Asserting Myself

I'm really glad that I chose to attend this 2 days course call Assertiveness Skills. It has at least ended my first month of 2008 with valuable knowledge and skills gained which can be practicable and purposeful in life if put in good use.

At the beginning of the course, I was asked to do a self-awareness check assessment and the results of the assessment revealed myself as someone who can be assertive at times, however not assertive enough sometimes to realise what truly are my rights and hence ends up being taken for granted and bullied.

Hey, this is so genuine of myself. I'm suddenly awakened by that notion with a dash of agony.

After some self-reflection, I've come to terms with myself that I shan't always put myself down to delight people. To put in bluntly, even if my character is close to perfection, there will surely be someone out there who tries to trash me. Why make my life miserable? It's no use. It's pointless totally.

Hence, what is assertiveness?

• Standing up for your own rights while respecting the rights of others.
• Expressing your opinions, feelings, needs and beliefs in honest and appropriate ways.
• Being honest about what is relevant.

As theoretically easy as it may sound, to attain the art of being assertive is not an overnight affair. I think it's going to be an interesting personal challenge to myself. It's time to assert myself! But of course in appropriate ways. :o)

Endorphin

I have oozed out millions of endorphins today! All thanks to the intensive cross trainer workout and Desiree's kickboxing class.

Come, let's grasp a better understanding about endorphins...

Endorphin - Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions.

Another widely publicized effect of endorphin production is the so-called "runner's high", which is said to occur when strenuous exercise takes a person over a threshold that activates endorphin production. Endorphins are released during long, continuous workouts, when the level of intensity is between moderate and high, and breathing is difficult. This also corresponds with the time that muscles use up their stored glycogen and begin functioning with only oxygen. Workouts that are most likely to produce endorphins include running, swimming, cross-country skiing, long distance rowing, bicycling, weight lifting, aerobics, or playing a sport such as basketball, football (soccer), or American football.

However, some scientists question the mechanisms at work, their research possibly demonstrating the high comes from completing a challenge rather than as a result of exertion. Studies in the early 1980s cast doubt on the relationship between endorphins and the runner's high.

Amazed at how paramount endorphins is of to us humans? I know I'll be able to release these sweet endorphins through my cardiovascular kickboxing and long distance running. Most importantly of course, I want to embrace body wellness and lead a healthier and gratified life more than before. :)

TGIF... and TGIS

It was one of those soul-relieving weekends I'm always craving for, and I hanker even more this week due to never-ceasing workload which has battered my zest level.

TGIF! It was dinner and catching up with Shihui and Meina. Indeed it's life-changing... Meina is expecting a baby boy and will be due by early June! She really shown signs of bliss and joy! Looking forward to her baby boy to land on earth. Ha.

We went to Canele after dinner. It is a fantastic place for dessert and chill-out! If you're not convinced by those salivating pictures, go and try for yourself!

TGIS! Nothing beats having a good dinner on Saturday after a week's hard work. Dan and I tried En Japanese Dining Bar at Mohammad Sultan Road for the first time. Pricey food but definitely of quality!

I love this weekend, simple and soothing. However, I can't help but think about the impending busy week ahead. I hope I'd have recuperated my drive and dynamism by then.

It's going to be a beautiful Sunday later. :)

Exhausted

I am blastly fatigued.

I am faintly awake.

I need to slumber into a temporary coma right now.

Please bestow me with just 6 hours.

A short review of 'Chesty Nutty"

Don't get me wrong. I'm not exactly a theatre critic but I'll attempt to share some of the views I have of Chesty Nutty Bang Bang after watching it.

I managed to take just these 2 pictures anyways...





It has been sometime since I caught a theatre performance, or rather engage myself in the arts scene again. It was a good feeling after a long time, to be able to sit in as an audience in a big theatre space like Drama Centre to watch arts sparks on the stage.

I felt nostalgic when I saw the stage, where I used to emote and dramatize various roles. But I think I still prefer a small performing space though as it feels more intimate to be able to connect to the performers' sentiments in all moments.

I think Chestnuts is a successful production in tickling the audiences' senses; one production I would consider it being easily likable to the masses, but probably not too much to most theatre practitioners. The show is definitely of high entertainment value but judging strictly from entertaining quality, some might not nod in consensus.

I mustn't deny the difficulties of performing in this show, where every performer is required to shed their previous role the last minute and embracing the next role almost immediately after only say 5 seconds of lights off. I applaud for Judy's versatility, whom I especially caught attention for most of the time. I knew Judy back in 2000 when we were in "Sampek Engtay" and I've since looked up to her as a hardworking and professional performer.

Joakim Gomez was obviously the weakest of all the veteran performers, being unable to project his voice at most times and somewhat lost focus in some of the scenes. However, being his debut performance, the effort he has put in is definitely laudable. For the rest, I've nothing credible to comment for all of them were supposed to be strong to that certain level, hence no huge surprises for me.

The overall performance could have been a little bit much tighter to create more attention among the audience, probably doing away with some of the scenes. I like the music arrangement though as it was aptly inserted into the right moment of most of the scenes. I think my comments are as such.

To be able to immerse myself in a fantastic performance is always a bliss. It opens up my senses and causes intensity in my emotions - this is what I'm looking for in an unforgettable performance. Chestnuts has not exactly convinced me on this aspect but it has for sure surpassed the basic humour and entertainment value this show should possess. I now finally fathom how I can come to view theatre after watching exceptionally great performances overseas that sought to move and inspire. Thank God.

Running Mania

I'm getting more passionate about running, that's for sure!

However, after much sensible consideration, I've decided to forsake the Sundown Marathon. I think it'll be wiser to train longer to get all geared up and participate in the Standard Chartered Marathon at the end of the year!

Wanna go for some fun and healthy runs? Join me in the following events...

• 5.6km JP Morgan Run in May
• 21km Lion City Marathon in June
• 21km Singapore Bay Run in August
• 10km Shape Run in September
• 10km GE Women Run in October
• 42km Standard Chartered Run in December

I'm going to embrace running more now!

An eventful weekend!

They say time flies fast when you're having fun. It's so true! I love this weekend cuz I feel engaged and swamped. Hee. The following pictures relate my weekend this week...

I met my little cutesy niece Zann on Sat! Just seeing her smile makes my day. I'd really adore her like crazy if she were my daughter!






I met Dan for a short while for dinner @ Bugis NYDC cafe. It's a branch newly opened...





Adjourned to Tampines to meet Xinyi and Shufen for a little chit-chat session and to pass them their birthday presents! Xinyi received a Tiffany pendant from Shufen and a Vic's Secret perfume from me. I bought Shufen a pair of earrings from Silver Corner. Happy Birthday ladies!

Chinese New Year is nearing! I was at Chinatown this evening. As usual it was a jostling sight with earnest shoppers for New Year goods, but I think it's good to get yourself immersed in the atmosphere though. Do go! It's only the 2nd day of the opening of Chinatown anyways. :)

I'm already looking forward to yet another exciting weekend. Urm... sounds bad that I'm already skipping the week's events. I'm hoping for surprises though. Oh well. :)

Turning 27 on 5 Feb

The magic digit is increasing at an unexpected incredulous speed. Appalling and thrilling! I'm not distressed the least bit at all. Hit me with more wisdom and charm!

This is what my birth date discloses about me:

"You are multi-talented, and which you believe grow only by sharing with others. Most people would be jealous of your clever intellect, but you're just too close to peoples' hearts to bring about jealousy. Creative and original, you're usually thinking of bleeding edge ideas. Witty and quick thinking, you have difficulty finding new challenges."

How apt a portrayal of myself, I realise. Haa.

I want to rejoice. Join me!

Whirling Monday

Indeed, the day passes like a whirlwind for me, fortunately. Like most people, my Mondays at work are typically hectic and assiduous but nevertheless always busy enough to shield the blues away. Phew. Well I prefer this way actually, to keep my brain cells constantly active rather than feeling laggard at work.

It is also a whirling situation today - for my head. For some reasons, I seem to be hallucinating that the earth is shaking and this unfounded paranoia eventually led to my headache. Sometimes, I feel this way too when I'm lying on my bed in the late night, when everything had settled down in stillness. Darn. Could this be the aftermath of the tremors I experienced some times back due to Sumatra's earthquake? The thought of it still petrifies me a little. Silly me. I always think too much and way too hard.

And yes... I'm thinking hard whether to join the Sundown Marathon or not. Running 42 km in May? Call me crazy! Hey, I might really be crazy enough to register for the run. I didn't forget that one of the resolutions in 2008 I'd set for myself is to be able to run a full marathon, though May is way much earlier than I expected. Look, if I can complete a full marathon in May, then Standard Chartered marathon will be my 2nd marathon! Wow.. 2 marathons in a year. That's beyond remarkable in my context. And for your info, the 84km run is CLOSED for registration. Do you now have any idea on why people loves running to the extreme? I mean I really have passion for running, but not to this extent. Hee.

Now, can I do it in May? Definitely, if I start serious training now. But I do not want running to be too serious cuz it shouldn't be the case. Can some seasoned marathon runners enlighten me how I can commence my training... like now?

I hope procrastination doesn't kill me.

Alvin's matrimonial bliss @ Four Seasons Hotel

I attended Alvin's wedding at Four Seasons Hotel yesterday! Congrats dude!

The hotel has great ambience and all and I dig the overall setting and lightings of the hotel. But I must say the food was just mediocre. Hee.

It's a pity that Fiona could not make it for his wedding so I took some pictures for her viewing pleasure!

It is always heart-warming to see your friend tying the knot with his/her love one and entering into another phase of life together. I sincerely feel elated for Alvin. Congrats dude!

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. - Mignon McLaughlin