Attitude on life..

Monday's here again =) Hope you are all had a great weekend. So, here's a quote about attitude. Something really nice to open the new week and at the same time to almost close the first month of 2012. Don't you just feel time moves so fast? Because I do. Well, have a great Monday everyone..

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances,

than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company… a church… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding

the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…

we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is

play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me

and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”

~Charles Swindoll~

(image source: http://www.picship.com/pic-9449.html)

List of LIFE

I found this list of "100 tips about Life" via inoveryourhead.net. It's always been my favorite thing reading about list of life, simple stuff that can actually do big stuff to our life =) So, here's the list...

1. True wisdom and insight is always free.

2. Give your power over to no one.

3. Going into the unknown is how you expand what is known.

4. Get a library card.

5. Spend more time around people that both challenge and respect you.

6. Remain skeptical forever.

7. Fight for what matters.

8. There is a method that works. Find it.

9. Join a movement.

10. Drink your coffee black.

11. Never let anyone photoshop a picture of you. It creates a false sense of self-confidence.

12. Read more. Especially things you disagree with.

13. Get used to feeling stupid. It’s a sign of growth.

14. It’s easy for people to talk a good game, so watch how they behave instead.

15. Learn something from everyone.

16. Find things that inspire you and pursue them, even if there’s no money in it.

17. Starve if you have to, for as long as you need to.

18. Survive on a little just to prove you can do it.

19. Get one big success at an early age. It’ll help build your confidence for bigger things.

20. Do what you say you’ll do. No one is reliable anymore.

21. Be comfortable with abandonment, even of parts of your identity.

22. Learn a new language.

23. Eat more protein.

24. Keep people around you that will tell you the truth.

25. Genius gets you nowhere. Execution is everything.

26. If given the choice of equity or cash, always take cash.

27. Meet new people as often as possible. Offer to help them.

28. Don’t discriminate. Connect anyone in your network to anyone else.

29. If you can’t do a pull-up, you have a problem.

30. Nobody likes a know-it-all.

31. Get a passport. Fill it up with stamps no one has ever seen.

32. Quit your horrible job.

33. Read biographies. It’s like having access to the best mentors in history.

34. Go to bed, and wake up, early. No one will bother you, letting your best work emerge.

35. Scare yourself a little bit every day. It will expand your inner map.

36. Learn to climb trees.

37. Don’t buy a lot of stuff, and only buy the stuff you really love.

38. Be humble and curious.

39. Twitter followers don’t keep you warm at night.

40. Be as useful as you can in as many circumstances as possible.

41. Show up.

42. Repeat people’s names when you meet them.

43. Turn internet access off your phone. Wifi is fine.

44. Get a deck of Oblique Strategies cards. Use them.

45. Make your home a place where you feel safe.

46. Take people up on bets. Make more bets yourself.

47. Take cold showers. They’re better than coffee.

48. Learn to enjoy hunger.

49. Make everything either shorter, or longer, than it needs to be.

50. Always remember those who helped you. Deliver two or three times as much value back.

51. But also, help people who have never helped you, and can’t.

52. When you know that pain is temporary, it affects all of your decisions.

53. Get a tattoo. Don’t worry about regret.

54. Commit to things, regularly, that are far beyond your ability.

55. Meet with friends more often than you think you have to.

56. Learn to meditate. Go on a retreat if you have to.

57. Your stories are both more and less interesting than you think.

58. Learn to really listen.

59. Walk more.

60. Ugly is just a step on the way to beautiful.

61. Get to know your neighbours.

62. Don’t take anything personally, ever.

63. Consider avoiding school. Go to lots of conferences instead.

64. As soon as you can, buy some art.

65. Apologize more than you need to.

66. Find out if there will be food there.

67. A good haircut changes everything.

68. Read Man’s Search For Meaning.

69. Say no to projects you don’t care about.

70. Do things that are uncool. Later on, they usually end up becoming cool anyway.

71. Find your voice.

72. Have some manners.

73. Learn to play chess, go, and bridge. They’ll keep you from going senile.

74. Learn about the Tetrapharmakos.

75. Find ways to cheat the system– just don’t cheat people.

76. Be like Jesus, not like his followers. (This applies to all of them.)

77. At least once, date someone that’s out of your league.

78. Examine your jealousy. You’ll learn a lot about yourself.

79. Good connections are about people, not social networks.

80. Address small problems. They will become big problems.

81. Dress like a cooler version of yourself.

82. Yes, there is such a thing as bad press.

83. Add “adventurer” to your Twitter bio. Then, become one.

84. If the internet is the best thing in your life, you have a serious problem.

85. Give away your best work for free.

86. Find mentors. Just don’t call them that.

87. Actually write on your blog. Nobody cares if it’s hard.

88. Download Freedom. Use it for an hour every day.

89. Join a gym. Lift the heaviest you can. (This applies to girls too.)

90. Do some freewriting. It helps you think things through.

91. When you’re having supper with rich people, pick up the cheque.

92. Learn how to speak in public.

93. If you see someone who needs help, stop asking yourself if they need help. Instead, just help.

94. Bring a bottle of wine.

95. The best conversations are had side by side, not one in front of the other.

96. Protect your hearing. Trust me.

97. Do what’s most important first thing in the morning, before you check email.

98. Everyone feels like they’re not good enough. It’s not just you.

99. Courage is a learned skill.

100. Go to Iceland. It’s worth it.

(image source: favim)

Dragon Year..

Hi everyone. How's your weekend? We had a long weekend here due to the public holiday of Chinese Lunar Year. And yesterday was also my father's birthday, so there was a family gathering here in my parents' house. We had a barberque, my mom and I cooked, we had a good chat and laugh. It was a good day. Happy Birthday Dad =)

So, it's been said that it's now the year of the dragon. I don't celebrate Chinese New Year but many of my friends were celebrating it. So, for those of you who celebrate Chinese New Year, I would like to say:

"Happy New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai.

May this year of the Dragon Water gives us all

a prosperous year and bring us luck and happiness"

Here's something about Dragon year I found on chinesefortunecalendar.com:

2012 is the Water Dragon year. Dragon contains Earth. People whose Earth score is low will receive benefits from Dragon. Dragon also contains Water. 2012 will bring good luck for people whose Lucky Element is Water. Dragon is the last year of the Wood cycle. Dragon carries the Wood energy from Rabbit of 2011. If you did very well in 2011 and your Lucky Element is Wood, then your luck will most likely continue during the year of Dragon.

(image soure: weheartit.com)

Lunch Box DIY

What is your plan for the weekend? Here's a little idea..maybe you can do some DIY at home. I found this unique DIY stuff that I believe is not hard to do, via Lunch It, Punch It. Making a lunch box from a milk jug. Sounds good? Hope so. It looks so easy when I look at the image below, but I haven't got the time to try it. Those of you who will try it or maybe will have been succeed to try it..tell me =) Have a great weekend everyone...

Direction:

Empty a gallon milk jug, wash it out, draw the lines on like in the photo.
Use a pin to poke rows of holes, which will become the crease.
Fold it into a little box and add a piece of hook and loop closure (brand name is Velcro) and you’ve got yourself a clever lunchbox!

(image and source via Lunch It, Punch It)

Handwriting..

What's your writing says about you? Until now I am not really sure whether our handwriting can really says something about us. But once a while it's always been fun to read something behind our handwriting. Below is the explanation of a handwriting and its meaning that I found on Real Simple. So, have a look and tell me what does your handwriting says bout you?

If Your Writing Slants…

• To the right: You are open to the world around you and like to socialize with other people.
• To the left: You generally like to work alone or behind the scenes. If you are right-handed and your handwriting slants to the left, you may be expressing rebellion.
• Not at all: You tend to be logical and practical. You are guarded with your emotions.

If the Size of Your Letters Is…

• Large: You have a big personality. Many celebrities have large hand writing. It may suggest that you are outgoing and like the limelight.
• Small: You are focused and can concentrate easily. You tend to be introspective and shy.
• Average: You are well-adjusted and adaptable.

If Your Loops Are...

• Closed for L (meaning the upstroke overlaps the downstroke): Feeling tense? This implies you are restricting yourself in some way.
• Full for L: You are spontaneous and relaxed and find it easy to express yourself.
• Closed for E: You tend to be skeptical and are unswayed by emotional arguments.
• Full for E: You have an open mind and enjoy trying new things.

If Your S’s Are…

• Round: You are a people-pleaser and seek compromise. You avoid confrontation.
• Pointy: You are intellectually probing and like to study new things. The higher and pointier the peaks, the more ambitious you are.
• Open at the bottom: You might not be following your heart. For example, you always wanted to be an artist, but you have a career in finance.

(image and article via Real Simple)

Bright Penthouse

Found! A fresh bright penthouse! The first image below really caught my eyes! Look at it and tell me what you think? I think the bright lights really make the room stunning. And the casual decor looks so cute, warm and friendly. I love something wide and white, all you need is just to put some colors here and there, voila...you'll get yourself a stunning room. Below is a penthouse located somewhere in Stockholm, Sweden (source: 1kindesign). Again..it's a Swedish decor. It seems that everything that has a Swedish touch can be so nice-looking decor, don't you think?

(all images via 1kindesign)

Thoughts..

It's been a while since the last time I browse article on Daily OM. And then just now I found this article. A short article about THOUGHTS. I have always filled my mind with lots of thoughts...various thoughts. From the simple thoughts to the hard one. It's been said that people who were born under the sign of Gemini (including me!) always have their mind full of thoughts, it is said that their mind is always jumping from one thoughts to another thoughts. I guess that's quite true. I can never be free from thoughts. Maybe I should try to do a yoga or to meditate so I can have some time for a peaceful mind haha =) But I don't mind having a mind like that, it's the curiosity that always lead me to something new....

Thoughts

The Creation Ground of Experience

Our thoughts are powerful forces in the creation of our experience of life. You may be able to recall a time when frustration that was based on a misunderstanding completely evaporated when your understanding changed. This is because our interpretation defines our experience, and it can change in an instant. Our only true reality is the present moment, so rather than merely accepting that life is happening to us, we can harness the power of our thoughts to actively create a positive reality. For example, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us rather than focusing on traffic or look for admirable qualities in the people we deal with rather than focusing on the negative. By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with your thoughts, you truly create your reality.

Throughout the day, we can monitor our thoughts to catch ourselves in the middle of investing our energy elsewhere—such as into belief in limitations—and instead pull our focus back to the infinite possibilities of the present. Taking a deep breath will help us center our thoughts on being in our bodies right now. Regular meditation allows us to gain mastery over our minds so that we can still our thoughts to focus on the pureness of being. If we mentally dwell on the past or the future, we may miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but we can bring our thoughts into our current experience by taking steps to create them now.

Our minds are powerful tools that we can harness to create our reality. Through them we move the unformed energy of the universe into form, which gives us direction for our words and actions. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all they touch. We can choose our focus and how we invest our energy, which gives us the power to design our lives to be whatever we choose in each and every moment.

(image source: tiovani.tumblr)

Everything is connected...

Found this quote image below on Paulo Coelho's Facebook this morning when I was having my first sip of coffee after 4 days of not drinking it =) Such a good morning to start the rest of my Tuesday, other than that, the weather was so fine this morning. So, the quote below is about yourself. It's about painful things that were meant to happen for the sake of the greater and better outcome. everything is connected, I believe that things happen because it's meant to happen to meet other things that somehow will be connected. Although most of the times we can't really see or feel what's the connection between things that are happening to us.

DIY...

Hello Monday, Hello you =) How's everyone doing? Wow, it's a rainy season here..everyday is always raining. It's like a love and hate relationship with rain. I love it when it rains but when it doesn't stop for quite some time, rain can sometimes ruin our schedule. Don't you think so? But let's always take a good side of everything, at least when it's raining, the weather is nice, you can make yourself a cup of your fave coffee or tea, read a book or just sit by the windows watching the rain falls from the sky =) Or maybe, you can try to do some DIY project at your house...I have few pictures of DIY stuff we can do at home: doing nice thing to your nails (via Ciao Bella) or maybe making a homemade lip balm (via The Daily Green). Enjoy...

Homemade Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

Makes 100 applications

2 tbls. olive oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated
1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter
Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla)
1 vitamin E capsule

> In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted.
> Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
> Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule.
> Pour into containers of your choice.

Unique cabinet..

I am in love with this unique stuff that I found via Contemporist. It is called Oturakast cabinet, designed by Dutch designer Rianne Koens. Don't you think it's very unique? Not just unique but also functional, you can use it as a cabinet, drawer or even chairs..Love it...

White Lie..

Just now, I was having a small talk with a friend of mine. And just realized that we were talking about a white lie. What do you think about it? Do you think white lie is always appropriate at any time? Or do you think it's still a lie? For me personally, white lie is still a lie. No one likes it when someone lie to you. I hate the feeling when someone lie to me in purpose. It feels like he/she doesn't care about the feeling that I have. How about you? Have you ever did any white lie even if it's to protect people's feeling? I got this article by Robi Ludwig, Psy.D, a psychotherapist, award-winning reporter, contributing editor for Cookie magazine. It's something about the right timing about saying a little white lie..remember that..a little.

Here are four instances when it’s OK to tell a little white lie:

1. When the whole truth tears someone down and makes them feel horrible about themselves rather than builds them up, like saying “I like your new, extremely short haircut” when in reality it’s just awful. Brutal honesty can be used as a toxic weapon. We are not obligated to tell the whole truth if it hurts someone’s feelings.

2. A little white lie like mentioning the tooth fairy or Santa Claus is acceptable when it protects a child’s innocence or creative imagination. How can you argue with that one?

3. Offering passing pleasantries, like “Oh … it’s no trouble at all” or “I’m fine, thanks for asking,” counts as OK in my book, too.

4. Complimenting someone, but perhaps taking it a little too far, like saying “Your cookies are the best I’ve ever had," is also acceptable. Mild false truths make it easier for people to get along and are primarily harmless in most cases.

The major difference between a white lie and a hard lie is that a hard lie is said to protect oneself, whereas a little white lie is said to protect someone else. Relationships can be complex and tricky at times. Sometimes a harmless, thoughtful pleasantry is just what the doctor ordered.

(article source: msnbc.msn.com - image source: flickr)

2012...Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone =) My wish for us on this 2012 is just simple, to be happy and just to make all our dreams come true. So simple but we have to work to make it happen. How did you spend your new year's eve? I spent at home with my family, having a barbecue and eat all the food that we can eat hahaha. But it was fun, we got to watch many fireworks from our porch. So, how about your new year's resolution? Did you make any or just go with the flow and see what 2012 will bring? For me, for sure 2012 will be a memorable year since I am expecting a baby soon =) Hopefully things will go they smooth and they way we expect it. Well, wishing you a marvelous 2012. Let's open this year with new hopes and a clean slate.

(image source: sweetsugarpop.tumblr)