Reflecting back on 2009

I personally would like to wish you all a Happy New Year 2010. May happiness, health, prosperity and the best keeps on coming throughout the new year. Cheers and God Bless You.

Our life is like a stream of water that flows constantly. Life keeps on moving forward but don't forget to reflect back both your sweet and bitter moments, memories, and accomplishments. As we reflect back on what we have accomplished, we can learn from them and these allows us to grow.

Here are some of the best moments and memories happened in my life in year 2009.


University Life

1.

After studying Engineering for 7 years I have decided to put it to an end. It was the best decision I ever did. I don't want to waste my time studying something that I never like. Honestly, it was so depressing. Even my aptitude test result shows that my "career personality" is never close of being an Engineer.

So I switched to business studies. Now my university life is much more interesting and everything is going great.


2.

Acted as a prince in my management class group presentation. And we called ourselves the SwinEagles.
Acted in Swinburne for the first time.


3.

Job well done. Having steamboat dinner with the SwinEagles.


4.

Went for my first prom.


Sports

5.

My first time to:
Joined a cycling convoy. Took part in a cycling event for charity. Go mountain biking at Mount Mike, Kuching.


6.

My first involvement in Irau Aco Lun Bawang activities. Representing the Lun Bawang Kuching football team and we got 2nd place.


7.

Represent Swinburne in the UniMed Futsal Tournament. We got 3rd place.
My first time to represent Swinburne in any sporting competition.


8.

Represent the Business School in Swinburne Sports Carnival. We are the champion.
My first time to play in the Swinburne Sports Carnival.

9.

Became a club president for the first time - Swinburne Sarawak Football Club.
Organized an event for the first time - Swinburne Futsal Tournament.
Organized the first competitive event for the football club itself.
My team, the Wild Devils, got trashed in the group stage. Although the losing was a bit painful to accept but I was glad that the tournament went on successfully.

10.

Joined the Red Bull 7 competition and unfortunately we got eliminated in the group stage.
My first time to join a futsal open tournament.


Other Accomplishments and Great Moments

11.

Went to Stadium Negeri and watch the Sarawak FC trashing ATM FC. Happens also to be my first taste of local professional football.


12.

Bought my first laptop. Mobility is my priority. I have decided to switch from desktop to laptop and bought this gaming machine - the Acer Aspire 6935G


13.

Participated the Earth Hour Campaign and voted Earth by switching off the lights.


14.

Adopted Mickey and Minnie. Decided to breed them and they are blessed with 10 litters.


15.

Adopted Pogo and Daisy. I made the cage by myself.


16.

Performing in the bamboo band for the first time. To be honest, majority of the Lun Bawang and also the Kelabit youngsters nowadays never played any of the traditional musical instruments or involve in traditional activities.

A very sad truth indeed that I was once felled into that category but now I could reclaim my pride back.


17.

Went for a beach party with my course mates.


You might have noted this. Most of the thing I share here with you was something that I did for the first time. The experiences that I have gained through these are priceless. Everyone has their own dreams and things that they want to accomplish but we are too busy. Or maybe you think that the challenge is too hard for you to bear.

If you just cling yourself in the comfort zone, you won't accomplish anything. Opportunity always knocks on the door, but it is your job to identify it.

On top of this, I'm very grateful to God for He has blessed me throughout the year. It has been a great year for me. Also I would like to thank my family and friends whom had supported me through the ups and downs of my life.

Something for you to think of...

No matter what you have done for yourself... If you don't even have the time to reflect back what you have done, you might forget and lost it. So what have you really accomplished?

Be proud of your accomplishment even though it is small.

Eli is 24: Looking back and Planning Ahead

Birthdays is an anniversary that signifies that God had blessed and being with us since we're born till today, and now I'm already 24 years old.

Years before, what I normaly do on my birthday was just celebrate and party. I never even bothered to look back and reflect on my past nor planning ahead. After years I realized it was unwise not to reflect what I've did in my past and plan ahead.

Looking back now...
For over the past 12 months, I have learn a lot of life lessons and experiences which are both bitter and sweet. These life lessons and experiences has indeed significantly changed me from someone who I was than the years before.

I can consider it as a critical phase of change in my life.

I could say it was the bitter experiences that has gave me the wake-up call. It wasn't anything easy to swallow but amzingly it has thought me loads of valuable life lessons.

Just few days after my 23rd birthday I was shadowed by depression which was caused by my failed relationship. I hit rockbottom and it was really hard. Guilt, sadness, anger and despair haunts me day and night.

As the day goes by, again "time" has proved itself as a good healer. Wake up, it's time to rise and get back up on my feet again. I realized that I would get worse off if I am not going to change because the world is a constant change and life is going on.

So I began a quest to search for the "cure" of this misery. What I needed next is a road map which can guide me along this journey. No doubt it is the bible that has guided me and my favourite readings are from the book of Proverbs. These ancient poetry thought me wisdom and discipline, and also gave me knowledge and purpose. I would recommend you to read the book of Proverbs weekly or even better daily, and I promise you it will benefit you a lot.

I've also went for a self-improvement seminar. It's a seminar about the development of self which requires me to EXPLORE, DISCOVER, that govern my thoughts, feelings and action, and lastly to CHANGE.

Another amazing thing happened, I've started to stuff my book cabinet with self-improvement books. It wasn't any big collection like what you see in the library because I spent most of my time reading online materials such as blog which are easy to find, locate and of course free. There are millions of self-improvement blogs out there in the space of blogosphere but these are my favourites and recommended reads:
1. Zen Habits
2. HELLO, my name is BLOG
3. LifeDev
4. Michael Hyatt
5. The New Man of Action
6. Motivate Thyself
7. Goodlife Zen
8. Eli Shares

Through these I have learned to look deeper into myself and discovered many faults. Not only in relationship alone but also in other factors such as habit and attitude.

"The GREATEST discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind!" - William James

It's a moment of decision to re-shape myself. Every mistake or problem that I did in the past won't part, but what I can do is to learn from it and find a way to repair and improve. To behave in the same old way over and over, and expecting different result is just crazy.

Self-improvement ain't a 1 day or 1 year journey though, so don't expect things to change just in a click of fingers. You can't conquer Rome in just one day!! Self-improvement is like re-programming yourself through repeated action just like how a footballer practice and harness their scoring and passing skill.

"If you do not by force program yourself positively, by neglect you get programmed negatively." - Napolean Hill

Looking forward and planning ahead...
I could say that I'm lucky to be born around the middle of the year. Why? Compared to those born early and end of the year, I have the opportunity to checkup my yearly goals that I've setted up, in the same time improvise them.

Though you can do the same thing as me, checking up your yearly goals in the middle of the year but for my case, I consider it as special. Just like when you set goal on new year's eve - you're charged up with motivation.

So far, honestly I've just successfuly accomplished one goal only - watching Sarawak FC in action. Last couple of weeks, the result of my 1st semester final exam has been published out and thank God I passed all the papers. Another semester to go and I'm looking forward to pass all the papers and get a better result.

How about the other goals?
Thinking back earlier this year I was on streak of hype full with passion and motivation. I was more organized and focused back then. But as the days goes by, month after month, the fire of passions slowly burned out.

I'm back to square one again. The fact is, it's not hard to get started with all of the goals which I have setted. It's maintaining what I have started is the where I failed. Staying motivated is indeed quite a challenge.

What is my next plan?
As you can see,  everything falls into a circle. Staying in the same circle won't help me to move further on. Just like doing the same thing but expecting different result. Isn't that just insane?

Right now, I need to climb up from the bottom again and get back on track on what I have started. I loose track with my goals because they're out of sight which equals out of mind. I should write them down, not only in my blog post but put them and paper and stick it on the wall. Just like a constant reminder, it will help me to stay focused and motivated.

Staying motivated takes practice, but it is a skill that everyone can learn. Although I could just see some small changes in my life at first, but this is an incentive for me to tackle more and more goals, and the more changes I would see in my life.

If I can change my life, you definately can change yours too. No matter what situation you're having right now, you have the power of choice to change.

The future is in you own hand.

Treating Self-Improvement as Top Priority: My Basketball Era

I have been attending quite numbers of talks/seminar this year and last two week I went for a seminar about self-development. It was a seminar organized by my dad's insurance company, AXA Affin Life Insurance.

The speaker was Pauline and it wasn't any ordinary seminar where you just sit there, listen and jotting down key points and ideas. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in all the sessions.

As we started, the first question she asked us is "What is your principle, value and belief in life?"

Treating self-improvement as my top priority.

No doubt that I, and most of us, has this principle planted inside us since we were young. We want to be better than others by comparing ourselves to our peers, friends, relatives and parents - especially being better then who we are yesterday.

Those who holds this principle will constantly look for ways on how to improve themselves in all of the major aspects in their life. This really has played a big role in shaping me to be the person who I am now.

A bit history about me
I still remember when I was a kid, I love to play basketball and I dream to be one of the best basketball player. Everything started when I was in primary 4 (10 years old), from a brat who fights everyday to a boy who plays basketball everyday.

I was so heavily influenced by the comics I've read especially Dragon Ball Z (my fighting era) and Slam Dunk (my basketball era). During that time, most of my peers has started actively involve in basketball and I don't want to be left behind.

Without any basic skills and previous background in basketball I have to start from scratch!! I have to do all the basic trainings while watching my friends doing more advanced training from the sideline. It really itches me!!

Being left behind, I trained myself to the max everyday without fail. With the burning desire and passion within me, I improved my basic skills rapidly. To think about it, I was just like the main character of the Slam Dunk comic - Sakuragi Hanamichi.

After two months of basic training the coach called me into the team, where I joined my friends, was the most joyous and exciting moment but I know the challenge has just started. I have to fight for the top spot in the team - means i have to train even harder.

So I trained myself daily to improve my shootings and to be better than myself of yesterday. Everyday at 2 afternoon, I'll walk down to school for my rigorous self-training under the scourging sun before I join up with my group mates around 5 because I want to be the best.

(Me - #10)

The hard works paid off, my team won the school championship, which is my first ever medal and cup on my first taste of sport competition, and I was selected to represent the district and division (which was later rejected by the school headmaster and my parents because of UPSR exam).

(Me - Yellow #10)

Although after primary school, it is the end of my basketball era, but I still actively participate in some local competitions. Forgive me for bragging, I believe that I'm still the best ever Lun Bawang basketball player (#1)!!

Discovering Myself: Aptitude Test

After applying for course transfer from engineering to business, the university called me up for an aptitude test. I don't even have any idea what aptitude test is and to make it more confusing, at first I thought it was an attitude test - because it sounds similar in the phone.

So what is aptitude test?
It is basically a test to assess your current strength, skills, hobbies, interests, abilities, style of working and your interaction with other people. The test will showcase your best advantages by recognizing your strengths and will let you know which career is suitable for you.

The test only consist of yes and no questions and it only takes about 15 minutes to complete it - even a kid can predict their future career - NO KIDDING!!

My result:
I'm an ARTISTIC person with ENTERPRISING and CONVENTIONAL personalities.

Interpretation:

Photo courtesy of *meppol.

ARTISTIC
Original, intuitive and imaginative, and enjoy creative activities such as composing or playing music, writing, drawing or painting, and acting in or directing stage productions. They seek opportunities for self-expression through artistic creation.

People who fall under this category prefer flexibility and ambiguity, and have an aversion to convention and conformity. Artistic types are generally impulsive and emotional, and tend to communicate in a very expressive and open manner.

They value aesthetics, and view themselves as creative, non-conforming, and as appreciating or possessing musical, dramatic, artistic, or writing abilities while lacking clerical or organizational skills. The preferred work environment of the artistic type fosters creative competencies and encourages originality and use of the imagination in a flexible, unstructured setting.

Typical careers: Musician, reporter, blogger and interior designer.

Photo courtesy of Speaking Channel.

ENTERPRISING
Energetic, ambitious, adventurous, sociable and self-confident. They enjoy activities that require them to persuade others, such as sales, and seek out leadership roles. They are invigorated by using their interpersonal. leadership, and persuasive abilities to obtain organizational goals or economic gain, but may avoid routine or systematic activities.

They are often effective public speakers and are generally sociable, but may be viewed as domineering. They view themselves as assertive, self-confident and skilled in leadership and speaking, but lacking in scientific abilities.

The preferred work environment of the enterprising type encourages them to engage in activities such as leadership, management, and selling, and rewards them through the attainment of money, power, and status.

Typical carrers: Salesperson, business executives and manager.

Photo courtesy of Darren Byrne.

CONVENTIONAL
Efficient, careful, conforming, organized and conscientious. They are comfortable working within an established chain of command and prefer carrying out well-defined instructions over assuming leadership roles. They prefer organized, systematic activities and have an aversion to ambiguity. They are skilled in and often enjoy maintaining and manipulating data, organizing scedules, and operating office equipment.

While they rarely seek leadership or "spotlight" roles, they are thorough, persistent and reliable in carrying out tasks. Conventional types view themselves as responsible, orderly, efficient, and possessing clerical, organizational, and numerical abilities, but may also see themselves as unimaginative or lacking in creativity.

The preferred work environment of the conventional type fosters organizational competencies, such as record keeping and data management in structured operation, and places high value on conformity and dependablilty.

Typical careers: Accountant, organizer, data processor.

After the test I went for a counseling session and showed the result. The counselor was surprised, why in the world did I took engineering studies? My REALISTIC score is very low - less then ten. I still remember, years back after I finished my SPM, I wanted to take multimedia course because my love of arts but wasn't approved - a lot of people take this course, hard to find job, no market demand. Really?

Here is my score:

Truthfully, I can't see myself as an engineer - I never dream of it. Hell, I've been studying engineering for almost 7 years and it was really depressing.

Thank God that it has been put at end. I'll be studying business this coming semester and I'm very excited about it. I would like to thank those wonderful peoples who had supported me on pursuing business study, I really appreciates your encouragements and words of advice.

Do you have this question in mind:
"Why the hell am I doing this?"