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January 7th, 2010
11:34 am - Perceptions galore
A few missed calls on my handphone triggered some self-reflection about me and how I make decisions.
I am someone who is very dependent on emotions when making decisions. I need to feel good about something to choose it. It is certainly possible to change the way I feel about something through more knowledge and understanding, but what will finally cause me to make a decision is my heart.
I had a flashback of how I chose NJC over RJC. It was really how I felt about myself and about the Open House that enabled me to make such a decision. An inferiority complex I had towards Rafflesians and an extremely enjoyable time at the NJC Open House just sealed the deal for me. I felt good making this decision.
Now, why did I pick this NIE job and cringed so much for others? I do have some inferiority complex when I go for ministry roles. Now, I might sound very illogical here, and you can comment about it. But the ministry gives me a feeling of no-nonsense and show me your qualifications. It's not that they have done anything wrong to me, but it's a perception I have that I have not managed to change. It's something like that inferiority complex I have towards Rafflesians. Really, it's not that I have taken IQ tests and compared it against other people but the perceptions I have formed based on my upbringing and the experiences I have. This affects my decision making so much.
In contrast, NIE gave me the feeling that they valued my skills and was willing to train and use me despite who I was. I think one example was when I shared honestly that I'm not a fast learner. I can pick up forms quickly but I take time to understand what I'm doing. And the head interviewer for NIE was so kind as well when he stated very clearly that he was there to check whether I fitted into the job, instead of whether the job fitted me (note the difference. One implies I can just be me and if the job fits, good. The other I must try to twitch myself to fit that job).
It didn't help I had an emotional breakdown during the MOH interview. I believe it was something beyond my control and it would have happened anyway. Just something I have to learn from and make it better.
So how do I up my level?
I think I need to be more aware of my perceptions. Perceptions are just my construed interpretations of something, they are not facts or the truth. I must be able to tease out perceptions from my feelings and not let them flow as one. I think this awareness and separation of the two would enable me to make more logical decisions in the future and also enable me to live a life not dependent on how I feel but based on my convictions.
Take hold of untruths which mingle so intimately with my emotions and shine them under the truth of God. This must be the renewing on the mind that would enable me to test and approve what God's will is!
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January 6th, 2010
10:01 pm - my life in rhythm
"Most of us overestimate what we can accomplish in a day or a week, but we underestimate what we can accomplish in a season. Many of us can sustain our focus for a week, but most of us lose focus over the course of three months. Developing a seasonal pace can help us live more healthy and productive lives. Although businesses often plan based on quarters (four three-month cycles per year), we seldom do in our personal lives. But by envisioning what we want to accomplish over a quarter of the year, we can take some learge steps toward carrying out our life's mission."
- Bruce Miller in "your Life in Rhythm"
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05:01 pm - God and the Chinese Emperor
Over tea at a Hong Kong cafe, my parents explained how the practice of knocking their knuckles on the table to express thanks to the one who serves tea came about.
So the story goes, in ancient China, when the Emperor leaves his palace, disguised as a common man, to go into the realm of the common people and have tea, his subordinates had to find a way to show him respect without being too overt, and they came up with this move to thank the Emperor when he serves them tea.
I can't help thinking about this Emperor in disguise as an analogy to Jesus.
That a man so comfortable in his ivory tower, would love man like us so much, to come and be with us. He is concerned how people are doing on the ground. Are there poor people? Hurting people? Evil people who commit crimes? How are my people doing? He wonders. And comes to find out and offer help, fresh from his own hands.
He reaches out to orphans, speak words of compassion to sinners (murderers, tax collectors, prostitutes), and ministers to the in between people, people too ordinary to be noticed. He cries with those in pain and those whose hearts are so hardened, they can't see a better life to the one they are leading.
And when he returns to his palace, he plots and plans how, to redeem these people, how to make his kingdom a glorious one with people happy under his rule.
Jesus is too good to be hardened or complaining, too compassionate to take offense at crimes committed against Him, too righteous to turn a blind eye to our sin. So He died as a sacrifice and He prayed for our forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
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January 5th, 2010
10:35 pm - Fire of God - January 5
"Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.Isaiah 33:14-16
Who can stand up under the purification process of God? Who can remain unchanged through the fire of God? That's the question Isaiah asks and answers.
He lays out a list of traits for the kind of people who can stand up in a crisis. Ponder his description:
Integrity: The leader's life and words match.
Justice: The leader rejects dishonest gain.
Convictions: The leader's values won't allow him or her to accept bribes.
Positive focus: The leader refuses to dwell on destructive issues.
Pure: The leader disciplines his or her mind to remain clean and pure.
Secure: The leader is firm, stable in his identity and source of strength.
The Maxwell Leadership Bible
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January 3rd, 2010
10:58 pm - New year's day
This song came to me. :) And I found a way to determine the melody first before the chords! By using the tuner to help me determine the notes I'm singing at!
http://www.steekr.com/n/50-17/share/LNK96054b40afdd91f1b/
I wonder what you have in store for me
A
New Year’s day
D
Comes again
A
All my dreams
E
Second chance
A D A D
And I wonder what you have in store for me this year x2
Jesus Christ
Rules my life
He is Lord
I am not
And I wonder what He has in store for me this day x2
G D A
And I pray
G D A
That you’ll lead me all the way
And I pray
All your promises I’ll claim
Hee. And I remember how Ziwei helped me transpose my singing into notes last time for Science of Music. :)
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December 30th, 2009
12:31 pm - Gratitude by Nicole Nordeman
I think this song is so beautiful. We often focus our prayers much on the "God can and is able to do this" part and less on the "But even if He doesn't, I will still believe in Him" part. This part requires faith. Faith that God is still good, faithful and true, even if He doesn't provide for us the way we want Him to, even if the way is most intuitive, most logical, natural and reasonable to our human hearts and minds. It doesn't make much human sense how Abraham had to sacrificed Isaac when Isaac was the promised child. And when God seems so cruel, can we still give thanks, and trust in His character and heart?
Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid
But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain
Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time
Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead And if we never taste that bread
Oh, the differences that often are between
What we want and what we really need
So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .
(Chorus)
We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .
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December 25th, 2009
10:07 am - A short reflection of 2009 (should have a long one coming up)
The past two days, with the little time I have, I have been trying to summarise my year into a few words. And strangely, the words that come to mind are "fruitlessness" and "barrenness" as I chuckled to myself.
Hmmm... why these words? I have a very short-term memory for good things and on the surface there seems to be no progress in my life. I ended my University studies not much different from the way I started it. I came into Life Sciences not knowing why and I came out of it not knowing what to do with such a degree on hand. I guess that makes perfect sense, as the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland said if you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter which path you take.
This is also perhaps the first year that I have not written any Christmas cards to my friends. I asked myself, can't you even recall one person who has left an imprint on you this year? Did you have that uneventful a year?
The truth is, no. I did not. I just have not yet time to think and remember. This year has felt terribly long for an ordinary 12 months. I feel like I've aged a lot. And this recent Part Time job I took up has occupied quite a lot of my time, largely reducing the about of time I spend in reflection.
This morning, I wanted to verify my assessment of my year. So I took out my journals of 2009 and looked through my prayers. And it actually was a very exciting year. It was because it was so unfruitful and so painful, that God's comfort and assurance was able to overflow in my life.
And I look at myself, in one piece, in good spirits, in a good state of mind, I am so grateful for the God who slipped His hand in mine and walked the arduous journey with me.
I will elaborate again. But to me, it's like for every boo-boo I made in life, God personally pasted a supernatural post-it note over it which stated "Mine" or "Forgiven". And I'm grateful for that. :)
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December 18th, 2009
10:58 pm - One pair of foot step
I wrote this song on Tuesday. I was thinking of possible themes when the rhyme for the second verse (plan and understand) came to me. Then I developed the chord progression and melody for the song, followed by song idea and lyrics.
This song talks about the realities of life, how we experience disappointment and discouragement. And how we might feel alone in such situations. Yet, the God who neither sleeps nor slumbers, is always there for all the hurting people of the world. We never walk alone. During moments and periods of great pain, when we think we can no longer go on, He remains faithful and strong and will bring us through.
http://www.steekr.com/n/50-17/share/LNK13214b2b95e5b1298/
One Pair of Foot Step
D
Have you ever
D/F#
Felt abandoned
G
Friends turned their backs
A
But the Lord He never slacks
Have you ever
Lose direction
Have no plans
The Lord He understands
D
And when you feel
D/F# G
You’re on this road alone
A
Don’t give up
For you will see
He carries you along
A D
One pair of foot step you’ll see
A D
For it was He who carried thee
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December 16th, 2009
08:27 am - Insights from life
1. Tuning the wrong string.
I was tuning my guitar and it reached a point that no matter how much I turned the knob, the string was off pitch. Frustrated, I realised I was turning the wrong knob.
In life, there might be instances when keep working on an issue yet there seems that there is no result. Could you have gotten the issue or the solution wrong?
2. Fingers in pain.
I have this bad habit of picking at the skin of my fingers, especially during times of stress, almost subconsciously. I figured out it's similar to why some people cut themselves. Physical pain distracts them from emotional pain which is far worse. So I started putting plaster on my fingers as physical reminders not to do this bad habit.
Yesterday, I was trying to lift a carton of Ice Mountain bottles and also open the door to get into Nexus auditorium. But I could not open the door. I usually use my fingers to open, but this time, my fingers were so painful they couldn't even perform a simple task!
This just reminded me of how Paul describes the church as a body. If one part fails, all suffer alongside it. My body was unable to perform the direction my brain gave, because my fingers were injured. I had to put the box on the floor and open the door, then push the box in with my legs.
So we need to by pass the most straightforward method and use a bit of creativity when we are a few men down, but the church can still function, just not as it should have!
3. Paul's trials
As I was reading how Paul had to defend himself in court against people who were out to kill him. He had to choose his words wisely and abide by his convictions.
This just made my few interviews seem so insignificant. I have not reach the stage yet that every word I say determines life or death, flogging or release. When I have, every single word counts. This new perspective does set me a little more at ease. And I want to learn from Paul how to make each word count.
Also, I've come to realise, I've been rejected enough times, to make me not afraid of being rejected. This is helpful to me, as it reduces my stress level. It helps me apply the just do my best, leave the rest to God principle, to not worry so much about results, but focus more on the process and evaluation. This rocks. :)
4. Two alarm clocks.
Have you ever tried addressing an issue to someone but find that the person appears not to have done anything about it? Perhaps, you worry about telling the person again, for you already have done so, and you suspect the person doesn't really care how you feel.
If you are in such a situation, fret not!
Some people need more than one alarm clocks to wake up!
The first one would give them some consciousness and the second would cause them to wake up.
So try talking to the person again to clarify if he or she understands.
Some people, like me, really do take time to learn and process information.
5. The run and human potential.
I think I have a reputation that precedes me. People in church tell me they've heard about how I run in races and leave people in my wake. I take such compliments with a pinch of salt.
Because I'm fully aware of my present state and what it requires to get me race fit.
The human body is potential. With consistent and measured training, almost anyone can turn from flabby to fit. But the process is long and hard and requires discipline, wisdom and perseverance. If we question ourselves during the training phase, "How come I'm so slow. Will I ever be ready for the marathon?" and become discouraged at ourselves, don't be, because that's an integral part of training.
I think in life we get discouraged at our slow pace of growth as well. Gosh, I have been struggling in this area for so long. Why did I make the same mistake again! Will I ever get over it? Will I ever be all that God wants me to be. Can I ever perform this role without stress? If you don't give up your pursuit for godliness, yes, that day will come.
Just like how consistent small steps will lead us to finish the big race in style, so our training in godliness may look like tiny little steps getting us no where, but if we do not keep up this chase for godliness, we'll get there.
Each human being has the potential to be a good marathon runner.
Each human being has the potential to be like Christ, to be godly.
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December 12th, 2009
12:31 am - Highlights of my week
Gosh, since I started my temp job, time has simply fled. ZZ encouraged me not to lose my guitaring skills, which I have been struggling to maintain since the workload increased and interest decreased, so I decided to pick up the guitar and play again. And my soft fingers become sore again, can't wait to harden them with practice. I learnt how to play this song: http://grahamchoo.blogspot.com/2009/08/you-are-faithful.html
:D I almost gave up after struggling to pick up the strumming patterns and chords, but I disciplined myself not to give up and give myself more time (more patience!). I really hope to do this more in life! To persevere and not give up so easily!
Just a few highlights from the week.
Hmmmm... I think I shall approach it from my love language. My love language is acts of services. Being someone who is time conscious and who is eager to do more in less time, I am filled with gratitude whenever someone helps me to achieve this, by lightening my burden.
I am very grateful when Simon helped me carry my Campus Crusade bags on Thursday and when Sharon helped me to write lyrics for the prayer meeting.
And when Huanyan and Weiling met me to coach me for my upcoming interviews on Wednesday. Su Yi also gave me feedback. :)
Thanks guys!
(This post isn't very coherent.)
Hmmmm... This week also a week of interview preparation and phonecalls. I will be having an upcoming MOH (Policy Analyst) and MHA (Corporate Communications) one and a confirmed NIE Research Assistant one next Tuesday. I'm also keen to apply for the Allied Educator (Learning and Behavioural Support). I am really applying for a wide spectrum of jobs. haha. Sometimes I feel a little confused by what I am doing. I tell my interviewers what I need them to know about me that fits their job. So I tell many different things to my interviewers. I have not made this coherent as yet because who I think I am may not really be who I am. So sometimes I feel a bit like I have an identity crisis.
I feel like I'm all things to all man.
But what I really hope is to seek out a direction. I hope the more preparation I have, I will also have greater awareness of who I am and what are my strengths, so I can narrow down the type of jobs I'm applying for.
Gosh, this is not a very good way of highlighting of my week, but I'm brain dead. This would do. Gosh, me rambling on and on.
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12:06 am - An alternative view of stress
I love the way Wei Ling asked me, "Are you sure you are a Phlegmatic? But you don't handle pressure that well."
I tried explaining it to her that my Melancholic self overwhelms me in this aspect. I'm very time-conscious. If there's too many activities for a limited period of time, or the time is too little for the project on hand or if activities are stacked one after another and I'm aware of diminishing effectiveness, I get overwhelmed.
Yet, I too suffer from the typical Phlegmatic trait of procrastination. I still do not do things until the last minute and then at the last minute, I do not perform but get overwhelmed by stress.
Hmmmm...
Today it happened again. It was many people's encouragement that helped me turn to God in utter desperation asking Him to help me not breakdown under pressure but to experience His power, confidence in Him and freedom.
Yes, I want to be trained in this area. It really hinders. At the moment when I'm most expected to perform and when I'm most needed, I have a tendency to crumble and want to throw in the towel.
But God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
That enables me to say,
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I want to develop a new perspective on stress:
- Stress helps me prioritise. Under pressure, I'm forced to major on the major and minor and the minor, so it makes me more effective.
E.g. When not under pressure, I tend to procrastinate and do the less important things. But when I realise I only have one shot at getting something right, suddenly there is great clarity in knowing what I need to do, like seeking God's wisdom in issues.
- Stress increases my effectiveness by forcing me to look for smarter and better solutions. When relaxed, I take my time to do things and may not use the most cost-efficient one, but stress makes me use my brain more.
E.g. when I was doing my FYP, because I was so tied on time, I had to find faster and better ways of collecting data. It forced me to google for Excel formulas and to seek a statistics expert's advice on programing. This both cut down the amount of time I spent collecting, organising and analysing data.
I have much more to learn about stress! :) But it's exciting changing my perspective on it. Thanks Su Yi for your inspiration on this.
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December 7th, 2009
04:45 pm - Time after time
They say the way you treat people is the way you think God deals with you.
I think I am a patient person with people. I do occasionally flare up in frustration, if someone manages to push me hard enough, but besides that occasional outburst, I think I'm patient and gentle with souls in general.
Actually, I think I am so, because I've tasted God's patience in my life. I am unusually slow. Being someone who loves the fast paced and short cuts and given the opportunities I've had in life, my ability to learn from mistakes, to understand what God is doing and to move ahead is unusually poor.
You know, the tendency of the world in response to such people is to give up on them. Let's put our focus on people who have greater drive, who have more talents, who are more interested, who are more loveable, who learn faster and show more promise.
But God has been immensely patient with me. Gosh, I cannot recount the countless times I've failed Him. so many moments I wanted out. Times I went back on my promises. I made many U-turns because I did not have the courage to follow through with my convictions. Or the many lessons I refused to learn.
My experience with myself made the Israelites' journey with God so much more real to me, because I am one rebellious sheep. I understand how people can be just so stupid to just turn their backs on true love and grace offered to them. I understand how people can cup their hands over their ears to the love songs of the Saviour and insist their own way. Because I do it to God too. I did it in the past, and I still do it, even after tasting His grace in my life.
Nehemiah 9:28
"But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time."
Nehemiah 9:17-19
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them..... Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert.
And today, I just want to take time out to thank God.
Thank You for keeping Your promise to me because of Your righteousness. Thank You for not giving up on me even when people have. Thank You for persevering in my life, to reveal Yourself to me and to refine me to be like Christ.
2 Tim 2:13
"if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."
I think the best gift I can give to God, given His great patience, is to be faithful with the process He has started in me, to see to completion the good work He began, and also offer this gift to people. To not give up on people but continue to carry the torch of God's light into the world.
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December 6th, 2009
10:19 pm
I think I'm a confused person, with no clear direction about the path I am taking in life. So as it goes, if you leave an object in a stream of running water, with no will of its own, it follows the flow. I feel like I'm being taken on a ride.
I am trying out many things will no real conviction of what I want in life.
And I'm losing sight of my end goal again.
I'm grateful that Penguin urged me to seek God for a general direction in life during the Global Conference.
And also grateful for Wilson kor kor's hard questions about my application for certain jobs and my attitude towards my interviews so far just now.
Though it feels like a knife has been pierced into my heart, I have much greater clarity now, and I feel a lot more human.
Suddenly I see things in perspective. Thank you for that. :)
Wow, gosh it feels really rotten to see how rotten I am and what rotten things I've done.
May I always turn to the great Comforter and Encourager and Director and Disciplinarian of my life, where I will find strength to take my next step. Just let it be in step with my good friend, the Holy Spirit.
"Steward the opportunities God has given you." - Woon Wei Ling
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/anksadg.gif) melancholy
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December 5th, 2009
10:36 am - anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.
Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People need help but may attack you if you try to help them.
Help them anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
-From a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, a children's home in Calcutta
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankthinkg.gif) pensive
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December 4th, 2009
01:16 am - Please write not more than 500 words about yourself, your interest & aspirations
Attempt 1
I need to write this essay as part of the selection process for MOH. Where else to attempt to write it than here where it should freely flow. I really need inspiration and motivation. I've been procrastinating this way too long.
People and personal time energise me. I enjoy meeting close friends to discuss deep issues and meeting new friends to expand my worldview. Nothing brings me more joy than being able to connect, identify and empathise with someone. Yet, spending too much time with people drains me as well and I need times of solitude to refresh me again. During these moments I ponder about life, I ask hard questions about myself, read good books and spend time in quiet meditation.
I am one with varied interests, a generalist who thrives on the new and exciting. One persistent interest of mine is preventive and natural healthcare. I believe in the power of nature to heal. Medicinal plants have properties that can heal various ailments. Stroking a cat is known to sooth your nerves. Nothing revitalises the body more than a run in a park. My recent fascination is in massaging pressure points of the hands and head to relieve headaches.
I aspire to make a difference in peoples' lives. The macro view of this aspiration means doing my part to achieve a vision such a job in MOH would mean playing a role to ensure that Singaporeans are well taken care of physically. Or the micro view means being a person of good character, one who encourages the disheartened, who gives feedback to improve a system or person, who also humbly receives criticism and who is a good support and friend to another.
Ah, I'm very sleepy. :) 243 words. Hmmm... The most I can craft out at the moment. I'm sleepy, hungry and brain juices are not really running. I shall continue tomorrow morning. Hmmm... but at the moment I think this write up of myself may need some adjusting to showcase more of my relevant strengths for the job.
Attempt 2
I am someone who exhibits a kind nature and is very detailed oriented. I'm observant and spot peoples' and situations' needs very quickly. For example, I tend to notice people who are left out in a group and would befriend such people. I am also inclined to point out missing links and blind spots when working on projects. I like to think through issues carefully and weigh how such decisions will affect people. This behaviour stems from my ability to accurately and objectively perceive another person's feelings without necessarily agreeing with them. It's a useful strength I use when interacting with people to obtain people's feedback and to help them with their problems.
Another strength of mine is that I'm a good abstract reasoner. This means I have an elevated ability to handle complex or multidimensional problems. Though this strength has not yet been tested in the working world, I see its usefulness when I use it in my role as a mentor in church. I am stimulated by complex situations people face where I could play in my mind how to tackle them by using different strategies and enjoy showing people new perspectives of the same situation to put them in a better position to solve their problems.
Closely related to my strengths are my interests. I love helping, interacting and meeting the needs of people. I have an especially soft heart for people who have been left behind by the rat race of life, such as children with learning difficulties, the aged who have no close kin, or people who are ostracised by society. For example, recently in November, I volunteered at a math and science camp for children with learning difficulties. It was a very rewarding experience for me to be part of the childrens' lives for 2 days and be able to show them love and patience, despite moments of frustration. I also recently volunteered an a community event organised by South-West CDC and a memorable experience for me was meeting an uncle who shared to me about the first cabinet ministers of Singapore.
I aspire to make a difference to the lives of people. I am very grateful for the many things I have in life - an abundant life, a safe place to live in, good education, good parents, good health, faithful friends - and I hope to give back to society. This is perhaps the strongest reason why I would want to work in the civil service. I aspire to bring insights, joy and hope to the people in my workplace and also those who will indirectly receive from my work.
Ooh, thank God! I think this Attempt 2 is much better. :)
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December 1st, 2009
07:15 am - I feel so free!!! Like liberated!
I'm back home. There's music playing in my heart and mind.
This song. :D
I am also very refreshed and encouraged by the Malaysian National Conference and Global Conference combined (MNC+GC)!
Gosh, I feel so good.
But feelings aside, yes, I hope to commit to God/love with greater passion, greater purity, greater obedience, greater sacrifice 24/7 in my assigned role and task on earth!
There is indeed freedom in the name of Jesus!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankitteng.gif) indescribable
Current Music: Free by Planetshakers
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November 24th, 2009
09:44 am - Sums and Science
Today and tomorrow, I will be volunteering with Elaine at Clementi Student Care Services to assist in an enrichment programme called Sums and Science! :)
It was really good so far. :) I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I thought it would totally exhaust me. Firstly, I'm not used to working for a long stretch of time, being used to holiday-style living. So I worry that the 10 to 4pm range was a bit long. Secondly, I'm very new to Primary School kids. I'm not the kind who will melt when I see cute babies or children, and I do not have a lot of exposure to young children, so I was worried about communication problems as well.
However, these thoughts were unfounded and I had a really good time. :D I think the children are adorable and enjoyable to be with. But yes, as what Elaine said, a group of 25 Primary 1 to Primary 3 kids, sure make a lot of noise!
:)
This opportunity also perked my interest in learning disorders and children behavioral problems. It's an area I never explored or read up about before, but because of this opportunity, I've become more aware and curious about this.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/niaha/kitty/ankhappyg.gif) content
Current Music: Always by Abundant Life Church
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November 19th, 2009
12:19 am
"The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that is it possible." - David Viscott
Current Mood: pensive
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12:13 am - Learning styles
Something I noticed about myself that became more apparent recently is that I am a very verbal learner.
What do you do first in an art museum? Look at the art piece intensely and skip the detailed explanation or focus on understanding the meaning behind the art work through the description?
I always zoom to the words. I was actually irritated by myself that I spend so much time reading the explanation and story before the display work and so little time visually appreciating the art work.
So I tried to force myself to focus my eyes on the art work.
But now I understand my learning style better. It was my instinct to read the words, because I can appreciate the work better if I knew the story behind it.
There are other instances where my eyes are drawn to words on paper. I love quotable quotes for instance. And the bible in printed form is so wonderful. Hmmm... I can't really think of examples for now. But I really enjoy reading.
I know some people like listening (auditory learners), some like looking at pictures (visual learners), some are physical and like playing around with things (kinesthetic learners) but I like reading (verbal learner)! I like writing too because I can read what I write! ;)
What about you?
I hope knowing this helps me capitalise on my ability to learn best through words and reading and also helps me to understand others. A book that transforms my life might not have the same effect when I lend it to someone. Some people just hate to read.
I feel lucky too that the world is filled with books. :) I think verbal learners do have an advantage over other dominant type learners with the traditional method of teaching and learning. But teachers are getting better these days and are trying to help all types of people learn well.
Prof. Tan made us to a test to find out our learning styles back in the University. He wanted to be able to help all of us learn. I remember those who are equally dominant in all learning styles are very lucky. :) They learn no matter what in life. Maybe those with first class honours have this trait! :) Any statistics done to test this?
Yes, capitalise on your strengths! :D
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November 18th, 2009
11:57 pm - Time management updates
Just an update how things are going on my side.
In my heart and mind, I make it a point to bathe the moment I come back home and make my bed the moment I wake up. It's my mini first steps to achieving an organised life.
I've done some tidying up of my cupboard, but it's really not impressive. Still too much stuff. I couldn't bear to throw the England and Man Utd stickers I collected as a kid. I even couldn't bear to throw the bus tickets I collected as a kid. Bus tickets. Can you imagine that? I secretly think inside, maybe 30 years down the road, I can sell them as antiques.
I'm still disorganised in thoughts and have been rushing.
But I make it a point to do the things I need to do immediately and forcefully. (It takes a lot of force to move a phlegmatic person)
My life is still cluttered, but there are small changes.
加油 Shuyi!
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