I was at the library reading large photo books, Mutt but forgot to capture photo of the book.
Instead, I was mesmerised by sunset from the view of riverfront and managed to take a video. Today I decided to upload onto Youtube so you can enjoy. Did you know that previously this space was occupied by $2 Daiso and the view was sealed.
Coming to the library, well almost everyday and discovering pleasure of public space.
Why am I not coming everyday?
Not another self help book.
For the entrepreneur in social media world with influencers like Kadarshians, MH is an entrepreneur and guides readers how to build a brand from product creation to personal branding.
Helpful How tos at the end of each chapter. Her recent books are now available as eBooks. She is certainly using her covid downtimes very efficiently.
#Rodial #entreprenuer #start up #career
Going nowhere during quarantine? How about travelling inward.
Mindful of each breath. Mindful of each step. Mindful of each thought.
Today we have so many technologies, the mobile phone, whatsapp, zoom. But do we really connect? We forget that our mind and body are connected. “Our body is here but our mind is somewhere else. We easily get caught up in our work, our plans, our anxieties. Our breadth is the bridge connecting our body and our mind.”
Meditation can be taken out of the retreat and into the kitchen and the office. Thich ask “How can we practice in a way that removes the barrier between practice and non-practice.”
A friend does walking meditation between business appointments, walking mindfully between buildings and as a result his meetings are often pleasant and successful.
Meditations do not need to be around a mandala or even in a maze. They can be part of our daily life.
May I
May You
May They
May All Beings
“How to See”, “How to Walk”, “How to Connect”, Series by Thich Nhat Hanh
Work cures everything.
Can I reinvent myself the way Matisse did and yet maintain a signature style?
From La Danse to the cut outs, there remains a fluidity of design and vibrant colors.
Matisse paintings are not … things but energies. Are incentives to us to effect action. They represent nothing but impel us to create in the direction of the force, which they exercise.
This book has intrigued me to spend time imitating his line drawings and cut outs. As well as inspired me to travel and take in different sights to reinvent myself as he did. Absorbing energy from his travels.
Are you surrounded by what “radiates a rhythm through which energy flows.”
Recommend: 🦋🦋
Category: Famous Person
As I was walking to the neighbourhood stores, a thought struck me. What if I do the boring stuff, ie visit the same place 30 days in a row.
I started thinking, what if I visit the library, 10 mins walk away and borrow a different book every day.
And so my adventure begins, without taking a flight. Of course I can borrow eCopies from the digital library. But physical store has the pleasure of flipping through aisle by aisle.
Road less travelled, expand my mind. Books I normally will not pick up. Easy to read.
The first book I found using “coach” as key word was “Vladimir Putin: Life Coach”.
Except for what I read from American newsfeed, I do not know much about Russia. Granted, I studied history in school, have visited Siberia twice and been on trans-Siberian railway.
Written tongue in cheek, eg “Show your gentle side”. To win respect, you must be ruthless. To win love, you need to show a soft side. Putin’s approach is to help his country’s cutest animals at every opportunity.
He’s been photographed feeding a baby elk outside Moscow … and shaking hands with a walrus in Vladivostok.
Be more Vlad. If you’re known as a workplace meanie, show your colleagues you’re actually quite nice by booking a day off and hiring a professional photographer to join you on a trip to the petting zoo. Then share the photos far and wide with plenty og squidgy emoticons. Be sure to wait at least twenty minutes before returning to your hardass persona. (Sears, p119)
Rob Sears, the author, writes comedy. I cant wait to read his book on “The beautiful poetry of Donald Trump”. I can see how this experiment of picking up books I normally would not read, will help “re-imagine me” as Humour is not on my resume. If I were to teach “leadership topics”, this book will help inject a bit of humor on the complexity of leadership behavior.
#coach #humour #Russia #80books #TIME #Treasures #NLB #leadership
Highly recommend: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Category: Humour, Leadership
“If something is boring after two minutes, try it for four. If still boring, then eight. Then sixteen. Then thirty-two. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.” John Cage
Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it’s exciting, and if you do it every day it’s exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it’s not good any more. – Andy Warhol
“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.” – Andy Warhol
Today, I’m bored. (Most times, I’m boring). I’m an accidental Warhol fan and took his advice.
Embrace the place where life happens
I started with the most boring, unimportant and urgent task, cleaning my car windshield screen. A cleaner in the building walked past and asked if I was bathing my car. “Just as we need to bathe everyday, the car also needs daily bathing”, he shared.
Purpose and meaning to the ordinary
Very wise advice, “bathing” is indeed a boring but essential activity. That simple connection of our shared activity of cleaning. Perhaps that was how he saw meaning in his work. Zen of everyday living.
People’s opinion
When I put attention to something, it becomes more important and more interesting. I am going through the book of Psalms which used to bore me. Recently I started reading it with the help of Ms Seah Jiak Choo’s video and resources of CS Lewis and David Pawson and fellow educators.
Going through it together, albeit virtually somehow made it interesting for me. Although I read the same poem everyday, I chew on each word, its meaning and significance in my life and greater context. No surprise, this is the year of the ox. Chew on it.
Boredom could be a sign of anhedonia or fatigue and burnout. If thats you, seek help and rest.
Putting the ordinary on the Pedestal
Im a hoarder. After being inspired by Netflix series: Marie Kondo, The Minimalists and Home edit, I decided to clear my closets.
Today I chanced upon a glass teapot I bought 4 mths ago and made myself a pot of lemongrass/screwpine tea.
And realised that in my cupboard, I had 24 different types of tea. The canisters of most were already rusty, so I cant give them away. But it was shocking that I could make myself a different cup each day. Yet, I drink Arabica coffee every morning, when I had so many choices in my home pantry.
Why am I not taking the pause to edit and enjoy the resources I have ?
Are there resources in your closet which you are not aware?
Yesterday, I saw a newsclip about an ebtreprenurial Singaporean male who sold off his SHN items. SHN stands for “stay home notice”, a word which many shudder during covid. It means you stay at home and cannot have contact with the outside world.
This guy had two SHNs, in total stayed home for 28 days.
What if this happened to me? How could I make the stay more comfortable? Or if I had to be isolated for 14 days in a small hotel room?
During covid, I discovered my greatest fear, introvert that I am, was “social rejection, loneliness and boredom”.
I used to play a game of “What if… I got stranded on an island, what 5 items will I bring with me”. I actually said my identity card. Less than three months later, I really lost my ID card with $400. Why I carry so much cash? Advice from my mom that during state of emergency, I cant go to the bank. Ironically she told me the same thing the night before #lockdown or what we know as #circuitbreaker. I forgot that we now have credit cards and Paynow.
Anyway, what would I bring?
1. Handphone and charger
2. My mask and beauty routine
3. Laptop and battery charger + yeti mike + earphones
4. Eye drops
5. Precept Bible + flags + TSW book
6. Blank journal + drawing stationery
7. Exercise mat + hoola hoop
8. Flask and tea bags
9. Cute Socks + sweater + mom’s bolster + blanket from brother + pajamas + clothes
10. Credit cards
With my hp and laptop, I can work and connect with anyone. I can pray, listen to sermons, worship etc. I can even go to church via my laptop, ie attend church service. :-))
I can follow exercise routines. I can even order anything I need and pay via internet. Rest is really luxury.
Seriously, time to begin minimalist lifestyle and focus on the important. Maybe even start a healthy diet.
What would you bring if you were under quarantine orders?
You know the conversation. The Great Man theory proposed by likes in history and research. Leaders follow a mold.
Im reading Jacob Morgan’s “Future Leader”. Leaders decide they want to be leaders. (Steven Covey)
We can choose to exercise situational leadership. Small things we do.
When you see someone exercise a selfless act, affirm them for choosing to do that. Leadership is a choice.
Whats one habit you choose to develop today?
As we prepare for Good Friday and Easter holidays, I’m reminded of the days of Noah, that we read about. In addition to stocking up on food, how else am I using the next 30 days.
Research shows that it takes 21 days to change a habit. What habits do I want to change? What habits do I want to cultivate?
Joanne Koo's Blog 