Birthday @ Covo Bistro & Lounge

Yesterday was 贝儿's birthday.

I'm very excited and happy that I was able to celebrate her birthday with her, together with Cool-san and 神秘人.

I understand that she adores white roses. Henceforth, I decided with Colin that we will give her white roses on her birthday! For the first time in my life, I actually arrange the white roses into 1 bouquet (during the afternoon before the dinner). Honestly, although I was in Horticulture club during JC, I believe I only arrange flowers in a vase / pot.













Haha but I guess since it's 贝儿's birthday, maybe I should help to do something for her.

It was quite an achievement on my end since I seldom like to do art and craft. Well there're are 2 main reasons: (1) I'm as lazy as Garfield - my favourite (2)I do not have much talent in art. When I was in Sec, I'm only good in abstract art.

And I was happy that she still loved the white roses, in spite of the fact that it was not as nice as those done in the florist. I understand that it's because she has felt the message behind the white roses.
The message that she was special friend to me (as always) and Cool-san.

神秘人 - Thanks for your help too for the last minute touch up.

Anyway we had dinner together at the restaurant, Covo Bistro & Lounge at Bukit Timah district. (Kudos to our dearest driver Cool-san who drove us there) I was glad that 贝儿 liked the restuarant that we've chosen since it was meant as a surprise for her.

The deco of the restaurant was elegant and romantic. And the dinner was also quite nice. A place I would recommend for people looking for a quiet place to talk and dine or chill out.

Herein, just to wish my dear friend a very Happy Birthday once more and that may all her wishes come true! Thanks for being such a true friend to me and I love you very much!

haha... and thanks for extending the invitation to 神秘人 for the dinner too. Hope you had a lovely evening.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I never thought I will enjoy the course.

When I first heard the name of the course, I thought it must be a boring, but maybe useful course? Yes there's positive feedback about the course. But hmm, I'm still rather skeptical about it.

I was surprised when I actually like the course and find it so meaningful. I guess a major reason is because I love the lecturer. She kept the training entertaining by her funny comments and interesting and sad stories she had seen from her counselling experience. A few times, tears welled up at my eyes and I've to control myself very hard not to let them roll down my face when I heard her recite the sad experiences of her patients.

Due to this course, I start to re-think and re-discover about myself. E.g. Who am I? What is the meaning of life? What is the principle I will use to guide my life?

My answer will be courage.
I want to have the courage to overcome all challenges in life.
I want to have the courage to pursue my own happiness.
I want to have the courage to say goodbye to all the unhappy memories in the past and say hi to the happy events entering my life.

Also, I start to re-learn to listen. To know how to listen to friends.
Sometimes what they need is understanding. It might not necessarily be advice.
They need us to look at their problems from their eyes, their perspective.
Because only when we're able to do that, we could truly understand their problems and connect with them. And they will feel they're not alone in the deserts. We might be the oasis that they have been searching all along in the.

Just to share some interesting insights learnt from the course:

(1) The results we GET in life depend on what we DO.
What we DO in life depends on how we SEE the world around us.

(2) When we can no longer change a situation, we're challenged to change ourselves

(3) To my mind, empathy is in itself a healing agent... because it releases, it confirms, it brings even the most frightened person into the human race. If a person is understood, he or she belongs.

(4) Whenever there is a desert, there must be an oasis somewhere

I guess everyone must be thinking, so what are the 7 Habits?

1) Be Proactive (Concentrate on positive behaviour)
2) Begin with the end in mind (Have the goal in mind)
3) Put first things first (Prioritize)
4) Think win-win
5) Seek first to understand then to be understood
6) Synergize (Value the differences and create the synergy with teamwork)
7) Sharpen the saw (Renew self in physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions)