plain filtered truth

I shall have a ‘theme’ for myself this year.

It shall be ‘Listen More, Talk Less.’

I think I’m a good listener, partly because I have trouble finding the right words myself sometimes. But am I a good listener? Or am I just scraping the surface? This year, I wish to be able to really listen, and not just that, but to hear people. To hear their feelings, their emotions, their stands, and their hearts. Partly because I don’t have much time to listen to the people close to me for much longer.

This year, I am going to filter out all the superficial friendships that I have. I am going to end all the pointless relationships that I am part of. I am going to ignore all the unfruitful people in my life. And I am going to focus and build on the ones that are important to me.

I hope I can live up to my theme for the rest this year. I am going to try to keep it in mind when talking to people and making new friendships.

i know there was something special when you weren’t like the others,
when you weren’t sleeping, when everyone else succumbed. and for that,
i know you will succeed and you will do great things. i’m certain,
you know you can. i’m certain though, that knowing that i belief you can too,
will help.

—

thanks for your encouragement and your constant belief in me, and for that i am truly grateful and humbled to have found a friend in you. i hope you’ll read this. enjoy your europe getaway jon. it’s an escape and you’ve earned it. (:

I did this for last year. Now let me do it again. (:

Glad to see 2008 go? :
Yes. Definitely.

Age turned in 2008? :
19

Did you change your hair in 2008? How?:
Yes. I shaved it off.

The best part of 2008? :
1) Charmaine! (:

The worst part of 2008? :
Enlisting into the army? I’m not sure. There have been struggles but none qualify to actually be the worst of the lot.

Any new crushes in 2008? :
No.

Who will you never forget? :
The many friends I made during my trainee period in army.

Who did you wish you did not meet? :
Definitely quite a number of people.

Did you have a girlfriend in 2008? :
Yes I did, and she still is now.

Did you fall in love in 2008? :
Yup.

Did you catch someone in a lie in 2008? :
Yes.

Did you call them out? :
Yes and no, depending on the situation.

Did you get caught in a lie? What was it? :
I did. ):

Funniest moment of 2008? :
Smoking myself, ie. throwing a smoke granade right in front of myself. HAHA. That was dumb.

Most embarrassing moment of 2008? :
Falling asleep while talking on the phone. (Sorry! I was really tired.)

Did you take any vacations in 2008? Where? :
No, but I want to go back to Taiwan..

Any new hobbies of 2008? :
Not really..

Did you get a new job in 2008? :
Yeah. SAF employed me.

Did you lose a job in 2008? :
No. I wished I can lose my current one.

Did you host a party in 2008? :
Nah.

Where did most of your money go? :
Shopping, and not to forget filling the never satisfied monster known as the stomach.

What song will always remind you of 2008? :
~ Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
~ City Harvest Church – My life, Your song

What do you wish you’d done more of? :
Prayed more.

What do you wish you’d done less of? :
Feeling sorry for myself.

Biggest achievement in 2008? :
Knowing that I’ve become more independent, and getting my 3Sg. (:

Biggest failure in 2008 :
Not saying no to myself when I should, again.. ):

In 2008, did you lie to miss a day of work / school? :
I didn’t. Or rather, I couldn’t. Later they charge me ah!~

Did you move in 2008? :
As in residence? Nope, but I got a new ‘home’ though..

Did you wish on a shooting star in 2008? :
I wished I did, but I saw a lot of stars though. (Outfield.)

What was your greatest musical discovery? :
Still the guitar?

What was the best book you read? :
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

What was your favourite movie of the year? :
I can’t really decide..

What did you want in 2008 and got?
I would say my laptop, but I got it last year, so nothing that I really strongly wanted and got I guess. (:

What did you want in 2008 but didn’t get?
I still want that pair of aviator sunglasses from River Island! And add that bag from Oakley.
Update! I got the aviators. My dear girlfriend got it for me. (:

Did you make-out in public in 2008? :
Next!

What’s the ringer on your cellphone? :
‘Satie’ Nokia ringtone.

Who/What kept you sane?
God.

Who did you miss?
Bao Ying. I’m glad she came for Christmas service this year.

Who was the best new person you met?
Sadly, I can’t think of anyone.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Spending the time wasted due to army doing more useful things, and having more money. :/

Did you drink too much in 2008? :
Nope. In fact, it was too little, still too little.

Your favorite commercial of 2008? :
Didn’t really watch much tele.

Something you couldn’t leave home without in 2008? :
My keys, cellphone, wallet, and iPod.

How did you spend New Year’s 2008? :
At Grace’s house with some cell group members.

Valentines Day 2008? :
With Charmaine.

Easter 2008? :
Church.

Halloween 2008? :
In camp. ):

Thanksgiving 2008? :
In camp! ): ):

Christmas 2008? :
Church.

Your birthday? :
With Charmaine at Vivo City if I’m not wrong.

How do you plan to usher in the new year?
Probably with Charmaine, though I have no idea yet as of now.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008 :
Never judge a person by how he/she looks.

I was just praying the other day, when it suddenly struck me. I’ve been in church for more than 3 years already. It seemed so long ago, but at the same time it feels like it was just yesterday I first stepped into the Jurong West (JW) auditorium.

I remember that first day. It was 26 November. I reached JW and the first thing I thought when I saw the church building was WOW. And when I stepped into the auditorium, it was double WOW. The second time I went back, I gave my heart to Jesus. That was 3 December.

How time flew. It’s been three years. I’ve learnt so much, gained so much, matured so much. Here I am now. I’m still in church. I’m still, very much in love with Him. I thank God for His love through this past three years. When I was unfaithful, He remained faithful. When I doubted, He believed. When I swayed, He was my solid rock. When I was at my lowest point, He was there to lift me up. I look forward to another wonderful year with You Lord. (:

Your love has seen me through all my days,
I stand here by Your grace.
Praises will not be enough to show,
How my love for You has grown.
Nothing matters when You’re here with me.
In the end just to hear You say ‘well done’.

My greatest honour will always be,
To serve my Lord and King.

What if one day you woke up and realised you lost everything?

Love. Family. Friends. Money. Belongings. Feelings. Memories. Thoughts. Senses. Mind. Sanity.

You forget how to talk, how to smile, how to frown, how to feel sad, how to feel joy.

You get another chance at life. Start everything all over again, from scratch.

Learn everything all over again. Experience everything all over again.

Will you do things differently? Or will you lead your life the same way as you are now?

How will you feel? Happy? Or sad?

I know I’ll be upset to lose everything, but I know I won’t be sad if I get to start over again.

:/

I fall humbly on my knees, take this offering that I bring, take my hand and lead me through. My life’s nothing without You. You are my sustaining love.

I went for a run this morning after I woke up. That’s when I realize my stamina sucks now, and it seems to be getting worse. That’s bad. Since I POP-ed, I went running only 3 times. Hmm.. Not that I can’t complete the distance I intended to do, but it’s just that I feel that I’m getting tired so quickly and easily. That’s really bad.

No matter. I shall go running more the next few days (I hope I’m disciplined enough. :/) It’s pouring cats and dogs now. The weather feels so good. I just feel like rotting at home and doing nothing. To think I’m supposed to be sending this laptop for repairs today. The freaking CD-rom drive won’t work. ARGH I’m too lazy. Let’s see how I feel later. I so suck at following my own planning.

Ok I’m not thinking straight. Just typing out what I’m thinking so everything is just jumbled up and incoherent. Sorry but this post has no meaning. Oh forget it. Yes I must go running more. And can you believe SAFRA spelled my name wrongly. I swear people who spell “darYL” as “darLY” are just plain dumb. DUMB.

Fine I’ll stop ranting.

Apparently my mum just bought a new washing machine, and it’s a branded one. Woah! And our current one is still working fine. No I’m not saying it has like a Rolls-Royce spinning motor where it can allow it to spin one thousand revolutions per minute. Rather, it more like just a significantly better brand than the other ones in the market like LG (our current one), Samsung or even… I can’t think of more washing machine brand names.

Talk about keeping our clothes clean. Maybe a branded washing machine will ensure that our clothes are not just washed clean, but it’ll be a “one-time washed clean.” Woah! Now that’s high class. (:

Work. Yes. I’ve found and started work since last Thursday. I’m working at Fonterra, a dairy products company.

I’m feeling freaking tired right now. Yes, even though it’s only the start of the week but I feel dead, no thanks to all the late nights I’m still having everyday. Again.. Yes I know I should sleep early now that I’m working but then again.. I just want to stay up surfing the net and doing whatever I want. Ok I’ll probably have to stop this soon or I’ll be dead in no time. Arghh.. I need the money, but I want to be able to sleep late and wake up late in the day as well. I want to be able to go where-ever I want whenever I want with whoever I want. Arghh.. Why can’t I have the best of both worlds?

Work is tiring as well. Oh but today was boring. I was sorting out files the entire day. But then again it’s cool to work in the CBD. You get to see nice cars everyday, not to mention you feel like you’re some big businessman every morning when you travel to Raffles Place even though I’m wearing T-shirt and jeans all the time. Oh well.

Let me end off with this. It costs $3.40 everyday to travel to and back from work. Adult fare sucks.