For all who will be celebrating the ushering in of the Chinese New Year of the Ox, have a great time with family, relatives and friends! Drive safely, don't drink too much, let bygones be bygones and start anew again! If you collect a lot of ang pow, enjoy it but think of those who don't have that much and do share a little!
Happy Chinese New Year!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Engish or Not?
Hi, Brian! First week in the programme and stressed out already?! Boy, that must be one tough course! Sheena's major is English? I didn't know that. How is Kai Fu managing? Does he feel the same way, too?
Some of your terms are quite foreign to me -- semantic noise! By "comp" I guess you mean "competition"? And, what do you mean by "accent English"? You mean they speak perfect British English?
BTW, who was first in English scores here in PJ?
Since you are already a counsellor and are interested in Psychology, that might be a better field to go into. And, if your coursemates speak excellent English, why is that a problem for you? You speak and write good English yourself! One of the ways to improve is to mix with people who are as good if not better than yourself. If you can handle the competition, you end up being just as good if not better! But, if you can't handle the competition, then it is better for you to find alternatives.
Think carefully before you decide. But, I think you will make the right decision. Keep me posted!
Some of your terms are quite foreign to me -- semantic noise! By "comp" I guess you mean "competition"? And, what do you mean by "accent English"? You mean they speak perfect British English?
BTW, who was first in English scores here in PJ?
Since you are already a counsellor and are interested in Psychology, that might be a better field to go into. And, if your coursemates speak excellent English, why is that a problem for you? You speak and write good English yourself! One of the ways to improve is to mix with people who are as good if not better than yourself. If you can handle the competition, you end up being just as good if not better! But, if you can't handle the competition, then it is better for you to find alternatives.
Think carefully before you decide. But, I think you will make the right decision. Keep me posted!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Mid-Year Get-Together
That sounds like a good idea, Brian! Ok, let's meet up mid-year. I think you will be able to get my UTAR email address to contact me. If you can't, just get it from Agnes and send me an email. I would rather communicate with you all via email rather than the blog because some of you don't read my blog!
When the semester starts, I know you will all be busy, and I wouldn't want to distract you. So, a mid-year get-together will be great! I will leave it to you, Brian, to get in touch with the others and organise this! Thanks for wanting to do this, Brian.
See you all soon!
When the semester starts, I know you will all be busy, and I wouldn't want to distract you. So, a mid-year get-together will be great! I will leave it to you, Brian, to get in touch with the others and organise this! Thanks for wanting to do this, Brian.
See you all soon!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Well Done and Best Wishes!
First and foremost, congratulations, Wong Kai Fu, for getting a GPA of 4! I am so glad to know that you are back in focus and able to do your best. I always believed you had it in you! I hope there will be many more semesters with a GPA of 4 or close to that so that your CGPA for your degree will be a 4 or near it! And, I hope it will get you a scholarship and encourage you to give your best to be the full measure of the person you are!
Ah, Fishie, running away from parents, huh? Don't do anything in Kampar that you would want to hide from your own children later on! But, enjoy the freedom to build good memories! Me, going to Kampar? For the moment, unlikely. But, who knows about the future!
What a pity I couldn't see you all before you left for Kampar. I know it was too late to plan for a get-together. But, never mind, do drop me a line by leaving a comment in my blog or send me an email. Infact, it would be better if you send me an email so that I can save your email addresses. And, when you come back to KL, visit me at PD block if you can. It would be nice to see you all one of these days. Keep in touch.
Until then, study hard, play, too and carpe diem!
Ah, Fishie, running away from parents, huh? Don't do anything in Kampar that you would want to hide from your own children later on! But, enjoy the freedom to build good memories! Me, going to Kampar? For the moment, unlikely. But, who knows about the future!
What a pity I couldn't see you all before you left for Kampar. I know it was too late to plan for a get-together. But, never mind, do drop me a line by leaving a comment in my blog or send me an email. Infact, it would be better if you send me an email so that I can save your email addresses. And, when you come back to KL, visit me at PD block if you can. It would be nice to see you all one of these days. Keep in touch.
Until then, study hard, play, too and carpe diem!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Recognise the Symptoms
Jeff, your comments are so fun! Kenny, I hope his comments help you. By the way, for your information, Jeff was headboy when we were in Sixth Form. And, we still keep in touch -- with a few others, too!
Anonymous is right. You need to know that the problem is depression before you can get help. Often, the depression sufferer won't know what he or she is going through. It helps a great deal if someone close recognises the symptoms and helps him or her to get help. That person must persist until the depression sufferer agrees to get help and, perhaps, even take the person to the therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist for the necessary help.
The symptoms vary depending on the degree of depression. Generally, they are a sadness that just won't go away, loss of interest or pleasure, overwhelming fear or helplessness, anxiety etc, etc, weight loss or weight gain, memory issues, tiredness and a whole lot of other symptoms. There are many websites that give information on depression, the symptoms and how to identify it. This is one website which gives a comprehensive explanation: http://www.iampanicked.com/anxiety-articles/symptoms-of-depression.htm
Generally, you feel these things which disable you from fully doing all the things a non-depression sufferer will do. In my case, I took on jobs that were under my capacity until I was able to cope.
Anonymous is right. You need to know that the problem is depression before you can get help. Often, the depression sufferer won't know what he or she is going through. It helps a great deal if someone close recognises the symptoms and helps him or her to get help. That person must persist until the depression sufferer agrees to get help and, perhaps, even take the person to the therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist for the necessary help.
The symptoms vary depending on the degree of depression. Generally, they are a sadness that just won't go away, loss of interest or pleasure, overwhelming fear or helplessness, anxiety etc, etc, weight loss or weight gain, memory issues, tiredness and a whole lot of other symptoms. There are many websites that give information on depression, the symptoms and how to identify it. This is one website which gives a comprehensive explanation: http://www.iampanicked.com/anxiety-articles/symptoms-of-depression.htm
Generally, you feel these things which disable you from fully doing all the things a non-depression sufferer will do. In my case, I took on jobs that were under my capacity until I was able to cope.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thank You, Again
Thank you all of you for your comments. Michelle, good to know that you still read my blog although you left the boys and are now in another college. The boys are still being "the boys"! Maybe, you would like to join us, too, over coffee?
And, Kimmie, thanks again for your wonderful comments. It is all of you who make this blog count and encourage me to keep on writing!
And, Kimmie, thanks again for your wonderful comments. It is all of you who make this blog count and encourage me to keep on writing!
The Message Is: Get Help and LIVE!
Depression is an illness and like all illnesses we should get medical treatment to get better. That is the point of my previous article: If you are a depression sufferer, get help because with help you can still live a good life. THAT is my point: Get help and LIVE -- to the fullest!
I lived because I got help, unasked. The reason I didn't ask for help wasn't because I didn't need it. Nor because I thought, "Yes, I am suffering from depression but God will heal me!" No, I am not stupid! If for a simple bout of flu, I seek medical help, you can be sure that for something such as depression, I would have sought help. I would have prayed and got help! I didn't seek help because I didn't know that the problem was depression. I didn't know what was going on then because I was a mess!
I thought that the underlying problems were faith-related. You see, during that time, I had lost faith. I didn't believe. But, for some reason, I could not reject Jesus Christ because He lived and was a historical person. I figured that if He really is God He would have to show that to me through my human understanding, faulty though the latter is! And, I started to read the Bible to know what I could know. As I did that, a peculiar thing happened. I found out that when I approached the Bible from a position of rational thought, my internal stress remained. But, when I approached by faith and not rational thought my internal stress reduced.
Of course, my survival instincts intuitively told me to opt for the less stressful course which was to believe the Bible by faith, Consequently I found I was getting better. So, I exercised faith and got better day by day!
It was only much later when I realised that the problem was depression that I went to see a psychiatrist to confirm it. He said yes, it was depression but that the worst was over. It was then that I was overcome with overwhelming gratitude for what God had done. I thought I was addressing faith issues but through it I got the help I needed to get through depression. Only God could have done that. That was when I realised that He showed me who He really is. I am eternally grateful for what He has done and make no apologies for what I believe. This was my journey of faith. I didn't plan it; it happened the way it did.
Even then, I got medical help. I was on medication for a month and didn't have to go back again. By faith I was able to confront the demons of my past and booted them out. No more haunting from the past! That is how it has been since then!
The point I want to make now is simply this: If you are a depression sufferer get help. Infact, get all the help you can. I think depression is more prevalent than people are willing to admit. Instead of suffering quietly, get help and live. That is the point: Get all the help you can -- spiritual, emotional, physical and medical -- and live to the fullest!
Having said that, I want to add here that although I hate saying "goodbye", I do say them! Infact, some goodbyes are final and necessary. If someone close to you passes away or a bad relationship has to come to an end, it is better to say goodbye. As is normal, I hurt, but I recover. I let go and move on.
So, my dear Fishie, why be miserable? You are just going four hours north to Kampar! That is not "goodbye". That is: "Go, go. Do your thing and live it up! And, occasionally drop me a note about how you are." Keep in touch!
You know, some of my Form Six mates and our English Literature lecturer with whom we got on fabulously still keep in touch. When we were starting out on our careers we didn't have time to meet up. But, now that we are established and have more time on our hands, we meet up, like once a year, always around Christmas and it is fun. We are good company!
So, we can do the same, too. Why don't we meet up over coffee before you go off to Kampar? Get some of the others to join us -- like Agnes, Raagi, Raga (if his train from Kajang will come on time!), Kai Fu (especially, him!), Meng Leong, Brian and some of the others. I would like to see you all before you go off. We could meet at SP Corner or at any other place you like. Could you get in touch with them and organise it, Fishie? Agnes has my email so you can contact me immediately and I can give you my new phone number. I know it is a bit rushed but we could still make it. I would be free on Tues after 2, Wed after 4, Thurs after 3 and Fri after 4pm.
Shall we get together? I still am waiting for Kai Fu to buy me coffee under the banana tree!
I lived because I got help, unasked. The reason I didn't ask for help wasn't because I didn't need it. Nor because I thought, "Yes, I am suffering from depression but God will heal me!" No, I am not stupid! If for a simple bout of flu, I seek medical help, you can be sure that for something such as depression, I would have sought help. I would have prayed and got help! I didn't seek help because I didn't know that the problem was depression. I didn't know what was going on then because I was a mess!
I thought that the underlying problems were faith-related. You see, during that time, I had lost faith. I didn't believe. But, for some reason, I could not reject Jesus Christ because He lived and was a historical person. I figured that if He really is God He would have to show that to me through my human understanding, faulty though the latter is! And, I started to read the Bible to know what I could know. As I did that, a peculiar thing happened. I found out that when I approached the Bible from a position of rational thought, my internal stress remained. But, when I approached by faith and not rational thought my internal stress reduced.
Of course, my survival instincts intuitively told me to opt for the less stressful course which was to believe the Bible by faith, Consequently I found I was getting better. So, I exercised faith and got better day by day!
It was only much later when I realised that the problem was depression that I went to see a psychiatrist to confirm it. He said yes, it was depression but that the worst was over. It was then that I was overcome with overwhelming gratitude for what God had done. I thought I was addressing faith issues but through it I got the help I needed to get through depression. Only God could have done that. That was when I realised that He showed me who He really is. I am eternally grateful for what He has done and make no apologies for what I believe. This was my journey of faith. I didn't plan it; it happened the way it did.
Even then, I got medical help. I was on medication for a month and didn't have to go back again. By faith I was able to confront the demons of my past and booted them out. No more haunting from the past! That is how it has been since then!
The point I want to make now is simply this: If you are a depression sufferer get help. Infact, get all the help you can. I think depression is more prevalent than people are willing to admit. Instead of suffering quietly, get help and live. That is the point: Get all the help you can -- spiritual, emotional, physical and medical -- and live to the fullest!
Having said that, I want to add here that although I hate saying "goodbye", I do say them! Infact, some goodbyes are final and necessary. If someone close to you passes away or a bad relationship has to come to an end, it is better to say goodbye. As is normal, I hurt, but I recover. I let go and move on.
So, my dear Fishie, why be miserable? You are just going four hours north to Kampar! That is not "goodbye". That is: "Go, go. Do your thing and live it up! And, occasionally drop me a note about how you are." Keep in touch!
You know, some of my Form Six mates and our English Literature lecturer with whom we got on fabulously still keep in touch. When we were starting out on our careers we didn't have time to meet up. But, now that we are established and have more time on our hands, we meet up, like once a year, always around Christmas and it is fun. We are good company!
So, we can do the same, too. Why don't we meet up over coffee before you go off to Kampar? Get some of the others to join us -- like Agnes, Raagi, Raga (if his train from Kajang will come on time!), Kai Fu (especially, him!), Meng Leong, Brian and some of the others. I would like to see you all before you go off. We could meet at SP Corner or at any other place you like. Could you get in touch with them and organise it, Fishie? Agnes has my email so you can contact me immediately and I can give you my new phone number. I know it is a bit rushed but we could still make it. I would be free on Tues after 2, Wed after 4, Thurs after 3 and Fri after 4pm.
Shall we get together? I still am waiting for Kai Fu to buy me coffee under the banana tree!
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