BEDTIME REFLECTIONS

Typing all this out on my Note, while lying on my bed. I prefer blogging with my laptop. It's faster and easier than grappling with the phone (Note One is fat!) but least my work distracts me, so I didn't on my laptop tonight. Have been clocking a week of 9am bedtimes. And my skin is showing it. Sometimes while researching for stuff, I end up mindlessly surfing. Told myself that hey, instead of just reading other blogs, I can also create my own content. Actually the real reason for my resumed blogging after half a year was my Fengshui master.

If you have read my old entries, he is known as Master Dai Hu. He was reading my annual luck for 2014 when he briefly mentioned I should make more effort to connect with people, both people I know & people I don't. He said I would learn to care more & open up my heart. I told him quite seriously I don't really know how to & that I find small talk a waste of time when I probably don't really care that much. Master Dai Hu said I have been lucky to be born with many benefactors in my life, but yet at the same time, I have never given that kind of help & concern to that many people. He told me that I would be a happier person if I find myself a useful person and can bring happiness to others. He said he had seen so many clients from all walks of life & he had rarely seen a happy one.

His words set me thinking for the past one month. What else should I be doing?

Then, one day, my neglected blog came to my mind. Blogging is sure hell of a way to connect with people right? Some of you are my customers, some are fellow online retailers,  some came here while googling for something (why does Happy Plant ranked so high in the subject search??) and some I don't know. I reckon as long as I blog about something useful, it would be a productive use of my time & at the same time, connecting with you, you and you. When I share with you the way I think and if you are facing the same problem as me, maybe you will feel less alone and see things from a different viewpoint. When I share the things I like, the food/places I fancy, you will have something new to check out or it might bring back some happy memories. Maybe is only a possibility, but then again, it IS a possibility.

Randomly, yesterday while taking the train, the cabin was packed with people and there was this lone empty seat in the middle. I peeped over to see why nobody wanted it and saw blood stains on it. Some poor girl must have stained it while menstruating. This is the second time I saw such an incident. The previous time, I took out my wet tissues to wipe it clean, prior to alighting at my stop. I used 3-4 sheets and a whole lot of tissue to grab the used wet tissues. But this time, I didn't have any wet tissues with me. I toyed with the idea of asking for wet tissues but I chickened out. 2 stops later, I alighted. I could have done better. I should have done better and I will next time. I didn't mind cleaning up such stained seats. Well, my previous SQ toilet training probably helps. The thing is I am sure everyone would be delighted to have a seat on the train, especially after work. And who wants to stare at blood stained seats on the train?

Oh well. Please let me be more thick skin and less self-conscious about silly things that should not mattered in the first place.

For readers who from time to time inquired about Master Dai Hu after reading about him here, he now has a newly set-up Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/masterdaihu. His FB posts are in both Chinese & English (you got to click 'See more' to read the English version as it's below the Chinese version). He's very polite (I inevitably also become more polite when talking to him) & most importantly, accurate in what he says & very resourceful with solutions to help his clients. Now you know where to find him, ladies!


Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

LAUGH IT ALL OFF

A couple of days ago, I watched a Dharma video on Youtube and the Vajra Master Samantha was sharing her experience with a cancer-stricken man. The man came to consult her on how he can prolong his life. The catch is he didn't want to do any of the usual homework that the Vajra Master gives, nor does he wish to make any donation to anywhere to accumulate merits.He said he didn't have the time or knowledge about this. He wanted to leave his money behind for his wife & children.

I wonder why he came to a Buddhist master seeking advice, when he didn't subscribe to the beliefs & ways of doing things.

Then the experienced and smart Vajra Master Samantha said alright, then make it a point to look into the mirror and laugh hard every morning. On top of that, he was to laugh heartily 3 times a day and countless smiles. Not the grin kind of laugh, but the laugh-very-hard kind.

No matter what he experienced, regardless of how people treat him. he had to be able to laugh about it. Laugh heartily about whatever that happens in life.

The man went home and thought about how to laugh so hard, when he was so frightened about having only 3 more months to live.

3 years later, he came to look for the Vajra Master Samantha and upon seeing her, he laughed very heartily, infecting everyone present with his contagious laughter. And the first thing Master Samantha said, "你好！你還在啊！" (You're still around!)

He made it through.

The subsequent days after the consultation, he went out to rent all kind of comedies in both English & Chinese. Everyday he would spent many hours watching the shows and read all kinds of funny things and laughed and laughed and laughed. And as the days started ticking by, his heart started opening up, he started to realise how silly and superficial humans can be chasing after things that didn't really matter in the face of death. He found it laughable and started laughing about life. He gained a new insight about himself and somehow managed to laugh his cancerous cells away.

That got me thinking abit. 對於人生的得失，我要多久才不會那麽計較？ 還有多少時間給我學？

I dread to think that I might just die unhappy and unfulfilled. And I probably would if I die now.

I am not a optimistic person by nature. And it shows, I think. People don't gravitate towards me as readily. 我人不坏啊。 I find myself very closed up when being around with people, especially people I am not familiar with. I fret about what they think of me. My pessimistic thinking has hindered much of my life, aspirations and interactions with people. I hope to be a person who is able to give out positive energy. Life is short, why should we spend too much energy being negative?

It's an irony that we spent the first 10-20 years preparing ourselves for working life & learning the best possible way to make money. But how come on the MRT, I still don't see many happy people, do you?

I woke up the next day, trying to laugh into the mirror. Oh man, it was hard. Strange leh, why is laughing with no one around still so hard? Something inside my brain and the way I behave need to be rewired.

“人生能夠向彌勒佛一樣笑口長開，這是值得去學習, 也是我們追求的。

每天，什麽事情都能夠淡化，都能夠看開，都能夠放下，都能夠大笑，不是微笑，是嘴巴張開大笑。 這樣子的笑，一生當中有幾次，一個禮拜有幾次，一天有幾次?

我們不敢講一個禮拜，幾個月有一次這樣子哈哈哈笑出來從内心笑出來，笑不停的，開懷的。 要什麽事情能夠讓你笑開懷。能這樣子大笑的有幾次？”

~ 蓮花麗惠上師

So today, I went on Youtube to find something to laugh about & I remembered Ellen Degeneres. I like her sense of humour.

 

One of the videos that crack me up and I hope it does for you too. If it doesn't, alright let's try this. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Metta, 欣雨 Xinyu

Staying positive

I have been feeling down recently, due to a whole lots of stuff. Been trying to sleep early, but somehow working at TFL has thrown my sleep cycle topsy turvy. Okay, not that I was an early sleeper pre-TFL.

I was a notorious late comer in school. From primary, to secondary to jc and of course Uni...I just CAN'T sleep & wake up early! I got so many dentention & warning letters I lost count. Even my mum gave up on me. If I had to do a 9-5job, you see how I die. During my flying days, I used to curse & swear when I have morning flight. The job was so not for me.

And tonight was one of those nights I feel obliged to work, but yet by the time I switched on my laptop, it was 330am. You know, at least settle some stuff before going to sleep. I have like 1001 things on my mind. Wanting to think abt TFL for 2014, wanting to do more translation for my Grand Master's Dharma sermons, wanting to set up a new site for my new venture (nothing to do with fashion, if you are wondering) and all these are things that take lots of time. Not a quick surf and I will get my answers kind.

The Husband says I always take on too many things but I would be like it's now or never, no? Maybe I need to be quicker in doing things. Maybe I need to be more decisive. And if I can't decide, go bug people who can help me and pay for their services if necessary. Like this setting up of a new site. I am so TERRIBLE at art and everything that needs a sense of creativity. Sometimes I think for TFL to have come so far, it's always very amazing. Thank Buddha thank Guan Yin thank all deities. Really.

Yes, I should just save up for it, sacrifice some things, and just pay for some pro service. So I can keep the whatever hair I have left on my head before I start pulling all out.

Anyway, so I turned on my laptop at 330am. Feeling torn between sleeping & doing some work. And somehow, I went to Blogilates website.

I like Cassey Ho alot. More than Amanda Russell, whom I previously blogged about. Cassey has full-length videos. Her moves are less complicated for me and I adore how colourful her videos are and how she's so energetic and positive. She has an inspiring story on how she became a fitness trainer & it's so amazing that her Youtube channel & website gives us all we need to have a fit lifestyle & a great body! It's SO COMPLETE! She even has monthly calendars of workouts for us to follow everyday!

 Natural Belly Slimming Detox Water Recipe on Blogilates.com

I have been following her on Instagram for sometime. Though I am very impressed with her dedication & energy, I have never made the effort to do her workout. Does playing it in the middle of the night & watching it to feel the infectious energy count? Haha.

For some strange reason, when I randomly visited her website today, I was attracted to the "The 5 Best Ab Exercises" videos in her latest post.

I clicked 'Play', lied on my Seahorse mattress bed (super hard enough to be double up as a yoga mat on the floor, but not that painful for my problematic back), used my Ikea alarm clock (it was the heaviest object within that close proximity) as the weight for one of the moves and I NEARLY DIED doing those moves. First 2 minutes was easy-peasy....then I start to feel my upper ab muscles cramping up...oh my tian! I have concealed upper abs!!

I couldn't follow all the moves at the same time, but like what Cassey says, "Even if you didn't get through the whole thing, it's ok. You got through the whole at your BEST level. And everyday, you are better than you were yesterday! And that's all I want from you. I want you to reach your BEST potential. It's in THERE!"

The best thing about this random 10-minute Ab exercise at 330am is I felt real good afterwards. Not that those worries are gone like magic but suddenly things seem more possible! There is this mysterious new-found energy to charge forward. Haven't look myself in the mirror, but hey I'm feeling this post-dying-ab-exercise glow on my face! Gosh, I must really make more effort to do Cassey's workouts! I am not the kind who like to cramp myself in a gym or studio & workout with many ladies. And I believe exercise at home is possible without forking out a sum of money to work out (save on all the gym clothes. I can wear the same outfit & no one would care.)

If you feel the need to lose some weight to feel better about yourself, the above video has great tips!

I think Lord Buddha really heard my prayers just now and this is the answer to my worries. WORKOUT to feel on top of the world & I will be able to see things & do things with new energy & zest!!!

If you harbour this secret dream of having a Victoria's Secret Angel's body, Cassey has the complete workouts for various body parts on her Youtube channel too!

You know...if I have a quarrel with the Husband & say, he wants to do something to show his apology, I think I will ask him to do this workout with me...and see how he survive...Muahahaha.

Train like a Beast, look like a Beauty.

My motto for 2014.

From Cassey's e-store. So lemming for this! I love hoodies!



Metta, 欣雨 Xinyu