R U OKAY? DAY

Yellow Boost deals and love letters.

During primary school, my teacher told us that God gave us two eyes, ears and one mouth because seeing and listening is more important than speaking. From a management perspective, it got all the kids to keep their mouths shut and sit quietly in the classroom. Yet as I grew older and out of the classroom (ha, not really), I still stand by this notion. We're getting busier than ever, trying to establish independence and a future of our own. It's not surprising to get caught up with tomorrow this, and tomorrow that. Our eyes, ears and mouths are now focused on ourselves that we may sometimes be blinded to those who are visibly or secretly struggling around us. 

Sometimes it is this idea of tomorrow that may be the very thing that makes us bleak and miserable. Whatever it may be, and whether you wish to talk about it or not - you are not alone. It's okay to ask for help and make mistakes. So on RUOKAY? Day, let's look out and listen to each other. It only takes three words to change a life.

 

Goodbye August

5 Things I (Re)Learned Over the Past Month

*Inspired by this post

1. Show up on time. To classes, to work and to events. If I loved you enough, I would have met you 30 - 60 minutes later than the arranged time at least once by now. I always kid myself into believing that I have plenty of time: to sleep in for that extra 5...30 minutes, put on my face, choose my clothes, pick out my shoes, pack my bag...oh shit they're already waiting for me....

2. Remind myself that people care about me. For no apparent reason, there's always one day where I'd convince myself that I'm useless to everyone around me. Terrible thoughts come to mind, insisting that it wouldn't be a surprise if all my friends stopped talking to me. Hated me even. I've never told anyone this before because fortunately, I always come out as a winner in the end. I fight off the anxiety. I lift my head up high and smile. I remind myself that I'm stronger, because of you. It would absolutely break my heart if I had lost any of you. You are important to me. 

3. Take care of your soul. Running is therapeutic. It's just me and the music pumping along. I don't answer my phone. I don't care who commented on who or whether I've got any notifications. For one hour, I am free to be on my own. As a result, I drink up more H2O --> better sleep --> amazingly reduced dark circles! Crocheting my beanie plays a role too. 

4. Establish a freaking budget. Spend more on experiences, rather than materialistic items. Save up for one massive shopping spree. Go all out on that day instead of buying things every week. Set a weekly amount for transport. Always carry snacks so I don't end up buying something usually unhealthy when I'm hungry out. Spoil my mates even when it's not their birthday. If they want crispy potato wedges from Maccas, then you get it for them. 

5. Say yes more. Take more risks to new situations and people. Don't be afraid to introduce myself first. Not everyone is going to be my cup of tea, and so will I. You can "kill them with kindness". Hand in my resume face to face.  Be confident or just fake it till you make it! Afraid of rejection? 

"You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - Christopher Robin (21 quotes to get you through). 

6. Get shit done. It's the ugly truth. Do the readings. Do the assessments early. Take this time now to fill my mind with the important stuff for exams. The end of semester 2 is going to creep up on me really fast whether I like it or not. Take advantage of more driving opportunities so I can earn how to fucking merge. 

Rise

"You think you know death, but you don't. Not until you've seen it, really seen it. It gets under your skin and lives inside you. You also think you know life, stand on the edge of things and watch it go by but you're not living it, not really. Just a tourist - a ghost. Then you see it, really see it. It gets under your skin and lives inside you and there's no escape. There's nothing to be done and you know what it's good, it's a good thing. And that's all I've got to say about it." 

Thank you, Skins.

Goodbye July

Cheers to a new semester...!

Hope everyone is well. 

Winter holidays 2013

Hello there blogettes! Semester one is finally done and dusted and I am officially a free child for the next five weeks. Time to consecutively fall back into my 12+ hours sleeping pattern and movie marathons till my parents find me brain dead in bed with the laptop still running. It's up to my family and friends to save me this winter!

• Hostage movie marathon with S.  
• Warm Bodies with L. 
• Ikea date with L & S. 
• City shopping spree with S . 
• Post exams dinner and drinks. 
• Hot springs.
• Starbucks catch up with W, M & S. 
• Catch up with L. 
• 1000 Steps. 
• Paint mugs at Y's house with S & J. 
• S&S catch up.
• Snow street festival. 
• Grand Union Cinema with S. 
• S's house.
• Work dinner. 

• Cinemas with family.
• Print out family photos.
• Reach 4km in 40 min. 
• Boxhill with family. 
• Purchase belated birthday gifts.
• Write a letter to J. 

I write about it here http://k-hameday.tumblr.com/

Introverted problems

Mentally exhausted. 

Things are becoming too overwhelming for me...
I have to remember it's okay to feel this way.

Goodbye June

At exactly one year ago, I wrote this:

I must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed today, or my hormones are being a total bitch. Maybe both. Today is shit. 
I want to leave this place. 
I want to stay in bed for the whole day. 
I don't want to do anything. I don't give a fuck.

Woah, hold up. What was I thinking? Why was I so mad that day? It honestly feels as if I've just been slapped in the face when I re-read this. Whatever rut I was emotionally stuck in, the sense of hostility between the lines is disturbingly intriguing. Today, I'm here. I'm different. I can fortunately state that 2013 has so far brought me better days. My mind has become a lot clearer. I no longer feel trapped underneath conscious weights as frequently as before. However, I'd be a definite fool to make such promises to never feel the dark again. My former self serves as a reminder to the inevitable suffering in life. Everyone is damned. There is no escape from it. Life is suffering. Suffering is life. One day, I will return to the above state of mind again. Be glad, mad or sad. Time changes everyone. 

Ruby Sparks (2013)

"I'm sorry for every word I wrote to change you, I'm sorry for so many things. I couldn't see you when you were here and now that you're gone, I see you everywhere." 

Ruby Sparks was genius.

Winter is here.

Hello internet. I recently realized that the phrase "Winter is coming" was actually the first episode of Game of Thrones. I haven't started the series just yet, as well as many other shows my friends have been eagerly watching. These nights so far have been spent on readings and lectures in preparation for the dreaded exams happening in two weeks. After all this uni stuff, I'll put up my annual Winter holiday list! 

Study hard and good luck everyone. I shall be back on the other side.