God is good, all the time

I've been experiencing so much of God's goodness lately that I just want to share them here. I went for my regular doctor appointment at SGH yesterday morning. It is a well known fact that parking is quite a nightmare over there. Many times, I will pray for a parking lot when I reach there and God answered my prayer most of the time. It happened again yesterday. What amazes me was that I did not wait at the usual section of the carpark after praying. I can't explain why but I just decided to stay put at another section. In my heart, I was wondering if I can get a lot here as past experience tells me that there's a higher chance in the other section. Nonetheless, I stayed put. True enough, I had hardly waited and a car was preparing to drive off. PTL!

Next, seeing this regular doctor of mine often takes hours of waiting due to the long queue and his dedicated examination. Yet, I managed to see my doctor and cleared the pharmacy all within an hour. As far as I can recall, this has never happen before. The best thing is, when I picked up a queue number at the pharmacy, there were 10 people before me. I took the time to run some errands and when I came back, the digital display was flashing my queue number. Talk about God's perfect timing! :)

Now, the next blessing happened just this afternoon. I came face to face with a peeping lizard when I took down my room's curtain for laundry. I was so shocked and thought if it's dead or alive. I got my answer in less than 5 seconds. It disappeared under my nose! It wasn't under the bed or anywhere so I reckon it must be in the pile of curtain. I was thinking "God, what's the best way to deal with it?". I decided that my room space is too tight for a battle ground. I dragged the pile of curtain to my main door. I was thinking of flinging the curtain at the corridor to get the lizard out of my house. Lo and behold, the lizard crawled out of the curtain and was at the entrance of my door! I spoke to the lizard "go out, get out now" and it crawled out. OMG, tell me about the power of our tongue :P

I know I will not have peace until I know the lizard is gone forever, so I continued to pursue it with all my might. At one point, it almost went into the rooster nb's house. An 'evil' thought came to my mind but my logical mind tells me that if it can migrate to my nb's place, it can also visit me again. No way man! I pursued it relentlessly until it finally migrated to another world. What a great sense of victory and relief! *phew*

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

Another book I'd like to recommend is T. Harv Eker's "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the inner game of wealth". The author believes that there is a money blueprint in our mind, and how we think, feel about money will determine our financial status. Thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to actions, which lead to results - the key to attaining wealth begins with thinking. Not just any thinking, but think like the rich do. T. Harv Eker encourages readers that we can all re-program our thinking and that successis a learnable skill.

There are 17 principles mentioned in this book that compares the differences in thinking between the rich and the poor/middle class. Behind each of these principles, the author has interesting stories to illustrate the point. Although it may not go down well with some people, it is nonetheless an interesting and thought-provoking read.

If you are 'Z-type reader', aka either busy or lazy, you can simply zoom in to the 17 principles. However, if you have time to spare, it would be more beneficial to read the book.

1. Rich people believe "I create my life." Poor people believe, "Life happens to me."
2. Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.
3. Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.
4. Rich people think big. Poor people think small.
5. Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.
6. Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.
7. Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.
8. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.
9. Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.
10. Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.
11. Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.
12. Rich people think "both." Poor people think "either/or."
13. Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.
14. Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.
15. Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.
16. Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.
17. Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

An additional note: If you believe in the existence of an Almighty God, Heavenly Father, you may find that much of the contents are quite similar to bibical principles. Then again, most self-enrichment books, theories, tactics are based on biblical teachings. However, you may not agree with some parts of the book. In those instances, just take the meat and throw out the bones, ok? ;)

Hello 2010

It's been a long time since I last blogged. I had wanted to have a 'Farewell 2009' post but somehow, I just didn't manage to get down to it. I read a few good books in the last 2 months of 2009. It got me inspired and motivated to begin a new year :) If you are interested in killing procrastination, goal-setting and time management, do check out:

1. Eat that Frog! - 21 great ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time
2. Goals!: How to get everything faster you want - faster than you ever thought possible

Both books were written by Brian Tracy. You can either borrow them from the library or download free ebook version. I've even come across audio MP3 version for 'Eat that frog'. Just google and you'll find them all.

It's a polka dot day

Life can be so unpredictable. One day, you're happy and well, but misfortune could just be waiting outside your door the next day. I woke up early 2 days ago, just like any other Sundays. Everything was normal except that some pimple-like rashes have found their way to the side of my face. This is terrible.... As if it's not enough for me to put up with a swollen foot, now I've got this rash that sprang out of nowhere.

I went to SGH yesterday and both my usual doctors were unavailable. What luck eh, I thought? By the grace of God, a twist of events ended up having another doctor to see me. She gave me antibiotics for the rash but couldn't do much about my swollen foot except asking me to 'kiao ka' at home, aka raise it high up. Gotta take the AB every 6 hours, even in the middle of the night :( Hope my disrupted sleep pays off, the rash better subside before the end of this week. I feel like a prisoner cooped up at home. Of all days, why must it be this week?? *eyes rolling*

Thank God the swell on my foot has subsided much. At least it doesn't look like pig trotters and I could bend my toes now :) Looking forward to wearing heels next week and hopefully I don't need concealers to cover my polka dots when I go downtown.

My nest needs a transformation

A friend emailed me today that he's dropping by my nest after his kids' exams, to see the orchids at my place. OMG was the only thing I could think of when I saw his email. Firstly, I don't think there are many orchids blooming at my place at this moment. Secondly, my nest is not in a state to receive guests, and that's what's really bothering me. I wouldn't mind as much if it's a friend who's seen the worst of my place. But certainly, not someone who's coming here for the first time *omg*

Can anyone tell me when the exams will be over? Gosh, how much time do I have to transform my humble nest into a showflat? :( Few weeks ago, I visited K's new nest and I was impressed with the tidiness, cleanliness, cosyness of her place. It makes me wanna set an iron gate and chain over my nest in case someone takes a peek. Just last weekend, I popped by L's nest. She moved in 6 months ago and her place is still spick and span. I felt as if I have stepped into a showflat, except that it comes with a chihuahua that has a toy bear (oh my heart goes out to that poor bear).

I've long wanted to overhaul my nest but sigh, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Sometimes I wish I could just push things through but I know there's a price to pay after that :( I can't remember when I started to feel 'less is more' and I really wanted it, if I can have my way. Maybe it's a sign that age is catching up, priorities have changed. Perhaps, the key contributing factor is still the fact that I don't have as much energy and strength to maintain my possessions regularly. So the best option is to live simply and thou shall simply live.

Not too long ago, a friend of mine overhauled part of his nest and I saw the pictures. Frankly, before the transformation, the place was already in an ever-ready-for-guests mode. After the transformation, wow... it was another showflat although my friend modestly insisted that it looks spacious because he has neither budget nor space to accomodate more furnitures. Oh come on, my friend, less is more. The minimalist knows best.

Back to my humble place... perhaps next week is the only window for me to do some magic. Hopefully, both my spirit and flesh are willing and able :) You will know if I have succeeded, if you receive an invitation to an open house.