The List

iThe time has come, to make not just another list, but The List. The List is a list that comprises everything that I want to do, I need to do, and I must do to utilize the unlimited free time starting from now.

Yes, you may have heard, I HAVE COMPLETED MY DEGREE!!!!!! I am officially unemployed. I am done being a student! I am now awaiting my results, and will soon participate in my convocation making me a certified engineer.

So upon completion of my degree, of course i have unlimited free time, until i organize everything and start work. And so, there are 3 sections in The List, namely EVERYTHING-I-NEED-TO-GET-MY-FIRST-JOB, REFORM-OLD-BONDS, and ENJOY-FREE-TIME. tadahhh. This will give me balance, in dealing with reality, in fostering relationships with the beloveds and also in alone self learning time for myself.

EVERYTHING-I-NEED-TO-GET-MY-FIRST-JOB
Well, this is easily the most boring part of the list, nevertheless, its the most important part, not to mention that its the main reason of why this list is made at the first place: to make sure that i make get some real work done, amid all the fun.

Resume, LinkIn accound, Jobstreet account, online banking account... All this has to be done. And I have to consider the Research Assistant position offered by my FYP supervisor. And then of course, there is the researching and applying for real engineering jobs. Research and survey, as I dont know which field I would want to venture into. Now that I am finally out of the hopeless endless narrow tunnel of studying and assignments, I'm finally able to make choices in the broad daylight full of hope and options and opportunities,

REFORM-OLD-BONDS
Now, this is the tricky part. You see, in the process of getting to my engineering degree, which i have mentioned countless of times involves stressful studies and endless suffocating workloads, i have regretfully abandoned many of my friendship bonds. 

Now, with all the free time, I can start making contact with the old friends! Except that it didn't go very well. I didn't realize that, until I've tried. What do u say the the people which are not in your lives for the last 3-4 years. An update, and then?

It's not easy to repair, or reform. 

ENJOY-FREE-TIME

this is easily the easiest part. I'm doing so fine in following the grey's anatomy drama series, and the Game of Thrones novels. It's so much fun!!! I've been deprived of doing what I want and never had the oppurtunity to laze around during the semester, and now I have all the time in the world!

But, too much of the good thing ruins it. Now I need some self discipline and get working on other potential hobbies such as cooking and writing and drawing and shopping.

I foresee myself up and working in August. That's like 3 weeks from now. Now, i can finally say: Trust me, I'm an engineer.

#eatpraylove

Okay, this is a post that I've taken deliberate time to draft. I've recently finish reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It took me ages to finally complete this book, as it is the kinda book that needs to be read in small doses. There's a lot of details and feelings to be processed and needs mulling over in order for one to get this book properly. And it puts life into perspective and gave me so much to think about. So here, I just want to copy and record some of the quotes from the book, so that I would not forget.

My feelings for this book has its ups and downs. It took me a long time to get through the first one third of the book. As the first part of the book, the author describes about her complications and depressions after going through a divorce. There's a lot of frustrations, and it shows that how her sad feelings keep boiling over even though she has tried very hard to get over it (by going all the way to Italy to live and travel). I really disliked it and was thinking, why couldn't she get over with it after all this time? What is she doing wrong? Why does she end up brooding?

Well, that is something I want to avoid and rid of- brooding, overthinking. And after reading the first part, I was seriously thinking, am I one day going to face some shit in life and feel that amount of depression? Would I be able to handle it or would I just give in to brooding and suffer for the rest of my life?? Well, gratefully, the second and third part of the book- Pray and Love gave me lots of perspective and answers. And these quotes are from some of my favourite lines in the book:

1. The task at hand in Yoga is to find union- between mind and body, between the individual and her God, between our thoughts and the source of thoughts.

2. We're miserable because we think that we are mere individuals, alone with our fears and flaws and resentments and mortality. We wrongly believe that our limited little egos constitute our whole entire nature. We have failed to recognize our deeper divine character.

3. You are, after all, what you think. Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions.

4. That's just your ego, trying to make sure it stays in charge. This is what your ego does. It keeps you feeling separate, keeps you with a sense of duality, tries to convince you that you're flawed and broken and alone instead of whole.

5. Instead of trying to forcefully take thoughts out of your mind, give your mind something better to play with. Something healthier. Like what? Like love, like pure divine love.

6. The resting place of the mind is the heart.

7. We gallop through our lives like circus performances balancing on two speeding side-by-side horses- on foot is on the horse called 'fate', the other on the horse called 'free will'. And the question you have to ask every day is, Which horse is which? Which horse do I need to stop worrying bout because it's not under my control, and which do I need to steer with concentrated effort?

8. I can choose my thoughts. Admit to the existence of negative thoughts, understanding where  they came from and why they arrived, and then- with great forgiveness and fortitude- dismiss them.

9. Happiness is a consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings.

10. Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to everyone else. Only then are you free to serve and enjoy other people.

Drum Roll

Three more weeks, an era would officially end, for me. Me, the student who has been nothing more than a student all her life. Its time to join the big big world.

People change. 6 years ago, I have tried all my best to evade the things i dont like. People, politics. drama. That was why i chose engineering. Now, I learn that I could not and should not have avoid any of those stuff. The more I avoid, the more difficult it has become for me.

Life is a whole package. You need a little of everything to have a balance life. Balance, is what I dont get in my uni life. The circle I hang out with, all engineers, almost 100% study talk. No balance. My life style, 110% stressful and very very technical. No balance. Social life in uni, is almost negligible due to the workload. How do I enjoy uni life when the workload in order for me to graduate is so heavy that I don't even have time to leave the lab/room/class room?

I lost balance. I grew frustrated. More accurately, i become sick of studies. This is not right. Balance used to be my priority. That was why i have always joined clubs and societies in primary, secondary, and pre-U schools. But, not in Uni. Now, i managed to scraped through all my assignments, and i absolutely have no other social activities besides study (which is not one).

There's that. I'm graduating. Only too happy to end this era. I'm about to join another world, one which I have zero-knowledge for. For once, I would be a blank paper when I join this world. Now, 6 years after my choice of the course, I have to choose again.

And I choose, anything that would help me grow. I'm open to anything (except programming, its still alien to me upon graduating, that's how much I don't like it). I might want to do marketing engineering, sales engineering, work in a harsh environment at a plant. Actually, I don't know yet. Let me get back to this after my finals. I can only handle one thing at a time. One thing is for sure, after 6+5+1.5+4 years of study, i officially grew tired of it.

My Flaws and Selina

Yes, end of Week 11 and my mind still find time in between all the crazy workloads to reflect about life. And yesterday, I watched the interview of Selina about her recovery journey from the bad burnt in the fire accident. Yes, Selina from S.H.E. Ya, she's awesome, she's courageous, she's definitely Ms. Positive Energy. Yes she's an inspiration, a role model to all the females. Yes I was deeply touched by her story.

And, yet, I'm still stuck at where I am today. I would also want Future Me to thank me for not giving up on life. Amid all the mundane but super stressful workload and quarter life crisis, I must still accept that such is life, and a its a good happy life. I must believe in that. And work my ass off towards that -> a good and happy life.

And, the people. I'm a human, yet i fear human. In age of 23, I can already say that this is the biggest obstacle in my life. Humans. Talking. Emotional attachment. Responsibility. Originality. Judgement. Norm. Respect. Attitude. You see, some of them are just the right opposite of the others. Its impossible to be all of them just so to fit into all the places in the world. While wanting to do everything right, I lost my voice. I shut down. I closed up. And I got stuck, instead of getting to all the places in the world, I ended up not belonging anywhere.

Again, sometimes its just like taking  a leap of faith. I'm not the outgoing friendly outspoken cheerful people's favourite. But, I can be more attentive, kinder, more open minded and more respectful towards others. I can't form pretty dazzling words, but i can form constructive positive words. If I don't like the negative attitude people have towards me, I can forget about it and not let it get to me. Forget about what I cannot, and focus on what I can.

I can live a better and happier life, just because I can.

And. I have a final year report to complete within 4 days. This, I believe I also can.

And. sorry for the incoherent writing. I realized there is not much flow. I can't really think straight. Literally.

Mind

I have a poor mind. I'm fidgeting around, restless, anxious, and I'm palpitating. This is a signal, that I'm not happy with my state. I have tonnes to do, there are tonnes that I can do, yet, here I am, with my poor mind, stuck in this frustrated mindset.

Step out. Take the leap of faith. Go. Move. Do. Make it happen. 

The person I'm gonna spend most of my time with is myself. The person who will love me the most is myself. The things I can do to make myself happy can only be done by me. I know how. Just do.

I'm not a Christian. But ya, do not be conformed to this world. Instead, be transformed by the renewal of the mind. Yes this is good advice. All goes back to mind control. Make the mind a powerful one.

Harness, practice and train the mind.

change

however attached I am to my old life and character, life demands change. Change, is the only thing that wouldn't change.

I have found myself needing to redefine the meaning of friendship. Life demands it. Certain people are not worth the time and effort and kindness I have to give. I found myself spending my time on the wrong people. Certain people don't appreciate. They only require your presence, just to prove they are better is some way. They want not your heart, not your friendship. These people make you feel bad to feel good. They are not worth it.

Even family. Unconditional love. blah. Disappointment. Neglect. Some are not so unconditional, no. They want your attention, company and love. They use home as an excuse to let out. In fact, family members give you an opportunity to take a closer look of the heart of a human being. 看透了。Selfishness. Self centered ness. Hurtful and Mean. No, those good moments are not because they love you. But because they need your help and your concern. Need. not unconditional exchange.

A change of heart. A need to change to face all the unworthy ones. Being hurt repeatedly makes one learn and change. Anger fuels my confidence. One day I will be able to laugh off all the mean and cruel words. Be better is all I will be.

taken from http://expandedconsciousness.com/2014/10/13/10-powerful-sentences-to-help-change-your-perspective-on-life/

Feed the Heart

A warm trip with warm people really rejuvenates the soul. Indeed if you want to be at peace and happy, you have to feed the heart. Feeding the mind with knowledge is not enough. Feed the heart by getting to know people and enjoy their presence.

Tsk. Staying home for such a long time is unhealthy for my heart. Just yesterday, I found that I can sleep so well with a contented heart. Simple as that, be contented and you'll be happy. That's why, I thinking feeding the heart is the key a happy life and getting rid of dark eye circles.

Stop feeding the bloody mind with overthinking. Especially with stupid life analysis. Why do I always analyse life? An idle mind is a devil's playground. Need to keep myself busy, feed both my mind and heart with healthy food.

Lol. New discovery every single day. Why am I so weird.