Today was such an awesome day! And it all started with a prayer to God to help me decide on what to do today.
I woke up and realize that the IBM seminar was today and my boss didn't know about it yet. So I prayed to God about which step should I take; go to work or go to the seminar. Just after I prayed, my dad came in and suggested I call my boss who immediately said to go for the seminar.
What a great decision it turned out to be! For this seminar, IBM had organized a 'contest' where the grand (and only) prize was a PlayStation 3. Those techies out there are drooling... To win the PS3, I had attended an earlier seminar, filled up a case study, entered a slogan between 20 to 40 words regarding power and attended today's seminar. The total number of people who did all that was about 10 only.
And yet, I won it!!! Wow... considering this is the first time I've ever written a slogan for a contest, I even more amazed by it.
That alone would make this day great but it gets better. A colleague of mine was involved in a motorcycle accident and was in University Malaya Medical Center (aka University Hospital). I wanted to visit him but couldn't get the chance (didn't wanna go alone) and it looked like my colleague weren't really planning a trip together. Through a series of timing and conversation, I managed to visit him today! It was good that I manage to accomplish so much (in addition to my regular work of course).
Not only that, I still had time to make it for Prayer Service and meet new friends while strengthening old friendships. I've never had a day when I manage to accomplish so much that I had not plan in advance. Truly, this is a day only God could have made possible.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Friday, 22 June 2007
I don't judge
How can I? As I've said over and over again, there's always 2 sides to a story; both of which can be right. I used to be angry at others who (in my eyes) did me wrong but since then, I really learn that forgiveness is better.
Anyway, how can I judge others? Just because some people are rushing or pushing their way doesn't mean they don't have a good reason to. I always wondered why people rush about in the LRT stations. I mean, some of them are just so worried about missing the train, they want to rush in the moment the doors open! And of course, there are those who push their way to the front of the door to go out as well as the majority who walk fast/run when out of the train; wanting to be the first out of the station.
Like I said before, I don't understand why people like to rush about. Enjoy life man... However, I myself have had to rush sometimes for various reasons and I also push myself to the front of the train doors once. Imagine my embarrassment when I realise that the people behind me are also getting off! That's when I decided never to push in front again. I start pushing only when the doors open. =P Seriously though, I can't get properly angry at all these people rushing about anymore because I'm come to realize that some of them are new to the LRT system so they are genuinely worried they don't have the time to get on or off. And of course, some commuters are naturally fast walkers so can't really blame them (I'm a pretty fast walker too most of the time. Mostly coz I like to walk fast). And there are those are a little late so they have to rush. While I think most of the time, with proper planning, we don't have to rush; there's still those few times when emergency strikes. And with so many people on the LRT and so many reasons, how can I genuinely pick out the few who are simple impatient? It's like picking a needle out of a haystack.
The same applies to traffic jams. I'm sure we have all been angry and swore at those inconsiderate drivers who cut lanes and/or cut queue. Of course we have a right to be angry at them but let's understand the scenario as it is from their point of view. There will always be drivers who genuinely don't know the road so have to cut in at the last minute and hence, cut queue. And of course you have drivers who were driving on the fast lane but now have to go to the slow lane for their turnoff. Can we really be angry at them?
Another thing I have learn: I still can't judge others even if I have never done it before. I can't condemn a thief simply because he stole. Yes, stealing is bad and there's hardly a good reason to steal but sometimes, we have to look at the motive and the intention. For example, if he stole to feed his family. I agree that he should be punish but let's not be quick to condemn him to being a thief and that he's always a thief. That's why I hate the saying "Once a ____, always a ____" where the "___" represents any label we put on others. When people get desperate enough to resort to law breaking, we must first understand their situation. Then and only then can we properly judge them.
That's probably why the penalty for murder and the penalty for manslaughter is so different. While both are crimes worthy of punishment (and the guilty are punished severely for it), the punishment is heavier for the premeditated one. That's because though wrongdoings should be punished, our intentions is doing the crime is also a big factor. Can we really condemn someone who did wrong sincerely believing he was right? Course, we do call these people deluded sometimes but that's not the point.
In short, there's a hundred and one reason why people do what they do. Not all the reasons are right, nor does the right reasons make the actions right. However, it does mean that we can't simply judge them and say they are bad people because of it. And how are we to say what is justifiable and what is not? Humanity has not reach a point where every action is in black and white. If anything, the rules by which we judge others are becoming grayer.
In retrospect of this, I decided that God's ways are better. I will forgive them if they intentionally or unintentionally anger/hurt me. Forgiveness gives me peace of mind and freedom of spirit. God, in all His power and greatness, knows whether they deserve to be punish or not and He will act accordingly. There's no need for me to take revenge. It doesn't help anyone. Certainly not me.
Anyway, how can I judge others? Just because some people are rushing or pushing their way doesn't mean they don't have a good reason to. I always wondered why people rush about in the LRT stations. I mean, some of them are just so worried about missing the train, they want to rush in the moment the doors open! And of course, there are those who push their way to the front of the door to go out as well as the majority who walk fast/run when out of the train; wanting to be the first out of the station.
Like I said before, I don't understand why people like to rush about. Enjoy life man... However, I myself have had to rush sometimes for various reasons and I also push myself to the front of the train doors once. Imagine my embarrassment when I realise that the people behind me are also getting off! That's when I decided never to push in front again. I start pushing only when the doors open. =P Seriously though, I can't get properly angry at all these people rushing about anymore because I'm come to realize that some of them are new to the LRT system so they are genuinely worried they don't have the time to get on or off. And of course, some commuters are naturally fast walkers so can't really blame them (I'm a pretty fast walker too most of the time. Mostly coz I like to walk fast). And there are those are a little late so they have to rush. While I think most of the time, with proper planning, we don't have to rush; there's still those few times when emergency strikes. And with so many people on the LRT and so many reasons, how can I genuinely pick out the few who are simple impatient? It's like picking a needle out of a haystack.
The same applies to traffic jams. I'm sure we have all been angry and swore at those inconsiderate drivers who cut lanes and/or cut queue. Of course we have a right to be angry at them but let's understand the scenario as it is from their point of view. There will always be drivers who genuinely don't know the road so have to cut in at the last minute and hence, cut queue. And of course you have drivers who were driving on the fast lane but now have to go to the slow lane for their turnoff. Can we really be angry at them?
Another thing I have learn: I still can't judge others even if I have never done it before. I can't condemn a thief simply because he stole. Yes, stealing is bad and there's hardly a good reason to steal but sometimes, we have to look at the motive and the intention. For example, if he stole to feed his family. I agree that he should be punish but let's not be quick to condemn him to being a thief and that he's always a thief. That's why I hate the saying "Once a ____, always a ____" where the "___" represents any label we put on others. When people get desperate enough to resort to law breaking, we must first understand their situation. Then and only then can we properly judge them.
That's probably why the penalty for murder and the penalty for manslaughter is so different. While both are crimes worthy of punishment (and the guilty are punished severely for it), the punishment is heavier for the premeditated one. That's because though wrongdoings should be punished, our intentions is doing the crime is also a big factor. Can we really condemn someone who did wrong sincerely believing he was right? Course, we do call these people deluded sometimes but that's not the point.
In short, there's a hundred and one reason why people do what they do. Not all the reasons are right, nor does the right reasons make the actions right. However, it does mean that we can't simply judge them and say they are bad people because of it. And how are we to say what is justifiable and what is not? Humanity has not reach a point where every action is in black and white. If anything, the rules by which we judge others are becoming grayer.
In retrospect of this, I decided that God's ways are better. I will forgive them if they intentionally or unintentionally anger/hurt me. Forgiveness gives me peace of mind and freedom of spirit. God, in all His power and greatness, knows whether they deserve to be punish or not and He will act accordingly. There's no need for me to take revenge. It doesn't help anyone. Certainly not me.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
He give me strength when I am weak.
How great is God! Last week (due to my own issues), I have not been getting enough sleep and as a result; had a very tiring sort of week.
Firstly, I was quite tired out on Tuesday night. I had considered not going for the Prayer Service that night but boy, am I glad I decided to make it! During the actual event, God gave me the strength to not only worship Him and enjoy the night, He also gave me strength to participate fully in all the activities plus enough to get me home safely! He truly is great.
Reflecting upon this, I have to say that whenever I truly feel weary or tired, He will always give me the strength to carry on. Every time I go to church tired, I surely come out of it revived and having felt the presence of God. How truly great is He.
Furthermore, I received good advice that Tuesday night on how to overcome my tiredness plus helping me come closer to Him once again. Once again, I bow down at His mercy for us who reject Him time and time again. God, You truly love me and desire to know me. And I truly desire to know You more and to follow in Yours ways all of my life.
Firstly, I was quite tired out on Tuesday night. I had considered not going for the Prayer Service that night but boy, am I glad I decided to make it! During the actual event, God gave me the strength to not only worship Him and enjoy the night, He also gave me strength to participate fully in all the activities plus enough to get me home safely! He truly is great.
Reflecting upon this, I have to say that whenever I truly feel weary or tired, He will always give me the strength to carry on. Every time I go to church tired, I surely come out of it revived and having felt the presence of God. How truly great is He.
Furthermore, I received good advice that Tuesday night on how to overcome my tiredness plus helping me come closer to Him once again. Once again, I bow down at His mercy for us who reject Him time and time again. God, You truly love me and desire to know me. And I truly desire to know You more and to follow in Yours ways all of my life.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Restart
Along with me starting work on Monday again, I've relayout my blog as well. Blogger has new templates so I thought I'd play with it and recreate everything again. So, you'll see a new template (too bad it's smaller though), and a new arrangement of all my details. In fact, the quote at the bottom has also change.
Monday, 26 March 2007
I'm smart but I'm also stupid
According to psychologist Howard Gardner, there is 7 distinct types of intelligence. They are linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal. To find out more about them, do check out some of this sites:
Professor Lamp
http://members.aol.com/adon/intell.htm
Everything2
I have receive many compliments in the past about how smart I am. To be honest, I have to say I am able to understand things easily and pick up knowledge quite well. The thing is, my intelligence is only in the logical-mathematical region with perhaps a touch of spatial and linguistic. The problem with schools (and the reason why I hate the education system) is that it only rewards 2 types of intelligence; logical-mathematical and linguistic.
Having said that, I'll admit that I can be considered stupid in the other intelligence areas. In fact, I envy those who are good in those parts. It frustrates me that those who are brilliant in other areas are considered as stupid, dumb or useless simply because the education system has fail to recognize their geniuses.
I admire those who are skilled at linguistic. Those who can speak multiple languages or those who create a story that's so engaging, it thrills me to the bone. I especially exclaim awe at those witty comedians. It is truly a gift and a special talent to be able to use mere words to create fantasies and grand adventures. I marvel at the people who can reach out to different people from different languages or those who bring joy and laughter everywhere they go. I considered comedians to be truly geniuses.
I marvel at dancers, at builders and constructors. I won't pretend to understand art nor to be able to discern what dancers are trying to say but I still admire at the grace at which they move across the stage. To be able to move about with both power and fluidity is mesmerizing. I gaze in wonder at the beautiful artwork I see around me. Even a simple handmade decorated ruler gets my wonderment. I guess it's because I can't build anything with my hands (my low grades in Kemahiran Hidup speak for themselves). The perfectionist in me demands pin-point accuracy so I end up overdoing the creation or by dampening it, forces me to accept haphazard work. That's why those who can shape and create art using their hands and bodies really should be recognized for the greatness they have.
As with most people, I like music. Unlike quite a number of people, I can't create music. I tried, and I failed. It's not in me. I can't write a simple jingle to save my life, let alone a complete song. I admire Bach, Beethoven, Linkin Park and all musical artist not because I like their music (some I just hate through and through), but because they can create music. It's a wonderful gift and one I often wished I had.
But the one intelligence that I really admire and sometimes, become envious about is interpersonal. I look up at the people who can easily talk to others, even strangers. To be able to get along with mostly anyone, to connect with others on a very personal basis and to be able to 'link' with people. Me, I find it hard just talking to the friends I have, let alone going out and make new friends. I'll admit I can feel a little jealous of those who can engage and hold conversations so easily and can make friends very well. It's a shame that their gifts are only recognized abstractly.
In a nutshell, you can say that I admire those who are creative and/or gifted in the arts side. I'm truly blessed that my intelligence is recognized by the schooling system, so I don't have the inferior mindset that I'm stupid. But I feel for those who were told that they were dumb simply because their skills do not match what the school is grading. To be able to paint the next Mona Lisa, to build the David, it's really a great shame that these intelligences are not recognize except through private institutions. I have always believe that the scores on a test has never reflected a person's true worth and it frustrates me that I can't change the world to make it recognize every human being for what they truly are in God's eyes: a person with a unique gift, an intelligence that will allow them to contribute to society in ways we could never imagine. I hope one day, people will not feel stupid, simple because a piece of paper says they are.
You really are smarter than you think you are. You just have to believe it.
Professor Lamp
http://members.aol.com/adon/intell.htm
Everything2
I have receive many compliments in the past about how smart I am. To be honest, I have to say I am able to understand things easily and pick up knowledge quite well. The thing is, my intelligence is only in the logical-mathematical region with perhaps a touch of spatial and linguistic. The problem with schools (and the reason why I hate the education system) is that it only rewards 2 types of intelligence; logical-mathematical and linguistic.
Having said that, I'll admit that I can be considered stupid in the other intelligence areas. In fact, I envy those who are good in those parts. It frustrates me that those who are brilliant in other areas are considered as stupid, dumb or useless simply because the education system has fail to recognize their geniuses.
I admire those who are skilled at linguistic. Those who can speak multiple languages or those who create a story that's so engaging, it thrills me to the bone. I especially exclaim awe at those witty comedians. It is truly a gift and a special talent to be able to use mere words to create fantasies and grand adventures. I marvel at the people who can reach out to different people from different languages or those who bring joy and laughter everywhere they go. I considered comedians to be truly geniuses.
I marvel at dancers, at builders and constructors. I won't pretend to understand art nor to be able to discern what dancers are trying to say but I still admire at the grace at which they move across the stage. To be able to move about with both power and fluidity is mesmerizing. I gaze in wonder at the beautiful artwork I see around me. Even a simple handmade decorated ruler gets my wonderment. I guess it's because I can't build anything with my hands (my low grades in Kemahiran Hidup speak for themselves). The perfectionist in me demands pin-point accuracy so I end up overdoing the creation or by dampening it, forces me to accept haphazard work. That's why those who can shape and create art using their hands and bodies really should be recognized for the greatness they have.
As with most people, I like music. Unlike quite a number of people, I can't create music. I tried, and I failed. It's not in me. I can't write a simple jingle to save my life, let alone a complete song. I admire Bach, Beethoven, Linkin Park and all musical artist not because I like their music (some I just hate through and through), but because they can create music. It's a wonderful gift and one I often wished I had.
But the one intelligence that I really admire and sometimes, become envious about is interpersonal. I look up at the people who can easily talk to others, even strangers. To be able to get along with mostly anyone, to connect with others on a very personal basis and to be able to 'link' with people. Me, I find it hard just talking to the friends I have, let alone going out and make new friends. I'll admit I can feel a little jealous of those who can engage and hold conversations so easily and can make friends very well. It's a shame that their gifts are only recognized abstractly.
In a nutshell, you can say that I admire those who are creative and/or gifted in the arts side. I'm truly blessed that my intelligence is recognized by the schooling system, so I don't have the inferior mindset that I'm stupid. But I feel for those who were told that they were dumb simply because their skills do not match what the school is grading. To be able to paint the next Mona Lisa, to build the David, it's really a great shame that these intelligences are not recognize except through private institutions. I have always believe that the scores on a test has never reflected a person's true worth and it frustrates me that I can't change the world to make it recognize every human being for what they truly are in God's eyes: a person with a unique gift, an intelligence that will allow them to contribute to society in ways we could never imagine. I hope one day, people will not feel stupid, simple because a piece of paper says they are.
You really are smarter than you think you are. You just have to believe it.
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