My Body on Strike

Listen to this article

"Stop, in the name of rest"
My body has decided to finally go on strike today; came down with fever and flu. This is rather surprising considering it was just a long weekend a few days ago and I was only back in office for just a day before I feel ill... Seriously, am beginning to feel the toll of work on me

But I just can't believe I let it happen to me again... was burnt out last year before I left my ex-workplace and now I let it happen to me yet again... sighhh, just don't seem to learn my lesson.

I still like my job but recently i feel I am getting "lazier" and I do start to dread to go to work on some days. Compared to the first few months at work, I seem to have relatively more to do then but somehow the pace has slowed down now... maybe my body and mind is telling me to slow down since I seem to be going in all directions everyday, with so many things on mind...

But I don't think it is the work that is the culprit since I am working relatively less hours nowadays compared to my ex-workplace; I force myself to finish work by 8pm latest and on most days I go home relatively on time. The real culprit: me thinking and worrying about the work all the time; my mind is forever ticking away and it becomes so difficult to stop... I can be thinking about work, projects and volunteers this moment and about my volunteer work with my association, personal matters at another moment...

Even today, I still keep thinking about work while I was at the doctor's; I had even thought of coming back to do a bit of work. Eventually, I struggled to force myself to rest and sleep and just do nothing... No wonder my body gave up on me... When I called this morning, my colleague "scolded" me for working nonstop... "See la, see la... told you don't work till so late, you don't listen".

OK OK, I get the message... will pace myself. Maybe I just need to impose "speed limits" on myself and pace myself. Need to keep reminding myself now that I had recently joined a taskgroup for media relations & publicity with my professional association and another committee for a recrutiment & programmes for a new association for volunteer managers.

Work Satisfaction
But sometimes, the hard work pays off and it just gives me satisfaction knowing that a piece of work is well done. Guess that is what I can't let go of; the work statisfaction, which explains why I am a workaholic.

Just 2 days ago, my boss told me that someone had suggested I be seconded back to my ex-workplace to help out. Of course my boss didn't agree and I wasn't comfortable with that as well since I will most probably get myself into more trouble and will most probably not be able to cope on both sides.

Yesterday, a friend from the committee contacted me and again wanted to sound me out to see if there is any chance of me going back to help, either as a full-time staff or as a committee member. I told her frankly that I am not ready for it because it will just not be fair to my current organization and my boss. Moreover, it won't look good on my resume since I seldom stay more than 1.5 years in an organization. Didn't really consider joining the committee as well since I have some emotional buggage that I had brought along with me after I left the workplace; I just wasn't ready to work with some of these people again. I did however affirmed my support to them and mentioned that I will help "behind -the-scenes" in all ways I can. I too want to do my part for my profession. All these just show that my work is at least appreciated (although a bit too late) and I can be at peace with myself that I have did my best.

Back in my current organization, I had someone who had seen a piece of work I had done recently and commended me through email, saying that it is impressive and I that I seriously deserve a raise but not without also asking me "which planet I came from?". Well, OK, that felt good but seriously I have to think whether it is really worth it if eventually I burn out again... anyway, don't really want all these praising to get in my head and start being complacent...

Being Judgmental

Listen to this article

Being Angry with People
It is so human to be judgmental and we are all doing it everyday without even being aware of it.

Just this morning, I was thinking "What is the main cause of conflicts between people? What causes anger between 2 people?" and one word came to mind... "Intentions"

Think about the last time you became angry... more often than none, there certain assumptions made about the other person we are angry with and most often, these tend to be negative thoughts about their "intentions"; we think that the other person "is out to get us and make life difficult for us and hurt us".

We always seem to assume the worst and occasionally, we might even read between the lines... Well, I don't doubt that sometimes there are people who are just out to get us or make life difficult for us, but one thing remains true... we are not the other person and therefore we will not understand the way he/she thinks.

So the next time you feel angry, it would be good to analyse a little deeper to see what assumptions we have of the other person... what "intentions" do we feel the other person have? We have a choice whether we want to give the other person the benefit of the doubt and deal only with facts rather than reading beyond and get angry with assumed intentions... difficult but definitely worth trying for the sake of our mental health :)

Misreading People
Sometimes, we misread people because we are just so quick to want to judge. Saw a video clip yesterday about a child... Won't spoil the fun and you can watch it below before we further ahead:



When was the last time you "sentenced" someone with your judgment? Another personal favourite... "The Cookie Thief" by Korinna Sehringer. Watch it here:

http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/atom_453

Being Angry with God
We don't only become angry with people but also with God, especially when we face difficulties and when our prayers are not anwered (I am guilty of that too) and we say "God, how could you?!"

For staff devotion today, we used the "Daily Bread" article on Naomi from Ruth 4:13-22. Having lost her husband and her 2 sons, Naomi was so devasted that she wanted to change her name from Naomi (which meant "my delight") to Mara...

When people greeted her, she said, "Don't call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." (Ruth 1:20-21)

It is no wonder Naomi felt this way because after all she did lose her loved ones... not 1 but 3 at the same time. As times, we feel like Naomi and feel that God has forsaken us when we encounter bad things. But for Naomi, although she lost her husband and two sons, she was given something totally unexpected—a devoted daughter-in-law and a grandchild who would be in the lineage of the Messiah.

James 1:2-4 says "Consider it joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Matthew 6:33-34 says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Sometimes, God wants to help us but we are so engrossed with one form of help, our attention becomes so selective, just as the following anecdote tells us:

Why Didn't You Help Me?
It had been raining for days and days, and a terrible flood had come over the land. The waters rose so high that one man was forced to climb onto the roof of his house.

As the waters rose higher and higher, a man in a rowboat appeared, and told him to get in. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the rowboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters rose higher and higher, and suddenly a speedboat appeared. "Climb in!" shouted a man in the boat. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the speedboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters continued to rise. A helicopter appeared and over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced he would lower a rope to the man on the roof. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the helicopter went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters rose higher and higher, and eventually they rose so high that the man on the roof was washed away, and alas, the poor man drowned.

Upon arriving in heaven, the man marched straight over to God. "Heavenly Father," he said, "I had faith in you, I prayed to you to save me, and yet you did nothing. Why?" God gave him a puzzled look, and replied "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"

Super Embarrassed
After staff devotional today morning, I sent an email to share some of the points above and shared the link to the video of the "misunderstood child". Somehow, I did not realize that there were some links to objectionable videos on the link bar on the right of the video on the website... you can imagine the embarrassment when someone told me that much later; I have just sent a mass mail to my fellow colleagues from 3 departments in a Christian organizations with links to objectionable content next to it! So "malu"! Even though I told myself it wasn't intentional but then still felt bad and had a bit of headache for the rest of the day. Sighhh.

Sorry, That's Our Biggest Size

Listen to this article

Hong Kong, Here I Come
("Hong Kong Skyline" Photo below by akim95)

somehow just enjoy the planning process. At least, it takes myYeah, long weekend started, can rest! Seriously, my daily schedule has been so hectic I am really really looking forward to a holiday. Have been spending quite a number of hours this past week researching and planning a trip to Hong Kong with my friends... Although it is not easy; trying to work out the details to see which days are best, whether to go with tour agent or book ourselves, which airline to pick, which hotel to stay in, how to make our way from the airport to the hotel and vice versa etc, I mind off work for that short while... Hong Kong here I come :)

Anyway, spent the whole morning just "chilling out" at home (i.e. can't really remember what I was doing but just lazing around) and the latter part of the afternoon helping a fellow cell group mate move her house. Decided to meet my friends to plan the Hong Kong trip later in the evening.

Photo of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
taken at my last trip to Hong Kong

The Agony of Supersize Me @ a Sale
While waiting for my friends, just took the time to just shop around for a while (since I needed new berms and jeans and I don't really always have the luxury to do so). Was so thrilled when I realized there was a sale going on and some of the branded items were like going for $20+. But then "supersize" me just keep getting the same response.... "sorry, that's our biggest size". I mean, what's wrong? Are people nowadays smaller in size or just I getting abnormally big? Seen a pair of jeans and 2 berms which I liked but sighhhhh, "sorry, that's our biggest size". Talk about the agony of shopping for a supersize person.

Somehow, there just seem to be more people around today... probably due to the long weekend, probably also thanks to progress package, everyone is just keen to pamper themselves with that extra cash. It got to be coincidental or it is just that these business people are just real smart... knowing that with extra cash and a sale, it is just too tempting not to say "no". Anyway, I gave in but then ended up having people saying "sorry, NO size". So sad...

Excuse Me, You Own This Train?
Ya, indeed, can't stand it liaoz... I don't know how you feel about inconsiderate commuters on public transport but it is just irritating enough for me to blog about them... Following my 3 misadventures with inconsiderate people on the train (Peak Hour Sandwich, The Train Door Keeper and Bus DJs) , I just can't stand these peoples' inconsiderate behaviour anymore; something needs to be done about it! I applaud the blog "Ugly Singaporean" (Ugly but yes, these irritating people do exist). Now, be educated and if you are guilty about it, please, for goodness sake, BE CONSIDERATE!!!

My Charts of the Top 4 Most Irritating Behaviours on Public Transport
Coming in at number 4 is the energetic and migraine-causing screaming children... Imagine this, you had just knocked off from a hectic day of work. There in front of you, you have a child who just refuses to sit down with his/her guardian or parent. They chooses to swing around the pole as if they are training to do bar-top dancing and/or swing about with the hand straps as if they are practicing to be gymnasts... All the while, you try to tolerate the screaming and avoid being "kicked" or hitted by the child and you keep looking at their guardian(s) or their parent(s), who happens to just keeps talking away to another parent or am just smiling away and not doing anything. For goodness sake, do something!

At number 3 goes to the commuters who refuse to move in even when there is an empty seat beside them and the bus / train is crowded. I can understand and accept if you are getting off the next stop or are holding onto bulky items; which makes it inconvenient to take the inner seat but there are just people who are neither getting off nor carrying bulky items and they just refuse to move in.

Closing in is the commuter who deprives others of a seat by occupying a seat with their bags / items, this at number 2. I am OK with this if the train / bus is relatively empty but you should get the idea and have enough EQ to do something when you see the train / bus getting crowded... To help you better visualize this (face have been diffused to protect the identity... anyway, my handphone resolution isn't very superb in the first place. By the way, I don't intentionally go out to take pictures of these people... just feel irritated when I see it and want to "educate"):

Topping the charts at number 1 is "commuters without backbone"; people who somehow are oblivious to the fact that many others need to hold onto the pole to support themselves and just lean against the grab pole. These people better hope that the train will not do an e-break or else who is going to be responsible when people get injured?

I take no credit for this photo... taken from http://moonflyer00.blogspot.com/2005/05/this-girl-is-such-btch-she-leaned-her.html