A Woman missed her flight at HKIA - frustration at its worst

Yesterday, I came across a small clip reading the local newspaper. I thought nothing much of it, thinking that it is just one of those incident. Never did I realise that someone happened to have recorded it and posted it onto Youtube.

Apparently, a couple has missed their flight at the HongKong Internatinal Airport. However, what happened to the woman upon learning that she has missed her flight, she appeared to have lost her cool and started yelling, wailing and shouting.

See for yourself what happened by clicking the following



It goes to show how people can react when they feel frustrated and angry. At the split moment in time, one can lose control of his mind if one is not able to handle the situation. I am sure when she settled down and started looking back at the video clip, she would agree how silly she had reacted, and perhaps wonder how and why she did that. So it is our mind, our thinking at each moment in time that is important.

When we are down and out, or when we are extremely angry, we must tell ourselves to cool down, stop whatever we are doing to think things over before we react to the situation. One example of a practice that I always do is that when I am extremely angry upon receiving an email, and feel the urge to respond back immediately, I would always addressed my response back to myself first. And whenever I read this response back at a later time after thinking things over, I find that I have to make changes to the response to mellow down the tone before really sending it off. I guess it is one good practice to avoid regret over saying words that we can never take back later.

Posted by
Ivan

Getting the right Gift for your loved ones - Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine Day. I am sure people all over the world will celebrate with their loved ones. It is a happy occasion, sharing quiet moment with your loved ones.

Is it always true that it is a happy occasions? To many, this could be a nightmare. What is it that one should get for the loved ones for Valentine gift? Many will feel frustrated, not knowing what to get as gift. Is the gift going to make your loved ones happy? Or will the occasions turn into a nightmare, if the loved ones have different expectations, expecting to get a certain gift which is not forthcoming.

To celebrate Valentine Day, most people try their best to charm their loved ones with gifts such as chocolates, flowers, toys, candle-light dinners and through many other exotic ways. Yet to many, it will just be like any other day. There are many ways to show one's love to the other party. Yet many are willing to splurge to impress his loved ones. Jewelry and Daimond are girls best friend, and on this day, there are many promotions as part of V-Day promotion.

This morning, driving to work, I heard over the radio, where there was this listeners call-in and survey about what gift one should get. This of course depends on the recipient. If there is a high expectation, it is likely for the recipient to feel frustrated for not receiving something not up to expectation. Similary, if one knows that there is such expectation, he will feel frustrated for fear of not getting the right gift.

Furthermore, why is it that on such a day, it is always expected of the guy to spend more money on the girl, buy expensive gift and spend on expensive candle-light dinner.

It was reported that people spent billions to buy gift for the occasion. One person in particular, mentioned about his loved one having the expectation that the gift she received must be better each year, better than the previous year. What then consitute better? is it in terms of quality, price, or value of the gift?

I am sure that on this very day, much as one looks forward to the celebration, there are many who feel real frustrated. If you are in this shoe, I feel sorry for you. It is meant to be a happy day, a happy occasion. So go out there and do what is best. And let it like the song lyrics that say What will be, will be
Happy Valentine Day.

The Art of Happiness – Be Happy at Work

Working today is different from the time when I first stepped out to work. At that time, families are generally poor and one has to stick on to his job to ensure that there is income to help out the family, or at least not to add further burden to the family. Today, the working youngsters are a different breed. They tend to come from good , well to do family, at least economically. At the slightest unhappiness or stress, they will throw in the towel and leave for greener pasture.

That leaves the most people in working position, and especially so those in management a difficult and stressful environment, having to plan, organize, monitor progress to ensure the work done. Gone are the days when the superiors can exercise greater discretion in the reprimand of the subordinates.

I was recently reading an article in the Star paper on The Art of Happiness – learn the seven secrets of living a stress-free lifestyle by Shelly Sykes, a Happiness Guru.

In it, she share the 7 keys to happiness which all employees find relevant.

1) Love Your Job
2) Stay Optimistic
3) Be Honest
4) Soak in Positivity
5) Chase your Dreams
6) Expand A yourself
7) Have Fun

She wrote that key to happiness is about staying empowered, staying motivated in the profession and not get burnt out even when under pressure. I personally wonder how these have really changed. In it, she also illustrated a Happiness at Work Model. And the area where the 3 Circle intersects, represents work-life-sustainability, and determines how successful one will be in his career and life


That essentiality sums up the importance of compatibility of job to the individual. The premise is that the more attractive the job/environment to the individual needs/interest, one would be more happy and stay longer. What about those who have a prolong need for income. After all, it is well known that people who have a overriding and high need for a job and source of income, have lasted prolong period of service, despite being unhappy. Perhaps, under such circumstances, one has learned to accept the situation and the unfavorable environment.

Posted by
Ivan

Frustrated with the World, The Gaza War goes on-Take your side

What is wrong with this World and this Humanity? Desptie the great achievement and advancement of mankind, humanity has taken many steps backward. Let's pause and take a look at this Gaza War, and the many lives that have been lost in it.

The 2 sides wanted war, many has joined in the fray for whatever motives they know best. But the World at large, wants peace and this is threatening world peace.

The Gaza War has now entered into its 22nd day. So far, asthe SUN newspaper headlines goes today, " Hamas to silence guns for a week after Israel declares Truce." It is reported that the Hamas militant announced a 1 week ceasefire. Unless there is some concrete break through in negotiation, what will happen then? A resumption of the War that nobody wants to take place.

Why would the people want to go to war? Many are taking sides, with both sides laying claims to many things, and both sides have many to tell. At the end, who is right and who is wrong? What about taking another sidethat totally abhor wars and killings, a side that wants this to stop immediately.

Does this matter afterall, if every party wants peace and the every people affected here are the ones that should decide. Not all others who are just bystanders who are mere instigators who have all the ulterior motives that one can question. Where is the transparency in this? Has United Nations gone so weak as to be unable to do anything as this drags on further? Why can't they settle amicably?

To the young, they must be wandering why are there still wars at this age. And worst still, such hatreds are being ingrained into the minds of so many youngsters. Just hardly a short distance away, people can live in peace and in harmony. Why can't they enjoy the peacefuleness as in toher. The world has failed these people.

Concurrent with this event, we just saw United States Barack Obama inauguration as the 44th President of the world biggest power. Let's hope that there will be changes that will see an end to war in the Middle East, replaced with improved and better Middle-East relations as many have harbour high hopes and expectation of Obama.

Let us pray and hope for a speedy end to this senseless war and killings especially when there are so many innocents caught in it.

Posted by
Ivan

President George Bush - Ducking from Shoes Attack

Just recently, during a News Conference in Iraq, a correspondent by the name of Al-Zaidi from a TV station, created a shocking scene when he hurled 2 shoes at US President George Bush who was speaking at the podium.

It was a very near miss, and watching the video, I must say that the President reaction was very fast and nimble. Twice the shoes were going in the same direction at him, and it was a near miss twice, when he ducked. President Bush remained composed to continue but instead talk about the shoe incident.

In President Bush words, such act is to draw attention and he likened it to people back home showing displeasure as in any political rally.

View Video Clip on President Bush ducking in slow motion


How would one describe the incident? A near violent form of displaying unhappiness, anger, frustration. I do not know of what happened to the journalist, and will he still be a correspondent after the incident.

The Middle East Region has been embroiled in controversies and wars for many years and one cannot help but sympathise with the people who live there, must be very frustrated.

Looking at the frequent suicidal killings going on every now and then, one must be wondering how much of hatred and anger has been sown in the minds of the people. I am not sure whether much can be done to the adults and this generation to make much difference for peace in the region, but I do hope and pray that more can be done at the children and educational level to foster goodwill, love and compassions, so that the future generations will be able to lead a more peaceful and happier lives than is now.

But wherever we are right now, let us not underestimate the power of one, and let us begin with ourself, and work for peace within our own home, and from this hopefully, peace will manifest itself into our environment, our society, country and eventually the world at large.

Posted by
Ivan

World Wide Weakening Economy causes diminshing wealth of everyone

The world's economy is now taking center stage in every government's agenda, and top on most people in managing the economy of their respective countries. The future looks bleak while everyone is praying for a quick recovery if at all they cannot be cushioned.

Over the last few months, I am sure we find the wealth that we have worked so hard over the last 20 - 30 years being eroded. At times of unstable environment, whatever instruments and hedging mechanism available out there is not helping either. In my case, I have learned that when the environment is unstable, the hedging mechanism may not work in favor. Take the case of exchange rate hedging, while we can buy and hedge the currency that we need for future, it can work the reverse when you are overbook into the position. In my case, I had bought into the Sterling Pound at the rate around MYR 6.49 to 1.0 Sterling Pound and looking back, now that the sterling pound has weaken to around MYR 5.50 to 1 Sterling Pound, it had actually resulted in me losing out about MYR 50,000 to hedge the initial fund required for my son's education in London.

Likewise, the Australian dollars has also weaken from about MYR 3.1 to 1.0 AUD to now about MYR2.3 to 1.0 AUD, it has also caused me to lose about MYR10,000.00 While frustrated on one hand, yet I find it hard to complain for over the longer term, it would be better for the MYR to strengthen as this will be beneficial for future exchanges. This of course is true only if the existing rate can sustain for some time.

While recession appears imminent all round, yet the cost of living has gone up. When the oil price was about USD 150 per barrel, it created chaos wordwide, with many suppliers raising prices of essential goods that drives up cost of living. Now that oil prices has dropped to around USD50 per barrel, and hardly 4 months ago only, no one would have imagined this to happen. Now that oil prices have gone by more than 50%, yet the suppliers are taking their time, if at all willing to reduce the prices. While suppliers are quick to raise prices, but they are very slow to react when it worked against them.

And what are the Authority and Government doing about this. Let's hope the people of authority are doing enough to bring about some action to address such injustice and restore equity to the people on the ground.

And let us all pray that the world economy will recover quick enough to bring relief to all the countries on this globe and that world economy stability returns.

Posted by
Ivan

Moving into New House – All the frustrations of renovation

Getting a new house and getting it ready so that you can move in to stay, is something that everybody looks forward to. I have bought this house delivered almost 2 years ago. It was under renovation for the last 4 months as I intend to move into this new Semi-Detached unit after selling my present 2-storey linked house which I owned and stayed in the last 21 years. That’s a long time.

I had originally envisaged the renovation work to take about 2 months, for the small extension for the kitchen, new patio area with minor renovations. Renovating the house is time-consuming not to mention that a lot of money has to be thrown in and now 2 months delay. Since my last shift, it have never occur to me to bear with so many frustrations in renovating the house;


- Firstly, the quotation comparison and negotiation to finalize the award. At the end, you will still find misunderstanding, and at worst is that the contractor admitted that it is a mistake and omission. What can you do then, except to fork out the additional

- I can now safely say that the original budget that you plan for renovation work will never be enough, so my advice is that you have to plan for additional amount as buffer for variation work. There are again things that you never thought of, may cropped that you now realize requires it

- During renovation itself, a lot of things which are in good condition will now be spoilt and require replacement and rework. For example, the walls maybe perfectly all right, but at the end, may require some patching and a full new coat of paint

- Cost may creep up depending on the market condition. For small job this is no issue, but for bigger job, substantial changes in the market will result in changes as the contractor will keep asking for more money due to substantial increase in cost of material

- Delay arising from rainy days as well as conditions laid out by the developer to limit renovation work to restricted hours and non holidays days only. In my case this has seriously affected the timing without anticipating this during the planning stage

- Looking at those workers who carried out the renovation work will add further frustration. These people are just plain dumb, and only concentrate on their portion work, without regard and consideration to the others. An example is when you ask them to install a new door, they will focus on the door, but would not pay attention to scratching the new floors that you have done, by discriminately handling of their equipments. Or when you ask the electrician to put in new wiring, indiscriminate hacking which spoil the wall and ceiling..

In my case, I had been unfortunate to be hit with 2 incidents of the water pipe to the ceiling burst over a month. The incidents resulted in water flooding the entire ceiling board of the rooms upstairs, sipping down to affect all the walls and the laminated timber stripes floor. The second incident resulted in the water wetting all the bedroom and wardrobe set and damaging some of it.. As a result, the developer has to re-patch the plaster ceiling, repaint the ceiling and wall as well as re-grind the floor and repaint it. Till to-date, I am still waiting for the developer to rectify this before I start moving in.

If you are particular with the auspicious day to shift in, the delays would have frustrated you. Luckily, I am not those who will choose an auspicious date with all the pomp, hustles and bustles to shift in. So the next time you buy an new house and plan to shift in, be prepared with all the frustrations that comes with it.

Posted by
Ivan