Came across this article of titled above, http://www.care2.com/greenliving/does-art-make-people-nicer.html
My opinion is art makes people more cultured and cultured people are somewhat nice. Coming from a science background, I used to take art for granted. Guess what? Without art, most of the world's greatest inventions would not be possible.
So, balance between art and science is essential. Today I would say, art without science is tawdry while science without art is shoddy.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Weekend with Deborah
Who is Deborah? She is the trainer for the seminar, "Find Your Million Dollar Voice".
Learned quite a few interesting things during the weekend. Among the notable ones include:
1) Putting certain behaviors and burdens behind me. Fear of criticism and embarrassment is now a history.
2) God usually answers one of the following:
- Yes
- Not Yet
- Something better ahead
Overall, the course has value but the effectiveness of the course could not be measured yet. Soon enough I will know. The following 2 videos are my 3-minute presentation and current capability. Looking forward for more improvements and greater performances in the future.
William Shakespeare - Sonnet 116
Colors of the Wind
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A Time with Dad
Dad was with me as we travelled to a place called Gerik in Perak. Went there to check out a piece of petrol station land and a new development by a developer friend.
Dad and I both are not very good with expressing ourselves. Dad has always been supportive, gives my sisters and I all the best and I always get things done my way whether he likes them or not. It's a shame we seldom have conversations and rarely talk about things that matters. As a result, I never know what's going in his mind or what he is feeling.
Lately, dad seems a lot more negative, nagging and worrying continuously. I feel that it was mainly because of me and therefore I took this rare opportunity to inquire. Mentioned that he seems a little troubled and asked what's troubling him. Couldn't read his expressions and body language as I was driving but the answer he gave felt a little like beating around the bush.
He denied being unhappy and complained about too much time being spent on the game he, mum, aunt and a family friend have been playing. Being a pensioner, I don't see why he's complaining that. Don't feel comfortable probing further and didn't dwell on.
Monday, August 13, 2012
My first Sketch
I never enjoy drawing or painting since childhood but today I signed up for an art class and drew my first sketch. Asked myself why I dislike drawing and the answers are:
1) there were more interesting things to do such as playing video and computer games;
2) I suck at drawing; and
3) poor attention span.
Why did I sign up for an art class then? The answers are:
1) drawing seems interesting now that I kinda stop playing video and computer games and don't have better things to do;
2) I hope improve my visual acuity and attention to details through drawing; and
3) I would love to be able put my vision on paper in the future.
1) there were more interesting things to do such as playing video and computer games;
2) I suck at drawing; and
3) poor attention span.
Why did I sign up for an art class then? The answers are:
1) drawing seems interesting now that I kinda stop playing video and computer games and don't have better things to do;
2) I hope improve my visual acuity and attention to details through drawing; and
3) I would love to be able put my vision on paper in the future.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Saturday - Then and Today
Here I am lying on my bed in front of my computer. My mind keeps telling my body to work but my body just wanna laze around wasting priceless time.
The me a few years back would most likely be playing computer games at this hour of the day. I used to spend more than 6 hours playing computer games back in school. Then, I tried to cut down the time of playing games thinking that if I was to spend those hours doing something more beneficial or productive, my life would have been so much meaningful. In university, the habit stayed. Partly it was because playing computer games is one of the cheapest entertainment. However, I could have used the playing time to work part time instead.
In all honesty, I don't think that playing games was not a total waste of time. After all, it keeps my mind active since young. Other than that, I co-founded my university's Gaming Club. Till today, I am in the email loop and receiving emails from the current members. Back then, it was nothing proud to have started a gaming club but now I feel that, unexpectedly, I have left a legacy behind. Twenty plus years down the road, if I can send my kids to the same university, I'm sure I will be proud to tell them that their father started the gaming club there.
Today, I have sort of given up on playing computer games but everyday I still play games on my tablet. Occasionally, I would play board games with the usual gang. I am glad that I have been reading more frequently nowadays and I would love to have a habit of writing and speaking as well.
The me a few years back would most likely be playing computer games at this hour of the day. I used to spend more than 6 hours playing computer games back in school. Then, I tried to cut down the time of playing games thinking that if I was to spend those hours doing something more beneficial or productive, my life would have been so much meaningful. In university, the habit stayed. Partly it was because playing computer games is one of the cheapest entertainment. However, I could have used the playing time to work part time instead.
In all honesty, I don't think that playing games was not a total waste of time. After all, it keeps my mind active since young. Other than that, I co-founded my university's Gaming Club. Till today, I am in the email loop and receiving emails from the current members. Back then, it was nothing proud to have started a gaming club but now I feel that, unexpectedly, I have left a legacy behind. Twenty plus years down the road, if I can send my kids to the same university, I'm sure I will be proud to tell them that their father started the gaming club there.
Today, I have sort of given up on playing computer games but everyday I still play games on my tablet. Occasionally, I would play board games with the usual gang. I am glad that I have been reading more frequently nowadays and I would love to have a habit of writing and speaking as well.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Dreamers and Doers
"The world needs dreamers and doers but above all, dreamers who do" Sarah Ban Breathnach
I am a dreamer. I want to be a doer. Hopefully, I shall be a dreamer who do.
I am a dreamer. I want to be a doer. Hopefully, I shall be a dreamer who do.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Pressure & Tension
Read an interesting excerpt on this title:
"The quality of a guitar's sound is influenced by the weight and tension of its string. As a musician plucks the strings, the soundboard amplifies the otherwise faint sound, adds a unique quality, and allows it to carry much further than would otherwise be possible.
The same can be true for you. Pressure and tension are guaranteed. Depending on the character you have built in your life, pressure will cause you to either 'snap' or to respond with the graceful tone of a carefully crafted guitar. Wherever you go, challenges will occur.
Will tension and pressure cause you to 'snap', or will you respond with the melodious tone of a guitar?"
I like how this excerpt makes the analogy between the tension we face and that of a guitar string. As we all know, if the strings are too slack, no beautiful music can be produced. Contrary, if the strings are too tense or we pluck them with too much pressure, they will break.
Similarly, if we are too slack, we are unlikely to produce great results where else if we are too tense, or if there is too much pressure, our brains cannot function properly and we risk falling into a nervous breakdown. While it is easy to tune the guitar strings to produce the sound we want, how do we tune ourselves so that the tension and pressure we get is just right for optimum productivity?
"The quality of a guitar's sound is influenced by the weight and tension of its string. As a musician plucks the strings, the soundboard amplifies the otherwise faint sound, adds a unique quality, and allows it to carry much further than would otherwise be possible.
The same can be true for you. Pressure and tension are guaranteed. Depending on the character you have built in your life, pressure will cause you to either 'snap' or to respond with the graceful tone of a carefully crafted guitar. Wherever you go, challenges will occur.
Will tension and pressure cause you to 'snap', or will you respond with the melodious tone of a guitar?"
I like how this excerpt makes the analogy between the tension we face and that of a guitar string. As we all know, if the strings are too slack, no beautiful music can be produced. Contrary, if the strings are too tense or we pluck them with too much pressure, they will break.
Similarly, if we are too slack, we are unlikely to produce great results where else if we are too tense, or if there is too much pressure, our brains cannot function properly and we risk falling into a nervous breakdown. While it is easy to tune the guitar strings to produce the sound we want, how do we tune ourselves so that the tension and pressure we get is just right for optimum productivity?
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
A random night
Last night, I received a phone call from mum and she sounded in distress. Somebody called my neighbor to ask about my house when nobody was at home and the caller was unknown. Told mum to be careful in case some burglars trying to find info before breaking in.
Two questions. What emotions did I feel and how to I deal with such emotions if it arises again in the future?
Normally, I would use the preventive method, which is to stop the worrying from building by shifting my thoughts to a more positive perspective. For example, by considering that the person who was asking for my house might be a friend or relative who happens to have my neighbor's number. Then, calmly find out what exactly happened.
While prevention is better than cure, what if the emotional flooding could not be prevented? How then do I gain composure and address such situations in a more effective manner?
Later, I read about an article regarding a robbery case which happened outside a house two nights ago. While such cases are not uncommon, I suddenly got extra worried for a friend's safety after not hearing a message reply after some time.
To keep a long story short, what happened was my neighbor made a mistake and no one was asking about my house and my friend was doing something without the phone.
To keep a long story short, what happened was my neighbor made a mistake and no one was asking about my house and my friend was doing something without the phone.
What's interesting was the physiological changes which took place. First, I linked two totally unrelated scenario and had very negative thoughts for both. Then, I started to scare myself and as the fear snowballed, I started to question, "what if this, what if that?" Minutes later, my body started trembling, I had difficulty breathing and felt like puking.
It was a different fear compared to what I usually feel before cold calling or public speaking. There were more anxiousness and fear of rejection and/or criticism from the latter. It was a different fear compared to when I barely missed a car accident. The feeling I had was most similar to what I felt during an occasion two years ago when I was scolded by boss for not listening and not doing what I was supposed to do. There was fear and other feelings which I am not able to articulate.
It was a different fear compared to what I usually feel before cold calling or public speaking. There were more anxiousness and fear of rejection and/or criticism from the latter. It was a different fear compared to when I barely missed a car accident. The feeling I had was most similar to what I felt during an occasion two years ago when I was scolded by boss for not listening and not doing what I was supposed to do. There was fear and other feelings which I am not able to articulate.
Normally, I would use the preventive method, which is to stop the worrying from building by shifting my thoughts to a more positive perspective. For example, by considering that the person who was asking for my house might be a friend or relative who happens to have my neighbor's number. Then, calmly find out what exactly happened.
While prevention is better than cure, what if the emotional flooding could not be prevented? How then do I gain composure and address such situations in a more effective manner?
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