To U-noe-who..
erm..xtra reading ah..Self-directed learning

here r some inspiratin quotes which I ve picked ..courtesy of my dearest cousin, SL..
cos copied fr her blog ah. Thks, ger ;)
To relate 2 ze FOC crash course, there will be a small msg after each quote 4 u 2 ponder over..
So here i go..Happy reading..

We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean,
but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
-Mother Teresa.

No matter how comfortable u r being in ur comfort zone, at ze end of ze day.. wat i got 2 say is tat..
u can make a difference in others' lives as well as getting out of ur turtle shell..2 embrace the world with love n a more up close & personal way tat..I am sure tat as time passes by, overcoming ur greatest barrier issnt tat tough.. It's all in ze mind..Mind over body ah..sounds familiar rite hehe..anyway, jiayou! I ve faith in U..take time n patience but dun worry.. i'll b ard 2 guide n help u if necessary provided i free ah..


The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile,
nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when
you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

tis quote just simply struck a chord in me when i came upon it.. Just a descriptn tat sum up our frenzship & how it begins.. All in all, the take home msg is tat mutual trust is vital 4 all relationships 2 work be it b/w frenzs, couples, siblings, parent n child etc.. It is just like the indispersable commodity of our life, Time.. Once lost, things will never b the same again & more efforts' needed 2 make up for the loss

Self-trust is the first secret of success.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just as impt as mutual trust b/w 2 or more pple, self-trust is another impt aspect of our lives..
Tis 's a much more tricky one as it involves overcoming urself..u being ur own greatest enemy..plus fears..
Even i myself can't say tat i have much self-trust in myself too, but at least i can say tat i am working on & i 've improved over the years..Ultimately, confidence ..the fruit of self-trust..can be enjoyed upon the accomplishment over time..

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.
We shall never know all the good tat a simple smile can do.
-Anonymous quotes

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.
They must be felt with the heart."
-Helen Keller


Every little thing counts..just like a simple smile can brighten up someone's day..Quoting from a poster i ve b4,..Smile & the world will smile with u..So take small step at a time 2 overcome ur fears and embrace love into your life..n the human touch.. But before u can proceed further..1st n foremost, u got 2 learn 2 respect, love n embrace ur true self..& most imptly, listen to the voice within.. it has been there with u for as long as u live on planet Earth.. just tat u never tap on its immense potential, gathered over ur years of experiences..

Give it a try & life will be different..i promise..provided u try 2 ah..ultimately, i can only do so much, should ur determination wane over time n your flame of hope & faith weaken, u need 2 self-empower on ur own ah.. as i can only b guiding how 2 get there and tat's ze max i can do 4 u..the rest of journey is yours 2 complete..cos tat's ur mind..somewhere i can never really reach...unless i'm a parasite living in u..hehe.. to sum up..u noe.. tis common proverb,..teach a man 2 fish...blah blah..u noe tis, i am sure..oops..i tink too late..me getting sleepy liao, can't recall the whole phrase ah.. Ultimately, it's ur choice 2 make for it's ur life tat u decide how u want 2 lead..ur journey of life..alone or w someone..

If u want sth else 2 read, can borrow tis inspiring bk from me..Tues w Morrie...By Mitch Albom
2 read abt the 6th n 9th tues chapters ah..But then..i doubt so ah.cos my intuition tells me tat u may ve read it b4 liao.but of course.. u can always read it again tis time with a diff perspective..tis time 2 learn 2 apply then a usual novel reading..

I shall end here with my 2 other fav quotes:

Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself
& know tat everything in this life has a purpose.
There are no mistakes, no coincidences. ( By chance? i suppose..my own interpretatn ah..not part of quote)
All events are blessing given to us to learn from

- Elizabeth Kubler Ross


Little drops of Water,
Little grains of Sand,
Make the mighty Ocean
& the pleasant Land
So the Little Minutes,
Humble thou they be,
Make the mighty ages of Eternity

- Julia Carney "Little Things"

Tat's it..bye.. time 2 get back 2 my revision ah..but too sleepy liao..guess kooning time bah..nitez...

Yoz..Nice cheery pix of Sweet Victory hor.. :)

Indeed all the training paid off 4 our senior teams 4 they r ze women ChAmPioNs!

Well done! Congratulations!

Foto Courtesy of our captn & vice-captns..Cici..Ham & Pang..A big thks 2 them!!

Gotten tis as part of our DB gal team ExamBuster Kit!!

I am touched & super motivated liao!

Time 2 do my best 4 exams b4 River Regatta in Nov..

Shall keep my fingers crossed..Hopefully, can be selected 2 row tis time ah..

Hmm..must b consistent in my self-training & runs.. Ganbatte, ger!

Shall end with tis msg @ bk of the above foto:

" Let's Clear this hurdle the Phoenix Way!"

Last Charge for ze Exams...

Phoenix SA!!

My Favourite Song of 2005
...simply sums up my thoughts & feelings..

Little SuperHero Girl
By Corrine May

I feel like a little gal
Trying to conquer the whole wide world
Everybody wants a piece of me
And I just dont know where to turn
I ve got work piled up to my head
All I want to do is jump into bed
And wash away my troubles with lemonade
Play hide-and-seek with the boy next door
Take a trip to Sg and
Imagine how I ll make the world a better place

All I need is a good disguise
One where nobody can recognize
That I m feeling so small
*All I need is a secret weapon
I ve gotta to have faith
Zapping monsters into outer space
I m gonna to be a Superhero

Na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na-
Yeah

If I were a little girl
Trying to clean up the whole wide world
I d kick the bad boys back to school
Teach them fighting is just not cool
I d give every kid a teddy bear
Turn starving people into millionaires
Break glass ceilings with dynamite
Sprinkle a little sugar and spice
Turn the bullies that terrorise
Into pink poodles that bark,
But dont bite

* Repeat.. All I need.. to..Yeah..


Little Superhero Gal
Little Superhero Gal
Save me
Little Superhero Gal
Little Superhero Gal
Save me from myself

I feel like a little girl
Trying to conquer the whole wide world

Yoz..yet another meaningful article 2 share..
Courtesy of Daily OM..Nurturing ur mind, body & spirit
Can't update latest cos gearing up 4 exams & oh yah adjustin 2 a new transformatn in my life.. :) All in all, life's been okie though stress piling up esp when i need 2 cram all ze info on Invertebrae & Vertebrae Biology..Zoology in short..

Haiz....all tis sickening informatn 2 key into my memory systm..arggh..
(but i cant deny tis's a fascinating module) phyla of animals life
Invert...
...ponifera..cnidarian..ctenaphores..
...platyhelminthes..nematoda..annelida..arthropoda...mollusk..echinoderm..
Vert...
...Chordata...Hemichordata...Fishes..Amphibians...Reptiles..Aves...Mammals...

Anyway, here's the article...REad on..

October 25, 2005
Checking Your Emotions
Why We Lash Out

Each one of us has experienced situations where we've found ourselves lashing out at someone without meaning to. We later berate ourselves for losing control and feel guilty for treating the other person badly. And while it is human nature that our emotions and moods will get the better of us from time to time, we can learn to navigate our feelings and negotiate difficult situations without losing our center. Often, when we lash out, it is because we are having a difficult time containing the emotions that are coming up inside of us. We may be feeling overwhelmed, afraid, frustrated, stressed out, or angry. Having these feelings boiling up inside of us can be very uncomfortable, and it is natural to want to release them. But when we release our feelings from our body by directing them outward and toward someone else, they inevitably impact the "innocent bystander" to whom we are directing this energy. They not only get the brunt of our anger, frustration, or stress, but also they can actually experience this energy as a physical force hitting their bodies.

When you find yourself in a situation where you are about to lash out at the person in front of you, try to center yourself by breathing slowly and deeply. A few slow inhales and exhales can help dissipate the intensity of your feelings before they escape you. Later, when you find yourself in a more reflective state, sit down for a moment; recall the feelings in your body just before and during your outburst; note where you feel sensations coming up in your body; and ask yourself if they are connected to any core issue or experience from your life. If nothing comes to mind, then revisit the situation again, exaggerating the details of what happened by indulging in outlandish "what if" fantasies. Exaggerating events after the fact can help expose the unconscious subtext behind your heated response.

Understanding the motivation behind your reactions can help you avoid lashing out again when a similar situation comes up. In learning to navigate around your emotions, you are gi! ving yourself the tools to feel better the next time your emotions start to boil. In doing so, you will be taking care of yourself by alleviating your own uncomfortable feelings while respecting and protecting those around you.

I came across tis meaningful article online
& realised how true it can be for most of us.. be it a tangible or intangible loss..
So decided to post it 4 sharing.

October 19, 2005
From: Daily OM, Nurturing mind, body & spirit
Emptiness Becomes OpennessSometimes A Loss Can Be A Gain

When we lose anything that we cherish, the sense of emptiness we are left behind with can be overwhelming. A space that was filled, whether in our lives or our hearts, is now a void, and the feelings of pain, loss, and separation can sometimes be difficult to bear. While it is always important to honor what we've lost, sometimes a loss can also represent a chance for a new beginning.

When we are ready, the void left by a relationship, a job, or a dream can then be viewed as open space that can be filled with something new: new experiences, new knowledge, new job opportunities, new dreams, new people, and new ways to grow. There are many ways to weave the threads of loss into a blessing. If you've lost a job or ended a relationship, your first thoughts may revolve around filling the void with a similar job or the same kind of relationship. Try not to rush into anything just to fill up the emptiness. The loss of a job can free you up to explore new opportunities, especially if you've outgrown the old one. Likewise, the loss of a relationship can give you a chance to rediscover your own interests, explore new passions, and meet different people. If seeking the good in what seems like a bad situation makes you feel uncomfortable, then try to remember that you are not devaluing what you've lost or replacing it cold-heartedly.

You are surrendering to the fact that, in life, we sometimes have to let go and allow for what is new to enter into the open spaces created by our losses. In doing so, you are honoring what has left you and welcoming the new into your life with open space, an open mind, and an open heart.

Hmm..just gotten back from my usual DB tues training.. tired physically yet still very awake mentally leh..Hmm why like this..I dunno either.. Mind over body perhaps i suppose after all that endurance training @ kallang & gym.. Anyway, Yippee! Finally my oral history assignment had been submitted! The end of all that sickening interview transcript & referencing, footnotes to be bothered with! Just 2 more to go..Prof Diong's essay of clownfish & the haiz..SL assignment ah.. Oh yah..proofreading of my respiratn essay too.
I suppose tat's abt it b4 i can begin my muggin 4 the inevitable Exams, the "epilogue" to every sem @ uni.

But before the start of my exams, there is another special day to look 4ward to & tat's my bday!! Though growing older by 1 yr, but as long as I'm young @heart..why bother so much abt age..
Hmm..let me think..so wat's my wishlist tis year?
Here i go..Better pay attention ah.. a big hint to those wondering what to get ..hehe..

Tangible:
1) Canon Ixus digital cam
2) Apple IPod
3) IBM ThinkPad
4) Crumpler Sling Bag
5) Deuter Backpack
6) Adidas Sports Watch
7) A Gd Pair of Roller Blades & blah blah blah... ... ...
oops..this list seems neverending leh..

Haha.. doubt u frenzs can afford such $$ gifts ah..
mainly for my own reference ah..hehe..esp during X'mas sale..things to look out ..

Intangible:
1) A stronger me..both physically and emotionally
2) Good Health
3) Contentment with my life
4) Many more Lasting frenzships
5) Ever-burning flame of hope in me to reach out to others
6) Overcoming myself & my desires..my greatest fear..
7) Peace-loving family Living in harmony

Now tat I've sorted through my thoughts, I finally removed a long-standing personal baggage from my confused mind. Wat a load off my mind :)
It is high time for a clear cut once and for all.
Once decided, just do it..ger!
Pple come and go in our lives like passing clouds whether u like it or not. Eventually, wat matters most are the fond memories left behind plus the lessons shared and learnt. Though some may find it a great pity but I suppose that this is the only option left for an emotional person like me. Every things I have now is transient and so by getting to understand this..Life will be much easier and less complex as we sieve through all the neverending wants and desires of life..just like the tangible list given above. Ultimately, my wishlist for bday tis year will be the intangible list.. WAy to go, ger..& May ur efforts be worthwhile!

Hmm.. How time flies..In less than 1 mth's time, my years on planet Earth will add up to a quarter of century..Oh mine, my biological clock's ticking away fast..Anyway, just a thought tat came to my mind as i saw the calendar right in front of me now..My main aim of bloggin 2day is to write abt sth more meaningful..an extraordinary encounter I had on mon which stirred up my awareness and promoted me to ponder much after that.. I shall update on my Quidam xperience & NTU run round SG 168 relay run next time ah.Hehe..pls dun be mistaken.I only ran for the relay station ones. max.3.5km. So i shall cut the crap now & begin..

Everyday's a new learning experience and indeed, i must agree with tis cliche now..esp after my self-realisation triggered by tis short yet awakening encounter on mon with tis middle-aged
SAVH visually-handicapped(vp) chap (FYI, blind isn't a gd choice of word as according to what i've learnt b4 in a volunteerism workshop bk @ TP CSC, cos 1stly, it doesnt sound gd & nowadays, Blind is usually used to describe someone either born blind, or to have lost vision of seeing completely which are the minority in SAVH) @ toa payoh bus stop opp the interchange on mon.

As usual for my typical mondays, I had just gotten a ride from my NIE coursemate, Grace from campus to Toa Payoh since she need 2 go Toa Payoh to fetch her son home from sch. I suppose goin to Toa Payoh to take Bus no 153, a straight bus home will certainly be faster and less squeezing with the peak hour crowd than my usual bus-mrt-bus ride from Boon Lay, so this explained my decision. This definitely saved much of my precious time & $ too..hehe..since i just takin one bus ride onlyas compared to 2bus-1mrt transfer ride.

So as I was walking towards my bus stop after getting out of underpass, I could see that my bus 153 approaching the bus stop with another bus rite behind as the lights turned green @ the cross-junction ahead. Of course, being someone who hate to wait 4 bus, I quickened my pace so as to board tis air-con double-decker bus( not tat packed, wat a rare sight at such hour, so must not miss it man!). I should be able to make it, judging from the crowd of passengers gathering near the side of bus-stop whom i suppose taking the same bus as me ah..

Hence, i slowed down and started walking briskly the remaining 5-10m to the stop. It was during my slowing down that I noticed this other plump, middle-aged man (his back facing me) with a white cane/stick? in his hand. I took a 2nd look and realised that he must be visual-handicapped as that was the typical white walking cane/stick used 4 guiding while moving around. He seemed to be standing alone by the corner of the bus stop without anyone nearby helping him. To be exact, I observed that he looked lost and needed help as I walked past him when I reached the stop. So immediately I turned around and asked him politely for the bus no that he had been waiting. " Hi, Sir.. Which bus are u getting? Wat's the no?"
" Bus 105" came his reply.. Oh..different bus as mine..

Sharks!.. At tis very moment, my bus had stopped by the side and passengers were boarding it fast. Wat to do.. To help or not to help? I hestitated for a split second. Then the selfish side of me conquered my mind and I decided to board my bus after all.. My bad habit into action again..Always like to assume.. 1)I assume that Sporeans are a kind lot of pple who will help ah and 2)I suppose the bus rite behind Bus 153 was not 105..
However, dun noe why, I was overwhelmed with a pang of guilt of not staying behind to help the man as I climbed up to the upper deck of bus. To make it worse, I realised that the bus rite behind turn out to be Bus 105 indeed. Had I been more helpful by walking over to check out the bus behind rather than assuming, the man would have been on that bus by now.

The more i think about it, the more guilty I become as I ought to stay and help him and not just walk away. To tink that I can make a pt to go for YEP Yunnan to help the underprivileged children in June and even to go to All Saints' Home to bring joy and warmth into the lives of the old folks every fortnight, how come I can't even stay just 4 a few mins to help a blind man? At this moment, I realised tat I just got to turn bk 2 help. Luckily, my bus only reached the next stop, just abt 100m away from the previous stop. Thus, I immediately pressed the button & got off the bus 2 walk back to the earlier stop to see if that SAVH chap was still around, waiting for help. My 1st assumptn turned out 2 be wrong too cos he was still at the corner, but sitted down tis time while the other passengers seemsed oblivious to his existence. oh my god, wat's our society coming to.. Imagine all the talk about becoming a gracious society.. wAt a crap!

Anyway, I walked over to stand near the SAVH chap to wait for his bus, 105 to come. Oh yah..pls dun be mistaken tat this chap must be a gd-looking one ah.. if not why I can b so dumb 2 get off my bus & run back to the earlier stop just to help.. If this was the thought that came across ur mind as u r reading this, i am so sad 2 say tat u dun noe me tat well after all..my frenzs.. Cos I'm a helpful person to everyone wat..hehe..dun start puking ah..

Back to the recount, the wait was short and soon i could see bus 105 approachin the bus stop. As I was about to go over to inform him about his bus coming and help him to board the bus, I saw this lady sitting near to him telling that bus 105 was coming. At the same time, she guided him to the bus and assisted him in getting up the bus. I thought that she would be taking the same bus after all but to my surprise, she was not! Instead, she walked back to the busstop area, towards the block of flat behind it. Hmm..so all hope is not lost yet 4 SG! There are after all still some Kind souls like her and me!

So why am I sharing tis encounter? I suppose it's bcos tis is the trigger point that made me realise how wrong it is to always make assumptions about things. Indeed a bad habit to kick off..I finally see the light!
A day of Self-realisation :)