As the days breeze past, I'm getting closer and closer to the date I return to office.
This school year, I have learnt to discipline, focus and eventually, most importantly, learnt to distance from school all together. I learnt how focus and discipline helped me learn better but more importantly, I learnt that focusing and discipline are not important after all. School, is not important. Life is. I knew that, and had to be reminded again. I practiced that, but lost that. Yet, I am now better able to understand all those friends who neglect their friends because of school/work. They were not as lucky as I to get a knock in the head and learn the importance of life over school.
So, a gentle reminder to the future Princess, no matter what happens, office nor school is never more important than life itself.
Enjoy life!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Ensemble's Twentieth
I recall the last time I returned to NUSCO after a short break, I was walking jitteringly into the new practice room at Yong Siew Toh. And an even longer break a while ago, I joined NUSCO after a three year break from playing the cello.
This time, it is different. I didn't realise it could be so different. I didn't get a cello till a week before performance. Not to mention the cello wasn't even a decent one to help keep me in tune. This time, it was five years since I've last been in close contact with a cello. Picking one up and getting back on stage in one week was quite a feat.
As I had previously stopped before, there was no longer the fear that I didn't know where to place my fingers anymore. It was more of getting used to the soreness of the vibration of the strings, the strength needed to do the vibrato, and the bow, the very unused muscles to bounce the bow, to cross-strings. Vivaldi may be easy but it isn't without its own set of challenges.
L'estro de Armonico Concerto X turned out to be a crowd winner. With Angeline commenting it being the best of the first half, Junhao summed it well with "the confidence exuded by the alumni" did the trick. Leng added that it was encouraging for parents watching the concert, thinking that THIS could just be what their children will look like in future!
Keeping music alive, I bet that was Ms Ku's hope in us.
What a significant twentieth, seeing the two chairpersons on stage, Junior high's chair being so excited he literally screamed into the mic, breaking down halfway to recover his emotions.
I recall the first time we called back our alumni, I was the one looking up each and every senior from 1994 onwards, that of Kaileng, Grace, Chenjie et. al. It was for a BBQ event. That was ensemble's first BBQ and a very bonding one indeed. Looking forward to our next reunion, with ensemble, the music, the people and the memories.
This time, it is different. I didn't realise it could be so different. I didn't get a cello till a week before performance. Not to mention the cello wasn't even a decent one to help keep me in tune. This time, it was five years since I've last been in close contact with a cello. Picking one up and getting back on stage in one week was quite a feat.
As I had previously stopped before, there was no longer the fear that I didn't know where to place my fingers anymore. It was more of getting used to the soreness of the vibration of the strings, the strength needed to do the vibrato, and the bow, the very unused muscles to bounce the bow, to cross-strings. Vivaldi may be easy but it isn't without its own set of challenges.
L'estro de Armonico Concerto X turned out to be a crowd winner. With Angeline commenting it being the best of the first half, Junhao summed it well with "the confidence exuded by the alumni" did the trick. Leng added that it was encouraging for parents watching the concert, thinking that THIS could just be what their children will look like in future!
Keeping music alive, I bet that was Ms Ku's hope in us.
What a significant twentieth, seeing the two chairpersons on stage, Junior high's chair being so excited he literally screamed into the mic, breaking down halfway to recover his emotions.
I recall the first time we called back our alumni, I was the one looking up each and every senior from 1994 onwards, that of Kaileng, Grace, Chenjie et. al. It was for a BBQ event. That was ensemble's first BBQ and a very bonding one indeed. Looking forward to our next reunion, with ensemble, the music, the people and the memories.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Trust is..
Easier said than done.
When one loses her rationale,
How can trust keep her afloat?
The truth of yesteryears,
Seem too far and faded.
To trust the fact, the logic,
By a heart so jaded.
Trust can be so strong,
Yet so fragile at the same time.
Trust can keep one alive,
Yet break one's heart so deeply.
How does one retain her trust,
In a moment so sadly tainted?
When one loses her rationale,
How can trust keep her afloat?
The truth of yesteryears,
Seem too far and faded.
To trust the fact, the logic,
By a heart so jaded.
Trust can be so strong,
Yet so fragile at the same time.
Trust can keep one alive,
Yet break one's heart so deeply.
How does one retain her trust,
In a moment so sadly tainted?
Monday, March 10, 2014
7 Days as a Butterfly
Wings Colourful, Widely spread;
It breezes along, the flower bed.
Pretty flowers, Natural scent;
Alongside it, beautifully unkempt.
Graceful sun, Embracing warmth;
Flower to flower, Fluttering along.
Wings float, Drifted by the wind;
Higher and higher, mid-air its in.
Scent is lost, flowers gone;
Missing in the air and beyond.
Flutter weakens, wind missed;
Downward spiral, and it spins.
Lost and paralysed, in its state;
Whirlwind of events belies its fate.
It breezes along, the flower bed.
Pretty flowers, Natural scent;
Alongside it, beautifully unkempt.
Graceful sun, Embracing warmth;
Flower to flower, Fluttering along.
Wings float, Drifted by the wind;
Higher and higher, mid-air its in.
Scent is lost, flowers gone;
Missing in the air and beyond.
Flutter weakens, wind missed;
Downward spiral, and it spins.
Lost and paralysed, in its state;
Whirlwind of events belies its fate.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Love more, Generate Global Health
And so, it has emerged that I suffer as a young adult a mild-severe loss in hearing, an unexpected onset of eczema last year, and haemoglobins found in lab tests to be further verified. A friend joked, there's something wrong with my brain, not knowing how close to the truth he was. My best friend is more worried about my not being able to hear than myself. While both my dermatologist and ent specialists say - reduce stress, knowing themselves it being impossible in this metropolitan.
This metropolitan, can we really blame? I questioned my sub-department head if he thought it was only his department that was too stressed. This was on the basis that we're the only department in the company who lost 3 lives - 2 + 0.5 + 0.5. Maybe more, that I am not aware. 2 foetueses and 1 succumbed to schizophrenia another to diabetes and depression. I count the latter two as 0.5 each. How controversial for him to think that all these are mere coincidences! How is it such a mere coincidence that the staff he hired happened to bore such illnesses? Why did he not think that probably all humans are not perfect, no staff in any department are perfectly healthy? When I told another sub-department head about my predicament, his view was, by hook or crook, LEAVE.
Our health, is the only gift we have. Health, brought on by happiness, a healthy lifestyle of sports and balanced-diet, a healthy environment.The number one risk to this health happens to be stress. Not the virals, nor the genes, but really stress. We are born imperfect. We are born susceptible to viruses and our genes probably hiding millions of diseases. But everybody is healthy around us, or so it seems. Its really, how you take care of yourself? How do you protect yourself from stress?
We exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, drink alot of water and walk in parks for a fresh breath of air. However, these are all external. Internally, to prevent the build up of negative energies from emotional stress especially, our antibodies need a healthy dose of happiness, relaxation and a healthy emotional state to stay strong. Internally, the antibodies once weak, become susceptible in spite of external support.
Even stress, there are two main kinds. I group them as emotional stress and mental stress. Emotional stress is, in my opinion, the worst form of torture. If we could mete this out as a punishment to prisoners... but I digress. Emotional stress stems from being 'bullied'. Mental stress is plainly out of high expectations, stems from the need to perform. Humans when bullied are psychologically under duress, they may choose to voice it out or keep their grievances in within, both are bad. Voicing it out results in life with the bully being unbearable. Keeping it within makes it more bearable but the internal build up of injustice will break the skin. Mental stress, IMO, is easier to escape. Lower expectations, mindset shifts can help adjust such stress.
We can do something about mental stress. But, besides leaving, there's nothing much to be done with emotional stress. Unless one identifies the bully and provides counselling for her. So let's learn from this and not be bullies ourselves. Life is challenging as it is, why make it harder for your fellow human?
I propose here a universally effective solution - LOVE. I think humans, especially Asians, are very restrictive about loving. They condemn themselves to only love blood related relatives besides their life partner. What's there not to love about your comrade, your friend, your colleague or even the aunty who helps to clean your school's toilet?
Let's love more, and generate global health.
This metropolitan, can we really blame? I questioned my sub-department head if he thought it was only his department that was too stressed. This was on the basis that we're the only department in the company who lost 3 lives - 2 + 0.5 + 0.5. Maybe more, that I am not aware. 2 foetueses and 1 succumbed to schizophrenia another to diabetes and depression. I count the latter two as 0.5 each. How controversial for him to think that all these are mere coincidences! How is it such a mere coincidence that the staff he hired happened to bore such illnesses? Why did he not think that probably all humans are not perfect, no staff in any department are perfectly healthy? When I told another sub-department head about my predicament, his view was, by hook or crook, LEAVE.
Our health, is the only gift we have. Health, brought on by happiness, a healthy lifestyle of sports and balanced-diet, a healthy environment.The number one risk to this health happens to be stress. Not the virals, nor the genes, but really stress. We are born imperfect. We are born susceptible to viruses and our genes probably hiding millions of diseases. But everybody is healthy around us, or so it seems. Its really, how you take care of yourself? How do you protect yourself from stress?
We exercise, eat fruits and vegetables, drink alot of water and walk in parks for a fresh breath of air. However, these are all external. Internally, to prevent the build up of negative energies from emotional stress especially, our antibodies need a healthy dose of happiness, relaxation and a healthy emotional state to stay strong. Internally, the antibodies once weak, become susceptible in spite of external support.
Even stress, there are two main kinds. I group them as emotional stress and mental stress. Emotional stress is, in my opinion, the worst form of torture. If we could mete this out as a punishment to prisoners... but I digress. Emotional stress stems from being 'bullied'. Mental stress is plainly out of high expectations, stems from the need to perform. Humans when bullied are psychologically under duress, they may choose to voice it out or keep their grievances in within, both are bad. Voicing it out results in life with the bully being unbearable. Keeping it within makes it more bearable but the internal build up of injustice will break the skin. Mental stress, IMO, is easier to escape. Lower expectations, mindset shifts can help adjust such stress.
We can do something about mental stress. But, besides leaving, there's nothing much to be done with emotional stress. Unless one identifies the bully and provides counselling for her. So let's learn from this and not be bullies ourselves. Life is challenging as it is, why make it harder for your fellow human?
I propose here a universally effective solution - LOVE. I think humans, especially Asians, are very restrictive about loving. They condemn themselves to only love blood related relatives besides their life partner. What's there not to love about your comrade, your friend, your colleague or even the aunty who helps to clean your school's toilet?
Let's love more, and generate global health.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
The best childcare..
I have been musing about whether mothers should stay home to care for their little children and to provide them the comfort they require as little ones. There are many examples where children who grew up at home with mothers turn out less irritable and more amiable than kids raised in factory-like childcare centres. However, deeper thought into this made me question myself, if mothers who stay home really make better kids. That is to say, do these children grow up to become better adults although there can be a significant difference when they are young. A further thought on that, irritable kids learn from being bad, they learn from the reactions of others around them to become better adults. Wouldn't that be more effective learning than amiable kids?
The quick answer to that is, give the child the best childcare you can. You don't want to regret not trying your best. Nobody regrets trying their best. That is, nobody goes, I should've neglected my child so that he would learn what is bad more effectively. There is no need for a child to be bad to know what is bad. In fact, as adults we often see bad examples everywhere we start wondering what is GOOD?
That said, the best childcare need not require the mother to be at home all day. In fact, if you're going to be a bad mother, maybe its better to leave your child at the day care centre. The expertise at the day care could be better than a lousy mother. I'm exaggerating, as there really is no bad mother in this world. Every mother loves her child and her love can only be good, most of the time. So the best childcare is really what a parent can offer given his/her circumstances.
What then, makes a best childcare? With much musing, my friends and I concluded that confidence within a child is the result of best childcare. Does your child have the confidence to let go of your hand after you bring him to the playground and start making friends with strangers? Does your child have the confidence to perform his grade 1 piano piece to his teacher's students who are up to the Diploma standard?
How then can we build confidence in a child? Intuitively, the comfort of knowing that he is well-taken care of makes a confident child. That is why many stay-at-home mothers make better children. Yet, that is not all. Words of encouragement are critical, thence, the very disruptive pampering of grandparents can actually give a child confidence. Still, all must be done in moderation. A child too proud of himself may impede his own learning progress or social skills.
The best childcare do make better adults. Think of it this way, a child learns the most, the fastest when he is child. Adults do not pick things up as fast and takes very long to unlearn things too. Therefore, we want to give the child our best, the best available for him so that he will grow up to become a good adult. We want to treasure every single moment of his childhood, that is why many adults send their children to ballet, painting, gymnastics, riding, swimming and many other classes.
In general, adults are doing it right. They are giving their little loved ones the best they can imagine. There are many things adults can do better and can learn to do better. Critically, whether you are stay-at-home, part-time, or working mother, give your child your best. What you can give, you would, and please do as they grow too fast for you to catch up.
The quick answer to that is, give the child the best childcare you can. You don't want to regret not trying your best. Nobody regrets trying their best. That is, nobody goes, I should've neglected my child so that he would learn what is bad more effectively. There is no need for a child to be bad to know what is bad. In fact, as adults we often see bad examples everywhere we start wondering what is GOOD?
That said, the best childcare need not require the mother to be at home all day. In fact, if you're going to be a bad mother, maybe its better to leave your child at the day care centre. The expertise at the day care could be better than a lousy mother. I'm exaggerating, as there really is no bad mother in this world. Every mother loves her child and her love can only be good, most of the time. So the best childcare is really what a parent can offer given his/her circumstances.
What then, makes a best childcare? With much musing, my friends and I concluded that confidence within a child is the result of best childcare. Does your child have the confidence to let go of your hand after you bring him to the playground and start making friends with strangers? Does your child have the confidence to perform his grade 1 piano piece to his teacher's students who are up to the Diploma standard?
How then can we build confidence in a child? Intuitively, the comfort of knowing that he is well-taken care of makes a confident child. That is why many stay-at-home mothers make better children. Yet, that is not all. Words of encouragement are critical, thence, the very disruptive pampering of grandparents can actually give a child confidence. Still, all must be done in moderation. A child too proud of himself may impede his own learning progress or social skills.
The best childcare do make better adults. Think of it this way, a child learns the most, the fastest when he is child. Adults do not pick things up as fast and takes very long to unlearn things too. Therefore, we want to give the child our best, the best available for him so that he will grow up to become a good adult. We want to treasure every single moment of his childhood, that is why many adults send their children to ballet, painting, gymnastics, riding, swimming and many other classes.
In general, adults are doing it right. They are giving their little loved ones the best they can imagine. There are many things adults can do better and can learn to do better. Critically, whether you are stay-at-home, part-time, or working mother, give your child your best. What you can give, you would, and please do as they grow too fast for you to catch up.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
I was reading my horoscope..
And was giggling at how lame but true it is..
LIBRA - The Lame One (September 23 to October 22) Nice to everyone they meet. Their love is one of a kind. Silly, funny and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However, not the kind of person you want to mess with... you might end up crying. Libras can cause as much havoc as they can prevent. Faithful friends to the end. Can hold a grudge for years. Libras are someone you want on your side. Usually great at sports and are extreme sports fanatics. Very creative. A hopeless romantic.
LIBRA - The Lame One (September 23 to October 22) Nice to everyone they meet. Their love is one of a kind. Silly, funny and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! However, not the kind of person you want to mess with... you might end up crying. Libras can cause as much havoc as they can prevent. Faithful friends to the end. Can hold a grudge for years. Libras are someone you want on your side. Usually great at sports and are extreme sports fanatics. Very creative. A hopeless romantic.
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