New Tattoo
going in for a new tattoo, it’s a one-liner, on the back, top, middle.
any suggestions for font? I like it cursive..
please leave a comment
thanks for coming by
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
Archive for the ‘Rememberance’ Category
Story 7 – A New Lens
Finished reading the book “More Than A Chat”, felt its a really good book.
I realize that there are many perspective to Counseling. People’s conception of it.
In-fact if you noticed, some of my previous TOTD is from the same book as well.
Happen to pick out one story that I do think is pretty applicable in my life, and I wanna share it here.
Do drop by at the National Library or enquire with the REACH Family Services Centre on how to obtain the book.
Story 7 – A New Lens
“You become what you think about.” – Earl NightingaleMore Than A Chat: Real-life Accounts of Lives Empowered through Counselling, REACH Community Services Society
Stepping off the escalator that carried throngs of commuters out of the MRT station, Jit Meng found himself wedged in the midst of weekend shoppers sauntering up and down the makeshift covered walkway. A couple, deep in conversation, was exchanging intimate gestures as they walked past. A group of young girls was chirping away gleefully, breaking out in occasional raucous laughter. Lost in the crowd, Jit Meng was pierced with the familiar jab of loneliness, an old acquaintance that had plagued him for most of his life. However, not too long ago, he had learnt a new way of relating to this acquaintance. He remained himself of the intimate friendship and kinship he was privileged to have.
“It is completely fine to be alone,” he reassured himself.
At home in the crowd, he strode on with lightness, making his way leisurely towards a shopping mall. His gaze then fell on a girl sitting on her father’s shoulders. He involuntarily greeted her with a smile and the girl returned his smile with a beam of delight. A flush of warm feeling filled his heart. Yes, he could relish in the good things the world offered and express gratitude for the good things in his life once again. But his countenance and outlook were not like this one year ago when his mind had been filled with only negative thoughts.
Negative Thoughts and Feelings
Jit Meng had just returned to Singapore after spending three years furthering his studies in Canada. He was 28. He found a job as a customer service executive in an information technology company. Though gainfully employed and surrounded by supportive parents, he felt the world he lived in was hostile, where evil seemed to triumph over good. Injustice reigned in him as he pondered over why life did not deal him the fair share of good things he rightly deserved. Questions about why others seemed to have it all but not him loomed over his head. He was cynical about the seemingly good, and pessimistic about what life had to offer. The negativity was so deep-seated that he was not even aware that it was eating him away.
TOTD 30/3/12 – Titanic: Artifact Exhibition
Happened to be watching Channel News Asia and the clip on Titanic’s artifact’s auction came on.
This baker’s hat belonged to William Hine, a third baker on the Titanic. His name is embroidered on the brim.
When I saw this hat, I was like “Oh its so puffy.” and then “Why would anyone wanna bid for that?”
Well, the person can be a very wealthy and influential Baker or a big Somebody in the Pastry industry.
But what really strike me was, “Perhaps its about having a piece of History.”
or just having experienced a part of it.
Its no big deal. In-fact (having experienced a part of it) is not a need, its just a want.
Andrea, Daddy’s Angel
Remember Andrea?
Genki’s Andrea
She has grown so much now, and good news for stalker me, daddy has started putting text into his blog.
One of the most recent one that touched my heart (on parenting in this case) was the entry on True Joy
I am going to shamelessly take the whole entry from there, read it. You’ll find joy in it too.
Please, do go over to his site, really nice photos.
True joy
An ordinary day for me goes something like this.
I knock off work at around 7pm, I take the MRT and get home tired at 8pm. I unpack and take a few minutes break before I bring Angel out for a stroll. I cycle her about 2km to the park where she’s free to roam around, the route involves some up hills. She likes to be carried a lot and often I have to piggyback her all the way back to where the bike is parked.
By the time we get home it’s normally around 9:30pm when I have to give her a quick shower. After a quick break, I finally have my dinner at 10pm. During this time Angel often comes into the room and just generally disturbs me, sometimes I just can’t have a simple meal in peace. I wash the plates, play with her for a little while more, then I take my shower.
TOTD 18/3/12 “of seeing positive changes in their perspectives”
“These men and women were not deterred by the social stigma associated with counseling when they came forward to seek help. As Jit Meng, one of the featured clients, would say, “A desperate man is not a self-conscious person.” Wei Qiang, in another featured story, agree to seek counseling for he recognized that an issue bigger than his pride was at stake. What was common was that these clients were all motivated by the possibility of seeing positive changes in their perspectives or relationships.”
- More Than A Chat: Real-life Accounts of Lives Empowered through Counselling, REACH Community Services Society
by the possibility of seeing positive changes in their perspectives or relationships.
Thought of The Day
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
TOTD 16/3/12 – “that he now has a better grip of his issues”
“How would you describe counseling? This question was posed to the counsellors. ..
Another depicts counseling as extending a helping hand to individuals in resolving their issues. At the end of the counseling session, the counselee would feel heard, accepted and leave with the hope that he now has a better grip of his issues.
While family and friends may play the role of a counsellor, what makes professional counseling different from any other conversation is the process. Professional counseling is a facilitated process. It is more deliberate and directional than an informal chat between friends or family members. Trained counsellors are equipped with skills that enable them to elicit thoughts and feelings, facilitate self-discovery and generate solutions from counselees in a manner that lay persons are not adept to do. ”
- More Than A Chat: Real-life Accounts of Lives Empowered through Counselling, REACH Community Services Society
.. and leave with the hope that he now has a better grip of his issues.
Thought of The Day
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
TOTD 15/3/12, A Different Leap of Life
Was just looking at a status update of an ex-colleague.
She updated it saying “.. a leap in my career and I’m grateful for this.. ” Something along the line of having been at the bottom for this long and things are finally changing.
That felt like a slap to my face initially. WHAT!! even she as an under-achiever* is doing better than you! What are you doing with your career!!
*okay, when in the context of comparison, one tends to put another down.
I feel really lousy for a while..
Then it came on to me, it isn’t exactly that I’m not moving forward, “a giant step in career? a giant step in life’s understanding.”
As I began to notice the high-flyers around me, I gain a different perspective.. Yes, they have like perhaps thousands giants leap in their career. They have perhaps tons of money in their bank. They have perhaps travelled all over the world to work.
What do I have?
I have a little bit more time to do what I want compared to them. I can start and maintain a relationship in a country *its a challenge to settle down if one is traveling around the world to do their job. I have more joy than stress.
Guess that’s the difference I have, my development, my giant leap stands in understanding how life can be like more than just money or paper chase.
No doubt money is still important. Being educated is important.
Just another segment of being a person.
A different leap in life.
Thought of the day
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
Memories w Food Photography
It’s been very very long since I last take a photo of food that gave me such pleasure…
I miss being excited about taking photo..
Thanks for coming by
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
TOTD 8/3/12 – Different
Sometimes, the teacher that teaches the underprivileged classes feels the most left out.
Cos everything is geared towards helping average or very good students to score, what about the others?
Topics that seems so general, can be entirely so new, so elusive to them.
Do you know, the world of their mind is actually way smaller than our comprehension, n they have their set of problems & issues too..
What feminism? A more trendy tudung compared to a traditional tudung is just “Tudung” to them.
They are not mindless. You just need to reach their level, you just need to know they are a seed too. You just need to try. You.
“If You Teach Me How”
Good Classes, Good Grades, Certificates are important, but, being average can live too.
More than just helping them to see results. My job is to help them to live.
Live their life.
Different.
Thought of The Day
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
P/S: Mostly, this doesn’t apply in the Singapore Education System, because it doesn’t show in the grades.
Care for them and they will change. Sure, but not fast enough to show in the grades.
TOTD, 4/3/12 – All weather friend
“that I’m a fine weather friend to many, and that they have their own few, chosen, all-weather friend. That I dont have to be one of them.”
Thought of the day
Be Bless
Love,
Amanda
It's been said that a person without passion is as good as a walking zombie, I strongly believe in that. Passion gives a person life and makes a person unique. I am passionate about communicating with people. I am passionate about making things work. Do you work to live, or live to work? | Email: avnjl(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)sg | Follow me on Twitter: @avnjl | Chat me up at skype: amandavalng 
