Doing things slowly and deliberately

It's probably a better way, as I am slowly discovering. It is related to being in the moment and enjoying it. We all know and probably have read about how we are more productive when we do one thing at a time, and the results of our work are better than when we were doing multiple tasks. I used to want to do things very quickly so I can move on to other stuff, sometimes doing 3-4 things at once. Turns out, I was making more mistakes that way. Doing multiple things at one time makes us lose focus at the present task we're attending to. As a result, our work is of less quality and costs us more time to fix it. On the other hand, it takes us some time to adjust back to the 'mode' of the task, so it takes longer time to finish all of them.

When I was writing an email and suddenly remembered that I need to call someone, after the call, it's harder to get back to the emailing mode than if I were to finish the mail first then pick up the phone. However, I suppose you already know all this. Recently I've just only begun to be aware of these little actions that I'm taking that was very routine stuff for me previously. Some of these routines are like riding bicycle, stuff you do automatically once you're in the environment, like taking out trash, folding the plastic bags after putting out all your groceries, or even washing your face. I find that when we are more aware of what we are doing right _now_, we do better, thorough jobs. Like, washing our face!

Besides the obvious benefit of doing a better job, doing things slowly teaches you patience! I can only relate my own experiences in walking home with sore feet and carrying heavy groceries. Acknowledge the discomfort, and take one step at a time, eventually you'll get there. Deal with the blisters later!

The only time I can think it'll be more efficient to multi-task is when we are cooking food (boiling, mostly). Forgive me for the lack of examples.

Love the summer sky!

All the things I've done wrong and neglected to do

- Eating fruits after meals
- Drinking ice water after meals
- Drinking canned fruit juices
- Drinking soda
- Not exercising
- Eating buffet til my stomach feels like bursting!

Please, hope you don't repeat my mistakes.

Well, happy new year to this place

The author of this post was bitten with a bug probably most people have had, the lazy bug to update. In the past 1/2 year, things probably have taken a turn in some areas of your life. People moved, new things got added, some things were put away, your surroundings changed, your angle of life shifts, your hair got shorter / longer, and maybe some subtle lines here and there on the face, infant grows into toddler and then to this being who drives you crazy most of the time when they're not smiling. How things, people, air moved! And finally, time slips by unnoticed.

I had a chance to stay in China for a little while this year and am back in the Lion City for now. After coming back in style (rode in a ridiculously expensive taxi ride - in a Chrysler), I realized one thing: It's like I never left the place. At the same time, when I'm in China, it's like it's been home all along. I slowly have come to understand the meaning of 'being in the present moment'. I had a bad habit of thinking about the time I am about to leave the place whenever I'm going away to a new location temporarily. The thought emerges as a worry, then the next moment you find yourself in the plane thinking about the moment the thought occurs, and how it has finally happened!

Oh, the life as I know it. How would it feel to experience someone else's life? I often ponder that question. How is it that we are born and choose to lead this life of ours? People constantly strive to make things better for their life, but are their choices the right ones? I don't know. I'm completely clueless, still.

Probably the one lesson learned was how to live in the moment, and just breathe. Forget your cellphones, Blackberry, emails, for one day, and just sit, cook, play with children, talk, and walk your city. Discover living the moment!