It all started with integrity and ended up with a burp!
The past few weeks seemed to have gone by so slowly. It must have been the hardest weeks of my life and truth be told ... I am not sure when this difficult season is going to be over. I have never felt so stressed, mentally drained and physically exhausted.
I taught a class on Christians@Work and how having integrity is so important for Christians. By "integrity" I mean knowing who we are in God (our identity) and living out a life that is reflective of who we say we are and what we say we will do.
And so the test began ...
I found myself suddenly overloaded with work. I blew most of my deadlines. Everyone was edgy. And to top it all, Murphy's Law was at work. Whatever that could possibly go wrong, went wrong. Everything was urgent, and things just didn't go as planned. From having your company's speaker arriving at the wrong hotel to having your company name spelt "ASS ...." on the meeting room door and many more! The most frustrating thing was, it was all completely out of my control.
Time out came this weekend. I went for a four-hour massage spa and cremebath. It was heavenly beginning with a sauna then a body scrub followed by a 90-minute body massage and ending with a cremebath for my hair. But I must say, it was one of the most noisy massages I have ever been through. The Indonesian masseuse kept burping throughout the massage from the time she started massaging my feet all the way through to my shoulders and arms when I was given the cremebath.
I was later told that I was the reason for all that noise (burp!) from the masseuse. Apparently this is a common occurance when Malay or Indonesian massuese massages her customers. If the "wind" that's accumulated in your body does not come out from the customers via burps or farts then it gets passed on to the masseuse and she would have no choice but to release the "wind" by burping. Well, I must say it was my first time experiencing a burping masseuse.
Well ... it is also the most stressful time I have ever been in!
Given all the misfortunes in my life of late, frankly, I am just thankful that it wasn't me burping or farting away. It would have been an extremely embarrassing moment considering my colleague was just next door!
Anyway, moral of the story is life sucks from time to time. Sometimes, having done all, things can still go very wrong. There's no right or wrong nor should one be pointing the finger at someone else or oneself.
I still haven't got it all figured out. It there was one thing I learnt through this time so far, it's to have a clear conscience that I have done my best and it's now time to trust God to do the rest. The burps, tears and laughter in the low seasons help release tension and provide a good night's sleep.
I highly recommend massages to get through tough times. The next time you go through one, remember "Burp!"
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
WANTED: The Alternative Male
I had an out-of-this-world conversation with a friend today. I didn't expect the surprising twists and turns in the conversation; nevertheless, I found the entire exchange rather amusing.
The conversation with a friend went like this ...
I said: I am headed to Bangkok this weekend. Apart from work, perhaps, I may get some sightseeing done. But I really don't know what I should be doing as a single gal - should I roam the streets of Bangkok or just head straight for the shopping complex? Or God forbid, hide in my hotel room and work throughout every single waking hour of my weekend?
She said: Hey, I know a friend, who may be willing to show you around. He is a really nice guy and enjoys meeting people and showing them around. He could also take you to a really good tailor and you could get a few suits made.
I said (thinking that she was trying to set me up): Really? He wouldn't mind showing a complete stranger around?
She said: Don't worry, he's a really nice guy. Dresses really well. He's really good in terms of giving advice on which tie patterns are in and which one's out. He's also enjoys cooking and getting everyone together for a meal. ... He also would be the one to do up the interiors of the home ...
I said: Wow! Sounds like a really cool guy ...
I am thinking: WOW! He doesn't mind cooking ... and cleaning, perhaps! He also likes decorating the house. He also sounds like the perfect host! Hummmm ....
She said: Oh but I've got to warn you ... he's gay!
(Surprised and at a lost for words) I said: Gay!!!!! Does he look gay?
She said: No he doesn't. He looks Thai!
I said (somewhat laughing, amazed that I am having this conversation): Oh! No kidding! Really? He sounds like a really, really nice guy. Perhaps, a good catch for me ... he can do all the cooking, cleaning, and decorations for the home ... all the things that I don't do well or if at all ...
She said (trying to conceal her shock): And he also is a really good listener and likes to get into all the details!
I said (smiling contentedly): Cool! Happy to meet with him this weekend if he doesn't mind showing a complete stranger around. I think he will be a good match for me (wink!)
She said (trying to keep a straight face): I am sure he wouldn't mind meeting you for lunch at the very least.
I said: Yes, if he doesn't mind, I would be happy to meet with him. He doesn't need to be there the whole afternoon. If he could just point out the places to visit, things to see, and how to get there ... I am sure I would be able to fill my weekend nicely. (Grin)
Facebook Question: What is the one thing I learnt today?
Answer: My best bet for a life partner could very well be an alternative guy, who enjoys cooking, cleaning, enjoys interior decorations, fashion consultation, and enjoy the details ... generally things that I don't have time to do or don't like to do! Hahahaha!
The afterthought: Mind you, the alternative male could be someone who naturally enjoys the "finer" or "fairer" things in life - an absolutely acceptable modern male attribute. They may not be the typical macho Marlboro men as society has portrayed the "real" men to be, but that does not necessarily mean they are gay. I prefer to call them the alternative (modern) male, who are not afraid to get in touch with their emotions or seek to express himself in creative ways that used to be stereotypical attributes for females.
As for those who thrive in the corporate rat race, let us not forget that at the end of the race, we will still be rats! As "ratty" as we may be in the corporate world, we all (or at least I) desire to return to a place that exuberates peace, comfort, and love. It may not be a place where I spend all my energies trying to pull together ... that's where I think the alternative male partner would complement me and be brilliant in being who he naturally is!
The conversation with a friend went like this ...
I said: I am headed to Bangkok this weekend. Apart from work, perhaps, I may get some sightseeing done. But I really don't know what I should be doing as a single gal - should I roam the streets of Bangkok or just head straight for the shopping complex? Or God forbid, hide in my hotel room and work throughout every single waking hour of my weekend?
She said: Hey, I know a friend, who may be willing to show you around. He is a really nice guy and enjoys meeting people and showing them around. He could also take you to a really good tailor and you could get a few suits made.
I said (thinking that she was trying to set me up): Really? He wouldn't mind showing a complete stranger around?
She said: Don't worry, he's a really nice guy. Dresses really well. He's really good in terms of giving advice on which tie patterns are in and which one's out. He's also enjoys cooking and getting everyone together for a meal. ... He also would be the one to do up the interiors of the home ...
I said: Wow! Sounds like a really cool guy ...
I am thinking: WOW! He doesn't mind cooking ... and cleaning, perhaps! He also likes decorating the house. He also sounds like the perfect host! Hummmm ....
She said: Oh but I've got to warn you ... he's gay!
(Surprised and at a lost for words) I said: Gay!!!!! Does he look gay?
She said: No he doesn't. He looks Thai!
I said (somewhat laughing, amazed that I am having this conversation): Oh! No kidding! Really? He sounds like a really, really nice guy. Perhaps, a good catch for me ... he can do all the cooking, cleaning, and decorations for the home ... all the things that I don't do well or if at all ...
She said (trying to conceal her shock): And he also is a really good listener and likes to get into all the details!
I said (smiling contentedly): Cool! Happy to meet with him this weekend if he doesn't mind showing a complete stranger around. I think he will be a good match for me (wink!)
She said (trying to keep a straight face): I am sure he wouldn't mind meeting you for lunch at the very least.
I said: Yes, if he doesn't mind, I would be happy to meet with him. He doesn't need to be there the whole afternoon. If he could just point out the places to visit, things to see, and how to get there ... I am sure I would be able to fill my weekend nicely. (Grin)
Facebook Question: What is the one thing I learnt today?
Answer: My best bet for a life partner could very well be an alternative guy, who enjoys cooking, cleaning, enjoys interior decorations, fashion consultation, and enjoy the details ... generally things that I don't have time to do or don't like to do! Hahahaha!
The afterthought: Mind you, the alternative male could be someone who naturally enjoys the "finer" or "fairer" things in life - an absolutely acceptable modern male attribute. They may not be the typical macho Marlboro men as society has portrayed the "real" men to be, but that does not necessarily mean they are gay. I prefer to call them the alternative (modern) male, who are not afraid to get in touch with their emotions or seek to express himself in creative ways that used to be stereotypical attributes for females.
As for those who thrive in the corporate rat race, let us not forget that at the end of the race, we will still be rats! As "ratty" as we may be in the corporate world, we all (or at least I) desire to return to a place that exuberates peace, comfort, and love. It may not be a place where I spend all my energies trying to pull together ... that's where I think the alternative male partner would complement me and be brilliant in being who he naturally is!
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