Restructured my Chrome bookmarks – for some reason I kept limiting myself to one browser window before – thought it was more efficient.  Then quasi OCD-ness made me keep rearranging tabs so that tabs in similar categories were close together.  No more – they are now all their own folders, to be opened group-mode in separate windows.  My first 30 minutes doing this has been a revelation – so much smoother, especially when combined with Mac’s trackpad magic.

Note – Keep eyes open to new opportunities to improve, even in the unlikeliest of places

Took a page from my project – started tracking more items, but in personal life.  I believe all knowledge and experience should be documented, what more when gained alone.  It is the only way to pass it on to the future generation – document now, we can deal with how and when to pass it on later.  Google Docs are really powerful – I think I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what can be done with it.  On that note, it seems like we (now) have alot more technology than we know what to do with.  The last time I remember being in control and using technology to the fullest was with my Nokia 6600 – 6 years ago?  Since then, things have evolved by leaps and bounds – losing my Android phone in 2010 also contributed – but I now have a better appreciation of what I truly need / use.

Note – There will always be extras – the trick is to be certain about criteria; about needs vs. wants

I will be making some interesting choices this year – they will be in the spirit of taking the road less taken.  Though I’ve been given lots of opportunities, the past 3 years have shown me that there are whole worlds out there yet to be explored.  The hope is to continue doing what’s meaningful to me – not simply earn a paycheck.  I realize this is a luxury, but only through doing meaningful work does one’s best emerge – this is something smart companies would do well to not ignore.  Again, a question of needs vs. wants.  Only time will tell.

Note – The only limits are those we put on ourselves.

What a year.  Crazy ups and downs for everyone.

Some people got attached / engaged – gained loved ones.

Some people lost family members / friends – lost loved ones.

I suppose this is what time does.  It gives you a chance, an opportunity, with each passing day, to come into your own.

Any change in our lives requires us to give up a part of ourselves.  Gaining someone requires us to share ourselves.  Losing someone takes a part of ourselves away.

Whether we willingly gave it up or it was forcefully taken away from us, whatever remains of ourselves has to be that much stronger to continue living.

We are a little fearful and nervous because with each passing day, we are reminded that things are changing; transitioning from being supported to supporting ourselves, and others.

Yet here we are.

The people I know reading this are a strong bunch.  We do not give in, we do not give up.  We do not know if we can make it through the year, but we will live as though we will.

We will gain strength, lose weakness.

We will gain wisdom, lose folly.

Most importantly, we will look to the future – what we can still change – and not forget, but learn from and appreciate the past.

Come into your own, and all the best for 2012.

Why do people do this?  Severe lack of respect.

What is so hard about being upfront about something that is going to be known anyway?

Why do some people think that they are the only ones who can control the flow of information?

No – information is like water, it will find a way.  Also like water, it is better to receive information in a known, expected way (eg. drink) instead of an unexpected way (eg. tsunami).

Have fun with your so-called “control”.  And of all the people.

….ay, shibal..

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

We are taught for most of our lives answers to pre-determined questions, as well as the means and methods to arrive at said answers.

I think increasingly important though nowadays is the ability to formulate / ask the right questions.

In this age of hyper-connectedness, answers are a few clicks away – it’s the questions, or more specifically, the right questions that remain elusive.

To ask the right questions, we need to have a good working knowledge of ourselves.  This remains a severely overlooked aspect in many societies – emphasis is given to external learning, not internal.

But it is only when the self is nurtured and indulged – often at the expense of others – that one is able to ask deeply insightful questions and therefore work towards finding deeply insightful answers.

What remains is to temper that insight with a profound desire to improve the world – any part of it, be it human life, plant life, or animal life.  It is when these elements meet and mesh that great changes seem to happen.

I’m trying to look for my definition of an ideal future state.  Climbing out of preset thought-boxes and trying to quiet my mind to the noise of orthodox convention.

I’m probably going to regret deliberately writing so ambiguously for the longest time.

When I think I can get away with just being myself, a sign presents itself telling me otherwise.

I don’t know what to do — I need a safe place to write.