Worthwhile

Worthwhile - according to Merriam Webster Online, it is:

\-ˈhwī(-ə)l, -ˈwī(-ə)l\

: worth doing or getting : good enough, important enough,

etc., to be worth spending time, effort, or money on.

Once there were green fields, kissed by the sun

Once there were valleys where rivers used to run

Once there were blue skies with white clouds high above

Once they were part of an everlasting love

We were the lovers who strolled through green fields

Green fields are gone now, parched by the sun

Gone from the valleys, where rivers used to run

Gone with the cold wind, that swept into my heart

Gone with the lovers, who let their dreams depart

Where are the green fields that we used to roam?

While Einstein said a life worthwhile is meant for

only a life lived for others.

I'll never know what made you run away

How can I keep searching when dark clouds hide the day

I only know there's nothing here for me

Nothing in this wide world left for me to see

A closed friend told me a story tonight.  She is so

desperate for being betrayed by someone she trusts

so much.  Have passed few sleepless nights without

meals.  Well, I told her - we won't die just because

lack of sleeps and intakes.  Eventually we will be

able to survive, being stronger and wiser.  We are

talking about time and cycle.  A process has never

been easy but that's how we will become someone

shaped through time.  

I am not saying I am totally perfect.  I am just

a norm who still face ups and downs.  What I am

trying to say, life is a cycle, a process of what we

will become.  We have choices, own our actions.

We may get distracted somehow and I won't say

it is easy.  But you'll get through it....

I'm a survivor

I've got the eye of a tiger

I've been training again

and eating my fiber

You've been staying alive

Well I've been staying alive ~ er

If you try to keep me down
I'll just come back stronger
If you try to cut me short
I'll just come back longer
If you beat me at ping pong
I'll just play ping pong ~ er
Give me my throne
I'm ready to thrive
One thing I know
I will survive

Worthwhile ~ is a word ...

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn
how to be you in time.. it's easy

Recent movie Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,

shows lots of "worthwhile", for a Caesar, for

leadership.  There were few scenes so touchy,

and I just couldn't help to shed tears. 

Let me share few lines here, I quote and add

some personal views.  Credit goes to 

Brian Dodd and Jeff Shortridge:

1. Scars Make You Strong - scars are a reminder 

healing taken place.

2. Successful leaders have options - I have my

own quotes from the movie when Caesar let go

Koba's hand after saying: You are not ape.

3. Choose your inner circle wisely - sometimes those

closest to us are in our blind spot.  They may attack

and stab you on your back.  One bad leader on our

team can destroy everything.

4. Make sure your inner circle shares your vision -

more than one vision brings division.

5. Choose an inner circle who can handle pressure -

one troublemaker will cost extraordinary amounts

of time and energy to regain trust.

6. Leaders must address rebellion immediately -

smart leaders identify bad morale and deal with it

before it deals with them.

7. Trust and unity must be aggressively protected -

trust is the foundation of quality relationship.  It

will take lifetime to build trust but in a second to

lose it.

8. Beware of personal agendas - beware, just because

you made an investment in someone's life doesn't 

guarantee loyalty. 

9. Leaders are limited because of lack of forgiveness -

I have often said, forgive is easier than forget.  I can

forgive, and the scars are just too deep to forget.  But

I can manage to take and move on (see#1).

10. Great leaders bring people together - this refers to

Caesar and Malcolm.  It takes 2 strong leaders to bring

diverse parties together.

11. "I chose to trust him because he is an ape.  I think

ape is better than human.  I see how much like we are"

- leaders build common ground by focusing on what 

unites us more than what divides us.

12. People always seek strongest branch - your leadership

is only strong as your followers' perception of you.

13. Many people follow fear - fear is great influencer.

14. Leaders must have the courage and conviction to

make hard and unpopular decisions - sometimes you have

to break your own rules to establish orders. (see #2)

15. The importance of loyalty - loyalty doesn't make a

leader, but disloyalty disqualified one from leadership.

Those who are truly loyal to you will stand by you

even if shunned for doing so.

Cause I've got faith of the heart

I'm going where my heart will take me

I've got faith to believe

I can do anything

I've got strength of the soul

no one's gonna bend nor break me

I can reach any star

I've got faith

I've got faith

Faith of the heart ...

Again, worthwhile...

Everyone has own preference defining what worths

for or in life.

Here goes one of my fave song and singer:

Memory .. all alone in the moonlight

I can smile at the old days

It was beautiful then

I remember the time I knew what happiness was

Let the memory live again ...

Happiness is one special thing worths to share. 

However I find there is also way that:

Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moon light

Someone's thinking of me, and loving me tonight

Somewhere out there, someone's saying a prayer

That we'll find one another,

in that big somewhere out there...

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through

Then we'll be together, somewhere out there

Out where dreams come true .....

* thank "you" for being there :)

2014 Channel University

This early stage of journey started when 1st e-mail got into my inbox on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 01:50pm.  The lines went like this:

Greetings to all

 FYI, and look forward to seeing some of you in July.

Best regards, Xxxx.

We were required to take few online modules and exam as pre-requirement, followed by pre-work to be discussed during the 3-days workshop.

For united we stand, divided we fall,

And if our backs should ever be against the wall,

We'll be together, together, you and I

There were 22 countries' representatives gathered that 1st day.  We were scheduled to have team-building, interesting outdoor activities, with so many unexpected outcomes, many selfies and fun.  It involved much teamwork, something you wouldn't achieve alone and you would regret if you missed.  I enjoyed 1st bonding being in the group in this first phase.

2nd to 4th day were practically classroom workshop with many exercises and role plays, to adapt theories into practice, I love to remember "compelling benefits".  One joke to note was 2nd day where word "stoned" flying on my head, one I wouldn't want to forget, of course with PC and OC, cute girls on my table and to confirm with AT, actor from AEC. [thanks for funny key word to bring back home]

I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time

Well, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time

I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time

You are all left out

Out of there without a doubt

Theoretically, all was done on the 4th day, but we still had one more interesting session for the region and truthfully, this session was something worth waiting for [I guess you know what I mean ;)].

And yes, three important notes I wouldn't want to miss out.  First, it gave me a reason to bring my candle back home, to celebrate everyone's birthdays all together.  It gave much love to celebrate the whole world round.  Remember the "stars" :)

Second, tokens from all over the world somehow worked on me as "we are speaking the same language then."  Thank you for passing the idea to share, it is indeed a great sharing among the team.

I am the eye in the sky, looking at you

I can read your mind, I am the maker of rules

Third, I think the bring-back-home words are responsibility and progress, guess these are the stakeholders want to see :)

Lastly, without wanting to spoil all the great mood, I just want to close this short sum-up, all were great, great team, great ideas, great plan, great coordination, great outcomes.  

I thank to great team who has brought this whole things came true! Appreciate the hardwork and effort, you're all lovely souls!

Norah Jones and her Don't Know Why is fading away...

It's now time for me to end the day.

One good soul has asked me more than once:

+ How about these days?

-  Those were great, it's great team you have.

+ Sure? Don't lie?

-  Sure, I don't tell lie.  I don't like people lying, hence I don't lie.

Keep smiling, keep shining,

Knowing you can always count on me, for sure

That's what friends are for

For good times and bad times

I'll be on your side forever more

That's what friends are for

朋友一生一起走, 那些日子 不再有

péng yǒu yī shēng yī qǐ zǒu, nà xiē rì zi bù zài yǒu

Friends walk this life together. Those days will not return.

一句話 一輩子, 一生情 一杯酒

yī jù huà yī bèi zi,yī shēng qíng yī bēi jiǔ

One word, one life, A lifetime relationship, a cup of wine

[I wish to dedicate this song to everyone of us]

and... I tender everyone goodnight....

To Earn

Perjalanan 3 jam kurang lebih kali ini, selain tugas -
memang sudah diniatkan untuk bertemu sobat lama.
Tidak punya rencana neko-neko, karena sama-sama
sibuk.  Lihat nanti begimanalah, gitu isinya.

Jadi setelah tugas hari pertama selesai dan biar
tidak berlama-lama macet di jalan, akhirnya 
diputuskan untuk bertandang ke istananya.
Singkatnya, begitu pintu depan dibukakan, senyum 
yang sama seperti dulu, ceria - malah tidak ada 
perubahan yang terlihat.  Sambil senyum, katanya
"sengaja tahu mau ketemu kamu, aku dandan dulu."

Karena batuk pilek yang kentara, begitu duduk 
langsung dibuatkan minuman penyegar.  Kemudian
mulailah chit chat sobat lama, ngalor ngidul ke sana
kemari.  Lama-lama topiknya makin serius, akhirnya
muncullah "aku paling benci dibohongi", lagi-lagi
soal kepercayaan.  Lalu ada juga kisah-kisah lama,
the untold stories.... tidak terasa sudah 3 jam lebih
dan akhirnya musti pamit dengan janji lain kali
ketemu lagi, atau paling cepat jika diijinkan, bisa
kabur bareng minggu depan.

Itu tadi adalah intro... secara kebetulan, sepanjang
jalan pulang banyak tembang kenangan diputar 
kembali di radio, termasuk Greatest Love of All
dan My Way, lagu solid kesukaan.

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption...

Sambil mengingat sepotong kejadian sore sebelum
dinas berakhir, persiapan perjalanan minggu depan,
foto resolusi baik yang musti dikirim, bio data dan
self-intro... saya membayangkan apa yang kira-kira
akan terjadi dalam fragment seminggu nanti.  Apa
kira-kira yang akan dinarasikan.  Kalimat ini kembali
muncul hingga sekarang:

"trust is to earn, not given" 

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way...

Kepercayaan hanya bisa diperoleh setelah melalui
serangkaian waktu dan proses, bukti dan integritas.
Dan... proses tersebut akan hilang sekejap hanya
dengan sebuah kebohongan....

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But throught it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way....

* July 16, 2014 [thanks for the time and family dinner, Her]