11 Wisdoms

It's been awhile... Life has indeed changed for me. I was thinking of what I would write as my "welcome back" post. I finally settled on something that I'd written before but never got round to publishing. Despite writing this post quite some time ago, its relevance and truth still seem to hold. I hope they inspire you or give you hope, like they did when I first wrote this post.

1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return. But what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.

2. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

3. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

4. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

5. It only takes a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

6. Don't go for looks, they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

7. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

8. Always put yourself in other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.

9. A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may heal and bless.

10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

11. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Secrets

Hurray for Tiffany's around the world! Don't know if I like this better than the original, but I definitely have a big thing for it!

I Won't GIve Up

Another amazing song by Jason Mraz. Yes I'm a late discoverer - after 11 million other people. I caught the live performance of this on ellen the other day.  Loved the life performance with the girl on the cajon but the lyric video is equally cute :) I love the simplicity of the music, how meaningful and thoughtful the lyrics are and how talented Jason Mraz is. It is actually somehow timely too, a good reminder to me not to give up on those around me especially when times get rough and friendships start to change.



At the end of the day, it really is the music that will cuddle you warm. It's 41 degrees in Perth at the moment and I really don't to it to be any warmer than it already is but how could I resist a good song?

I Got You

  

Monday Muse

Perhaps we can paint the wall outside the window so we have a sunrise ocean view every morning when we wake.

Or would you prefer a sunset with a sailboat and whales in the horizon? 

What about rainbows?

Even together, we probably will never achieve having a $100,000 in our pocket. But we can still dream. And we can be thankful that we have each other for laughs, shoulders to rest on, reassuring hugs, smiles to look forward to, and bedtime stories to remind us of who we are together - a team.

Me. 

Lol... :)

A Thousand Years

This song really does make me want to watch Twilight!

I have died everyday waiting for you

Darling don't be afraid I have loved you

For a thousand years

I love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to mine

I have loved you for a thousand years

I love you for a thousand more

And to the awesome person who introduced the song to me, thank you for always recommending songs! I'm sorry I don't always listen to your suggestions right away but I'm glad to say that I've enjoyed nearly every song that you've made me listen to! Keep the good music and I hope time brings her heart to you :)

Auld Lang Syne

My favorite version of Auld Lang Syne so far.

The song brings back memories of my cousins and I as kids singing this song at midnight as we cheered the new year. While I never really grasped the meaning of the song, when I watched it on New Year's Eve, it brought to my mind and heart, lots of emotions and reflections on the year that had passed and the year that was to begin.

There are a lot of things that I would like to have in 2012 but I reckon I'd be content if I continue to keep my job, continue to have my family by my side and always have good friends to turn to in times of need. This doesn't mean though that 2012 will be without dreams. I'll still continue being dreamy me, wishing for the unrealistic reality and trying to live in it. When you do see me, please do remind me to occasionally look outside my cloud!

2011 has been a rather heartwarming year in many ways for me. Some of the highlights include my trip to Sydney and making amazing friends, graduating from University, celebrating my parents' 25th wedding anniversary, re-joining the CFC community and knowing amazing people, securing my first proper job and making some really amazing friends from work, and being able to be in Singapore to see my grandparents, brother and best friends. Seems like a lot of things were amazing and Perth has been amazing for me! I cannot even begin to think about leaving Perth and this song invokes nostalgia.

The year was not without its struggles, but as I reflect, I cannot seem to remember the emotions that made me cry for hours on end or the frustrations that I experienced while job hunting. I don't feel the heaviness that was there when I had to say goodbye to my brother or the worry when I heard that my grandfather might possibly pass on. Instead, I remember the nights of comforting hugs, the sweet text messages of love and care, the many many many dinners and lunches spent bowled over with laughter with family and friends over jokes, stories and experiences, the smiles of my patients and the adoration of my little kids! I remember the special meals cooked by my mom, the nights spent in family bonding, 2 nights with my brother, the family and friends who have shown me so much love in the past year, I really couldn't give any of you up.

I look forward to time with you in 2012.

One for You

Until we lose what we treasure, it is often quite hard for us to truly understand how much we treasure that particular thing. That particular thing this year happens to be you. I've never dedicated anything to you and I wonder if you'll ever read this but here goes, my thank you/love note to you.

You mean heaps much to me. More than I actually expected. We had a lousy goodbye when you left and I'm kinda bummed about it. After you left, I sometimes wondered if I would ever see you again. What if that was the last time I ever saw you and the last thing I said to you was I've gotta go cos I'm rushing for time. I'm glad I was able to give you a nice surprise though you did surprise me as well, unintentionally of course. I'm glad I got to spend those 2 days with you. When I next said goodbye to you, I honestly couldn't stop crying. In fact, I was crying even before I said goodbye to you. I cried when you said you wouldn't hug me and I cried again when you really didn't hug me. I cried again when you told me to go. I was sitting on the train, trying to control my tears. I did feel quite silly at times but I couldn't help it. The tears wouldn't stop flowing. When I finally managed to control myself, you called and asked me to turn back to say goodbye to you again. I told you that I was fine but the tears started again. 

I hope you're doing well in life and I hope you know that I'm always behind you even if you sometimes choose to do silly things that I disagree with. I don't know when I'll next see you but whenever it's possible we'll still talk on the phone. Time will fly by quite quickly and before you know it, I'll be picking you up from the airport and I'll get that hug that you owe me! 

The Little Things That Count

Introducing Ashley, my 8 year old sister and room mate who knows too much for her age and is hardly ever lost for words.

Ashley: You can sleep on the bed and I will sleep on the mattress and then we can talk. Yeeeeeee!!! ^^
Me: What are we going to talk about?
Ashley: Life.
Me: Do you have a life?
Ashley: Yea. I'm already living it.

If we could be this simply contented with our life! Sometimes it really is the simple things in life like friendships that matter most.

Our family was most recently blessed to have my mom's family come over and spend time with us. Along the way, we also celebrated my parents' 25th wedding anniversary and my graduation. Praise God for all of that! Even though the house was really crowded with 5 extra people living in it, it was just fun to have everyone together. A friend of ours offered to host some of our relations but they decided that they wanted to cosy up with us and would be happy sleeping anywhere. Immediately, we sacrificed our beds and quickly arranged new sleeping arrangements so that everyone would be comfortable.

It has been a long time since we had non-stop laughter and chatter in our place and instead of always retreating to our rooms after the dinner chores, everyone stayed out to do their work and be part of the chatter.

I had a call today from one of my best friends. He told me someone told him I was beaming throughout my whole graduation. I told him of course! Because I haven't had time to see my friends in ages and I loved being able to have their company again.

Even at work, what keeps me going are the funny conversations and the lovely people I get to meet.

Such are the little blessings and cheers in my life that make my day!

Sometimes

It's easier to be alone because what if you learn that you need love and then you don't have it? What if you like it and lean on it? What if you shape your life around it and then it falls apart? Can you even survive that kind of pain? Losing love is like organ damage. It's like dying. The only difference is death ends. This? It could go on forever...

The Small Talk

Living in Australia has been somewhat fascinating, when it comes to conversations with strangers. My one very memorable encounter was with a guy on the 75 going to work. He wanted to know what time the bus would be arriving and from there we got talking about public transport efficiency and convenience. He told me about the times before the Mandurah line and how people had to catch a bus to the city. I told him I couldn't imagine not having the train. We got talking about Singapore's public transport, then to travel and etc. The bus came and it was just us two and the driver on the bus. He asked if he could sit next to me. I said sure and we continued our conversation of small talk.

My boss has been training me in this relationship building "small" talk. It really isn't easy but he tells me that it is very important because while it may seem like small talk at first, it really is you getting to know the other person. The conversation that you have that allows you to know the person on a more personal level and when you have that something personal to remember them by, you make the other person feel that you care. And while it may seem like small to you, it isn't small talk to the other person. They are sharing your life with you he tells me and it is a big thing because they are trusting you enough to open up to you.

It's most common to chat with the guy sitting next to you on the bus. While I'm comfortable doing that on some occasions and making polite conversation 90% of the time, I find small talk somewhat difficult to conduct. I like connecting with you on a deeper and more personal level that sometimes I forget it isn't the norm for everyone. When I get comfortable with you, I like to be personal with you and I hope too that you would be the same. That we'd get to know each other over sharing our lives. When it comes to complete strangers, I find it hard to so sincerely want to know everyone. When someone intrigues me, I'm great! I keep talking to you, asking you questions and getting to know you. But when it comes to having to engage EVERYONE, I go into shy mode.

Fingers crossed I get the hang of this relationship building small talk. After two months of small talk with Michael, I finally bonded with him and felt comfortable with him today. I hope to be a natural at it. People who are great at the small talk are really nice to talk to. They are great conversationalists and it really is a lot of fun talking to them.

Relationship building small talk quite effectively summarizes my first two weeks at work, especially in getting to know my colleagues, meeting people and potentials. From here on, it is on to bedtime to energize myself to be able to master the art of the small talk.

Good night :)

A New Beginning

I am turning out to be a useful person, a significant contributor to the Australian Taxation Office, a booster of the Australian economy and a credit to Australian society.

I've just finished Week 1 as a working person, officially celebrated my first weekend as a working person by waking up and rushing to a lunch with friends on Saturday morning, and sleeping till the afternoon on Sunday. What a lovely celebration! I am definitely looking forward to Week 2 - Pay Week :D

Whatever it is, I'm really happy that I've landed myself a permanent full-time job :) 98% credit goes to Ate Lynn who was extremely essential in helping me secure this position. This job is definitely another blessing from God who has placed people in my life to help me get along with life.

While I dislike having only a 30 minute lunch break, working from 9am - 6pm, I'm really happy that I was offered the later shift because I am terrible at waking up in the morning. To add to my joy, I have my own office!!! Whoo hoo!!! And I work in a place that has its own cafe that sells good coffee, and cheap and good food and dessert.

It most definitely was the hardest thing to job hunt. Much harder than studying. I'd rather do a Math unit than job hunt (and I suck at Math). To all those out there who are still looking for a job, best of luck! It isn't easy but I hope you can keep up your efforts and be rewarded real soon.

Dear Owen...

How do you get more and more amazing each week? Each week I find myself falling in love with you more and more... Dear Owen, if I just lay here, would you lay with me and just forget the world? 

My Son Victor

The other night, we were watching Letters and Numbers and the winner of the game was *drumroll* Victor! I told my Dad, with a name like that, he must be the victor. I know this joke is cheesy any corny but it's cute at the same time :)

Are names everything? If so, you should name your son Victor, so he victory can be his :p

If Time Is All I Have

A Musician's Love Song

When you wake up
Turn the radio on
And you'll hear this simple song

That I made up
That I made up for you

When you're driving
Turn the radio up
Cause I can't sing loud enough
Hard these days
To get my message through

If time is all I have
I'll waste it all on you

Each day I'll turn it back
It's what the broken-hearted do
I'm tired of talking to an empty space
Of silences keeping me awake

When you marry
And you look around
I'll be somewhere in that crowd
Torn up, that it isn't me

When you're older
The memories fade
But I know I'll still feel the same
For as long as I live

But if time is all I have
I'll waste it all on you

Each day I'll turn it back
It's what the broken-hearted do
I'm tired of talking to an empty space
Of silences keeping me awake

Won't you say my name, one time
Please just say my name

But if time is all I have
I'll waste it all on you
Each day I'll turn it back
It's what the broken-hearted do
I'm tired of talking to an empty space
Of silences keeping me awake

If time is all I have
I'll waste it all on you

Each day I'll turn it back
It's what the broken-hearted do
I'm tired of talking to an empty space
Of silences keeping me awake

Won't you say my name
When the song is over 


-James Blunt-

Let me...

Don't give up on yourself, let me help you. 

Will you be there? 

Yes, I will be there every step of the way. 

- Dr. Cristina Yang-

Royal Kiss

So what if too much fuss was made about the Royal Wedding. It was beautiful, gorgeous, lovely, romantic, sweet, touching. And with the evolution of Disney movies, I could do with another fairytale! It also affirms my belief that dreaming is important and that fairytales do exist!

Clueless

Things I need to get through the next month alive:

- an order of luck

- 2 good books to read (still looking for The Accountant's Story)

- a job

- new friends 

- a fast drive to de-stress

- 7 really really really good conversations! 

- to know where my life is heading

The possibilities of the future are infinite! As are the uncertainties. What we choose to focus on shows the type of people we are. Right now I'm trying not too plan out too much of my life. It seems like I've got my answer as to where I should be but I do not know what I am to do. I do like the freedom but I'll admit that however slack I may have been at Uni, that's all an illusion. I need work! I need things to do! I need reason, I need purpose, I need answers. 

I don't ask to be able to figure my whole life out. I ask only for some clues. 

Music Making

Song that I can play - Beauty & the Beast
So with this song, a lady and her daughter and her husband came up to me and they wanted me to teach their daughter how to play the piano. And it was all because they heard me play this song. :)



Song that I want to be able to play

Chinese Combo No. 5

SEE IF THIS DOESN'T CRACK YOU UP!!!



Hello, Welcome to Wong Way Kitchen. I take your order please? I highly recommend the Combo #5! (Ooh nice) Yeah! Combo 1,2, .. 3,4,5. Everybody loves Chinese steamed or fried, from the Chinese restaurant around the corner, so you say you want some won-ton soup, I'll bring your order. Roast duck is a special all-dish week, we fry it deep, be-cause our duck is cheap! You like Egg-Fu-Yon, diced chicken, chow wong and subgum. We are serving dim sum, all of it yum-yum.
So, what can I getcha, a really big order pork, we got the chopsticks, but please use a fork. Everything is fried, it's so good, like our dumplings. So, just give us a ring. A little beef and broccoli you got to try; A little mixed vegetables and white rice; A little sweet and sour is all you need; A little bit of salt - no MSG; A little bit of General Tso's chicken; A little bit of lo mein I can send; A little bit of Szechuan or Hunan; A little bit of moo goo gai pan !!