My Blog

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Hey all,

Winter is cominnnnn very soon.. O dear harder to wake up each morning now… but anyway hope u ll enjoy the story.

Take care

Lov, Mel

"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." Quoted from Kahlil Gibran

Ooo Dear Was thinkin of puttin something funny but then got inspired from my convo wif frens… I guess wif me it is easier for me to love other beings, just simply becos the understanding, the feeling and the experience of sufferings has given me access to learn to love, to learn to appreciate, to learn more about myself n others…

Im still learnin n will always continue learnin cos i know i hav so many defilements, but one thing for sure, im not closin my eyes to only one side of coin anymore, instead thru the experience of the ups n downs in life, it is much easier for me to see two sides of coins then before… Instead of takin things for granted, I learn to be grateful, even breathin itself is a greatest gift a person can give cos i know deep down, I am special in my own way. Also thru this body, I have the opportunity to make a difference to myself or to anyone….

=The Word That Made a Difference How just one word of praise helped a shy student break through a mental block. By Gary Smalley and John Trent……

Sixth grade hadn’t been a banner year for Eric. Never very confident in school, he had a particular dread of mathematics. "A mental block," one of the school’s counselors had told him. Then, as if a mental math block wasn’t enough for an eleven-year-old kid to deal with, he came down with measles in the fall and had to stay out of school for two weeks. By the time he got back, his classmates were multiplying fractions.

Eric was still trying to figure out what you got when you put a half pie with three-quarters of a pie…besides a lot of pie. Eric’s teacher, Mrs. Gunther-loud, overweight, and terrifying-was unsympathetic. For the rest of the year she hounded him with ceaseless makeup assignments. When his mental block prevented his progress in fractions, she would thunder at him in front of the class, "I don’t care for your excuses! You’d better straighten up!" The mental block, once the size of a backyard fence, now loomed like the Great Wall of China.

Eric despaired of ever catching up, and even fell behind in subjects he’d been good at. Then came the remarkable moment. It happened in the middle of Mrs. Warwick’s ninth grade English class. To this day, some twenty-five years later, Eric still lights up as he recalls the Moment. The fifth period class had been yawning through Mrs. Warwick’s attempts to spark discussion about a Mark Twain story. At some point in the lecture, something clicked in Eric’s mind. It was probably crazy, but it suddenly seemed like he understood something Twain had been driving at-something a little below the surface.

Despite himself, Eric raised his hand and ventured an observation. That led to the moment when Mrs. Warwick looked straight into Eric’s eyes, beamed with pleasure, and said, "Why, Eric…that was very perceptive of you!" Perceptive. Perceptive? Perceptive! The word echoed in Eric’s thoughts for the rest of the day-and then for the rest of his life. Perceptive? Me? Well, yeah. I guess that WAS perceptive.

Maybe I AM perceptive. One word, one little positive word dropped at the right moment somehow tipped the balance in a teenager’s view of himself-and possibly changed the course of his life, even though he still can’t multiply fractions. Eric went on to pursue a career in journalism and eventually became a book editor, working successfully with some of the top authors in America. Many teachers are well aware how praise motivates children.

One teacher said she praised each student in her third grade class every day, without exception. Her students were the most motivated, encouraged, and enthusiastic in the school. I remember what happened when my high school geometry teacher began to affirm me regularly. Within six weeks my D average climbed to an A.

It’s wonderful when a teacher has the opportunity to inject a word of affirmation into a child’s life. It’s even better when that opportunity is seized. But perhaps the greatest honor of any teacher is seeing a child’s eyes light up when they discover something new about themselves and about the world around them. It’s what kindles their pride in being called "teacher."

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Inspiring dont u reckon!!! Believing in urself is the key to success in evrything. I guess during my school days, I have always excell in the subject where I really like the teacher… Being a teacher wud be very hard, I neva know but I wud reckon it will….

Dont really know wot to say today… Feel sleepy n so tired …

I guess the point im tryin to make is not bout bein a teacher but being a person that matter for urself n for others….

Praises as long as it comes from the purity of the heart is like a gift woteva u wish to call it, a gift to urself knowin that u can acknowledge the goodness in people n be grateful wif tat, and also a gift to others in helping them to believe in themselves….

U see most ppl, myself included can hate ourselves more easily than lovin others… this is why loving kindness meditation toward others always work well than to myself, cos its really hard to be kind to oneself n to love oneself…. It is always good to have kind words to others, because just like u, we all need encouragement n kind words as much as we need air to breath…. life is hard enuf, always be kind to urself n to others…

Those ppl whose got the opportunity bein teacher, the recipe in teaching may be all about love… lovin ur students in woteva ways they are, thru that u ll be able to accept them n vice versa….

Always, Mel

So upset today wif myself… I feel like a total failure…sth happens at work n it makes me feel that way… I feel like I’ve lost my sense of directions in life….. I guess like Jules, I wonder wot is my life purpose ???

It has been years n years of yearning for wot so called better life, I have always been encouraging myself that life will turns out to be good, but now it seems that it goes down hill than goin up hill…… All my expectation tumble down like a block of building destroyed right in front of my eyes…. hopeless, i just stand still n hope tat its just a dream but now i hav to face that fear, that scary dream…Wot will happen to me in the future??? I do not know, all I can do is make the best of NOW, tho it is a scary feelins, that insecurity, helplessness, saddness n anger but I fully realise thru feelings like that, I have hope. That hope keeps me alive, to become a better person, to be understanding to others fault, to achieve things n be brave in woteva comes…. I am nobody whos tryin to be somebody in this world, somebody that matters for myself n for others. Thru that hope, may I grow stronger n wiser like lotus blossoms in the darkest filthy mud…….

With Lov, Mel

10 Ways to Bring More Growth into Your Life
It’s spring planting season–and time to transform your life as well. Here’s how to start ‘repotting’ to achieve your dreams.
By Diana Holman and Ginger Pape

An Angel with a Sense of Humor
Like many baby boomers, Maggie had to be the ’strong one’ when tragedy struck. But a heavenly visitor gave her hope. By Ken Schuman and Ron Paxton Adapted from ‘The Michelangelo Method: Release Your Inner Masterpiece and Create an Extraordinary Life.’ Used with permission.

Maggie had just turned 50. She had a good job in market research and a successful marriage with two great kids. Her 22-year-old son Josh was about to graduate from college, and her 25-year-old daughter Lisa was engaged to be married. Maggie was helping to plan the wedding. Now some people would have just thanked their lucky stars, knocked on wood or, in Maggie’s Jewish faith kept the evil eye away by saying “pooh-pooh.” But Maggie’s eyes were on bigger things. Fifty meant middle age and Maggie had the ambition to start her own marketing company. She was nervous, though, about the risks involved. She was in many ways a conservative person who liked to play things safe. On the other hand, if she was going to do start her own business, she believed that she should start now. She came to me for help with coaching her through her work transition. We were beginning to go over the potential risks and rewards of entrepreneurial life when Maggie’s world fell apart. We kept going with our sessions, making some progress here and there. But much of the time I just tried to support her in her efforts to get through the day. For her son Josh had just been diagnosed with lymphoma, a potentially fatal cancer in his chest. “I’m so scared, I’m nearly paralyzed,” she told me. The More You Know, the Less You Have to Fear “Perhaps educating yourself about Josh’s problem would ease your mind,” I suggested. “You can use the research skills that serve you so well at work to find out what you can do for Josh.” Maggie brightened a little. “That’s a thought,” she said. “Usually the more I know about something the more comfortable I am. It’s when I know little or nothing that I get crazy.” Maggie went online to learn what she could. Assuming that Josh’s diagnosis was correct, his chances were better than 50-50. But the reality of Josh’s illness and the possibility that he might not survive were sinking in. “That was one of the worst nights of my entire life,” Maggie said. “I was in bed shaking the whole night. I just couldn’t make my mind think constructive thoughts. Fear just took over.” We discussed what strengths Maggie could use to cope with her crisis. In addition to research, Maggie’s strengths included her networking ability, resilience, sense of humor, and faith in God. She could rely on these to help her deal with this crisis. But first she had to calm herself. I asked her if she wanted me to make a visualization tape for her. “I’d be really grateful for anything that can ease my mind,” she said. Later she told me that this tape was one of the best tools she had for coping with Josh’s problem. On the tape I asked Maggie to think about Josh in the future. Think about him speaking to groups of people and telling them how he licked his problem and became a better person for it. And picture herself dancing with Josh at his wedding five years from now. Picture herself in the doctor’s office and the doctor saying to Josh, “You’re cured!” Also, encase Josh in a bubble and picture him with sun shining on him, sending him healing energy. And picture Josh floating with her on a lake, being calm and being healed. Maggie also tried to find support within her community. “My husband and I have a very good relationship, but it became too painful to talk to him about some of this. It was easier to talk to people who were less connected,” she said. “After Josh got sick I couldn’t sleep,” Maggie continued. “I would wake up very early in the morning. So I went to the early morning service at my temple. The people were very warm and welcoming. In the beginning I would just sit there and cry. One man had been through cancer and survived. One had a son who had had cancer in high school and recovered. So I talked to them; that helped.” “I’m very fatalistic,” Maggie added. “I wasn’t angry. I never said ‘why me; why Josh?’ In fact, when one of my friends said, ‘Oh, it shouldn’t have been Josh,’ I responded, ‘Oh, then it should have been someone else’s child?’ It is what it is. I did have the belief that God had the power to cure him and heal him if that was the plan.” Maggie believed in the power of prayer. “I told everyone I knew about it and asked everyone, no matter what their religion, to pray for him. I obviously prayed for his healing,” she said. “But part of what I would pray for is for all of us to be strong so that we could get through this.” Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Beliefs Josh was diagnosed in July, and fortunately things were slowing down for the summer at Maggie’s company. Her boss was very understanding and agreed to give Maggie two months leave to be with Josh and care for him. Josh started chemotherapy treatments. He mostly responded well but had a bad reaction to the prednisone he was taking and started hallucinating. “That was very scary for Josh—he thought he was going crazy,” Maggie said. “We needed to go to a psychopharmacologist, who reduced his dosage.” “I’m a bit ‘woo-woo,’ if you know what I mean, and wanted to take Josh to a hypnotherapist and a herbologist, thinking maybe that might help him. But he didn’t want any of that. One piece of very good advice I got from a friend: ‘He’s 22 years old. He’s not a baby. The more you can treat him like an adult, the better. Let him run his own case whenever you can.’ So I tried to do that—to take a step back, be respectful of him and let him make choices.” A Time to Dance and a Time to Mourn Josh had been making excellent progress with his treatments, so Lisa’s wedding that November was a truly joyous affair. Josh provided a very funny “brother’s toast” to the newlyweds. With Josh’s illness and Lisa’s wedding Maggie’s family had been a center of people’s attention. After the wedding Josh had commented, “At least now we’re out of the spotlight.” Then two weeks later came the accident. Maggie’s mother and father, who lived in Florida, were driving home late one night. Their car crossed the divider and was hit by a large truck. Probably her father had fallen asleep at the wheel, or he may have had a heart attack. Maggie would never know for sure — both of her parents were killed instantly. “When my parents died I was numb. I felt like I was going out of my mind. I was falling apart. I went to my rabbi once or twice. He recommended a therapist to go to. I went there once, but I didn’t think he was helpful.” “I thought a lot about their deaths and the fatalistic part of me felt that in a way they died so that Josh could live, as weird as that might sound. Because now they are up there and maybe they can help. “Steve, Josh, Lisa and I all gave eulogies at my parents’ funeral. When Josh had spoken at the wedding, he was bald with no eyebrows and no eyelashes. He got up at the funeral and spoke about his grandparents and then he said, ‘This is the last time I make a public speech bald. The next time I make a speech I want to have hair.’” Maggie’s Dream Three weeks after the funeral, Maggie had a dream. “It was the most vivid dream I’ve ever had,” she told me. “I was sitting with my mother in her kitchen, surrounded by her plants, which she loved, and sunlight was pouring in. She said to me very clearly, ‘At least Josh has a good head of hair,’ and we both started laughing.” When I woke up, I felt as if my mother was telling me she knew that Josh would be fine.” Was it an angel, Maggie wondered. Could it have been her mother’s spirit giving her hope and comfort? "In our family, humor helps us cope. So any angel that visited me had to have a sense of humor." Sometime later Josh developed a cough, which was one of the original symptoms of his cancer. Maggie said, “I was taking him to his doctor’s appointment and was feeling that I was cracking up. I was just so scared. I was thinking that, God forbid, Josh was relapsing. And I was feeling that I couldn’t go through that again. Then I remembered the dream about my mother, and somehow I felt better about everything.” The cough went away–it turned out to be a minor cold. Josh continued progressing with his treatments. “He recovered completely, thank God,” Maggie said. Now he’s 31, married, with a baby of his own. Now Josh helps others. Anytime anyone who has cancer wants to talk to him, Josh will make the time. Also if there’s a mother who needs to talk, I’ll make myself available, because I know what I went through.” Maggie never dreamed of another angel or experienced another visitation from her mother. But she found a stronger faith, and she looked at life differently. Finding Strength in Adversity Through her experience with Josh, Maggie developed a different attitude toward risk, which spilled over into all other areas of her life. For she had confronted her worst fears, the potential death of her child and, using her existing strengths, had come through it intact. Better than intact. For her faith in her ability to deal with her worst nightmares was strengthened, as was her faith in the future. So when we returned to work on whether Maggie should start her own marketing company, I found we were no longer discussing “whether” but rather “how” to make her concept a reality. Authors Ken Schuman and Ron Paxton are life and career coaches. To learn more about their work, visit www.michelangelomethod.com.

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What an uplifting story dont u all agree???

Lov each bit of it …. I hav nuffin to say, just a smile to all…..

Hmm What u seen as problems now will fade away thru time, but all in all dont dwell in it, deal with it…. last year was the worst year n the best at the same time… the best ,knowin how to really lov again n the worst when evrythings just fell apart wif jobs, love, and many others…all in all i wud like to extend my gratitude, my lov n thankfullness to all that help to giv support to me when life’s gettin so tough…… now lookin back, im so grateful evrythings back to normal yayyyyyy but one problems over then another comes… hehehe well tryin to release myself from the confusion, so wish me luckkkkk woteva luck it is, i ll be needing it to get up again, n once again be happy mely +) hehehe

Im startin to think now, wot will happen to me in the future??? mayb laughin on how silly my probs are… heheheh well woteva it is i dunno, n i guess durin that time, i ll b facin serious problem, bigger than now… funny huh ??? problems is just unavoidable. No choice but to just take woteva that comes, hopefully i learn on how to deal wif it, strong enuf to endure the ups n downs in life n be cheerful as I always am…. +)

Take care guyssss

Lov Always, Mel

Rainy Daysss - Lov the smell of the fresh air +)

Rain always Good for our gardens .. cant believe how our backyard has turned out to be amazingly lavish green (looks like a small forest)… my mom really knows wot shes doin … +)

hmmm For the past few days, I feel quite weak actually - evrytime the weather changes, so does my health plus today is that time in the month n the pain is really killing  meeeeeee  =_(

anyway i hav nuffin much to say, got exam tmw =(

Hmm I’ll end the blog with a quote for the day, "The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost. "G.K. Chesterton

So always enjoy urself in evrythin in anythin….. +)

Lov, Mel

Swan Lake begins at a royal court. Prince Siegfried, heir to the kingdom, must declare a wife at his birthday ball. Upset that he cannot marry for love, Siegfried escapes into the forest at night. As he sees a flock of swans flying overhead, he aims his crossbow and readies himself for their landing by the lakeside. When one comes into view, however, he stops; before him is a beautiful creature dressed in white feathers, more woman than swan. Enamoured, the two dance and Siegfried learns that the swan maiden is the princess Odette. An evil sorcerer, Von Rothbart, captured her and used his magic to turn Odette into a swan by day and woman by night.

A retinue of other captured swan-maidens attend Odette in the environs of Swan Lake, which was formed by the tears of her parents when she was kidnapped by Von Rothbart. Once Siegfried knows her story, he takes great pity on her and falls in love. As he begins to swear his love to her - an act that will render the sorcerer’s spell powerless - Von Rothbart appears. Siegfried threatens to kill him but Odette intercedes; if Von Rothbart dies before the spell is broken, it can never be undone.

The Prince returns to the castle to attend the ball. Von Rothbart arrives in disguise with his own daughter Odile, making her seem identical to Odette in all respects except that she wears black while Odette wears white. The prince mistakes her for Odette, dances with her, and proclaims to the court that he intends to make her his wife. Only a moment too late, Siegfried sees the real Odette and realizes his mistake. The method in which Odette appears varies: in some versions she arrives at the castle, while in other versions Von Rothbart shows Siegfried a magical vision of her.

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Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake;The ballet is particularly known for having the parts of the swans danced by men rather than women.

The unhappy and unloved Prince is mocked, betrayed and rejected by everyone around him. When he decides to commit suicide by throwing himself in a lake at a city park, a beautiful Swan emerges from the water. The Prince and The Swan become close friends, but their friendship is destined to end in tragedy. Written by Anonymous 

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Hi sweet ppl,

Yesterday I went to see Matthew’s Bourne swan lake version… Tell the truth dont really like that typical version becos it portrays tragedy- lots of miseries n unhappiness with unhappy ending..

Feel so sad but thats reality.. many people are lost, lost in their own tragedies of life… tryin to find a way out n lots are still searching, not knowin that those tiresome action will bring them nowhere becos to start wif, no one knows wher to search it… on n on we look for satisfaction externally, but the true beauty only exist in our heart … in that pure kindness,compassion n love for other beings including ourselvesss… Thers so much longing for othersss to love us, thats probably why the more older we become,the more miseries we face… becos that needs to be loved by others is far more important than to selflessly love others…. I recommend to try n hav pets to understand how beautiful to lov others selflessly, rmb this only works if u do it wholeheartedly wif good intention embedded deeply in ur heart +)

Like u guys, im still searching… writing these blogs, sort of like givin myself advice n reminder of wot i shud be thinkin, wat directions to go in life n wishful hope that each one of u’s can discover strength in urself, discover wisdom in urselves, discover smile in ur eyes n discover compassion in ur heart +)

This is my advice to others ; life is already hard enuf, dont make it much more harder for urself… relax n expect less, learn to love, keep on learning n laugh often.. hehehehe

To those who knows me, these blogs represent my other side… It is still me but in reality im just as hopeless as anybody else, as crazy as anyone else n full of defilements to overcome…

Lov u All, Mel

Equanimity (upekkha)

Equanimity is a perfect, unshakable balance of mind, rooted in insight.

Looking at the world around us, and looking into our own heart, we see clearly how difficult it is to attain and maintain balance of mind.

Looking into life we notice how it continually moves between contrasts: rise and fall, success and failure, loss and gain, honour and blame. We feel how our heart responds to all this happiness and sorrow, delight and despair, disappointment and satisfaction, hope and fear. These waves of emotion carry us up and fling us down; and no sooner do we find rest, than we are in the power of a new wave again. How can we expect to get a footing on the crest of the waves? How shall we erect the building of our lives in the midst of this ever restless ocean of existence, if not on the Island of Equanimity.

A world where that little share of happiness alloted to beings is mostly secured after many disappointments, failures and defeats; a world where only the courage to start anew, again and again, promises success; a world where scanty joy grows amidst sickness, separation and death; a world where beings who were a short while ago connected with us by sympathetic joy, are at the next moment in want of our compassion - such a world needs equanimity.

But the kind of equanimity required has to be based on vigilant presence of mind, not on indifferent dullness. It has to be the result of hard, deliberate training, not the casual outcome of a passing mood. But equanimity would not deserve its name if it had to be produced by exertion again and again. In such a case it would surely be weakened and finally defeated by the vicissitudes of life. True equanimity, however, should be able to meet all these severe tests and to regenerate its strength from sources within. It will possess this power of resistance and self-renewal only if it is rooted in insight.

What, now, is the nature of that insight? It is the clear understanding of how all these vicissitudes of life originate, and of our own true nature. We have to understand that the various experiences we undergo result from our kamma - our actions in thought, word and deed - performed in this life and in earlier lives. Kamma is the womb from which we spring (kamma-yoni), and whether we like it or not, we are the inalienable "owners" of our deeds (kamma-saka). But as soon as we have performed any action, our control over it is lost: it forever remains with us and inevitably returns to us as our due heritage (kamma-dayada). Nothing that happens to us comes from an "outer" hostile world foreign to ourselves; everything is the outcome or our own mind and deeds. Because this knowledge frees us from fear, it is the first basis of equanimity. When, in everything that befalls us we only meet ourselves, why should we fear?

If, however, fear and uncertainty should arise, we know the refuge where it can be allayed: our good deeds (kamma-patisarana). By taking this refuge, confidence and courage will grow within us - confidence in the protecting power of our good deeds done in the past; courage to perform more good deeds right now, despite the discouraging hardships of our present life. For we know that noble and selfless deeds provide the best defence against the hard blows of destiny, that it is never too late but always the right time for good actions. If that refuge, in doing good and avoiding evil, becomes firmly established within us, one day we shall feel assured: "More and more ceases the misery and evil rooted in the past. And this present life - I try to make it spotless and pure. What else can the future bring than increase of the good?" And from that cer-tainty our minds will become serene, and we shall gain the strength of patience of equanimity to bear with all our present adversities. Then our deeds will be our friends (kamma-bandhu).

Likewise, all the various events of our lives, being the result of our deeds, will also be our friends, even if they bring us sorrow and pain. Our deeds return to us in a guise that often makes them unrecognizable. Sometimes our actions return to us in the way that others treat us, some-times as a thorough upheaval in our lives; often the results are against our expectations or contrary to our wills. Such experiences point out to us consequences of our deeds we did not foresee; they render visible half-conscious motives of our former actions which we tried to hide even from ourselves, covering them up with various pretexts. If we learn to see things from this angle, and to read the messages conveyed by our own experience, then suffering, too, will be our friend. It will be a stern friend, but a truthful and well-meaning one who teaches us the most difficult subject, knowledge about ourselves, and warns us against abysses towards which we are moving blindly. By looking at suffering as our teacher and friend, we shall better succeed in enduring it with equa-nimity.

Consequently, the teaching of kamma will give us a powerful impulse for freeing ourselves from kamma, from those deeds which again and again throw us into the suffering of repeated births. Disgust will arise at our own craving, at our own delusion, at our own propen-sity to create situations which try our strength, our resistance, and our equanimity.

The second insight on which equanimity should be based is the Buddha’s teaching of no-self (anatta). This doctrine shows that in the ultimate sense deeds are not performed by any self, nor do their results affect any self. Further, it shows that if there is no self, we cannot speak of "my own". It is the delusion of a self that creates suffering and hin-ders or disturbs equanimity. If this or that quality of ours is blamed, one thinks: "I am blamed" and equanimity is shaken. If this or that work does not succeed, one thinks: "My work has failed and equanimity is shaken. If wealth or loved ones are lost, one thinks: "What is mine has gone" and equanimity is shaken.

To establish equanimity as an unshakable state of mind, one has to give up all possessive thoughts of "mine", beginning with little things from which it is easy to detach oneself, and gradually working up to possessions and aims to which one’s whole heart clings. One also has to give up the counterpart to such thoughts, all egoistic thoughts of "self’", beginning with a small section of one’s personality, with qualities of minor importance, with small weaknesses one clearly sees, and gradually working up to those emotions and aversions which one regards as the centre of one’s being. Thus detachment should be practised.

To the degree we forsake thoughts of "mine" or "self"’ equanimity will enter our hearts. For how can anything we realize to be foreign and void of a self cause us agitation due to lust, hatred or grief? Thus the teaching of non-self will be our guide on the path to deliverance, to per-fect equanimity.

Equanimity is the crown and culmination of the four sublime states. But this should not be understood to mean that equanimity is the nega-tion of love, compassion, and sympathetic joy, or that it leaves them behind as inferior. Far from that, equanimity includes and pervades them fully, just as they fully pervade perfect equanimity. 

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1. Upekkha/Upeksha: equanimity, or learning to accept both loss and gain, praise and blame, success and failure with detachment, equally, for oneself and for others; equanimity means "not to distinguish between friend, enemy or stranger, but regard every sentient being as equal. It is a clear-minded tranquil state of mind - not being overpowered by delusions, mental dullness or agitation."

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^{The hardest state of mind to overcome… How can someone not be tremendously affected when evrythings gone wrong in their life??? The understanding of the law of Kamma does make an impact but sometimes it doesnt help when thers so much sufferings to block all of our rational senses, since emotions normally takes over us}

^{Selfless action is always good, but sometimes most ppl do not have access to it, either becos they can be bother to make the opportunity or either they are dwellin too much in the problems.. I wish I can overcome my own delusion, hatred and this sudden feeling of lost….}

^{I like the article above cos it does make sense but really hard to practice, cos feelings normally engulfed me like fogs, deludin n coverin my vision of reality. I love the selfless theory cos it does always makes me overcome that sense of self, that craving of extremeness in life - extremeness in being happy or sad ….}

^{Anyway im just feelin a bit moody today…..}

^{Take care all}

^{Lov, Mel}

Chinese Horoscopes forecasts

The Year of the Fire Pig begins on February 18 and will be observed all around the world by a 15-day celebration including colorful parades, fireworks, family reunions, and sumptuous meals.

Chinese astrologers predict that this will be an unstable year filled with conflict, because the Pig is a water sign, and water is incompatible with fire. Many people will experience sweeping changes, but there will be plenty of opportunity for prosperity for those who are able to meet the challenges and find a place of inner calm.

To find out what you can expect this year, order your complete 2007 Chinese Forecast. Meanwhile, here’s a quick look at how your sign will fare:

Don’t know your Chinese sign? Click here to find out.

Rat:
The Year of the Fire Pig is very prosperous for the industrious Rat. You will achieve important goals, and you will have a great deal of freedom to do as you please. You can live the good life by following your nose and trusting your intuition, as it will guide you toward a good source of income that you earn by using your natural talents.

Ox:
This isn’t likely to be a stellar year for the Ox, but if you stay focused and work hard, you’ll have everyone’s respect. It might seem like others are having a lot more fun than you, and this probably will be true. Rather than grumbling about how life isn’t fair, learn to appreciate the good things you do have and the people who love you. Next year will be better.

Tiger:
The Year of the Pig promises to be a lot of fun for the Tiger, who will be very popular and in social demand. Many of the invitations you get will be to parties, but there also will be opportunities to mix fun with working for your favorite humanitarian causes. Single Tigers have a good chance of meeting a new romantic partner as a result of all this networking.

Rabbit:
The Rabbit has a natural affinity with the Pig, so 2007 should be an excellent year for you. Your biggest challenge will be overcoming your natural shyness to take center stage and revel in the adoration that is heaped upon you. In both your professional and your private life, resist the temptation to downplay your talents and accomplishments, and take credit where credit is due.

Dragon:
Dragons are trailblazers, and you will get many opportunities to put your maverick ingenuity to good use in 2007. By heading in a new direction, you could net both recognition and financial rewards. The key lies in expressing your true talents and following your heart. Nothing less will get results. Leave behind your fear of not having enough, and cultivate abundance consciousness. Let your enterprising spirit soar.

Snake:
The Pig and the Snake are natural enemies, so this is not going to be the best of years for you. The Snake does not tolerate change very well, and changes are likely in 2007. Even when they are for the better, they may seem too abrupt for comfort. Fortunately, your natural endurance and social grace will carry you through. Hedge your finances by setting aside some funds for a rainy day.

Horse:
The Horse will feel very restless in 2007, making this a highly unpredictable year. How you fare depends largely on your attitude. If you respond to the demands of others by being rebellious and bolting out the door, you’ll experience ups and downs, especially regarding your finances. If you’d rather have some stability and security, form good working relationships and be a team player. The choice is yours.

Goat:
The Goat isn’t the most social of signs, but you’ll do well this year if you leave the comfort zone of home and family in order to expand your social network. The Goat and the Pig are natural allies, so you could have quite a bit of fun if you make an effort to meet new people. Don’t worry, they’ll love you, and they’ll find many ways to show their appreciation.

Monkey:
You’ll need to work hard to stay upbeat and positive in the Year of the Pig, but your efforts will pay off handsomely in terms of connections and material rewards. The Pig is a big party animal, so your best bet is to stay social and use your Monkey charm to talk your way into the hearts and minds of those who can help you. Maintain a can-do attitude.

Rooster:
Has anyone ever told you that you could use a little tact? If not, be advised that in the Year of the Pig, you’ll get what you want by being more diplomatic and lightening up. Doing so will assure that you get fair compensation for your hard work and diligence. Better still, it could win the heart of one special person. Overall, this should be a quite romantic year for you.

Dog:
The Dog will be very busy in the Year of the Pig. Not only will you do a lot of social networking, but you will engage in many activities to help your fellow humans. You will receive lots of praise and attention for your efforts, so prepare yourself to be in the spotlight. Just be sure to balance all that activity with some serious downtime so that you don’t wear yourself out.

Pig:
Simply put, the Pig can have it all in his own year. You are generous by nature and have much to give, and now you can expect to get even more back. Entertaining will be very much on your mind, with lavish parties and great company. Yet you’ll also be devoted to your work, and the payoff could be quite grand. Get your original ideas out and circulating, as all eyes are on you now.

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