Why do some people have a constant yearning to learn?
As a Psych major, I would have to say it must be deprivation at some pivotal point in life to have this impact. As a lay person, I'll say it's economic sense - yet, to constantly learn implies to constantly pay as well, since post-grad studies do not come gift-wrapped. And there is this saying that you do need money to make money.
Having said that, why leave wonderful office politics, monthly salary and the opportunity to power dress, to spend time we do not have enough of, cramming research papers into our tired brains and attempting desperately to write an academic essay without making it look like a marketing proposal?
Personally, since I just dug this hole for myself - it's satisfaction.
Interest aside - I need a more fulfilling life than buying shoes, which I have not enough closet space for.
The time I am investing here has somehow calmed me down and stabilised me.
It's not so much about discipline because I am already rather disciplined even in the organisation of my home - it's about reaching out for something more - for me, myself.
Learning wakes up the dormant mind.
It helps us expand the horizons of what we could spend hours mulling in thoughts about.
I get excited just thinking about what to cook - because I enjoy eating as much as cooking.
So, deciding to do this just adds on to this excitement.
We should keep learning - not to update ourselves, but to keep our minds from rusting and falling into the "I ALREADY KNEW THAT" trap.
Things will change, everything changes and with that, comes the need to update, to learn and to adapt.
Perhaps that's my contribution to evolution - but hey - in Darwin's theory, the fittest survived - whatever they didn't need they didn't replicate it....and doing any upgrade learning helps us do that. The worst thing for anyone is to be redundant, because that's not what living is about.
March 24, 2008
March 18, 2008
What's the difference between doing a presentation and giving a briefing?
Actually, it entails almost the same amount of homework, just in different context.
However, one will be graded, the other, not.
Grading changes everything for the presenter - it's no longer a fun thing or a job - it's a contribution to the future!
Some people are just better at presentations - whether it's for work or for a grade. Those people are probably never anxious and are less shy of pairs of eyes, trailing them for 20 minutes. They are the ones who would give a comment on camera, without batting an eyelid. They are probably able to do a sketch on stage as well.
I had to do that for a grade yesterday, after years and years.
It wasn't traumatic, but it was the longest 20minutes for the whole of the 2008 so far.
Q & A never bothered me - it's more about having to stand there - smiling.
Actually, it entails almost the same amount of homework, just in different context.
However, one will be graded, the other, not.
Grading changes everything for the presenter - it's no longer a fun thing or a job - it's a contribution to the future!
Some people are just better at presentations - whether it's for work or for a grade. Those people are probably never anxious and are less shy of pairs of eyes, trailing them for 20 minutes. They are the ones who would give a comment on camera, without batting an eyelid. They are probably able to do a sketch on stage as well.
I had to do that for a grade yesterday, after years and years.
It wasn't traumatic, but it was the longest 20minutes for the whole of the 2008 so far.
Q & A never bothered me - it's more about having to stand there - smiling.
March 14, 2008
he's gone!
There has been lots of talk about the prisoner who escaped from detention. People who mattered, made comments, apologised and left encouraging messages for the rest of the people who had to rely on what was published in the local media for updates.
I need to raise some points, because I feel that the issue has not been property addressed.
If the prisoner is dangerous, why was security not tight?
Point is, if security was tight, he wouldn't be missing?
Then the whole island was rallied to look out for this detainee's clothes.
Jeez, why were we not told on day one?
Also, when I flipped the papers, I read that someone thought she saw someone who was limping across a major road some half an hour after he escaped....well, she probably didn't know it then, because even the Mayor only had a news update some 3 hours after the escape.
Are our men in uniform, so complacent, that when they show up for work at a high security detention center, their focus is on killing time? If they were interested in the real aspects of their work, they may have picked up a clue or two about what the detainee was planning.
It's disgusting that a few people messed up and the whole island's operation is being disrupted.
We have uniformed personnel at mrt stations, walking around...what makes us think that if they cannot successfully contain this ONE person, that they will be of 'use' in an open space, against regular people? This detainee is not our regular 9-5 chap, and he isn't going to openly wave a penknife in the air and get himself shot!
Magic word - let's be less arrogant - perhaps, when we are, we'll make less mistakes and do more in the real sense.
I need to raise some points, because I feel that the issue has not been property addressed.
If the prisoner is dangerous, why was security not tight?
Point is, if security was tight, he wouldn't be missing?
Then the whole island was rallied to look out for this detainee's clothes.
Jeez, why were we not told on day one?
Also, when I flipped the papers, I read that someone thought she saw someone who was limping across a major road some half an hour after he escaped....well, she probably didn't know it then, because even the Mayor only had a news update some 3 hours after the escape.
Are our men in uniform, so complacent, that when they show up for work at a high security detention center, their focus is on killing time? If they were interested in the real aspects of their work, they may have picked up a clue or two about what the detainee was planning.
It's disgusting that a few people messed up and the whole island's operation is being disrupted.
We have uniformed personnel at mrt stations, walking around...what makes us think that if they cannot successfully contain this ONE person, that they will be of 'use' in an open space, against regular people? This detainee is not our regular 9-5 chap, and he isn't going to openly wave a penknife in the air and get himself shot!
Magic word - let's be less arrogant - perhaps, when we are, we'll make less mistakes and do more in the real sense.
March 10, 2008
not too long ago
I heard from a colleague today, that he has tendered and will be moving on. What is most interesting is, this colleague is not even from my department and our paths briefly crossed because of a situation, which didn't even involve me.
The fact that he took the trouble to buy me lunch and inform me, tells a lot.
That we don't need to be obvious friends to have a valuable friendship.
To watch another person move-on and approach his goals aggressively is a sight to behold, because not too long ago, I was like that too. The amazing thing is, he mentioned something that made me laugh, because that statement was my mantra, again, not too long ago.
"YOU KNOW IT"S TIME TO LEAVE, WHEN YOU"RE TOO COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR WORK"
I felt that he was put in front of me today, to serve a function - without him realising it. He was telling me what I knew all along and perhaps, hearing it from someone, from outside my circle, meant something.
For people who are happy just clocking in the 9am to 5pm, work is just work - they have no need to excel in their lives. There is nothing wrong if a person is like that - each of us is different - we need that for the world to balance. BUT if you're not operating at that level and you begin to, then it's time to move!
The fact that he took the trouble to buy me lunch and inform me, tells a lot.
That we don't need to be obvious friends to have a valuable friendship.
To watch another person move-on and approach his goals aggressively is a sight to behold, because not too long ago, I was like that too. The amazing thing is, he mentioned something that made me laugh, because that statement was my mantra, again, not too long ago.
"YOU KNOW IT"S TIME TO LEAVE, WHEN YOU"RE TOO COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR WORK"
I felt that he was put in front of me today, to serve a function - without him realising it. He was telling me what I knew all along and perhaps, hearing it from someone, from outside my circle, meant something.
For people who are happy just clocking in the 9am to 5pm, work is just work - they have no need to excel in their lives. There is nothing wrong if a person is like that - each of us is different - we need that for the world to balance. BUT if you're not operating at that level and you begin to, then it's time to move!
March 04, 2008
freedom
Freedom is the ability to do as you please, yet achieve your goals.
Freedom is not being afraid to say what you feel because honesty is the best way forward.
Freedom is not being shackled emotionally or psychologically.
Strange thing is, most of us have not experienced freedom in quite a bit. Perhaps keeping to social and work norms have compromised our right to enjoy freedom.
In the work place, we cannot really speak our mind, because there may be colleagues who cannot bear to hear the blazen truth, or worse still, there may be colleagues just waiting to pounce on your idea and make it his own.
In our social life, we are also guarded about what we say, lest others get the wrong idea of us. If we say we miss a person, most would think in the context of couples without realising that friends do miss each other's company too. If we speak our mind too bluntly, we tend to avail ourselves to being labelled something or the other.
BUT, when you've gotten your life together and been there and done that - freedom should be our daily mantra. After all, after 40 years of bull, we must already know who belongs to the inner circle and who doesn't.
So, to hell with norms - life is getting shorter and I would like to get the last part right....
Freedom is not being afraid to say what you feel because honesty is the best way forward.
Freedom is not being shackled emotionally or psychologically.
Strange thing is, most of us have not experienced freedom in quite a bit. Perhaps keeping to social and work norms have compromised our right to enjoy freedom.
In the work place, we cannot really speak our mind, because there may be colleagues who cannot bear to hear the blazen truth, or worse still, there may be colleagues just waiting to pounce on your idea and make it his own.
In our social life, we are also guarded about what we say, lest others get the wrong idea of us. If we say we miss a person, most would think in the context of couples without realising that friends do miss each other's company too. If we speak our mind too bluntly, we tend to avail ourselves to being labelled something or the other.
BUT, when you've gotten your life together and been there and done that - freedom should be our daily mantra. After all, after 40 years of bull, we must already know who belongs to the inner circle and who doesn't.
So, to hell with norms - life is getting shorter and I would like to get the last part right....
March 03, 2008
Raising a child
There will always be times when we feel that everyone around us, takes us for granted, assumes that the status-quo will always remain and because of the family unit, the word 'sorry' doesn't need to be said.
It's amazing how parents are able to raise children without imparting to them the importance of admitting to a mistake. As parents, we often have the tendency to believe that our children are angels and can do no wrong. The longer we live in this illusion, the worse off that child will be when he/she grows up - because other people who have raised their children, would expect an apology when it is due.
Apologising is not about admission of error as much as it is about sincerity and good feelings. Somewhere in some people's education of social graces, this definition went missing. The most shocking thing is, these are from families who go for mass every Sunday to be better christians. When they reach crossroads, they find an alter, say a rosary and expect GOD to help them. Yet, they forget that GOD only helps those who help themselves.
For parents out there who think supplementary classes are important, please also give a thought to bringing up a child right. Social graces may seem so cliche, but that trait alone makes us thinking beings. Even a pet dog knows when to go to the owner, tail between his legs, whining.
I rest my case. Even dogs are better brought up by bitches.
It's amazing how parents are able to raise children without imparting to them the importance of admitting to a mistake. As parents, we often have the tendency to believe that our children are angels and can do no wrong. The longer we live in this illusion, the worse off that child will be when he/she grows up - because other people who have raised their children, would expect an apology when it is due.
Apologising is not about admission of error as much as it is about sincerity and good feelings. Somewhere in some people's education of social graces, this definition went missing. The most shocking thing is, these are from families who go for mass every Sunday to be better christians. When they reach crossroads, they find an alter, say a rosary and expect GOD to help them. Yet, they forget that GOD only helps those who help themselves.
For parents out there who think supplementary classes are important, please also give a thought to bringing up a child right. Social graces may seem so cliche, but that trait alone makes us thinking beings. Even a pet dog knows when to go to the owner, tail between his legs, whining.
I rest my case. Even dogs are better brought up by bitches.
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