just for today

It's Time To Count What I Have

I was browsing my blog entries and realised I have not written positive stories during Christmas (except for posting a couple of Calvin & Hobbes cartoon strips in 2005). After having such a terrible 2007 (the absolute worst in my life of relative positive luck), I think it is time for me to count what I have and be very grateful that I can breathe and live another meaningful day.

First and foremost, I have learnt to live a happier life. For this, I am grateful to my family who gives me comfort and showed me that ultimately it is family who is the most important in life. This is especially apt for my brother, who gives me his encouraging hugs when I was depressed studying for my CFA and of course I have to thank him for his endless wit and well-meant criticisms of my bad study schedule. I have learnt a big lesson in living happily from Chris as well; who always listens to my woes and grumbles, who is patient with my quirky behaviour and sometimes blonde moments and showed me that faith and perserverance does overcome obstacles. I am also grateful to fantastic friends who stick by me through the bad times and care about me deeply. The windy and bumpy road of 2007 has not been easy but it made me realise alot about friendship and support.

I am happy that I have my health. I may not be the healthiest person alive with my wonky left shoulder but I am happy that I have a body who does my bidding well. I promise to take better care of it in 2008 by exercising regularly and having a balanced lifestyle with lots of therapeutic yoga. I know that health should not be taken lightly and proper insurance coverage is very important from a real-life experience from work. Especially for cancer treatments and operation costs. What does not kill you may actually do you in financially if you do not have proper insurance in place.

N.B. Not that I have not appreciated insurance in the past, but I think the impact of insurance is finally leaving a deep imprint in my brain. It may be a probability game but when you do strike the jackpot by getting really ill, the payoff will be worth the small premium paid.

I am really glad that I have my job. The learning experience has been fantastic doing non-operational work and I am gaining a deeper appreciation and understanding of the banking and finance industry. I am grateful for open doors when I needed one and supportive, non-political back-stabbing colleagues. On a pragmatic note, I am also pleased with my bank balance every 26th of the month.

Finally, I am glad I believe in a higher power and have absolute faith that someone up there will take care of me and guide me along the right way. It is important to me understanding our purpose in life and this has become even more acute with the many deaths this year. Spiritual enlightenment and spiritual happiness is something I will work towards every day next year.

min on Monday, December 24, 2007

Quarter Of A Century Old

Each time as my birthday approaches, I like to reflect on what had happened in the past year. (I think of it as doing a yearly review. When 31 December approaches, I like to think ahead and figure out what I would like to do the next year.) As I turn quarter of a century old in 2007, there is alot to reflect on. I think 2007 will always be a year of loss to me. I lost my maternal grandmother, then my sister and finally my paternal grandmother. Death used to be a scary and alien concept to me; but now I have accepted that there is nothing to fear and it is just another stage of life. Indeed, I think I can understand a little better why Buddha advocates that life is transient and that we have to cultivate our inner spirit instead of hanging on to life's mundane desires. As the Chinese saying goes, "生不带来，死不带去" (what you do not bring to life when you are born, you do not bring along in death).

Every cloud has a silver lining. The only bright spot among the deaths is that I finally realised that I do not have to be bound by my past unhappiness. I found someone who appreciates and loves me for who I am; and I am grateful that he showed me I have a choice and I can (and have) choose to be happy. I am happy he showed me that love can be unconditional and giving; that two people can be happy together even in long distance dating. I am happy too that I took a leap of faith and gave the relationship a chance even when it did not look very promising initially. He showed me that things can work when both parties put in efforts and love does not have to be overly complicated or dramatic. It is just a simple but endearing emotional bond two people have.

I made new friends, got a better-paying job with better prospects, took a much dreaded CFA exam with very little preparation (albeit completed the 2 papers with a hell of a headache afterwards) and generally survived a really bad year with alot of help from my friends and family.

It's been a year full of hidden corners, winding roads and surprises both good and bad. I think I would like to remember 2007 as a year where I lost but also gained valuable life lessons which I can take and improve my remaining three-quarters or less of a century.

min on Sunday, December 09, 2007

Partridge In A Pear Tree & Kampong Fish

It is pre-birthday celebration today with my brother and boyfriend (who popped by town for the weekend). Since he was going to spend Christmas in Manila with his family, I decided to surprise him by buying mantinee tickets to "A Crazy Christmas". I wanted him to enjoy a local theatre production and spend the afternoon as our pre-Christmas celebration. It was a very good performance indeed and I especially loved it when they sung "12 Days of Christmas". They brought up a good point; what on earth is a partridge in a pear tree? Fear not, I have googled the web and a picture is found below for your reference:

I am sure to be annoyed if my true love gave me that for Christmas. Thus, the singers proposed new lyrics to the song and gave it a Singaporean twist by wanting to have 1 chance to win the top prize for 4D, 5 Tiffany rings and some bak kwa thrown in for good measure. I told my boyfriend I only got his first Tiffany so he still owes me 4!

Before we went for the production, we visited Kampong Fish Therapy at Novena Ville who had fishes eating our dead skin. My brother and I read about it on 8 Days and decided I would try it on my birthday just for the fun of it. Well, as you can clearly see, my legs were not very popular with the fishes! It was quite ticklish initially having the fishes nibble on my legs but once you get over the feeling, it is good fun and rather relaxing.

I am proud to say the fish therapy does work! My legs and even more for Chris's rough ankles felt baby soft and smooth after our 40 minute session.

min on Saturday, December 08, 2007