| I've recently read the book 'Boy Meets Girl' by Joshua Harris (the same guy who wrote 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye') It's a book on courtship - that step between friendship and marriage. It's like dating only you're in it for the long term. You court someone you could potentially marry.

The whole book is an interesting read, I recommend it to anyone who is less than impressed by societal views on relationships. Joshua Harris is great with analogies and this is one of the few that stuck in my brain:

"..As you keep reading, remember that God doesn't have a one-size-fits-all plan for relationships.

We all have very different lives - we vary in age, cultural background, and circumstances, to name just a few..

You might be asking, "How am I supposed to follow God's principles for courtship when my circumstances are so different from those of other people?" Let me try to explain.

Imagine that you're a student in an art class. You and dozens of classmates are learning from a master painter. One day your teacher displays a painting of his own. It's an incredible work of art, and he wants each of you to copy it.

You're about to begin working when you turn to look at the person next to you. You're surprised to note that he has a larger brush than you and a different kind of canvas. You look around at the rest of the class. Some students have acrylic paint, others watercolour, still others oil - and everyone is using different colours. Though you all have the same assignment, you each have completely different materials. This frustrates you. Some students have materials you would prefer yourself. Why should they get them?

You're not the only student to notice the disparity. A hand goes up to your left. A girl with only a ragged brush and three pale shades of blue on her palette is noticeably agitated. "This isn't fair," she tells the teacher. "How do you expect me to duplicate your painting when the people around me have so many colours to choose from?"

The teacher smiles. "Don't worry about the other students," he says. "I've carefully chosen brushes and paints for each of you. Trust me. You have what you need to complete the assignment. Remember, your goal is not to create a painting that mirrors the person next to you, but to do your best with the materials I've given you to replicate my painting."

..God isn't asking us to copy each other but to fix our eyes on our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.. We can rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign over our life's situation. No matter where we are today or what mistakes we've made in the past, He has given us everything we need to glorify Him right now." (Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris, Page 30)

I think this analogy is applicable to more areas in life than relationships. It could be applied to any situation, perhaps even the one you're in now.

Labels: God, Lessons, Quotes

| Mood: Reflective.
Music: Death Cab For Cutie - Sound Of Settling.

My brain's repeating
"If you've got an impulse let it out"
But they never make it past my mouth.

Baa bah, this is the sound of settling
Baa bah, baa bah

Our youth is fleeting
Old age is just around the bend
And I can't wait to go gray

And I'll sit and wonder
Of every love that could've been
If I'd only thought of something charming to say.

Just yesterday I was at school, bewildered at the fact that it was the last official day of Year 11. The next two weeks will be full of yearly examinations followed by a two week holiday and the beginning of Year 12.

Time never ceases to amaze, surprise, overwhelm; leaving us flabbergasted. The age-old "I remember childhood as if it was just yesterday.." is thrown around every time people realise they've grown a little bit older.

Sometimes we want time to go a little faster, other times we just want it to stop. But we all know too well that 'time' is a constant, stopping for no-one. The best we can do is make use of our time, cherishing every moment. Though it is quite difficult to cherish the 2 hours of examination each subject may bring, the prospect of getting it 'over and done with' makes it a tad more bearable. So sometimes when the present seems to be a little dreary, the future can bring joy.

But what if you're always living in the 'future'? Thinking of everything in the future tense. Planning for the future, waiting for the future.. but never reaching the future. Makes the present seem very dull and tedious.

Thing is, you can never live in the future. You live in the present. You must act on 'now', right now. That's how you change the future, from the present. What is the point of planning for the future without ever implementing the changes?

What is the point of hoping, of wanting, of seeking a high UAI in the future.. without making the effort of studying now? You only get what you give.

Living in the present is applicable to every situation. Actually, it shouldn't be an application, we should all just live in the present. How about that? Yeah! Everyone living in sync, up to date, in beat with one another. Life would be much more enjoyable with everyone's participation. What to do if everyone around you seems a bit 'lifeless'? There are two options: join the club or liven up the mood. You may be one person but you can make a difference. Be the ray of sunlight like you always are (from now onwards at the very least.)

Live in the moment. Be active. Get off your bottom and do something!

Labels: Lessons

| Mood: Reflective.
Music: Keane - Everybody's Changing.

Ironic that I should be listening to this song right now.

So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game
I try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing
And I don't feel the same.

As you may or may not know, I've been on a Ski Trip at Thredbo for the past week. I wouldn't say I have a fiery passion for snowboarding, but it is truly an exhilarating experience to glide down a mountain of snow with or without the company of others. I won't meddle into the details of the 4 days I was away but I will say that it was well worth the $615 (that I fundraised half of). Might I add that Nintendo DS is a saviour when it comes to enduring coach rides that last a good 7 hours. Mario Kart is a group favourite :)

So when you're away at the snows for a week, naturally you'd end up missing out on a lot of the things happening back at home. It's a good reality check when you find that the world does not revolve around your presence and that it continues orbiting the sun when you're gone. Post-camp, I felt a tad disoriented so I skipped yet another day off school due to an aching body. Today I resumed my schooling and gosh, I was slapped in the face with news left-right-and-centre. Love lives, work lives, home lives, school lives, almost-end of lives, and end of lives.. A lot happens in a week. So much news to take in I felt like I was going to burst! So after the natural high of good gossip, I felt withdrawn, felt the repercussions of being MIA.

Then I noticed that.. I didn't really try before this Ski Trip. I didn't try to keep up and genuinely know how people were. I was too self-absorbed with my own issues I ignored everyone elses. I've changed a lot, I don't self-disclose as much as I used to. I even avoid hanging out with mates sometimes cos I know I'd have to open up and share things. I hope it's just a phase, I do favour feeling close with other human beings. I haven't even blogged because I don't want to talk. What's to say? Too much. Far too much.

But just because I don't want to talk, doesn't mean others would feel the same. So I've learnt my lesson: it's time to show others I really care. Maybe you feel the same. Stuck in a hole you've dug yourself into. Reach out your hand, someone will take it. You are never alone.


--
P.S. This was for Chrissy. And other loyal readers. Thank you for your support :)

Labels: Feelings, Lessons, Sorry

| Mood: Appreciative.
Music: Mute Math - Noticed.

First and foremost I would like to extend my gratitude to those who have sent comments of support regarding my blogs. Thank you for your kind words, they well and truly make my day.

Have I abandoned my blog? Certainly not. I've just been making the most of my two week holidays since they are 'the last real holidays I'll have for the next year and a half'. Everyone is making Year 12 seem so scary, as if it were a stage that sucks the life out of you. But really, high school in general will be something you'll miss when you're older so I'm not going to let myself be the victim of crazy HSC rumours.

I spent the first week of my holidays at a camp called Camp UiC (Unity in Christ). Along with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from several churches, we accommodated at The Venue, Bellambi for 4 days and 3 nights. It was a life-changing 4 days. I've bonded so well with a group of people I see but never usually talk to. I'm extremely grateful to have been to such an amazing camp with such a great bunch of people. But alas, the experience would not have been complete without Diana William's powerful sermons. Based on the theme of 'Unity', Diana spoke of working together as a group despite our differences, also known as 'unity in diversity'. We are unique, 'fearfully and wonderfully made' (Psalm 139), but we are made as separate parts of a body to work as a body, together (1 Corinthians 12).

But it wasn't what she said about everyone as a group that deeply touched me. Not to say that it was all rubbish, but her first talk made me want to cry. It was an eye-opener. The talk was titled, 'You Are Unique' and was based on Psalm 139 - click on link to access the passage.

St Augustine observed in his Confessions:

‘Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, the vast compass of the oceans, the circular motion of the stars... yet they pass by themselves without wondering’.

Take time to really examine yourself. Look at your hands, for instance. One hand alone contains 19 bones and 70 muscles. It is one of the most intricate parts of your body. No human has and ever can produce a replica as amazing as the human hand alone. 'The hand that can hammer, thrust, grasp and crush is the same hand that can thread a needle, play a flute and insert a pipette a fraction of a millimetre in diameter into the axon of a squid.' It can pluck, it can peel, it can knead, it can hold, it can feel. Have you ever noticed how fantastic your hands are? God has made us so wonderfully, so perfectly yet we take our bodies for granted.

And that's just the hand. Did you know that no fingerprint is the same? Isn't that awesome? So much thought was put into the making of our very being. Do you not feel loved? Do you not feel amazing? How wonderful it is to be alive! To have been created! And we aren't here for decoration, either. Don't get me started and all our skills and talents and just the 'mere' ability to think. There is so much we can do, feel, taste, hear, speak.

We are unique. We are special. There is a reason we live. You may not have found your calling yet, but I have. I am proud to say that I live for God but that's not all. He has blessed me with abilities and skills. I do love writing but that's only because I love learning. What's the point of writing when you have nothing to write about? Through learning everyday, I have the reason to write, to obtain a blog of thoughts. Isn't the brain great? But maybe my calling isn't to be a professional writer. Maybe I want to be a psychologist. I learnt that comfort is not by any means making another 'feel better'. Comfort lies within empathy. But that's another blog topic.

I'm rambling again. But all I wanted to share was what I've learnt a week ago. The second week of holidays wasn't as eventful, though I did go to an all-you-can-eat buffet at Star City. It was fabulous! I'm pretty sure the rest of the week were my 'sloth days' - you know, staying in and watching movies on end, eating ice cream and whatnot. I love the holidays :)

I hope you feel special and unique!

You know you love me,
xoxo.

Labels: God, Lessons, Lovely truths

| Mood: 50/50
Music: Siouxsie and The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden

Today's entry will be short and sweet:

Wouldn't life be soooo much easier if everyone could just tell the truth? Then you wouldn't have to hide from people or live in fear of the 'truth' finally coming out. You wouldn't have to be in complicated webs of lies and deceit. You could save yourself a lot of stress and unnecessary self-torture if you do your part and just tell the truth from now on.

Kthnx.


P.S> Maybe it's about you. Joshing, it's not. Just I have a lot of bones to pick with several people because one side isn't telling the truth.

Labels: Awkward Truths, Lessons

| Mood: Lethargic but with strange buzz for blogging.
Music: B2K - Everything.

It's quite ironic that my blog has been inactive for a few days because there has been so much I've wanted to blog about. There are a bazillion mental notes sitting in my brain drawers containing, "Blog about this!" and "Blog about that!" I've also got a few draft entries hiding in my blog list. To make life easier for me (and for you), this entry will be separated into days.

---
Friday, 20th June: "If You Have Nothing Nice To Say, Don't Say Anything At All."

Today I overheard a malicious conversation about a particular friend of mine. A few girls in my year had bones to pick with her but decided the best way to deal with it was to gossip about her. They didn't like her confidence and were most likely jealous of her success in most subjects. I wish I didn't have such great hearing skills (!) The girls just happened to be sitting in the row behind me, which was within close proximity from my seat.

I felt so helpless; if I stood up for her I'd be told to mind my own business but by staying quiet, I wasn't being much of a good friend. Mind you, this girl isn't someone I hang out with all the time but she has become someone I love and trust. She is a genuine character and the things that have been said about her were way out of line. I was planning on telling her but.. if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. At times like these, I offer the situation for the work of divine retribution aka karma.

I do believe that everything you do has a consequence; sometimes the payback comes back straight away, sometimes it takes a while to arrive. But whatever it is, it will come. Depending on what you did, it could be real nasty or real nice.

So be careful what you indirectly wish for.

---
Saturday, 21st June: "Make A Decision!"

My Youth Group attends a 'Bible Study' every fortnight on Saturday nights. Bible Studies are when we pick out a relevant topic/ issue and look to the Bible to find a resolution or wise words to enlighten us Youth on the situation. This particular study was on 'Making Godly decisions' i.e. choosing what is best for you.

Today's Youth sadly fall into the trap of Peer Pressure in hope to fit in with the popular crowd. Sometimes we make choices based on what others want or what they think is socially acceptable. Conformity only works well within groups but as individuals, we need to stand up for what we believe in. Some decisions we make could affect the rest of our lives, so why base them on what others want when the outcome ultimately affects you?

There are 2 types of peer pressure: the 'in-your-face' pressure and the 'that's-what's-expected-of-you' pressure. The difference between the two is that one is direct whereas the other is indirect. Either way, the pressure is still there and has to be handled well. Christians aren't immune to these things. Some people have this weird idea that by being Christian, you are strong and firm in your belief and that petty issues such as peer pressure don't affect you. Wrong. So wrong.

Christians still get affected by peer pressure but most cases involve different issues rather than drugs and alcohol. Sometimes we feel that we've got this high standard that is impossible to reach or that we're constantly looked at to set good examples, to be 'the good ones'. Shouldn't we all be 'good' in the first place?

Whatever the decision is, you've got to do what is honorable. In every situation, there is always a choice so when it comes down to the decision-making, the choice you make should be the one that you feel is the best, not what the social norm is. Most of the time you'll need someone with experience to talk to, remember that you're never alone. I'm fortunate enough to have a fantastic support network of friends ranging in age and opinions. Not only do you have friends, you have parents, relatives, agencies like Kids Help Line :)

The best solution to any situation is to speak up and be honest.

---
Sunday, 22nd June: "Sometimes It's From The Ignorant That You Learn The Most Valuable Lessons."

For the first time in a while I was able to catch up with a few friends and update each other on each others' lives. These friends were elders and it surprised me when they revealed themselves to be quite vulnerable and in states of confusion and unrest. Upon hearing such news, I surprised myself with the advice flowing out of my mouth. I don't know where I get my words of comfort from but I do find it easy to articulate what others cannot.

I'm not ignorant but I'm not wise, either. I basically vomited out what others have been saying to me all these years. I was being a parrot. Memory served me justice!

When I went home to think about my day, I realised that sometimes it's from the ignorant that you learn the most valuable lessons. A child's innocent view on love for example:

♥ Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they've know each other so well.
♥ Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.
♥ If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.
♥ Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.
♥ When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared she won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only does she still love you, she loves you even more.

Their view describes genuine, selfless love. The kind of love we should be practicing. But our view on love has been tainted with bad experiences and bad movies. It all turns around when we listen to a little one and start to see what they can see.

Try talking to someone years younger than you about something deep ASAP! It'll refresh your mind.

---
Monday, 23rd June: "The Best Comebacks Come After The Conversation Ends."

Don't you hate it when that happens? You know what I'm talking about, when you're getting chopped by the other person in a Battle of Wit then you go home to have a sulk and think of all these crazy comebacks.. hours after the conversation has officially ended.

Let's rewind back to school, during Senior lunch:

[Deputy is on playground duty while eating a healthy sandwich containing lots of greens. Jenny is sitting down on the oval to bask in the sun with friends.]

Me: *Squints up to Dep.* Nice sandwich sir, looks healthy.
Dep.: Nice nails.
Me: *Looks down at bright red digits* Oh.. it's a condition I was born with. [Christina gets up and plops a v. healthy chip on Dep.'s v. healthy sandwich. Dep. takes a bite.]
Me: Awww, how romanticcccc (!)
Dep.: You think that's romantic young lady? You've obviously been romanced before (!)
Me: Oh, I'm quite the hopeless romantic sir.
Dep.: Ha! You've probably never been taken away, have you? *Turns to Khanh* Would you take her away?
Khanh aka Ex. boyf.: Uh..
Dep.: Yeah, *turns to another guy*, how about you?
Other guy: No..
Me: *Dies inside* Gosh sir, thanks a lot.
Dep.: Do you even have a boyfriend? [Group sniggers]
Christina: She has me!
Me: Uh, yeah.. I'm a lesbian.
Dep.: Well, that makes sense.
Me: *Eye rolls*
Dep.: No, really. Do you have a boyfriend?
Me: No.. not yet.
Dep.: Figures.
Me: Excuse me? What if I said YES?
Dep.: Then he's desperate. [William walks up and sits next to me. I tell him to go away. He stays.]
Dep.: That your bf? Oi, dickhead, asked her out yet? [Group laughs]
William: Uh.. no.
Me: *Dies inside*

Then Deputy aka 'Sir' told the group that he done the exact same thing to another student years ago and the couple are now happily married with 3 kids for 15 years.

From end of lunch onwards I replayed the scene in my head and came up with kick arse comebacks. Put me in a crappy mood :( But then I was happy again once I thought about the subject matter. Ahh :)


---------------
That was basically a week's worth of blog content in a 'nutshell', so to speak. I hope you can get something out of it :)


You know you love me,
xoxo

Labels: Feelings, Lessons, Recap

| Mood: Happy.
Music: Sufjan Stevens - The One I Love (R.E.M cover).
Today in Community and Family Studies:

N: Yeah, I don't think my BF is hot!!
L: Watttt, he's hottttt!
N: Nah... he's not!
G: Like, he can't be too hot and he can't be unattractive, he should just be normal y'know? Cos if he's too hot, girls would always be around him and stuff!
N: Yeah, exactly!
L: WHAT! It's your heart that falls in love, not your face!
M: Well, I guess you both have a point. It's their looks that first attract you but then again, you shouldn't be base your opinion on their appearance.

If looks can be deceiving, we don't have much else to rely on the first time we meet someone. Everyone denies it but how can you honestly say that someones "personality" is what attracted you to them in the first place? I'm going to put it bluntly: humans are superficial. Some of us try to hide it but really, whatever delights our senses delights us. Not to say that anything or anyone that looks good is good but we often base our first impressions on someones looks.

Is there a way to avoid this from happening? No. But it just goes to show that you don't really know what someone is like until you get to know them. The way someone presents themselves does indicate what they are like inside to a certain extent but looks don't tell the whole story.

Think someone is a skank/ daft/ strange? Hold that thought - talk to them first. You may be surprised, you may not. But you won't know until you make an effort to get to know them.


You know you love me,
xoxo

Labels: Lessons

| Mood: Very happy.
Music: MGMT - Time To Pretend.

Have you ever wondered what your life was like in someone else's eyes?

Just yesterday, I had a terrific discussion with my Biology classmates. It started off as an update on each other's lives (particularly love lives) but the conversation was then thrown into the deep end as we shared opinions on issues we might have to deal with in the future. Such issues were "How would you react if your teenage daughter told you she got pregnant?"; "What would you do if your child turned out to be a homosexual?"; "How do you deal with a child abusing drugs?"; "Would you force your child into sharing the same religious belief?"

Everyone had their different opinions and I was refreshed by the honest and diverse answers my friends shared. Discussions like these really open your mind. The deep topic drained out as we drifted to possible baby names and ideal family structures. Perfect partner then became perfect family > babies > sex. A friend asked Nat & I what we thought about 'sex before marriage' (we were asked that question because of our faith, Catholic & Christianity respectively.) Nat nodded and said she values that view point, I elaborated:

When you get married, you are promising yourself to your partner. You swear by oath that you would never leave, always love them, always be true. Marriage is a big deal. I am appalled by what society has turned it into, what is up with the 5 minute marriages in Las Vegas? Marriage is something life changing, and should take years to decide upon. Once you marry someone, having sex with them is how you express your love for them. It is a gift no one else can give them but you. I am disgusted that sex is seen as 'dirty' and as 'play'. It is an intimate celebration of love between two beings. Pornographic films and novels have exploited this celebration and distorted it to an activity.

People think that waiting until marriage to 'have sex' is idiotic and a waste of time. A waste of what time? Precious sex time? This time in between being single and being married is to find that very person you will spend the rest of your life with, so you can experience an immense and extraordinary feeling of love and express it in a way no other can.

Everyone went a bit silent. They were amazed at the words that just came out of my mouth. They thought it was incredible/ deep/ thoughtful. That was when it occurred to me that my life and life in general is seen very differently through other's eyes. My perspective on sex isn't outlandish to me but it is to some of the people around me. That afternoon I wondered what my life looked like in someone else's eyes. I've always wondered what it'd be like to "live in another's shoes."

Wouldn't it be nice to own a sweet little invention that made that possible? But until then, we should all keep our minds and hearts open to give and take different opinions and perspectives. By doing so we will have a greater understanding ourselves and our society.

You know you love me,
xoxo

Labels: Feelings, Lessons, Rant

| Mood: Introspective.
Music: Usher's album, Here I Stand

Yesterday at church, I learned that your emotions are 'purely chemical reactions that take place in your mind'. If I asked you to feel angry right now, you would instantly think of something that makes you angry and you would feel it. If I told you to feel loved, you would think of something or someone that you 'love' and you would feel loved.

That would explain why we go on 'emotional rollercoasters'. During those rough times when we have so much going on in our life, we think about a million things at the same time; things that conjure up different feelings. I've had people come up to me and compliment me on my optimistic character. Comments like those are exactly the reason why I'm happy most of the time. I have no secret, I actually do make an effort to focus on positive things because the negative things get you nowhere. It makes sense - I think about good stuff in order to feel the good. But I am human. I've had terrible weeks but in the end, I realise that I've been wasting precious smiling time! :)

'I feel horrible, there's nothing good in my life!' Rubbish. We all know that we don't know everything, correct? Maybe we don't feel the love because we are unaware of it. You can't think of something if you don't know of it. Therefore you wouldn't be able to feel the feelings connected to that thought. I'm telling you now, you are and always will be loved. Every single one of you, reading this. Often we are all loved more than one being. But I believe in one being who has always loved me. God has and always will love me. Knowing that makes me feel loved. Yesterday's sermon was a good reminder of that.

Another good example would be your parents. Sometimes you don't feel their love because it seems as if they don't care. How can a parent ever possibly not love their child with all their heart? Just because you don't feel it, it doesn't mean it's not there. Maybe you're not feeling it because you're simply unaware.

They say 'ignorance is bliss' but 'with knowledge comes strength'. Ignorance only comes in handy when you don't want to know bad things. What about all good things? Wouldn't you like to be informed on all that? Unfortunately, we can't hand pick all the good things we want to know. (Unless you're thinking about a uni course.) As we age we experience a lot and gain knowledge from that. Sometimes its good to know, other times it bad. But it's through knowledge that we can think for ourselves. And by thinking, we feel.

Where am I going with all this? I wanted to share this piece of information for you to think about. Perhaps this will help you tackle future obstacles in life. Perhaps this will help you overcome a current issue. Perhaps you knew all this already but needed a reminder. The way you feel all comes down to what you're thinking about. So think about good things, it's not hard. Every cloud really does have a silver lining. If your problems are too big to overlook, talk to a friend. Different people offer different perspectives. With their different opinions, it can put your problem in a different light and as a result, you could think about it differently. It could become a smaller problem.

Set some time aside tonight and conduct a session of introspection. Look inside yourself, examine your thoughts. Which thought is dominating your mind? Is it good or bad? Then make a decision. Do you still want it to consume you? Or are there better things to focus on? (Nice calming music should help you out. I recommend Coldplay's old music.)

You know you love me,
xoxo

Labels: Feelings, God, Lessons

| Mood: Giddy.
Music: Arithmetic - Brooke Fraser.

I know you lovely stalkers of mine want to know how the heck I've been these last 2 weeks. Well, after the Half Yearlies were over rover, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that no one in my grade was bothered to focus at school. Camp was 2 days away so what was the point, right? So that Monday and Tuesday was a total bludge, don't even remember what I done. I do recall buying last minute camp essentials on the Tuesday.

I was going to detail every single aspect of camp but figured that y'all can just head over to Chrissy's or Rowena's blogs and read their entries. In a nutshell, Crossroads camp was tiring, exciting, fun, full of hot instructors but overall it was a fantastic experience. There was much to take from Crossroads, and it wasn't just a whole luggage bag of muddy clothes. Camp sets the perfect environment to create new bonds and strengthen old ones (I think I took that line from some other camp motto). At camp I was able to talk to my girlfriends about things I've been holding back on and I also found out things I never knew about others. I should also mention the awesome Karaoke + Disco night, that went off! I believe that my year group is just awesome, everyone had a go at singing and everyone had a go on the dance floor! Despite the disgusting camp food, I was in high spirits each and everyday in preparation of the daily activities. Okay, I said I wouldn't ramble about camp but I think I already have. All in all, those 3 days were an experience to remember and I thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Post-camp mood is always groggy and yuck, and believe it or not I took quite some time to re-adjust to civilisation. Of course I jumped on my computer straight away but everything else was left alone. Not to say that I haven't taken anything from camp. I now have a greater appreciation towards my clean bathroom, my mother's delicious home cooked meals and the abundant source of energy I have access to. (Oh yes, on one of the camp nights there were black outs cos all the girls were using their hair straighteners/ blow dryers and I was in the shower when the energy failed. I stood in the freezing cold, naked with shampoo in my hair for an eternity before the lights turned back on.)

I wasn't really active the following long weekend. I'm pretty sure I caught up on all the sleep I missed out on camp due to midnight cabin conversations. That felt mighty fine! As Public Holiday Monday came to an end, I dreaded the thought of school. But Tuesday turned out to be a really good day. Fantastic day, I must say. It started off with Modern History, which was a bit of a bore since we have this student teacher teaching us about Cuba. She's a bit inexperienced judging by her teaching methods but the topic is really interesting. Raise your hands if you've heard of Che Guevara? Yeah, thats right, ALL OF YOU! Well, I haven't got up to the part where he comes in yet but the history of Cuba alone is v. interesting.

I received my half yearly mark for Modern back today, and I'm a bit disappointed. But I realise I shouldn't have had high expectations if I didn't give it my best shot i.e. studying properly. I've really got to start pulling up my socks! (Deja vu.) I keep finding myself waiting for something to motivate me when in the end, I should be motivating myself. It's all within me, I've just got to realise my true potential. Yeah, I'm really good at saying positive stuff but I find it hard to practice what I preach. It's something I've been keeping at the back of mind: to not be a hypocrite, be mindful of what I'm saying and to be aware. All this stuff isn't just coming from my Modern History result, it's been an issue for quite some time now. I'm always saying things before I really think about the consequences and it always lands me into messy piles of doo-doo. So hopefully, by articulating my thoughts and releasing them into the world wide web, I'm hoping I could tackle this blabbermouth issue of mine :)

Enough of bad habits, a quality I'd like to adopt is directly linked to the Art of Complimenting. My Tuesday was fantastic because I felt really great all day. At Recess, after that 'Cuban' Modern Hist. lesson, Chrissy pulled me aside to compliment me on my personality. I was taken aback by how thoughtful an act it was to just compliment someone out of nowhere. All this time she was mindful of how I've been treating her and she decided to verbalise her appreciation. It really really made my day Chrissy, thank you once again! It's so lame, but I'm always 'forgetting' to compliment people. I'm often thinking of how great someone looks or how amazing they are but I never really tell them. I think it's time I stop being the blabbermouth and start being the genuine complimenter :) (Because fake compliments are as bad as bad comments!) Chrissy also set a task to all her blog readers to compliment the next person they see. I'm going to take that task up a notch and try to compliment everyone I see.

There's so much more I have to say, but I think there were enough lessons in today's blog entry:

1. Make the most of any camp you go on and open up your heart there.
2. The home you live in now is 100000000000x better than the conditions I had at camp. So app-re-ci-ate.
3. Motivation comes from within.
4. A simple compliment can really make someone smile all day!


I've been meaning to watch Wicker Park and Pulp Fiction for some time now, so I'm off to watch those 2 movies!


You know you missed me,
xoxo

Labels: Lessons, Recap, Thanks

| Mood: Liberated.
Music: Steen's lovely mix cd.


Ah yes, the Awkward Silence. What constitutes an awkward silence, you ask? Have you ever experienced a slight uneasiness during a silence within a conversation? If so, you my friend have experienced an awkward silence.

They are quite unfortunate, but they happen. After experiencing a bad case of the Awkward Silence today and not knowing how to tackle it, I decided to turn to the Internet. Yeah, I'm a total dweeb. But the Internet is resourceful, we must utilise it!

I typed in 'awkward silence' into the Google search bar and the first few results were a recording label, the MySpace of an actual music band, an Urban Dictionary entry and a wikiHow link. 'Wiki' sounded familiar so I decided to click on it. I ended up spending quite some time browsing the articles, they discuss the best topics. You know those topics you think about but you don't really ask people about it cos you feel you're supposed to know about it already? (i.e. How To Fill Awkward Silences)

I also found out a really interesting fact, anyone ever heard of The Awkward Turtle?



Apparently it can either break an awkward silence or make it even worse. Whatevs, I like those odds! I am so trying it out next time. (Not that I'm guaranteeing future awkward silences, of course.)

After reading a dozen articles, I realised the main points were to Listen, Be Yourself, Respect The Other Person and Don't Act Creepy (haha, the last one came up a lot in the 'How To Treat A Girl Well' articles)

Speaking of How To Treat A Girl Well..

So, you want to know how to treat a girl? Every girl is different, so not everything you do for one girl will necessarily flatter another. But, there are some general things you can do to show a girl that you care.

Steps:

1. Remember that every human being wants to be appreciated. The more genuine and specific you are, the better.

2. Respect her future. The fact is, you might not end up being "the one". Don't do anything that will compromise her future because of something you did. If you aren't ready to be a father, don't work the relationship that way. If you don't like "used goods" then don't ruin her possibilities by turning her into them.

3. Let her talk about herself. If you say you want to get to know her better, then take over all the conversations, she will think you are self-centered, and not very interested in her after all.

4. Find out about her hobbies by asking questions about the kind of music she likes, observing her environment, and asking about clothes or pictures she might have.

5. Compliment her. Say that her hair looks nice or that shirt looks great on her. Then look in her eyes, and smile. Mean it. Keep it real.

6. Tell her she is pretty. No matter how average she thinks her looks may be, a girl will usually be flattered and pleased to know you think she is attractive. Say "You've got the most beautiful eyes/hair/skin/hands/etc. I've ever seen" and again - mean it!

7. Take a shower, put on deodorant, brush your teeth, and shave if you need to right before you see her - every time. Nothing makes a girl more uncomfortable than body odor and/or bad breath.

8. Listen! You need to be a good listener. That works with most of the girls, they need someone who will patiently listen and understand them! There is a huge difference between "Hearing" and "Listening" so make sure you are actively listening to her.

9. Let her know about things she might be interested in. This will show her you remembered and are thinking about her, and the things she likes.

10. Don't forget her special occasions - especially her birthday.

11. Be truthful, there is no need to lie. Being honest during the dating process means you respect her wants and needs, but you also recognize your own. If you find yourself always apologizing or trying to soothe her ruffled feathers, you need to honestly decide whether or not the two of you are a match. Treating a girl well also means recognizing this truth, and telling her in a way that hurts as little as possible - as soon as you know.

12. Make her feel comfortable. Relax and enjoy the time you spend together.

13. Cooperate to understand her point of view if you disagree. Repeat or reflect her feelings so that she knows you really heard her. If it makes sense to you, apologize for your actions that upset her. If you feel you were in the right, however, tell her you didn't realize your actions would hurt her and you're sorry to cause her pain, and that you'll have to consider more carefully next time. As mentioned earlier - keep it real. Do NOT promise never to do it again if you don't intend to keep that promise. If the thing that upsets her is a thing that is fundamental to your personality, you might not be able to change it to a degree that will make her comfortable, and that may mean you will eventually have to part ways.

14. Be real with her, and with yourself. This cannot be stressed enough. If you find yourself saying or doing something and thinking another, step back. Take a look at yourself, and ask yourself what you really want. Share that self with her, because she can and will see that you aren't everything that you say and do.


Tips:

• When you are at a restaurant, sit across from her at the table (unless the table is really long, in which case you should sit next to her). Allow her to sit facing the room, while you face the wall. This way you give the impression that you require no view other than her beauty.

• Some girls won't want you to pay their way; if that's the case when you offer, don't press the issue. It's the thought that counts, and she's sure to recognize your courtesy.

• Taking her to places that cost lots of money isn't necessary. Take her to the park, maybe buy ice cream on the way; that way you interact with her. If you do go to the movies, plan on going for coffee or dessert after (which means a light dinner, and less expense - bonus!) so that you can talk about what you just saw.

• Take things slow. Don't rush into an emotional or physical attachment just because you think you should.

• Look her directly in the eyes when you speak to her or when she is speaking to you. But don't be creepy about it. Staring is not considered attentiveness, it's considered weird.

• Pay careful attention to your manners at all times.

• Show that you are impressed by her, but don't forget to impress her with something different. Show you are different and sometimes crazy about life. Show her something that only you have got.

• Girls are constantly analyzing you, what you do, how you dress, dates you take them on and lots of other things. Take this into account and dress for the situation, as a good balance will keep them impressed. There's no point in dressing to impress, then being cheap about where you take her. It's like going to a nice restaurant in a tracksuit.

• Avoid the temptation to idolize her or put her on a pedestal. She is as human as you are, and the more willing you are to accept that, the less likely she is to disappoint you.

• Arrogant men don't get all the girls, confident guys do - and there's a huge difference. Women are less visually-oriented than men are, so even if you're not the most attractive guy in the world, your confidence will suggest that you're someone worth being with and your personality will back up that suggestion. Plus, if you are kind and warm when interacting with her and with others, she will see your value without your needing to have movie-star good looks. Just act & dress like a gentleman and everything should be sweet

• Opening doors and pulling out chairs for the girl is not old fashioned, it's cute! Any girl likes a boy who will treat her well.

• Hold her close to you and be gentle when it's necessary.

• Don't swear excessively or be crude. If you act immaturely, she is less likely to enjoy your company.

• Put yourself in her place and treat her accordingly. In other words, how would you wish to be treated, if you were her?

Warnings:

• Don't stutter, mumble, or say "Um" or "Uh"; that will make her think you're bored. Take your time and think about what you want to say before you launch into some rambling tirade.

• If she tells you about a personal problem, don't try to fix it. Just listen to her. (There are a few exceptions.) If she starts to cry, this is a big clue that she's really into you - it indicates that she trusts you enough to show she's vulnerable with you. A nice gesture here is to put your arms around her and just hold her. Don't say "Don't cry." Say, "Aww. It's going to be okay."

• If you exaggerate your compliments or are insincere, a girl can usually see through that.

• Make sure you're being yourself. If you act like a gentleman when you are alone with her, and then like a jerk when you're with your friends, she will catch on and you will run into trouble.

• Most importantly: Make sure she doesn't find out you tried to learn how to make her laugh reading articles on the Internet. At least not 'til your one year anniversary. By then she's definitely into you and minor things like that won't hurt.

Taken from: http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-a-Girl-Well
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I know the majority of these points are basic common sense but its easy to forget sometimes. Guys, take notes! And girls, I have just performed a good deed for all of us ;)

To Side Effects: Hope you guys take in this How To Treat A Girl lesson, I'll be quizzing you about it! Bazillion points to whoever successfully answers my questions :)


You know you love me,
xoxo

Labels: Awkward Silences, How To Treat Girls, Lessons, Youtube

| Mood: V. lazy
Music: Forever Young by Youth Group

I know I should be studying. I know I should be studying.I know I should be studying. I know I should be studying. I know I should be studying.I know I should be studying. I know I should be studying. I know I should be studying.I know I should be studying.

Butttttttt I'm totally not. It's the worst feeling because I skipped a surprise party for nothing! Well, that's not entirely true, it's just my fault that I'm not at my study table making v. important study notes for my upcoming half yearlies. I seriously thought that once I became a 'Senior' I would magically turn into a hardcore Asian student. I thought turning 16 would make me cram less. Well, that myths busted!

I shouldn't even be blogging but this new layout makes it way exciting to post stuff! (Thanks to Danny) There's some things I still gotta fix but overall, I'm quite proud to own such a spiffy blog.

This feels like such a waste of time. Blogging is so time consuming. Everything is so time consuming! Time is 'eaten' away (ha @ pun. Y'know, 'consume = 'eat') and before you know it, it's gone. The concept of 'time' was the #1 topic in the majority of my conversations. My friends and I have wondered where all our time has gone. We still clearly remember what it was like to be a Junior and not have much expected of us but now we're hit in the face with buttloads of tasks to complete. Everything is passing by so quickly and I don't like it one bit!

Soon enough, half yearlies will be so yesterday and I'll be off to the compulsory Year 11 camp, Crossroads. With activities such as mountain bike riding and rock climbing, Crossroads is the perfect way to unwind after a chaotic week of examination (!)

A lesson to take from my current whinge is to make the most of now: it will soon be gone.

Labels: Lessons, Thanks, Whinge

|
You know I love you,
xoxo

Labels: Lessons, Quotes