At Least I did One Thing Right

Spent nearly 3 hours with an ex-junior last night. Said she needed someone to confide in and she could only think of me to do so. Awww. Aww. Bangga. Bangga. Bangga.

She told me the most beautiful thing ever - that she was inspired by me, that I motivated her, and that she learnt a lot from me.

I nearly cried man. So touched.

One of those things money just can't buy - Knowing that you somehow made a difference in someone's life.

For that one year I was in that company, it felt like I did nothing substantial. Felt like I made no difference. Felt like i was putting water into the sea.

Who knew. little ol' me. An inspiration to someone. Who knew.

We started off rocky, she and I. For a few months we pretty much got into each other's nerves or just couldn't get along. But we managed to somehow see past our differences and found the synergy to work with each other. It was good while it lasted.

I got a lot of insights from talking with her:
- everyone wants to be validated. NEEDS to be validated. A kind word from anyone at all really makes people go a mile.
- People love to hear about their strengths. Find a strength, and bring it up often. Especially when you have to engage with them about improving their weaknesses.
- it is not impossible to work with anyone - all you need is time, patience, and a whole load of empathy to understand how you can work with them. There will always be synergies. I will always lack something you have - and vice versa. So it is damn important to know your strengths and weaknesses first.
- make time to catch up and communicate with your juniors or co-workers. We need to build the trust and understand each other better. I mean, we're spending most of our daytime with them - that makes them pretty much our second family. Love them all as much as you can.
- I cannot stress how keeping clear and open lines of communication is with your colleagues or junior. Always talk. even if just for 5 minutes.
- if you're not happy with them, let them know, and explain why. If you feel like they are not happy with you, ASK THEM WHY. nicely. And listen. And if its valid, do something about it.
- be honest & sincere. be yourself. People can tell when you're a fake.
- when giving instructions for peers or juniors to do something, always take the time to explain WHY it needs to be done and HOw you feel is the best way to do. Give them time to refute or query you about it. Who knows, maybe THEY have a better idea/angle/solution.

Well, at least that's what I did, anyway. Takes a whole lot of effort and patience for sure - more than just ordering and bullying people to do stuff. But it's really freaking worth it. I'm not sure if it's the right way. But i sure as hell know what is the wrong way.

Suddenly realising that I've learnt a whole load of stuff while working in that place. Suddenly happy. At least I didn't waste my time there. :)

If I were to die tomorrow, I can die happy knowing that I've at least meant something to at least one person on this planet. She'd probably come to my funeral too. :)

A New Found Respect for Parents & Mum

took care of my twin nieces for about 36 hours with my mum.

man, it was brutal.

there is a constant need to be doing something for them or with them, from the moment you're up to the point where you're in bed. and even when you're IN bed there's still their  nightmares you need to comfort them out of.

It's insane. No wonder my bro and SIL always seemed so stoned. Apart from having their crazy doctor hours in the day time.. to come back to their bundle of loud joys.

Just 3 days with them and I'm drained. I still adore them, and think that they are the cutest things ever, but man I couldn't wait to get off duty.

makes me wonder what sort of a parent would I be.

makes me wonder if i even want to have kids. lol. i've always assumed that I would. Maybe one at a time. And I would probably want to be a stay at a home mum for at least 5-6 years. With perhaps a part time job....... as a  blogger. HAHAHAHAHA.

My mum was a trooper man. Damn steady. This 60++ year old woman still can wake up early and layan the kids and she never once complained. AND she has 4 more mornings to go with them. Sometimes I wonder how in the world does she do it.

And then the answer hit me. it was so simple.

My mum's superwoman. Just like her mum was.

My grandma passed away recently, and the things that people repeatedly say about her was that she was a fighter, very strong, very patient. She brought up 8 kids on her own with a salary of a rubber tapper. can you imagine yourself doing now? even with today's salary?

and my mum? She inherited that spirit from grandma. she fought to stay in school, to continue her studies (because they were so poor, and the girls, who were all older, had to help their mum with chores), studied hard to be the top girl in school. how she relentlessly kept her job and was still an awesome mum who kept a roof over our heads, food in our bellies.

and me? well. my superwoman blood is diluted with erm. super lazy blood. tee hee.

But the point of this post was basically to take my hat off to good parents everywhere and my supermum.

<3

33 years + 4 days

Oh happy birthday to me! :D

It was an awesome celebration this year, with friends and families.. and gifts. People always say that gifts don't matter. But guess what - THEY ARE LYING.

GIFTS ALWAYS MATTER.

ALWAYS.

Don't ever listen to anyone when they say it don't matter.

:p

But really, a gift could come in any form - in fact just even remembering to wish the birthday person on his/her birthday is the most simple form of an awesome gift. To me, at least, anyway. It puts a silly grin on my face. Eventhough I KNOW that facebook prompted you to do so, but at least you made the effort. :)

But presents to unwrap is bonus points. :D

Thank you all (you know who you are) for making the effort.
I appreciate EVERYTHING! XOXOXO


So 30+++ already hehe!

In spite of the crazy adventurous I've had .. especially in the past few years - i'm still no where closer to figuring out what my grand plan is. You know.. the one you figure out what you're put on earth to do. Ya that one. I haven't figured that out.

It's a work in progress - figuring things out about myself. Apparently something I havent been doing for the longest time. Can you imagine not knowing what you like or dont like? I mean, if you're not gonna know yourself, who will? Who can? Honestly, no one else loh.

This is the best part of my life so far, really. I feel good. Well, in spite of not enjoying the job yet and still looking for an exit, and still a spinster, and feeling older, hearing my bones creak, not recovering from a hangover fast enough and still not earning my million bucks or driving that sports car, or having gone to Europe or USA or Japan for my big year long holiday trip.. BUT IT COULD BE WHOLE LOT WORSE. :)

I've got my family who cares! My fun friends who keep in touch! A roof over my head! Mummy's home cooked food! A salary to buy stuff! A car to take me around! Working limbs! It's all good. :)

It's sometimes easy to forget to be grateful for the small stuff...... and not sweat over... the small stuff, haha.

So onward with life! Looking forward to all the awesome presents it brings. :)