Valentine's + CNY

Who would have thought - 14 Feb: such memorable day for lovers and Chinese folks. Not to forget the birthdate of many friends I know of born on that date.

I recall few years back while in high school of which Valentine's Day was the most anticipated day (aside school holiday breaks), and as it's not a co-ed school, even higher anticipation when certain people walked into classrooms and called out names to receive gifts.

I believe Valentine's Day is not just about lovers buying gifts for each other. Even friends can honour each other's friendship by simply acknowledging their presence. Simple meals to remember the first time friendship was made, the happy and sad memories spent together, and so forth. Not to forget, it can be a day to surprise parents with an extra taste of love in everything we do. :) Somewhat similar to Father's and Mother's Day. It's simply a day to love.

Chinese New Year: the year of the tiger. Roar. Not that it has any significance to me, it's just another year in the chinese calendar where prosperity is hoped to flow and blessings showed from on high. This year CNY will be rather quiet with less people around, relatives and friends all going off for holidays/studies. (I agree with leaving for holiday - since economically, it is heading downwards.) Sometimes a quiet new year to spend with close ones is much memorable. :)

So how's it going to be? As the date draws nearer, let us celebrate - with LOVE! :D

Happy Valentine's Day!

and

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Squeeze Me

When I used to say "excuse me" to get through a crowd or just to be polite when walking pass in front of someone, my friend would tease me by saying "squeeze me, squeeze me" and thereafter I would be given a great big squeeze. Sounds so innocent, ain't it?

"Excuse me". What an important word. Without this said gently, there will never be a sense of politeness. But that's not just it. What if you turn down your tone a little when saying it; it will sound as if you are clarifying an issue. And if you increase your pitching a bit higher, it will sound as if you are defending yourself against an issue - feeling upset over a remark or statement.

Lately do you notice there are less "excuse me's" being said. And even if there are some, most are said harshly, in a hurry, or just with the I-don't-want-to-say-it tone. Can't imagine how it would be if this 'squeeze me' word extincts..

Will you let it slip away just like that? Let's preserve it; for we humans always prefer a polite "Excuse me" when someone walks in front of you while you were talking, and not just 'fly pass' without saying a word. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you, aye?

New YOUTH BLOG!

Calling ALL youths!

Check this OUT!

Our very own NEW YOUTH BLOG with news covering from all parishes, and events happening all over the Archdiocese of Kuching!

Click on it and spread the word!

:)

Recalling

Now is the season of reunion. Near and far, friends come back to visit those who are stuck in hometown. And would you look at them!

It's been only about 2 years that separation occurred. Recalling what happened approximately during 5 years ago, indeed time and place change things around. Not to say it is bad, but it's all part of growing up and building of personality. :) Somehow, glad to see the good changes.

Still, good old memories should remain. We should never forget our base. :)

Getting Rest

It's coming to the end of June, the middle month of the year. How time flies. If felt for me, as if January was just yesterday. I must have been "dreaming" a little too much these few months.. Perhaps the hectic preparation for the ASC cum lectures cum work cum other commitments blew it off. Only today got to really stay home and rest. Felt different though, not 'on-the-go', so unusual.

Come to think of it, it's about time too. :)

It's been a while. When was the last time you actually take time to eat slowly and just savor the taste of food? When was the last time a trip to the beach was made and it was just you and nature blending? When was the last time someone called you out for a drink and there you stayed and talked until time was forgotten?

Work is important, but at times we should remember that the person working is even more important. For without the worker, there's no work done.

Think it's about time to just grab a chair, have a glass of leamonade and sit back; watch the world go by for just one day. The chilling out - heals.

Get rest, if you have not. :)

Reality Check

"Get real, man. That's the truth. That's reality!"

Reality.

What's that?


Reality. A word. A hit. A slap on the face. A wake up call.

What's real in this world we live in? Us people? The things we have, those that we live with? The mind?

I wonder, at times when things do not go our way, we refuse to accept that as reality. We (dyingly) want to dwell in the scene where we hoped to be, hoped to live in, hoped to have. Despite its impossibilities. Why so, I can't understand.

Get back to reality. Some things are not meant to go our way, hence let it be. Let time play its part to fill in the desires of your heart, and one day - one day it will come. One day it will happen, just as you wished it to. The time will come. All it takes is a little patience. :)

Let's wait together ya.

4 Days and COUNTING down

ASC.............. 4 days to go!!

I'm excited. Are you? International event....when on earth would we, STUDENTS (mostly age ranging 16 - 21) have another chance to organize such GREAT event??

Come to think of it.. WAOW. Amazing how God works. Apparently now suddenly got free time to write something. Usually I won't have time to even go to toilet at times just for the sake of MSNing or eBUDDYing other LOCs. Haha.

Hmm.. what to say. I'm getting excited. :D Hehe.

Steph jie said to us coordinators: "We must go all out for it. In other countries when ASC is being organized, their full time coordinators and working teams are SENIOR COLLEGE STUDENTS and ADULTS. And us, we Kuching YCS organize this with a team of SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, coordinated by fresh school leavers. We have studies problem, tuition problem, transport problem.. parents.. exams... and they don't have AS MUCH problems as we do! Now that's what we should be proud of!!" That hit it. We are younger in age and lacking in experience, but we can do as good as others could, for it is the LORD who is working in us!!

What's impossible for him?? Nothing.

With all these motivation, affirmation, assurance and signs from God, why worry when it is GOD who's doing the work? We're only his hands and feet. Why complain and fear? Why not rejoice and be joyful for God is using US, specially CHOSEN for this event?

I'm so excited for this. I used to worry about the financial thingy....but now come to think of it, why worry when God will mutiply loaves and fishes, God will tranform water into wine, and God will provide donkey for entrance into Jerusalem.??

God is so good ~ Alleluia!

We are counting down the days.... and you won't hear from me until 2 weeks later. Hehe! Perhaps I'll even find time to write a few lines during the event itself! Sharing of God's glory. So LOCs, GEAR UP! For God's glory! :)


John 17:23 "With me in them and you in me, may they be so perfected in unity that the world will recognise that it was YOU who sent me and that YOU have loved them as you have loved me."

Focus

It is true that when the biggest wave hits you more and more, you lose your balance and fall into the water. And that somewhat killed your spirit to get up and stand there being hit again.

Having to focus on a single goal is not as easy as to work towards that goal. To focus is just one action; to work towards it involves many processes and actions, all of which changes in time.

I used to be able to focus on doing things very well. Lately being swept away by the waves, I couldn't find my legs and the ground to stand on. My mind travels at its own will, something very extraordinary I found out. :)

However, with the upcoming bigger wave hitting the shore, I am still trying to stand still and watch it sweep up instead of sweep me up.. I suppose all I need is a little reminder to focus on the ultimate purpose and goal instead of dispersing my mind. And I think many others need that too.

A reminder.

Falling Meteors

I don't know what to say. Neither do I know what to do.

When everything seems to go well, and then suddenly this temperature rises and poof meteors start falling. Not on everyone, but on that particular someone only.

I feel it's rather unfair that someone had to bear the consequences when everything in the first place was not of that someone's fault. Hard to say, I suppose unexpected incidents happen due to lack of alertness.

But I still think the meteors shouldn't be falling down so direct and killing till that someone is now injured and refusing to seek hospital treatment. Not only one meteor; but TWO? THREE? Give that someone a break, you people called friends.

Going All Out

The event is near. Just 20 days to go. I'm sure everyone is going all out to make this event a successful one first ever held by Kuching youths.

Somehow, somewhere.. something seems to be missing...

Unity.

We taught them the meaning to be a servant. We showed them by becoming servants to them. We went all out for them. But why are they not going all out for themselves?

Excuses.

It is true. Working as a team takes a lot of sacrifice and tolerance. Sometimes I just wish there's no such action as "pushing" or "imposing", life would be easier that way.

I am going all out. At least I try. But are you even trying?

Sunday

Last Sunday was St Joseph's Parish Sale 2009. Held yearly, this year I took the challenge to set up 4 stalls. Something out of the extraordinary for a 'non-organizational' body. But everything went well.. well, not everything.

Preparation was fine until on Sat where I had to view my stalls location and finalize equipments. The gas tank issue was ...disappointing.

The socket problem was ...so late minute.

And on the sale day itself:
Not strategic location. I had the corner and yet there were 4 empty stalls in the middle I presume the owners forgot Sunday's the sale.

Recession = less money out, less money in.

Not very happy 'workers'.

Accidents and broken items.

Criticism. Unwillingness to help.


And I broke down in front of dad. Couldn't stand facing all those "bad" things alone. Felt so stupid. Felt so alone.

Dad was comforting. 5 minutes was enough to release the stress I had. It's been a while... But this experience certainly taught me many things about life and people.


But look on the bright side!

All items finished. Well, not finish also was given to those who've helped tirelessly. Sales was great. Will never trade this priceless experience despite the downfall it had.

What's life without challenges, dark pits and invisible ladders?

So much for a Sunday morning. Still recovering sleep and energy. Thank you all who helped, and all who came. We had fun, didn't we? Haha.

Cheers. :)

Ignored

It feels really sad, to know that the person you are working with, keeps things from you.

It feels really sad, that the person you think you are journeying with, has someone else to journey more with, and neglects you.

It feels really sad, to know the fact that things are kept from you is because for your own good, yet they forgot to think of your feelings of being kept off things.

It feels really sad, when that person - is you.

And not only you, there's more of you.

All of you.

What if..

What would happen if time had stopped, and the world ended just there.

What would happen if that day never came.

What would happen if I've never known you.

What would happen if we never talked.

What would happen if ..

What if...

Having another line

As I read through others' posts about a same certain line, can't help but feel rather left out. You've got the idea that, "Hey, I'm in that line too!" but not being accepted to be in it. That's rather sad.

Then there's this line that you don't feel that you belong to, but you're in it and can't get away. That's where things start to happen and all these shape your mind into thinking, "Oh how I dislike this line!" (I won't want to use the word 'hate' though it sounds better with the sentence.) "But (sigh), I can't get away..."

Well, having another line is not that bad actually. It widens your circle of knowledge, social partners and so much more. And it's nothing wrong to be in that different line..

But there's just that one thing that makes you prefer the other line more than the one you're in now; and I'm sure if you've had similar experiences, you would know.