That title is Liu Wei's motto...
watch and be inspired.
Lost his arms from an accident at age 10, Liu Wei from Beijing never gives up living strong. He managed to do everything with his feet and started to learn to play piano at age 19. His dream is to become a musician. He just turned 23 and he won the China's Got Talent Show on Oct. 10, 2010. In the final, he played piano and sang the song "You Are Beautiful", perhaps his vocal is not the best render of this song, but the power and inspiration of his zest for life won him the final. Bravo! Liu Wei's motto is,"I have two options - I can die as fast as possible, or I can live a brilliant life. And I chose the latter." Congrats to Liu Wei!
Liu Wei's quotes:
"To me, there are 3 things can not be missed in life - air, water and music."
"There are only 2 paths in my life for me - either to die as fast as possible, or to live as brilliant a life as I could."
"I don't feel that I am that different from other people. Normally everyone is used to do everything with one's hands so your hands are more flexible. There is no rule saying that you can't do things with your feet."
"A man should be responsible to his dreams. My dream is to become a great musician."
"I know if I want to do it better than other people, I have to put in more efforts"
On the note he wrote on the paper in this clip, it says'"
Walk on, at least I have a pair of perfect legs."
His mother said in the clip,"Sometimes his legs would cramp, he couldn't put any strength on them. He has worked harder than normal people."
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
My Heart Sings
Today, I woke up with a song that is reverberating in my ears...wondering why I suddenly thought of it!
It's been a long time since I last attended a Sunday worship and be part of Christian fellowship.
For this, I vow to renew my spirit and open up my soul to God's whispers.
This has been my favorite worship song...it moves me all the time.
Then again, I checked on all my hillsong MP3s and I found tons of my favorites. Here they are, happy listening! I am sure you will be singing along!
It's been a long time since I last attended a Sunday worship and be part of Christian fellowship.
For this, I vow to renew my spirit and open up my soul to God's whispers.
This has been my favorite worship song...it moves me all the time.
Then again, I checked on all my hillsong MP3s and I found tons of my favorites. Here they are, happy listening! I am sure you will be singing along!
Monday, June 20, 2011
This is a favorite article I read from this site
http://www.betterbudgeting.com
Finding the Meaningful and Simple Pleasures in Life
by Karen Kuebler
I have a picture that hangs above the table in our breakfast room that has had significant meaning to me since I was about 10 years old. I first saw this picture when I was a young girl, and then purchased a copy about 25 years ago. You know when a picture speaks to you, and evidently this picture has spoken to me for 40 years or more! More...
It is a picture of an old man sitting at a table, about to partake of a simple meal and is bowing in prayer. He is wearing a comfortable green plaid wool shirt, and in front of him sit a small loaf of bread, a knife, a bowl of soup, a large book and a pair of reading glasses.
Why does this picture mean so much to me? I looked at it closely this week and thought a lot about it. I was touched on a variety of levels. I will attempt to express how I am affected by this picture, although this isn’t in any specific order.
To begin with, the man is blessed with what is most important to sustain his life. Perhaps he is single or widowed and doesn’t share a companion, but he is content with himself. He is surrounded by shelter, warm clothing, a simple but adequate meal, something substantial to read and challenge his intellect -- and eyeglasses to enable him to read!
Secondly, he is displaying meaningful appreciation and gratitude for these few simple pleasures that are most important to sustain life. It made me think how often we forget about the core elements that are most important, and start to worry about so many side issues that are mostly out of our control.
This man is NOT dealing with the complex issues of war, the state of the economy, whether his CD’s are earning 2% or 5%, or whatever horrific news might have occurred that day.
There is no sign of a television, radio, telephone, newspaper, or other forms of stimulus we have become accustomed to. What appears most essential in this picture is the ability that the man has to communicate with a higher power, be content with himself, and appreciate simple moments and pleasures.
This is especially meaningful to me right now. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day news and worries that are so far beyond my control. In addition to political and economic worries, we each are dealing with our own personal family issues and troubles. We tend to magnify smaller problems in our lives far beyond the significance they deserve.
So what if it’s a bad hair day? Make-up can’t hide the dark circles and I’m looking older than I would like. If it sounds like I’m trivializing these things, it is because I suffer from discomforts such as these more than I care to admit.
Somehow, this picture brings back the serenity I seek and helps me to feel grounded whenever I look at it. What is most important in our lives during this time of fear and terrifying distress? I need to focus on what I can control, and be thankful for the simple things in life that help me make it through one day at a time.
Maybe it was coincidence, but tonight I made a loaf of homemade bread and potato soup. It was the most comforting and satisfying meal I could have had on a rainy night. (Plus I knew I was saving money!) Coincidently, after eating dinner I passed by the picture which touched me once again. I stopped and really took the time to observe what was going on, and what the artist was trying to tell me.
I came away with a message that life is self-sustaining. We will need to continue to make our individual choices in light of whatever political choices are being made by those beyond our control. We will need to continue to make choices that will allow us to sustain ourselves and our families, in spite of the economic conditions of the world. Challenging? YES! Impossible? NO! We can survive the tough economical times, one step at a time and one choice at a time.
We have the “choice” to invite peace, serenity, and comfort into our own life each day. Sometimes, during one of our bad days, we might make the choice to invite chaos and anger to join us. Knowing this, we can consciously make changes to recreate a peaceful environment and/or sense of self. It’s simply a matter of deciding what our real objectives are and what we want to accomplish that day or evening.
I have discovered that often when I'm experiencing feelings of distress, I don't always make the wisest financial choices. I might justify spending because I've had a rotten day or because I deserve it. I have often rationalized going out to eat as a way to comfort myself. It becomes a vicious cycle -- I'm feeling stress and then I add to my stress by making financial choices that stress me even more later!
Some of the most simple concepts are the most difficult to practice. Sometimes a visual or physical reminder, like my special picture, can help keep us mindful of what is most important to us. Identify or create your own “cues” to help you feel grounded when life is feeling too complex.
It really is the simple moments in our lives that matter the most. My mother used to say “Do you realize we are creating a memory right now?” What a simple, yet profound message. Your simple moments will create tomorrow’s memories. I hope that your days and weeks are filled with many simple moments that you will appreciate and enjoy while you are experiencing them.
I'll close this article with a favorite quote of mine from "The Little Prince" by Antoine De Saint-Exupery: "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
http://www.betterbudgeting.com
Finding the Meaningful and Simple Pleasures in Life
by Karen Kuebler
I have a picture that hangs above the table in our breakfast room that has had significant meaning to me since I was about 10 years old. I first saw this picture when I was a young girl, and then purchased a copy about 25 years ago. You know when a picture speaks to you, and evidently this picture has spoken to me for 40 years or more! More...
It is a picture of an old man sitting at a table, about to partake of a simple meal and is bowing in prayer. He is wearing a comfortable green plaid wool shirt, and in front of him sit a small loaf of bread, a knife, a bowl of soup, a large book and a pair of reading glasses.
Why does this picture mean so much to me? I looked at it closely this week and thought a lot about it. I was touched on a variety of levels. I will attempt to express how I am affected by this picture, although this isn’t in any specific order.
To begin with, the man is blessed with what is most important to sustain his life. Perhaps he is single or widowed and doesn’t share a companion, but he is content with himself. He is surrounded by shelter, warm clothing, a simple but adequate meal, something substantial to read and challenge his intellect -- and eyeglasses to enable him to read!
Secondly, he is displaying meaningful appreciation and gratitude for these few simple pleasures that are most important to sustain life. It made me think how often we forget about the core elements that are most important, and start to worry about so many side issues that are mostly out of our control.
This man is NOT dealing with the complex issues of war, the state of the economy, whether his CD’s are earning 2% or 5%, or whatever horrific news might have occurred that day.
There is no sign of a television, radio, telephone, newspaper, or other forms of stimulus we have become accustomed to. What appears most essential in this picture is the ability that the man has to communicate with a higher power, be content with himself, and appreciate simple moments and pleasures.
This is especially meaningful to me right now. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day news and worries that are so far beyond my control. In addition to political and economic worries, we each are dealing with our own personal family issues and troubles. We tend to magnify smaller problems in our lives far beyond the significance they deserve.
So what if it’s a bad hair day? Make-up can’t hide the dark circles and I’m looking older than I would like. If it sounds like I’m trivializing these things, it is because I suffer from discomforts such as these more than I care to admit.
Somehow, this picture brings back the serenity I seek and helps me to feel grounded whenever I look at it. What is most important in our lives during this time of fear and terrifying distress? I need to focus on what I can control, and be thankful for the simple things in life that help me make it through one day at a time.
Maybe it was coincidence, but tonight I made a loaf of homemade bread and potato soup. It was the most comforting and satisfying meal I could have had on a rainy night. (Plus I knew I was saving money!) Coincidently, after eating dinner I passed by the picture which touched me once again. I stopped and really took the time to observe what was going on, and what the artist was trying to tell me.
I came away with a message that life is self-sustaining. We will need to continue to make our individual choices in light of whatever political choices are being made by those beyond our control. We will need to continue to make choices that will allow us to sustain ourselves and our families, in spite of the economic conditions of the world. Challenging? YES! Impossible? NO! We can survive the tough economical times, one step at a time and one choice at a time.
We have the “choice” to invite peace, serenity, and comfort into our own life each day. Sometimes, during one of our bad days, we might make the choice to invite chaos and anger to join us. Knowing this, we can consciously make changes to recreate a peaceful environment and/or sense of self. It’s simply a matter of deciding what our real objectives are and what we want to accomplish that day or evening.
I have discovered that often when I'm experiencing feelings of distress, I don't always make the wisest financial choices. I might justify spending because I've had a rotten day or because I deserve it. I have often rationalized going out to eat as a way to comfort myself. It becomes a vicious cycle -- I'm feeling stress and then I add to my stress by making financial choices that stress me even more later!
Some of the most simple concepts are the most difficult to practice. Sometimes a visual or physical reminder, like my special picture, can help keep us mindful of what is most important to us. Identify or create your own “cues” to help you feel grounded when life is feeling too complex.
It really is the simple moments in our lives that matter the most. My mother used to say “Do you realize we are creating a memory right now?” What a simple, yet profound message. Your simple moments will create tomorrow’s memories. I hope that your days and weeks are filled with many simple moments that you will appreciate and enjoy while you are experiencing them.
I'll close this article with a favorite quote of mine from "The Little Prince" by Antoine De Saint-Exupery: "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
Sari-Sari Store
It's my rest day, I just woke up and I picked up my laptop and surfed...and I found this site
http://hapinoy.com/
It's been my dream for a year now to put up a sari-sari store, but I have been putting it off.
I'm thinking where will I place it if every corner in our place you can see a sari-sari store, just at least 5 meters distance from each other. :)
Then who will manage it, since I am working in the upper North, and is 7hrs bus ride away from where my family lives.
This site inspired me, plus the vision and mission of the company is so motivating, that I want to offer to volunteer one day of my rest day. To give something to your community is one major vision and mission of this venture.
Please see for yourself.
http://hapinoy.com/
It's been my dream for a year now to put up a sari-sari store, but I have been putting it off.
I'm thinking where will I place it if every corner in our place you can see a sari-sari store, just at least 5 meters distance from each other. :)
Then who will manage it, since I am working in the upper North, and is 7hrs bus ride away from where my family lives.
This site inspired me, plus the vision and mission of the company is so motivating, that I want to offer to volunteer one day of my rest day. To give something to your community is one major vision and mission of this venture.
Please see for yourself.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
2011 French Film Festival in Manila
I wish they're showing all these in Baguio also.
http://www.clickthecity.com/events/details.php?id=11679
The only fortunate time I was able to watch french films in the cinema was when I was still in Malaysia, way back 2008. My friends and I really set time for two of the french films showing that time.
Paris, Je T'aime - this film inspired me to go to France and learn the language which until now I haven't act on. :)
Tell No One - this one is a thriller, we were engrossed when we watched this movie...sadly some scenes were scensored.
My liking for french films started when I saw Amelie and Love Me, If You Dare all in DVD. I floundered in trying to understand by just hearing the french words spoken, not relying on the subtitle. :)
http://www.clickthecity.com/events/details.php?id=11679
The only fortunate time I was able to watch french films in the cinema was when I was still in Malaysia, way back 2008. My friends and I really set time for two of the french films showing that time.
Paris, Je T'aime - this film inspired me to go to France and learn the language which until now I haven't act on. :)
Tell No One - this one is a thriller, we were engrossed when we watched this movie...sadly some scenes were scensored.
My liking for french films started when I saw Amelie and Love Me, If You Dare all in DVD. I floundered in trying to understand by just hearing the french words spoken, not relying on the subtitle. :)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Life At Work
(Sharing another article that I read from monster.com.sg, enjoy!)
How to Stay Happy at Work
How often do you get the Sunday evening blues? Every now and again, or every week without fail? If it's the latter, maybe you should think about moving on. But lots of people find themselves in the situation where they're not ready to move jobs just yet, perhaps because they've only been in the role a short time, or because they want to gain more experience. So if you find yourself in the situation where you're in a job that is okay but not brilliant, or that you really need to see through for a period of time, what can you do to make it more interesting and - dare we say it, more fun?
Here are some suggestions:
Positive Thinking
Focus on the positives, what do you really like about your job (come on, there must be something)? How could you incorporate more of that into your working day? Remind yourself of the other positive aspects of your work: your friends and colleagues, for instance.
Challenge Yourself
Find new challenges. One of the reasons that we can get restless in our job is, quite simply, boredom. Think about ways in which you could make your role more interesting. Perhaps you could volunteer to mentor new staff, or spend some time every week shadowing people in other departments to get a broader perspective on the business? Discuss your ideas with your manager.
Flexible Working
Is there scope for you to work more flexibly? Working from home one day a week, for example, could give you more variety. This is not an excuse to get up late and lie around watching daytime TV, though you'll need to be able to show some output for your time away from the office! Again, discuss the options with your manager.
Learn More
If you feel you're not being stimulated enough mentally, consider doing some training or a course that is work-related: it will give you new insights, help to keep you fresh, and will be a useful addition to your CV when you are ready to move on.
Network
Network more. If meeting new people is not already part of your role, find ways to incorporate it. Meeting people and getting fresh perspectives can help you to keep yourself interested and interesting. If there don't seem to be many networking opportunities where you are, create some! Organize a team outing, or arrange for you and your colleagues to meet up with staff from another part of the company.
Have Some Fun
Inject a bit of fun into your workplace. That could be as simple as croissants on a Monday morning or a team drink on Friday afternoon. Or it could be a more structured social event. Your work colleagues don't have to be your bosom buddies, but you'll enjoy your working day much more if there's a bit of banter and humour around. Just because your work is a serious business doesn't mean you can't have fun while you do it!
Improve Your Social Life
Make an effort to do more interesting things outside of work. If your working week consists of getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, having dinner, slumping in front of the TV and then going to bed, your job is going to have a disproportionate impact on your overall mood. Try to fit a couple of social engagements into your week - a dancing class or an art exhibition, perhaps, or just a catch-up with friends you haven't seen for a while. Having something to look forward to during the week will help to make it more bearable.
Prioritise Your Workload
If you find that your problem is you're working such long hours that you don't have time to have fun outside work, let alone in the office, you need to tackle this. Get used to prioritizing your workload - negotiate extensions to deadlines if necessary and make yourself leave the office on time at least 3 nights a week. Most of us have periods when we're extra-busy and end up working long hours, but if this is happening to you routinely, you need to get out of that rut.
How to Stay Happy at Work
How often do you get the Sunday evening blues? Every now and again, or every week without fail? If it's the latter, maybe you should think about moving on. But lots of people find themselves in the situation where they're not ready to move jobs just yet, perhaps because they've only been in the role a short time, or because they want to gain more experience. So if you find yourself in the situation where you're in a job that is okay but not brilliant, or that you really need to see through for a period of time, what can you do to make it more interesting and - dare we say it, more fun?
Here are some suggestions:
Positive Thinking
Focus on the positives, what do you really like about your job (come on, there must be something)? How could you incorporate more of that into your working day? Remind yourself of the other positive aspects of your work: your friends and colleagues, for instance.
Challenge Yourself
Find new challenges. One of the reasons that we can get restless in our job is, quite simply, boredom. Think about ways in which you could make your role more interesting. Perhaps you could volunteer to mentor new staff, or spend some time every week shadowing people in other departments to get a broader perspective on the business? Discuss your ideas with your manager.
Flexible Working
Is there scope for you to work more flexibly? Working from home one day a week, for example, could give you more variety. This is not an excuse to get up late and lie around watching daytime TV, though you'll need to be able to show some output for your time away from the office! Again, discuss the options with your manager.
Learn More
If you feel you're not being stimulated enough mentally, consider doing some training or a course that is work-related: it will give you new insights, help to keep you fresh, and will be a useful addition to your CV when you are ready to move on.
Network
Network more. If meeting new people is not already part of your role, find ways to incorporate it. Meeting people and getting fresh perspectives can help you to keep yourself interested and interesting. If there don't seem to be many networking opportunities where you are, create some! Organize a team outing, or arrange for you and your colleagues to meet up with staff from another part of the company.
Have Some Fun
Inject a bit of fun into your workplace. That could be as simple as croissants on a Monday morning or a team drink on Friday afternoon. Or it could be a more structured social event. Your work colleagues don't have to be your bosom buddies, but you'll enjoy your working day much more if there's a bit of banter and humour around. Just because your work is a serious business doesn't mean you can't have fun while you do it!
Improve Your Social Life
Make an effort to do more interesting things outside of work. If your working week consists of getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, having dinner, slumping in front of the TV and then going to bed, your job is going to have a disproportionate impact on your overall mood. Try to fit a couple of social engagements into your week - a dancing class or an art exhibition, perhaps, or just a catch-up with friends you haven't seen for a while. Having something to look forward to during the week will help to make it more bearable.
Prioritise Your Workload
If you find that your problem is you're working such long hours that you don't have time to have fun outside work, let alone in the office, you need to tackle this. Get used to prioritizing your workload - negotiate extensions to deadlines if necessary and make yourself leave the office on time at least 3 nights a week. Most of us have periods when we're extra-busy and end up working long hours, but if this is happening to you routinely, you need to get out of that rut.
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