In the minds of people

Recently I had the privilege of talking to someone who had some insights into how a certain group of people perceived me. In a sense, I knew I was going to hear things that I was going to be affected by either mentally and emotionally but the need to hear this “feedback” was too intense. Did I mention that the people who said these things about me were people I rub shoulders with everyday? Well they are and of course they are not aware that these words of their were reaching me.

As expected the words were surprising and some of them cut like daggers. Most of the words used and conclusions said were either based on erroneous interpretation and the awareness of part of the picture but as we all know in life, we are never privy to the full picture.

I sometimes wonder to myself why such situations occur. Sometimes good intentions results poorly and misinterpretations are so frequent that at times, trying to be extra nice to certain people might not be worth much effort. A cynical view? Perhaps? Does that stop me from having good intentions? Its unlikely that it will stop me.

On the other side of the coin, why do people crave feedback so much? Why when feedback is not given we are left wondering? Wondering so much so that it leaves us in a state of loss. But in the rare case when the feedback is given it is often received with denial and angst at first followed by a time of soul searching. This is such a soul searching post.

One thing I am glad to know is that one person sees all things. And after seeing all things He does not judge, persecute or look at us any differently. I take comfort in such a person watching over me.

M Discovering

Bullies

This morning as part of my blog readings, I came across a blog post by one of my subscribed bloggers who was having an issue with name calling. It sort of brought me back to my younger days when I was in school. It might be surprising for some people to know that I was very much bullied at a very young age. If you look at me now, it is hard to imagine me being bullied but you’d probably think that I am a person who was in fact the bully. Well….read on.

I used to be teased and bullied during my early school years because of my small size. Yes, yes I used to be quite small sized when I was in Primary school. I was skinny and short and for that reason I was bullied quite a bit. What made matters worse was my rather unique and uncommon name which resembled a popular local food item. So that became the name that I was associated to for a very, very long time.

I was pushed around, swatted at the back of the head by taller boys when we were in a assembly line (arranged by height of course), and of course pushed. I hate being pushed because I was small and as the Singapore education system would have it, we were required to carry all our textbooks plus workbooks to and from school everyday, resulting in an inhumanely large and heavy back pack. So imagine small boy + heavy bag = high centre of gravity. When an object with a high centre of gravity is pushed hard from behind, it topples. So I did fall down quite dramatically, much to the anger of people behind, who did not see what happened.

So why did I not tell the teacher? Are you crazy? If the teacher escorted me everywhere I would but that was certainly not the case so, I kept quiet. Being from a Christian Brother School, when you progress to Secondary school you’d most likely move to the affiliated “big brother” school, meaning all other kids would move to the same school and that would include the bullies as well.  And so it continued and got worse of course. It got to a point that I could not take it anymore after nearly 8 years of it.

I remember there was this huge guy in my class who kept picking on me. He was almost twice my size and he was evil. From, twisted staples on my chair, to paper bullets being shot to the back of my neck, to the occasional man handling and to the daily naming calling my patience was wearing thin and a monster was brewing inside of me. Then one day, I was so angry and irritated with his antics that I lashed out at him in desperation in front of everyone in class, as luck would have it, there was a bag behind him and when he stepped back to avoid me he tripped and fell hard on his bottom much to everyone's amazement and amusement. The laughs from everyone embarrassed him so much he started to cry!! The loudest laughs came from the other kids who were bullied like me. I did not want to make him cry but, it drove the point home.

My David and Goliath episode became legendary and from that point onwards, no one messed with me, and I was left alone pretty much from a bullying perspective. Life became much better from that point onwards and I was able to start enjoying school finally.

Shamefully, when I left Secondary school and my eventual growth spurt kicked in, I became a bully myself. Yes, I did and now I am sad to admit it, and I do regret it. In my defense I was not the worse bully but I was part of that group. It did not last long as age was catching up and the bully concept was not accepted any longer the older we got. Oh well, I became the person I detested.

Its all part of growing up to be frank. The events leading up to my "uprising" has somewhat defined a part of me and a principle of mine which I still hold on to and that is, "never let anyone take advantage or take me from granted". Of course the regretful bully that I became taught me compassion and control which I have eventually come to master. Looking back, I doubt I will be the tenacious person I am if it had not been for that huge guy who bullied me non-stop.

M 

Back to Work

The first few days have been a rollercoaster of sorts. When I sent out my “out of office” notice last week I received a call from my CEO who was expecting to speak to me the following week when he was in Singapore regarding a job change; “a promotion” he called it. First off, I was surprised he called me as it was the first time he did that, on my direct line, and next was this promotion. I knew it was a spin off something else but I was happy to be singled out for it. Praise God for His favor.

But honestly who does that!??? Dropping a bomb like that just when you are about to go on a much needed holiday. Its seems almost sadistic. You guys might be thinking, eh promotion, what is there to be worried about? Well I did say it was “a spin” so it was not that straightforward, sometimes it never is.

So I tried as much as possible to block this “promotion” out of my mind when I was in the Maldives but it kept creeping in till my wife said “"Ok, lets talk it out”. Smart woman that one. The thoughts did plague me a few times after our discussion but the draw of the island was too great.

So now that I am back to work, the usual stuffs hitting the fan and there is so much to do and as expected “the spin” is on maximum load. For me the maintenance of sanity is key in these trying times. Thank God, for my support structure of my wife, friend and God. But what has kept me sane other than this are the fading memories of Maldives which have been immortalized in the pictures I have captured. Here is one of my favorites in HDR:

 

 

Imagine this vision in front of you as you lie on a four poster bed, with a good book in your hands. An endless soundtrack of crashing waves is playing in the background with some Mozart or Norah Jones on top playing on CD just for an additional mood.

The gentle warm sea breeze is wafting in your open villa door but its cool inside thanks to air conditioning. The love of your life is next to you and this vision of a lifetime in front of you…….

Ahhhhhh…….I am relaxed now…are you? How can you not be!

M still sane.

Majimo Terminologies

In case, some of you might be wondering why Majimo. Here’s some light on the subject as well as some new terms that I have coined for the sake of personal simplicity and some sense of anonymity. Here we go again hahahaa…

Majimo is a named coined by the wife. We have pet names for each other, and so far this one has stuck. We use them openly so even some friends and family know of them. So Majimo seems to be relatively interesting and so I decided to make a brand of it.

In case, you are wondering what is the pet name for the wife it is Maju. Yes, I do know that mean progress in Malay but who cares, it has stuck. I know this all sounds rather cheesy but hey this is what we are doing.

To sum up, there is Majimo (short form is Maji), there Maju and now there is Mojo. Seems quite elementary actually:

M Cheesy, yes I know

Sweaty & Tired but Blessed

Yes, a Wednesday in church! How awesome and nostalgic! To my usual readers this is not an attempt at sarcasm but more one of delight. Yes utter delight! (the throw your hands in the air kind of delight).

I am grateful to the little me for remembering about this. Honestly, I would have forgotten completely as I was so absorbed with what I was doing today.

Grateful to 21PurpleHorses who got us seats in Audi. A true prized commodity this evening although I know it does not matter where you are but it does from a comfort perspective. In any case, I needed that "Audi Feeling"'!

Grateful to my infinite drive time playlist on moi iPhone that allowed me to warm up for P&W and thoroughly enjoy my spirited drive.

Grateful to the drivers on the road who opened a clear path for me to get to my destination with relative ease and brevity despite a close shave, I was never worried as He is my co-pilot.

Grateful to our Heavenly Teacher who has empowered our Earthly Teacher to preach a deep, substanced and rich message but with simple and practical uses and reminders for everyday life.

Grateful to Jesus, for blessing us so abundantly that recounting everything would be true testament of His faithfulness and love for me and my household. People, it's better than Toto first prize!

Finally grateful for the walking on air feeling, the I can conquer ALL things feeling and the knowledge and comfort that through Him ALL things are possible.

M looking forward to 27.
21... TIA!

Swine Flu?? apply Psalm 91.

So there is a new outbreak, what’s new. Sometimes I just lay back and laugh, swine flu, imagine we’ve had Mad Cow, Bird Flu and now this. Funny or not, this has all been predicted before. Yes it has in the book of Revelations from the Bible. Yes the Bible lah, in Rev 6:8 it says,

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The word beasts here in the original Greek, refers to the diminutive form of beasts. Which basically means tiny, small or perhaps even microscopic. Such are the things we face today with this swine flu and a few years ago with SARS. So should we be worried, I guess some worry is in order unless you are true believer and then there is no need to worry.

Cause you will have heard of Psalm 91.

¹ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.

Pay close attention to verse 3 it says,

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.

It is surely not maybe but definitely He will deliver, meaning save you from the snare (trap) of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence, which means destructive plagues. Here we have one who will save us and will not allow us to perish and as the chapter goes on we know that He is our refue and he will cover us under his wings and that He has be our comfort. Till the declaration in verse 7:

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.

Here fall means to be cast down with a violent death, effectively saying that death and destruction maybe all around but it shall not come near you. So folks declare this in your life. The Bible has predicted the worse and it has also given you the fix or the antidote, so step out in faith and declare it on your life! Be not fearful because He is your protection over the plagues.

So my friends, believe and let He who can fight the good fight, fight and we can just rest knowing that our trust in Him is all that is required.

M trusting Him.

I Can't but He Can

Sometimes the odds get stacked against me. Work wise, home wise and self wise. One option is to despair and be reduced to spinning out of control into oblivion.

But rather than give into the inevitable and fight for my survival, I am going to rest. My vain efforts are just going to prolong the pain so I’d rather let go. Cease, be idle and be still. For I know WHO I am and WHOSE I am.

When I can't anymore, I choose the good part and that is to rest on His finished work cause HE CAN! He is God, and I am man, my attempts at success maybe futile but through Him all things will be made new. My enemies flee leaving the spoils for me.

I do not expect most to understand as conventional wisdom prevents but the gift and the helper that is in me, shows me that true victory has already been achieved.

So there is no need to combat & no more "blood" to be shed, it is done so Rest! Cease! Be still!

M Sozo-ed

Real Reason for Easter

When you think Easter, you see colourful rabbits, beautifully painted Easter eggs which are hidden and hunted by children. Not sure how these practices and symbols got attached to this day but to me Easter is so much more.

It is a day to rejoice because Jesus has resurrected from the grave. He who knew no sin became the embodiment of sin for us that we will be saved. Not just for a time but for forever; we are sin-free.

It has no hold on us and we are removed from the bondage of guilty, pain, anguish, suffering, etc. With His finished work we can boldly enter into a land of undeserved favour, superabundant blessings, complete wholeness, never ending grace and complete righteousness.

This is what He did for us, and Easter is a yearly reminder of the price that God paid for us. As John 3:16 goes

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

But be of good cheer and rejoice that even though He died three days later he rose from the dead. Death has been swallowed up in victory.

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Taken from 1 Cor 15:54-57

M Rejoicing

8 Proven Ways To Make Life Better

Here are some easy and proven ways to improve your everyday life. I am not a motivational speaker but just an ordinary guy living in an extraordinary world. So stop sitting back and watching life go by cease the day.

1) Stop thinking of yourself as the reason why things are the way they are. Self blame never got anyone anywhere. Forgive yourself, dust the dirt of yourself and start looking ahead.

2) Do something that you always wanted to do. Don’t just ponder about it or think about it. DO IT, take action! If it is a new hobbies start it, now!

3) Forgive the people who have wronged you even if you are no longer in touch with them. Just forgive them in your mind and let go of that baggage.

4) Start a diary or a journal or even better blog to capture the great reasons why life is great. No matter how tough things get, never focus on the negative, look for that bright spark make an entry. Looking back you will remember only the good and never the bad.

5) Go hug that special someone, and keep trying till they hug you back. If you are married hug your spouse, if you are a kid hug your sibling, if you are an only child hug your best friend. If you have no friends: read 6). Idea is to make someone else feel special.

6) Get in touch with that old friend who you enjoyed spending time with, find them through Face book, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, even try the phone book. But find that person who made an impact in your life.

7) Spend time with your family. If you have kids, children spell LOVE as T.I.M.E., if you are not married spend time with your parents over a meal. Never neglect the people we often neglect the most.

8) Make each day count. Wake up each day thanking God you are alive and proclaim that this will be an awesome day. Sounds cheesy I know, but it works. If you try it and stick to it, I assure you; you will see better days and will surely benefit from it.

M

Distraction

I have been very distracted lately. Seems like there is a problem with focusing and living my normal routine. Motivation has been a little low, but this post is mark of that realisation as well as a mark that I shall not be distracted nor shall I be unmotivated.

Two big projects of mine have come to a screeching halt. 365 Photos is lagging behind by 15 days and counting. Just have not had the chance to whip out the camera to take some nice shots. In fact things have been more like today, where I have left both camera at home in my morning rush. So for sure no pictures today. I do have pictures but I just have had little drive to post them.

The other project is Skinny Ambition Tour, I have not been to gym or on a bike ride in a while. Spirit is willing but the body is tired. Yes it is tired not lazy. I am sure the drive is just a little lost and I hope that before the week is over, I would have made it to the gym at least once. Hey it is a start!

Temporary inconveniences these things, I am sure I will be back to snapping great pictures for your and my enjoyment and start to hear good if not funny stories on my Skinny Ambition Tour. It will come in time. For now, the best place to see updates are on Twitter or on the right –> @ Majimo Twitts.

Taking a few steps back and looking at the big picture, whenever challenges or tough times come into view for me, it is usually a sign that something pretty great is going to happen. It has always been this way or rather this is the way I view tough times, simply as a prelude to great times!

(Photo credit: Ben McLeod)

One thing that is looking up is that I seem to be getting a growing number of followers on Twitter each day. So definitely not all things are in the doldrums. However, in our usual morning rush, we (the wife and me) have done a phone swap. She has my phone and I have hers. So not completely out of woods with the distraction but the light is near!

M on the brink

Undeserved

"Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily" so goes the last line for one of my favourite U2 songs; City of Blindings Lights.

It's a great song about New York but the last line resonates with me. Because it is not what I do that counts but what He has done for me that is paramount. Not my "kneeling" or my work or effort.

No matter what I have done or what I do, His supply will always flow because I am open to it, I BELIEVE THEREFORE I RECIEVE.

Looking back at the last five years, my life has changed from night to day!
I have purpose, I have so much to live for and so much to look forward to and it's all thanks to Him in my life and that is just the intangibles, there are so many tangible favours as well.

I may have cursed Him, rejected Him and been angry at Him in my younger days but I come to Him now each day without guilt because His forgiveness is eternal and everlasting. I can go boldly and declare that all is well and blessed because of what He has done. Not what I do but what He has done for me.

Blessings not just for the ones who kneel, luckily!

M so blessed

Funny How Things Work

I have always been amazed by planes and ships. Probably it has been the sheer size of these things that has always blown me away. The idea of looking at a plane say a A380 or a 747, and being allowed the move around freely inside and outside to the cockpit and to be able to see behind the scenes and the work that goes into making these machines work. Same with ships more the colossal size of these things.

You know lah, men like big big things especially if there is an engine in it and when they are used for military purposes the cool factor goes up. The ultimate cool thing was an aircraft carrier; Ship, planes and military

I remember as a teenager, going to a particular vantage point in Sembawang Park to peer into the then Sembawang Naval Base, to catch a glimpse of a US Frigate or Warship and also look at the large ships from the Shipyard and thinking to myself, Wow!! I wonder what it is like to be on top of that ship and what is inside.

I even went to the length of applying for a job at ST Aerospace in year 2000, only to reject the job because they were paying pittance. To me the fact that I was able to walk past parked fighter jets at Paya Lebar Airbase and being so close was a thrill for me.

So what’s the funny part. The wife, gets to tour these facilities as part of her work and best of all she does not quite like doing it. She has toured large shipbuilding facilities around the world, been to military equipment manufacturers and now she is going to tour ST Aero. Seriously, sometimes I wish she could bring me as I pose as her research assistant or NUS attachment student.

M Envious

SideNote: Change

I am sure you have noticed that I have changed the colors of the blog to make the pictures appear nicer and make it more readable. I also wanted to get rid of those nasty border lines that just crowds the overall website.

Just added : New Header!!!

Hope you like it, feedback is appreciated.

M

41 Questions. 1 Personality

I found this online test that claims to give you your personality run down after answering 41 questions. Pretty accurate, here are my results so you decide:

Your personality type:
Quiet, reflective and idealistic. Interested in serving humanity. Well-developed value system, which they strive to live in accordance with. Extremely loyal. Adaptable and laid-back unless a strongly-held value is threatened. Usually talented writers. Mentally quick and able to see possibilities. Interested in understanding and helping people.



Careers that could fit you include:
Writers, artists, counselors, social workers, English teachers, fine arts teachers, child care workers, clergy, missionaries, psychologists, psychiatrists, scientists, political activists, editors, education consultants, journalists, religious educators, social scientists.

I tend to disagree on the careers section because these are fall into the preconcieved notions of what kind of boxes these people fit into. But after looking at each of the careers mentioned, I realise that there have been some points in my life that I thought perhaps this might be something I would like to try. So all in all quite revealing, what you think, you guys would be the best judges right.


To try out for yourself go to http://www.41q.com/


M revealed!

Camera, Flash, Focus and Shoot!

I am starting to really like the idea of a profession as a photographer. I have been once again taking photos for Yellow Light's new menu and the experience though back breaking has been rewarding and satisfying results.

I really need to get myself a good flash and learn how to use it properly. The pictures that they produce are truly astounding. The difference between amateur and professional. Honestly.

Even the wife who doubles as my assistant cum food stylist cum prop artist is really getting into it. But no matter what my first love will always be travel photography. Imagine photographing the Taj Mahal or the Pyramids of Giza or the Great Wall. Images that we have seen a thousand times over in my own camera as viewed through my own eyes. The thought of it sends tingles to my knees.

M dreaming of sand castles

Kiddly Winks

I love kids. I think that most people know this but there is nothing more amazing than God's creation and the physics and biology that goes into it.

But sometimes just observing kids and their mannerisms as they make new discoveries. I remember when my little niece Rachel discovered her fingers. The look on her face was "Wow! What is this!". It was really cute to see and it just got better as she discovered her toes and so many other things. Now she's in college studying accountancy.

Now as I am serving in my church's children ministry, I have the privilege of meeting so many children. It's an awesome privilege that I have to watch them grow up when they are my class and then to watch them getting promoted as the years roll by. What could warm the heart more than this!

I look forward to the day that I have my own kids. I know parenthood is not all fun and games but I look forward to the ride.

M Looking Forward.

Change on the Cards

Change, it is part of life. So do we need to change to improve?

I am in the midst of evaluating some new additions and new stuff for my blog. Here are a bunch of thoughts and to dos:

1) Need to change my template away from the standard Blogger template

2) What new widgets can I add to make the overall experience more....

3) How to increase the traffic to my blog, for people to get interested my bo liao-ness

$)Shall I monetize my blog - there are quite a few people out there making passive income with their blogs...why not me.... or shall I be true and not "sell out".

5) Adhere to the KISS principle, that is "Keep It Simple Stupid!"

Such decision are on the cards, so the balls are up in the air and when it land I hope for some change and not a complete number 5). Because change is something we all can believe in.

M Obama-ed

Rainbows

One thing we do not get to see often in Singapore are rainbows. Probably due to the pollution but for the last few days I been seeing them. Rainbows have a special effect on me. They raise me up into such high spirits that I just need to make the person next to me laugh or smile. Usually the wife is the one.

It takes me to my time in Perth. As I sat in the bus on a drizzly day while trundling along Mounts Bays Road and looking over the Swan River I see an array of 4 rainbows. Hmmm what an awesome a sight!

Biblically the rainbow was a signal that God's judgement was completed and that it is a reminder as to why Jesus died for us. It's the beginning of redemption and an overflow of blessings to come. So lookout! It's coming.

M anticipating.

Anonymous Irony - The Addendum

Seems that when you do a search on M..... now, my previous Anonymous Irony post shows up as well (am slapping my forehead saying "aiyooo"). But due to this, I have finally figured out why the Christmas Miscalculation is showing in searches. It's because there is a mention of a Mr. D..... in that post and with this post there is mention of the name that shan't be mentioned any further on this blog; M.....

This is too cloak and dagger even for me. Self censorship is what I have been forced to do now, this is the reason why Singapore does not have free press because the journos self censor! I am such a Singaporean...haizzzz.

M Self Censoring

Anonymous Irony

Yes it is another irony post.


In an effort to make this blog more anonymous, I have made some subtle changes. I am just wondering if it is really worth it. I have always been an advocate of free speech although living in Singapore free speech in the broad sense of the word is restricted but you know what I mean. Just the basic freedom to say what you want when you want not hurting others..............significantly. *blush*


Problem is that the Internet has made things rather easy to find and sometimes I prefer if certain people do not stumble on this here personal site, people of the judgemental nature mainly. However, at the same time I would like people in general to stumble and leave a comment or two, in the great spirit of blogging. Schizophrenic, yes?


Why the sudden urge for anonymity, well mainly because the other day, in a fit of narcissism, I Googled "m%r*l $o#e!t" (editied to protect identity of blogger) and on the 2nd page of hits there it was Christmas Miscalculation post. How that get there? I did not do anything different, I did this the same way I do all my post but why is this post listed there? *stumped*


Oh well, so I have tried to make myself more anonymous, I hope my attempts are not really visible to my regular fans but at the same time not completely futile.


M in disguise