"Happiness” can be accurately identified as whatever gets you ecstatic.

What are you really looking for in life?

Once you look deeper, beyond your desire for a bigger house or a fancier car or new partner, you will most likely discover that what you're search for is not more "stuff," but more happiness, more joy.

It may seem some people are born with enjoyment for life programmed, whereas for others finding happiness seems an elusive goal. But, like any programming, yours can be changed.

In line with what Mr Micky of Smutty Stuff suggested to put emphasis on “fundamental of stress-free living”, from my last topic here are just a few tips that can help you rewrite your life program into one that is filled with joy.

1. Experiment to find out what makes you happy. If you haven't taken the time to explore what brings joy to your life on a regular basis, you may realize you don't even know what brings you happiness anymore. If that's the case, try out different things, including some you've never done before. The answers just might surprise you.

2. Focus on gratitude. Incorporate a daily gratitude (appreciation) session where you identify something you are grateful for. You can express your gratitude in any number of ways: silently say "thank you," call or email the person you want to thank, or devise your own gratitude ritual – maybe try out "Sophia Sling from Mr Gomad.ch”

3. Take time to savor life. Resolve to cut down on the rushing from one thing to the next – delegate or say no – to reduce your number of appointments and daily tasks.

4. Stop watching and reading depressing news. In the beginning you may worry that you'll miss something, but think about it – when was the last time you truly needed to know the things covered in the daily news. Being selective about the information you expose yourself to can have an incredible impact on your level of personal happiness.

5. Laugh now! When you're in the middle of a mess, look around you and realize the absurdity of the moment. Remind yourself that a year from now, no one will care, and you'll probably be laughing about it anyway, so why wait? Laugh about it now!

Happiness is important for so many reasons, beyond the obvious fact that most people would prefer to be happy rather than not. There is little doubt about the powerful effects positive emotions can have on your physical health and well-being. At the same time, there is equally little doubt about the effects that negative emotions can have on you.

Happiness will not only protect your body from stressors that can lead to coronary heart disease, but it can even boost your immune system's ability to fight off the common cold.

But, I've realized that for many, "happiness" is far too vague term. Do you struggle to define an activity that truly makes you happy? If so, I want to share with you a new definition that nearly everyone can easily grasp and apply.

"Happiness" can more accurately be identified by your brain as whatever gets you excited.

It is what makes you JUMP out of bed in the morning with eager anticipation to start your day. Once you identify that activity, whatever it is, you can start to focus on it, and structure you life to do more of that.

My mission is to catalyze the transformation of the educational systems. I truly love what I do, and that is why "working" long hours every week continues to be a source of happiness in my life. it doesn't meant i am not happy with my hubby! he is the foundation of my happiness.

And, speaking of work, and hence money, is it true that money can't bring you happiness?

I believe that to say, wealth can NEVER bring you happiness, is too simple a statement, because there are a number of factors involved. Financial wealth, when achieved through providing appropriate value to your culture can provide huge joy and satisfaction.

However, when you achieve wealth through mechanisms such as winning the lottery or being catapulted into the media spotlight, the value may not be entirely authentic, and thus the reward of wealth is completely unbalanced to your level of happiness. Many of today's media celebrities exhibit this type of lottery winner effect, where their riches have absolutely no impact on their level of happiness. Close example Michael Jackson.

But, essentially, it’s not the money in that brings either happiness or unhappiness, but rather its HOW your wealth is obtained that is the root of the equation.

With respect to happiness, financial wealth is a side effect of the journey to pursue it. But it is the journey itself that provides the joy and happiness. So if you cheat or take a shortcut, you will probably not achieve the happiness you seek.

In my opinion, happiness is not so much something you strive for, but a spontaneous/natural result of pursuing your given mission in life -- and following a natural lifestyle that allows your body to function at its highest possible level.

"NEVER GET TOO GOOD AT WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE DOING, FIND YOUR PASSION AND PURSUE IT!"

Man Skills

Via The Republic of T, here's the list of 25 skills every man should know. Ones Steve & I cover together are in bold.

1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network

I find these completely ridiculous. How will these make me a better man? Are they practical skills I'll need throughout life? CPR, I can see. Rescuing a capsized boat? No. Are these skills that women are somehow incapable of, & therefore the men of the world must know them?

Here are 20 things that I'd call "25 practical skills every self-sufficient adult should have."

1. Know basic nutritional needs & how to plan balanced meals
2. Hone your sense of direction & navigation so you don't need step-by-step turns to find a location
3. Understand types of health insurance & terminology such as OOP max & co-insurance percentage
4. Maintenance of a personal computer
5. In-depth knowledge of your employment benefits
6. Change a flat tire
7. Wash & iron clothes
8. Balance a checkbook & manage your finances
9. Patch holes in walls
10. Fix a clogged toilet
11. Jump start a car
12. Use public transportation to get around
13. Write an effective resume cover letter
14. Professional oral & written communication
15. Basic math
16. Stay calm in emergencies
17. Know when to ask for help
18. Personal hygiene
19. Do your own taxes
20. Use internet search engines strategically (if you know how to do good searches, you can find any information you need on the web)

1st ever meme things

Now, here comes my 1^st ever meme things, (Steve is laughing at me-he sure kena(get) 1 time) .

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Ghee this old chap.

2. How much cash do you have on you?
2k.

3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?"
Gate.

4. Favorite planet?
Earth. I lived here!

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
My PA.

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
"diamond are the boys best friends" by Beyonce

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Top Less. I am in my bloody apartment.

8. Do you "label" yourself?
No. Never.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you're currently wearing?
Vaneli Italian Shoes for work and Adidas for leisure.

10. Bright or dark room?
Dark.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
He deserves every redhead in the world.

12. What does your watch look like?
Which one? I own many, many, many watches.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Writing a Strategic Plan for New Faculty.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
From my PhD student, asking if i have received his write-up for next presentation.

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
3^rd Ave, New York.

16. What's a word that you say a lot?
"Maybe."

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
It’s my hubby lol! Cozz I gave him Sony P notebook.

18. Last furry thing you touched?
My hair.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Concor 5mg, Lasix, 3 other drug cant remember the name. Every day.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
Dun no. Need to ask hubby, he knows better!

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
26, the year i finished my PhD.

22. Your worst enemy?
Sex.

23. What is your current desktop picture?
Hubby pictures.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
I love you! To my hubby.

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
Money. I can buy an airline ticket with money.

26. Do you like someone?
Yes. (What kind of fool question is that?)

27. The last song you listened to?
"Do that to me one more time" by Captain & Tenniel

28. What time of day were you born?
Around 2 p.m.

29. What's your favorite number?
3 and 8. 3 for odd and 8 for ong.

30. Where did you live in 1987?
Alexandria, Egypt. Father was transferred for 3 years .

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
Never.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
Very.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
In my living room with my sister. We watched the second plane hit live on TV.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Walk on by. Bley!

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
Yes.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
Don’t want any tattoo, Hubby doesn’t like it. Dirty!

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Queen’s English. So i could converse like most brits.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Yes.

39. Are you touchy feely?
Yes.

40. What's your life motto?
Ancora Imparo. Lifelong leaning.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
HP, Notebook, hubby.

42. What's your favorite town/city?
kuala lumpur.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Groceries. (I almost always pay with cash.)

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
So many, Directors, Deans, Professors and bla2. yesterday

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
Easily.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
He was married to a girl! euwwww

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
To my great-great-great-grandparents only.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
A tux, for UN dinner function.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
No.

50. Have you been burned by love?
Al ways babe...

A day at a conference

The other day, after Steve's birthday (we had party with a few friends) i went to BABSON College , Massachusetts for Annual Executive MBA Economic Conference. During the conference, i was invited to be one of the speaker to represent Asian Pacific Economic Blocks, and i am suppose to give a talks on key economic development , except that i was distracted with another issues and going on talking some other things (typical lecturer!). This is one part of my nonsense.

Consider this!

" national average annual percentage yield for savings accounts in June 2009 was a mere 0.72 percent. With inflation at about 3.5 percent and savings at 0.5 percent, savers were losing roughly 3 percent each year.

So i asked the audiences ! "why save?" then continue

This is exceptionally depressing.

You have to have a savings and a long term plan to live in poverty.

So, What's Banks never tell you?

Banks never told you that they makes tones of money out from your money!

" then why save?" i ask again!, everybody seems uncomfortable, they grumbles. Specially those MBA grads who is working with the Banks.

Then i quoted a statement from WashingtonPost

" You have to be rich to be poor. That's what some people who have never lived below the poverty line don't understand. The poorer you are, the more things cost. More in money, time, hassle, exhaustion, menace. This is a fact of life that reality television and magazines don't often explain" continue..


Even if the poor or working-class family was able to save money in order to invest in these higher-rate savings plans, one has to consider what happens to the money in the meantime. Consider: You're poor, but you're putting away $20 a week. It's a real hardship, but you do it. You put the money in a savings account. By year's end, you've got $1,200 to put into a Certificates of Deposit (CDs).

But wait: In the meantime, you've lost 3 percent of the value of the money you just saved! You're already in the hole! Oh well. Put the money in a CD anyway...



But then you have another problem. CDs require that your money to be tied up for certain amount of time. One, three, five, seven, 10 years -- it varies. The longer the tie-up, the higher the yield. The current yield on a one-year CD is a mere 3.48 percent. On a five-year CD it is 3.93 percent.


So is our fictional consumer better off saving using CDs? Not really. A one-year CD doesn't increase your savings at all! It merely keeps you even with inflation. A five-year CD does slightly better, but only just. And if inflation rises even a half-percentage point, the consumer is in big trouble again.

So, Moral of the story is! Never call a Professor to give an impromptu talks or speeches. We will generally end up with different facts, figures and ideas which may not be suitable to public.

I rest assured that the Executive Committee of the Conference will never ever call me on stage for few decades! hehehe.

In the good hands, i was offered for the post of Associate Dean for Graduate School of Business in Babson. I will think about it!. (Ada aku kesah)