Break out of your comfort zone.
That's the advice we are being fed most, if not all the time. And I think it's probably one of my favourite reminders. Eleanor Roosevelt once said "Do one thing every day that scares you", for it is then that we experience the best in life.
But how do we do that? Travel? Volunteer? Do something that you usually wouldn't do? Is it even remotely possible for humans to break out of whatever comfort zone they are in, without having a massive life overhaul?
I'd like to think I have tried breaking out of this comfort zone. Yet, I somehow don't feel I've broken enough, just seemed like I chipped enough of this zone. and that does not feel enough.
My recent conversation with a friend made me realise that maybe it's not so much how far I break out, when I break out, or whether I even break out. It's more a question of whether I can accept "enough", in its finest sense right now, right where I'm intended to be.
And then I remember an article a friend once wrote long ago, it's one of my favourite articles ever, and she has happily agreed to share (Thanks Tya!)
http://20somethingenlightening.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/the-comfort-zone-breaking-the-myth/
And everytime I read it, I remember that I am where I'm suppose to be and that I'm stretching this place, bit by bit, everyday.
At least it won't be overstretched and pop like a bubblegum splat! ;)
Showing posts with label long ramble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label long ramble. Show all posts
Friday, February 22, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Chasing the Aurora
2nd January 2013
I saw the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. To many, myself included, this was a dream come true. The faint green glow across cloudy skies prove to challenge what my naked eye could see in the beauty of the photos and videos that have fed my expectations - a bit too much.
When everyone asked me how was the Aurora, or tell me how lucky I am to have seen it, I'm greeted with a feeling of gratitude laced with guilt. Because in all honesty, I have to confess, it didn't leave me in awe. Yet, I felt it was not right to tell those who ask how beautiful it was, to tell them my perception of it. A perception that was influenced by the weather, the place I was in, and most of all, my expectations. I didn't want to be adding another set of perceptions to people's expectations.
It got me thinking though, this view I had of the Aurora Borealis. It reminds me of life, and how we are always chasing our desires. But sometimes, our desires don't turn out to be what we expect them to be. When that happens, it's difficult to reconcile the conflicting feelings within. You should feel overjoyed, and yes there is a sense of gratitude, though it feels like a bit of a let down and you're guilty for feeling so. Don't get me wrong, chase your desires. But that's just it, are they YOUR desires? Is the Aurora gorgeous because you really believe the phenomenon is life's awe or is it because it's on everyone's bucket list, and the TV and videos and HD photos just make it more gorgeous than it actually is. Again, the Aurora is gorgeous, but not the WOAH! impression, it's a silent beauty, a quiet glow, that can only be appreciated with a contented heart. While I was not left as impressed as I imagined to be, I wasn't exactly disappointed as well. As a matter of fact, I was more eager than ever to work my way to find my way up to the Scandinavian countries where there is a better view of the Aurora, or so they say. And this time, I want to do it because I really believe I can see more of the Aurora - never-ending desires or motivation? We won't know now I guess.
So, what does your Aurora look like? Can you chase after it answering your conscience, and let go of all attachment related to the outcome, whatever the outcome may be? God willing, the outcome is as you expect, but God willing also, that you have the gratitude to accept whatever outcome comes up.
Gotta run! ;)
I saw the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. To many, myself included, this was a dream come true. The faint green glow across cloudy skies prove to challenge what my naked eye could see in the beauty of the photos and videos that have fed my expectations - a bit too much.
When everyone asked me how was the Aurora, or tell me how lucky I am to have seen it, I'm greeted with a feeling of gratitude laced with guilt. Because in all honesty, I have to confess, it didn't leave me in awe. Yet, I felt it was not right to tell those who ask how beautiful it was, to tell them my perception of it. A perception that was influenced by the weather, the place I was in, and most of all, my expectations. I didn't want to be adding another set of perceptions to people's expectations.
It got me thinking though, this view I had of the Aurora Borealis. It reminds me of life, and how we are always chasing our desires. But sometimes, our desires don't turn out to be what we expect them to be. When that happens, it's difficult to reconcile the conflicting feelings within. You should feel overjoyed, and yes there is a sense of gratitude, though it feels like a bit of a let down and you're guilty for feeling so. Don't get me wrong, chase your desires. But that's just it, are they YOUR desires? Is the Aurora gorgeous because you really believe the phenomenon is life's awe or is it because it's on everyone's bucket list, and the TV and videos and HD photos just make it more gorgeous than it actually is. Again, the Aurora is gorgeous, but not the WOAH! impression, it's a silent beauty, a quiet glow, that can only be appreciated with a contented heart. While I was not left as impressed as I imagined to be, I wasn't exactly disappointed as well. As a matter of fact, I was more eager than ever to work my way to find my way up to the Scandinavian countries where there is a better view of the Aurora, or so they say. And this time, I want to do it because I really believe I can see more of the Aurora - never-ending desires or motivation? We won't know now I guess.
So, what does your Aurora look like? Can you chase after it answering your conscience, and let go of all attachment related to the outcome, whatever the outcome may be? God willing, the outcome is as you expect, but God willing also, that you have the gratitude to accept whatever outcome comes up.
Gotta run! ;)
Monday, January 21, 2013
Wandering and Wondering
So. I officially graduated again on 10th of January this year, a Masters this time round.
Looking back, much has been bumpy, even more have been blessings.
Someone once asked me "Why did I choose to do my masters?"
I said it was for experience, learn a different culture, increase my knowledge.
But I say that with doubts rising within me. Because honestly, I don't know why I wanted to do my Masters.
I just wanted to do it. And I get it's a privilege to get to do something you want to do.
Nevertheless, I find it largely challenging to describe the tangible benefits of taking this Masters. I've learn a lot, sometimes I think more than I bargain for. But I can't put a tangible worth on these lessons.
Thus, I find that a little troubling. Though a friend said that he wouldn't worry about me not being able to bring extra knowledge to the table, unless I'm a waitress, haha
So, was it worth it? My tendency for future-orientation makes me a person who is constantly trying to question something's worth, trust me, I'm working on it.
I must admit that there are times when I doubt whether taking this step was worth all the change that had happened. I do wonder about other possible paths.
Yet, at the end of all that wondering, I find it hard to be on the other possible paths. Whether it is a case of sunk cost fallacy, self-bias justification or protecting the ego, a small part of me felt this had to happen.
From the beginning where there were various obstacles in my application, to changes in relationships, to facing parts I try to forget, discovering parts I never knew and feeling like a new me yet still the same old me leaves me feeling absolutely surreal.
Ultimately if I really had to answer the question of worth, I would say 'Yes, it was' and smother it with tons of 'it depends' and a smidgen of strong conviction that I actually believe what I say is true.
A lot of people are starting to question the worth of getting degrees and papers that may not even reflect our true self, and question whether education institutions are even relevant to prepare the world for what reality has to show
I've always been a strong supported of education, partially influenced by my grandmother. And while it used to be defined narrowly by achievements and 'A's", in the recent years it had shifted to a perception of mastery.
I have not been an apprentice, so I don't know exactly how the learning process is to start low and slowly progress. I can agree though that it is significantly more practical that a pure college education.
Perhaps a tertiary education is as much the skills as the learning environment. To be put in the vicinity of opportunities to pursue knowledge may sometimes be all we need to actually learn something, if anything.
To a certain extent, I can see how tertiary education may be more suitable for some more than others. But call it conformity, peer pressure or the beauty of human relationships. Being around those who seek knowledge really does give an impact on your own pursuant of knowledge.
Again, it's not the "A's" or distinctions or first classes, it's knowledge of living as a better person.
Throughout my one year in UK, I've met so many different people in various situations simply because I'm pursuing my Masters degree.
People who teach me about Pancake Day, the experience of picking berries, celebrating Easter with eat-chocolate-whole day.
People who have done great things, start their own rebel business, commit themselves to social innovation, planning Christmas dinners.
I don't think any item on that list would look relevant on a career CV, but I think it's got a darn good place on my life CV if that is even sensible. Being a Masters student in UK gave me the passport to both study as a "typical" student and also the access to other life experiences I may not have gotten.
Those that ultimately shape me as a person. And this is my personal reminder should I ever decide to question the worth of my decisions, because honestly, worth itself may not be the most quantifiable term. So, if you have what it takes, and you can honestly give it a shot with an education overseas. Take that passport, and journey into different life experiences. Do it because you believe in it, and not especially because here is one extra blog post that encourage you. Think about what you can do with your passport, literally and metaphorically.
They say not all those who wander are lost, I think not all those who wonder are lost too.
To my year of wandering and wondering, to my temporary home, UK, cheers!
and Hello, Malaysia, for more wandering and wondering.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Fake it till ya' make it yo!
Inspired by this talk; Amy Cuddy : Your body language shapes who you are
As a Psychology student, the first thing I always (I'm betting on a 99% chance) get is "you are reading my mind" or something by those lines whenever I meet someone for the first time and introduce my background. Other than being slightly annoyed and often wondering if I indeed did miss such a class, it's a reflection of how prevalent the concept body language is in the society. Sure, psychologists are associated with the ability read body language (seriously, I need to look up my course outlines), more than that, this association rings to us that humans generally are familiar with body language, and the consequences of it.
My own stand on body language is I've never been a big fan, simply because of the negative connotations often associated with it; say pick-up artists, fortune-tellers etc. It's one of those really useful concepts that when grasped well can be use for good, or evil. Unfortunately, the negative wiring of my mind seems to remind me more of the negative aspects. However, in the recent years, I've become more accustomed to the idea of body language as a concept that can develop individuals. In the talk mentioned above, Amy Cuddy speaks about using body postures to "talk to yourself" and make you feel empowered prior to better deal with socially threatening situations.
A core theme in the talk which I interpreted with my understanding:
"Although biology (i.e. hormones) plays a significant role in making you feel a particular way, you can also manipulate this mind-body connection which goes in a loop, to use body postures which trick the brain into producing the hormones that help you feel what you want to feel"
And there were reminders that this is not meant to assert power over others (which could still be possible depending on the individual's intention); hence, why I use the term empowering rather than power as the latter seem to reflect dominance over others. Also, from the talk, the experiment seem to have told participants that they will be doing either a high-power pose or low-power pose which from my opinion could already prime their thoughts to actually think they will be powerful after doing whatever pose and vice-versa. That conclusion is more similar to self-fulfilling prophecy which is really not a bad thing, cause if just by thinking then you can feel it, it's perhaps even simpler to carry out than a particular behaviour.
So. My babble above is my opinion on how we can empower ourselves, and one way is through body language. Amy Cuddy mentioned "tiny tweaks can lead to big changes" which I resonate with because I believe that sometimes the biggest changes, comes from the smallest steps.
What made the talk post-worthy though, was this - fake it till you make it. Or in her terms, fake it till you become it. While that is really motivating, and is often the case, I find that to internalize something you really don't want to believe in can be more dejecting that than accepting who you are. This does not invalidate her study, but what I'm saying is there is a need for self-acceptance, or checking where you are before launching into a whole "I can do this!" So yes, the little tweak may include some extra steps after all.
Take this article for example; which premise lies in how positive thinking may backfire if we don't feel confident in ourselves to start with. Personally, I agree. It becomes so stressful to know you should be able to do it if you keep thinking positively but yet you keep feeling like you are fighting against yourself. That does not mean both articles are wrong, though it does signify that we need to know WHY we are doing it. Say, I am going to an interview, and I'm shit nervous. I could use those body postures to empower myself and who knows, I aced the interview. In the long run, I find myself using the body postures to help me whenever I feel insecure or anxious; yet, even when I'm leading a team, I don't feel comfortable, don't feel like I belong. The problem is not that I couldn't be empowered, but why I want to be empowered. Is this really a position I want? Or am I comfortable actually be an expert in the background? Am I seeking to empower myself because the society has a silent pre-requisite that suggests everyone should be awesome because being okay means something is wrong with you or because I really want to change myself?
You can fake it till you make it, or even become it. But if you don't understand why you want it, why you do it, it will be difficult to really internalize it. So why, why do you want whatever change you want?
In concluding this long blog post, I resonate with Amy Cuddy's proposition that we need to share all these empowering tips, because people who need it, often don't have the resources.
And I'll share my proposition, which is power upon who you really are, if you're going to fake it, fake it for a truth you believe.
As a Psychology student, the first thing I always (I'm betting on a 99% chance) get is "you are reading my mind" or something by those lines whenever I meet someone for the first time and introduce my background. Other than being slightly annoyed and often wondering if I indeed did miss such a class, it's a reflection of how prevalent the concept body language is in the society. Sure, psychologists are associated with the ability read body language (seriously, I need to look up my course outlines), more than that, this association rings to us that humans generally are familiar with body language, and the consequences of it.
My own stand on body language is I've never been a big fan, simply because of the negative connotations often associated with it; say pick-up artists, fortune-tellers etc. It's one of those really useful concepts that when grasped well can be use for good, or evil. Unfortunately, the negative wiring of my mind seems to remind me more of the negative aspects. However, in the recent years, I've become more accustomed to the idea of body language as a concept that can develop individuals. In the talk mentioned above, Amy Cuddy speaks about using body postures to "talk to yourself" and make you feel empowered prior to better deal with socially threatening situations.
A core theme in the talk which I interpreted with my understanding:
"Although biology (i.e. hormones) plays a significant role in making you feel a particular way, you can also manipulate this mind-body connection which goes in a loop, to use body postures which trick the brain into producing the hormones that help you feel what you want to feel"
And there were reminders that this is not meant to assert power over others (which could still be possible depending on the individual's intention); hence, why I use the term empowering rather than power as the latter seem to reflect dominance over others. Also, from the talk, the experiment seem to have told participants that they will be doing either a high-power pose or low-power pose which from my opinion could already prime their thoughts to actually think they will be powerful after doing whatever pose and vice-versa. That conclusion is more similar to self-fulfilling prophecy which is really not a bad thing, cause if just by thinking then you can feel it, it's perhaps even simpler to carry out than a particular behaviour.
So. My babble above is my opinion on how we can empower ourselves, and one way is through body language. Amy Cuddy mentioned "tiny tweaks can lead to big changes" which I resonate with because I believe that sometimes the biggest changes, comes from the smallest steps.
What made the talk post-worthy though, was this - fake it till you make it. Or in her terms, fake it till you become it. While that is really motivating, and is often the case, I find that to internalize something you really don't want to believe in can be more dejecting that than accepting who you are. This does not invalidate her study, but what I'm saying is there is a need for self-acceptance, or checking where you are before launching into a whole "I can do this!" So yes, the little tweak may include some extra steps after all.
Take this article for example; which premise lies in how positive thinking may backfire if we don't feel confident in ourselves to start with. Personally, I agree. It becomes so stressful to know you should be able to do it if you keep thinking positively but yet you keep feeling like you are fighting against yourself. That does not mean both articles are wrong, though it does signify that we need to know WHY we are doing it. Say, I am going to an interview, and I'm shit nervous. I could use those body postures to empower myself and who knows, I aced the interview. In the long run, I find myself using the body postures to help me whenever I feel insecure or anxious; yet, even when I'm leading a team, I don't feel comfortable, don't feel like I belong. The problem is not that I couldn't be empowered, but why I want to be empowered. Is this really a position I want? Or am I comfortable actually be an expert in the background? Am I seeking to empower myself because the society has a silent pre-requisite that suggests everyone should be awesome because being okay means something is wrong with you or because I really want to change myself?
You can fake it till you make it, or even become it. But if you don't understand why you want it, why you do it, it will be difficult to really internalize it. So why, why do you want whatever change you want?
In concluding this long blog post, I resonate with Amy Cuddy's proposition that we need to share all these empowering tips, because people who need it, often don't have the resources.
And I'll share my proposition, which is power upon who you really are, if you're going to fake it, fake it for a truth you believe.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry
Had some awesome conversations, read some awesome writings, and here I am thinking, we should not made to be apologetic, not for not hurting people, not for being authentic, especially not for being authentic.
It' arguable that authenticity is a construct subjective to the one who perceives it. What we see to be true to ourselves may annoy the hell outta someone else.
I guess for me, the line I draw is when it seriously doesn't hurt someone. And no, being a reason for you to perceive as annoyance is seriously debatable.
No one should be made to feel that their opinion is on a less equal footing than others.
Or that their preferences make them weird, or freaky, or *insert not-nice term*
If I want to like Justin Bieber, I will like him
If I like emo chinese korean drama, I will like it
If I like to be less of a hipster, more of a hipster, more boring, less boring, crazy spontaneous, less spontaneous, funny, sarcastic, likes chilli, hates sambal...you get the gist.
It's funny how humans inadvertently sets standard for oneself, and funny how we are forever trying to achieve it till the point when we realise we live by standards others set for us, or we perceive others set for us.
We put everyone's word on a pedestal, and while I am all out for openness and empathy, it seriously doesn't work when it means your own perspectives are ignored, and devalued.
That said, it does not give you the damn right to be so entitled and think that being yourself means you can heck care about anyone at all.
You be the judge. You are always your best judge. Save for God perhaps. =)
Time for bed. Goodnight, and oh, you are alright, seriously, you are.
It' arguable that authenticity is a construct subjective to the one who perceives it. What we see to be true to ourselves may annoy the hell outta someone else.
I guess for me, the line I draw is when it seriously doesn't hurt someone. And no, being a reason for you to perceive as annoyance is seriously debatable.
No one should be made to feel that their opinion is on a less equal footing than others.
Or that their preferences make them weird, or freaky, or *insert not-nice term*
If I want to like Justin Bieber, I will like him
If I like emo chinese korean drama, I will like it
If I like to be less of a hipster, more of a hipster, more boring, less boring, crazy spontaneous, less spontaneous, funny, sarcastic, likes chilli, hates sambal...you get the gist.
It's funny how humans inadvertently sets standard for oneself, and funny how we are forever trying to achieve it till the point when we realise we live by standards others set for us, or we perceive others set for us.
We put everyone's word on a pedestal, and while I am all out for openness and empathy, it seriously doesn't work when it means your own perspectives are ignored, and devalued.
That said, it does not give you the damn right to be so entitled and think that being yourself means you can heck care about anyone at all.
You be the judge. You are always your best judge. Save for God perhaps. =)
Time for bed. Goodnight, and oh, you are alright, seriously, you are.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
"Who Packs My Parachute?" - Domesticated
This one's inspired by an article from one of the most amazing people I know, and had the chance to work with; Mr Roshan Thiran (CEO of Leaderonomics Sdn. Bhd.).
He wrote an article published in the STAR ("Who Packs YOUR Parachute?") which in a nutshell described the story of US Navy Jet pilot Charles Plumb who survived a combat mission destroyed by a surface-to-air missile thanks to his parachute. Despite being captured for 6 years, he survived, teaches leadership and in the process meets the person who packed his parachute - essentially the dude that probably saved his life.
Click link to read more, that's the whole point of the link.
My life itself is nothing close to any adventurous combat mission involving lotsa kaboomz but hey, life itself is worth fighting for no? With or without guns.
And the biggest question then is, who "saves" me? Not necessary when I am dying metaphorically from assignment stress or literally from a possible accident given my klutziness, but when I really feel helpless, weak etc, who is/are my parachutes, my safety bases?
Of course, one can argue especially if reading from the article that the whole idea revolving it is the importance of teams in business hah! If you didn't know that, you probably didn't read, shame on you.
But hey, aren't the people around you your team? Your life team as a matter of fact.
Take for example, family. These people are for better or worse, blood-related-born-to-be-obligated-teammates.
Besides blood relations and cultural norms and my lack of knowledge in any scientifically proven biological connection, why the heck is family obliged to pack your parachute?
Think about it, in times when you need to rant about your assignment for the N-th time, or when you are so tired from working OT, or when you are sick in bed with a cold. Mum comes in knocking, and the "nagging" starts. "Boy/girl, I told you to eat the Vitamin C everyday, don't listen, see now fall sick" and it goes on for quite a bit.
Nagging is not easy, neither is worrying, or caring. As someone who plays both the role of someone who is good at nagging yet hates being nagged, I can say, either role is not easy. But being the nagger kinda has the shorter end of the sick, cause it's not something easy to do especially out of care yet often misunderstood.
Your mum doesn't have to go out of her way to put Vitamin C and the best value one at that into her shopping list, remind herself to remind you to eat it, be disappointed when you don't eat it, then take care of you when you actually fall sick from not taking care of yourself. But she does it, simply because she care, simply because you are part of her team.
And for working teams, you'll be attracted towards some sort of organizational goal, but for mummy? I don't reckon your goal is any similar to hers, she in essence, doesn't get anything tangible in return. Other than feeling good because her son/daughter is fine.
Yet, thanks to her awesome husbandry and chicken soup, you're once again ready to take the world.
Now, tell me she doesn't deserve some form of tangible gratitude. No, not expensive gifts. I meant a sincere thank you. When was the last time you said that? =)
And that's just mum, don't get me started on daddy, sister, brother, cousin brother and the list goes on. Even longer list if you're from a collectivistic society, at least that's what research points to, haha.
My family packs my parachute. So well, so meticulous, I've managed to soar to higher heights, and land very safely from the many falls. Sometimes, the falls don't even feel like falls because more than making sure my parachute works, they also prepare a super awesome landing space, a safety net to ensure that I can continue my journey. Thank you.
They don't have to.
People don't understand when parents abuse their kids I still cannot comprehend that as well but we don't BOTHER understanding when they show extra love for us kids, as if it's so well deserving okay maybe to certain extent, if you finish your brocolli or something, haha
High time we say those thank you-s.
The words; you don't know what you have until you lost it will ring so loud when it actually happens. And no one wants that kinda ringing in life, as much as they can help it.
Then there are friends. Of course, given the numerous theories in the market (i.e. Social Exchange Theory) that speaks of friendship having reciprocated social exchanges that lead to continuity of the relationship, friends again, are not oblige to be there for you - even if you're so rich you buy them a sausage roll everyday for the school year and they get a tingly feeling of guilt every time they are less nice to you.
Really. Most people can be selfish someone once enlightened me about how people are naturally bad because hey, we never actually have to teach someone to be bad, but it takes a whole load to teach people to be minimally good. Agree or disagree is a point for another post.
So going by that premise, technically speaking, your friends can choose to reciprocate your niceness with mean-ness.
Often though, that doesn't happen with friends. Especially those in the true-est form.
You can forget to call them or make them wait 2 hours for you all the time or finish their sausage roll by accident, and all they are likely to do is frown, let out a deep sigh and say "Remind me why I'm your friend again?"
Before bursting into fits of laughter. Together with you.
Now, when does the gratitude for them happen? We often forget to say thank you, forget to say "Hey, I'm glad we're friends" because well, being friends for so long and so comfortable, you kinda have the silent agreement of you-know-I-know-we-appreciate-each-other.
It's silent. and sometimes too silent, it becomes unheard for a long long time.
That's a good time to say it out loud, as a reminder, as doing your part of being a friend.
Gratitude is simply just letting the person know that you are aware of what they are doing, past, present and (illogically speaking) the future.
If it's nice to be appreciated, trust me, it feels equally good to show appreciation for those you know deserve it. Just that it requires more effort sometimes, like all giving is more effortful than receiving.
I have awesome friends. If there's anything like karma, which I do believe in by the way, I must've done pretty good stuff because I am blessed with the best people I can get.
There's the Chinese proverb that goes 在家靠父母, 在外靠朋友 ; which basically means "whilst one depends on parents at home, one should depends on friends when venturing outside".
Pretty true considering the numerous times I had my butt saved thanks to awesome friends. Or even those times when the fear and self-doubts crowd you like the feeling of leaping from a combat plane, I always find myself having a friend or at least the feeling of having someone to depend on.
Someone who lets me know my parachute is working fine, and that I can continue flying. Even if I fall, they'll be there. Cause hey, we're part of each other's life team. Thank you.
Then there's the presence of your other half; who really at times probably annoy you so much you're tempted to shoot a missile at them but only often because you care la, really, haha.
Despite all that, he/she provides you with a form of safety net, slightly different from the makings of friends or family.
Often he/she is your combat partner, the one who does the last check on your parachute making sure you're good to go, safe to fly.
Do they get a thank you? Probably rarer than friends. As life would make it out to be, often those closest to us are taken for granted. And I'm not sure if you realise this, but we're way more forgiving with friends than with our other half; mostly to do with expectations.
The role as your other half does come with a list of pre-requisite expectations, but again, no one says anyone has to do anything for anyone just cause they play a role. Cultural norms social norms what not, some things do come from the heart.
and that itself, deserves a thank you.
I never imagined myself saying this in a million years this is where you let out the guffaw you've been trying to hold, but I am so blessed to have a really amazing guy by my side. Someone I can be myself with, and best of all, he accepts the whole of me - at least for now my turn to guffaw, hahaha!
Though very much physically apart, it's nice to know that there's a safety net to fall on, despite flying 7000 miles away. Thank you.
If in business it boils down to your employees and relations with them as per mentioned in the article, in life, it boils down to the relationship you have with these closest people.
Gratitude is an amazing force. If spending one minute of Facebook or Twitter means you have one minute of saying thank you to someone who deserves it, DO IT. Now.
Thank you my parents because if it wasn't for you both I would not be able to live such a comfortable "student-budget-life", or have the strength to do what I have to do, want to do even when sometimes I get so stressed out and tired.
Thank you my siblings for being amazingly supportive they would burn bullies' house down for me, and encouraging me in the weirdest ways like telling me I'm fat. yes, I feel the love. I really do.
Thank you my family, people like my grandmother who single-handedly sew me a blanket just so I have a piece of family to bring to UK, my cousis sister who never fails to remind me that I am always in their thought at home. You have no idea how much it eases loneliness.
Thank you my besties and close buds from everywhere, who despite the crazy time difference, still think of each other and capitalize on amazing technologies (i.e. Facebook) to keep in touch. Who despite being so far away all the time, somehow when the time calls for it, something somewhere will remind me that I have people like you to give me strength.
And thank you my dear boyfriend who honestly I cannot decide if you overlap in the above category, but holding on, and taking care of me 7000 damn miles away, keeping my sanity intact. Most of all, always reminding me that I am strong enough to walk through all this.
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks”. — Unknown
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