looking back @ 2013

2013 has been a rather peaceful year for me, relatively speaking. And I am blessed to have received help and assistance from many around me this year. I am sincerely grateful to and for them.

Looking back, I  can’t seem to find any major upheaval of any sort. Yes, I’ve been pissed and frustrated quite a few times during the year, but nothing that I can’t get over. Most of them stemmed from unrealistic expectation and assumptions I have of people that I thought were my friends. So for the coming year, I will no longer allow these people to affect me in any ways. Will spend more time with positive people, friends and family, whenever possible. Life is too short, ignore all morons and negativity.

School-wise, 2013 was not too bad. Chosen an advisor who allows me the freedom and space to do things my way. Best decision ever for 2013. Had 2 papers published in a so-so journal. One was previously my homework assignment (me as first author) that I have improved upon, while the other was a proofreading job with extra perks (got paid and got listed as 3rd author :) ). So I will not set targets that are any lesser for 2014.

Health-wise, 2013 was a lazy year. The estate that I’m staying has a (free) gym of sort, so for the coming year I resolve to make use of it more often and start jogging more frequently. I am already doing lots of home-cooking ever since I moved to this place in June, so for 2014 I’m gonna eat more greens and fruits, and use less oil, salt and sugar in my cooking. Health is too precious to leave it in the hands of others.

I’m a hermit and I like to hibernate in my room. Did a lot of that in 2013. So for 2014, I will try to go out more often and visit outside of Taipei (and Danshui area where I’m staying). Also for the new year, I will continue to read (managed to read around 65+ books this year) and watch as much TV series as I can. :p These are my ways of relaxing and escaping into my mind. Hope to do some overseas traveling, if possible.

Looking forward, I hope 2014 will be a year of health, family/friends and (self) love. Anything else will be a bonus. And one thing is for sure, I’ll do my utmost to make 2014 a memorable one as it will be the last year of my thirties.

Happy New 2014, Everyone!

Decla-imm-ation 2013

Here are 15 decla-imm-ation for 2013 that I've posted in my FB:

No. 15 - Money is never enough. Neither is love, time, sleep, freedom, etc. Choose and prioritize wisely, or you will have more than enough regrets to last a lifetime.

No. 14 - Don’t pity yourself, no matter how shitty your life is (or you think it is). There are plenty of people doing that for you. You don’t need to join in the commiserating. It doesn't make it less shitty.

No. 13 - True altruism is rare. People do things because they want something back, one way or another. Just feel honored that you are worthy enough to be made used of.

No. 12 - Don’t try to change people. If you don’t want to change, what makes you think that others would? Flaws is what makes us human. To each their own.

No. 11 - Say your piece and then hold your peace. People don’t have to accept your opinion/advice. They have every right to live their life the way they want, messed up or otherwise.

No. 10 - Don’t envy others. We only show our best to the world. We hide our scars and demons. Only we would know of the blood, sweat and tears we endured along the way.

No. 09 - Don’t try to please everyone. Even God can’t do it. Just be yourself and do what you think you should. People will talk, one way or another. Conscious clear, enough said.

No. 08 - Don’t bite more than you can chew. You may fail to deliver your promise or you may have to sacrifice your health/family/whatever doing it. Either way, it’s not worth it. Just say ‘No’.

No. 07 - Accept whatever ‘gifts’ you didn’t ask for. You are helping people feel good about themselves by letting them think that they are better off than you. A win-win situation.

No. 06 - Never assume you know the whole truth. There are too many sides to a story. And we tend to only see/accept the one we are familiar/comfortable with. Be open and ready to admit your mistakes.

No. 05 - Single? Good. Married? Good. Divorced? Good. Widowed? Sorry about that. Got kid? Good. Got kids? Good. No kids? Good. In any case, be happy with your choices, even when you didn’t choose it. You are not defined by your marriage and kids (or the lack of).

No. 04 - Don’t compare. You are definitely worse off than the richest, but you are much more fortunate than the poorest/sickest. Look at what you have, not what you don’t have. Be grateful.

No. 03 - Don’t expect people to fix your problems. People don’t owe you anything and you them. If they lend a hand, be grateful but don’t assume they should and would.
 

No. 02 - Remember those who (back)stabbed you. They are the one who can’t sleep at night and/or worry about karma. Forgive but don’t forget. Know who is friend and who is foe. .

 

No. 01 - Count your blessings and forget about your bad fortune. Don’t worry, you’ll have lots of people keeping score of your bad luck and will not hesitate to remind you of it ever so often. 

Sunday Serenade: roar

Katy Perry's mv has always been very entertaining, and this one is no exception... and I like the empowerment that this song advocates.. :) So enjoy!

ROAR
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sat quietly, agreed politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now

[Chorus]
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You’re gonna hear me roar
[end of chorus]

Now I’m floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero

You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready ’cause I’ve had enough
I see it all, I see it now

[Chorus]
You’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You'll hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar...

Ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar, ro-oar

[chorus]
You’re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You'll hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar...





Have a great week ahead! Enjoy the last few days of 2013.. Be safe and stay safe...

Poetry Solace: Of change and heart

For this week's entry and the one after this, I will be sharing a few poems from M. L. Liebler, taken from his Wide Awake in Someone else's Dream (2008).

I Once Refused to Changed

Finding my way here

In the darkness is

Like being a man who refuses

To change his life

Because he fears what

It might become.

In the end, this healing

Leaves only soft scars

Against a dark night of stars,

Sickles, and blazing red hammers.

Alone, Inside My Heart

I am listening to the church

Inside my heart, alone

On the river’s bank

Where I long for soft wind

To bend around my knees

With all the glory of this life.

I want to meditate upon

These trees that line the avenues

In the city of my forefathers. Stuttgart,

I stand alone in your shadow.

Once I was tired and broken.

Now, I find I am here,

Comforted in the house

Of my birth within

The tender heart of my life.

Have a great weekend! Be safe!

wishes

Wishing everyone a Happy Winter Solstice (especially to those who celebrate it) and Merry Christmas! 

May all be safe and healthy in this festive season.. 

Sunday Serenade: wake me up

Let's have a fast beat party song this week.. Wake me up by Avicii.. I like the lyrics a lot.. especially

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

and the chorus... Enjoy the song!

Wake Me Up

Feeling my way through the darkness
Guided by a beating heart
I can't tell where the journey will end
But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand
They say I'm caught up in a dream
Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes
Well that's fine by me

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world
But I only have two hands
Hope I get the chance to travel the world
But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life's a game made for everyone
And love is the prize

[2x]
So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost

Didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know I was lost
I didn't know (didn't know, didn't know)






Have a festive week ahead!! Have fun but be safe!

Sunday Serenade: alone together

This week, let's have a (hard) rock song by the Fall Out Boys named Alone Together.. The music video isn't the usual kinda mv but it matches the lyrics and the mood of the song rather perfectly.. Enjoy!

Alone Together
I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going but I don't think I'm coming home
And I said I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we're starting at the end

[chorus]
Say yeah
Let's be alone together
We could stay young forever
Scream it from the top of your lungs
Say yeah
Let's be alone together
We could stay young forever
We'll stay young, young, young, young, young.
[end of chorus]

You cut me off, I lost my track
It's not my fault, I'm a maniac
It's not funny anymore, no it's not

My heart is like a stallion
They love it more when it's broke in
Do you wanna feel beautiful?
Do you wanna?

I'm outside the door, invite me in
So we can go back and play pretend
I'm on deck, yeah, I'm up next
Tonight I'm high as a private jet

'Cause I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going but I don't think I'm coming home
And I said I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we're starting at the end

[chorus]

My heart is like a stallion,
They love it more when it's broke in
Do you wanna feel beautiful?
Do you wanna?

I'm outside the door, invite me in
So we can go back and play pretend
I'm on deck, yeah, I'm up next
Tonight I'm high as a private jet, yeah

Yeah
Let's be alone together
We could stay young forever
Scream it from the top of your lungs
Say yeah
Let's be alone together
We could stay young forever
We'll stay young, young, young, young, young.

I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going but I don't think I'm coming home
And I said I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we started at the end






Have a productive week ahead! Christmas is coming!! Stay healthy!

Poetry Solace: his days is done

More than a week ago, we lost a true hero.. a giant in the fight for equality and reconciliation.. Nelson Mandela was 95 years old.. Dr Maya Angelou paid a great respect to him with the following poem.. it is a heartfelt and moving tribute.. Do watch the Youtube video and read the words here..




Rest in Peace, Madiba. Time for you to rest and let us continue your fight...

Have a good weekend! Stay safe...

Sunday Serenade: closer

Seldom do we have twins in a group or band (or maybe it's me who didn't notice).. thus Tegan and Sara kinda stand out.. Here's one of their not so new song, Closer.

Enjoy!



p/s: If you want to see a cutesy 'dog-version' of this song, check it out here.. :)

Have a smooth week ahead! Be productive and stay safe!

it's Dec already??

Time flies, even when you are not doing anything...

Been a while since my last blog entry. I apologize for the lack of entry.. Hard to sit down and actually write a proper entry these days.. also, I've joined tweetosphere almost a month ago.. and I've been tweeting fairly frequently. for those who wants to follow me, here's my username: @imm_alexis

The weather is getting freaking cold (yeah, what else is new in winter?). I don't really mind the cold, but I hate the wetness. It doesn't snow here, so it rains.. >.< Anyway, since I need to go to school only twice or thrice a week, I spend most of my time in my room - doing my translation, research/readings and watching US TV shows.

I know that I need to get out more often, but I must admit that I am lazy. Also, going out means additional expenses. I'm not one who likes to wander around aimlessly or do window shopping. I need to have a purpose, like going to museums for special exhibitions or climbing certain hills/mountains. All that need prior planning which I need time to do. Anyway, I will put it as one of my new year resolution for next year to go out more often.

Hope to write more the next time. So in the meantime, if you wanna know what I've been up to, follow me on Twitter.. :)

Sunday Serenade: wake up

Found this song on Youtube a couple of days ago. Like the lyrics..

I'm scared to love what we love most
It's only gonna take a little time
Before we start to lose our minds

So here's AWOLNATION's Wake Up. Enjoy!





Have a great week ahead! Keep warm and stay cheerful!