Life thus far

2014 has been a lovely year. I have set my new year resolution and am working toward fulfilling it.

I will need to adjust my timing as I have earlier set too tight a timeframe which after a few rounds of implementation just left me drained. So yes, I am still reading Stop Worrying and Start Living. 

It is an awesome book. As I read I would reflect on my day-to-day happenings and I would count my blessings. It is amazing the transformation it has on me. I feel at peace and happy. It is true the saying when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.

I am off to embark on my weekend routine as a mother, wife and daughter. And I am ready to face the day with a smile.

Day 2 and 3 of Dale Carnegie Action Plan

Part 2 is on the 4 techniques to analyse worry:

1. Get the facts

2. Analyze the facts

3. Reach a decision and act on it

4. When one is worried, answer the following questions:

     - what is the problem?

     - what is the cause?

     - what are all possible solutions?

      - best solution?

I have also read part 3 on breaking the worry habit. In gist, it is to:

1. Keep busy

2. Not to sweat over small things

3. Use the law of averages

4. Accept the inevitable 

5. Have a stop-loss to limit worry

6. Let bygones be bygone 

I also getting better with the 4 principles on people skills.

1. Smile and the whole world smile with you

2. Begin in a friendly way.

3. Give honest, sincere appreciation

4. Become genuinely interested in other people

These are great techniques. Today, I have gotten great service from a restaurant with them. The cashier had cheerily told me that I could exchange my reward points expiring at the end of the month for some confectionary items. This stuff works like magic!

Adding another 2 to the list are

1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain

2. Be a good listener

Day 1 of Dale Carnegie Action Plan

I have read part 1 of Stop Worrying and Start Living. It is on the fundamental facts why one should do so. 

3 key principles:

1. Live in the present

2. Accept the worst-case scenario and try to improve

3. People who do not fight worry die young

I have also applied 2 principles on people skills.

1. Smile

2. Begin in a friendly way.

Though it felt strange at first, it was not too difficult.

Tomorrow I shall add to the list another 2:

1. Give honest, sincere appreciation

2. Become genuinely interested in other people

Action Plan

I have just completed a 3-day training on Dale Carnegie programme by Tim Egold.

Before this programme, I have wanted to put my life back on track. I have made new year resolution and must keep them.

There are a thousand and one things I want to do but I need a start small. For a start, I will focus on improving my people skills - the Dale Carnegie way.

This is my to-do list after the course:

- to use the techniques in my day-to-day life - one at a time and consistently. There are 20+. I shall do 1 each day and should complete in a month's time.

- to spend 2 minutes 2 times a day, morning and night to reflect on the techniques used.

- to read the Dale Carnegie book, starting with how to stop worrying and start living, there are 8 parts. I will do one everyday and should complete in 8 days.

Triumph

I bit my cold lips which cracked and bled 

Wintry days seemed infinite

Days were long, nights short

Storms aplenty, sun scarce

Howling wind, roaring rain

Love keeps me warm

It is true they say

Winter is here, spring near

Things begin to fall into place

Rain passed, sun is back

Birds are chirping, flowers blooming

Rainbow is here

And at the end sits a pot of glittering gold

Welcome 2014

This is the first weekend of a new year. Things are really looking up for me. 

I have managed to tidy up my house both physical and mental after so many years of toiling. I found the old Aileen who was very organised, task-orientated and meticulous. At the same time, a stronger me has also emerged. No longer am I dilly-dally and following the flow of life, instead I want to actively shape my life.

Key resolution for 2014 include:

1. Better involvement of others to partake in the work. This is a win-win as both parties will benefit from it.

2. In order to achieve 1, I will need to invest on my people skills, leadership and organisation skills. I will be looking out for opportunities in Toastmasters to help me be a better leader and communicator. 

3. Picking financial and business knowledge. This is something which I have always wanted to do but have been doing it on a start-stop basis. I am starting the year with a workshop on persuasive writing.

Wish me luck my friends. I do hope that you too set resolution as it is like a compass guiding us what to do.

2013 in Review

This is the last week of 2013. So much has happened in this very eventful year.

On the top of the list is the passing on of my dear Ah Pa. If he were alived, he would be celebrating his 72 birthday next year. This sudden passing is a poignant reminder of the vagaries of life. I felt so helpless when I was in the hospital. No matter how much money or power I had, there was no way to bring him back.

Another important event is my decision to work part-time for second half of this year. There were habits to inculcate and values to instill into my two boys under my charge. I have sought help but others could turn down when the going was tough. I could not as I am their mother. It is a 24/7 job with no day off and no pay. However the greatest reward is to see the boys mature and become more sensible day by day.

I also experienced first hand of being sandwiched between two generations when my mom needed medical attention. Life was a constant shuttling from my place, clinic, hospital and my mom place. This was on top of the ferrying of my boys to-and-fro school. Things became more challenging when my husband was out of town.

Yet I managed to find time to resume my blog this year and to attend my toastmasters meeting. Many thanks to Ramana, Reuben and fellow toastmasters who have been so generous with your advice and help. Writing my blog calms me. Participating in toastmasters meeting energises me. Being with positive people makes me look at the bright side of life. It was also this year that I earned my Advance Communicator, Silver and Competent Leader Award. I may have taken a few years to do so. But I am enjoying the journey and making progress.

Today, I played a 18-hole golf game. I was pleasantly surprised of my drives and shots which have made new personal records. Close friends would know of the struggle I had learning golf. I picked up some really bad habits which were straining my back. Subsequent unlearning and relearning was a very painful process. I am amazed by my tenacity. There were times which I was actually deteriorating in my game, completing the game with a much bigger score than I previously managed. I persevere because I love husband and would like to take care of him in our game.

In a sense, playing golf is like living our life. There would always be challenges. It is important that we do not give up and keep working at it. One day, we will see light at the end of tunnel. 

I believe that things in life happen for a reason and I will try my best to get through each challenge. I will keep moving and improving myself.