Today’s workshop was called, “Theme and Premise" by Courttia Newland. It was held at The Arts House Living Room and as I was seated there, I couldn’t help but think this is such a lovely place to hold a wedding lunch reception. Fluffy blue couches, pristine white-washed walls, full-length mirrors, chandeliers overhead and a mic behind for the bride and groom to declare their love.
We had various writing exercises and one was “an obsession about someone/something you love”. I read this one aloud to the others:
She carries an eraser with her everywhere she goes. On a vacation, to work, on a date-an eraser sits in her bag, giving her assurance and comfort like the bible does. She has been obsessed with eraser dust ever since she was twelve. They accompanied her during an examination when she was trying to calm herself. The eraser carried the same soothing effect ever since. Or maybe she is just obsessed with the idea that something in this world of uncertainties could be moulded by her as and when she needs security.
We created various fictional characters and one of the final exercises was to write a letter between two of the characters we had earlier created. I quite like this one:
Dear _____,
I am penning this letter and putting to words thoughts I never have the courage to say when I meet you. I have been puzzled for so long and all my questions have turned into statements. I never understood why I feel indebted around you or why I foolishly willingly jump on your rides of emotional rollercoaster. It is funny how I am constantly carving explanations in my head, justifications for my imperfections when your flaws appear plain and obvious to me.
Both of us are like dangling pendulum balls moving in different directions. Yet, we always brush past and meet at the lowest point of standstill. The standstills were short and sweet. But I am writing to say I no longer want to deal with brief memories and have snipped off the string on my pendulum ball.
Regards,
_____________
I couldn’t think of two names that would fit and so I have substituted them with blanks.
Another person was to read the written pieces and come up with a dramatic scene based on the character. The girl who read mine interpreted it as a younger brother writing to an elder brother. Always interesting to find out how people perceive the same writing differently.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I'm a ENFP
I got the link for this quiz from Victor's blog and I think it's pretty accurate. But this is just my self-perception so any quiz that I take would be deemed pretty accurate since it is what I think about myself...
Anyway, try it yourself and share with me what you you are: http://apps.facebook.com/eccomstyles//?page=mytype
ENFP
The Inspirer
Extroverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Enthusiastic, idealistic, and creative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Great people skills. Need to live life in accordance with their inner values. Excited by new ideas, but bored with details. Open-minded and flexible, with a broad range of interests and abilities.
As an ENFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. Your secondary mode is internal, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system.
ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.
ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.
An ENFP needs to focus on following through with their projects. This can be a problem area for some of these individuals. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors. Others may fall into the habit of dropping a project when they become excited about a new possibility, and thus they never achieve the great accomplishments which they are capable of achieving.
Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. Sometimes, especially at a younger age, an ENFP will tend to be "gushy" and insincere, and generally "overdo" in an effort to win acceptance. However, once an ENFP has learned to balance their need to be true to themselves with their need for acceptance, they excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and flexibility to relate to others on their own level.
Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.
An ENFP who has "gone wrong" may be quite manipulative - and very good it. The gift of gab which they are blessed with makes it naturally easy for them to get what they want. Most ENFPs will not abuse their abilities, because that would not jive with their value systems.
ENFPs sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions.
ENFPs who have not learned to follow through may have a difficult time remaining happy in marital relationships. Always seeing the possibilities of what could be, they may become bored with what actually is. The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.
Having an ENFP parent can be a fun-filled experience, but may be stressful at times for children with strong Sensing or Judging tendancies. Such children may see the ENFP parent as inconsistent and difficult to understand, as the children are pulled along in the whirlwind life of the ENFP. Sometimes the ENFP will want to be their child's best friend, and at other times they will play the parental authoritarian. But ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems, which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.
ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are excited about what they're doing.
Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.
ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of following through.
Anyway, try it yourself and share with me what you you are: http://apps.facebook.com/eccomstyles//?page=mytype
ENFP
The Inspirer
Extroverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving
Enthusiastic, idealistic, and creative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Great people skills. Need to live life in accordance with their inner values. Excited by new ideas, but bored with details. Open-minded and flexible, with a broad range of interests and abilities.
As an ENFP, your primary mode of living is focused externally, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. Your secondary mode is internal, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit in with your personal value system.
ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.
ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They're constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP's life, and because they are focused on keeping "centered", the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.
An ENFP needs to focus on following through with their projects. This can be a problem area for some of these individuals. Unlike other Extraverted types, ENFPs need time alone to center themselves, and make sure they are moving in a direction which is in sync with their values. ENFPs who remain centered will usually be quite successful at their endeavors. Others may fall into the habit of dropping a project when they become excited about a new possibility, and thus they never achieve the great accomplishments which they are capable of achieving.
Most ENFPs have great people skills. They are genuinely warm and interested in people, and place great importance on their inter-personal relationships. ENFPs almost always have a strong need to be liked. Sometimes, especially at a younger age, an ENFP will tend to be "gushy" and insincere, and generally "overdo" in an effort to win acceptance. However, once an ENFP has learned to balance their need to be true to themselves with their need for acceptance, they excel at bringing out the best in others, and are typically well-liked. They have an exceptional ability to intuitively understand a person after a very short period of time, and use their intuition and flexibility to relate to others on their own level.
Because ENFPs live in the world of exciting possibilities, the details of everyday life are seen as trivial drudgery. They place no importance on detailed, maintenance-type tasks, and will frequently remain oblivous to these types of concerns. When they do have to perform these tasks, they do not enjoy themselves. This is a challenging area of life for most ENFPs, and can be frustrating for ENFP's family members.
An ENFP who has "gone wrong" may be quite manipulative - and very good it. The gift of gab which they are blessed with makes it naturally easy for them to get what they want. Most ENFPs will not abuse their abilities, because that would not jive with their value systems.
ENFPs sometimes make serious errors in judgment. They have an amazing ability to intuitively perceive the truth about a person or situation, but when they apply judgment to their perception, they may jump to the wrong conclusions.
ENFPs who have not learned to follow through may have a difficult time remaining happy in marital relationships. Always seeing the possibilities of what could be, they may become bored with what actually is. The strong sense of values will keep many ENFPs dedicated to their relationships. However, ENFPs like a little excitement in their lives, and are best matched with individuals who are comfortable with change and new experiences.
Having an ENFP parent can be a fun-filled experience, but may be stressful at times for children with strong Sensing or Judging tendancies. Such children may see the ENFP parent as inconsistent and difficult to understand, as the children are pulled along in the whirlwind life of the ENFP. Sometimes the ENFP will want to be their child's best friend, and at other times they will play the parental authoritarian. But ENFPs are always consistent in their value systems, which they will impress on their children above all else, along with a basic joy of living.
ENFPs are basically happy people. They may become unhappy when they are confined to strict schedules or mundane tasks. Consequently, ENFPs work best in situations where they have a lot of flexibility, and where they can work with people and ideas. Many go into business for themselves. They have the ability to be quite productive with little supervision, as long as they are excited about what they're doing.
Because they are so alert and sensitive, constantly scanning their environments, ENFPs often suffer from muscle tension. They have a strong need to be independent, and resist being controlled or labelled. They need to maintain control over themselves, but they do not believe in controlling others. Their dislike of dependence and suppression extends to others as well as to themselves.
ENFPs are charming, ingenuous, risk-taking, sensitive, people-oriented individuals with capabilities ranging across a broad spectrum. They have many gifts which they will use to fulfill themselves and those near them, if they are able to remain centered and master the ability of following through.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Bigger
When I opened my notebook, the first page I arrived at was on Love Busters and there were three written on it:
1) Selfish Demands
But love does not make selfish demands.
Policy of Joint Agreement
2)Disrespectful Judgements
Consider the other party's response
3)Angry Outbursts
Nobody wants to live with a timebomb.
Then I flipped to the next page, and there were notes on 5 characteristics of Big People. I couldn't remember what the service message that week was on and as I turned over to the next, I realised I didn't have a title for that week, only "Saturday Service 28th March 2009".
The first line was: Big trials and problems to make you a bigger person.
The next line was marked with an asterisks and it said: The only way to abundance is through trials.
Jesus only asks you to step out of the boat when the condition isn't smooth.
The purpose of a trial is to develop in your life PATIENCE and capacity.
As you respond to trials properly, you'll get bigger. You can't control what's going to happen to you but you can control your response.
God believes in you even when you don't believe in yourself.
This is written here as an everlasting constant reminder and because I am amazed, again and again, by God's hand in things.
1) Selfish Demands
But love does not make selfish demands.
Policy of Joint Agreement
2)Disrespectful Judgements
Consider the other party's response
3)Angry Outbursts
Nobody wants to live with a timebomb.
Then I flipped to the next page, and there were notes on 5 characteristics of Big People. I couldn't remember what the service message that week was on and as I turned over to the next, I realised I didn't have a title for that week, only "Saturday Service 28th March 2009".
The first line was: Big trials and problems to make you a bigger person.
The next line was marked with an asterisks and it said: The only way to abundance is through trials.
Jesus only asks you to step out of the boat when the condition isn't smooth.
The purpose of a trial is to develop in your life PATIENCE and capacity.
As you respond to trials properly, you'll get bigger. You can't control what's going to happen to you but you can control your response.
God believes in you even when you don't believe in yourself.
This is written here as an everlasting constant reminder and because I am amazed, again and again, by God's hand in things.
Monday, May 11, 2009
"You really got a hold on me"
This suits my mood now, lazy lyrics rolling off the tongue and the who-cares-about-anything attitude.
The greatest challenge when one is down and so emotionally fragile is thinking positively. Because all of a sudden, all those inspirational quotes and big life-saver lines seem so bright and plastic and passe.
The greatest challenge when one is down and so emotionally fragile is thinking positively. Because all of a sudden, all those inspirational quotes and big life-saver lines seem so bright and plastic and passe.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
L-Meow!
The biggest cheer these few days for me is the expression LMAO.
I always thought it stood for Lame like a MAO!
Imagine my big surprise when I found out what it really stands for.
I always thought it stood for Lame like a MAO!
Imagine my big surprise when I found out what it really stands for.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Uneasy Observations
The wet-grass-scented breeze makes me want to sleep in bed with a good book all day long. Recently, I’ve been tampering with the idea of going to and staying in a foreign land for an extended period of time. I don’t mind staying in an old English country house or on the second story of a rented apartment in a bricked building in Hong Kong. Is this some form of escapism or a pining for something that is not to be found anywhere but only when I am still?
For a good part of the semester, I was tired of the campus landscape. AS1, AS3, AS4 corridors, and knowing what to expect every hour of every day in the week stifled me. It was not exactly dreary either. Yet, it was neither stimulating nor quietly compelling in any way. I wanted to go overseas to get a fresh breath of new landscape, just to see something different, not knowing what to expect of leaves against that portion of the evening sky.
Maybe it’s the highs and lows of growing up, but along the way, I fell in love with the NUS landscape all over again. Nothing has changed, the same trees are rooted in their exact spots, the same wooden benches along the walkways, and everything’s the same. Yet, everything was so beautiful all of a sudden, and I was genuinely appreciating every bit of the scenery.
What startles me isn’t so much the speed at which human beings turn our heads and change our minds. But in every ‘proper’ person’s functional life hides an entirely different façade that is not presented in the 9-5 jobs, over lunchtime chats, or in big dinner parties. It is only released in solitude over films, in a museum viewing gallery or behind a computer screen of a blog page. Is this Goffman’s conceptualization of ‘front stage’ and ‘back stage’ presentations? I think so and I’m certain every single person has this multiple-dimensioned side. Not just the quirky, wayward ones standing at the back alley silently watching the world go by.
For a good part of the semester, I was tired of the campus landscape. AS1, AS3, AS4 corridors, and knowing what to expect every hour of every day in the week stifled me. It was not exactly dreary either. Yet, it was neither stimulating nor quietly compelling in any way. I wanted to go overseas to get a fresh breath of new landscape, just to see something different, not knowing what to expect of leaves against that portion of the evening sky.
Maybe it’s the highs and lows of growing up, but along the way, I fell in love with the NUS landscape all over again. Nothing has changed, the same trees are rooted in their exact spots, the same wooden benches along the walkways, and everything’s the same. Yet, everything was so beautiful all of a sudden, and I was genuinely appreciating every bit of the scenery.
What startles me isn’t so much the speed at which human beings turn our heads and change our minds. But in every ‘proper’ person’s functional life hides an entirely different façade that is not presented in the 9-5 jobs, over lunchtime chats, or in big dinner parties. It is only released in solitude over films, in a museum viewing gallery or behind a computer screen of a blog page. Is this Goffman’s conceptualization of ‘front stage’ and ‘back stage’ presentations? I think so and I’m certain every single person has this multiple-dimensioned side. Not just the quirky, wayward ones standing at the back alley silently watching the world go by.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Daily Bread
I found a card from MK clasped in one of my half-read books and it ends off with “May you find your Daily Bread in 2009”… And I stared at that line for so long because it had a chilling effect with the realization that the year is half gone. What have I learnt this year?
I realized I am so silly. I am as susceptible to the perils of love as anyone else can be, am as tormented by it as everyone else is when I have always thought that I was immune to it. That’s just me thinking I am special and unlike the ‘usual girl’ when I am really the usual girl, experiencing the same emotions, the same tears, the same joy and the same hurt.
And then I realized it can be so easy to pull oneself away from the turbulences of life. There are so many things to do. It’s just a matter of priorities and rearranging of one’s schedule, finding one’s Daily Bread in everyday life.
I realized I am so silly. I am as susceptible to the perils of love as anyone else can be, am as tormented by it as everyone else is when I have always thought that I was immune to it. That’s just me thinking I am special and unlike the ‘usual girl’ when I am really the usual girl, experiencing the same emotions, the same tears, the same joy and the same hurt.
And then I realized it can be so easy to pull oneself away from the turbulences of life. There are so many things to do. It’s just a matter of priorities and rearranging of one’s schedule, finding one’s Daily Bread in everyday life.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hot chocolate in a rainy morning
Strange sleeping habits leads me to be up at 5am. It's raining now, the cool morning air smells so good. And it just stopped raining, before pouring down again.
This is one of the songs I listen to over and over again for the lyrics...
"And if you ask me
The feeling that I'm feeling is overjoyed
And it's golden, it goes to show then
The ending of this song should be left alone
And so on 'cause the way it unfolds is yet to be told"
This is one of the songs I listen to over and over again for the lyrics...
"And if you ask me
The feeling that I'm feeling is overjoyed
And it's golden, it goes to show then
The ending of this song should be left alone
And so on 'cause the way it unfolds is yet to be told"
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