Base your decisions on thought and perception rather than assumptions. Don't get trapped by assuming what is no longer true.

Be careful not to use your assumptions as excuses for avoiding action. Question and challenge those assumptions, and focus on what you wish to accomplish.

The world changes with every moment. What you once assumed to be true may no longer be true, and may never have actually been true in the first place.

Look at the world in front of you with eyes free of judgment. Consider all the possibilities, especially those that seem particularly outrageous.

Instead of assuming that you can't, feel the confidence that comes from knowing you can. Hiding behind every assumption there are new opportunities ready to be explored.

Let go of the assumptions that may be holding you back. And discover how very much you can do.

-- Ralph Marston

From: http://greatday.com/motivate/090121.html

I had a chat with an old friend of mine via msn today, and I was surprised by the amount of wisdom from this friend of mine. It's been 4 years since she left Singapore for Australia, and I starkly feel that difference between her and Singaporeans of her age. I recalled that she was a person with very strong determination and will, and blessed with the drive to complete what she sets out to do. I feel her assertiveness and passion from those few sentences between us, and I wonder about the world.

Because, you see, the world is an essay and we live in a 'full-stop'. We're so sheltered that it scares me. There's so many restrictions, each greater than the previous, in this tiny dot on the map. Already, I'm feeling the stress of the future, as the release of the results draw ever closer.

She told me to get out of my restricted zone, apply for a visa, and go somewhere further, just so that I could see the numerous rules that dictate my mindset ever since I was brought up.

I said, but there's so many restrictions, like money (for example).

And she told me, "if you dare take a risk, just save up for the flight and leave the rest for getting a job."

Can I?

I wonder, in the future, how am I supposed to feed and care for my parents and support my sister through school? How, can I take a leap of faith and risk things in my life with so much to consider? My actions do not affect me alone, but my family, and my friends. I choose my own path to walk, but I cannot abandon my responsibilities.

So many choices to make, and I'm at the mercy of never-ceasing ticking of time.

She said, "again, it's up to you. just like in writing."

I've realised it's been eons since I last posted about anything. Hoho.

Current status: Unemployed. Single. AND bored.

Gosh. I need some excitement in my life.

Just a meme I've gotten from one of my friends in livejournal. It's about my year in 2008, a tad late though. hehe.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Watched a movie with a friend on my birthday.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No. I don't think so, because studies have shown that New Year resolutions makes people more depressed when they are unable to keep them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. A cousin of mine and my aunt did, but they aren't really close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Dear old beloved Singapore was my only habitation in this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A mirror that tells me who I am and points out my flaws.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular dates were of importance, unless you're talking about me remembering my friends' birthdates.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Managed to ride a bicycle with some skill.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My school results. My social interactions.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Does old injures count?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My pens. They're essential to me.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I dunno...

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People I knew... I don't think they know why though. Anyway it's all a thing of the past.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food. Enough said.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Prom. But then the 2 days before the actual thing, the excitement died off somehow.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
The truth that you leave, by superpiano. It's on the playlist in this blog.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Sadder.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter? Thinner? I'm not sure.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Studying. Maybe I should have just locked myself in the room to study more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Slacking off at home.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Had spent it alone in the house, gaming.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No, I fell out of a one-sided love though.

23. How many one-night stands?
Zero.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Ten brothers. It got me hooked on for a while with its humour.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Sorry if it sounds cliché or fake, but I've never hated any one. I will never forgive that one person though.

26. What was the best book you read?
Does fanfiction count?

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Drummania at arcades.

28. What did you want and get?
Err...

29. What did you want and not get?
Oh, there's plenty to list.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Hmm.... Oh, right. Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Although it's on a DVD I rented.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
18 on that day. Went out to eat and walk around town with Astrea and Arthur, and went for a night movie with Wan Mun.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More love going around~

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
It's the same as always... until I get enough cash to buy more clothes again.

34. What kept you sane?
My cynical and dark side, taking over when I needed a rest. She's typing this right now, by the way.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Was never interested. Ellen Degeneres is a pretty interesting and funny host on TV though.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama. The Economic Crisis. It was vital to read about them because of GP and Econs in school.

37. Who did you miss?
Some acquaintances. I don't know why either.. maybe it was the fond memories.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
A financial consultant. She was friendly and all, and even sent me a Christmas and Birthday card. A great person, even though it's professional protocol or stuff like that.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Pain. All different sorts of them.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I don't listen to many songs, so I can't quote one. There's a quote that I identify with.

In the days to come, the happiest, most beautiful memories fade. You would only remember the hard times, and you will cry... and cry... and cry... You'll cry not because of the hard times because they made you stronger, but because of the good times that you'll never go through again... and they're lost forever in your memories. And the knowledge of this... is enough to make anyone cry.