A Shooting Star or a Falling Star

Ten years flew past so quickly,every thing I have learned, every moment I have hold on to, every step that I have taken, it all comes down to this, last night was the ARBV Certificate Conferring Ceremony.

Proud of myself? Maybe just a little. I did achieve my ambition.

Any celebration? Not really excited about the whole event. The clock did not stop and life still goes on. It is just the beginning of the next season.

Mum, Dad, I have finally achieve my dream ... just like how you have advise, it requires hard work and many late nights, it was tiring but I never gave up, it was painful yet rewarding and worth it at the end. Thanks for showing me the world.

Ahh SUCCESS ... it is not just about what I accomplish in my life, it's also about what I inspires others to do. Such a shame Lawla can't make it, she really wanted to attend, but I believe her time will come, one fine day her name will be called to receive the cert. We will wait for your turn. By the way, thank you for the lovely gift. 


Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they're always there.


God's funny sense of humour...a few friends I invited to the event, couldn't make it last minute. I was a little disappointed and was just joking to God that it is going to be a long boring night. As I was sitting alone, little did I expect the other person seated next to me not only looked familiar, she actually knew me. It's a small world.
The HARDEST part of realizing A dream...catching a Falling Star or being a Shooting Star?

A star fell from heaven, right into my arms.
The brightest star I know I've ever seen.
Then I found out that it was only you with all your charms who came into my life to fill my next dream.
A fallen star that's what you are.
Thank you for attending my short ceremony.

Lately, I have seen a few people stepping down as leaders. Is it too much to handle for them? Are they sick of it all?

or Are they are merely giving an opportunity for someone else to step up and take over? Well as long as they step down gracefully. It should be a smooth transition to the next great leader.

Believe Begin Become

Remember ... Reflect ... Respect ... Resolve ... Renew ... Refine ... Rejoice ... Restore this journey

Clear my mind, feel, watch, listen to the tune, look deep down to find the my inner strength again.

I know He is looking out for me way up above, I have Him to thank for it.

I have nothing to fear, right now all I can do besides waiting is to smile and trust.

Let Him take the lead and pray I have the strength to follow .

I just hope one day when I get to heaven, I'll see my friend and be able say, "Yea, I helped you get here."

Below is one of my favourite video of ThePianoGuys called Desert Symphony filmed in Southern Utah's. Enjoy.

Subscribe and become Founder of ThePianoGuys help them fund future productions of great music and looking forward to more awesome videos.

Travel wide and far...Travel boldly.

The article 3 Reasons to Travel while You're Young was sent to me various times over the past weeks by different people. But I will still take time to I click on the page and re-read the inspiring post over and over again.

This morning I received a thank you email from a good friend, how nice if everyday I can wake up to kind messages and encouraging notes instead of nasty comments or bad news. The email in short "You are amazing, wonderful person and have a beautiful heart... Enjoy your blogs, your stories, your updates on facebook, your tears even, that is just so true! The more I know you, the more I like you. You always reply messages and email asap, this is not something everyone can do. But you made it. We sometimes will find excuse to leave for the next day, but you never!" 

I know how she feels, cause I feel the same way when I meet a certain inspiring individual. In life when I choose act on inspiration, amazing things happen to not only myself but to everyone around me.

Just the other day, I had explained myself to my directors that I have too much emails flooding my inbox, I want to know exactly which team member should responsible for each projects. Every day I am replying to emails and answering phone calls on projects that I am not even involved in, I end up not meeting my own datelines or staying back later and even to the extend of working on weekends. I don't mind putting some extra hours on productive work, but I can't accept the company having poor management system.Why are non-clients sending me emails? How did these consultant find my contact? What is the rest of the team busy working on? Who is responsible to act or give instructions on the matter? When you perform a task well at work, automatically everyone will come to you cause they know you gets things done, but be real careful, to avoid conflict or getting into trouble with other people's mistakes.

Last night I was invited to join a group of friends to watch the Victory vs Galaxy friendly match, David Beckham was playing on the field. I could see him up close from my seat. The feeling I used to have for him when I was younger has now changed. I realise I am not getting any younger but I have indeed grown up wiser, learning from all the past immature relationships and friendships. I guess this is what make us all different, the road we travelled yesterday, brought us to where we are today, the path we choose or decide to follow tomorrow will shaped our world and define the future.

In short "What we do in life echoes in eternity"

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did.
Plenty of people waited after graduating from university, after getting a steady job, after meeting the right partner or even after saving for a car and a house. Eventually these people are still looking to travel, let's be honest, how many years are they going to take to pay of their debt on a car loan or house mortgage before they can start saving for holiday. NEVER!

My ex-flatmate recently decided to quit his job and he finally bought a one way ticket. I encouraged him to just go, don't hold back or wait any longer. He is now heading over to China a few weeks before me, for whatever intention he has over there, I am sure he will not lose sight of what's important. I am glad he put his foot down and no more excuses. He keep telling me the risk he has to take, but I promise him that one day he will look back and be really proud of his current life changing decision. The few regrets now will not matter next year.

Travelling teaches you to live life an adventure, helps you encouter compassion and allows you to experience some culture...

You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. It’s worth whatever investment or money or sacrifice of time required on your part. It’s not about being a tourist. It’s about experiencing true risk and adventure so you don’t have to live in fear for the rest of your life.

Your heart will break.Traveling will change you. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you. You’ll witness the the sweet and ugly side of every destination.

You will learn to care.You will begin to understand that the world is both a big and small place. You will have a new-found respect for the pain and suffering that over half of the world takes for granted on a daily basis. And you will feel more connected to mankind in a deep and lasting way. - Jeff Coins - 

I used to read all the travel books I can find in the stores to prepare for my trip but physically getting there is a different story. I can only describe to my family and show them the photographs, but they really have to see if for themselves to experience the world for all it’s worth.

So my friend, I know you will be reading this tonight, my reply to your email; "We won’t always be young and life won’t always be just about us. So travel freely, the world is a stunning place, let's see it, you will not regret joining the adventure. There is a funny thing about travelling together, at best, we'll forge a lifelong friendship with complete strangers in a couple of days, at worst, we'll never speak to each other again. It is risky but I choose to see it as an opportunity to invest in the next season of our life's. Whatever we sow, we will eventually reap. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion."

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

Looking Back on 2011

"When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money.


That's a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.


Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again."


- Steve Jobs -

 
1. Do what you love, and do it often.

If you don’t like something, change it.
If you don’t like your job, quit.
If you don’t have enough time, stop watching TV.

If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love.

2. When you eat, appreciate every last bite.

3. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating.

4. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences.

5. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them.

6. Life is short. Live your dream, and wear your passion.

7. Travel often; Getting lost will help you find yourself. 

Some opportunities only come once, seize them.

8. Life is all about choices, Good or Bad; Right or Wrong; Your destiny will unfold according to the choices you make.

9. Life is simple so stop over analyzing.

10. Life is life. Sometime we spend it trying to please others, while other times we spend it just cause we feel we must. However, there is only one true purpose in life, and that is that we must live life for ourselves. For the moment we live it for others is the moment we cease being individuals and start conforming to the boredom and idiocy of society. So, when someone ask “How shall I live my life?” look no further for an answer then by asking them what they want to accomplish in their lifetime.

Finally next week I will be attending the Awards & Certificate Conferring Ceremony after spending almost the whole 2010 preparing for it. It has been such a long tiring process, somehow I am not excited to go on stage to receive it anymore.

However my highlight of 2011 would be meeting David Gotts, founder of International China Concern, he is an awesome man with great ambitions, at a very young age of 18, he went to China, he saw children were abandoned because they were disabled, he wanted to bring love, hope and opportunity to them.

I started the year with a very simple resolution, to find things to challenge myself. I wanted to change spiritually, mentally and physically. First step was I moved back closer to the city, joined the gym and found a local church. I took a short vacation; travelled to the States and came back fully recharged.

Mid 2011, I explored my career option overseas but decided to start my own practise called Sturdey Designs. I was very lucky that I had a few small residential projects and manage to handle it on the side. With the extra income from this commission, I saw the opportunity as a volunteer with my air flights, accommodation, food and visa fully funded. I started Sturdey blog to document My Story, My Feelings, My Dreams while waiting for Sturdey Designs website to be ready.

ICC accepted my application and I received tremendous support, my directors allowed me to be away from work for almost 6 full weeks. (Two years in a row I am blessed with two months of annual leave) I am also glad that Bridge provided outreach training and the connect group had weekly prayer support.

I still recall organising a team called Footprints, few friends generously sponsored me to finish the 10km walk-a-thon in Sept. Once again thank you.

By Oct/Nov, F4Team or Four Friends was formed, as a team we wanted to explain to our friends and family that beyond us going to China, they can also choose to contribute, 100% of the donations will go directly towards purchasing items (gifts) for special children in the welfare centre. (similar to Operation Christmas Child concept just without the shoebox) We realised a lot of people were interested and curious to know more, SanMenXia2012 blog  was created to enable everyone to follow our progress and received updates.

It is now Dec; we did not expect to go beyond our Fund Raising target. There will be a lot of product research, shopping and packing to be done over the next few weeks. I am sure this would be an easy task for the gals in the team.

During the training, I still recall the Pastors reminding me to be sensitive to the local culture and pray to serve in God most honour way. I trust He will change and utilise my full potential for His work in China.

In the mist of everything, I know that I have to start preparing my heart and rest my body in order to go as a humble servant in the team.With so many exciting Farewells, Birthdays, Xmas (BBQ, drinks, lunches and dinners) keeping me very busy, this is the only time to catch up with everyone before I head off on my journey. Not forgetting all the project datelines to meet before closing the office. It is a challenging time, I have limited time to recover from my injury. My discipline and prayer are crucial for healing/strength to cease the pain and release from fear / all worries.

Anyhow by practicing the above ten rules which is basically a summary of all the blogs I had written over the past few months, I reckon My Life has been pretty good so far. Bring it on 2012 J