Black Belts are Simply White Belts Who Didn’t Quit

The harsh reality is that most people give-up too early. As soon as the required level of effort intensifies, they throw in the towel and head back to their comfort zone. Figuratively speaking, these people will surely wear a white belt forever. It’s just that simple.
Those wearing the black belt never threw in the towel and continue to forge ahead without hesitation. They are constantly training, endlessly learning and always ready for new material. Their success has little to do with intrinsic aptitude and everything to do with psychological determination. They never quit.

If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat.
- Herschel Walker

Here are 9 black belt keys for success.

1. Set Personal Goals – Personal goals define personal success. Success cannot be achieved unless goals have been set ahead of time.
2. Visualize Success – Picture the outcome of your efforts. Use it as motivation to get you there.
3. Work Hard – Be ready to sweat. Success comes at a cost. That cost is hard work.
4. Learn From Your Mistakes – Mistakes are inevitable, and they are also the single greatest element of education.
5. Never Quit – Quitting is failing. Brush yourself off, reevaluate your approach and try again.
6. Keep Training – Self-study is vital. Never stop learning new material and never stop training with the material you already know.
7. Assist Others – You must always give back what you take. Be a student and a teacher. You will learn something new in both roles.
8. Maintain a Relaxed Mind – Relaxation is a critical part of keeping a clear perspective. Even under stressful conditions you must maintain mental equilibrium… breath.
9. Value Your Mentors – A good mentor understands where you’ve been, where you intend to go, and is also chock full of priceless firsthand advice. Respect your mentors and value their opinions.

Finally "Inked"

I finally went and got it done.
I have thought about getting a tattoo for like 2 years and yes, finally I went bugger it....went and got it done.

Like I blogged previously, I already had my design drawn up.  The first place I went to was extremely unhelpful and was trying to talk me out of white ink tattoo as well as enlarge my design.  I mean seriously, why should I enlarge my design?  There is something call micro tattooing you know.  If you can't do the job, just say so!!!!

The place I went to today, no problem with it.  The guys saw my design and said "cool, very nice" and asked me when I want it done.  Well...NOW if possible.  Otherwise I'll wander off and might never come back.

He took my design and was quick to draw up the stencil for it.  Whilst I was waiting, took some pics of the place.  Gotta say that there might be a few designs I spotted on the wall that I might come back for at a later date.  :)

First tattoo....was told but my friends it hurts like hell, especially around bones as Im getting it done on the wrist.  So I was prepared for the worst, thinking I might end up screaming.  Pfffffffffftttttttttt, man.....it was like little cuts.  It did hurt a little bit at the curves of the design, but that was it. 

15 mins or so and it was over.  I'm now "Inked".  The guy was really nice (and kinda cute too in a way)  Unfortunately I forgot to ask for his name.  But if I ever want to get Inked again, I'll remember to go back to this place as well as ask for the same guy.

Now I have to wait like 2 weeks before I can really see the final result.  I just can't wait.  The word "love" is nicely written, so if it turns out good...its gonna be awesome.  The word "life"...ummm, still can't see it yet.   Once again, this design is stemmed from Shay Mitchell's tattoo design.

Now....lets wait and see what happens.  Will post more pics later on  :)

Shay Mitchell's Tattoo

My Tattoo

My Tattoo design

Meaning from my tattoo

 

 http://www.citybodyart.com/

Heard that before :/

Considering my line of work, I had a good chuckle when I saw the following in a news article.  Lets just say I've heard that before....many times (the bit underlined)


Q I am 58 and my wife is 48. If she continues to work once I retire, Centrelink takes this into account when assessing my pension. If she earns $45,000, my pension would be around $140 a fortnight. As I have paid taxes all my life should I not be entitled to a full pension when I retire? Is there any way of getting the full pension even though my wife will still be working, or should she move to part-time work?

Dude....if you ever get on the AGE pension, remember to report you wife's income.  Cos I've really heard the "I've paid taxes all my life" line too many times.

27/11/13 - THOUGHT OF THE DAY

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

26/11/13 - Thought of the Day

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

25/11/13 - Thought of the Day

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Thanks to Shay Mitchell for sharing this one. 


If you deeply think about this, you'll see how true it is. 
The more you discover yourself, them more the world opens up to you.
Thanks Shay for sharing xoxo

KK, Sabah hotels of choice

Started looking at hotels to stay at in Kota Kinabalu.  So far have narrowed it down to 2 places. Shangri-La & Pacific Suetra Harbour.  Both look amazing with their own private beaches. That is what I want to do. Relax, get some sun on beautiful beaches and have some great food while I'm there.

Pacific Sutera Harbour

Pacific Sutera Harbour

Pacific Sutera Harbour

 Pacific Sutera Harbour

 Pacific Sutera Harbour

 Pacific Sutera Harbour

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

 Hotel Shangri La, Kota Kinabalu

Shitty thing is when I was checking them out, appears they are closed to being fully booked for the time I wanted to go. 

I am still living in hope that I can go there this trip, to finally relax and enjoy myself and the sun before heading back home to slave and stress away before my next holiday.  Who knows when that would be as well.

Introvert

BE PROUD AND BE LOUD....YES, I'M AN INTROVERT.

So being an introvert, I thought everyone to know who/what I am like.  Mind you, some of the points below half applies to me....maybe I'm an odd introvert??

Top ten myths about introverts

Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.
Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.
Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.
Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.
Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.
Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.
Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Link to article @ StumbleUpon

Lost in translation

Spent some time laughing at these translation
Its even funnier if you can read what was the original and what is the aftermath of the translation.

2 of my favourites:

Enjoy the rest  :)



http://distractify.com/fun/fails/the-x-worst-asian-sign-translations-of-all-time/

21/11/13 - Thought of the day

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

20/11/13 - Thought of the day

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Tattoo

I have finally settled on a tattoo design for my left wrist.  It's only a matter of time before I work up the courage and actually get it done. 

I haven't thought of my right wrist design yet.  I'm sure I'll think of something eventually.

Now let's get back on my left wrist.  I've kinda taken Shay Mitchell's tattoo.... 

and I want it to have a meaning like this:

But having all that tattoo might be a bit painful and I only have so much space on my wrist.  Therefore I have altered it so I know the meaning behind it.  I don't care if others don't know what it means, as long as I know...that is all that matters.

Thought I'd attach my rough draft of the tattoo design for my wrist.  I reckon if they do a good job, it'll look totally awesome and most of all...it's meaningful.

 

Sooo.....I went to a tattoo place and asked about my design and whether they can do it in white ink.  The lady heard white ink and went pale.  She said it won't look good (without even seeing the design).  She told me that over the years it'll fade.  Ummm, think she was really trying to get me to change my mind about using white ink.  

Then I showed them my design.  She said it needs to be pretty big especially with words, cos if its little, it won't come out.  She went on again how she would never use white ink...blah, blah, blah.  To get the above design tattoo would cost me $120.  Think I might ask another place tomorrow and see what they say.

But frankly, I will get a white ink tattoo cos I want one, I will suffer the consequences if it fades or look bad or watever.  You really can't stop me from using white ink.  I'm sure if a good job is done with the design, it'll turn out fantastic.

Pushing boundaries

Comfort zone.  Yes, everyone have them, and often we're afraid to push those boundaries. 
Found an article awhile ago for pushing your comfort zone to increase your mental capacity.
I myself have tried a few, and of course failed miserably  :(

To help you put it into practice, here are 30 ways to do things which are just outside your comfort zone to increase your mental capacity:

1. When someone asks you to do something, make your default answer “yes” (but don’t forget to say “no” when appropriate).
2. In a gathering (class, conference, etc.), sit next to someone you do not know.
3. Visit a place you normally wouldn’t (museum, monument, national park, etc.).
4. Eat at a new place.
5. Try a new kind of food.
6. Go to a conference or seminar in a topic you are not familiar with.
7. Email or call an old friend you haven’t met for a long time.
8. Initiate conversation with someone you don’t know.
9. Find the most unpleasant task in your to-do list and do it first.
10. Email or message someone you don’t know to initiate a friendship.
11. Learn a new hobby.
12. Learn a foreign language.
13. Join a new club and interact with the people there.
14. Practice an art you normally wouldn’t (painting, music, etc.).
15. Learn a new musical instrument.
16. Be dare to ask. This is to familiarize yourself with rejection.
17. Read fiction if you normally read non-fiction, and vice versa.
18. Read a new author.
19. Read an old book.
20. Visit a new genre of blogs.
21. Find friends from a new country (i.e. a country from which you haven’t had any friend before).
22. Find friends from different professions.
23. Volunteer for activities conducted by your social or business group.
24. Do your groceries at a different store.
25. Take a different route to work.
26. Attend an art festival.
27. Listen to a new genre of music.
28. In a bookstore or library, browse books in a section you wouldn’t normally visit.
29. Watch a new genre of movies.
30. Read history more than news.

I have recently start to push my boundaries quite a bit.  Like making myself work out everyday, going to a new place every weekend instead of staying in my comfort zone and sleeping....and of course, practice my typing & English skills by blogging each day.  (Well, dunno how long I can keep this blogging up for)

Snookums - My little furball friend

I got this cat a few days before Easter in 2010, and I couldn't imagine my life without him.
Just thought I'd take a trip down memory lane and share some pics I've taken of him over the years.

 Just brought him home the first day, adjusting to the surroundings

  Just brought him home the first day, already having a nap on my bed

  Just brought him home the first day...."geez, how many laptops do u have??"

 Just brought him home the first day, yes...that is your bed.  He only slept in it that one time  :(

  Just brought him home the first day, found a place to sunbake

  Just brought him home the first day, wasn't happy when he was found??  Nope took this pic whilst he was mid-yawning

  Just brought him home the first day.  "Are those birds out there??"

   Just brought him home the first day.  "You know these blinds won't last right??"

 Just brought him home the first day.  Acting cute...gotta make a good impression 1st day rite?

 Just brought him home the first day. Handsome little man

 Being playful

 My all time fav pic of him sleeping...in my bed

 Peek-a-boo

 "This is my chair, my bed.  Just cos you paid $200 for it, doesn't mean its yours. Stay away!!!"

 Its cold in winter.  Even cat needs some blankie

 "OMG, is this for me??"

 Hiding under my blanket on a Sunday morning

 "Please turn the light off...I'm trying to ZZzzzz"

 I love this pic.  I couldn't sleep but saw him sleeping...so I woke him up.  His "I'm not impress" look

Being playful

 "How many Zzzzing pic do you need to take?!?!"

 He's good company.  He even watches cricket with me.

 My favourite snack turned into HIS favourite snack

 Another cold winter day/nite

 "You serious??  You're hiding my treats in there?? Hmmmpf"

 Brought him a new cat bed.....slept in it like 5 times  :(

 Introducing SUPERHERO cat.  Possessing the super power of......ummmmm......no idea  :/

 So whose a pretty lady???  Looking good as a blonde though

 Chewing my plant

 

 Me vs Cat in bed.  Looks like he won majority of the queen bed for sure.

 Good pic taken for a mugshot for sure

 Strike a pose....

 ....and the 2nd pose is Yawning  -_-

He is guarding his favourite toy from me.  He loves playing "fetch" with this.  It's gone through the wear & tear stage and needs to be thrown out.  He knows it and guards it even when he goes to sleep.  (Yes, he still have it.  I sewed it back up and didn't have the heart to throw it out.)