Twirling her hair

I liked it that we made observations together. I guess that is what brought us stronger together, for we learnt together as a couple.

Recently, we made an unlikely observation - the lady was twirling her hair as the guy speaks. She went on to nod her hair and smile unknowingly as she listened to him speak. She leaned towards him when they are together. Personal space is encroached when I thought they were only friends.

I went to search the Net. Twirling the hair around her finger could mean that she is interested in the guy. Nodding her hair could mean that she is showing genuine interest in what the guy is talking about.

There are many little unspoken signs in this world. We just have to pay attention to them as they are being 'spoken'.

Reflecting on reflection

I teach physics to my kids. In physics, there is a topic called reflection. And to explain to them what reflection is, I always ask them to describe their image as they face the mirror. Their image would be (i) Upright, (ii) Same size as the object, (iii) Same distance away from the mirror as the object is in front of it.

Reflection reproduces 3 of the above characteristics in the image. And that is why I reflect on reflection. Because by doing so, I get to see the true object, i.e. myself. As I try to grasp the details of my image, I know that the integrity, size and distance of my image will determine the true form of myself. Only then will I know who I am.

Steadily happy

Everything in life has been going on pretty well. It might not be perfect, but I could rate all aspects of my life to be smooth-sailing. And that is why I think I have been happy in a steady-state for the longest period of time. Let me count my blessings:

1. My fiancee and I always enjoy planning and going for our holidays together.

2. My fiancee and I always enjoy dinners and coffees together.

3. My fiancee and I are still in the honeymoon stage of loving each other.

4. My fiancee and I are looking forward to spending our life together as a married couple.

5. I have moved up the corporate ladder, with a better-paying job.
6. My new job allows me more flexibility in planning for my personal appointments.
7. I have led my toastmasters club to the title of a President's Distinguished Club.
8. I have executed a club succession plan that would generate growth for the next year.
9. I have enjoyed the occasional meet-ups with my friends.
It's a 9/10 score. And things couldn't be better..... could they?

It is OK to tell lies

I visited another toastmasters club today for a project evaluation. I was evaluating an advanced project on storytelling, which requires the speaker to share an insightful story with a moral. The plot was delivered with ease. When she came to the moral of the story, she shared that it was fine to tell a lie so that the family can get together again.

How immoral it was - to tell the audience that the moral of the story was to tell a lie. What an oxymoron, isn't it? But I guess that if a lie is required so that we can understand the importance of treasuring and spending time with your loved ones, it was a lie with the purpose for a greater good.

How far would you bend your principles to achieve your ultimate purpose?

Inception

Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible - Inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime.

In reality, the corporate world is full of inceptions - the question is whether we are aware of them. To gain approval for a project, show him how it will benefit him. To win support from your friends, bring them a free lunch. To get promoted on your job, sabotage your colleagues' work.

Little ideas are like seeds, for:

     'Plant them early, plant them right;

      Give them water and sunlight;

      They will grow and rise with might;

      And your dream will soon be within your sight.'

Senile

My grandma went berserk today. Maybe a better word would be 'senile'. For 4 hours, my grandma has been CRAZY. Her actions she does and the words she spoke are incomprehensible. My Mom has lost her patience and has tried shouting at her to wake her up from her senses. I used both the soft and hard approaches. I thought I was a patient man, but I have lost my cool. I can only hope for the best - that she come to her senses.

Discovering more about myself

One of my colleagues asked me yesterday - Why did I leave the engineering field? Afterall, I have an engineering degree and was plying my trade in a niche field of military aviation maintenance. I answered that it wasn't me to face the engineering diagrams for 8 hrs a day for the rest of my life.

As I moved on in life, I am beginning to find out more about myself. A part of me keeps reminding me that I must learn to love my job. I began on that quest years ago when I started on my first job after graduation. Till today, I am still finding the answer on how to love my job more each day. One of the answers I came up with is that I must make the job a part of me, i.e. the job should reflect my character and my character should assimilate into my jobscope.

As I soul-searched, the next question that followed was 'What is my character?' It wasn't easy to see myself. I guess it's always easy for you to see others, than for you to see oneself. But as I attempt to see my own reflection, I saw a sociable me, not a solo me. I want to be with friends. I want to network and know about the world through conversations. I want to be the spark, ready to light up the group whenever needed to. For now, I know I am one step closer to discovering more about myself. What next would I discover?

Despicable Me

No, I wasn' talking about myself. It's about the movie. I watched another animated film. I can't help it, if all the recommended movies are of these nature. Maybe children are the new target audience or the rest of the movies do not excite me anymore.

Despicable Me is 2010 American computer-animated film from Universal Studios. Its main character is GRU. He is a super-villian who is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world - he is going to steal the Moon. Gru delights in all things wicked. Supported by an army of mischievous little minions and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. That is until he met his greatest challenge: Not in the form of Vector, the world's  #1supervillain, but in an ironic way with three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

In the end, Gru finds out he can transform into a potential father. Thinking aloud, I believe each of us have a soft spot in us. We just have to figure out - where and what that is.

Toy Story 3

Simple stories are the easiest to understand. They are also the best way to deliver meaninful messages to the audience. This time round, the simple story came in the form of the movie, Toy Story 3.

Toy Story 3 is a 2010 computer-animated film and the final installment of the Toy Story series. Andy has long outgrown the toys and is preparing to move out of the house to attend college. With the exception of Woody, the toys believed that Andy had the intent to throw them away. They survived a narrow escape and ended up sneaking into a box of donations to a local daycare named Sunnyside.

Upon their arrival at Sunnyside, the toys receive a warm welcome by Lotso and other Sunnyside residents. Lotso was a friendly host who oriented them to Suunyside's residents and explained to them the perks of staying at their new home. He made them feel comfortable at the Caterpillar room, before returning to the Butterfly room. After he leaves, the remaining toys soon discovered that the Caterpillar room is designated for toddlers, whose rambunctious nature is upsetting to the toys.

As I watched this part of the movie, I thought to myself - (i) how many times are we easily convinced by marketing talks without understanding the product, (ii) why are we easily swayed by the 'promises' these salespeople say? Many people are often enticed by what the job seems to promise, without getting to know nor see the ugly truth of the job itself. My previous job in Company S was one good example. As I moved on to this 'dream' job, the Woody in me felt a sense of pity as my friends struggled to get themselves out of Company S. 'Lotso' must have done a good job, keeping them trapped as crawling caterpillars.

Today's just another day

Today is the 1st of July. It marks the beginning of the 2nd half of 2010. People are encouraging each other to run the next half with renewed enthusiasm. I am not too sure about my thoughts on that.

Today went past so quickly. I checked and replied e-mails. I did some market research. I attended the cocktail reception. There was still more work to be done. But the day came and went. And before I realised it, it was time to go home. Maybe I should have done better by planning my day. I didn't. I plunged straight into it. I wish I had spent it more productively. Today is just another day. Tomorrow will be different.