walk freely, to run, to jump, to not have to plan out your journey (just to the shopping mall) way before you even step out of the house. i should not be too surprised actually, i know myself to adapt very quickly - i never had any problems adjusting in a new environment, be it in a new school, at a new workplace or even a new country. i simply go with the flow. but with that, sometimes, i do not know how to dream, of doing something different. i just take what life hands out to me. maybe i am blessed that way, i don't keep thinking of the 'what could have been' and so, i don't feel like i'm missing out too much, i am just too easily satisfied/content sometimes. i'm not one with big ambitions who needs a high flying job. all i ask for is a happy and healthy life surrounded by loved ones, family and friends.

now with the upcoming hip joint replacement (due to the avn of my left hip), it's probably going to be my last period of recovery (i'm praying really hard that it is), i have no more excuses to procrastinate. i should start giving serious thought about what i would like to do next. what makes me happy? what do i really want? actually it's not that difficult, my basic requirement is just to be happy, in whatever i do. and then there's perhaps a slightly 'harder' one - to experience as many things as possible. and one of those items on my list - study or work overseas for a period of at least twelve months. it's not just the freedom that i crave (i honestly do not like having to report my every movement to someone), but i think it is really good training for one to grow up, be more independent and become more like an adult (most people get married and have kids to do that, but i have seen many who still remain a kid themselves even after having their own kids. plus i doubt i will be able to get married anytime soon, so this is probably the best avenue for me to go).

after writing so much, i guess there's no time better than now to get started on 'getting on with my life'. so instead of just waiting around, i'll have to stop procrastinating and start taking some action. but it's late now, so i'll start early tomorrow (speaking of which, i need to stop 'oversleeping' and give myself more meaning to wake up earlier).

time for bed. goodnight world! :)

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." — Mark Twain

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

be happy

in case you start thinking that i'm a sad person, i had better start posting about something happier. i do not usually dwell on unhappy things. in fact, i am generally very happy almost everyday. because, yes, i know i'm not alone :)

despite all that has happened to me, i think my life is generally quite good. what more can you ask for when you have a family who loves you so much and who will willingly throw aside whatever they are doing just so they can be there for you during your most difficult time?

indeed, it's time i take stock of my life and ask myself if i could do the same thing for them. i'm sure i could. but at the same time, i do not need or want to 'test' it out because i do not wish the same suffering i had upon them. i'm glad that i am the one who has to suffer all these instead of them. i'm not so sure if they could take it as well as me. and that's why we have different trials and obstacles in life. they are there to strengthen us, and for us to know ourselves a little better.

so live life happily. there is no point in dwelling in the past, or being unhappy all the time. find something to look forward to. i think it is important to be proactive in life. to plan for things but yet go with the flow at the same time. be spontaneous. you can have a standard of things, but try to lower your expectations if you or people around you are unable to meet them. be content with what you have, but never stop trying for more. and i believe that giving is better than receiving. so i give generously, and i expect nothing in return.

of course, i don't think myself as a perfect being. but i try, to the best of my ability, to keep the people around me happy. it kinda upsets me when people are sad. i would somehow think that it is my fault. that i did not do enough to keep them happy. and i guess, that's one of my weakness (because i end up feeling really bad).

so after much thinking, this is my philosophy in life - be happy. be spontaneous. be content. be giving.

no matter what life throws at you, know that you are never alone :) and yes, Jesus is the centre of my life :)

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Friday, November 12, 2010

leave

i am once again, on leave. medical leave, that is.

but all my leaves haven't been much of a leave (and that includes both medical and annual leave) when people still expect you to reply their emails and call you at least three to five times a day. sigh.

okay, shan't complain anymore since this is going nowhere. i kinda feel i owe them too much to be too ji jiao on these matters. though i really do wish i could have some real leave. maybe that's why i really don't mind going on no-pay leave if i can't work from home.

i wonder how long this condition will last this time. according to the doctor, it seems that i will be ridden with this for at least the next few years. i definitely won't be well so soon. i wonder when i can continue my life again. two years. some people said it has only been two years and i am considered to have recovered rather quickly. some others have commented, it's already been two years - you should be up and running, why are you taking so long? well perhaps those weren't the exact words, but they definitely kind of meant that.

talking about it like this makes everything sound so grim. definitely feel the tears coming on. but well, i know this is just yet another obstacle i have to overcome (they just keep coming, don't they?), so i will get through this! of course, with the help of my really supportive family, friends, and the big man upstairs (you do hear me, don't you?). i'm no longer going to put a date to when i can do this or that. i guess i'll just have to live by the day for now. and i will stay happy! :)

amen.

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." — Mark Twain

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Monday, September 27, 2010

happy

i had a good weekend. and i'm just feeling happy, contented. even though the weekend really sucked up all my energy and i'm really really tired now. just somehow feeling a sudden burst of energy coming from inside of me. and i honestly have no idea why.

shall blog more after work. for now, i feel like i'm living in my own happy little world. =)

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth." — Mark Twain

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