My previous employer insisted of not letting me go, so they offered me a promotion with a better pay. So this week I’ve to come up with a decision that may hurt either one party which is tough. But at the end of the day, it’s one choice I have to take – a better plan for my life and future. I actually missed my previous job cos I enjoy establishing contacts with people and getting more exposure in the business industries. And I felt like I’m turning into a hermit if I stay longer in this new company – so dead boring and less challenging. I realized that being there, I can’t expand my knowledge well enough – just simply can’t grow. I think you know clearly what my decision’s gonna be. Being in a corporate world for more than 10 years makes me a very competitive person and loving any challenges there is.
I recently bought an inspirational/self-motivation book from MV Doulos called ‘Live Like You Were Dying’ by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, and which is based on Tim McGraw’s (the Grammy award winning country singer and husband of Faith Hill) song with the same title.
One of those words from the book inspired me to make the right decision. And it goes like:
“What’s the secret to success?” I asked. “Two words”, he said. “Right decisions.” “How do you make right decisions?” “One word,” he said. “Experience.” “And how do you get experience?” “Two words,” he answered. “Wrong decisions.”
So now I think I'll be going down that same career path again but with a whole new perspective.
Yes! So happy that the MV Doulos, the floating book fair I called it, is revisiting Kota Kinabalu from 29 Aug - 20 Sept. Looking forward to buy some children books for CJ and of course some nice books for me too...just hope they have some cute notebooks as well cos I go nuts on notebooks.
Anyways, I'm taking leave tomorrow to accompany my sister, Chrissie to go for 3D scan her baby - I'm so excited! She's about 6 months pregnant and pity her that her policeman hubby is not around to be with her cos he's based in Bukit Aman, KL. Hopefully his transfer to Sabah next year will be materialised cos Chrissie and the soon to be born baby needs him. I heard its a boy!
And another plan this weekend...might go family outing to the mountain side, jalan-jalan around Kinabalu National Park, Mesilau and Kundasang. Can't wait to have fun with the family. You too - have a blast weekend.
Watched this movie 'The Little Ashes' last weekend. Any movie/documentary about an artiste/painter's life is a MUST watch thing for me because anything about the arts fascinates and inspires me. I have a few of this kind of movie in my collection such as Surviving Picasso, Pollock and Frida. Honestly, I don't really understand this movie...I mean I can't feel the story...dead boring and lil disgusting. I thought it will feature more on the life of the eccentric Spanish painter, Salvador Dali. Another reason why I watched this movie again because it starred Robert Pattinson (you know...the Twilight heartrob?) who potrays Dali.
If this movie interest you, check out the synopsis & trailer here. I think this movie is as stupid as Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Bruno' (remember the 'Borat' guy?) - so gay! (sorry!)
Read synopsis of the movie here: Madrid in 1922 is a city wavering on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of jazz, Freud and the avant-garde. Salvador Dalí arrives at university at the age of 18 years old, determined to become a great artist. His bizarre blend of shyness and rampant exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university’s social elite — Federico García Lorca and Luis Buñuel. Salvador is absorbed into their decadent group and for a time he, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid. However, as time passes, Salvador feels an increasingly strong pull toward the charismatic Federico — who is oblivious to the attention he is getting from his beautiful writer friend, Magdalena. Finally, in the face of his friends’ preoccupations — and Federico’s growing renown as a poet — Luis sets off for Paris in search of his own artistic success. Alone in Madrid, Federico struggles against his psyche, tortured by the damning implications of his own religious beliefs and the undeniable voice of his flesh. He is haunted by news of Salvador, who is collaborating on a Surrealist film with Luis and has embarked on an affair with Gala, a married woman. By 1936 Spain is teetering on the precipice of civil war, and Federico, now a highly acclaimed and controversial playwright, receives an invitation to dinner from Salvador and Gala. But the hosts have a rather unusual agenda and the evening is a disaster. A week later, Salvador is hosting a party when he discovers that Federico has been assassinated in the outbreak of war. The walls of self-denial that surround the artist come crashing down as he realizes, too late, the depth of his love for Federico.
Here's photos of the real Salvador Dali (younger & older):
And here are 3 of Salvador Dali's famous paintings. I find his paintings creatively strange, unique and super erotic but yet amazing...I like! The Madonna of Port Iligat
Christ of St John of the Cross
The Persistence of Memory (one of the most famous of Dali's paintings)
I also liked some of Dali's quotes:
'When I paint, the sea roars, the others splash about in the bath'
Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.
People love mystery, and that is why they love my paintings.
Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.
Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.
One interesting trivia - do you know the Chupa Chups lollipop? Dali actually designed its logo and the logo is still used on the famous Chupa Chups lolly wrappers until today.
Now I understand what 'surrealism' (A 20th-century literary and artistic movement that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter) movement is. Here's an example of what surrealist painting looks like. Interesting right?!
I think I'll attempt to paint a surrealist art sometime soon. Wish me luck and be my 1st critic.
I grew up listening to Whitney Houston's songs and she's one of my musical influences and inspiration - a very strong one! And just recently in July, I jumped with joy after hearing she's releasing a brand new album "I Look To You" this September. She came out with her last album "Just Whitney" in 2002 before going into oblivion (e.g. substance misuse, her trouble marriage with Bobby Brown and all).
Anyways, her voice still sounds amazing in the album (check out Youtube) and her looks are still classy and glamorously beautiful! Read that she also collaborated with a few famous artiste in her songs with the likes of R.Kelly, Akon and even Alicia Keys. So, I'm looking forward to grab this album soon - just can't wait! For more info, also check out Whitney's official website 'WhitneyHouston.com'
It's been more than two weeks now since I started my new job. And I'm coping up but unfortunately feeling a lil d-motivated at first...well I thought I'll be happy but what do you expect...1st day of work in a totally new environment is always not the happiest moment of all. But like I say I'm coping up, being patient, having cool attitude and everything will be okay....(I pray and hope). Talking about enjoying what you do (from my last post)...I'm trying to shoo out those negative thoughts and try to enjoy my work now. I'm doing extreme self-motivation right now! Ya..I do need some moral support from you friends/readers too!
So after this, I'll be feeding my soul with this free art project! Feel free to join me in Feed Your Soul. Remember, art can free your soul!
To me, these words sounds magical. If you enjoy what you do, you'll get what you want or where you want to be. So true (well it all depends on his/her attitude)! Most of the time I want to or (at least) try to enjoy what I do (at work, at home, activities etc) and be thankful. And I should also be truthful to myself and the most important thing is that I still believe in my dreams.
I found a wonderful site of Carla Kay White ( I found Carla via decor8, my daily inspiration). It's about health, wealth, happiness, peace, dreams and many lovely inspirational words. One of her post I liked is on Listening to your Inner Voice.
Carla shares: 7 Habits to Listening to Your Inner Voice
1. Visualize your ideal lifestyle. A vision board is extremely powerful tool. You can write letters to yourself describing your ideal day. The more details the better. This lets the universe know what to bring into your life.
2. Give thanks daily. Having a Gratitude Journal can changed your life. Writing down everything you're grateful for is a message to the universe to bring more of it into your life.
3. Meditate as much as you can. Clearing the mind allows for new thoughts to come in. Even just a few minutes a day makes all the difference. Sit in silence, go for a walk, or just take a deep breath and repeat a mantra.
4. Give away the exact thing you want to receive.This might sound silly. How are you suppose to give away what you don’t have. The good news is that we all have plenty to offer. If you’re looking for a new job, help a friend with an introduction. If you want to lose weight, donate your Twinkies to the food panty and a few hours of your time to a community garden. Giving is the currency of the universe.
5. Take care of your health. You can change your diet and lost over 20lbs. It also can clear your head and calm your soul. Exercise daily, try to get plenty of rest, and take vitamins. Your physical body is the temple of your gift, so nurture and pamper it. A long, hot bath works too!
6. Be the real you as much as possible. As Carla wrote this: there is a girl sitting across from me in the coffee shop with a big pink flower in her hair. It’s a bold display of individuality and true spirit. Once you start letting your true self out, you’ll discover that life is far easier and far, far richer.
7. Go with the flow. Carla again wrote "Last spring I wasn’t selected for a very cool job. Of course I was crushed. But I just found out that role was made redundant, so I would have been out of a job anyway". Everything works out as it should. And the more I accept life rather than resist it, the more creativity and innovation blossom. Illustration by Aimee Sicuro
Another awesome talent in the family. This girl could be the next Amy Winehouse (minus the booze and drugs though). She's Nahneen Kula (Charlene Kula-Gibbs, mixed of Black-American, Native (Red Indian) American and Dusun parentage..if I'm not wrong) and she's my 2nd cousin. Her vocal is amazing and I'm proud of her. You go girl! She has a few videos on Youtube and here's one that I liked.
To add something before I go off layan-ing my lil rascal (CJ), here's a beautiful music quote from Martin Luther which goes: "Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirit. A person who does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs"
