回味 2011 – Part 1

Finally I found sometime to sit down and pen down my long over-due post
2011 has been a year of changes, decision making, rebuilding … …
At the end of the year I just find myself to be very very THANKFUL & GRATEFUL

Despite the fact that I had sch fees to manage,I still get to travelled to a few places in 2011
At times I do not know how did manage to do it =p

Hong Kong
Another impromptu decision. Really impromptu. it was just a casual thought and chat
within the next half hour, we have everything BOOKED.

VIETNAM
Yet ANOTHER impromptu decision!
I can’t believe I actually made that decision & my friends booked everything on my behalf while I was still travelling in HONG KONG.
Flew to VIETNAM 2 days after I got back from HONG KONG.
Other than travelling solo, I ABSOLUTELY love such IMPROMPTU trips!  ;)
Vietnam was such an experience! I will go back one day and do a long trip around VIETNAM & CAMBODIA!

KL
Was it Impromptu again? I think so! haha!
We decided to take the overnight train to KL since its ending its service soon
And MAN! It was such an experience! I had sooooooo much fun during the entire trip!
It was one of the BEST trip I had with FRIENDS!

MUAR
Yes, this is definitely impromptu trip
Head up to Muar twice and I almost walked the entire town!
Was there on a mission to support a dear friend who is going through very very rough patch. Being there, praying and listening was all that I could do.
Both of us grew so much closer through all the situations & prayers
Honestly its really tough, I couldn’t imagine if it was me who had to go through so many things at one time.

How funny. Becoz I need to be an encourager and constantly praying. Reading bible and searching for verses, just brought me back to GOD’s love. I think at the end of the day, I’m the one that is tremendously bless. Through that few months, we really witness GOD’s goodness and protection. We are truly amazed at how GOD works!

Bangkok
haha! Impromptu trip again!! Once again, we were just having random conversations and then we booked! Absolutely love such trips! we bought 2 luggage full of t-shirts back! Massage was absolute SHIOKNESS!

KRABI
uhuh.. my only solo trip this year and YES, its IMPROMPTU again! I booked less than 2 weeks in advance! =p

Few major events that took place and change a part of me

Song leader class held by Poh
as usual, my very pro-active CGL just practically signed 99% of our members up for this song leader class. Initially i was half-hearted, but thinking back, it was a lesson that starts to remind me of my first love and brought me back to the very very basic. Reminded me of the times where I first know christ and how He has touched and changed me since day 1! Those days where we spend lots of times worshipping GOD and seeking His presence.

by the end of the lesson, I remembered I was so inspired and encourage.

CHC Easter drama
again, my very pro-active CGL signed me up to help out for our church Easter drama
I remembered my jaw dropping when he told me that he has signed me up for this
my VO is: HUH, ARE U SERIOUS!?! 赢了咯
But I really thank GOD I agreed to it and manage to stick through it

I haven been active in ministry for a long time
And drama is one of the ministry with crazy commitments and crazy call times
I remember sacrificing few weekends and many weeknights rehearsing till wee hours in the morning

But this involvement ignited something deep down within me
I found myself loving it day by day despite the tiredness, stress & at times unwillingness
I was reminded of how much I actually love doing backstage stuff and how much I actually do enjoy serving GOD in such a way. I actually miss being busy serving GOD.

at the end of the drama production
my backstage leader refused to let me go
就这样我又多了一个 ministry – drama backstage

Throughout the whole experience, I’ve learned:
Serving GOD is never easy or convenient, but it takes willingness

Dialect 风华再现
Honestly, I never thought I will agreed to take part in this
Yes, I do love singing. But over the years, I’ve grown to develop more liking to backstage works than to be a performer. I kinda agreed to take this up to test myself if I really still does love it? Well, I guess I have pretty much answered myself

It has been crazy trying to manage sch work + rehearsals.
Half the time, I’m doing my sch work + research while the others are doing their rehearsals

At the end of it, looking at the crazy photos, you know I had fun la
The only regret is that I did not manage to do it with live band :S

Going back to the basic
There is a period where Pst Kong really brought us, the whole church back to the basic
I remember that few weeks where we really worship GOD in such a tremendous way

It has been such a long time since we worshiped in such a manner
I remembered crying so hard, pouring out everything thats in me that I find it so hard to breathe. It feels like suddenly everything break loose and overwhelmed by GOD’s love

Honestly that few weeks was the best moments I had in  2011

Decision to go back MCS
It was quite a tough decision to make
My career path has been stagnent for the past 3 years?
Not knowing what next, where to and what I want is tiring and mentally & emotionally draining. However it is not the decision that changed my life

It was the pre-decision period that broke me down
Thinking back, I’ve learnt and experience so much during this period
Come to know myself better as a person as well

I remembered on 2 different occasions, I was out with the CG
had no idea how and what leads us to start talking abt the past
Many cg members in my current cell dun really know my past
so I started sharing how GOD had see me through my olevel, selection of Poly course etc
They were so touched by what I shared

It was there and then I felt something different. On that two occasion.
It feels like GOD wants me to repeat this story to remind myself what He has done.

you know, it was like GOD has planned for me to share this at that time to remind myself that every step that I took, He has been there with me and has never forsaken me
so no matter what wrong decision I may have made or was about to make, He will still be there to see me through.

To sum up the whole year, I would say: 
2011 is a year of IMPROMPTU & GOING BACK TO THE BASIC  

二零一二

有时我觉的很恐怖。
时间好像过的越来越快
不知不觉，2012年的一月就快过去了
为何感觉上好像刚刚才迎接新的一年呢？
我都还来不及blog 2011的东西阿！

今年的新年和往年的有点不同
除夕决定不待在家
到了好友的家吃团圆饭
当好友邀请时，有点意外，也有点害怕，所以迟疑的以下
害怕那种尴尬，冷场的画面
最终因许多原因而答应了
反正也不是第一次和他们碰面 

最后，我真的没后悔答应
一点尴尬的画面都没有，很舒服，能做自己，用餐是还能开怀大笑
我相信那一餐大家都带着了感恩之心

但是，这一餐是吃的超饱的！
饱到肚子快爆炸！

然后就到了Golden Village Vivocity 看电影！
“my week with Marilyn” 很 classic 的一个show，很简单，但很好看
两人都是第一次到 Gold Class 看电影，所以两人都非常的sua ku!
因庆祝xiao jie收工，我们决定获出去，点了 champaign！

这是我人生在电影院里花过最多钱的一次！
2x ticket + champaign = $179!!!
超suaku 的我不停的东拍西拍，坐在旁边的她就笑的没完没了 -_-! 

eh $179 okie！！ 人生不会有太多次 okie!

所以还是拍个照留念
不好意思，两人都非常丑 

看完戏，爱独自一个人的我选择一人继续chill out 
把那位不停问”you sure not”的人送走后就到 Starbucks chill out
就这样独自一个人在 Starbucks 倒数2012！ 超喜欢这种感觉！=) 
希望2012会对我好一点！  

HAPPY 2012 FRIENDS!!  

TIME

I swear I’m not going to do any more projects during this period of the year.
It suxs BIG TIME.
Starting brand new project on DEC ending in Mid FEB is a BITCH
It kills joy and spoils mood most of the time
Being not able to enjoy xmas parties, new year parties, CNY and my birthday is such a mood killer

I pray that next year during this period I could run away to a place far far away…

It is so unlike of me to not blog an “appreciation” blog at the end of the year.
Yes.. though its over, but yes I had so much to say to soooo many ppl
2011 hasn’t been great but it is also a year where I feel so loved by so many people!
Its a year full of gratitude!

I ended the year with a blast, a thankful heart, tears in my eyes.
I welcomed the year with a great celebration of a great couple!

This year, marks my 10th year in City Harvest!
Am believing GOD for a greater breakthrough!

more to come!

okie, 5 mins to blog this, i break record typing n thinking at such speed!
Off to OB!

30 things to stop doing to yourself

A very good read. grab entire chunk off from the blog: http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/

I need to often refer and remind myself.

 

“30 things to stop doing to yourself”

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you likeeveryone else.  Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.  You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.  You cannot change what you refuse to confront.  Making progress involves risk.  Period!  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you.  Concentrate on beating your own records every day.  Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself!  And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  Read Getting Things Done.
24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.  But making one person smile CAN change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.
28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life.  Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.