The Meaning of My Life

Last Sunday. I was in the car with my parents, on the way to drop my dad to a wedding dinner with his friends and me to accompany mum for dinner. I saw the smile on my dads face as he got down from the car - clearly I can see that he is looking forward to catching up with his friends and also good food :) I feel so happy to see him smile. And I thought to myself, "Wow, I will do what I can daily to give him that smile on his face". We are sometimes so busy in life we take for granted the people who are dearest to us...

And during the Japanese dinner with mum I can clearly see she really loves the fresh sashimi and it's nice to see her so happy. I am glad to be able to spend some quality time with her, chatting and enjoying good food too. Mummy-daughter time...

Those moments made me realise the real meaning of my life. I kept searching and wondering all this while, but I think I now understand - it is to love and cherish my loved ones and people who love me while they are with me. Every little moment to be crystalised. :)

Oh and tonight, I made a point to watch a recorded movie on TV together with my parents...I will make more conscious effort to spend more time with them from now on.

Simple Joys in Life

Today i got a chance to witness many simple people living a simple life, revelling in simple joys - in their daily work, their simple food for lunch, everyday they are happy. I wonder if a complicated person feels less happy than a simple person. Someone who has tendency to think and ponder too much like myself often miss out the simple joys in life. I will make a point to live each day happily and to appreciate every little simple joys that comes my way.

My next year

Focus of life next year - To Celebrate Life - to live fully & happily & positively :)

My Obituary In Reverse

My Obituary In Reverse... My Aunt suggested this idea to me to know how do I define a good life...here it goes...

Here Lies Chooi Ling, Beloved daughter of Mr & Mrs.....XYZ....
She always had a smile on her face, lighting up the world with sunshine, optimism and hope. Always trusting by nature, caring, considerate, kind and true to her character.
She always put people at ease whenever she can, being her true self of a warm and friendly person. She makes friends easily and is loved by many.....
As a daughter and sister, she has always brought life to the home with her intelligent remarks, her entertaining stories and interesting take and insight on life. As a good friend, she has always offerred to help whenever her close friends are boggled with conflicts...always offerring a fresh perspective to things...
Always humble, simple and unassuming character, she lived her life fully, pursuing to be the best she can be.
In life, as for anyone else, there are always ups and downs in life. She has loved wholeheartedly, she has fallen and hurt deeply too. She took chances, sometimes she won, sometimes she lost...But throughout it all, she lived life with no regrets. Because she didnt want to lie on her deathbed wondering "What If".
And today she can rest in peace knowing that she has left no room for doubt that she did live with a fierce passion for life.
May her soul & heart rest in peace, may her smile shine upon us like the sunshine and her tears from the past make up rainbows to remind us how beautiful life can be, if you have faith.

Taking things for granted?

Have you ever realised that you may have taken so many things granted.
Today after work I was having home cooked dinner, then after dinner I saw my mum peacefully surfing net on her FB page (yup! my mum is quite connected in the internet world), Dad reading newspaper, brother watching some movies on youtube, I realised that I have taken simple joys in life for granted. To have your family with you, and your supportive friends around you...how can one be ungrateful and complain about other woes of life when we have so much going for us in our lives?
And tonight, I am truly grateful for all that I have, my health, my family, my friends and most of all, my blessed life.

Live, Love, Smile.

Suddenly this quote came to my mind so I figured I'll put it here.

Today after the yoga class, the instructor told us "The practice as a Yogi transcends beyond the class. Sow the seeds of kindness, seeds of compassion and be non judgemental. That is the true essence of a Yogi"

Wow, think about it, feel it.

If we can approach everything and everyone in life with such love, compassion and light heartedness it will make everybody's life better.

So smile, live your life and love everything that comes along your way :). After all, life is meant to be happy and with no regrets.

Look back into your past with fondness, be present and aware in your current moment and be hopeful and have faith in tomorrow. :)

Have you ever realised?

Have you ever realised when things are going so badly, that you can feel the friends around you caring for you?

Have you ever realised when you thought you cant go on anymore, when your mind tells you you dont know how you can go ahead, your friends & family remind you of how special and awesome you are, how you are stronger, better than who you think you are?

Hugs to all the people in the world who needs a little bit of encouragement, a little bit more courage to shine and be who they can be in life. Leave behind the burdens of overthinking and the past, close your eyes, inhale and exhale.

Imagine yourself as the Lotus - never polluted by the water surrounding it, no matter how murky. Because inner peace and strength, purity, comes from within.

I Love this Song -still makes me tear up when I listen to it. Very touching

Les Miserables - I Dreamed a Dream

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were softAnd their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

Missing my beloved classes already!

Wow I havent even gotten on the flight and I already miss my workout classes!!! Muaks
Cant wait to do Attack, Yoga, Combat, Jam when I get back!!!
Absence does make the heart fonder....

Gratitude List ~2010

Looking back, I am grateful to be fortunate enough to have....

• An amazing father - arguably the most amazing man I have ever met in my life thus far. Selfless, helpful, responsible, caring.


• A loving mother -who is more like my soulmate, my elder sister that I never had - someone whom I can share my secrets and life stories with, someone to laugh and cry with, someone who 'gets' me


• A kind boss - such a polite, reasonable and kind hearted person


• A group of friendly and warm colleagues - who adds in even more fun and joy into my daily work at office


• A friend with twisted dark sense of humour - who never fails to amuse me with her over - reactions as we gently poke fun at her. We love her so!


• A friend who keeps talking to me about what gym classes she is going to attend on a day - at least consoles me that I am not the only Gym Freak!


• A friend who is so Zen - that he taught me what it is, to just Be, in the moment, to go with the flow and be happy and peaceful


• A friend who is so solid emotionally (most of the time at least:P ) - who inspires me on how to strike a balance between self acceptance and self improvement


• My nice & caring Yoga teachers


• My fun and inspiring Group exercise class instructors


• Many other kind strangers & acquaintances who have left footprints in my life

Most of all, I am thankful for All the amazing things & people I had, I have and will have in my life :)

Birthday Reflections

It is my usual tradition to reflect upon the previous year on my birthdays. So here goes :)
1) I quite like my new job- going on well - my boss is nice & kind, most of my colleagues are nice too, I like what I am learning on the job....so I feel grateful for it
2) Over the past one year I realised I have become a stronger person on the inside. I have learnt how to be at peace with who I am, and at the same time able to know when and how to be better at the right pace. Amazing how self-trust can change one's life so much
3) Today my colleagues threw me a small birthday cake cutting ceremony at the office -I was very happy as about 30 people celebrated with me today :) So many well wishers...will be a great year to come hopefully!
4) Thankful for the good health & happiness of me and family
5) Thankful for the good and sincere friends around me
6) Thankful for being able bodied and enjoy my active lifestyle

Fingers crossed for another similarly/ MORE amazing year ahead!

Lovely Lovely Workout

Enjoyed my lovely workouts today - pump and step.

Both the instructors were so amazing - very clear pre-cues& cues and coaching on techniques.

~Jadebell Oct2010

Why did the sky turn dark? So that you can see the stars shining above. :) ~Jadebell Oct2010

A Love Letter

Dear Mummy & Daddy,

Using free wifi in KLIA-still 45 mins to go before boarding.dont worry I am sitting only 2 minutes walk away from my gate. already found it just now..

By the way, just now as I bid good bye to you all, I suddenly feel that i miss you ! (and i havent even boarded the flight yet hahah)
Anyway, that got me thinking on how often we take things for granted in life.When was the last time we actually make conscious effort to do something to make our loved ones happy?

Right now, I would like to ask you, my dearest dad & mum, can you tell me one thing , the one thing that I can do to make you happier?
I think too often, parents spend their whole lives sacrificing for their kids. But their kids often take things for granted as they are too caught up in the daily busyness. At the end of it all, family & loved ones matter the most,
So I want to take this chance to take a conscious effort to ask, to find out, if there is anything I can do to make you happier:)
Some ideas for starters
- bring you out for nice family dinners?

-sponsor your gym membership?

-prepare home cooked meals?

-buy you some sports gear?

-bring you for vacation?

Dont worry you have the whole 2 weeks to think about it. Do keep me posted on your thoughts!

P.S -Thanks for everything you have ever done for me.
Love, always

XOXOXO

Self Care is a Necessity, not a Luxury

Often in life, when we are pressed for time or get carried away, self care is the first thing that gives way.
We start to forget to eat well, to get sufficient workouts and sleep.
I have had first hand experience of the HUGE NEGATIVE impacts of not having enough good sleep, recently.
With a VERY fuzzied mind and body, I was like a Zombie the whole day, and my workout at the gym was almost redundant (despite my best effort to do my best).
So last night, I decided to go to bed earlier to ensure at least 8 hours of sleep.
And what a huge huge difference in how I feel and look this morning.
I felt so refreshed, so energetic and so ready to take on challenges and activities in life.
From now on, I shall make a more conscious effort to rest & sleep better :)

Endorphin RUSH Addiction!

Have been going to gym non stop for the past 8 days...really addicted to the endorphin & adrenalin rush now...feel soooooooooooo amazing..gimme gimme more more more

Yeay....reignited passion for Pump2

Managed to condition my body to do pump regularly now. It's getting so much easier that I am going to add on the weights to be carried - just teeny weeny bit - 0.5 kg each side for squats, chest & back. Cant believe I will actually crave pump! I once detested it so much. :)

Well, people improve, people change.

Ke-Liaulat-an

Drove all the way - 45 minutes and realised that I will not be in time for the gym class, so have to turn back home.GRR what a waste of time, petrol and effort...zzz
If I have known earlier, would have just gone home directly after work....too bad
better luck next time hopefully. :)

Accepting things as they are

Sometimes we need to accept things as they are.
I am about to lose one of my beloved classes next month onwards.
I feel upset about the unecessary changes, but after taking a deep breath, I know if it's going to happen, it's going to happen.
There's a chinese saying
是富不是祸，是祸挡不过
Learning to accept losses and disappointments in life- are part and parcel of growing. Take it as a stepping stone to become a better and stronger person :)

Weekend with grannies

Over the weekend, we brought grannies out for dinner at a fancy chinese restaurant and dessert at some HK style dessert shop.

I think grannies enjoy it very much.

Take a step back from life. How often do we make some effort to spend quality time with our family?