Three wise monkeys

Take the good, leave the bad. One policy that accommodates us into the imperfect world perfectly. I have always been taught to see the good in people disregarding their weak points. 

A man may be a drug addict but portrays good manners. A man could lie and cheat but still show gratitude to those who love him. We all have our vices that's the truth. At the same time we are capable of modeling admirable behaviors as well. Sometimes we feel so natural doing an act without realizing not many actually do those things because for us it has become a habit.

How would the world be if we only scan to scorn people by seeing them as half a human only capable of the bad? We will only end up ruining each other while indulging in more vices ourselves. Remember the three wise monkeys? Only see, hear and speak good things.

Nobody's perfect. So why not excuse a certain side of a person you dislike and value his/her strengths instead? 

Wouldn't the world be a much better place if we learn to ignore shortfalls ? Something to ponder indeed.

Renuka G

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Of cravings and guavas

The hyper kid had her day! Usually my self control is pretty remarkable in terms of my diet that I reward myself everyday with a small piece of chocolate after my lunch. Today I had no chocolates since I haven't done my grocery shopping yet. Oh yes I have my once in a fortnight routine through which I stock up things for cooking, baking and snacking purposes. I was one disciplined kid you know, till yesterday. 

I even went to the extreme extent of having cabbage soup and toast for dinner! Neither missed workout nor night time yoga. I was that good! This morning I woke up and established a newly weds kinda relationship with the scale. Then it happened. Hyperactivity. 

My dad is a very responsible man! He knows my needs well and when my favourite snacks run out, even without me nagging he will stock the fridge real soon. So he came home after work with my go-to fruits like guava and pomegranate. By the way, today he bought a new addition, rose apple! Wondering what's that uh? Thanks to my curiosity , I found out the English name for Jambu Air to be rose apple or water apple. So that was it. Setting aside the healthy basket, I saw Pringles standing tall on the tv shelf and Merci in the bottom rack of the fridge. I knew there shall be a disaster. 

After my usual workout and shower, my dad offered me one rose apple. Like a good dad he offered me an healthy option, but he too did the damage by purchasing the fattening junk. An irony indeed. 

I was munching the sweet juicy fruit with my eyes fixed at the junk food sitting comfortably on the shelf! It didn't take my determination very long to surrender itself and rip open the potato crisps like a Cookie Monster! Or potato monster maybe? The crunching and munching went on and on till I realise I had to eat some nutritional food . Made a sunny side up eggs with grilled tomatoes and reheated the remaining cabbage soup in the microwave. Even in the given teeny tiny cooking and heating period, I sneaked a small piece of guava from the fridge and kept my mouth busy. Lots of different varieties of guavas in my system today. Guava day it shall be named.

After gobbling up dinner, Merci made my hands itch to unseal it. And I apparently did. I had never, even once in my life turned down chocolates! True story. I ate like three pieces savouring every chocolately almond crunch. Yum! Then I came to my senses of the damage I was doing via excessive sugar and salt and fat formation immediately making a bottle full of lemon-cucumber infused water. Drinking it helps in keeping my tummy feeling full thereby preventing further food intake for the rest of the night. And the mission was successful.

The truth shall uncover itself tomorrow when the happy relationship turns sour. Weighing scale, I wish your battery drains off. Haha. Or maybe I will limit my snacks tomorrow and weigh myself the next day!

There's always an escape and a fix *winks*

Renuka G

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Potato potato

I shared this on my timeline today! It was so true that every cell in my body demanded the shown to be visible to all my fellow social network worshippers. 

Is it just me or is it how the brain works? 

Probably me. I am a night person. Yes sometimes I do curiously wonder how a person can be an early bird chirping through the morning sunlight while a certain crowd like me rolls their eyes over the wicked unusual energy. My brain though is tuned to deliver its power house performance at night! Look what I'm doing now, that's the ultimate prove.

During the day, the only thought I have is about the next nap which I usually by hook or by crook fulfils in the afternoon or  on the recipes I wish to try out. But I have to mention, the initial idea of cooking or baking a certain item creates itself at night, still. I'm an owl! Same goes to situations like revising or preparing lesson plans, best done when the moon is up!

Day time is reserved for light activity that requires the least thinking and problem solving efforts. It's not like I can't freshen my brain up for a little help, I simply choose to accumulate all the energy for the dark hours (Pun intended ).

So my brain at the moment is churning over the best yoga pose to improve posture while I'm here writing this post multitasking in a willow pose *winks*

Renuka G

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Street-Peeper

One thing that I enjoy occasionally is watching people. I believe a way to learn apart from books is through people, random strangers we come across. You may develop leadership skills by reading Stephen Covey's or make your life better with a copy of Spencer Johnson's, however, what you will truly value is the visual experience of watching a totally random man doing an act which you thought impossible or you felt ignorant about.  The theory behind is pretty simple. If one man can do it, so does another.

I was at the hospital the other day to get done my medical report and I saw so many things, so many people. It was such an interesting day after weeks  of staying home. Ok I did go out, but it was not as significant as this experience. Be it the man who was carrying a sweet wrapper till he found a rubbish bin or the lady at the registration counter who was greeting everyone with a smile, they all have something to teach. Who are these people? Only known as humans to me they managed to show the good deeds we can do every day. Do I need to know them? Or add them on social networks to understand their lives? I don't think so.

Good things done do not need a justification. We just need to question ourselves if we are capable of following those acts. The answer is yes. Prickly though, we are curious of the wrong things. We try to severe what we see with reasons. Convincing ourselves, the lady was smiling because that's her job and the man was responsible because  he was being watched. At the end, we learn nothing. So whose loss is that?

To be better, watch strangers. Pick up good manners and simple act of kindness. Stop passing biased judgements only to prove yourself right. The world is full of lessons for those who cherish every encounter and experience. They will never stop learning and they know there's always more knowledge to chase after.

Stop being a lazy dreamer, open your eyes to the people around you instead.

Renuka G

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Dancing with weights

Yesterday of all the days got me swinging to the peak of happiness. It was those times you feel so much joy and the reason seems to be plenty to name. Perhaps because I have always been away in the past that this long long stay home has gotten pretty overwhelming.

I love enjoying the moments in my life. Be it the rough ones or the sweetest happenings, I always take some time to muse over things and embrace whatever that's happening. It was indeed the happiest thing to be home and taste homemade ponggal after 5 years, at the same time realising that I might not have this luxury in the coming years. Ok it may have sounded like a military man returning to his camp but a teacher too possibly has the same reality. Some of the teachers serving in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak have their family back in the peninsular. It's not easy to travel back and forth setting aside the expenses for one journey home. Yet they are making it happen! Every single day in the jungles where even a phone call is a matter of luck and blessings.

But I'm happy even if that shall be my destiny. And by god's will I will be happy. I leave that to time. Who knows, I might get posted somewhere near, right?  Back to my story. I love watching the way people show their love and care. Home is the best place you are privileged to see both. I'm enjoying every single moment of it. Sometimes you just don't need to demand, fuss or try at all. You are sent the best people to be with. They stick with you no matter what. I have my dad, my family and the people I have met in the past two years. They are gems! And yes I will always specifically mention my dad because he deserves every single  praise and he will always be the man who  only gave the best to me. 

I was happy like really happy, so happy that I could even cry. It's amazing to be feeling all this. On top of all, it's amazing to just be me. I even skipped cardio and held the dumbbells dancing in the room yesterday  which probably torched more calories  or at least I assume so. 

Gratitude is of dire importance! A day like this absolutely earns itself a post. It's not like a bad day doesn't deserve one. From my perspective, I strongly believe things that I put up on the net should be motivational and positive. I had come a long way to realise how important it is to only see things that makes me happy. Hence I want to grant my readers or random strangers who stop by the same privilege through my blog which is, to read good thoughts. None of you random people knows me but if my words could shine your day with positivity and hope, the blessing will somehow come back to me. I always have faith in that.

Another day of happiness shall follow.

Renuka G

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Purpose and Progess

People have different purposes in life. Some strive for money, some chase after happiness and the rest with their own unique ambitions. I look out for progress. It's my word, the one word that I want to be defined after.

In my perspective, a person needs to evolve. It matters so less how much and how long it takes for each tiny change, to grow as a being is crucial. I don't believe in calculating success adding someone else into my equation. I'm happy if I progress. This is one of the many reasons I do things that I do. Like baking for instance, I started with a dry rainbow cake with cracked tops and now I can make a decent layer cake. The same applies for writing and working out. Nothing compares the happiness you get out of satisfaction and progress is what brings one there.

As the phase called unemployment is coming to an end, I'm writing this to remind myself to look out for the many  opportunities awaiting to grow. Truth be told, I am a little anxious about the posting results. God knows where I will be spending the coming three years prior the contract ends. But the best part being, I can't do anything about it. It leaves me with a little peace because I know it's pointless to overthink what's not in my control. Whatever life throws, I will try to make desserts out of it! :p

Hope I will get to be a better teacher, complete my postgraduate studies, join culinary and baking certificate programs, read good books and learn more about anything and everything! To see progress is ultimate the purpose. After-all, success is a self-defined thing !

Renuka G

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Gatsby, the Great

I have a penchant for good literature. It is one of the main reason I took an extra subject, Literature In English for SPM. I did some awesome plays and novels but I couldn't fully enjoy it then because of the exam pressure. Now though I am all into reading between the lines, again. The difference between contemporary novels and classics is that they have symbols and hidden meanings left for the readers to interpret according to their understanding. All answers are correct hence it's second level of fun reading about what others have to say. You will end up amazed with how a few lines could signify so many different things. I love that about literature.

Recently I watched this movie The Great Gatsby which is the movie adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing of the same name. The movie had so many symbols and great quotes. Everything had a meaning underneath; the green light which signifies Gatsby's dream which is visible yet so far from reach, the eyes of the doctor that is shown everything an immoral act took place denoting the presence of god. Even better is the narration of  Nick done with so much depth about the society and Gatsby's story. One memorable quote that caught my literature-brain was :

"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." Nick Carraway

It explains how we all are in life. Both a participant (within) and an observer (without) at the same time. But the irony being we are often at joy with things that we commit yet loathe watching the scenes happening in front of us. Yes it is biased, also was Nick. It's the same world, a world full of flaws and opportunities in which we strive to understand adversity by either watching or participating. Nick enjoyed the situation in Tom's apartment  and living the city life however, as a casual watcher he couldn't understand whatever that was happening. The same goes to his views on Gatsby's love.  He was amazed seeing his love for Daisy and the way he looks at her but Nick only fathoms the foolishness when he was all alone at the funeral, in Gatsby's mansion. We are all a Nick in our lives,somehow in some ways.

It was a tragic ending when Jay Gatsby died. It was not his illegal businesses that killed him, but his naive love. Gatsby was a great lover who came a long a way only to realize that his future was already behind him. While Daisy depicts a typical woman whose actions only reflects inconsistency and confusion, "a beautiful little fool". Overall a great literature!

Renuka G

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To walk a dream

I'm a dreamer. Now that I'm unemployed and commitment-free, I have progressed to the next level of dreaming, excessive dreaming. I mean whatever, make sense out of it. My head feels like a reservoir of plans and procrastinated efforts with an automated door allowing access anytime I wish. Hence, I'm always in my dreamland.

Sometimes I wish I could dig out a few ideas, actually bringing them at least a couple of steps closer to reality, but laziness seem to be one clingy partner. Dreaming is the easiest and consumes very little to no work at all thus, producing a faithful user out of me. Not fair yet justified.

I think I'm just another human capable of pampering myself to an unacceptable extent. How sweet of me, right?

Though it was me who wrote the above, I genuinely feel this should not go on for long. There is no doubt that I am a lazy, forever-sleepy, bored soul but naah. As soon as I start working, if this were to become a habit then I'm most certainly in a lot of trouble. Bearing that in mind, I'm gonna make one of my humble yet personally grand idea to use. And everyone will definitely  be informed of the progress!

Renuka G

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Transformation amidst unemployment

It has been a crazy journey! Working out is not easy, especially for me. One hour of cardio and the other set of workouts can drive me insane sometimes. Frankly speaking I get bored real fast. I just could not count the number of times I changed my workouts. Sometimes I do planks , at times I totally ditch that and commit to crunches. It's just never easy.

But I'm proud to have not given up for as long as I started to workout. It sucks sometimes to wake up after a deep afternoon nap thinking of the next one hour of cardio. Yes I hate cardio the most! Having said that, realising I have survived a month plus with limited skips fill me with pride. 

They say weight loss and body transformation is 30% workout and 70% diet. I apparently mess up the latter severely as soon as I see French fries in the menu hence leaving me no choice but to hold on to my discipline when it comes to burning the calories. Safe to say, I had never  indulged so much when I don't workout. I usually make damn sure that I do a little yoga in case I miss my daily workouts. Plus I don't believe in starving to lose weight! You can always see the difference between the body of a person who works out and those who only let the diet do the job. Another reason being, I'm a foodie! And a baker .haha

Even though I'm not a size zero, I'm happy to look at myself in the mirror. This is all my hardwork. I remember those times I used to be close to 62kg but now I'm down by 10kg at least. And the best part being there is no muffin top when I sit or stand! I'm still far from achieving my fitness goals and forming healthy eating habits. For now, I'm happy where I am.

Renuka G

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Thinking in/of Progress

How do you know who's the right one for you? And just like that how do you know which is the right place to kick start your career?

I had battled the mind-numbing thoughts before, for a few times actually. By battled I mean, I did decide on the best but now that they handed me a second chance to make changes I am left confused. For a long time I have gripped strongly to the belief of heading wherever life takes me. In fact, I made the shelved choices based of the mentioned belief. Never in my life I thought I would leave INTI, and embarassingly  I didn't even know where Terengganu is in the map of Malaysia till I get the offer letter. However, that is exactly where life took me and 5 years went by just like that and here I am a degree holder baffled by thoughts of the future.

The conflict is between money and progress. Which one would you choose?

Would you rather go somewhere far, forgoing most comfort and progress settling for the pot of gold or be happy somewhere you could get the comfort, advance academically at ease but for a much lower pay? I am still weighing both choices, the pros and cons. Perhaps I won't find the answer , or there is no answer after all. Sometimes we just have to close our eyes, stop questioning so much, take a leap of faith and make the best of what life hands us. Once again as I mentioned earlier, wherever life takes me!

As I am writing this it is getting clearer, I do not need to over think this. Selangor or Sabah, I will somehow make it work. Those with dreams and ambitions do not fancy excuses people say. I will get my masters, pursue my baking dreams and be the best version of me without calculating the time I have to sacrifice and invest.

It's gonna be alright!

Renuka G

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Oh god!

So it's new year uh? Let me start off by wishing everyone a great year ahead and good luck with the ambitious resolutions. Hope your memory got space to retain them till year end and scan for viruses occasionally, alright?

I don't want to make a cliché post about 2015 and new beginnings, I'm gonna talk about beliefs. 

The existence of God has been a hot topic debated by people around the world. Plus I bet at least once in your entire life you have questioned the same notion. Does God really exist? Is there a power up up up there watching over every move we make? Can you prove it? 

I think it's incredible how some things are not meant to have legit answers. This means the ball is settling in our court. Hence it leaves us helpless to create our own answers which can never be proven wrong by anyone! Just in case you feel too in control, you could hop on any of the prescribed belief system that tunes your brain into something. Voluntarily!

I have seen both. I know some who believes in God and some who choose not to. Well, I never questioned any for choosing what they have chosen. The problem being some people do. 

Like seriously, why? Let's look at the whole water in the glass concept. Is it halfway full or halfway empty? Can you successfully prove which one is correct?

Admit it. Nobody has seen God but there are things that makes people feel He exists. It could also be something else. A scientific phenomenon maybe? Whatever it is, it's personal. The world is no place to stuff your beliefs onto somebody's head. Keep it with you! 

I wish some of us had the respect to accept the person next to them for who they are and what they want to be. God or science, we are all humans. Right ? If you are an animal kindly let me know, we could make headlines together ! Winks.

I don't care if you are counting sins or molecules, you are amazing regardless!

Good night !

Renuka G

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