Friday, December 24, 2010

A few hours to go and it's Christmas

I'm not used to thinking about things on Christmas Day (or in this case, a few hours before Christmas). Usually I get introspective as New Year draws near.

But for some reason, I got to thinking about how much has happened this year. How many new people have come into my life, only to leave again, this year. Time flies, indeed. And you never know what can happen in just a year.

Who would've thought that K would resign early this year, follow her Singaporean dream, and thrive there? While R had been preparing for D-Day, I never really thought that day would come this year and that I would find myself in a position to really build a team, have a vision for us, and think of all the things that a leader should do and should be. And G, well, let's just call it a year-end surprise.

In a seminar almost two weeks ago, the facilitator taught us about how to come up with a vision. One thing he pointed out was that a vision should not be rooted in current reality-- after all, when the US wanted to put a man on the moon, the technology to do so wasn't even available yet. All they knew was they wanted a man on the moon. So come up with a vision, and then think of what you can do or maybe create in order to achieve it.

And so my vision for myself is to be healthy next year. I'm tired of getting easily winded and getting sick so easily. At 28 (rounding up already since my birthday is just three months away), I'm not getting any younger and I feel that my body is telling me that. I'm really praying that I have enough motivation this time. I also had another vision, but that one isn't exactly in my hands. Haha!

Christmas and all the events leading to it is making me think of what I want next year to be like, both for myself and for my team. Perhaps it is the time to look ahead, and as New Year draws near, I will find myself looking back instead at the year that was, and all the things I was thankful for this year.

Until then, I leave you with this song. It turns out that the lyrics are concise but meaningful. This is my Christmas message to you all. :)

ave yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
Our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yuletide gay,
From now on,
Our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.


Merry Christmas, everyone! :)


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Updated reading list as of December 23

11/33! One-third down the list!



From the old list
1. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
2. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
3. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
4. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
6. Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

From the Powerbooks Powerbarter (aka the Guilty Pleasures)
7. Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steel
8. Up Close and Personal by Fern Michaels
9. The Long Walk Home by Will North
10. The Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
11. Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding
12. Starring Sally J. Friedman as Herself by Judy Blume
13. Diary of a Mad Mother-to-Be by Laura Wolf
14. The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank
15. Wives Behaving Badly by Elizabeth Buchan
16. The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander McCall Smith

From the Fully Booked sale
17. The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld
18. Brown Owl's Guide to Life by Kate Harrison
19. The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax
20. Why Men Want Sex and Women Need Love by Allan and Barbara Pease

From the Powerbooks sale
21. The Position by Meg Wolitzer
22. Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

From the National Bookstore sale
23. My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
24. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

On the borrowed list
25. Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Yet another new list
26. Shi*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
27. Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

Books for Learning
28. The Difference Maker by John Maxwell
29. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John Maxwell
30. 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People by David Niven
31. A New Breed of Leader by Sheila Murray Bethel
32. Nikon D5000 For Dummies by Julie Adair King
33. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork by John Maxwell