Book: Tuesday with Morrie #1

From time to time, I will excerpt a story, a short text or even few lines from my favourite book--Tuesday with Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The book taught me life's greatest lessons...Above all, the Compassion which is lacking while aging. :)

"On this day, Morrie says he has an exercise for us to try. We are to stand, facing away from our classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment.

Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl, crosses her arms over her chest, closes her eyes, leans back, and...For a moment, I am sure she is going to thump on the floor. At the last instant, her partner grabs her head and shoulders and yanks her up harshly.

Morrie finally smiles.

"You see, you closed your eyes. That was the difference. Sometimes, you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too---even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling."

Natalie: Believing others is not easy; but worth trying. :)

心情写照

细雨午后，懒洋洋的趴在书桌，听着燕姿熟悉的歌声。已经许久没有拼一拼方块字了，心中有点丁儿怀恋这一块块优美的文字。犹如一颗颗音符跳起旋律迷人的舞支。踏入梦境。

我曾经是个追梦的女孩。不歇也不惧地抱着我的梦上路。差点就忘了我是那么的固执。而如今，却似乎失去了心的方向。脚步也不再那么坚定。究竟是为何？是因年龄增长了，那股炽热随着减少呵？摆脱了少年的情怀，也遗失了作日的梦想。

“今日迥迥而行，他日化蝶飞去。” 我期盼这一天的到来。// 桑子

Oki Doki Seaweed Flavour Rice Crackers

Look at the Stars!***That's the reason I picked up this bag of crackers. Hoho,I'm too fond of stars. These little things are created to console you in time of sorrow...okie, it may not be suitable to narrate this over here...Wait till you see the next photo, there is another good reason behind...:)

The Star cracker has a smiling face on its package! ^o^ Soo cute...it reminds you to put on smile.

Here is another face...naughty look...haha..:) Now, my day is uplifted by these crackers..//Nat

Pinky bar

Oh, Cadbury's Pinky choc bar :) I am not a Chocaholic. But will find one whenever I have my sweet tooth :p The bitter-sweet taste, the instant melting texture, and the hidden nuts/rasins definitely grab my attention once awhile. The Pinky bar above was a gift from a friend which was brought in from NZ.

After one bite, I took this picture showing a thin-coated choc with pink coloured and strawberry flavoured Marshmallow filling in centre. :) Not to forget to mention a layer of caramel cream in between. Yummy review from Natalie/^^

N.A.T.A.L.I.E

Oh, this is not a self-promotion or a thing. I came across a special kind of keychains with interpretation of all the names in Borders. Here is mine.. :p

Naturally
Attractive
Totally
Astonnishing
Loves
Inspiring
Everyone

Just Stand Up!

Oh, thanks to Joel. I am now hooked on this song. Sang by various artists including Beyonce, Mariah, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl, Leona etc for Foundation Stand Up To Cancer. It is dubbed to Best Song Lyric which I couldn't agree anymore.

"The heart is stronger than you think
It’s like it can go through anything
And even when you think it can’t it finds a way to still push on, though

Sometimes you want to run away
Ain’t got the patience for the pain
And if you don’t believe it look into your heart the beat goes on

I’m tellin’ you that Things get better Through whatever
If you fall, dust it off, don’t let up
Don’t you know you can go be your own miracle

If the mind keeps thinking you’ve had enough
But the heart keeps telling you don’t give up
Who are we to be questioning, wondering what is what
Don’t give up THROUGH IT ALL, JUST STAND UP....."

So, just Stand Up everyone, don't dwell on yesterday...look forward instead.
Natalie~

An Incovenient Truth

Here is an account of what I did during last Escape.

'An Inconvenient Truth' is a documentary film by former US Vice President Al Gore about global warming. I first thought that it would be kind of scientific and statistical presentation. But it turned out to be a quite amusing report of our Earth's warning alert!

Global warming is not new. We heard politicians talking about it, and students writing lengthy essays on it. What actually is it? Gore borrows a clip from Futurama episode 'Crime of the Hot' to explain global warming. The comic scene showed a girl wondering why her ice-cream cone melts instantly and there was a Scientist? explained to her about what happened...Hilarious:)

In its opening, Gore mentioned "You look at that river gently flowing by. You notice the leaves rustling with the wind. You hear the birds; you hear the tree frogs. In the distance you hear a cow. You feel the grass. The mud gives a little bit on the river bank. It’s quiet; it’s peaceful. And all of a sudden, it’s a gear shift inside you. And it’s like taking a deep breath and going... 'Oh yeah, I forgot about this.”

He showed slides of pictures of glaciers before and after.

Picture of Yawning Glacier which has

retreated significantly since 1980.

Lower Curtis Glacier in 2003 compared

with 1985. (the red line).

*Overall, his presentation is thought-

provoking. Every one on Earth has c

ontribution to global warming. We

couldn't just sit and pretend as if nothing

has happened because it is happening

for real. We ought to reflect on our daily

lives and look into how much CO2 we are releasing every day...and start do something..."

Thus I draft a few actions which are quite practical in the sense that I could do it. Hopefully:)

1. Turn off light/fan when I leave my room.

2. Adjust my notebook in Standby mode whenever I am not using it.

3. Refuse plastic bag if I only purchase one/two small items.

4. Choose products which are less-packaging.

5. Opt for vegetarian meals once a week as poultry industry contribute greenhouse gases a lot!

6. Spread my words about global warming whenever possible..:)

I pledge to do my part! How about you? =) //Natalie

Step up

I came across this meaning little story today which I wish to share ^_^

One day, a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him.They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkeystepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
So from now on, let's just shake it off and take a step up. . ..~Joel

With arms wide open

I agree with natalie as the past 10 days were indeed a good 'escape' or 'breakaway' from the hectic and tiring life that we have in campus. But sad to say, there isn't any more 'escape' till chinese new year. Gosh......T_T
During this holiday, I dared not to think nor to remind myself what I will be facing once this 'escape' ended. Yes, it will come to an end soon and now it is ended.
It is the time to face the reality.
It is the time to encounter the hazards and hardships.
I must be strong and tough, with arms wide open readily to meet whatever is coming in my way.
No more escape, no more hesistation.~Joel

When the going gets TOUGHER,
the TOUGH gets going.