A peek at 25th Nov

So J.Chen gave me this idea last time about leaving the blogger [for my case, email box] open the whole day and from time to time, jus come here and blog. so let's give it a shot. You are about the view a simple working day in my life.

9.47am.
Well it's not like i just walked in... but it's when i decided to try out this blog by time kinda thing... i'm here cutting post it notes coz i found like 7 boxes of uncut ones and i end work this friday so it's getting a bit stressful. ahha Z says jus try your best, not like it's that impt anyways... so good good. Xiu smsed this morn saying she won't be lunching and Cal's also not joining coz she's got an interview. So i think it looks like it's jus Phil and me. Looking forward to thurs when the whole gang [hopefully] would be lunching again. Yup. Kinda quiet in the office now. Z went for breakfast and i'm jus cutting post its.
Thoughts are flying to last nite and the chat i had with a fren. it's nice to know that things are all well and fine. Guess it gives me motivation to get online esp recently when there's not much to go online for. mmm. back to post its...
note to self, rhyme more... you need the practice. :)

11.08am.
Deciding where to go for lunch. today seems to be jus phil and i. so we're thinking of either cine or singtel. :) benefits for both i guess. hahaha. Just called up my IDP agent to clarify some course fees issue before i sign on the dotted line and apply for visa. :) it's actually happening. so cool. i'm looking forward to going really i am. but shhh k? haha... Currently i'm quite smitten with Taylor Swift's songs... they're real nice and the words are quite cool too. it's for the drop dead romantic la. so if you're not the sweet kind, u might not like it. I love "Our Song" "teardrops on my guitar" and "picture to burn" :) yuppers... work's pretty ok today. jus cutting post its. :)
just a glimpse into my emotional/mental state now. i'm kinda torn as to what to do. I have the part of me that says stuff should be resolved and i shouldn't be acting the way i am. But then i dun think it'll make a difference and it might make things worse... so it's either burn bridges or jus suffer in silence. mmm not sure. :)

1.27pm
lunch was good. bad coz i wanted chicken drumstick rice and there wasn't drumstick so it was jus normal chicken. but hey, who really cares bout the food la. :) Phil's great company. u can jus have lunch and he'll jus talk and entertain the whole way. :) all i need to do is laugh along and listen. haha. Guess i did stone for a bit coz he thot i was a bit stoic today. maybe i am, or maybe i'm jus stoning. not sure but i have a relaxed mind today. not willing to push it further than it needs to be to function. Or maybe i'm jus deep in stoning thot. Z jus messaged to say she won't be in the office till 3 coz she's at lunch. And i'm going to Taka later at 3 coz i need to go collect some stuff at the dry cleaners. So that means i have till 3 to slack/cut post its. Then at 3, i'll go to taka till bout 3.40? Come back and cut more... 4pm. Then it's jus another 2 hours till i'm off today. This week is DRAGGY. i thot today was wednesday lor. was making lunch plans for tomolo then i realized it's only tues. gahhhh. :) Anyhoo, i've thot about what it'll be like when i'm no longer in spore. So diff... no more chicken rice, hokkien mee, nasi lemak and prata easily accessible. The horror!!! but Phil says i'll get used to it. how true. Sigh. i guess i'll have to get used to not having a lot of things i have now. food, friends... mmm i'll make do. i've got my killiney ice coffee with me. Hope i dun feel sleepy today. This blog by timing is coming along quite cool. :) Super long entry i'm forseeing.

2.41pm
I'm pretty happy with the way my hair is falling today. Changed parting last nite so was expecting it to take a few days to get used to it... and the way it's falling now is much better than i expected it to. so i'm quite pleased. no huge change but it's a small change to make sure that when it gets longer [gawsh it's taking FOREVER] it'll fall the way i want it to. :) whee. random thot. thanks xiu.

3.40pm
Joel wonders to himself how he messed up so greatly. And he wishes he could go back to where we were a few years ago. He knows he's messed up too much to even have that. And thus he's sad. boo hoo. totally. haha

5.39pm
Just came back from Taka. Went to go collect some stuff that were pretty overdue. HAHA. :) who cares la. they keep it, i'll go collect it. I came back in a super good mood. dunno why. maybe it's jus getting out of the office for a short while that changes everything. Or maybe it's the fact that i'm meeting A.Yeo for dinner and catching up. Really treasure this BROTHER coz he's always been someone i've kept closer than a brother. And i'm glad that we're still really good coz i'd hate to lose a frenship/brother like him. Anyhoo, after that i plan on getting donuts and popping by to church to surprise the counsellors with nice yummy sweet treats. yayz! totally happy. hahaha. oki. back to cutting post its. work's ending soon. another reason to be happy. S.Soon came to my desk jus now and she was like JOELLLLL u've got 3 more days left!!! ahhh!!!! And i was like wah, you're counting down for me ah? ahah :)

5.54pm
Time to wrap it up. this has been an immensely interesting and fun way to blog. sorry it's so long but i must say that random thots the pop into my head pop out so quickly unless u blog it down. Today has been a good day. Frens talking over MSN and Emails... going to Taka and having long breaks in the office where it's jus me, the post it notes and my laptop [Taylor Swift serenading] :) and yet, the day is but half done. i'm so glad hahah whee! what a good day so far.

Till tomolo! [Might do this again since this is immensely fun] Ciaoz people and God Bless. remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you and He's holding your hand.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Last week @ SingTel

So this is the last week that i'll be working at singtel and prob working at all before i continue studying. It's kinda weird to think that it's ending. I've only been at SingTel for bout 4+ months... But i've seen so many people come and go.

Inez, Sophia, Jason, Guansin, Sarah, Nathania, Aaron, Calista....

I've got so many farewell cards from each of them that I feel like a perm staff here. Haha. But i guess it's good too coz i've experienced F1 through and through. From the planning, to the actual event and now the post evaluation. :) it's been useful to say the least. Being in a department that I've never worked in before or have any experience in... It's been much more than an eye opener. :) My bosses and superiors have all been nice people. Save for a few occassions that have gotten me down by their demands or whatever, it's all good coz it's part and parcel of life or of work... It's also a learning lesson to manage and deal with your boss...

I'm glad for the people God has placed me with in this working life too. I've always been one who dreaded eating alone when i work. I was a temp staff at some insurance agency before doing paper work data entry... And i lunched alone every day there for about 4 months too. It was a horrible feeling coz it's like lunches jus mean putting food into my body and listening to my Zen... It wasn't even in a convenient place so there was little variety too... Gosh i remember those days... Not fun. :) But in SingTel, i've NEVER eaten alone. Can u believe that? :) It's either with other interns, bosses, colleagues or with frens from other companies... My lunch company these few recent months have been the highlight of my work days sometimes. It's a bunch of peers that are from everywhere around the somerset region. Cal and Xiu are from Dhoby Gaut and Phil's from Clarke Quay... But we meet for lunch every day without fail and I have to say that many times, they're also the reason why i come to work everyday not dreading it. :) Emails from them also help to make the work day SO much better. :) I'm just thankful for the friends that God places in my life, however unexpectedly. :)

Yup, so as i close this week, i pack my things with bittersweet feelings. To know that i made a difference here and to the people whom i've interacted with this 4 months, i hope i made a positive impact. It's interesting to know how each phase of your life ends and another begins... This is literal for me now. And whee! Can't wait for december... :)

SingTel, always bringing you the best.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Cooler Heads Devotional

November 18, 2008

Cooler Heads

A man of understanding is of a calm spirit. —Proverbs 17:27

A Christian I know was angry with someone at his workplace over a perceived injustice. A colleague listened to his grievance and sensed that his temper still ran high. He gave him this wise advice to consider before confronting those involved: “Cooler heads prevail.”

As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and takes steps to deal with conflict diplomatically.

Proverbs 17:27 tells us: “He who has knowledge spares his words.” This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.

The Proverbs also give us wise counsel on the emotional side of controlling our frustrations. “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” A mature person exhibits understanding by keeping cool in conflict. Problem-solving is enhanced by an even-tempered approach.

The next time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say.

Remember, cooler heads prevail. —Dennis Fisher

The best time to stop an argument is before it starts.

Mummy's better

Yay, Praise God... Mum's back home and resting [kinda. Still running around although we tell her not to] Really thank God that the operation was good and now is the recovery stage. It was good that the infection wasn't serious and rectify-able... Coz it could have been MUCH worse.. And as always, i won't go into gory gross details about how the eye can be infected. Let's jus say it's an impt asset we all don't wanna lose. We so often take for granted such things like sight, hearing, voice... Those sorta thing... But thank God that He reminds us with stuff like this. We must always ask ourselves how God can get glory out of this and what can we learn about Him thru all situations.

Whether it be the fear of losing your sight or someone u love or to the simple every day issues of bitterness and the struggle of people relations... God always has a plan and a purpose for everything. It's just whether we want to go around walllowing in self pity/bitterness/blame-game or do we want to be mature spiritual people and seek God in it.

It's scary to think that we don't have control over so many things.. But i guess that's the beauty of it all no? That God's in control and when we think we steer our life, God rebukes us by takin over and showing us how helpless we all can be. :) You may think you have your life planned out, u know where you'll be in the next 2 years, 5 years maybe even 10 years.. Then everything can change overnight coz of sumthing that happens... Reminds me of like ants running along a long line towards the nest... Then on comes this human who puts an obstacle in the middle of the chain of ants... Routine, structure, organization is suddenly thrown in mass hysteria. But only for a while. Then the ants find another way and the chain just goes around the obstacle. Circumventing a problem... Ants. Just like us... But the difference is that the person who puts this 'so-called-obstacle' has our good in mind... And how often we think we know better. :)

I end work here at singtel in 2 weeks. My 4 month stint is coming to an end. Bittersweet feelings as always to leave. Don't know what's lying ahead of me and yet still happy to get some break from the drudgery of coming to work everyday. But i shall have to commit myself to certain self-improvement things when i'm free-er. Skills and training i guess...

Yup... Thank God for many things in my life too that are well, helping me to see God in the daily.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Eye Operation

Mummy jus got wheeled into the Eye Operation... praying hard that nothing will go wrong, everything will be done painlessly and that she's get back her sight proper. :) Scared but God is in control.

I;m sitting here in the hospital ward waiting for her to come back. I've no "eye-deer" what time she's coming back and all and i must say it's scary. but i guess there's no way u can truly learn dependency on God if you've never really felt helpless. which is exactly what i feel now. :S

pray for her oki?

Shalom YF Camp 2008 Publicity

Dinner and Dempsey IceCream

So two nights ago, i managed to have the priviledge of taking a good fren out for dinner. It's been a while since we've been able to talk proper and catch up over a meal so it was surely the highlight of my week... And it didn't disappoint at all. As it always doesn't, the whole day was filled with happiness and surprises. Managed to get off work on the dot [like the past few days thankfully] and chionged home for the car. I'm glad i did coz there's no way i'd have gone to dempsey without a car. Trust me...

Girls, if u have a bf who can't drive, you're TOTALLY missing out on dempsey. And guys if u can drive, GO TO DEMPSEY at least once... It's a nice place... Jus dun go alone with a girl lest she get the wrong idea... Hahaha

Yeh so we had a simple not-so-cheap-but-i-thot-it-would-be dinner at a hawker centre. Which was great coz i realized that when i meet frens out for dinner, it's hardly ever hawker food... It's like a mental image i have to break... Why can't people still catch up over hawker food? Why must it be pasta mania or cafe cartel or fish n co... U get my drift... So yeh, the food was so-so but that's not impt rite? :) glad that i managed to get an update from my fren who was kind enuf to keep making sure that i wouldn't stray too far away from each other to stay accountable. :) And likewise, i updated my side of things [not much coz i live a boring life]... It's good to hear how people struggle thru things coz it shows their vulnerable side and when u see that, u know they trust u enuf to tell u certain things. It also helps u open up to share. And that's what a brother/sister in Christ is all about rite? Sharing in the body of Christ and working thru problems with the help of each other and God. God speaks thru individuals too and affirmations or rebuke can also come from these close frens u have. :) That's why it's always better to hear another's opinion rather than yourself.

Sharing pain is akin to sharing joys too and i'm glad that we were able to rejoice over a certain issue that my fren's facing... It's a good thing and we're just glad that God is opening up doors and yet still helping things remain in control and progressing ever so slightly. :) Just pray that we'll all keep close to God and that it'll all work together for good.

After dinner [which i felt was rushed coz of parking and also coz we had destination2 to go to], we drove by to pick up my fren's mother and sister and drove down to dempsey for ice cream... Ben and jerry's... What a way to enjoy life no? :) so it was a good time to fellowship over ice cream... And live band! What a double treat! Glad that we were all able to talk and enjoy each other's company. I will really seriously miss this kind of close fellowship when i leave... It's why i'm initiating such now... Coz i'm jus afraid that i'll have no time for it later and then when i fly, i'm gonna so regret. :) My fren's close to my heart and so is my fren's mother... It's something i dun wanna lose when i fly... So i'm glad that it was all possible. :)

But of course it's not so much about where we all went and what we ate that makes me want to record this post down. It's the fact that when i'm overseas and looking back, i'm gonna smile remembering that in spore, there are people i care bout and i want to remember never to stop being accountable even miles away... Coz it's when you're miles away that u need it the most.

Praise the Lord for friends and family.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

RollerCoasters

I guess i'm going through a state of mind now that's not very healthy. Things are pulling me up and down and up and down. It really feels like sometimes, i'm just riding a roller coaster and i never know when it's gonna shoot up to the heavens in an estatic state of joy or gladness or dip down low in states of personal disappointment or fear of what's to come. I wonder to myself sometimes whether this is all part of life. I wish to myself sometimes that emotions, feelings, moods and thoughts would jus be plain, simple and routine. Then I think how boring life would be without all these things.

But that's not impt coz we are all on the ride of life and it's whether we choose to enjoy it or not... Aint it? :)
Glad that a lot of decisions in my life has been settled in the past few days. Gives me a sense of comfort as to what's going to happen to me in a few days/weeks/months time... And i am really looking forward to the future now i guess. :) so different, so new, so exciting.

It sucks to see friends fight... Esp when they're all Christian. Like some movie character said... Why can't we all just .... get along?

People change, feelings change [that's a song btw] and i believe it to be very true. When i look back on myself a few years ago [yes, i was thrown into this state becoz i recently dug out some real old photos of me... You'll see them on facebook soon. Lolz, let me upload them]... I am amazed at some decisions i made and some friends i had. Not bad in influence. But more of where they are now. Lots of my sec sch frens are all living their own lives and i barely keep in touch with them. Thankfully there are still a few people who i regularly contact and have helped me along the way... Thanks matt. :)  And some friends i made then, those i was close to.. I look at them now... And i barely even know them. The choices they make, the people they keep, the lives they live. And i wonder to myself... If they can change so much, if what they said last time do not linger true now... Have i changed that much too? It pains my heart sometimes to see these friends becoz more often than not, i choose not to try to get to know them anymore. It's like there's no point banging on a closed door... So i just pray that God would watch over them and keep them in the Way [and no NISS class, i'm not talkin bout the jewish way. Lolz]

But then i look at the present and the future and i see so many potential people coming up and into my life that it's jus excitingly fresh. I saw potential in someone on Sunday that really made me think to myself whether my life should be about me and my plans. Or shouldn't it be to devote myself into people who can be guided towards spiritual maturity? Scary thot but i was likening it to how I was moulded by someone whom i respect so much... And i wonder whether or not it'll be even able to be someone like him, to someone else.... It's wonderful to think. :) mentorship is lacking in my church but what am i doing about it? Sitting and complaining? :)

Yeh, so that's just my thoughts at the start of Tuesday. Mid week [k fine, not really but let me lie to myself ok!!! Lolz]... I'm glad i have an outlet. Not a completely good way coz it's still a public outlet. But at least sumthing i can air my thoughts on. Have a blessed week.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience