Do you smell that?..

I have been sensing something has not been quite what it appears to be, for a while now.

However since it is 'not nice', I have refrained myself from penning it.

It has gotten to be more obvious lately, so I guess it is worth sharing. At first glance, what I am about to share may not be 'in line' with my 2014 motto.

Then again, having given it a few rounds of 're-thinking' for quite a while now, it checks with  'TRUE'..

So I guess it qualifies, ya?

And here is my 'Note to Self';

If you have get a whiff of shit; trust your nose...
 

 It is shit.

Fresh start

While this period can still be categorised as spanking brand new year, allow me to wish you HAPPY NEW YEAR!

*pop the confetti poppers & jump & dance*

Ok.. So how was 2013 for me, you might ask?

The first half was ok, the second half was not good. Don't even let me go to the last quarter. I have never seen that level of demotivation at work, not only for me, but the office in general. The indicator was for the first time in almost 10 years no one was in the mood to set up the office Christmas tree, let alone organise the pre-Christmas lunch. Most of us were feeling 'blergh' (If there is such a word) at  'special someone'.

On the personal front, I lost my maternal grandmother in October , beloved uncle in November and my dog Cayramel in December. Hence the silence. Lost my mojo to blog.

By year end, I spent my year end leave not going anywhere but hibernated. Needed to recuperate. So badly.

Having said that, there were good things happening in 2013 too.

1. I did my first landing in May. That was major.

2. I discovered something on Pinterest that I actually practised. It is called the 5-Dollar Saving Plan.

(Pinterest)

Basically, every time you get a $5 note, you save it. Do this for a year. I am into my 10th month now, and am so looking forward to end of March 2014 to find out how much I have saved.

For those who finds it challenging to set aside 30% of your paycheck ever month into your saving, try doing the $5 Saving Plan over a period of 1 year. It is do-able. Trust me. I am not able to set aside 30% every month, but this $5 is do-able. Best part you get to 'treat' yourself with it after the end of 12th months. You could deposit it in the bank, or treat yourself with your heart's desire.

3. I learnt the importance of being grateful and trying to look for nuggets of goodness in the dreary of daily life. It really helped when your are overwhelmed by lost of loved ones and work overload.

So, what is my resolutions this year?

I am not sure if you could call it a resolution, but I found it by chance as I was prepping myself for first day of work. It is more of a motto, I guess.

 

Yes, this is how I intend to start the year. And since this is THE year that hubby and I have been waiting for, it is good to be guided and reminded by this verse as we prepare to enter a new chapter in our lives.

 

Another quote which is equally important this year is this.

 

(Pinterest)

 

(Pinterest)

 

I hope to see 2014 through the eyes of Ellie Frederickson  and carry within me a spirit of Adventure.

 

Will you join me?...

 

 

(Pinterest)

 

Promise...

Of dreams and visions..

 

I have left this blog unattended for quite a while. It is not like I lack things to write about. In fact, I have many things I wish I could write about. Ok, to be precise, to vent about..

 

But maybe  I will vent another time..

 

Not today..

 

Today I would like to cling on to something dear to me.. Something I tend to let slip from the consciousness of my being, as I 'allow' the waves of life's daily frustrations overwhelm me.

 

Today, I would like to choose to be reminded of my dreams and visions.

 

Today, I am cherishing my dreams and visions. I will allow it to grow bigger, and more pronounced as I begin to discover words to describe them. It used to be just a thought; something I could not even utter. Or to be precise, something I did not believe I deserve.

 

But I am beginning to believe that I do deserve and own these dreams.

 

I am beginning to believe that they are put there for a reason. And I look forward to see what those reasons would be...

 

 

 





 

 (Pinterest)

The critics don't count

Have you ever struggled with a decision that just leaves you in a total state of dilemma. But at the same time, you just know you just had to make it.

 

I am still struggling with mine. I've made a decision that is less popular because it is a road less trodden.

 

With all my heart I wish my loved ones could just accept my decision. However, I know where the 'resistance' is coming from.

 

It comes from their own fear of the unknown.

 

And out of that fear, comes barrages of critiques, that at times, can be overwhelming and disheartening.

 

Of course, I do not blame them for 'fearing' for me. They fear for my wellbeing out of love for me. I totally get it. But when words of 'non-blessing' starts spewing out; and coming from one you love, it can sure starts taking its toll on you.

 

Oh well...

 

That is why the quote below is means a lot to me, at a time when I need to find my centre again.

 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great end of triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

~ Theodore Roosevelt~

Wisdom and Reminder

(Pinterest)

 

(Pinterest)

First landing

The long awaited day finally came.

 

The day I waited to see this view; of the Land Downunder.

 

 

I finally 'landed' on this corner of the huge continent on 12 May 2013.

It was mid autumn in these part of the world.

 

 

 

 

Maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was the occasion, or maybe it was my first experience of its mild autumn.

 

Somehow, all these 'maybe's rolled into one, made me realised how beautiful a fallen maple leave really is.

 

{I even brought home 2 pieces of such leaves. I am not sure if it is allowed to bring in leaves from another country into this country, but I did pray hard that I would not be dragged into quarantine because if it.}

 

 

Picture was taken in one of the winery I went to. See, even the locals love their maple leave.

 

So, do excuse this woman from the tropics who has 'leaf crush', ya..

 

Anyway, I had a wonderful trip getting to know this new place.

 

And most importantly, I am very happy that my visa is now ACTIVATED..