A subtle difference

Friday, April 29, 2011

Woke up to read this funny little blog post from 2006. Somehow, I find I sometimes fall into the habits and characteristics of the other gender. But how will I survive without my daily planner I will never know. A good, easy read. Enjoy!

Chore Cloud- One Difference Between Men and Women.

Blessed Easter.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I've staggered, wavered, doubted in my faith. I've rejoiced, embraced, glorified in my faith too. And it was because of You. I just need reminders now and then that no matter how many daunting, crushing obstacles come  my way, I'll hold my baton high and race to the finish line. Because You suffered much more than I could ever fathom or repay. Thank YOU for your ever bountiful love and saving grace :D

On slowing down and childhood ambitions

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

You know, I can't remember the last time I didn't feel like I needed and wanted to grow up. I suppose, partly being my fault, I never gave much thought to the decisions I had to make when I eventually come to that proverbial crossroad. Somehow, being 22 seems like a herculean task already. However, right now, I feel as if I never had enough time on my playground. During my quieter days here in Melbourne, when work and social gatherings have not sucked up my time, I'm left with my myriad thoughts, each one bouncing off the other at a speed I can't quite follow yet alone catch up to- trying to steal as much room in my head as it can possibly attain.

And in all honesty, I've never been capable of compartmentalizing my thoughts and prioritising them. Somehow or rather, each passing thought would make its judicial stand, put its best foot forward and dominate my brain space to no extent. I'd usually find that as soon as one finishes, another seemingly bright idea plonks down, sometimes even pushing its way in, mid-thought. By the end of the day, I'm usually left with a convoluted mess of ideas and mixed feelings, never quite sure what was the last significant cogitation. I might  get these bombard of ideas sporadically, but when it decides to charge in, I eventually hoist my white flag, signalling a sound defeat.

Among one of the many lazy afternoons with just my thoughts to keep me company, I remember thinking how life is notoriously peculiar - never going in the direction you thought it would. Plans get derailed and young dreams that seem so possible way back then are now somehow laced with a tinge of regret and reduced to somewhat wishful thinking. I vividly remember a time when I was a young primary school student of 12 and we were asked in one of the many 'motivational' seminars to list our 3 ambitions or 'cita-cita'. Back then, we weren't encouraged to think outside of the box. Ambition during that time to a young, impressionable kid was what you wanted to be when you grew up. And lo and behold, its not a surprise even to me now that I would almost always instantaneously jot down: 1)Doctor, 2)Lawyer, 3)Teacher.

Not that those speakers ever gave even a second glance at my ambitions on paper. They would never encourage you to do otherwise anyway. If I had known back then, I would have written:

1)Write a book
2)Find a cure for cancer
3)Make a difference in someones life

But well, thats for another blog post (hopefully!). I digress. As always. Anyway, what I wanted to get to was that I distinctively remember this one significant time out of the numerous 'forms' I filled out that I actually wrote: 1) Journalist, 2)Doctor, 3)Lawyer. Surprised? For the life of me, I can't remember what was my motivation back then to even think of it. And mind you, I tried to write journalist in the Malay language. I've scratched my head long enough with fingernails that are a little too long but I really have not even a semblance of memory where my inspired self came up with wanting to be a journalist.

My point is, back then, becoming a journalist was possible. It was not a childish dream of sorts. I remember being inspired to write, to impart my words of wisdom for the world to marvel at (whatever few words I could conjur up, keke), my dreams tethered to the foundations of my life at the time. And then, like everything else, reality reveals its sometimes unwanted head. People tell you that journalists don't earn money, that being an esteemed doctor would. And on and on. Thinking about it now, I can't blame myself for giving up so easily on those whimsical dreams. It wasn't hard at the time, being easily swayed.

I often wonder what had happened if I had not been so naive to a certain extent and chased that dream. Maybe, just maybe, I could be a writer now :) I am not going to say that I would never be able to become one though. Life has dealt me a deck of colourful cards, each with its own story to tell. Who would have thought that a girl who once dreamed of being a writer ended being a finance graduate who is now working as a receptionist and dental nurse. I have been a teacher and even done voice overs before.Yup, you read that right. It is funny how many different roads I have experimented with. Jack of all trades, master of none? Heh. I'm quite amazed myself.

While I sometimes muse and charge myself for not sticking to childhood dreams of becoming a writer, I find some reprieve in writing here on this blank canvas that is my blog. Its something I can do for now while I thread on vicious waters that come in the form of haughty immigration rules and companies that won't give this fille a break or five just because she doesn't have her permanent residency. Sometimes, it can be so hard to maintain a blithe nature amidst the heaps of rejection emails that I can now donate in every format you wish.

As I am writing this, a million things are running through my mind. They vary from what to wear to work tomorrow, dinner on Sunday with the girls, how much weight I have gained, apply for jobs!, catch up with a good friend.....the list is endless and extensive to say the least. It's exhausting. I rest my case.

Balancing precariously on a tightrope.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" asked Alice.
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.


I'm here, right now. Stranded in a place I don't quite know yet, much less come up with a name for it. I'm on that ephemeral platform, waiting for the train that never quite took of in the direction I thought I would be heading. Life is funny that way. Plans change, never to be set in stone, and bad news never had good timing.

In retrospect, I can't blame myself for it all. Growing up in a culture where grades meant everything and born with the need to conform, I did. I studied to stay ahead with my peers. I scored. And it took me 16 years of my life to figure out that maybe it  wasn't all its cracked up to be. Now, all those times spent waking up at those ridiculous hours to mug those books, seems frivolous in some way, reduced to a measly piece of paper that lies in a paper bag on my bedroom floor.

Graduation, only slightly more than 3 months ago, seems like a hazy, distant memory from another life. The feeling of graduation is a mixed one. I suppose I always imagined I'd feel a bit more of a sense of accomplishment. Feelings are tinged with a slight regret, having not turned out to be that great, well-read scholar that our society looks upon. Having said that, I do take some pride in braving those 9am lectures with my saving grace cup of coffee and sitting through 3 hour exams with questions that still confound me. The dream of that fille walking down the prestigious halls of Ivy League universities has been reduced to just that, a dream. But hey, it's still a dream. And one day, maybe.

I suppose, if I am being truly honest with myself, I did expect more from the University that enthralled so many young prospective scholars like myself. I expected I would love to spend my time on the vast lawns, under trees, revising my notes before lectures. I did to a certain extent enjoy my time spent on the hundred and fifty year old campus grounds but quickly got caught up with the life outside the four walls of tutorial rooms and lecture halls. My deepest friendships were formed outside those walls, lessons I will retain for life came by chance from interacting with the people around me. Though I did meet tutors that captivated my attention in classes, they were few and far in between those that did not. For those significant few, I am grateful for.

So as I wait for the winds of change to blow me in the right direction, I am taking this time to truly reflect on where I want to be. Somehow, I'm determined to find that sense of accomplishment that I feel is worthy to boast about. Though the academic pursuits of my life have left me without a clear direction, I have to give special mention that I have been happy with my time spent in the land down under.

For all my rantings and fickle mindedness, I have to admit that Melbourne has changed me for the better. People have commended on it! And I concur with that. It has led me to opportunities I would never have dreamed of, crossing paths with people I never thought imaginable. I think at least this deserves a pat on the back.

Work currently takes up part of my time here. Having difficulty finding a relevant full time job is beginning to take its toll as my over ambitious self tries to succeed on her own without the plan B of daddy's pocket. And sometimes, temptation kicks in and I find myself straying from my initial plan just because the other road is so much easier to take. Its hard and I fight it everyday to keep myself in check.

For all its worth, if I have to eventually hail back from where I came from, I will not be disappointed. Being over protected at home has made me appreciate the discipline and independence I have gained by living by myself for the past few years. And until I decide what I really want in this temporary life on earth, I will continue to be thankful for every little blessing or disappointment that comes my way.


"I don’t much care where--" said Alice.

"Then it doesn’t matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you’re sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."

- Alice's  Adventures in Wonderland


One of those days.

Monday, April 11, 2011

If it had to happen, it had to happen.

It can get so much worse, right?

Yeah well.

Too many good days. One bad one won't kill me. There are worse things.

So I am going to be thankful to Him that no matter what, come what may, I'm still alive and breathing.

New day tomorrow. Smile and the world will smile back. Or smirk.

Can't put a price on this.

Thursday, April 07, 2011







<3

Once in 16 years.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Haven't chopped off so much hair since I was in kindergarten.

But I like it :) Maybe its just that push I need to try out new things.I'm on a roll! :D


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