Friend from Abroad

"Yesterday brought the beginning, tomorrow brings the end, and somewhere in the middle we became the best of friends." ~Author Unknown

Today, cat receive a visit from a 'friend' who came back for a vacation from Dubai. How she has changed. And how "we" have changed.

Yesterday, we were merely co-workers, each doing her own job and sometimes we do fight; spats more like it. She being on the customer point of view and cat being on the hotel's view (Trying to maximize the room revenue).

Last year, she resigned and went to try her destiny in Dubai. We had a fun time at the farewell party, with coke bottles splashing everywhere in the office and afterwards when things had died down, we sit down and talked. Bits and pieces of everydays life. And it continues with ym..and..slowly cat begin to understand her. She had thought of cat as a too strict a manager and cat had thought of her as being too playful. But under all that layers, there's a fine person underneath.

Today, seeing her in cat's office, with her previously short hair, which has grown longer and her sunny smile, cat did not have a chance to really talk to her. Well, dear ex-collegue, cat just want to say that cat is proud of what she has done, what she is today and for being a friend.

This is for her :
The aim of life is to live. And to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller-
Live life to the fullest, girl.

Signing off,
Cat

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Life is pain, princess. . . anyone who says differently is selling something
-Wesley The Princess Bride-

A Smiley for A Tired Cat

Actions speak louder than words. :)

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Let's talk about a very basic thing that most of us forget: the value of a smile.



A new colleague just joined the office last week and was eager to make a pleasing impression on everyone and be one of the crowd. She followed everyone for lunch and even offered to help anyone that needs a helping hand. But she hasn't done anything about her face. She looks so strict and sour most of the time that people dare not ask her for anything.



This thought came back to cat as cat was waiting for her turn for the repeat driving test today. There were 22 of us who has to do the parking test and most of us (mostly women, of course..) were nervous and jittery about it. Everyone was looking so serious and no one was talking to each other. Each was occupied with their thoughts..maybe memorizing the steps on how to park a car. Then, suddenly an attendant came in to the waiting room and switch on the tv, leaving it on the cartoon channel.



A guy started making a funny comment on the cartoon that was shown. Then another guy started laughing....and suddenly all of us started laughing too. All our fears evaporated.. and soon everyone was smiling. That certainly broke the ice. Cat smiled too and started asking the person next too her on her last test drive. And then everyone joined in to tell stories too.

Cat did mention previously in one of cat's article. It does not take much to make someone else smile. A smiley or a nice word at a friend's YM or chat box can do the job . Really.. :p

Don't feel like smiling? Dale Carnegie has a good advice on this: Force yourself to smile. If you are alone, force yourself to hum, whistle or sing. Act as if you are already happy and that will tend to make you happy. Happiness does not depend on outward conditions. It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy. It's what you think about it.

So, don't worry, be happy. :) A smile for you on this lovely night. Sweet dreams.