Kicking Of 2010 ... Jan 04, 2010

Over the years, I have usually summed up the year on the last day of the year. Looked back fretted and fumed and laughed at all the nonsense I manage to find myself in somehow in the 365/366 days of a year.

The recent past years have been anything but a struggle. End of 2008 saw some major drama on the work scene that left me rather in an awkward position. The first 4 months of 2009 saw me in a sort of cold storage and a waiting game was played out. And then I was put here there everywhere it seemed and I still managed to find a smile to irk the higher beings who were playing this game with me.

2nd half of 2009 also saw me suddenly buried with work on client side with my colleague. Months on end we've been there on client side - it almost feels like we work for them - which isn't too bad a thing.

But as 2009 was rounding off, some interesting things began to happen. I mean all the tiresome divorce nonsense has to take it's course. But other interesting things.

The most significant being a promise to myself at the start of Jan'09. It was time and it was executed at the end of 2009 ... sorta like the end of the Decade from Hell, I decided it was time to put all these misadventures behind me. Things weren't 100% carved in stone but it felt right to shed the inhibitions and the anxieties and drop the dead-weights I'd had around my ankles all these years and let the phoenix rise within my heart and soul.

And I feel I made the right decision here (I don't too many good ones I realise looking back eheheh). People need to follow their heart sometimes.

Christmas 2009 was a small affair at home with brother, sister and hubby, parents and kids and my grandma. On Christmas Eve almost 20yrs since the 3 George siblings went for Christmas Service together. It was an amazing feeling of togetherness after such a long time. On Boxing Day we had a small group over for a BBQ dinner - everyone who came left with a feel good feeling and we had a blast hosting everyone and planning all the food.

My girls had a blast with their friends whose parents are now new friends found. Old friends came to make it an extended family occasion.

We had something to be thankful for. Dad's operation on his foot went well and the wound is healing well. Albeit it's a long recovery journey since Dad's diabetic we praise God and thank everyone for their prayers in those trying days before the operation.

Year end with one plan executed, I was in a chirpy mood relaxed. And when I received one of the sweetest surprises ever - something I didn't ever expect to happen. Perhaps like all things, all things happen at the right time and for the right reasons. I guess you could say it was a New Year gift I'd never dreamt of and yet it feels so right to accept and nurture and watch over as it grows. To the giver of this most awesome gift, you infused endless days of smiles and I return them to you in threefold :) ...

Then this first school day of the year and working day ... when traffic is at its snarling best. Accidents galore left right of the highway and realising some people may have been fatally hurt as a result, I got into a bit of cash eheheh - yeah I was the first pair of contestants for the new mix.fm Morning Crew's GenderBender segment ... cash so early in the morning and cash coming not going out :) - why would that not put a smile on my face on a wet Monday morning???

So albeit late to work thanks to traffic, I have felt thankful for the good things that I have experienced so far. Of course the usual comic tragedies in my life will persist I know - but the thing is, I feel 'come on take your best shot at me! I am raring to take you on'.

Perhaps 2010 feels all clean slate and canvas with nothing on it. Time to take out the brushes and paint.

And I feel the collage of 2010 may take on happier hues than it's predecessors. Those were painted by an unhappy almost beaten soul struggling. Those struggles are far from over but everything feels different somehow.

More promise and hope. More joys to be found than sorrows to be overcome. At least I hope the positive note in which the year has kicked off will continue and I will continue to look ahead buoyant in spirit.

I know I am easily knocked down but I have learnt to dust off and stand up and it's getting harder to knock me down these days. And that is something I am grateful for. Life's taught me to fight back for what I believe in and for those I believe in.

Life's also taught me that when I least expect to be loved for the person I am, someone out there tells me how special I am to them. And if that's not a soul booster to know I have touched someone's life without knowing, that just makes me believe in life again I don't know what is :)

Happy 2010 everyone ... am on my last year of 30 ... and the 40s looms ahead. I made myself a promise that by 40 am going to break out of my cocoon and take on the world in my beautiful colours ... and with all your love and prayers ... how can I fail??

As always .ani sends love and best wishes to you my friends and to the world. Let's make 2010 memorable in our book of life.

10 principles for Peace of Mind ... Jan 04, 2010

Seems like a sensible piece of advice as we kick off with 2010 :) .... I know it's done it's rounds on the internet and emails ... but good advice is never wasted shared me thinks ... and nope me not interfering in your business what **heeh**

Happy New Year everyone ..... may 2010 be an amazing year of all things good for you and your loved ones.

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1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked

• Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs.
• We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.
• This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way.
• All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way.
• Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget

• This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit.
• Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive and Forget, and march on.
• Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition

• This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives.
• They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you.
• Why do you wish to kill yours lf in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation.
• Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

4. Do Not Be Jealous

• We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life.
• Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality.
• If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either.
• Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment

• If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail.
• Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured

• This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control...
• If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully.
• Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

• This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego.
• Know your limitations.
• Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities.
• Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless.
• Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly

• Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself.
• If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours.
• Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant

• An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind.
• Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile .
• Actively follow a hobby.
• Do something that holds your interest.
• You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement.
• Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret

• Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating.
• You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done.
• It does not matter if you fail the first time.
• You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past.
• DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over spilt milk?