It's that time again!!

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year... yes, the weather may be cold and dreary but the lights and the spirit of the season always seem to bring a smile to my face. It's the season to give... giving is way better than receiving. I'm wishing everyone a fantastic holiday season and a very happy new year. Be merry and drink up!!! =)

Reflection

So tonight I spent some time reading through my previous entries. I must admit that it felt a bit weird. I asked myself "did I really write that?"..."is that really what I felt?" It definitely brought back some memories, both good and bad. I was able to reflect on my past and recognize that I never want to be in that kind of pain again. I think blogging is very therapeutic; It's a great way of expressing yourself. I'm not afraid to tell you how I feel... I'm not afraid to let you into my life.

Sorry...

for not posting anything of late. I guess I've been a bit lazy... or maybe I should say that I haven't been in a mood to really write anything. Anyways, I just want to say thanks to those who are visiting my blog and still somewhat interested in my life and what I have to say. ;) I will try hard to post more frequently and let you know what I've been up to. It's my birthday at the end of the month.... am I excited about it?? well yes and no..... yes in that I get to spend time with my friends and no because it's really scary that I'll only be 2 years away from the big 30. Is age really just a number??? Let me know what you think.

Random thoughts... random questions...

Is it wrong to be selfish? Is it wrong to do things that make you happy?
Dream... dream BIG because you just don't know what can happen.
Everyone says to live each day as if it were your last but is this really possible?
Why is it so hard to live a life that is free from stress, worries, and pain?
Be happy with you have... don't focus on what you don't have.
In the end, you are a stronger person because of everything you've been through.
You are who you are... don't let other people make you feel any different.
To be loved is one of the best feelings in the world.

I Want to Wish Everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Gobble gobble!!!!

Endless Love... the beauty of art

Life is complex

Simpler than it seems, yet harder than you would ever imagine.
Don't think much about the past, nor the future, focus on what is happening.

Friends...

Have you ever really thought about how much your friends mean to you? Have you ever wondered what life would be like if your friends weren't there to support you? I can honestly say that I am truly blessed to have you all in my life. Life is about building and maintaining friendships... and yes, you are my friend. Regardless of how often I see you... your presence has made my life so much brighter. To my peeps: Thank you. Thank you for being my friend. =)

Congrats Eva and John!

I'm really happy for the both of you and wish you all the best! Thanks for inviting us to your big day! =)

Congrats Nora and Rick!!!

It was a beautiful wedding. Thanks for having me there and thanks for a fun-filled night! =)

Just a thought...

Time changes everything... in good ways and in bad.

Committed

following my heart...
=)

Hello!

I haven’t written anything of late for my blog so I think it’s about time I posted something. I really hope people still visit my site. I apologize for not keeping it up-to-date. When I first started my blog, I think I made weekly entries but now, it is a different story. It’s not that I’ve forgotten about it… It’s just that I don’t have much to say anymore. I had a lot to share when I was feeling down. If you go back and read my previous posts, I did a lot of complaining. I was at a point in my life where everything seemed so negative and dark. BUT NOW, I am living life. I am a lot happier and things aren’t so gloomy anymore. I am trying hard to enjoy every second and every minute of my life.... The sun is shining and I can actually say that my life is so much brighter! =)

<------------------- HaHa! Thanks JL~!

Anyone wanna go to Mexico on August 12th??

I usually don't advertise anything on my blog but I'm kinda desperate. ;) A friend and I are looking for fun people to join us on our trip to Mexico next month! Interested? Give me a shout or email me!!

Me, Myself and I

I’m living life right now.
I’m having fun.
I’m doing what makes me feel good.
I just want to be free.

Summer is here and….

I am extremely happy. It is the summer of change as my friends like to call it. ;) Some new friends have entered my life and I’ve been so much happier. You know who you are… it’s been a GREAT start to the summer for me. I hope everyone will have a fantastic summer… It is time to take some risks and enjoy life my friends!!

Extremely appreciative of the people around me…

I had previously written about how grateful I am to those who have stood by my side all these years and those who helped me through the toughest times of my life. I once again, need to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has, in some way, made me laugh and made me believe in myself again. If you are reading my blog, it’s very likely that I am thanking you. It doesn’t matter how long I have known you… you have had a positive influence in my life… I will remember the times you've made me smile. Thank you. Yes, I am thanking you. :)

It ain't what it used to be...

A LOT happier now! =P

Do what makes you happy!

Don't you agree??

I am currently living in the moment and enjoying the present. I don't want to look too far ahead. I just want to have some fun. I don't know what the road ahead is going to be like but one thing I know is I can't let the past or the future stop me from being happy. Living in the present is one of the hardest, most fulfilling goals you can learn to do. I hope everyone can sit back and think about this for a moment. When we concern ourselves with the past and the future, our ability to enjoy the present is often clouded.

A Breath of Fresh Air

thank you! =)

I'm fine

I'm OK! :)

Time for some complaining…

I believe life is a journey. It has moments of joy and pain. I have experienced these unforgettable times... I'm sure everyone has. Why are our lives so erratic and so complex? Sometimes I wish for a simple life. I know some of you will then say that life would be boring without the craziness behind it. But at this point, I prefer simplicity. However, I also know that life is what you make of it. I alone have the responsibility for shaping my own life.

Can you tell that I’m a bit confused?
Emotions are strong... still very strong.

Unselfish, Kind, Loving and Caring….

Those are just a few words to describe my mom. It is Mother’s Day weekend and I am excited that I’ll be spending all weekend with my mom. It is not unusual to take the people that love us the most for granted. I admit that I often take my mom for granted. She is an amazing woman and I definitely don’t thank her enough for all that she has done for me. I am truly appreciative and thankful to my mom for being my teacher and friend. I hope everyone can give their mom a hug this weekend because they deserve it!

It hurts....

It STILL hurts....

Music

People say music can be therapeutic. It is supposed to provide positive changes in mood and emotional state. I have yet to encounter this kind of music. I'm currently listening to Daughtry's song titled Home and it's making me feel a bit sad...

Do you think music is therapeutic? What kind of music are you listening to? Any recommendations?

Gym Time!

Sunday is usually gym day for me. I’ve been trying to work out 3 times a week and so far I have been sticking to the routine. Not only am I going for the sake of my knee but also as a way for me to reduce stress. I strongly believe that working out is great for the mind, body and soul. There are so many benefits to it which includes increased self-confidence, self-esteem, strength and energy as well as less stress and better co-ordination. Staying fit should be a part of everyone’s life. I’m working towards being in decent shape for the summer… but I have to admit, I’m a sucker for chocolate and sweets. :)

Here’s my usual gym routine:

Bike: 30-40 mins
Wall Squats: 3 sets of 20 reps
Bridging on ball with hamstring curls: 3 sets of 20 reps
Balance on Wobble board: 2 x 3mins
Ab crunches: 2 sets of 40reps
Biceps: 2 sets of 20 reps
Triceps: 2 sets of 20 reps
Lunges: 2 sets of 15 reps

Going to get ready for the gym now!

Life Matters

I came across an interesting blog that posted this excerpt from a book titled Life Matters. I wanted to share this with all of you as it definitely made me think about my life and what matters most.

For decades, life balance has been a huge issue in our society. Even now, in a time when most of us are quicker to connect with what matter most, there's still a gap- sometimes an enormous gap-between what we say matters most and the way we actually spend our time and money.

If you want to get an idea of how significant this gap may be in your own life, just take a minute and pull out your planner or calendar. Pull out your checkbook or credit card statement. Look at where you've spent your time and money over the past few weeks. Do those spending decision really reflect the things that matter most to you?

TGIF

Sorry for not posting anything this week until now. I’ve been extremely busy these past few weeks. As some of you know, I started a new job earlier this month and I’ve been on some intense training. I just want to say training sucks. I thought training is the best part of a job. You get to go to class, learn something new, pretend that everything you learn is interesting and then daydream for the rest of the day, right?? Unfortunately, this is not the case. I actually have to pay attention and focus in class!! We learn something new one day and then we are expected to know everything well enough to pass a test the next day. There’s so much to know but so little time to absorb the information. I now know I don’t want to go back to school. I’m no longer the student I was back in the day. My brain is having extreme difficulty retaining information and I just don’t have the patience to sit in a classroom for more than an hour. I guess I’m getting old. It just proves we learn best when we’re young. *Sigh* Have a great weekend everyone!

Don't think, Just do it...

HAVE NO FEAR!!!

At A Lost For Words

I don’t know what to write about tonight. I just don’t have much to say. I want to write about something but can’t seem to come up with anything. Some days I have so much to say but I’m struggling to express myself. I guess I can continue complaining about life but I don’t want people to think I’m depressed all the time. Hehe. :) I was only made aware recently when a close friend of mine told me my writings were depressing. I’ll be honest and tell you I haven’t been the happiest person on the planet but it doesn’t mean I haven’t had any fun or smiled. Thanks to those who are thinking about me… I’m doing OK!

The Beauty of Nature

Came across this photo on Flickr... absolutely stunning.

Time Flies

I absolutely dislike how fast time flies. When you want certain days to go by quickly (like work days), it doesn’t and when you want the clock to tick a little slower, you’ll end up finding out your day is pretty much over. Every weekend feels too short even long weekends. I hope everyone enjoyed the Easter weekend and hope the Easter bunny was kind to you all. I can’t believe it’s already April and that summer is arriving soon. I look forward to the summer and the sunshine but I don’t look forward to all the freckles I’m going to get. Sigh… It feels as if 2007 had just started. Where did all that time go?!?! Is there way to make our weekends a little longer? Let me know if you do.

Random music

I hope you all had a chance to click on the music player and listen to the music I have uploaded. These are just random songs that I currently enjoy listening to. It may or may not be your kind of music but each song that I put up means something to me…sometimes it could just be the lyrics… sometimes it could just be the melody… sometimes it could just be the fact that it makes me feel good! Enjoy!

Everything happens for a reason

As a sit here and ponder what I should write for my next post, a thought popped into my head. I think I believe there really is a purpose for everything that happens in life. Regardless of whether it’s an obstacle or a reward, there is a reason for that existence. I’m not saying that I don’t believe in coincidences; I just believe that there is a reason for coincidence to occur. Our past and present experiences help us identify our values, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Constant reflection is what makes you grow as a person. At times, we dwell on our shortcomings but what we should do is learn from them. When something good happens to you, just know that you deserved every bit of that success and work towards achieving that next gold star. All of our life experiences have helped create the person we are today. Continue to live, continue to grow, and continue to smile each and every single day of your life. You are in this world for a reason.

These are words from me to you… as well as words for myself.

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think."

Extremely Grateful

People come and go in your life. Some are meant to be there forever while others are there to teach you something and then leave. I am thankful and deeply appreciative to those who have stood by my side all these years, tolerated all of my imperfections and accepted me for who I am. Thank you for being here. I also have to thank those who came into my life in the past year or two. I may not have known you for a long time but your words of encouragement and support during the lowest point of my life will never ever be forgotten. I also need to thank those who I no longer see or keep in touch with as their presence, in some way, has made me a better person. You may not be a part of my life at this moment, but I will never forget what I’ve learned from you. Your indelible footprint will last forever. And to anyone who has made me laugh at some point along the way… thank you, as laughter truly is the best medicine.

“The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.”

Is change really good?

Many things have changed in my life. Is change always for the better? I want to say yes but I just don’t know. I understand that change doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing but my mind can only remember those changes that left me with unpleasant feelings. I know that I just need to embrace the changes and move forward into a new life. I need to make the best out of it. I hope for those who are still reading my blog can view change in a positive light. I admit that I struggle to do that myself but as long as we try, our days will be so much brighter.

Frequent User of MSN Messenger

I realize I’m way more open on MSN than I am in person or on the phone. Some people think MSN is an impersonal way of communicating and that people can easily misunderstand what you truly mean. I kind of agree. I have had people misunderstand me and it was somewhat difficult to clarify or correct those misinterpretations. But on the other hand, I am more comfortable sharing my personal hardships or thoughts through MSN. I am also more inclined to tease people or laugh at people too. =P I find it’s probably due to the fact that I don’t have to worry about how they react. I don’t have to see their face so who cares? You don’t have to experience the awkwardness of seeing them face to face plus I also have time to think about my responses. MSN is a more convenient way for me to keep in touch with people. All I can say is I’m not afraid to share on MSN. If you really want to know me, log into MSN and ask me anything you want! Yes, ANYTHING!

I will try to cry a little less and laugh a whole lot more…

Those close to me will know that the last few months have been extremely hard for me. I won’t go into too much detail but I will tell you that I didn’t handle these stressors very well. In the game of life, we face hurdles constantly but I never imagined myself having to face so many hurdles at once. It’s still a work in progress… sometimes these hurdles just seem too high. I know I have a choice to make. I can either back away from the hurdles and let it stop me from moving forward or jump higher and farther than I ever thought I could. I’m working towards the latter but sometimes my heart and mind doesn’t allow. Something seems to always hold me back. A lot has happened and I continue to ask myself many questions. Do I have the heart, energy and determination to overcome all these obstacles in my life? How much time do I need to give? When can I be happy again?

Quote of the day: Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live

And the answer is...

The back of a stiletto heel!

Link to the original photo:
http://www4.flickr.com/photos/desideria/207911607/in/pool-3030300/

Hopefully you all had some fun participating in my game… even if you didn’t attempt to guess. Did that photo stimulate your brain a little? Let’s hope it did. There were definitely some great guesses and I was quite amazed with all the different responses to what it could be. Unfortunately I am not able to honour the prize this time around. Someone did actually get it right but because of his/her unwillingness to post a comment, I have decided not to mention his/her name on my blog! Ha Ha! You know who you are! =P Hmmm… just thinking… this person sure must own many pairs of stilettos. =P

From this game, you can see how the human eye can perceive things so differently. This just proves we all don’t view things the same way.

What is it eh?

So in the past couple of days since starting my blog, I’ve been brainstorming around what I can do to keep my blog interesting. I wanted to create something fun… something that could possibly make you visit my site more than just once or twice. :) So after some thought, I decided to put together a game. The object of this game is very simple… the title of this post explains it very well. What you need to do is guess what object is in that picture to the right. As you can probably tell, I cropped the original photo so that the object is harder to identify. I will only reveal the answer once I have 5 guesses. So go post your guess in the comments section NOW! The prize for the winner you ask? Hmmm… a mention of your name on my blog of course! :)

Another work day

I was not in a jolly mood when I went into work today. I guess no one is really happy on Mondays. It's so hard to look forward to Mondays unless you really LOVE your job... it's even harder when I've been off for a month and my knee/leg is still bothering me. I believe most of you know that I had knee surgery back in February and I'm still recovering from it. Having a screw, a pin and a staple permanently embedded inside my knee is certainly not a great feeling. I wish there was something that I could do to take away all the pain and discomfort. Yes, there are pain killers but the relief is only temporary...sigh.

At work today, I received an email from an ex-coworker. This email made me laugh and added some spark to my gloomy day. She told me there's a person who sits beside her at work that keeps saying it's the end of our "physical"year. It was driving her nuts! She wanted to stand on her chair and scream FISCAL! It is the end of our fiscal year. I agree with her that I really don't think anyone would want to see a physical year end. :)

Quote of the day: The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

Thanks

Thanks to those who visited my blog and those who posted comments. I am truly having fun creating this site... hopefully my writings won't put you to sleep. :)

The Launch

There's always a first for everything and finally, the day has come. Peeps, here I present to you my blog titled Just Because. I've always wanted to start a blog but never seem to have time for it or maybe I should say it just wasn't a priority for me. My blog will be a place for me to randomly express my thoughts about everything and anything. I will not hesitate to share my life with you through this blog. I see blogging as a great way for those who already know me, to know me even better. I know some of you out there reading this will think I'm crazy. You're probably thinking why am I sharing my thoughts with everyone... even strangers? My answer is Just Because... Sometimes there isn't always an answer to every question. At this moment, this is what I feel like doing... so I did it. This is only the beginning so please bear with me. Feel free to post comments... love to hear from you!

Quote of the day: You don't know where life is going to take you, so just hold on...