I chose the design of my personalize wedding card!

just do it

ok there is no shame in admitting. it takes a guru to tell me to action on what i already know.

but ok what, at least i am planning to act on it, and has taken the baby steps to.

which means, it's working. doesn't matter how it start, what matters is the process and the results :D

it's your own fault

you watch travel shows you read travel blogs of people who share the same passion and belief with.

but the only difference is, they are living it.

and what am i doing?

and who can you blame?

and finally, what do you do about it?

one of the big 5s in my life is definitely this. it just have to be done.

you have but one life.

one heart

I think this is a good thing but sometimes it frightens me the things I learn and experience on a daily basis.

So when I found out yesterday of the extra tickets we could let go at the rock bottom price, I took time out as the voluntary task force to sell the tickets. Not because I get a cut out of it, but maybe, the kick to know that the power of influence and networking can bring about the satisfaction to know that what 'The Wise' says is true - if you truly set your heart and mind to do it.. you can. And all because I truly believe that the 9 people I manage to get in buy the tickets will truly benefit from the talk tomorrow, as I will. And out of these 9 are CXO and senior management level people who have been my clients, or will potentially turn into one. And of course, my best friend who believed that the hundreds blown away is worth more than its usual thousands, but will bring about new insights about life, unquantifiable by moolah.

Ahhh.. the joy of being in the rat race. Not often felt, but today yes. And we will see what the man has to say tomorrow. Looking forward to the seminar from the second best in the world. So excited!!

my little pleasures

having a military husband means coming home to me every night is not a taken for granted thing. similar to husbands who fly very often, mine stays out a lot, hanging out in the jungles and forests of singapore. especially now with his 2 months course, he comes back over the weekend.

so today, surprises surprises, he is home today. although he didn't last any more than the quick dinner and zoned out immediately after his shower, its little pleasures of him being beside you that matters.

so please excuse me while i lay beside him to watch him sleep.

bye!

15km/h

Nothing mathematical, just came up with that number randomly. I believe (with absolutely no evidence at all) this was the speed I was at before the big fall.

Anyways, a trip to an Orthopedic and a hip x-ray later, I am at home resting. Still working from home, but welcoming the good break.

Was touched twice today - of a random jc classmate calling to have lunch with me (after donkey years) and of my bro's comment in my previous post below.

I always felt that I am a very ordinary person leading an ordinary life, hearing how I created an impact in my brother's life made me very happy.

In other news, some unknown force decided to make me do some things in life.

I have picked up reading once again. This time round, I am no longer reading trashy fiction (which is good for the soul and form of relaxation) but now, self help / leadership books to build up my character. I want to remember what I read and apply it

Books I've read in the past few months:

John C Maxwell - 21 laws of leadership and (reading) Leadership Gold
Robin Sharma - The Greatness Guide and The monk who sold his ferrari
Dale Carnagie - (reading) How to win friends & influence people
Brian Tracy - (reading) Crunch point

Not the most exciting books, and I love reading 2 or 3 at a go. It helps make it easier to digest. I also bought a very beautiful book to write down my learning journal of leadership and skill building.

Remember, the difference between a worker and a manager is not in the skill of that person. The Head of Engineering department may not know more technical stuff than a typical Engineer, but it is the human skills that allows him to make a few times more salary. So why don't you start building your skills today?

I have also stopped being a bo chup bride and started my engine going (tiny steps at a go). With the bridal package signed, first fitting coming up, my wedding card selecting process in progress, I am on a roll!

Next, things I want to do :

I am inspired to get in touch with one friend every 2 months (must start my goal small) - meeting up with at least 1 old friend for coffee / lunch / dinner every 2 months. With technology at my finger tips, there should be no excuse that cannot find.

I will need to buy 'the shoe' after the fitting and knowing the colour of my gown and eveninggown. I am incline to get a pair of white shoes no matter - cos I just lurve white.

Stay healthy, drink my vitamin C, wash my face every day and DIY home spa once a week to pamper myself.

no one sleeps when they are supposed to.

I just said it in FB. I love 2006.

I am actually very pleased the way my life turned out. No one looks back and wonder why I spent the year after I graduated bumming around, working only a third of the year (which is actually ok considering I make 3x more than a usual fresh grad).

To this I will clear my throat and correct them that I managed to

- Quit a job and end a bad relationship
- Snag a SIN-SFO-SIN for 399SGD.
- Spent 12 days (of which 2 were in the clouds) by myself BUT not alone in US of A.
- Meet someone cute (arguable whether it was a good or bad thing)
- Decide to leave the country for a year just like that *snap*
- Travel to Munich, Frankfurt, Roma and then settled in London
- Found a job within a week of arrival
- Had a blast of a London summer
- Made shit loads of money (in my humble opinion) and spent it all away travelling.
- Couchsurfed in Spain
- Had a white Christmas with my aunt's family in Calgary
- Went to Chicago and New York on an extended "en-route" back to London.

If you don't think this is a feat, and you think spending your year working in the miserable paying job which makes you a sinister person who makes awful snorting noise at people who actually live their lives is what you still prefer to do, then

fine by you.

Because for me, my memories are etched forever.

the seemingly mandatory look-back-at-2008 post

not the best fan of monkey see monkey do but i guess there is no harm looking back in time to see how a year looked for hui.

work : moved from huge struggle to small success. secrets to success - pride, people, persistency and passion. glad to finally see the benefits reaped - since june. should be staying on for now.

love : moved from single to married. from houseless to hugely in debt. from ringless to solitaired + bulgaried. what more can i say but yes, i have found the right one (although i am a fifa widow now that he has found his true love in a game)

friends : meeting up less than i like because of the busy schedules mainly, but also because i am a lazy bugger. if i decide to make a ny resolution, this will be part of it. but thank goodness all turned out well - the 2 most important ones are joining me in the married club next year (ok, maybe the year after for the other one)

so what can i say? apart from my recent attempt to reconnect with my inner gym rut self in order to look good by oct 09, i guess i will try to turn up at work on time, get more done in less time to have better work life balance, be healthy, exercise more, eat less, hope that everyone i love remains healthy. that's about it.

yup. oh, and i was lying in bed half dead during the countdown because i was ill. boo!

The impossible dream | sleep

It was cold in SR4.4 School of Economics and Social Science. I decided to pop over to the Kopitam to buy a teh C at 9pm. Of course, I am on caffeine high.

Only 2 words. Sibei cham. 1.37am and I cannot sleep. How to work tomorrow?

But have to try lar. Guess re-reading the mandarin coursework should help. Will try now.

P.S. Dad says the yen keeps going up. Not likely my Canon DSLR price will drop in a years time. How? *ponders over the thought of the many other things i need to buy*

Night.

The November Splurge

Remember my one luxury item a month? I've decided to buy a DSLR for November and learn photography for real. It has been something I have talked about on and off but had done nothing about. Time to get down to it and make it real. If I can go for business mandarin lessons, there is nothing else I cannot do.

I don't know which model, or even which brand, but I'm pretty set on it. So once my other half comes home, I will get him to go along with me, which is like a bit of a happy birthday present to myself as well.

Non obligatory non pressurising tip for those who wants to buy me a present but have no idea what - you can contribute to my DSLR fund. Non monetary contributors can also contribute in suggestions and tips. I don't want to spend a bomb, but don't want to get a piece of crap. What are the must have accessories etc will be good.

Who says people should stop spending in times like this? Just have to take a cautious approach, that's all!