L I F E

Keep going!!! (Pic source: Google.com)

Recently I watched the Korean drama titled 'The Haunted Palace'. One of the character was Gang Cheol, the ancient serpent spirit (Imoogi) that fell into the earth and after more than hundred years later, he inserted his spirit inside the human body that had just passed away. 

Only after he entered into the human body, he then could feel the five senses that we human have, such as: taste, smell, hear, touch, and see. When he was living as the dragon spirit, he did not feel these five senses so in the drama, he seemed overreacting when he first time tasted the plain porridge as a human being. His mind was jumping around, and so happy with it. He was even craving to taste more food that human usually has, and his favorite was the traditional Korean confectionary (hangwa), which also included the pumpkin taffy (yeot).

Then slowly, his other senses like see and touch, made his heart beating so fast, which then he realized that he had fallen in love with Yeo-Ri, whose body he needed in order for him to ascend to the Heaven. This feeling struck him in awe and he often cursed the human who felt all these senses. Because of it, many times human did something wrong (like enjoying being drunk and eating too much which caused harm to the body or sickness, killing people out of greed or jealousy, raping, and so on).

With only these scenes, it struck me as well because as a human being, these five senses have been part of our way of living and I could imagine how Gang Cheol felt. It was like, being a human but having those senses separated from the body. He did not think much about sadness, happiness, and so on because he lived with different purposes in life and being focus with it.  

Do what you can :) (Pic source: Google.com)

As someone who has lived more than forty years, sometimes I would have wondered how I had lived in the past. Moments, memories, emotions, all of it came and went like a jigsaw puzzle, flying around in corner of my brain. Hardship, sadness, anger, feeling constraint, wild dreams, jealousy, wonder, happiness, freedom, boredom, joyful, curiosity, motivated, dejected, disappointed, resentful, amused, empowered, revenge, and so on. 

Every decision, every move, every action, every plan, was all made at those moments of living, which had now become memories, good and bad. Regrets were there too. But all of those had built the person inside me. 

Sometimes, I wondered, how was me in the previous life, or who was I before becoming a human in this life? All the people I had met, what were our relations in the past? Of course, it did not really matter. What mattered was how we met and interacted again at this present lives. 

But now, growing up, this process of looking back, had told me one thing - if you only realized, everything was related with those senses, those feelings, those emotions. If only we could tell ourselves that it was nothing more than that, if only we could stop these emotions from appearing in our heart (those that I mentioned earlier), if we could delete our feelings just like imagining ourselves to erase those emotions with eraser from our heart and made it blank, feeling nothing anymore, then we human, should not have problems in life anymore. Should we?

But of course, it was easier to say and done. Things that had to happen to us (resulting from our past and present karma), still had to happen. And only by experiencing it ourselves, or learning the mistakes from others, then we could decide if we want to pursue the matter still or avoid it or let it go.

Only when it happened to us, then we could understand how people felt when it happened to them. Anxiety, feeling depressed, isolation, and so on. If we could avoid it, then it was good. But if not, do not give up. It was not the end of the world. 

I mean, every human being carried different life's journey. Fate, luck, love happened differently to everyone. Not even twin carried the same life and fate. 

Be kind as you can (Pic source: Google.com)

Our realization to be a better human being is important. And try to strive our best to bring happiness to others. If can not, at least be the eraser to remove their sadness. Be there for them, listen to their feelings and thought, are more than enough. 

Also, take good care of our health from now. It is never too late to start. Eat healthily, drink responsibly, exercise regularly, listen to motivational talk, read self-help book, walk with natural surrounding, see sunrise and sunset, and so on. 

I wish everyone of you a wonderful day, life full of gratitude of what you have, blessed with good health - both physically and mentally, and have positive mind and attitude towards life ahead!!! Take care and talk to you again! :)

Bukan Siapa Siapa (Nobody)

:)

That night, I felt a sense of peace and emptiness. Emptiness here, in a good way, in the sense that nothing held me down from whatever feelings and emotions that used to bother me a lot, sending me to the roller-coaster ride kind of mood, plus attachment filled with care, worry, and at the same time, love. It took time to get rid and brush off whatever bit that was left behind in the corner of my brain and heart.

As I turned pages of old notes, it brought me to the past for a while. But this time, I could laugh myself off, instead of feeling fury or disappointed. It was all the matter of the past. No longer break me down. No longer affect the present time. 

I lie down freely on my bed. Freedom. Peace. And love, for myself and those who deserved it. 

Bukan Siapa Siapa (Nobody) by Ajahn Brahm

I picked the book from my bed side - Bukan Siapa Siapa (Nobody) - written by Ajahn Brahm, which I found it from book corner in Clarke Quay last month. It was in Indonesian language, perhaps fated for me to pick and read. I had just started reading it, so could not comment much. But let me share with you the review done by one of the readers posted in Goodreads:

"Ajahn Brahm gives a brilliantly cogent and captivating case for developing nibbida--repulsion-- toward all attachments, particularly the body, and the "I, me, and mine" that are at the root of all suffering. Be a "nobody", Ajahn Brahm extols. Who can be the biggest nobody? By being nobody, by not expecting from life what it cannot provide, you can release yourself from suffering. A truly counter-intuitive viewpoint from a culture that enhances the "I, me and mine", Brahm argues for monastic life, and to "extinguish the flame" of rebirth that continually perpetuates the inherent suffering in life. Yes, his case for monastic life presumes the function and reiteration of karma, but Brahm distills Buddha's insights to show that life is STILL suffering, and that suffering is increasing exponentially. The brilliance of Brahm's (the Buddha's) insight is the universal power that comes from simplicity. Brahm uses accessible arguments that belie the complex simplicity of Buddhist metaphysics and psychology. I'm not sure how deeply I will practice the art of disappearing, but it has provided me with unforgettable alternatives for the suffering which is at the heart of existence. If I do not disappear, I have nonetheless gained powerful tools to lessen the grasp of the id and ego, which promise satisfaction, but produce only pain."

"I, me, and mine" - represented ego, the root of all suffering. If it happened to others, 'I' would not feel the pain. But when it happened to 'me', it hurt like hell. And as long as what was lost or broken was not 'mine', I would not feel the pinch either. That was the easiest way to tell you what attachment was. 

But theory was always easier to understand. When things really happened to ourselves, it was really difficult to overcome. And it took time for us to accept the reality, to adjust our mindset, and to relieve the pain. It was fine to be absorbed by sadness, but do not let it hold too long. Many pain in our heart created disease to our physical body without we realized. 

Living and focusing at the present moment. Be aware and mindful of our own feeling. And aim towards something better. Remember, you are not the only one experiencing all the pain. Everyone else does too. Let us heal as time goes by. Time is the best medicine to forgive and forget. Grow wiser, be a better human being. Live, love, and laugh, make others happy in any way that you can. Let go the past. Let bygones be bygones.

Last day of 2024

Thank you to you know who you are :)

After finishing a bowl of mee hoon kway yesterday afternoon, I opened a message from my Boss. She said if there was nothing, I could close the office for half day and tomorrow too. Wow!!! I was really grateful and thankful for having such a wonderful Boss. I finished whatever I was doing, informed her to approve the payment, packed my stuffs and went back home. 

And today, it was the last day of the year 2024.

What would you do on this day? Some went to office (mostly half day) to work. Some had to work overtime (not that they wanted to, but it was just one of the busiest days of the year). Some went shopping. Some went to religious places like church, temple, mosque, and so on, to pray and to thank their God for the passing 2024.

Quiet morning doing what I love doing :)

As for me, this morning I chose to spend my time at the coffee shop ordering a cup of kopi-o and my favorite hazelnut munchi pancake (the filling was just like the one inside Ferrero Rocher chocolate). I brought the book that I currently read to the coffee shop too. I ate, drank, and read at the same time. I sat down at one corner and quietly enjoyed my morning :)

"Intermezzo"by Sally Rooney

I checked the opening time of the library. After clearing my empty cup, I walked there. I returned one book through the return book machine then I checked the library apps for the available book that I was eyeing for, and yessss!!!, there was one available. I immediately walked towards the shelf, grabbed it, and scanned it using the apps! Yihaaaa!!! So happy to finally find it!!! :)

Peaceful, calm, and quiet library :)

I found a seat near the shelf, sat myself down comfortably, with both legs folded, and continued reading my book. It was a peaceful, calm and quiet. Not many people chose to spend the last day of their year to read inside the library. But I was happy that I did. 

I went back home around 1pm, heading to the fridge and steaming the food that came from my hometown. There was nothing better than hometown food, I guessed. Added some sweet sauce, squeeze dried the lime, added some bawang goreng and Kerupuk, and it was perfect!!! :)

The weather was cloudy today and it was perfect to sit at my favorite spot at home, which was balcony. I opened my journal. My hand was moving non-stop as my mind did. It poured up with words that just came out of my mind. Every single thing that came up, I just wrote it down. Soon, 8 pages was filled up. Haha....

As the age increased, I really learned and experienced many things. I changed and evolved too. I used to think that I would never grow up, and always behaved so childish. But I realised, I was no longer who I was before. 

My thought on many aspects in life had incredibly changed too!! Especially in friendship and relationship. 

And as the age increased, things in mind often went backwards. Negative thought sometimes appeared uninvited. But then, one morning when you woke up, suddenly gratefulness was all over. If those things that you regretted never happened, you would never experience the beautiful things that came along with too. And things that seemed to be regrets, were no longer regrets. It was actually enhancer, the betterment, the add points for the current situation, the immense gratitude for what you were actually having at the present moments. It was like "there would be no rainbows without sunshine and rain" quote. 

My 2025 resolutions

Whatever things were, beautiful and sad, it was no longer there. It was all in the past and no longer need to occupy any space in our heart. Let it go. Just like those beautiful friendships that could no longer be retained, just let them go. Many times, I thought I could retain them as much effort and heart I could give, but I was wrong. Not everyone thought the same way and had the same intention. So what I could do was to let them go and treasure those who stay.

I jotted down my 2025 resolutions on my journal too. I have already had in mind places i wanted to visit this year and I want to spend solitude time more or otherwise with people whom deserve it. So, wish everyone a wonderful year ahead, with whatever goals, resolutions and plans of yours. It is all different for each individual but whatever it is, I really wish you all a smooth sailing of year 2025, may you be blessed with good health and tons of happiness ahead!!! Cheers..... :)

Life

Change the way you look (IG: rimareyka.writes)

L I F E

Life is too short,

to be unhappy,

to not doing what you want to do,

to not following your dreams,

to regret not doing things with people you love,

to not be where you want to be,

to miss the chance or lifetime's opportunity,

to keep thinking of your failure,

to hold on to your past (be it good and bad),

to keep relationship with the wrong people,

to keep thinking but not doing,

to keep what you feel inside,

to always live for others but yourself,

to focus on what you don't have,

to indulge in things that you knew were not good for you and others,

to think negative,

to hold on to something that is not worth having,

to not appreciate of what you have,

to always blame others for everything that happens in your life,

to not show the love to the person you love.

Remember,

nothing is perfect,

and no one is perfect.

Our life is not perfect either.

Just make the best of it,

and be happy.

Life is short.

Love life,

and live life the the fullest.

Healthy food, healthy lifestyle, healthy me :)

Healthy food quotes - Rimareyka.writes

I did not know when it started. Perhaps after being diagnosed with SLE almost 15 years ago, with regular visits to the hospital for blood/urine tests, consultations with doctor, accompanied my parents for their regular body check up, made me realized how important good health was, especially when we grew older.

We all knew that wealth was not something that we should take for granted. Chronic diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and by having high cholesterol level, obesity, smoking habits, over consumption of alcohol, and so on, could lead to cardiovascular or heart disease and stroke. 

It was uncommon to hear many people in their late 30s or early 40s were getting stroke, cancer and heart disease. Many were even died because of that. It was not like before, that those diseases were only attacking people in their 50s and above. High stress level, pressures, expectations, competitions, lack of exercises added into it. 

"We are what we eat." - Rimareyka.writes

I was sure you must have heard of the above quote as well. It was not just important, but very very very and very important!!! 

I loved food, super loved food. I was born in Indonesia, so we were pampered with so many kind of delicious food. I studied in few different countries for few years and now lived in Singapore for more than half of my life now. Travelling too had exposed me to taste and love so many kind of food. However, since few years ago, my food intake had gradually changed, especially after started working.

In the morning, after waking up, I made a big cup of fruit and sometimes, mixed with vegetable juice. Apple and tomatoes, banana and blueberries, celeries and tomatoes, apple and carrots, apple and celeries, kiwi and cucumber, pineapple and orange, and lately, added in kale, the superfood, with my apple, cucumber and lemon juice. (Fruits chosen would depend on the season, but most common one would be apple since the quote "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" must be there for a reason. 

Kale article (Source: The Sunday Times July 20, 2014)

I was very lucky being able to find fresh 'kale' in the supermarket nearby my house and sometimes nearby my working place, as it was not a common vegetable to be found in Singapore. The one that I usually bought - fresh bunch of green curly kale - was grown and imported from Australia.

I found the above article at the shopfront nearby where I took my language course. The article was from ten years ago. Even since before, it had become famous due to its healthy contents.

"Kale is a nutritious food rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene. It also contains nutrients that can support eye health, weight management, heart health, and more." - healthline.com

It did not taste good when eaten raw. That was why I always added it into my fruit juice mixture. Much better to consume that way.

How to make Kale Salad (Source: Love and Lemons.com)

In case you wanted to eat as salad, the above information would be very useful for first-timer. 

How would you pick out the best bunch of kale? The leaves and stalks should be dark green with small- to medium-sized leaves free of any yellowing or browning. Kale leaves should be firm and dry, not wilted and mushy.

I recommended this highly to everyone and hoped that you too could benefit from it.

I had quick breakfast after reaching office. A piece of avocado and a cup of black coffee. Sometimes, I added in banana, peach, nectarine, plum, kiwi, or any other fruits to increase my immune level - to prevent flu or cough, and so on. (Fyi, I used to eat supplements such as Vitamin C, lutein, bilberry eye support, but stopped it and replaced them with fresh fruit/vegetables as eating them too much might not good for kidney).

I brought my own lunch most days (at least 4 days per week). Expensive lunch costs at the area where I worked was only one of the reasons. Too heavy meals - too much carbohydrates, too salty, too oily, too much coconut milk, were the main reasons. 

My lunch content was the organic raw oatmeal, chia seeds soaked overnight with soybean milk with no sugar (used to added with fresh milk but after learning about the content, I changed it to soybean milk), added with a piece of dried prune, some nuts (used to add pecan but now changed to walnut and almond), and sometimes fruits (blueberries or banana).

After work, I would eat at home, my mother-in-law home-cooked meals, usually without rice or very less rice. Stir-fried vegetables, fish (steamed or deep fried), sometimes chicken or pork, sometimes prawns or sotong (cuttlefish), and soup. The only thing I could not stop yet was nibbling snacks and sipping beer or any other type of alcohol drinks while watching TV. But I did my best to lessen the portion (and many times failed), hahaha....

Blue sky - perfect weather for some exercise!!!

And with the free exercise programs given by the government, read here, I signed up two Zumba classes held nearby my house each week and one Nirvana Fitness or Pilate session nearby my office. I wanted to have both but could not as it clashed with each other and with my language class. So for now, just be active with these activities first.

It did not help me with losing weight because it was not enough and I still loved eating and ate anyhow during weekend and holiday time, but.... with the eating habits that I mentioned above, it had helped me decreasing my cholesterol level, from the recent health screening that I took freely organized by Get Fit 2024. Perhaps I would blog about it next time.

Yes, it lowered my cholesterol level. In the past, my cholesterol levels were always in borderline high. That was why I was happy and surprised when I received my blood test result. It had been 5 years since the last time I checked (before Covid). The blood pressure, glucose level, and cholesterol level were all normal. The only thing that I had to change was the BMI. It was borderline high. I had to lose at least 5 kg of body weight. Blamed it to the aging and slow metabolism (plus unhealthy snack, tidbits, beer, liquor, etc. etc. etc.) hahahaha....

I was not as hardcore as others to really train their fitness and build muscles. For now, let me maintain the healthy eating habit and have regular exercises, not forgetting to be mindful of what is going on in my mind - to be peaceful and at ease, maintain positivity in every aspect of life, live, love and laugh more, and have good relationship with everyone. 

I hope with this post, you would pick a thing or two to implement into your daily life (only the good ones, of course, hehehe...) and more conscious, care, and love about yourself (your body, mind and soul), and most importantly be grateful and happy with your life. I wish you all the very best in everything that you do. Cheers..... :)

Great Reminders from the How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies and Before the Coffee Gets Cold

How to make millions before grandma dies (Pic source: Google.com)

"How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies premiered on April 1, 2024, and is now hitting cinemas worldwide. It is currently rated at 8.5/10 on IMDb, with 97% positive rating from Google users, and has made THB 320.7 million in Thailand alone, as of June 2, 2024." - Lifestyle Asia

I heard about this when I was staycation in Batam with my friend two weeks ago. She had been wanting to ask me to watch this together since it was cheaper to watch movie there. But since we both were busy, we could not watch. Until yesterday, finally I grabbed my hubby to watch it together with me.

He was wondering what kind of movie it was. I just told him it was a Thai movie and I bet, he believed my taste, so he just agreed and joined. He was struck in awe upon seeing a fully occupied theater on Thursday evening (not even weekend), and people was willing to sit at the most front rows because every where else was occupied. "It must be really good," he claimed inside his heart.

After finished watching, I understood how it had become really famous not only in Thailand, but worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia. The movie depicted Thai Chinese life and culture, which was also applicable to any other Chinese immigrants in Southeast Asia countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Filial piety, favoritism upon boys, and greed upon wealth/ inheritance came hand-in-hand and usually appeared when someone old and sick was going to die - realistically and sadly. The young "good for nothing" boy - who had initial intention to benefit something from the upcoming grandma's death, changed his heart through love and over time as he spent more time together and closely with his Amah (grandma). 

It was heart wrenching. I could hear sob sounds somewhere inside the theatre when the movie was almost ended. I did not cry though, in fact, I laughed more while watching it. Thanks to the boy's character that was lighthearted and always wanted to see his Amah smiled :) 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold Quotation - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Our parents were getting old each and every day. One day, soon or later, one thing or another, we might have to face such thing in life. I hope my parents would be blessed with good health all the time and they could spend the rest of their days happily and full of love despite living away from their children. Hope they can gain happiness from travelling and seeing the world, spending time together with their children, grandchildren, friends, and families.

The above picture was taken from the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" book by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Three sequels were published with the almost same stories over and over again, on how customers had the opportunity to travel to a time of their choosing, as long as they followed a long list of rules.

"There is only one seat in the café that allows time travel; the seat is only available when the ghost that usually occupies it goes for a toilet break; once back in time, customers can't leave the seat; the only people in the past who can be met are people who have visited the café; whatever happens in the past, the present won't change; and, most importantly, the customer has to return to the present before their cup of coffee goes cold (around 1 hour)." - Source: Wikipedia.org

In real life, whatever had passed, would never return. Just like a broken vase that could not return to its initial form. As Amah said, "What has been done, cannot be undone." 

Hope the movie and the book would be a great reminder to all of us to always treasure the people surrounding us, to feel grateful of their existence, and in any way possible, to spend more quality time with them - be it near or far, and to love with all of our hearts, not because we expect something in return.

What I was made for?

Beauty of aging

All had changed

Hair dropped
But white ones appeared
Wrinkles on the forehead too, some below the eyes
Freckles on the face, nothing to say
Saggy cheeks, steroid effects? Damn it!

Slow metabolism, harder to lose weight
Even plain water made me fat
 
And reading glasses, it was almost for everyone
Weak knees, stairs were harder to climb
 
And if you think physical changes were worst,
Wait until the mentally changes haunted you
 
I was talking about ladies here
“M” word
Not that bloody “M”
It was the opposite
 
Yes, that “M”
Hot flushes
Sleep problems
Energy low – blamed it to the hormones!!!
Moody – always moody L
 
One day
If you live long enough
You too will experience it
 
'Cause I, 'cause I
I don't know how to feel
But I wanna try
I don't know how to feel
But someday I might
Someday I might
 
Think I forgot, how to be happy
Something I'm not, but something I can be
Something I wait for
Something I'm made for
Something I'm made for

My Types of Books

Find your right book - J.K. Rowling quote (Source: Google.com)

I love reading but I do not just love any books that come into my hands. If I would say, it requires fate to be able to read my type of books. Recently I realize that only my type of books would give me a kick, a motivation to keep reading it, until the end.

I did try reading just any book. It was not thick. It was not heavy (in terms of topic and content). By right, in my opinion, it should be easy to read and fast to finish. However, despite it was being just beside me, for one and half month the post it notes that I pasted into, was still stuck there at the same page and finally I decided to return it back to the library. The book did not call me to open. My heart was not willing to open it as well, to continue where it had stopped. I bet any fellow reader would also feel this way before.

So, my type of book. I could say I was very lucky to be met with them. Let me share them with you.

1) The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

  

The Little Liar - Mitch Albom

" A powerful novel that moves from a coastal Greek city during the Holocaust, to America, where the intertwined lives of three survivors are forever changed by the perils of deception and the grace of redemption. Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis never told a lie. When the Nazi’s invade his home in Salonika, Greece, the trustworthy boy is discovered by a German officer, who offers him a chance to save his family. All Nico has to do is convince his fellow Jewish residents to board trains heading to “new homes” where they are promised jobs and safety. Unaware that this is all a cruel ruse, the innocent boy goes to the station platform every day and reassures the passengers that the journey is safe. But when the final train is at the station, Nico sees his family being loaded into a large boxcar crowded with other neighbors. Only after it is too late does Nico discover that he helped send the people he loved—and all the others—to their doom at Auschwitz. Nico never tells the truth again. In The Little Liar, his first novel set during the Holocaust, Mitch Albom interweaves the stories of Nico, his brother Sebastian, and their schoolmate Fanni, who miraculously survive the death camps and spend years searching for Nico, who has become a pathological liar, and the Nazi officer who radically changed their lives. As the decades pass, Albom reveals the consequences of what they said, did, and endured. A moving parable that explores honesty, survival, revenge and devotion, The Little Liar is Mitch Albom at his very best. Narrated by the voice of Truth itself, it is a timeless story about the harm we inflict with our deceits, and the power of love to ultimately redeem us." - Goodreads

You must have heard or familiar with the author. This American author is not only a book writer, he is too a musician and a journalist. He has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, books and stories that inspired people all around the world. Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, Have a Little Faith, The Time Keeper, The First Phone Call from Heaven, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, Finding Chika, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, and the most recent one, The Little Liar. 

I believe you may have read at least one of the titles I mentioned above. And some, might have read all of them :)

The Little Liar was not only inspirational. It was very sad too. How sadistic war was. How could human behave in such ways. So many how I questioned as there was no humanity, no love, no compassion, nothing. Instead, there were many lies spoken that many people believed, just to dupe them into life that they had never imagined. 

It was my type of book because I could relate the story and the places mentioned with those I had travelled to before - the shoes on the Danube River bank, the exhibit inside the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives, next to the Dohány Street Synagogue and the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park, and so on. 

2) From a Mountain In Tibet: A Monk’s Journey by Yeshe Losal Rinpoche

From a mountain in Tibet - Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche

"The extraordinary story of how a wayward boy escaped his war-torn country, found himself, and became the leading Tibetan monk in the West. Lama Yeshe didn't see a car until he was 15-years-old. In his quiet village, he and other children ran in fields with yaks and mastiffs. The rhythm of life was anchored by the pastoral cycles. Food was carefully apportioned and eaten together, everyone was family. The arrival of Chinese army cars one day in 1959 changed everything. In the wake of the deadly Tibetan Uprising, he escaped to India through the Himalayas to start over as a refugee. One of only 13 survivors out of 300 travellers, he spent the next few years in America, experiencing the excesses of the Woodstock generation before reforming in Europe. Now in his seventies and a leading monk at the Samye Ling monastery in Scotland—the first Buddhist centre in the West—Lama Yeshe casts a hopeful look back at his momentous life. From his learnings on self-compassion and discipline to his trials and tribulations with loss and failure, his poignant story mirrors our own struggles. Written with erudition and humour, From a Mountain in Tibet shines a light on how the most desperate of situations can help us to uncover vital life lessons and attain lasting peace and contentment." - Goodreads

This book told us the story what the Tibetan went through during the Chinese army's arrival to Tibet. It changed fate of many. Lama Yeshe was lucky enough being able to escape, although he had to go through difficult times - food scarcity, sickness, uncertainty, no clue where to head to, etc. He also told us the story on how he could change himself to where he is now. I enjoyed his story very much and very grateful that he could share his life journey to all of us in this book. Many things I could learn from him. By now, you must have already known what type of books I love reading.

3) A Fortune-Teller Told Me: Earthbound Travels in the Far East by Tiziano Terzani

A Fortune-Teller Told Me by Tizian Terzani

"Warned by a Hong Kong fortune-teller not to risk flying for an entire year, Tiziano Terzani—a vastly experienced Asia correspondent—took what he called “the first step into an unknown world. . . . It turned out to be one of the most extraordinary years I have ever spent: I was marked for death, and instead I was reborn.”

Traveling by foot, boat, bus, car, and train, he visited Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Geography expanded under his feet. He consulted soothsayers, sorcerers, and shamans and received much advice—some wise, some otherwise—about his future. With time to think, he learned to understand, respect, and fear for older ways of life and beliefs now threatened by the crasser forms of Western modernity. He rediscovered a place he had been reporting on for decades. And reinvigorated himself in the process." - Penguin Random House

I found out about this book from one forum in Facebook. Not knowing what it was about, the title and the picture were enough to draw my attention. As I unfolded each page, I fell in love with the way the author telling his story. And yes, fortune-teller, phii or spirit, war story, Buddhism, travel journey to places I had ever been to, were among the topics that I had interest with. Plus life learning from other people's story and experience, inspirational story, they were priceless!!! That was how I loved and enjoyed reading his book. I would check the google map too sometimes for the places he mentioned to imagine where they were located as he moved around to many places in Southeast Asia and I bet many readers also did the same :D

I am hoping to read more on these types of books. If you happen to have any books to recommend me to read, please drop your message below. Who knows I will have fate with that books. 

Books quote (Pic source: Google.com)

So, what have you read lately? I hope all of you read too sometimes, despite your business in life, in study, family obligations, traveling, and so on. Reading is really good for our mind. It can give our life inspiration and reminder to keep going upward and moving our butts off!!! Hehehe... if you know what I mean. Anyway, I hope you can find your types of books to read and enjoy reading ya!!! Cheers!!! :)

Happy Dragon Year ahead, to all of us

Wish you all be happy

Just like how important every morning is (the mood), it applies the same with the beginning of the new year. One bad mood in the morning can spoil the whole day. And one bad starting day in the new year can spoil the whole month or even year ahead. 

It sounds negative, doesn't it? 

But it is life. It does not always have to be good, bright, and happy. Sometimes we too have to encounter sadness, gloomy, and moody kinds.

We can easily blame it to others, like people, things, surroundings, but never to our own self. Maybe we will, but it takes time. 

What we dream of, imagine, or visualize, may be different from reality. Because it always takes two hands to clap. And we are all created differently. We have different passions, likes, interests, and so on. So it is unavoidable when things go haywire. 

What we expect and what actually happens. The responses differ too from one to another. Some will choose to voice up, and some will choose to keep quiet, and let the day goes by. And some will swallow it until it becomes full and unbearable. 

At this point of time one cannot help but to think negative and think too much. The hormone changes does not help either. One may want to isolate and be in itself own company. 

Buddha teaches us to let go the past and to treasure present moments. To live and to love. To have a peace of mind, eventually to be happy. 

That will be the calm reminder. To be humble too. To lower our own ego. To loose that strong-headed wire in the brain. To give in. And to forget. Perhaps, a hug will be great. 

When things get hard, think about the good ones. Find anything that you can feel grateful about. I am sure there are lots of it. You just have to find it harder.

I wish all of you to have a more loving, peaceful, and happy Dragon year ahead. It may not start beautifully. But with a little determination to change for the better, I am sure you can make it better. Because nothing stays permanent, the good, and the bad. Just do our best, to make it better and happier. Take care and all the best.

Welcome New Year :)

Remember, the choice of happiness is in your hands :)

Today is the fourth day since the fireworks blasting all over the world. Half sleeping from my bathroom window, I could hear the raining sound seeped through the window pane. I thought I heard it wrongly. I kept quiet, winced my eye, and tried to hear it again because I might misheard it of something else. Hm.. I was right. It was raining. Not heavy, but not light too.

I slipped myself back under the blanket despite my waking up time was only left with five minutes time. I turned my alarm off, and closed my eyes again, rejoicing the cold air surrounded me. It was only about ten minutes later, my hubby opened the door and asked me to have breakfast with him. Then the whole morning started all over again just like any other day.

The MRT started getting crowded again. School holiday had over. Students went back to school. Parents went back to work. Gone were the peaceful, half empty and quiet carriages. Now it was back to cramp, stuffy, and noisy one. Lucky I still got my seat since my station was located at the end of the MRT line.

It was still raining as I came out from the MRT station. Familiar feeling. And many people were waiting for the lift. Despite having five lifts, this hour was kind of weirdly crowded. I mean, since when most office here started at 9am? I felt that it was lesser crowded at this timing before. Whatever.

As I went up, I stopped by toilet before walking to my office cubicle. From the corridor, I could see thick clouds hovering the famous three towers at afar, or perhaps fogs? 

From outside, darkness swallowed the office. I turned my key and opened the office door. I pressed the light switch and smiled, "Do not worry. I am here to bring a light into you."

The optimism, the energy, and the positivity suddenly brighten up the whole cubicle, despite the darkness that was still there from the clouds and rain outside. 

I put down my bag and settled down. I opened the umbrella up to dry next to me, headed to fridge, took a bottle of water and pour it into the kettle. Click! It was turned on. The whirring sound added the life. I turned the radio on from my office mobile, and this song filled the whole office up and made it alive all over again...

Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John (Pics source: Google.com)

If I told you things I did before, told you how I used to be

Would you go along with someone like me? 

If you knew my story word for word, had all of my history

Would you go along with someone like me?

Heard it before and had my share, it didn't lead nowhere

I would go along with someone like you

It doesn't matter what you did, who you were hanging with

We could stick around and see this night through

And we don't care about the young folks

Talking 'bout the young style

And we don't care about the old folks

Talking 'bout the old style too

And we don't care about our own folks

Talking 'bout our own stuff

All we care about is talking

Talking only me and you

Usually when things has gone this far, people tend to disappear

No one will surprise me unless you do

I can tell there's something going on, hours seems to disappear

Everyone is leaving, I'm still with you

It doesn't matter what we do, where we are going to

We can stick around and see this night through

Positive quote for the day :)

The whistling and the rhythms made me moving my leg and head. Did it move yours too?

The moral of the story of this post is do not let the environment and situation around you make you feeling down, and your past too. 

Bad weather, crowded transport and road, it is all temporary. Keep your cool down.

As for our past, we are just a human being who could simply make mistakes in our life journey. No one is perfect. Somehow, it just happened. Most important is that we learn from our mistakes and do our best not to do the same mistake. If people leave you because of your past, let them be. 

It is better to show our true color with our true feelings and feeling remorseful rather than be a devil covering up as an angel face, those who just wanna look good in everyone's eyes.

An opening post for the new year. Wish everyone have a beautiful and wonderful year ahead. Live your life to the fullest and enjoy every second of it, be it good or bad. Treasure your loved ones around you, and spread love and kindness to others. Have fun!

Wrap Up the 2023 and Welcome the 2024

 

:) (Pic source: wonder_doodles)

Today is the last day of the year 2023. It has been a great year for me. A year filled with time enjoyed with my dear families and friends. A year filled with so many travel and to many new places. A year filled with so many beautiful moments, especially it marks a transformation of my dear son entering the adulthood. I could see how people surrounded me changed too, many for the better and some for the worse. 

This is a year when I join the work life back. Not just any work, but relates to what I have learned and experienced before. Fate plays a big part of it because I work back with my Boss from my first job here in Singapore.

The job and environment are still felt like a dream for me. Not many people are having this kind of job. Back to office hours and five-days a week. Strategic and good location. With one very good and understanding Boss to report to. 

Somehow, it changes me. With most of the time working alone, it has transformed me to enjoy my own accompany more. It gives me room to learn and do what I love doing. 

Never stop being grateful :)

In less than 24 hours, we will embrace to another year. There are so many things I feel thankful and grateful for - all the time that has transformed me to where I am now. 

I want to thank everyone who ever been part of my life journey, for their love, friendships, time spent, and things to learn from them.

I want to thank those who choose to leave too, because from them, I also learn many things in life - impermanence, human nature, and so on. 

On friendships (Pic source: innergrowthreset)

With the experience, it teaches me that not everyone is treating friendship the same way I do. For those who knows me well or long enough, I was the type who try my best to maintain friendship by keeping in touch often (no matter where my friends are - near or far), because I feel grateful for their presence in my life. 

I am no longer treating it the same way now. I take this matter easily now. If people do not wish to part of my life, I will be happily let them go. Why make life difficult? I will treasure those who stay and who treasure the friendship back.

Earlier on, I planned to travel only to new places and less to those I often travel to. However, my priority changes now. Time keeps going. We are getting older every seconds every minutes. My parents and siblings are getting older each day. I myself am getting older too. I just think that I want to spend more time with them, especially we live in different countries and my time to travel is limited. I hope we will spend good time together.

Law of attraction - money affirmation for 2024
(Pic source: financial_wanderlust)

I know it seems a bit late for me to start thinking about retirement. Many of my friends had started it much earlier. But I believe that everyone has their own time for what they do. And I have positive thought about this. At least it gives me motivation and short-term goals at least for the next 5 years :D Hope the above money affirmations, will help me to achieve my goals, and yours too :)

2024 Resolutions

My goals in life is still the same: to be healthy and happy, in peace, and blessed with loving people throughout my life. 

Life, no matter how rich you are, how you are able to travel to many new and wonderful places, but if you do not take care of your health, you will lose the joy. As I get older, I learn more from people surrounded me. And I learn from myself too.

When I was sick, even just a mere fever, flu  and cough - not a life threatening disease - it made my life miserable enough. Everything felt cold. I had to wear winter sweater in such a tropical country like Singapore. 

Non-stop cough disturbed my sleep all through the night. Packets of tissues were used to clear my mucus and made my nose red and dry. Tasteless bud and not being able to smell ruined even the most delicious dishes in front of you. 

Weigh loss that in the beginning seemed to be a happy thing, became something that I got worried of. 

With more variants of Covid and lung infections spreading, I pray that everyone will be free from it.

I wish for more exercises and eat a balance and healthy food intake in order to maintain a good healthy. 

Don't worry, be happy :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

And as I grow older, I realised that mental health is very important too!!! I truly wish and hope that everyone could be free themselves from such suffering and rest their mind in peace, so that they can focus on their life goals - mainly for their happiness and health being. 

Find your happy place :)
(Pic source: doodlesndreams)

I always see my life like a book. I imagine my past as the chapters that has been written and flipped. And I keep writing with a new fresh of paper, the empty and blank one, with the ongoing life that I will live through. 

It consists of good and bad memories. Some chapters are worth to read through again, while some, I never wish to remember. Always remember: we are the author of our own book. Write the way we want it to be. Live from your own heart, not by the expectation of others. Keep it in balance: not too extreme at each side. Most important, fill it with happy memory that one day, you may want to look back and smile reading it. And never give up, when life gives you a hardship to overcome. You are not alone. Share your sadness with anyone near you. Do not keep it to yourself. 

Well, I wish everyone for a wonderful year ahead. For your new beginning in life, and for the continuation of it. All the very best!!! :)

As I Grow Older

Lol... :D (Pic source: Google.com)

As I grow older...

I have seen and experienced many things in life - good and bad - mostly from people surrounding me. I can not say that I have become better or wiser, but I have definitely learned a lot and am still learning from it. 

As I grow older...

my perceptions towards certain things in life have changed. What is important, what is good, what is true, what is wrong, what is nice, and what is not.

Is money important? Is health even more important? 

Is being truthful good for you? Or is telling a white lie better?

What determined good quality friendship? Is friendship valued merely friends with benefits? 

What does love mean to you? Attachment? Afraid of feeling losing? Distrust? Is it even healthy at the first place? Relationship with no trust, who to blame?

As I grow older...

what used to be important, no longer is. 

As I grow older...

losing friend is part and parcel of life. There are things in our lives that are not meant to stay.

As I grow older...

I put more importance on quality than quantity. Books I read, food and beverage I consume, things I wear, friendship, relationship, and so on.

As I grow older...

"love" in relationship can not be build in a day, a week, a month, or a year. It is over time. Someone who choose to stand right by my side no matter what my situation is, who speak up for me while the rest are mocking me, who protect me from any physical and mental harm, and love me the way who I am with its strengths and weaknesses.  

As I grow older...

I begin to realize, of what I need, and of what I need to leave behind.

As I grow older...

being naïve is no longer possible. People is just easily taking advantage. 

As I grow older...

the less I have, the better it is.

As I grow older...

it is ok not to be ok. You are not alone. 

As I grow older...

my priority in life changes, so with everything else. 

As I grow older...

I realize the importance of being surrounded by good people, people that are good for you, good to you, and good for your soul. 

Therefore, for now, I will cherish what I have and let go what not supposed to be. 

Somehow, it is just necessary. Plus, the changes we do not want, are the changes we need, in order for us to grow.

And sometimes, walking away is necessary, a step forward from those, who do not want to be part of our lives. 

You happy, I happy. 

Let us be happy :)

P.S. I just heard it from someone, "You cannot change the people around you, but you can change the people around you," and that is my new favourite quote :)

Gratitude beyond measure

Gratitude Quote (Pic source: Google.com)

Good morning!!! It is Friday!!! Yayyy!!! 

First week of August is here and four more to go! August is such a very long month (with 31 days in it), just like July! But if I can survive this, I am sure I can survive the rest of the year! :)

Many people asked me, "How is your work so far?" 

I said, "It is so far so good. I feel comfortable."

I mean, I feel like I am building my nest here, feeling secure and comfortable. This feeling is just like when I met my hubby for the first time. Like I knew that he was going to be the anchor of my life - someone who was able to provide me with emotional support, guidance, stability, and hope of my life; someone who was going to be a good father for my child.

This job, my Boss, and the office environment, are exactly the same thing. I feel that this is going to be something for the rest of my life.

So I am going to learn slowly, read more, know more about how it works, what the company dealing with, and slowly master it.

To be frank, I have never been so passionate about a job like this before. This is my first time when I could hug and embrace my job as if it is my lover. I could say that I love what I am doing here. 

I used to wonder a lot of how my other friends loved their job so much, by dedicating their time (many even sacrificing their family time), to embrace themselves with their jobs. Some, even after taking a break from it, were missing to go back and be part of it again. 

I kind of understand their feelings now. 

I even can put all the travel desires on hold, until I know what I am supposed to be doing with my role here, know well when is the best time to be away or when is the busiest time of the months or year, before I start planning on the next vacation.

I do not mind missing many aspects or things or even moments, temporarily in life (of traveling) - and as long as I still put a priority to spend time with my family at home and life here in Singapore - because I always believe that everything happens only for good reasons. That some day, when the time comes (for me to travel), if I have to be there, I would be there. And if the time would not come (for me to travel), it is ok, and I will be fine because I know what I am doing, enjoying it, and would never regret it.

It is mostly happy feeling and mood. As promised, no work during weekends; not much phone calls to receive and to make; not much stress at work; and not much emails - compared to other companies I had worked before; and those things means a lot for me.

Inside the lift at our office building, I often hear people gossiping around their bosses and colleagues. I felt truly grateful that I did not have to experience it since it is only two of us in the office. Instead, my jolly boss often talk about her Zumba, Pilate, and her passion in catching Pokemon with her fellow friends, also about how she spent her time with her children and grandchildren back home.

And yes, I am grateful, and will forever grateful for everything that happened to me in my life.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you SB!!! May all beings be happy and health, free from suffering and the cause of suffering, life full of peace and joy! Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

Fleeting moment

"Your life is fleeting" by Justin Young

Life is but a fleeting moment.

For every step we take,

every choice we make,

every place we go, 

everyone we meet. 

For accepting changes,

all circumstances we face.

Be it for better or worse,

it is all fleeting all away.

Why we take it too hard???

Take it easy, take it easy...

With this realisation, 

that nothing stays put, 

that things change all the time,

things going up and down,

just take it easy, 

and let your heart be at ease.

Soon or later,

everything vanishes,

be forgotten,

and will not matter anymore. 

Just treasure what you have,

love everyone closest to you,

and be happy in simple way,

for whatever things that make you feel grateful, 

for being able to be alive,

now, 

at present moment.

"Life is but a fleeting moment.

Take it easy and enjoy the ride."

- Rimareyka.writes 

We are on our own time

Que sera sera...

"Someone graduated at the age of 22, but waited five years before securing a good job.

Someone became a CEO at 25, and died at 50, while another became a CEO at 50, and lived to 90 years.

Someone is still single while someone from his school group has become grandfather.

Obama retired at 55, and Trump started at 70.

Everyone in this world works based on their time zone.

People around you might seem ahead of you and some might seem to be behind you. But everyone is running their own race in their own time. 

Do not envy them. 

They are in their time zone, and you are in yours. 

So relax. 

You are not late. 

You are not early.

You are very much on time."

You might have seen or heard the above before. And this is what exactly I feel too! As age increases, I have seen more of what is going on at people surrounded me - some whom I know, and some whom I do not know in person. 

Be it about school, work, career, marriage, having a child, and even when it relates to travel, retire, and so on. 

I thought myself that I retired early in my late 30s, spent years of travelling and spending more time meeting my family members and friends every where around the world, while I still could, had the energy and blessed with good health.

I thought I had given up all my accounting knowledge and administrative skills that I acquired from my working experience and study before. I had even thrown most of the study material related to it because I had no intention of going back, and thought that who would even interested to hire me, who had so called 'retire' for many years. 

I did work during Covid time, that was because travel was impossible at that point of time and the job that I did was related to kitchen and F&B service operation, which both were not related to admin and account at all, and just to pass time. 

So, who ever thought, that one day, someone I knew from two decades ago, contacted me and asked me to work with her again, just because she found me reliable and could be trusted?

I trusted my gut feeling inside me that this was what I had been looking for since long time ago. My hubby said to his friend that I was kinda find my dream job. And he was right!

In the sense that I could work in a small office with one Boss to work with (and few others that were at the other part of the world); the location of the place was superb - in the shopping's belt of Singapore, nearby library, etc.; work in a peaceful environment (most days my Boss came at later hours); and many more, but most importantly, I was lucky to find a nice and understanding Boss. 

Oh, I could wear casual attires to work too!!! Jeans and sport shoes, hoodie for cold AC room, no problem!!! That was important for me! :)

What about travelling? Well, it can wait. As the above saying, "We are on our own time." And I always believed in "What is yours is yours. What is not yours, forget it." 

And I believed in fate very much when it comes to traveling - such as the destinations, people whom I travel with, seasons, weather, and so on. I know we all get older each day, but many things will come naturally when it is time. Just believe that everything will come at the right time :) 

Que sera sera....

Whatever will be, will be....