Forgiveness

It is never easy to admit that you have made a mistake.
Some blame it on their ego : Why should I be the one who does the apologizing?
Others dislike the look of 'holier than thou' shown on the other person's face.

Forgiveness is an acquittal of sorts. It frees you from dwelling in guilt. It mends strained relationship and let us see how immature we were at times.

We must learn to forgive whatever trespasses that has been committed against us so that we can move on with our lives. The faster you get it done, the better.

We Care Week

We are doing a 'We Care' week at this moment. Well, it's supposed to be for a month..but as usual, things do not turn out as we expected. So the event is cut short to 1 week only with hopes that the lesson will last for months (and miraculously till..at least a year?). :)

The main objective is to create a 'Care' environment. To change the current working environment to a place with a positive flow. Where do we start? Maybe just with the person sitting right next to us. :) Why not?

All of us have been guilty at one time or another of disliking someone just based on their looks, money or status. Sometimes, we even accept someone based on who he/she associate or rate them based on their skills and competencies only. A very stylish but shy colleague might probably get this remark : Miss High & Mighty. Thinks she is so great that she won't make any eye contact with any of us. You think she would care to be friends with us?' Or when you see the cleaning lady doing her routine task in your office, do you just ignore her, thinking that she is a nobody and why should you waste time talking to her? How many times have you passed by a suddenly moody looking colleague and stop to ask why?

How well do we actually know a person or in some cases even ourselves?
As human beings, we all have a need to make someone or something important and worthy of our appreciation. There's a need to discover. There is a need to be noticed. There is a need to belong. We want to connect, improve, appreciate, protect, share and enrich each other in our own special ways.

Gossips and what other people says about us or do to us is not really about us. Sometimes they are the ones who have problems. But those words can effect us. If you show confidence onto someone, you will help them gain confidence. If you show distrust of them, they will very likely become sneaky. What we look for, will magically appears. People relates and responds to a certain situation at a certain time.

It's when we fail to care, that we give in to our ego. We become arrogant, judgmental, possessive and controlling. A smile and kind words costs nothing. Show that you care today.

Step back, and step out of your usual routine. Let's try and see the big picture.
Sometimes, we all need mirrors to remind ourselves of who we are.

Working Hours

According to a study commissioned by a global financial services company (UBS AG) KL people although not the hardest working people in the world (measured by hours of work in a year), we are there in the top 20 list. The report says that we work an average of slightly more than 39 hours per week.

Singaporeans are slightly above us at 40 hours a week. New York is lesser at 37 hours per week, London 34 hours a week and.. surprise, surprise.. Tokyo is doing 38 hours a week! Your colleagues in Paris works only.. 30 hours a week (an average of 6 hours per day only).

Before you give yourself a pat on the back for being among the hardest working people in the world, ask yourself this: Why is it that those highly developed countries work less hours but can be more productive than we, Malaysians, who are working at longer hours? Food for thoughts..

Insomnia

For while some people have a shoulder to cry on

It is the destiny of others that they must cry alone..

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Insomnia is a torture,

While the whole world is fast asleep, you are up all alone.

Your mind is buzzing with every random thoughts in the universe.

Sometimes, nothing comes into your head, your mind goes blank.

You become more aware of the silence.

And it is at this exact moment that you realize how alone you are...

Commitment

Sustainability isn't about the quick fix or the cheap solution.

Generally it means making a commitment and trying, as best we can, to honor it.
In preserving a relationship, we are going to encounter difficulties.
The good life is not a problem-free life.

In point of fact, the process of overcoming adversity often produces some of the most rewarding experiences we will ever have. Human beings need to be challenged to 'test their mettle,' as it were.

Throwing in the towel at the first sign of trouble or small inkling of distress may be the easy thing to do, but it doesn't help our self-concept. Most of life's troubles can be overcome if we are willing to work through them with patience.

- Michael A. Schuler

On The Move

Busy and keep running here and there to catch up with all the pending work. Taking a short break to sit down a short while and write a note to you. Do hope that you will not feel like she ignoring you.. only that she's having her hand full of things at the moment.

There are some changes going on here. Everyone can feel it but we just could not quite grasp what it is. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to spend their money on holidays and things. July which is supposed to be a low season for us , hoteliers, suddenly become so busy. There's no Public Holidays or events planned for the month but the small hotels in Melaka are enjoying an occupancy averaging 60% on weekday and 100% on weekends. As for us, the big players, weekdays where we used to get only 35% occupancy previous year, we are getting 55-60% weekdays and also 100% on weekends.

I am not complaining , as more business means achieving more than the targeted budget. But still, weird changes without any logical explanation just bugs her. She hates it when she cannot explain things. :)

It could not be the coming fasting month. The pattern has always been the same: The month preceding the fasting month has always been a slow month. Is it because of the news that the price for food items and petrol will be hike up soon is making people making last minute travelling arrangements? But the prices increase effects only Malaysia. So... how do you explain the incoming travelers from Singapore? No Mega Sales at this time also.

Hmm.. just have to dig deeper and who knows what will turn up later on. Waiting patiently. Staying on alert mode.

Even in hotel line , things are starting to move again. Nowadays, people do not really look for employees with experience any more. The targeted future employees would be those fresh from Hotel school and university graduates. The reasons: These young people are young and still can adapt to changes more quickly. They accept a much lower salary (would not say how much lower) and are motivated, eager to learn.

And.. of course...the age factor.. :) who would not like to be greeted by fresh and sweet looking young things at the registration counter. It's not easy for the undergraduates and also not easy for the over qualified staff to get jobs nowadays... unless you are willing to make a go for the higher post (to gain the experience) and willing to close one eye on the salary factor. The only way is always be on your toes.. learn new things that are happening in the market/industry and keep your list of contacts updated. Be alert k.. and do tell cat on how you are doing too.

Mirrors

'We all need mirrors to remind ourselves who we are." said Leonard Shelby - Memento-
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What do you see when you look in a mirror?
Do you see yourself as how others perceive of you? Or do you see all the things that you detested in your looks?

In life, the more a person is attractive, the more people will think he/she is good, intelligent and popular. That's reality. Women especially are more critical when it comes to the question of looks. Men look in a mirror and judged themselves better looking than they actually are. Women look in a mirror and saw..well, all sorts of things that they would like to change. Less of vanity and more because of insecurities. (That should be one of the reasons why 'bomohs' and surgeons are still much in demand).

What do I see in my mirror? A small person. with a puzzled look on her face.. Wonder what's she's thinking?