tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28407375354833049152024-02-07T10:18:29.588+08:00Penned by CharmainThe blog and portfolio of Charmain Sim - writer, editor, bloggerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-87039425232694369802016-10-01T17:26:00.002+08:002016-10-01T17:26:50.843+08:00New homeHey there,<br />
<br />
If by some miracle there are still visitors to this blog, thank you for your loyalty!<br />
Or if you came here by chance, hello!<br />
<br />
Just like to let you know, though, that I've since moved, and you're more than welcome to drop in at my <a href="https://charmainsim.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">new place</a>.<br />
<br />
See you there!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-27525062634822863932015-09-02T21:45:00.002+08:002015-09-02T21:45:54.586+08:00Honesty, mission, and the reflections thereofI was searching through my blog for <a href="http://www.charmainsim.com/2013/03/day-17-what-i-want-to-be-remembered-for.html" target="_blank">a particular post</a> I remembered while attempting to write a personal mission statement. In doing so, other old posts popped up, and I was amused at the random things I so easily shared with others.<br />
<br />
Then I came across this post about <a href="http://www.charmainsim.com/2009/10/honestly-broken.html" target="_blank">being honestly broken</a>.<br />
<br />
And two things came to mind.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Wow, not bad, I can write! (Yes, yes, self-praise, but this is me reading something written 6 years ago, which time I don't remember having anything worthy to say)</li>
<li>Where has that spark gone?</li>
</ol>
<div>
Yes, where has that spark gone? I still write - I'm a fulltime writer and editor! - but I find myself struggling with articulation much more than before. So I have actually been wondering what the deal is.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is what I hope September to be - the month of rediscovering that spark. That's why I was nosing around with that idea of a personal mission statement in the first place!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So... I guess this rediscovery of old posts is confirmation that I'm on the right track?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-47673125002168116342015-08-07T18:20:00.000+08:002015-08-07T18:20:07.163+08:003 Things to Do on a Rainy Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyh5eL2CLKk5dTazbfh6iuoZijkJ1abhzQ2OYjUUK_j9cF2wJEBO019qD1UreEdDtvgW2qEx-lL2QZqfHEnWS_lRIEDkp0Ji20Oio6cpF69vDpjlUKiTx13eH3GtQqNTtbHJtqXACK8Ki/s1600/xqjts6dfnf8-shlomit-wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyh5eL2CLKk5dTazbfh6iuoZijkJ1abhzQ2OYjUUK_j9cF2wJEBO019qD1UreEdDtvgW2qEx-lL2QZqfHEnWS_lRIEDkp0Ji20Oio6cpF69vDpjlUKiTx13eH3GtQqNTtbHJtqXACK8Ki/s640/xqjts6dfnf8-shlomit-wolf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today is a dreary rainy day. It's been raining since late
morning. Normally rain is the perfect excuse to stay indoors, snuggle in the covers
and watch a movie. But today has been particularly restless for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My big plan was to go grocery shopping. Yes, that sounds
like an odd thing to be designated a big plan. But the thing is I'm running
out of produce at home. Because I have limited items at home, there's little I
can make in the kitchen. That's why I wanted to get groceries today. Now I'm in
a Catch 22 - I can't cook because I don't have enough items, and I can't go out
to buy those items because it's raining, and because it's raining I have to
remain indoors and look for something to do. And for some reason, I'm very
hungry today so I can only think about food!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, by the way, I don't have a car here so I have to walk. And
it's one of those tropical thunderstorms, so I'd be drenched. The Catch-22
continues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So finally, <i>finally</i>,
I've decided to be more positive instead of moping around. All is not lost. So
many others are going through much more than I. What right do I have to
complain and waste the day? With that, I've come up with three productive
things one can do on a dreary rainy day... besides watching <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> for the 30th time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
1. Organize the files on my computer</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm a terrible digital file keeper. I normally don't have a
system to begin with, so that's the problem. I just keep going with the flow
and develop a hodgepodge system along the way. Eventually I end up with too
many folders with overlapping labels and multiple copies of the same file. It can
be frustrating and nags at me every time I save or download something. So
actually, this is the best time to get this straightened out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
2. Read quality articles online</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
None of those viral videos and Buzzfeed, please. It's not
that I don't love them. On the contrary, I get sucked into them easily. So
here's to being more intentional with what I read and watch... especially with
so many hours to <strike>waste</strike> utilize.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
3. Write</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hence this post. There are a few more items on my to-do
writing list, but I figured this is a good place to start.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And there you go, my attempt to redeem the remainder of the
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I'm gonna go sort those files.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-49201158439427048142015-07-30T18:54:00.000+08:002015-07-30T18:56:09.576+08:00The perfection of food<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvtqB382DZK2Ml6Xtd2g0HIfLBNxsx3lx-WWRZZ7ts6Mxqd0gQzPbsbno4flx2b8kvrf9RFImeqqtyQ39h0_eTwSRIDUX4_7GgVr1aBwzWu__DkxNu0_S4WAPeM9cO4_lUkRQaxTurvYt/s1600/P1050746+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvtqB382DZK2Ml6Xtd2g0HIfLBNxsx3lx-WWRZZ7ts6Mxqd0gQzPbsbno4flx2b8kvrf9RFImeqqtyQ39h0_eTwSRIDUX4_7GgVr1aBwzWu__DkxNu0_S4WAPeM9cO4_lUkRQaxTurvYt/s640/P1050746+cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's lunch: Cheesy egg sandwich with herbed tomatoes and capsicum // CHARMAINSIM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ever since I got married, I've been a regular inhabitant of the kitchen. I knew how to cook, but there was never a need for me to cook every single day. So that took some adjusting to. Thankfully, the cute young man my husband is not a fussy eater. Tastes fine + healthy = happy man. During his uni days, he ate tuna sandwiches almost every day.<br />
<br />
As for me, I don't mind having the same thing for a few days. But I also love experimenting. I enjoy opening the fridge, looking at what I got, and figuring out what to make.<br />
<br />
But it's not as easy as it sounds. The headache is coming up with a dish in the first place. Sometimes I want to make something, but am missing an ingredient. So I have to look for an alternative ingredient or find another recipe.<br />
<br />
In all honesty, the kitchen is where my need for perfection reveals itself. I can spend about an hour obsessing over recipes, another half hour deciding what is doable and what isn't, and then, no matter how much I plan ahead, most likely spend half the day in the kitchen.<br />
<br />
Yes, my husband isn't a fussy eater, but I take pride in serving him the best I can prepare. I take seriously the adage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Seriously. Kinda.<br />
<br />
And now I've spoiled him. Haha!<br />
<br />
Anyway, today's lunch was another one of those Let's-study-ten-recipes-and-see-what-to-improvise kinda thing.<br />
<br />
This sandwich had:<br />
- Two slices of multi-grain wholewheat bread<br />
- 2 scrambled eggs with cheese and Greek yogurt<br />
- Sliced capsicum and honey tomatoes seared with herbs and pepper<br />
- Lettuce leaves<br />
<br />
I might have to rethink my obsession with cooking. It can be really time-consuming.<br />
<br />
But it's so fun creating!<br />
<br />
Ah well, until then, here's to dinner which is coming soon and I hope you have a good evening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-39869582015153293442015-07-24T11:56:00.003+08:002015-07-24T11:56:37.380+08:00Watch this space<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxNG-j22vh2ULaQZWkgcTZcr2OKMQOguONRIpEy9qfNgeEjMwgXtlVBc9Sjp8r8GPuPTsjQijVRWEoBI0cXp-BMsrbtk-zW0JtEgeAvf0GoO0G1jHP-2lE2hCzHl2K1zr96R30xfILcSI/s1600/desktop+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxNG-j22vh2ULaQZWkgcTZcr2OKMQOguONRIpEy9qfNgeEjMwgXtlVBc9Sjp8r8GPuPTsjQijVRWEoBI0cXp-BMsrbtk-zW0JtEgeAvf0GoO0G1jHP-2lE2hCzHl2K1zr96R30xfILcSI/s640/desktop+resize.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My planning process does not look as pretty as this // Unsplash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Dear friends,<br />
<br />
If any of you still visit here, bless your heart.<br />
<br />
I figured it's time to assure you that, no, I have not forgotten the blog. It's on my mind almost always.<br />
<br />
Since the beginning of this year, I've been the web editor at <a href="http://www.asianbeacon.org/" target="_blank">work</a>. It was something thrown to me, but it's been fun learning the ropes of CMS and the basics like scheduling posts ahead of time. Yes, all these years and I'm only aware of editorial calendars now. It's such a basic necessity to planning and yet it went right over my head.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I now appreciate the value of a well-run publishing platform. And if I'm to have credibility as a writer in this Twitter-Instagram-Medium era, I need to buck up on my own blogging goals and habits.<br />
<br />
The point is: I'm in the process of developing a new blog, one that is more focused in theme. Proper blog planning takes time, as I play around with the content, design and publishing platforms. So you'd have to wait for quite a while for that. Feedback is welcome!<br />
<br />
But until then, I will keep this blog alive as much as I can, to either share my journey or keep the brain juices flowing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
<i>Charmain</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-56670367376071754132014-09-02T18:35:00.000+08:002014-09-02T18:45:29.295+08:00When a Waterfall Taught Me a Lesson<span lang=""><em>I wanted to post this few weeks ago, but ended up thinking it trifling. But now as I reread it today, it doesn't seem so bad. Here's hoping you think so, too.</em><br />
<br /><br />
I was part of a conversation about recent negative current events happening one after another. Someone in the group commented,</span><br />
<span lang=""><br />
"When it rains, it falls."</span><br />
<span lang=""><br />
Okay, yes, the correct version states <i>pours</i>, not <i>falls</i>. At that moment, though, that unintended mistake resonated with me better than the correct one.<br />
</span><br />
<span lang=""><br /></span>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span lang="">The month of July and August was a whirlwind of events. While there were the good times, such as my husband coming home, a wedding, and festive celebrations, there were also the tough moments. There were deaths, serious prayer needs, the usual deluge of work, and the agonizing wait for my husband's return which got delayed over and over again. Let's not forget the downing of flight MH17, the threat of the Islamic State, and the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. I'm a person given to worry and dejection, so though the list above seems trivial now, it sure didn't feel that way then.</span><br />
<span lang=""><br /></span></div>
<span lang="">
</span>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span lang="">Through this time, there was one lesson God taught me, that's made me deal with worry better. Instead of boring you with a how-to, allow me to describe it through something I did in July.</span><br />
<span lang=""><br /></span></div>
<span lang="">
<div align="JUSTIFY">
Water abseiling. Like this:</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_vXFneg6AO6o-gUtuhKItLNJd5DqP1xAtAGbfIZBQmht_7kBC1ExxjRpQw46MCOgnpNhLK683YeBb5vbDI0ZGvIx477Xz764cTZ59iKkGeHJE7RI8woNRxWrJnLdCJKeJOd7vQJ8xpxY/s1600/20140712_110249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_vXFneg6AO6o-gUtuhKItLNJd5DqP1xAtAGbfIZBQmht_7kBC1ExxjRpQw46MCOgnpNhLK683YeBb5vbDI0ZGvIx477Xz764cTZ59iKkGeHJE7RI8woNRxWrJnLdCJKeJOd7vQJ8xpxY/s1600/20140712_110249.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a 9-year-old girl and her mom abseiling!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
I’ve done indoor rock climbing a few times, so scaling down a wall wasn’t something new. So I was pretty confident that I'd do "well" in this activity. Nerd as I am, I was careful to observe the guide's demonstration of the right techniques.<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
"Use the left hand to slowly release the rope. Lock the right hand, also holding the rope, behind your back to stop the slide. And make sure your body is positioned like an 'L' against the rock - keep your legs straight."</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<i></i><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="display: inline !important;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
Hmm... Looks easy enough.</div>
</div>
</div>
<i>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">When it was our group’s turn, I volunteered to be first. That’s one of my tendencies </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> jumping into something before counting the cost.</span></div>
</i></span><div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I mean, <i>How hard can it be? </i>I had a strategy </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">–</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Get the techniques right, and you'll be fine.</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
Yeah, right.</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
As soon as I got over the edge, I was terrified. Terrified of losing my footing, even though if I did, the guides would support me with the extra safety rope. Then I started thinking about the distance below, (which wasn't very far down, but when your mind starts imagining…) and my mild fear of heights crept in. Then I began to feel the pressure of the water rushing down like a bunch of kids snapping a stream of rubberbands towards me.</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
But I was determined to make it through without failing. So I focused on the techniques. My legs were so straight, I’m pretty sure someone could have used me as a rule to measure the degree of the waterfall. It didn't seem to work, though, because my feet kept slipping. The techniques were becoming strenuous, and my arms started to burn.</div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
Halfway through, I was ready to give up, and almost released the rope. Then self-preservation kicked in. So I clung on and somehow found my way to the bottom. As soon as the guide held my rope, I stumbled free with relief, walking into the sun to chase away the chills and humiliation.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
Watching my friend's attempt, I reflected on mine and wondered where I could have done better. Honestly, I was annoyed and disappointed with myself. How could I be so weak? What was I doing wrong that I kept slipping?</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
We're allowed to abseil as many times as wished. So, resolving to do better, I made my way back up. Soon it was my turn again, although this time I was much more hesitant.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
Then I realized the truth in the early part of the second attempt.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
I was focusing on the wrong things! I focused on the techniques, the torrents of the water, and the threat of the drop. More importantly, I was focusing on myself and not making a fool of myself.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
I didn’t think of one thing: The Rock.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
What a difference it was after that! I loosened up, taking my mind off the height and the waterfall. Even though I took care to perform correctly, I was able to relax more, being easier on the placement of my feet, so long as they are firmly planted on the rock. Yes, I still was mindful of the techniques and was aware of the water whips and burning arms, but this time I remembered that in all this there is one thing that is constant, immovable and firm - The rock wall. Knowing that the rock wall won't be running away gave me the assurance that all will be well in spite of my mistakes and fears.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
I finished that round triumphant, yet humbled that a "simple" correction could teach so much.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
It seems ironic that letting go gives more security. But it’s because my focus was on the right place. It’s like when Peter walked on water; when he looked at the storm, his faith gave way. All he had needed to do was look to the Rock. Matthew 7:24-27 also has deeper meaning for me now.</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br />
So this is one lesson I’ve learned lately, and one I’ve called to remembrance often on those days when the murky negative emotions threaten to push me down.</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
</div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-50113515883754844302014-07-03T14:35:00.000+08:002014-07-03T14:53:57.890+08:00Twenty-six to One<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“The way to do a great
deal is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all is to be
continually resolving that you will do everything.” – Spurgeon<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week, I met up with a few friends. Over scoops of
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/insidescoopkl" target="_blank">delicious durian, hazelnut and <i>teh</i> <i>tarik</i> ice-cream</a> (not all together) we got
to sharing how “growing up” has changed our priorities. Eventually, four pairs
of eyes were looking eagerly at me as they asked, “How about you? How has
marriage changed your priorities?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stumbled through an answer – a decent one, I’d add, which
had everyone nodding in agreement and understanding. But as it is with me, I
felt like I didn’t explain myself as well as I would on paper. So here I am,
sharing the longer version of my changed priorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It started with birthdays: my birthdays. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was turning 25, I felt accomplished. Teenage-hood,
high school, college, and the first day of work all behind me, I thought, “Yes,
I’m officially an adult!” But when 26 neared, I became disheartened to see so
little of my youthful aspirations fulfilled. Have I really done so little? Have
I only this much to show?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not that I’ve been bumming around all this time. I was
doing much, actually – planning camps, volunteering, serving in worship teams,
teaching, chauffeuring, working, studying, and fulfilling the many miscellaneous.
But all has blurred together into one big memory, with little recollection
of the significance behind those things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t assume this to be a bad experience for everyone. But
for me, it is a sign of my weakness. As a person who struggles with saying,
“No,” I constantly found myself in the same predicament: doing 101 things in a 1,000
directions. It’s in being helpful that I find my worth, because people need me.
It’s nice that people need me and think me capable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in pleasing people, I’ve often neglected the real things
that matter – seeking God, praying for His kingdom to come, building
relationships, <i>resting</i>. “I’ve been busy” becomes the go-to phrase. I’ve been answering
everyone’s call but God’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how has marriage help change this?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marriage is God’s gift to me in more ways than one, but I'll just focus on one. Because
of marriage, I’ve had to narrow my commitments significantly since the
beginning of this year. It was the push that I needed, to stop being the
headless chicken.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">It’s okay to lose out</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of the volatile nature of my husband’s work, my
career options are limited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wait, I don’t understand. Can’t you still pursue your
career?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, I can. My husband supports me in whatever I want to do, actually. But that’s the thing. As fulfilling as working
or serving fulltime might be to <i>me</i>,
it will not be fulfilling to our marriage. We spend months apart already; when
he comes back, I don't wish to waste our time on other pursuits, just because I'm afraid of losing out. I’m not saying that I can’t do anything at all. What I’m saying is
that I have to be wise with what I say “Yes” to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">It’s okay that you’re
replaceable</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those
roles that I was afraid of letting go because I didn’t think there’d be anyone
to take over? Well, I'm wrong. There are so many capable persons out there,
more capable than I ever can be. I am not irreplaceable. I’m not the Saviour. In the end, there are only the few who truly need me, and these are those
who need my all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">It’s okay to simply be</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oftentimes this year, it appears that I’m doing nothing. And, yes, sometimes, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-macy-stafford/the-day-i-stopped-saying-hurry-up_b_3624798.html" target="_blank">I get really restless because I haven't been "useful"</a>. But when I properly reflect
on the first half of the year, I realize there’s nothing I want to change.
Spending time with family, sorting my life out (It’s amazing what one
accumulates over years of scattered-ness), and settling into marriage –
as “slow” as these pursuits are, I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m happier and healthier than I’ve been in a
long while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this is what marriage has done to me. It's made me understand the meaning of redeeming time. It's given me the rest to settle the fizzed mind I didn't even know I had. It's provided the space to <i>finally</i> pursue the dreams that's always been on my heart. It's taught me the lesson of having faith by letting go.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-54687891225155321462014-05-23T11:46:00.000+08:002014-05-23T11:49:00.304+08:00An Impression of DignityYesterday, a group of board members and staff from the non-profit for which I work made a day trip to the Klang Valley. We were in the city to visit <a href="http://www.dignityforchildren.org/" target="_blank">Dignity for Children</a>, a Christian NGO that provides quality education to those in need, especially refugee and migrant children. By the end of the tour of Dignity's work, we were all impressed and inspired.<br />
<br />
When I signed up for this visit, I had no knowledge of Dignity, and so expected to see a tuition center-like school, not dissimilar to other one-man shows I've seen. But then I walked into a dynamic organization that has 90 staff members who manages and educates approximately 1,000 students ranging from pre-school to IGCSE! Dignity is the epitome of a well-established social work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHUiEzZgHpauBFpD6eH9jCD0A1DJhlFqp1oZTyrwlh9rnMZAJw6g6xhcYaUdwBphf1Ncm5v3dhBbf6BvlXmz6yswHWrbWzfY38piKI1Zf0zfRFTegNcBL_DOIOdYUEnQplJUzYADkbH_V/s1600/P1030620+edited+2+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHUiEzZgHpauBFpD6eH9jCD0A1DJhlFqp1oZTyrwlh9rnMZAJw6g6xhcYaUdwBphf1Ncm5v3dhBbf6BvlXmz6yswHWrbWzfY38piKI1Zf0zfRFTegNcBL_DOIOdYUEnQplJUzYADkbH_V/s1600/P1030620+edited+2+resize.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
One certainly wonders how Dignity manages such huge-scale operations without falling apart. During my visit, I was struck by two things. The first is the systemic organization of the operations side. They have properly divided departments like administration, education coordination, finance & accounting, HR & volunteer support, IT, and one entirely focused on fundraising (Dignity runs on a RM5 million annual budget). I'm too familiar with non-profits who are painfully shorthanded, where the few workers have their hands in a hundred and one things.<br />
<br />
The Dignity team is committed to the method of educating as well. They customize the materials at hand into a unique blend of Malaysian syllabus and Montessori pedagogy up to lower secondary. There are more structured IGCSE prep classes for the upper forms. One can see that they commit to developing quality education that should not be withheld from anyone, especially the poor.<br />
<br />
The second impression is the working environment. One can feel passion pulsating throughout the school. Joy is so evident on the countenance of all. And they were very welcoming, especially the young students who were too eager to shake our hands. The students were polite and well behaved, too, which is no small feat for a school of a thousand.<br />
<br />
When it comes to education, Dignity wants to give the best. When it comes to operations, Dignity hopes to manage the best. When it comes to teachers and volunteers, Dignity provides free training to anyone with the right heart. They try their best to look after the welfare of all. And the reason why they are so purposeful in every aspect, is that they value the person more than the structure, or schedule, or praise.<br />
<br />
It's not about the size and embellishments that impresses. Far be it that we should be taken up by the hopes of overnight sensations. Dignity took some 15 years to end up here, and still they are growing. A teacher confessed to us that her stint has been a learning journey: you don't get it right every day. But every day you press on to give.<br />
<br />
At the end of our trip, our guide Petrina, who spearheaded this outreach alongside her husband Ps. Elisha Satvinder, made sure to close with prayer. And I know, somehow, that this is a very prayerful organization. A striking difference from its humble start as tuition classes, Dignity has flourished to what it is today because of the realness of God.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXh1Vrj3vVkluSl6Bb1XOP8wKi9opvYoQditzm82noEr4U9FFFvjDUB643yN9K4k2G1CmN5AsyFEhKs5ZpIYGB-EAd0U4pXTBcG0xVgRvMxHc-RJDkoUEwY2EZC4A7Bz-NuLv20gY7Yk-/s1600/P1030652+edited+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXh1Vrj3vVkluSl6Bb1XOP8wKi9opvYoQditzm82noEr4U9FFFvjDUB643yN9K4k2G1CmN5AsyFEhKs5ZpIYGB-EAd0U4pXTBcG0xVgRvMxHc-RJDkoUEwY2EZC4A7Bz-NuLv20gY7Yk-/s1600/P1030652+edited+resize.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-80596428311518353872014-05-15T12:25:00.000+08:002014-05-15T12:25:14.394+08:00Grass and AustraliaYesterday, I was trimming grass. The smell of freshly-cut grass can be really therapeutic. Cutting grass made me think about having a picnic amidst trees and flowers and waters. Then it made me think about my trip to Australia, and of the idiom, "The grass is greener on the other side". Then it made me think about this blog and how I'm overdue in posting.<br />
<br />
Before I knew it, I've been back in Malaysia for a bit. Time does fly when you're having fun. We didn't do much sightseeing, seeing how we've done quite a bit before. But we did do a lot of shopping! I've gone to Australia three times in four years, and I'll say this - When there are sales, the sales are seriously crazy. Leather boots for AUD 10, denim capris for AUD 5, a Cotton On bag for AUD 2. Is it a wonder why I end up getting most of my clothes there?<br />
<br />
There are no perfect countries, but there are certainly things one cannot help comparing when traveling. So besides the shopping, here are three other things I enjoyed in Melbourne.<br />
<br />
<b>1) The nature</b><br />
Lots of it, and well maintained. Yes, Australia has bigger land and fewer people than Malaysia, but Australia's culture is really such that people go outdoors a lot, snapping up every bit of sunshine they can. Melbourne is dotted with parks, beautiful country and coastal towns, and offers various activities to do outside. You can ask my little brother, who came home to find our playgrounds lacking after the, what, 20 playgrounds he played at in Melbourne. I enjoy picnics and walks, and Melbourne had ample greenery to serve those delights. When we went to the coast for a few days, I remember how my dad used to take my family to the beach often. It was one of the good things of living in a coastal town. But now, with all the reclamation and developments, a good beach is getting further and further away.<br />
<br />
<b>2) The service industry</b><br />
Efficient, courteous, obliging. It's not that there were no bad service there, nor is there no good service here. But one cannot help acknowledging that good service in Melbourne is the rule rather than the exception. For one, we're given freedom to browse, rather than having a salesgirl invading personal space and breathing down your neck with an expectant "Yesss?" And I like how the sales people help you as much as possible rather than just shrugging, "Don't know. Don't have. Cannot. It's like this, wan."<br />
<br />
I also noticed the practice of cashiers stating the bill, payment and change. Like, "It's 25.50. That's 30, and here's 4.50 change." That seems like an excellent habit of accountability.<br />
<br />
Once I left a shopping bag behind in a shop. When I discovered my mistake, we had already gone home. With 15 minutes left to closing time, we hurried back to the mall, hoping that Australia's good testimony will pull through this time. I ran to the store and found the shop girl closing the store up. When I mentioned the bag, she took it from under the counter where it was kept and passed it to me as though returning lost shopping bags was part of her everyday routine, with just a smile at my repeated thank-yous. Another time, my brother's hat left in a restaurant was carefully kept too. It's times like these, when you're struck by a person's simple honesty, that you realize how skeptical you've become of the <i>tidak apa</i> service industry back home.<br />
<br />
<b>3) The driving</b><br />
Simple and patient. There are no motorcycles riding against traffic, no impatient driver cutting across three lanes, and little fear when crossing the road as a pedestrian. When a car is turning off the road or parking, the driver behind would wait patiently instead of trying to squeeze past as soon as possible. Again, it's not perfect: I witnessed a taxi driver who was annoyed at the car ahead for stopping for pedestrians. But overall, one is definitely less stressed when driving in Australia - or at least Melbourne.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONE5NpA94pxrAr76QmmnBBPkkrukJAaXEJbE5gXwBL0pAvMcK91rWm354mMFj-g8UxNBU9JYm8YgwS4eopQkcyQblwzbqRhXqGuRdg2J6EIc3A8pLO_s5ySw1GRi3Y0yfZKLBOcldXnr0/s1600/P1030354resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONE5NpA94pxrAr76QmmnBBPkkrukJAaXEJbE5gXwBL0pAvMcK91rWm354mMFj-g8UxNBU9JYm8YgwS4eopQkcyQblwzbqRhXqGuRdg2J6EIc3A8pLO_s5ySw1GRi3Y0yfZKLBOcldXnr0/s1600/P1030354resize.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through rose-colored glasses - Port Phillip / Charmain Sim 2014</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm not going to go on a tirade complaining why Malaysia can't be this, or that, or every other better thing. I know enough that problems and solutions are never straightforward, but tied up in a lot of bureaucracy, corruption, culture, and apathy.<br />
<br />
But it doesn't hurt to recognize the good when you see it. So here's to a good holiday.<br />
<br />
And now, I shall have to get myself ready to go out and tackle the streets of Malacca - which, quite frankly, scares even non-Malaccan Malaysians.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-77603209325569911012014-04-14T20:34:00.000+08:002014-04-14T20:36:28.953+08:00Of Chocolate Bunnies<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m actually in Australia visiting family. I’ve
come here so often, and have been enjoying my stay so much that I almost forgot to record this trip. Since travel is one of the
topics I plan on covering here, I need to learn to observe more intentionally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing I’ve noticed on this particular trip is the Easter
festivities. This is the first time I’ve seen so many chocolate rabbits - ever.
Rabbits, eggs, hot cross buns, and children running around in Easter-themed paper
hats and bunny ear headbands – it’s all a new experience.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first, in spite of my love for chocolate, all the hype bemused me. Do we really need
all those bunnies? But then I realize that my reaction is because of the state
back home, of how much we in Malaysia <i>don’t
</i>celebrate Easter. It seems that for a supposedly major festival for
Christianity, we don’t do much about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But do we really?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, I’m grateful that we are less impacted by the
commercialism of Easter, so that society, especially children, are not clouded
by chocolate but instead given more room to learn about Jesus at Calvary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I'm grateful for this very wake-up call, because more often than not we don't see the blessing and opportunity right in front of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here's to sharing the good news more than sharing chocolate.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKNilwXsDmB-NvntJbdlV6x-Zm6E0gUcc6cRdSJ4S4JVCNnTImceKQUwELSxHWzYtDewGsUt4f9xauNk3sLboytMvnAIFFfc0IB6Lq65zOHTicGrU-_Di8_LeZ2WWe7OaHsm0JkOoQg2a/s1600/P1010925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKNilwXsDmB-NvntJbdlV6x-Zm6E0gUcc6cRdSJ4S4JVCNnTImceKQUwELSxHWzYtDewGsUt4f9xauNk3sLboytMvnAIFFfc0IB6Lq65zOHTicGrU-_Di8_LeZ2WWe7OaHsm0JkOoQg2a/s1600/P1010925.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-71515720671898818702014-04-07T13:32:00.000+08:002014-04-08T14:17:03.316+08:00Book Review: Roughing It<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflahzAqQJnDhdXDoaTOMAxCTc_WfqRudSRCRN60sNwl9LtlTOWYdkQvrQEUm_EC0WgBzoLj5X1Fue0ZD7YAXhnxhsFpoS9zZQYlplZOQQW3vpURqOt43eLT7yT6I274geUJqcDNuI5PQz/s1600/Roughing-It.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflahzAqQJnDhdXDoaTOMAxCTc_WfqRudSRCRN60sNwl9LtlTOWYdkQvrQEUm_EC0WgBzoLj5X1Fue0ZD7YAXhnxhsFpoS9zZQYlplZOQQW3vpURqOt43eLT7yT6I274geUJqcDNuI5PQz/s1600/Roughing-It.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So this post was in the works since last week, but with
the preparations for yet another trip, I couldn’t finish it on time. But here
it is now!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We know the name Mark Twain, and are familiar with his most
popular novels, <i>The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer</i> and <i>The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn</i>. What’s not really known are his other works. Honestly, I personally
assumed that though <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_bibliography" target="_blank">he must surely have written more</a>, perhaps the rest were
deemed not as good as his two rambunctious characters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t remember how I came to possess a copy of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roughing-Signet-Classics-Mark-Twain/dp/0451531108" target="_blank">Roughing It</a></i>, but judging from the RM5
label on the back of the worn 1962-printed book, it must have been a find at a
secondhand bookstore. This was waaaay before the existence of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bbwbooks" target="_blank">Big Bad Wolf Booksale</a>. And yes, I’ve only just now gotten round to reading it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Roughing It</i> is a
semi-autobiographical book about Twain’s travel adventures during the years
1861-1867. It’s only part autobiographical because Twain was very liberal in
embellishing his experiences. Also, he digresses a lot into gossips, legends, and informative essays that mostly didn’t have any relation to his main plot. Ramble is the
word. Actually, I liken Twain’s approach here to that of a blogger who may tell
a tale for tale’s worth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The book starts when Twain’s brother Orion Clemens was
appointed Secretary to the Territorial Governor of Nevada, and to Twain’s
delight, Clemens invited him along as private secretary. He didn’t stay long as
a civil servant, however. Young and restless with just enough ambition, he took
this turns as prospector, reporter and traveling lecturer. The book takes the
reader from the anarchy and dust of the Wild West all the way to the hypnotic
tropical richness of the Sandwich Islands, Hawaii. (<i>On a side note, did sandwiches come from Hawaii?)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m not going lay the entire synopsis out, but I’ll summarize
<i>my</i> impressions into three main
points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stories about People</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
I love stories about people, so of course I’m delighted by the people Twain’s met, or even people he’s heard about. He met Slade the Terrible, a
well-known and much feared murderer, Brigham Young, and some “insignificant”
but very interesting persons. His description of the Chinese miners reveals
that at the heart, Chinese culture and traits have changed little. And his
accounts of the Hawaiians and their laidback attitude remind me strongly of a
certain modern tropical nation and their love for taking things easy.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Twain’s Wit</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Twain deserves his title as one of the greatest American writers in history.
The same tongue-in-cheek humor found in his more famous books can be found here. Some of
the funny stories are not originally his, but he gives such liveliness to them.
Such as this case when he was describing a particular editor he had.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once, while [Mr. F. was] editor of the Union, he had
disposed of a labored, incoherent, two-column attack made upon him by a
contemporary, with a single line, which at first glance, seemed to contain a
solemn and tremendous compliment – viz: “<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">The
logic of our adversary resembles the peace of God</span>” – and left it to the
reader’s memory and afterthought to invest the remark with another and “more
different” meaning by supplying for himself and at his own leisure the rest of
the Scripture – “in that it passeth understanding.”</span></i></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wild West</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
I found his time in the Wild West extremely fascinating. What I know of that time
is gleaned entirely from films, and we know films tend to romanticize things.
So to read of a firsthand account is a delightful discovery. To be sure, the
lengthy explanations of mining and “prospecting” perplexed me, but there’s much
insight – both grave and sweet – into the raw state of new communities. To
imagine the hordes of individuals who gave everything to find that one streak
of solid silver, to shudder at the lawlessness such that the level of honor
given depends on the number of men one has killed, to be tickled at Twain’s description
of the advent of a new attire called “jeans” - there's much from the Old West to intrigue.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
I truly enjoyed <i>Roughing It</i> for its
social and historical commentary, in all its frankness and imagination. Admittedly,
it can be difficult to tell which is true and which is invention, but it doesn't quite matter. It’s a delightful sneak peek into the person behind Mark Twain. The final impression I have of Twain is that even though life had served him more than his fair share of trials, particularly financially, he never gave up. Instead, he picked himself up, found the next thing to pursue, then wrote humorously about it after. Regardless of the situation, Twain always had something to write about, and it is this keenness that ultimately led him to his calling in the pen.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3177" target="_blank"><i>Roughing It </i>can be read free from Project Gutenberg</a></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-14609776080284560772014-03-31T11:23:00.000+08:002014-04-14T20:58:18.696+08:00Taking Stock<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8D_DyQs0ZnMLcbH3KWXPo0zck5AtZ2Cs-YdJXA9X85hyphenhyphenogVwqqu27QoBj-y4OIbq1pXN8j5-apQ1QbPiRclea5cR-MyCQthstS3RR0IP9wTQ0ZNPerPvLi3uh67vDbxPMRCoDMm4o5WV/s1600/puzzle-55883_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8D_DyQs0ZnMLcbH3KWXPo0zck5AtZ2Cs-YdJXA9X85hyphenhyphenogVwqqu27QoBj-y4OIbq1pXN8j5-apQ1QbPiRclea5cR-MyCQthstS3RR0IP9wTQ0ZNPerPvLi3uh67vDbxPMRCoDMm4o5WV/s1600/puzzle-55883_640.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puzzle pieces / Pixabay.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since it’s been a while, here’s what happened the past few
months:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">I quit my job.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZWnub0Vrsg" target="_blank"> </a></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZWnub0Vrsg" target="_blank">I married the cute young man</a> who’s turned my
world upside down and all around with selfless love and bountiful joy. Marriage
is truly a beautiful thing!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">I moved house, for obvious reasons.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">I had a chance to sail again! Though it was only
2 weeks, it felt good to be back at sea… and with a husband this time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">With my marrying and my sister gone overseas to
study, my family has been adjusting to this new situation of “separated lives”.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m branching out to be a </span>full-time<span style="font-family: inherit;"> freelance
writer.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you can see, it’s been a transition period. It’s an
amazing transition, one for which I’m grateful and excited every single day.
But transition also means a time of unsettledness. I’ve been lugging a suitcase too often, and my possessions are helter-skelter. It sometimes feels like
my life has been divided into little puzzle pieces that are waiting to be put
together. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So last week, for the first time in a very long time, I determined
to start taking stock.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Simply put, it’s spring cleaning time!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Actually, it started off with just needing to move things
over to my new place. But the more I look at my stuff, the more I realize that
there’s plenty of things I could do without – things I don’t want wasting precious real estate! Also, the thought of my husband possibly passing out from
the sight of all the random things I’ve kept is an undesirable one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As it is with spring-cleaning, it can be fun going through
old stuff you forgot, like drawings given by kids I taught, and school papers
(<i>My ambition was to be an artist?! Since when?</i>). Then there are the shocking
discoveries (<i>Floppy disks! Oh the days when… Wait, <a href="http://thebesthasyettocome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">whose Taylor Swift CD is that?</a></i>) and things you wish you could throw but can’t (<i>Why are you made out of
such good stuff? Rust already!</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">By week's end, I’ve managed to build a
worthy pile to throw or recycle. It's only Phase 1, but as a sentimentalist and
hoarder-in-denial, it’s a small victory. *pats self on back* </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You may wonder why I’m taking the time to tell you this.
To me, though, this push to take stock taught me that as much as I want to treasure every single memory from the past, they’re just that – the past. The number of things kept from
then cannot return the day. Yet it doesn’t mean that it’s to be
forgotten. It means that one should embrace and appreciate a moment as it
happens. This reminds me of a scene in <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/?ref_=ttqt_qt_tt" target="_blank">The Secret Life of Walter Mitty</a>, </i>when photographer Sean O’Connell hesitated
to take a picture of the snow leopard:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Walter Mitty: When are you going to take it?</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sean O'Connell: Sometimes I don't. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Walter Mitty: Stay in it? </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sean O'Connell: Yeah. Right there. Right here.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.65pt; margin-bottom: .05in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another lesson learned is to ask honest questions about what I truly value. Though there are many things I want, there are only
few that I need. Being on a near-constant mode of travel has taught me that I can
live on considerably little, and that little gives me more contentment than the
many that could ever provide.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, I’m in the process of sorting through the
puzzle pieces, throwing away the ones that don’t belong, and slowly fitting the
right ones together. It’s like a detox. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And this detox is </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">a good step taken for this year - to simplify,
consolidate, and focus on the things that matter.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-70089704306774898632014-03-24T19:20:00.000+08:002014-03-24T19:20:07.589+08:00If I Didn't FailThe last time I blogged, I was participating in a <a href="http://www.charmainsim.com/search/label/30days" target="_blank">30-day challenge</a> alongside friends. Obviously, the days stretched much longer that 30. There were only a few days left, but just as I saw the finish line, the next topic on the list sent me into months of silence because of the question it posed - "What would you be doing if you knew you wouldn't fail?"<br />
<br />
"Who can answer that in one day?" I asked in return.<br />
<br />
So I left it on the shelf, occasionally returning to brush the dust off and pore over the question. Eventually, I came to realize and accept the answer:<br />
<br />
If I knew I wouldn't fail, I'd be writing.<br />
<br />
For someone who professes to love writing, I sure have been embracing it at arm's length. Sure, there's a blog, albeit a haphazard one. Then there's <a href="http://www.asianbeacon.org/?s=Charmain+Sim" target="_blank">writing for a magazine on the side</a> for 5 years. But not much has been done to multiply this talent. Even all the encouragements from people to pursue writing had been received with hesitancy. Knowing man's inevitability to fail one time or another, I've chosen to be safe. But what's the point, right? In order to avoid failing, I haven't really tried.<br />
<br />
Long story short, the many moons of contemplation has led me to here - the beginning of an intentional journey as a wordsmith. It's going to be a journey with lots of mistakes and lessons, but at least I'm going to try.<br />
<br />
<i>Even</i> if I fail, I shall write.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-67705682929118445862013-10-16T17:12:00.002+08:002013-10-16T17:12:42.918+08:00the restless will<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father, I know that all my life<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />Is portioned out for me,<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />And the changes that are sure to come<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />I do not fear to see;</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ask Thee for a present mind,<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />Intent on pleasing Thee.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would not have the restless will<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />That hurries to and fro,<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />Seeking for some great thing to do<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />Or secret thing to know;<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />I would be treated as a child<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />And guided where I go.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wherever in the world I am,<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />In whatsoever estate,<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />I have a fellowship with hearts<br style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;" />To keep and cultivate.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a work of lowly love to do</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the Lord on whom I wait.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>So I ask Thee for the daily strenth,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>To none that ask denied,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>And a mind to blend with outward life</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>While keeping at Thy side;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Content to fill a little space,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>If Thou be glorified</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>And if some things I do not ask,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>In my cup of blessing be,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>I would have my spirit filled the more</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>With grateful love to Thee -</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>More careful - not to serve Thee much,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>But to please Thee perfectly.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>There are briers besetting every path,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>That call for patient care;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>There is a cross in every lot,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>And an earnest need for prayer,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>But a lowly heart that leans on Thee</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Is happy anywhere.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>In a service which Thy will appoints,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>There are no bonds for me;</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>For my inmost heart is taught "the truth"</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>That makes Thy children "free;"</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>And a life of self-renouncing love,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Is a life of liberty.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="list-style-type: disc; margin-top: 0px;"></i></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px; list-style-type: disc;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Anna L. Waring, 1850</span></i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-51197967728820397492013-08-12T13:20:00.001+08:002013-08-14T15:35:29.932+08:00bookmarks (081213)She has awoken.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/taking-modern-day-sabbath">Taking a Modern Day-Sabbath</a> - I had a pretty good one this Raya holiday. Hope you did, too. Thank God for rest. :)</li>
<li><a href="http://lisajobaker.com/2013/07/when-you-think-your-love-story-is-boring/">When you think your love story is boring</a> - My love story is not boring. But I'd better bookmark this for the future me, on those days I may feel... otherwise.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21583239-real-science-lies-behind-fad-standing-up-work-standing-orders?fsrc=nlw|hig|8-8-2013|6338624|113365401|AP">Standing orders: The perils of sitting down</a> - Where can I get a standing desk?</li>
<li><a href="http://markmanson.net/6-toxic-habits">6 Toxic Relationship Habits Most People Think are Normal</a> - This in no way reflects my own relationship, haha. But it's definitely good advice to avoid falling into such habits, like #2 (I tend to keep things to myself). I have to nitpick about the jealousy point though. Flirting with others is in no way respectful.</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-60346957071332183402013-06-25T14:46:00.001+08:002013-06-25T14:48:03.109+08:00bookmark (062513) - invisible builder<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9YU0aNAHXP0" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-16624817220789256512013-06-12T14:30:00.000+08:002013-06-17T17:27:43.912+08:00bookmarks (061213)Here's a peep from me. Okay, bye!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22729780">Why does France insist school pupils master philosophy?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://urbangospelmission.com/the-almost-unforgivable-sin-a-womans-story-of-redemption-from-adultery/">The "Almost Unforgivable" Sin</a> - A woman's story of redemption from adultery.</li>
<li><a href="http://crossshapedstuff.com/2013/06/04/how-i-know-my-wife-married-the-wrong-person/">How I Know My Wife Married the "Wrong" Person</a> - Don't miss out <a href="http://crossshapedstuff.com/2013/06/07/how-i-know-my-wife-married-the-wrong-person-part-2/">Parts 2</a> <a href="http://crossshapedstuff.com/2013/06/12/how-i-know-my-wife-married-the-wrong-person-part-3/">and 3.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance">Edward Snowden: The whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations</a></li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-74506243202774729282013-06-12T14:19:00.003+08:002013-06-12T14:26:35.000+08:00day 25 - your definition of loveOkay, here's another peep.<br />
<br />
I've decided not to post the usual somber thoughts on love - partly because I already <a href="http://charmainsim.blogspot.com/2012/04/love-and-slice-of-cake.html">posted something in line</a> with this topic. Instead here's a short play by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Neil Patrick Harris, performed at <a href="http://www.hitrecord.org/">hitRECord</a>'s Fall Formal 2011. They discussed what type of movie love is like. Be warned, there are several expletives. But that aside, it's rather funny!<br />
<br />
What type of movie do <i>you</i> think love is like? I'm gonna go with musical.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mGg_EZBtdzc" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-19103959333048941882013-05-07T14:58:00.000+08:002013-05-07T14:58:40.026+08:00bookmarks (050713)Got a pretty good mix here.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://therebelution.com/blog/2013/05/have-you-met-clayton-mcdonald/">Have you met Clayton McDonald?</a> - When you know you're going to die.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22430062">Three US women missing for years found in Cleveland</a> - Amazing! So glad they've been found.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/1/4279674/im-still-here-back-online-after-a-year-without-the-internet">I'm still here: back online after a year without the internet</a> - A good insight into human nature. But besides that... One year! I wonder if I can last that long.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/in-darkest-night-a-blueprint-for-sunrise-shernren">In the darkest night: A blueprint for sunrise</a> - You've probably read this already. But how can I not include something about the elections? ;)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.boundless.org/relationships/2005/what-not-to-say-about-marriage?utm_source=nl_boundless&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=158607&refcd=158607">What not to say about marriage</a> - "All I wanted was a plate of spaghetti."</li>
<li><a href="http://community.focusonthefamily.com/b/jim-daly/archive/2013/05/06/max-lucado-39-s-big-ego.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JimDalyBlog+%28Blog%3A+Jim+Daly%29">Max Lucado's Big Ego</a> - He's fighting the battle we all fight.</li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-90260181624037086182013-05-04T00:10:00.002+08:002013-05-04T00:29:24.944+08:00day 24 - something I did as a child that others remember me forWhen I was a toddler, I used to jump off beds and chairs often. It was so often that my forehead became a permanent bump. Apparently, I was always game for a trip out of the house. So whenever someone goes, "Charmain, want to go <i>kai-kai</i>?" I get overexcited and leap before thinking.<br />
<br />
I know this to be true because my parents, aunts and uncles have recounted this 'habit' to me more times than I can count. They also now accredit my stellar intelligence to all those bumps.<br />
<br />
If that's the case, I say my younger self knew what she was doing and invested well.<br />
<br />
Or maybe she simply believed she could fly.<br />
<br />
I think I've figured out why I like Superman.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.comicsrecommended.com/images/dc/secretorigins_001_jump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.comicsrecommended.com/images/dc/secretorigins_001_jump.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-13718524549889297992013-05-03T23:59:00.001+08:002013-05-04T00:10:42.433+08:00day 23 - most awkward first impression I feel I've given<i>{I have my reasons on why I've been silent the past two weeks. One of it is the fact that the topics of the last days disarmed me. Few required no more than one descriptive paragraph, others overlapped each other. Well, I've rearranged and compiled the topics. So here's the first of the anecdote series. Be forewarned that this may get awkward.}</i><br />
<br />
Does your nose ever itch? When that happens to me, I either rub my nose or scratch the whole bridge down. Yes, this is an odd anecdote. Anyway, it was a cold day in Melbourne, and I was with family on a trip to Phillip Island. Most likely it was the cold, but my nose began to itch terribly just as we were parking the car. So there I was, happily scratching my nose as I turned to open the door, only to look right in the face of a teenage boy grimacing just as <i>he</i> was exiting the car next to us. It was the grimace of disgust. At first, I was confused. What did I do to earn such an unfavorable opinion? Then it dawned on me.<br />
<br />
He thought I was picking my nose.<br />
<br />
At least that's what I think he thought. Nothing else happened then that could be considered gross, and he was certainly looking directly at me.<br />
<br />
As both our groups walked toward the visitor's center, I actually thought of running to him and saying, "It's not what you think! I was just scratching my nose!"<br />
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I don't know if that would have sounded any better. And I wasn't a hundred percent sure of my assumption of his assumption. So in the end, I had to live with the torment of knowing that I perhaps could have given one of the awkwardest first impressions ever. I felt so unjustified. Still do.<br />
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Because I most certainly did not pick my nose!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-31654929066751358312013-04-19T12:00:00.000+08:002013-04-19T12:00:04.433+08:00day 22 - someone I would give my life up without questionAh, another tough one. But should ever a time like that come, I hope I'd be selfless enough to give my life up for anyone.<br />
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But if you really want to know specific persons...<br />
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My siblings. Was there any question?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-81684496712308966692013-04-18T17:00:00.000+08:002013-04-26T13:10:07.085+08:00day 21 - my favorite medium of artThe past week has been... busy. Sorry I didn't have articles to share on Monday. But here I am, pushing for the last 10 posts before the end of April!<br />
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Today's topic is a tough one. I enjoy all forms of art - literature, film, theater, photography, dance, music, drawing and painting. I appreciate the challenges of creativity within the boundaries of each medium. Well, one genre I don't get yet is modern art. But let's leave that for another day.<br />
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It'd be easy to talk about literature, because, uh, it's obvious I love words. So let's talk about films. Actually, films incorporate all kinds of art. There's photography, script, and music. And dance for Bollywood. And with animation, there's drawing, too. Plus so many books are being adapted into movies, so literature's a yes. Should we talk about theater now that Les Miserables is a hit?<br />
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Here's one short a friend shared with me a long while ago. It was for the Schweppes online film festival.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uy0HNWto0UY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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And here's the Disney animated short that won an Oscar this year for best animated short film. Interestingly, they both run along the same plot. Which do you prefer?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1pDbVPL6YTw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Well, since I'm at it, here's another one I really like.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cbk980jV7Ao" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-612545148096368632013-04-08T16:25:00.003+08:002013-04-08T20:30:51.950+08:00bookmarks (040813)There are two things with which I have to come to terms: acronyms and meetings. The previous sentence is totally unrelated to below.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-articles/166129-marc-solas-10-surprising-reasons-our-kids-leave-church.html?p=1">10 Surprising Reasons Our Kids Leave Church</a> - Are there other reasons you can think of?</li>
<li><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/millennial-evangelicals-need-more-orthodoxy-less-oprah-doxy-speakers-argue-93132/">More Orthodoxy, Less "Oprah-doxy</a>" -<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "When considering an issue, orthodoxy lays out first principles and are non-negotiable truths, with the Bible as a touchstone, creating a framework through which the merits of ideas can be considered and their consequences evaluated."</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; border: 0px none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/stop-instagramming-your-perfect-life">Stop Instagramming Your Perfect Life</a> - This piece provides only one interpretation of social media, but it's still food for thought.</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; border: 0px none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/2013/03/28/holy-week-and-the-insomnia-of-jesus/">Holy Week and the Insomnia of Jesus</a> - The title implies Easter, but the topic's actually applicable.</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; border: 0px none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><a href="http://mashable.com/2013/04/07/facebook-home-real/#m!9115">If Facebook Made a Real Facebook Home</a> - The Instagram. LOL. Speaking of Facebook...</span></li>
<li><span style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; border: 0px none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><a href="http://lairofthepotato.tumblr.com/post/47010741374/the-hope-for-malaysia">The Hope for Malaysia</a> - In case some of you didn't see the link on Facebook. :)</span></li>
</ul>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840737535483304915.post-73883063965069258982013-04-06T21:21:00.000+08:002013-04-06T21:21:01.180+08:00day 20 - a band I immediately liked and the song that made me like themOne day, I walked into my sister's room and found her oblivious to the world.<br />
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"What are you listening to?"<br />
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Lara said, "Chair (It's been spelled like that since forever), wanna hear a song? You sure like one."<br />
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Bam! I found my new favorite band.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZEabVxHmj0k" width="640"></iframe><br />
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This is the song that got me really hooked to their music after that a capella.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yVxM2iH39ZY" width="640"></iframe><br />
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The Overtones! Great harmonization, an old sound, and men in suits. What's not to like? ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099002549223646687noreply@blogger.com0