Upcoming project: Home Office

Looks like the volume of my work is increasing and I need additional space for my one on one coaching. I will need a dedicated space for a home office now, and the only place that fits my requirement would be my current walk in wardrobe. I may need to move that to the third room. Major cleanup would be needed, and I will need to remove 2 cupboards from there. This would be interesting...

Weekends are for recharging the batteries :-)

Time and time again I'm reminded of the importance of weekends. I had had a rather intensive weekend last 2 weeks; what with focusing on my certification for NLP coach and concentrating on 1 heavy duty report for my main business documents client. Last weekend, though, was just great. I spent most of Saturday at home, working on my Yugen Ideas website, taught myself FTP too. I got a little bit impatient with TV over the weekend, so I spent more time with my books. Sunday was spent looking for a signature piece for my living room i.e. a 6' TV cabinet. I also went to the gym with C and met up with R for lunch. I listened to my Timeline Therapy CDs and read my notes + textbook to prepare for this weekend's Timeline Therapist certification program and I enjoyed floating above my timeline. I felt like a plane. Today, I feel very relaxed and energetic. More ready to face what will come my way. Now I'm planning which Shrek meal toy to get from McDonalds :-)

I'm grateful for weekends!

Action!

I was in a small party last night and I got a lot of questions about what I do. I basically work with people who are very frustrated (ya there are many, true, but then we are all merely human, right?) because they either cant come up with a solution for a problem that theyre dealing with for a long time, or they cant see their way out of a sticky problem, or all the solutions theyve implemented just are not working. I work with them to identify the source of their problem and together with them design an action plan that is guaranteed to work.

Based on NLP and Action Learning, I bring my clients to the outcome that they desire.

Here's a bit of info from the International Foundation of Action Learning:

Action learning involves working on real problems, focusing on learning and actually implementing solutions. It is a form of learning by doing.

Pioneered by Professor Reg Revans and developed worldwide over the last 35 years, it provides a well-tried method of accelerating learning which enables people to handle difficult situations more effectively.

Action learning is based on a radical concept: L = P + Q Learning requires Programmed knowledge (i.e. knowledge in current use) and Questioning insight. It also uses a small group to provide challenge and support: individuals learn best with and from one another as they each tackle their own problem and actually implement their own solution.

The process integrates: research (into what is obscure); learning (about what is unknown); and action (to resolve a problem) into a single activity and develops an attitude of questioning and reflection to help individuals and organisations change themselves in a rapidly changing world.

And I love it :-)

Yes, Prime Minister

I'm a big fan of DVD box sets, starting from the time I received 'The Pretender' set for my birthday. When I'm at home, I watch my favorite stuff and among them are:

1. Black Adder series (esp seasons 2, 3)
2. The Thin Blue Line, also with Rowan Atkinson
3. Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister
4. Shogun
5. Peter Seller's Pink Panther movies

The only reason I keep my satelite TV channel is because of Midsomer Murders on Hallmark and BBC Entertainment.

Parts, integrated

Have you experienced some sort of conflict inside you? If you have, it's very highly likely that you have got a part inside you, that is not congruent with your whole being. A part can be seen as a blockage or basically a segment that holds the problem; while the whole is your complete being. It's good to think that a whole is bigger than the sum of the parts. Because, once we eliminate conflict inside us, that problematic part will integrate with our whole being, resulting in congruence or inner harmony.

Now, look inside you. Is there a part inside you that believes sometimes that you are not good enough? Not smart enough? Not beautiful enough? Do you believe in this completely or do you have this belief as a conflict ie sometimes you believe that youre not good enough, but on the other hand, there are many instances where you know that youve achieved success ie that you ARE good enough. These 'on the other hand' situations reflect conflict.

And now, picture yourself, for one moment, being free from this conflict. You would be believing completely that you are good enough / loved enough / deserving enough of all the blessings that you have received every day of your beautiful life. How does the picture look to you? How do you feel? Once free from conflict and totally at peace with yourself, do you think you can achieve anything you want to do? YOU BET.

I know I did. I know I needed to eliminate conflict as much as know how much I was a conflicted being. But I was afraid to want it eliminated. To avoid disappointment when goals are not met, I dont set goals. I thought I did, but I didnt. When I studied Parts Integration in my NLP Certified Practitioner training, I went in whole-heartedly. I didnt think it was achievable - hell, I thought it was IMPOSSIBLE to eliminate conflict inside me. How could I free myself from this after 30 years? Wouldnt it take me the rest of my life to eliminate conflict? It took me around 20 minutes, actually. 20 minutes to work with a fellow practitioner and discover the highest intention of my problematic part, the highest intention of my harmonious whole, and the meaning of this intentions and what they would do for me. When I reached my breakthrough, I saw and felt the barrier dissolve. I saw inside me 2 identical me's, beneath the dissolving bubble. I expected the 'whole me' to pull my 'problematic part me' towards integration. What happened though, was something more beautiful. I saw the me that represented the problematic part reach out her hands towards the me that represented my integrated whole. I felt her reaching out for help. I felt the warmth and comfort when the two 'me's came together in one big hug. I felt so calm, at peace, welcomed and loved. By me.

I've started this journey to discover what I really want in life, setting the goals that will be harmonious internally, and achieving my potential. I'm really grateful to God for this awareness. :-)

First, Break All the Rules

Choowie wrote about one of my favorite books in his post on the reasons why people leave their jobs. When I first read Marcus Buckingham's First, Break All the Rules, I was flummoxed. The things that I had gut feel about could be proven with facts and concrete examples. People leave their jobs mainly because of their supervisors. Go get the book - you may not agree with all the ideas in there, but there's enough thought in there to spark some interesting discussions and new awareness in the areas of satisfaction at the workplace, methinks.

Sunshine

I won passes to watch Danny Boyle's movie, Sunshine. I gave the other 3 passes to Jennie, Chris and Ayu, and we met up in GSC 1U to watch the movie. After surrendering our mobile phones, we settled into our seats. There were some funny games and stuff, courtesy of the host, and then, before we knew it, the movie came on. Great CGIs. Stuff really needed to be seen on the big screen. The dying sun, the space shuttle Icarus 2, the oxygen garden. AND naturally, my hero, Hiroyuki Sanada (you'd need Quicktime to view that video there).

Even after so many weeks, some parts of the movie are still in my brain. The trip to the sun alone, took more than 18 months. In the movie, it wouldve taken the astronauts another 2 years or so for them to return to earth. Imagine that. A 4-year assignment where you'd be living with the same 7 people. Be with them, and only them, for 4 years. I'm not too wild about the movie, and I've been through the discussion topics on IMDB.com, lambasting the movie's Hollywoodization of the science of our sun and the rest of the solar system. To them I say this: there are a few instances in life where judgement, and up to a certain extent, reality, need to be suspended in order to enjoy the moment or to have some sense of reason behind actions. Hell, we go through this suspension of belief on a daily basis sometimes. Where, you might ask me? The workplace, for one. To make family relationships work, would be another instance. So I suspended my own personal judgement watching that movie. One poignant moment for me was when the Icarus crew arrived near Mercury. I figured if I were an astronaut, a botanist, a physicist or a pilot, and I was on a mission to save my planet, I too would be in awe watching Mercury orbiting the sun.

Interesting movie, and an absolutely interesting soundtrack.

A few more quirky things

I never thought of these things before, and they came automatically to mind while I was on the walkalators in Ikano power center. I realised that there are one or two more weird things about me that are, well - kinda weird *LOL*

1. I like to arrange my money so that all notes face the same way in my wallet. I like my bills to be in order, and in neat groups i.e. the 1 ringgit notes with the other 1 ringgit notes and the like. I feel very cluttered when they are not in order.
2. I like to watch people sleep. I think that's when we're totally rested and relaxed. I feel calm myself when I see the calm faces of sleeping people :)
3. I like to read everywhere. In the airport, on the plane, on the treadmill, while I eat, in bed, in the bathroom, while waiting for anything and anyone - I always have a book with me. I remember when I was a kid, I'd hunt for my Enid Blyton books whenever I'm about to sit down and eat. My mum would always say 'there she goes - just like her father, always looking for a book before eating.'

I think that'll do for now.... :)

I've been TAGGED

Shanti tagged me and looks like I'm almost the last to do this :-)

RULES to this tagging game: People who are tagged should write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

I've been observing and 'snooping around' I notice that many of us share some of the things we may think are weird. I know now, for instance, that there are also a few more people out there who dance in the car when they hear music they like, talk to themselves - with hand gestures too, wash their feet before bedtime (my mum always reminded us to do that when we were children), and dont let me start on the OCD'esque characteristics that are common to quite a few of us!

Nevertheless, here's my attempt at a list.

Weird thing about me number 1:
I sometimes have a problem with simple things. I understand complex concepts easily but I have difficulty to simplify it and explain it to others. When I helped my uncle tutor his classes in college sometimes, I used to get the students to list out the topics they had problems with and then get other students to share their ideas to help the rest to understand it. Then I'd ask more questions and later tie things up for closure. Turned out that's what's called 'facilitating'. Heh.

Weird thing about me number 2:
I love watching 'Bob the Builder' on Playhouse Disney Channel. I still harbour hopes that Bob and Wendy will get together. They were THIS close to getting it on in the episode where Wendy filled in for Bob's Line Dance sick partner. The kids never pick up on the underlying sexual tension between those two...

Weird thing about me number 3:
I love the combination of McDonald's ice cream cone with french fries. I love taking the fries and dipping them into the ice cream cone. In fact, I feel like one now :-)

Weird thing about me number 4:
Because I like my things the way I like them, I used to go ballistics when people move my things. This caused havoc when Chris had a housekeeper clean my apartment as a suprise. The woman told him I 'looked like a hawk who just returned to her nest' when I walked in through the door. I started moving my sofa back a few inches to where it was before, for starters. The rest - sufice to say I keep my own house now.

Weird thing about me number 5:
I have a weird sense of humor. Chris says I laugh at the unfunniest things, yet stay unmoved by a lot of the real funny stuff. I watch BBC Entertainment and get tickled pink. He doesnt. Oh well. His dad didnt make him sit down in front of the TV when he was a little kid to watch 'Yes Minister', 'Yes Prime Minister' and 'Mind Your Language'.

Weird thing about me number 6:
I love crispy fried grasshoppers. Bangkok oh Bangkok....

There you have it. I'll tag some other friends when I can. In the meantime, I tag you, dear reader. Tell us about YOUR 6 weird things! :-)

Back to life

My last post that did not involve copy and paste was Feb 27, with the news of D's wedding announcement. I'm a new woman now. I enrolled to complete a practitioner-level training in NLP and as much as I didnt think I could, I emerged a somewhat new person. What I feel on a more consistent basis is that I'm whole now. Not broken any more.

I'm talking to D again on a regular basis. He'll be moving to Singapore soon and settle down. First on the books would be him getting clients for his coaching practice. This may include Malaysia also, as he's not confining his base to just Singapore. Once he's got his kit together, he and his girlfriend will set wedding dates.

I really recommend NLP as a tool to have a deeper understanding of why we do the things we do. The cool thing is this - NLP study of modeling helps to identify what works in what we do - to explain the 'magic' behind intuition and gut feel that guides the us when we are at best at what we do. This then assists us to replicate this model of success and once replicated, we can achieve success every time. Want more information? Just swing by Navigo NLP Center and talk to my buddy Carsten, the principal consultant.

In the meantime, for old times' sake, here's me and D, at the Munich airport, Oct 2006.

Forecast or self-fulfilling prophecy?

Birth Date: April 9, 1972

**

*Year* Water Rat
*Month* Water Rabbit
*Day* Metal Horse

*Introduction*

Your Year of the Fire Pig Forecast is divided into two parts. The first explains what you can expect from this year as a whole. It includes insights that apply to everyone, as well as what this year holds for you and your particular year sign.

The second part is your personalized month-to-month one-year forecast, which features your very own favorability rating for each month. This rating allows you to instantly see how good each particular month is likely to be for you. It highlights the major influences affecting you each month and includes suggested do's and don'ts.

**

*Part One*

This part is subdivided into two sections. It begins by describing the nature of a Fire Pig year, that is, what everyone can expect from it. This is followed by an outline of how you personally are likely to fare overall, especially in four specific areas: career, relationships, health and wealth.

*Year of the Fire Pig*

Forget everything you know about the easygoing, laid-back, roll-in-the-mud Pig. This is the year of the Fire Pig, and there will be fireworks aplenty. It should be a feel-good year loaded with excitement.

Water is the Pig's fixed element. In Chinese astrology, Water plus Fire equals disaster. Also, the fifth month of the Chinese calendar is the month of the Fire Horse. This will be a time of daring accomplishments and serious calamities.

The Fire Pig is nevertheless a Pig, and we need to remember what that means for us. The Pig is the 12th and last sign of the Chinese zodiac. We have come to the end of the cycle, and it's time to celebrate our accomplishments. Yes, it's party time! Be good to yourself this year; you've earned it. Family reunions, extended vacations and a spa membership are in order.

Like last year's sign, the Dog, the Pig calls us to focus on family. Now we need to concentrate more on relationships. It's a Fire year, a year filled with passion. What a great time to begin a new romance or take an existing one to a new level -- a vacation in Paris or Bali might be just the thing. When is the last time you shared a hot tub with your sweetheart? Make it a priority this year.

The West has its fat cats, and Chinese astrology has its fat pigs. We're talking money! Yes, this is a year to make more than a little, so be alert for opportunities.

It may seem incongruous to link the Pig with scholars, but the association is there; and it's a positive one, due in part to the fact that the Pig's fixed element is Water. This could thus be a very good year for those in academia.

Although Pig is the last year in the 12-year cycle, it is only the 24th in the larger, 60-year cycle. At this point it should be emphasized that 2007 is a Fire year. This is not a year for the faint of heart. On the positive side, Fire provides each of us the energy we need to initiate action, regardless of whether or not immediate attention is required. It is not a time to sit on the sidelines.

Fire and Pig together call us to work on vigorously attacking existing projects and completing them. It is not a particularly favorable time to conceive of and begin new ventures. With the clash of Fire and Water, now is not the time to take a lot of risk. Use the energy of positive Fire to raise your work level to a high intensity, but avoid the foolhardiness associated with negative Fire, and your business interests will prosper.

Since this is a Fire year, those people born in an Earth year will generally fare better than others of their animal sign, while those born in a Metal year are likely to do worse than those born in Wood, Fire, Earth and Water years.

Health issues vary not only by sign but by individual. Your best bet is to visit a Chinese doctor to have your balances checked and get some advice for the coming year. It is a Fire year, so one thing we can say in general is to be on the lookout for signs of stress and a tendency to overextend one's self.

2007 will be an exciting year. We will experience passion and crises on and off throughout the year. The Pig is a go-with-the-flow type. If you follow the Pig's example by enjoying life's pleasures and heating up your relationships, this will be a very memorable year indeed.

Wedding daze

Remember D, the one that got away? He's getting married soon. He just told me that a few minutes ago.

Ouch.

Addicted to Blogthings?

Your Dominant Thinking Style: Experimenting

You're all about looking at the facts, and you could always use more of them. You see life as your lab - and you're always trying out new things, people, and ideas. The master of mix and match, you're always coming up with unique combinations. You are good at getting a group to reach consensus.

What's Your Thinking Style?

The mix and match bit could possily refer to my wardrobe though....

Now isn't this interesting? *LOL*

Your Kissing Technique Is: Perfect

Your kissing technique is amazing - and you know it. You have the confidence to make the first move. And you always seem to know what kissing style is going to work best. Sometimes you're passionate, sometimes you're a tease. And you're always amazing!

Are You a Good Kisser?

Interesting how much theoritical knowledge can benefit you! *giggles*

What color is Pine Green?

Your Birthdate: April 9

You are a born idealist, with more pet causes than you can count. You prefer be around others, both when working and while relaxing. Generous and giving, you believe you can change the world one person at a time. You're open minded and tolerant. People feel like they can tell you anything. Your strength: Your go-with-the-flow flexibility Your weakness: Your flair for the over dramatic Your power color: Pine green Your power symbol: Circle Your power month: September

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Canopy Walk is closed for CNY...

Before going home, OC wanted to check out the Forest Research Institute of MY (FRIM). I'm not much of a nature girl, but I thought - why not - the guy's going to go home to cold Hambug winter before the end of week! So we set off to FRIM not-so bright and early - about 11:00 am, but we managed to get ourselves there in good time. He really wanted to check out the Canopy Walk, but unfortunately, we saw a big sign that stated that the Walk would be closed for CNY. Since we were already there, we thought might as well we take a walk around anyway.

I parked the car near the lane that leads towards the canopy walk trail, and we both set off. His goal was to go to the canopy walk anyway, and see what else is up there. My goal was to get the hell out of there so that I could go home and relax or go to the gym for a workout and probably enjoy a steam bath after! *LOL* Alas - one long soulful look from those big sea-green eyes and I ended up saying "OK, OK, OK - let's go lah..."

The canopy walk is at about 300m above sea level. It was constructed in 1992 with the aid of one of my former employers, actually, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The walkway system spans about 200m and is suspended between trees at about 30m above ground.

I'm not kidding you when I say the trail to the walkway is uphill, steep and physically very demanding. Walking time, one way, is about 45 mins, depending on the route chosen and level of fitness. The average time taken for the round trip is 2 hours. I felt the temperature getting cooler as we got higher, but I must have sweated buckets all the way up! I was really glad we both chose appropriate attire (I made the trek downhill in bare feet half of the way though, because the ground was a bit wet from the earlier rain and it got rather slippery) We took off our shirts a bit higher uphill to wipe ourselves down! (Personal note: Thank God for the invention of the sports bra. Or else, no shirt-taking-off moment for me). The lovely flora and fauna are not just seen from the canopy bridge system, mind you - we saw many wonderful plants on the trek uphill too. There was a fern-like plant whose leaves were almost blue in colour, and the lovely mushrooms! OC took many photos as we walked uphill. And the lovely moss-covered rocks and the cool mountain streams; tiny trickles of water so clear and so cool to the touch.

It felt good when we got up there though. There was a small hut there and the door to the canopy bridge was locked, no surprises there. We sat down and just enjoyed the environment in silence. I begin to understand now why mountain-climbing is associated with achieving one's goals and overcoming one's challenges to succeed to the top. It was just a small hill we climbed, last Tuesday, but already we felt the struggle. We didnt expect the uphill climb would be *that* steep. I didnt expect my heart rate would rise so fast in such a short time. I knew that if I told OC straight up that I didnt feel too good, he'd take my arm, turn around and abandon the walk. But there was just something else there - the feeling that was beyond the normal thought of 'let's go lah - we're already here anyway'. It was more of a 'we need to get to the top and see if we can do it, and see what on earth is up there!' kind of thought. We talked about this while we were relaxing near the bridge, and we both agreed that it was just something that needed to be done, one step at a time. Just like the rest of our journey in life, I suppose - one step at a time.

As for OC, it's 'Stesen berikutnya, Hamburg.' He flew home on Thursday night.

Somehow KL is a little bit different without him...lah.

Zen and the art of Star Wars :-)

No, this is not a review of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance :-) I do have that book and I have read it, though. I love it and it's something worth going back to repeatedly. One thing for sure, at least for me, that I had more fun reading this than reading Dan Brown's Digital Fortress.

Spent a few days in the east coast with my family and aside from catching up with my reading, I also managed to watch a few of my favorite movies. One of them is Star Wars Ep V: the Empire Strikes Back. Here is one of my favorite moments:

[Luke's ship sinks into the mud]
Luke: We'll never get it out now!
Yoda: So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?
Luke: All right, I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.
Luke: You ask for the impossible. [Starts to walk away in frustration]

[Using the Force, Yoda effortlessly frees the X-Wing from the bog]
Luke: I don't...I don't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.

Lessons learned:
Not only it's important to work hard on achieving what we want, we also need to believe in what we want.

Which means:
First things first - we need to really know what we want, right?

This is one question that many of us just dont ask ourselves. Or maybe we do ask ourselves, but a lot of times, we dont dare to give an honest answer. In many cases, there is one recurring theme: a lot of us feel that we dont deserve all the good things that we want, that we are asking for. Therefore, we dont put in a lot of effort to figure out what we really want in life.

Well here's an interesting theory. Try this one on for size. Ask for what you want. You deserve it. Believe in it. Let go of the things that make you unhappy, things that do not put you in a state of happiness and joy. Look into yourself and decide what you want. Decide what you want to do. Decide the kind of person you want to become. Then do it. Dont try. There is no 'try'. Just do, or do not. And believe that your purpose in life is what you make of it.

Ashita noh kioku - pt 2

What a lovely day. I spoke to a wonderful person who I'm fortunate to know. It's been many many months, but I figured, why not - I've got nothing to lose - and made the call. K. Ruby is as warm as I remember her, and here's something intriguing that she posted in her blog. Why intriguing? 'Cos she's never preachy! :-)

Ashita noh kioku

OC is going home to Hamburg Thursday night. I'll be in the east coast then so I wont be able to see him off at the airport. It's the Canopy Walk in FRIM in an hour - if it's not open we'd go visit the Tugu Negara - one of my favorite places ever.

When I asked him what would be his ashita-noh kioku (memories of tomorrow), he listed down a few:

1. times spent with Ben (ya Ben's awesome, thats why we're great friends)
2. us cooking green curry together
3. our trip to Malacca together with C

And he'll forever remember us when he looks at the black and white Gary Quah print that I got for him. A snapshot of the KL Tower from a window, much like the view he got from his office.

Dirk, Nadine and Julia are enjoying themselves in Sabah. Eh - I just realised that the tent Dirk bought could fit all 3 of them comfortably. Wah - then Dirk will be in a great sandwich every night lah! Wow. Way to go, dude!

My friends - who'll always be part of my memories of tomorrow :-)

Project: tsubo niwa - site analysis

How the site looks like now:

Soon to be dining area, looking out to balcony

Balcony view from sliding door area

The space does have potential! :-)