Stop Comparing, Stop Judging, Stop Striving, Stop Thinking of I

(I will work on the "positives of the negatives" above, later... else it may end up as a Pink Elephant syndrome, but right now I just want to write on the stops above)

These are things which I realized in the past couple of days... in fact, it's really past couple of days... things that I realized since Friday morning till now.

Stop Comparing
I bought some books from PageOne in HK, for HKD300 - and I realized I can buy the same set of books for RM60 here. Well, what's done is done... I felt "something" because I have made a loss in the transaction. But I guess I can just stop seeing them as the same thing... I have bought it in HK, at a time when I wasn't quite happy, and it has served its purpose, making me happy on that day and I have started to enjoy the books too... Sometimes it may be worthwhile to compare, but perhaps there are times when things are best seen as they are without comparison to others... not to mention the things may change.. one day object A is better than object B... and one fine day in the future object B may develop more positive aspects than object A... because object B has unseen potential as at today...

Stop Judging
Stop being biased! How many times have I "cut" a person's ideas off because I was being biased, being reminded of how that person used to be in the past and not letting that person have a chance to put forward his/her idea, or a chance to do something different? Countless times... and on Christmas Day I do not know what struck me but I wanted to apologize to someone... I haven't done so yet, cause I guess I am still not very clear on how I should approach the situation - have to be careful... I'll have long working relationships with some of these people. I must have hurt people, and I would not like to be in the same situation of not being listened to...

Stop Striving
My mom finally told me she is not happy with my job. She doesn't like to see me spending hours in front of the laptop. She doesn't like to see my "pale face" everytime I come back home, which she says is getting more and more pale. She doesn't like to hear me working till late at night, have no time to sleep and did not go out during the weekends when I am abroad. And she tells me not to strive so much.. what would I get end of the day? Another promotion? Not that I get paid that much anyway now... Is it really worth it? Well, actually no need for my mom to raise the issue. I'm not feeling exactly in my dream job either, just that I have a mission to accomplish in my current job... and I will move on... it's a matter of time... Sigh... what do I get end of the day by working day and night, I feel it now, I earn more but I don't have a chance to spend. And do I really need the money anyway?

Stop Thinking of I
I have some "competitive advantage" in my current assignment, and while it sometimes help me to move forward, I am not tasked to do things I don't like to do, I think it's contributing to my ego as well. I'm not sure how much my ego has grown, and I'm not really sure the effect of it on my fellow colleagues and friends. But the ego is there... I really need to tone it down... Other people have feelings too... stop thinking I am working too hard.. just stop my thoughts from revolving around myself...

ttg

...

I realized something today... something which has been so apparent since a long time ago but I did not see it because I'm clouded with what I want and what I feel.. and whatever other factors...

'll have to learn how to pick-up and move on from here...

ttg

Bookstore in HK

This is last Thursday incident:

I was happy with the deal I got in this bookstore chain in HK - when I bought the 3 in 1 set for Cecelia Ahern's books. But I was not happy with their service:
1. They promised a free cloth book wrap for purchases above certain amount. When we were at the counter, they did not offer the book wrap, but there was also another promotion going on, and we got a book voucher (which can only be used from 29/12 - 31/1, luckily we will be back - if not I'm going to make a complain about this too, it was not stated that the voucher cannot be used immediately or in the next purchase, what if we were not going back to HK during that period??)
2. After we paid, and before we left, the book wrap promotion caught our attention again, so we went to the Customer Service counter, who told us that the book wrapping service was outside the shop.
3. At the book wrapping counter, they wanted to wrap up the book in paper! And said they knew nothing about the cloth wrapping.
4. We went inside again and look at the promotion sign... I read from top to bottom and all the fine prints... Nothing was wrong, I'm supposed to get a free cloth book wrap.
5. Then we went to the counter, who finally admitted we are entitled for the book wrap. They wrapped the book for us.
6. On our way out, we wanted to take a picture of the promotion sign - which shows you how to wrap the book. And they did not let us to take a photo of it. I understand if I can't take a picture of the shop or the books... but this sign. It's telling you: You either get a free book cloth wrap, or you can purchase the scarf and wrap the book as below.... then the graphic image of it...

So... they ask you to buy the scarf to wrap the books, and don't allow you to take a snapshot on how to use the scarf to wrap the books... how inconvenient!!

ttg

First Day in Guangzhou

1. Was definitely not looking forward to this day

2. Had quite an ok time on the plane. Managed to catch up on some reading, and some sleep

3. Had a bad start when I arrived - I don't know what got into me to follow the illegal taxi driver! Luckily nothing bad happened, and it was quite an experience to know how they work.

- I was charged RMB150 for this journey - found out later that it actually cost about RMB110 only
- First person who got the business will lead you to a private car. The driver of the private car will pay him RMB30 (20%).
- Second person (driver of private car) will hunt for a proper taxi to get you to your final destination. The taxi driver pays the second person RMB80 (Therefore the second person earns net RMB50, ~ 33.33%).
- Third person (taxi driver) drives you to your final destination, and gets less than 50% of the total fare, RMB70).

My receipt now shows RMB110... :( I wonder if I can claim RMB150!! If not, my fee for this lesson would be RMB40...

4. Springdale Serviced Apartment is nice! At least better than what I expected... Quite homely...

5. Discovered that the shopping malls nearby are fabulous! Enough for me to get groceries and food.

6. Breakfast is provided! Yippie!!!

7. Now looking at work... I wish I can just shut down the PC... :(

ttg