"Our dependency makes slaves out of us, especially if this dependency is a dependency of our self-esteem. If you need encouragement, praise, pats on the back from everybody, then you make everybody your judge. " Fritz Perls

from the book, Austad.,C.S, Counseling and Psychotherapy Today

This is a wonderful quote,

“To know that people care about how you’re doing when the doings aren’t so good—that’s what love is.”
—Oprah

Saw this in friend's FB page.

It's so interesting that I got to read this just after writing the previous post.

" Gestalt therapy sees the person being thrown into the world who is free to choose from among all possibilities at any given moment.
People construct who they are through their choices.
Gestalt stresses the importance of exploring the nature of existence, what it means to be a single individual, and the truth of subjectivity.
People who lack truthfulness about the self in the world may experience anxiety and dread. To be authentic, a person must be responsible for self."

--Austad.,C.S, Counseling and Psychotherapy Today

Backdated post - written on McD's promotional paper - 18.02.11

I've forgotten so much about myself.
I have forgotten my desires and ambitions.

My boat has been rocking so bad that I've forgotten my intended destination.
I was too busy rowing the boat, patching the leaks, battling with bad weather that I had allowed my boat wandered off aimlessly.

Perhaps there were times that I knew where I wanted to go.
But more often than not, I had just followed other boats without even consulting the compass in my own hand.
I didn't trust my own compass.
But I trusted other's people's direction as I had always thought it's the safest.
I depended upon other people.

When they reached their destinations, only then I realised I either don't suit the place or that I'm not welcomed.

Now when I finally muster the courage to trust my own compass,
it's broken.
And I'm both injured and tired to row my boat.
But I still have to bear hope.

Like the movie Castaway, "You'll never know what the next tide may bring in."

Got this wonderful quote from Yvonne Foong, a great young lady whom I look up to very much.

"..it’s not the sickness that becomes a burden. No. It is the drama that adults create when someone’s unwell that becomes burdensome."

McDiary

Written this morning 8am in McD Taipan.


I just realised that I've eaten many McD breakfast sets during important events in my life. Due to its ubiquitous convenience, I've always chosen to have breakfast at McD's before job interviews, first day at work, travelling (this especially!),morning activities..etc
McD should start a McDiary!

I watched this on Oprah, Ntv7 this morning and was very moved by this woman's outlook in life.

When asked if she remembers the trauma, she answered, "No, I don't want to remember. I want to heal. I want to focus on recovery."

With the help of a nurse, Charla strolls around the hospital daily - the only leisure activity she can manage.

When asked if there were dark days, she answered, "Yes, but I force myself to get up and walk anyway."

Oprah was in awe and said, "Well, I don't have an excuse for myself then!"

As I was having a meal in a local coffeeshop, I was approached by a lady in her 40s, asking for donation. I am well aware of the charity syndycates but then, she showed me a very convincing receipt book- it looked rather genuine.
Something in my gut tells me she's not a con.
So, I donated Rm10.
If I didn't have a little doubt in me, I would have donated more.

The minute I was in front of a computer, I Googled the place.
I found this.

I feel so sorry that, I, like most people, have turned very sceptical to our surroundings.
Just a few days ago, we were reminded by the local dailies that such syndicate exists.
The victim swore never to help anyone again.

The people who trick other people's kindness for a quick buck is actually robbing the money from the real charity cases.
These shameless thieves hide their conscience thinking they're merely taking the 'extra money' from people who can 'afford' to lose some.
I wonder if these conmen/women are aware that they're robbing the virtues and values from the society itself.
They are making people more jaded and indifferent towards the needs and sufferings of others.
They are stealing KINDNESS, TRUST and GENEROSITY that may never be replaced nor found again. Is that not unlike of the Devil himself?
Perhaps one day, when they are lying half-dead on the street, gasping for help and instead of helping, the people just look at them - only then they might realise what damage they've caused .

Youthful Valentine

This 'Romeo' has been sitting at the same spot for the past 6 hours waiting for his 'Juliet'. Many staff have noticed him as his balloons were quite attention-grabbing.
I wonder if he has noticed his balloons have shrunk considerably since this morning.
Ah... YOUTH...

He is definitely the news of the week as all of us here are desperate for an update.
"Oh, here comes the girl." "Oh, false alarm."
"Hey, he's finally leaving." "Oh no, he's merely stretching."

News Update.
After 7 hours of waiting, he finally released the balloons off to air and he document the whole scenario with his high-tech camera.

He was too far for me to shoot with my camera-phone....

My friend introduced me to this APOM stall just opposite the famous Devi's Corner at Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL.(the area between 1U and Eastin Hotel)
It's run by two deaf and mute young men.
It's [what my friend calls it] "ENDEARING" to see that people with disability to STRIVE for a better living.
It's a gentle reminder that we, people with no physical impairment owe it to ourselves to STRIVE even harder.

As we were waiting for our order, both of us were joking that if we were 10 years younger, we'd court these dashing young entrepreneurs.
My friend joked, "The one in specs is mine!".
Just that moment, the young man turned around and looked at us.
I was nervous and asked my friend, "Are you sure they're deaf?"
We know they are, but it's such a funny coincidence.

This is the pamphlet we got from the APOM makers.

I've seen this before yet it still makes me cry.

This story -##Yesterday morning, her classmates at SMK Seri Kota in Ayer Leleh watched in horror as she fell from the second floor of the school and died from head injuries. ##
scares me very much.
Years ago, when I was 15, I was already showing signs of depression.
There was one time, where I was so disturbed, that I ran out of the classroom, crying.
I remember my friend (bless her) following closely behind me, demanding to know what's wrong with me .
The difference between this young student and myself was- I ran to the toilet and cried my eyes out.
She ran upstairs and jumped.
It's like we were both chased by the same monster, but she turned left and I had turned right.

Saw this quote from Reader's Digest.

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK"

-The World According to Kids,2009

By Katie

This is a poem contributed anonymously to the MMHA newsletter.

This feeling is like being trapped behind a glass,
And no one can break through.
It's like a constant pain, but there's nothing you can do.

It's a gash you can't sew up, nor bandage can heal.
It's something on the inside, only I can feel.

It's like trying to scream but your calls fall on deaf ears.
It's like having to run head on into your worst fears.

It's like falling overboard, and you know you can't swim.
It's like walking out with no balance beam, hoping on a whim.
It's like holding on to something, that's just about to break.

It's like being forced to keep on, when there's not much more you can take.
Like holding on to something that's not yours to keep,
Trying to hold back tears, when you only want to weep.

Suffocating in a room full of air,
having someone pretend that they care.
Longing for something you will never find.
Watching the world move on, when you're left behind.

** I want to thank the author for such honest and beautifully crafted poem**

Segamat,Johor was severed by flood- The Star

I'm so impressed by this family whose spirits remain high despite the tragedy during this festive period.
Much of their belongings may have been destroyed, and hardship awaits them to recover back to their normal lives, but their ability to be joyous remain undeterred.
It's really amazing.