Day #624 - Grit on.

Developing grit as I move on in life.

Goals of the Day:

• Minimize distraction to get more focus at work
• Achieved
• Have a good evening date with Dearest
• Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Enjoyed the last talk cock comedy at Blu Jaz Cafe with Dearest

Today's Small Losses:

• Slept late
• Didn't meditate

Day 623 - Focus, Today.

My focus determines my reality.

Goals of the Day:

• Gain focus during work
• Somewhat Achieved
• Spring cleaning (Windows of Living Room, Study Room, BR2, MBR, 2 x toilets, Service yard)
• Achieved (Living Rm, Study Rm, and BR2)

Looks like spring cleaning will take a while.

Today's Small Wins:

• Did spring cleaning every since I got home
• Sleep on time

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being able to make my house cleaner

Day #622 - A Little Push

Have to give myself a little push today.

Goals of the Day:

• Persevere at work matters
• Achieved
• Spring cleaning Part I (fan, dining lights, and windows)
• Achieved

Although I underestimated the time taken to clean the windows, but at least I did the BR3's windows, ceiling fan, and the dining lights.

Productive night on spring cleaning!

Today's Small Wins:

• Spring cleaning
• Did around 15 minutes of gather OEM vendors price plans pdf
• Housework (wash, fold, iron)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• Slept slightly late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Chocolate cookies given by my colleague
• Being appreciated of my efforts in household chores and spring cleaning by Dearest

Day #620 - Spartan Stadion

The pain will go away.
But the accomplishment shall stay.

Day #619 - Those Who Have, therefore.

It's the understanding of suffering, and the realization that some people are not strong enough to endure through, that I extend my hand to pull them along.

Goals of the Day:

• Be focused at work
• Achieved
• Rest sufficiently for tomorrow's race
• Not Achieved
• Gather all the pdf for the OEM comparisons
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Had a good chillah session with my colleagues
• Quality time with Dearest playing Overcooked2

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't rest early
• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest's ironing lots of clothes

Day #618 - 7th

Happy 7th Anniversary of being together =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Wrote a nice letter to Dearest

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• 7 wonderful years with Dearest

Day #617 - 苦心人，天不负

吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。

Goals of the Day:

• Be focused at work; Reduce distraction
• Achieved
• Prepare and have a good first session of tuition
• Achieved

It feels good to be giving.

Today's Small Wins:

• Finished codings 100%
• Was being more proactive at managing work matters
• Had a good first session of tuition
• Read for 15 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't meditate
• No progress on OEM comparison yet

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest giving me support for my volunteering efforts and showing it to others =)
• 2 students that turn up for the session
• Friends and family who gave their support on my volunteering efforts

Day #616 - Do It With Gusto

It's not easy for me to finish off the things that I started out envisioning.
Perhaps I'm missing out on a bit of Gusto.

Goals of the Day:

• Exercise (slow jog)
• Achieved
• Plan out work schedule for Project O and F 
• Not Achieved
• Review things to do this week
• Not Achieved
• Plan out schedule for week's tasks
• Not Achieved
• Work on OEM comparison as this month's blog contents
• Not Achieved

I need to buck up.

Today's Small Wins:

• Mindful breathing (10m) + Loving Kindness Mindfulness (10m)
• Exercise (2km jog)

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't plan out work schedules for projects
• Didn't review last week's tasks
• Didn't plan this week's tasks
• Didn't work on OEM comparison

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A good work discussion
• Dearest's reminding me to wear long pants before I sleep

Day #615 - Doing What People Said I Can't

I have already done it with my degree.
I believe I can do it again with my life.

Goals of the Day:

• Plan my week's tasks
• Not Achieved
• Do my mindfulness workshop homework
• Not Achieved
• Exercise
• Achieved Somewhat

Today's Small Wins:

• Did some exercise with BeatSaber (I guess I could count this as a light exercise)
• Was productive at work
• Watched 1 lesson on Canon EDS 700D

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't read
• Didn't meditate
• Didn't iron clothes
• Didn't do personal work

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest enjoying the shooting VR game that I introduced her
• Being able to get myself to come home on time

Day #614 - Take The Leap

Let's take the leap today.

Goals of the Day:

• Announce on the residents' FB page on the public free tuition
• Achieved
• A good lunch with my family
• Achieved
• A good date with Dearest
• Achieved

I took the leap. =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Gathered the information needed and did the announcement on FB
• Had a good lunch with my family and relatives-to-be, and Dearest
• Had a good date with Dearest at the Prudential Marina Carnival
• Slept on time
• Asked my dad some tough questions

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't spend time on personal work

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest being proactive during lunch in the interest of my family
• The camera accessories that I got from my close friend free of charge
• Dad's willingness

Day #613 - Time is Precious, Waste it Wisely

Time is ever so precious, that there is no chance that we can ever get it back.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a good workshop with Mum
• Achieved
• Household chores (vacuum, iron)
• Achieved (for vacuum)
• Plan date for tomorrow with Dearest
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Had a good workshop / lunch with Mum
• Did vacuuming
• Gathered some ideas for tomorrow's date but haven't discussed properly with Dearest
• Did administration tasks (pay bills)
• Mindful breathing (2 x 15 min)

Today's Small Losses:

• Slept late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A good workshop with Mum
• Dearest's for doing the housework
• A nice carpet that goes with the living room set up

Day #612 - Being Free

I'm not sure if Buddha actually said this.
But it makes sense to me.

Being free from anyone's rulings.
Being free from my self-impositions.
Being me.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a good morning with Mum
• Achieved
• Codings up till 75%
• Not Achieved
• Have a good badminton session while taking care of my left knee
• Achieved
• Be disciplined about my schedule
• Achieved

The morning went quite okay.

So hopefully we can push forward on things.

Work wise, I didn't expect that I have to manage some other work, so didn't work on codings.

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with Mum
• Good badminton session without injuring knee
• Mindful breathing for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't work on codings
• Slept late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• An affordable place where my payment is in time
• Dearest being home to receive our delivery package!
• Dearest liking the gift I bought for her

Day #611 - Giving Myself A Push

Often times I feel that limits are self-imposed.
Only when we push past those limits, do we realize that we can do a lot more.

Goals of the Day:

• Coding up till 50%
• Not Achieved (at 39%)
• Operation of DSLR camera and finding the remote
• Not Achieved
• Have a good dinner with Dearest and her family
• Achieved
• Plan an activity for Sunday date with Dearest
• Not Achieved

It seems like lately I have been planning goals that I couldn't achieve.

Guess I need to be more realistic with my goals, and also strengthen my determination.

Today's Small Wins:

• Spent quality time with Dearest's family
• Mindful breathing for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't finish coding up till 50%
• Didn't operate the DSLR camera
• Didn't plan an activity for Sunday date, but I did find some options

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being able to attend a week's worth of workshop which is of my personal interests
• Being able to hear some personal stories from my colleagues

Day #610 - All of These Will Pay Off

It will.
Someday.

Goals of the Day:

• Schedule Weekly fixed tasks for the week
• Not Achieved
• Do body scan, mindful breathing, and mindful eating
• Only did mindful breathing
• Operate Sis's DSLR (find the remote)
• Not Achieved
• Financial Research (1h)
• Not Achieved

Spent too much time settling the newly arrived tripods and spent some time playing game and sourcing for some tripod accessories to enable the vive base stations to tilt downwards.

Today's Small Wins:

• Mindful breathing for 10 min
• Good presentation
• A small RED surprise buy for D

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't work on my goals of the day

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Presentation that went well
• The delivery guy for coming back again to deliver the goods instead of putting them inside the riser

Day #609 - Timely Reminder

Dearest gave me a timely reminder this morning because I have been too engrossed in watching a Korean drama series.
Well, I have to admit that I'm neglecting my other commitments because of it, so I need to be mindful of things.

Goals of the Day:

• Review past week's tasks
• Achieved
• Schedule this week's tasks
• Not Achieved
• Do 100 lines of coding
• Not Achieved
• Prepare for tomorrow's presentation
• Not Achieved
• Work on OEM comparison
• Not Achieved

I think I planned for too much tasks today. haha..

Decided to stay up a little to do a little more.

Would this work? I wonder.

Today's Small Wins:

• Reviewed past week's tasks
• Consolidated a table for tasks
• Interesting knowledge gained in investigative interviewing

Today's Small Losses:

• Haven't schedule tasks for this week
• Didn't read
• Didn't do 100 lines of coding
• Haven't rehearsed tomorrow's presentation
• Didn't work on OEM comparison

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest's timely reminders
• A ride back to the office on my colleague's new car
• The knowledge gained today during the course

Day #607 - It's A Choice

It's a choice.
It's always a choice.

Goals of the Day:

• Practise body scan, mindful breathing, and mindful eating
• Only did mindful breathing
• Have fun playing VR
• Achieved
• Plan out my week ahead
• Somewhat Achieved with Dearest
• Review my past week's tasks
• Not Achieved
• Work on OEM comparison
• Not Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Quality time with Dearest to watch tv and play game
• Did 10 min of mindful breathing
• Enjoyed a few hours of leisure time by myself
• Planned out the main activities

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't review my past week's tasks
• Didn't work on OEM comparisons
• Didn't do body scand and minful eating

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being able to play VR in my own house
• Dearest willing to plan the week with me
• 
  

Day #606 - If It Scares You, It's A Sign You Need To Do It

I need to do this.

Today's Small Wins:

• A good day of bringing my mum out for the 2nd session of mindfulness workshop
• Managed to successfully set up my newly arrived HTC Vive and played BeatSaber! (and other random games)
• Did body scan, mindful breathing and mindful eating at workshop

Today's Small Losses:

• Slept really late
• Didn't do any other productive things other than setting up VR and playing games

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest being able to help me receive the VR package
• Dearest's enthusiasm in trying the VR game 

Day #605 - Being Strong At Broken Places

Perhaps it's the same for everyone; we are all struggling with life ordeals.
But some of us, can become strong.

Goals of the Day:

• Map out the tasks to do for the month
• Not Achieved
• Have a good, but non-straining session during badminton
• Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Had an enjoyable badminton session

Today's Small Losses

• Didn't do body scan
• Didn't rest early
• Forgot to bring knee guard for badminton session

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Knee still okay after playing badminton

Day #604 - Make Small Progress

Any progress, is still progress.

But I have to make that progress, consistently, persistently, religiously.

Goals of the Day:

• Be clear on what needs to be done to update the slides
• Achieved
• Try going down to the common area in the estate to do maths (assess the lighting, temperature, traffic, etc)
• Achieved
• Focus on Jmaths work
• Not Achieved

Am I being too ambitious on my time?

Or am I just not disciplined enough?

Today's Small Wins:

• Did body scan for 10min
• Surveyed the area for tuition with Dearest giving feedback and providing suggestions
• Playtime with Dearest on Overcooked2!

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't focus on Jmaths work
• Slept late

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest's support on my personal endeavor by going down with me to survey the area
• Being able to reach home early to cook myself a simple but good dinner

Day #602 - Learn to Rest

Feeling quite tired.
Unsure if it's the stresses at work, or I'm not getting enough rest.
In any case, I should strive to get more rest.

Goals of the Day:

• Be focused at work; no distraction
• Achieved
• Plan my day's schedule
• Achieved
• Continue to populate my worksheet of OEM comparison
• Not Achieved

After pushing myself to run together with Dearest after work, and by the time we reached home, it was quite late. 

I decided to focus on helping Dearest's bro in Linear Programming than work on my OEM comparison.

Although it's not directly contributing to my goals, but I felt I should help him out asap, and also that it was interesting to know a new concept.

Today's Small Wins:

• Focused at work
• Planned my day's schedule
• Ran for 6 rounds on the outermost circle

Today's Small Losses:

• Left knee hurts again after the run
• Didn't do body scan today

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• A nice massage from Dearest
• Being able to digest a new concept fast

Day #601 - Impossible, Until It's Done

Just keep going at it.
It may seem impossible now, but I will get there.
Some day.

Goals of the Day:

• Finish off the codings from last week at work
• Achieved
• Plan my day
• Achieved
• Review current compilation of OEM comparisons
• Slight Achieved

Work in office seems to be piling up.

And there's a host of things I am aiming to do back at home during my personal time.

It may seem hard, or even impossible.

I just have to believe that eventually, I will get there.

Today's Small Wins:

• Finished the codings
• Planned my day's schedule
• Looked through the compilation of OEM comparisons on SEEDLY
• Did body scan for 10 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't spend allocated time to look at OEM comparisons

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Dearest's support in me buying the HTC Vive headset
• A ride home from my boss

Day #600 - Act; Dream. Plan; Believe.

Not only Act, but also Dream.
Not only Plan, but also Believe.

Goals of the Day:

• Household chores (vacuum, mop)
• Achieved
• Time schedule
• Achieved
• Spend quality time with Dearest
• Achieved

It's a day of work, rest, and play =)

Today's Small Wins:

• Did household chores
• Created a weekly time schedule with objectives
• Spent quality time with Dearest by watching Netflix and playing some Steam games
• Body scan for 10 min
• Uploaded my Penang trip photos

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't manage to upload my London trip photos
• Have not planned for the coming week yet

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Being able to play games with Dearest
• Having time to plan things out

Day #599 - Family Bond

That's family.

Goals of the Day:

• Have a good start of the 4 weeks long mindfulness workshop with Mum
• Achieved
• Household chores (vacuum and iron)
• Achieved for iron
• Time schedule
• Not Achieved
• Pay bills
• Achieved

Although there was some hiccups along the way to the workshop and during the workshop, but I think it generally went okay.

Let's hope this mindfulness workshop will prove to be useful!

Today's Small Wins:

• Successfully brought Mum to the first lesson of the workshop
• Did ironing
• Paid all the bills during commute
• Meditated for 15 min (during the workshop)

Today's Small Losses:

• Slept late
• Didn't vacuum
• Didn't do time schedule

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Mum starting on mindfulness
• Enjoying Instant Hotel on Netflix with Dearest

Day #598 - Make Decisions Quick

It's Badminton Day!
As a badminton (leisure) player, I can make decisions quickly.
It's a statement to make myself believe. =p

Goals of the Day:

• Plan my day well
• Achieved
• Plan my weekends
• Not Achieved
• Get to work earlier than normal
• Achieved
• Finish off my codings at work
• Not Achieved
• Have a good badminton session without straining too much
• Achieved

Didn't manage to finish off my codings before I left work.

Around 300+ rows left; <20%.

I thought being able to play badminton was more important than me staying there for another potentially 2 hours to finish off the rest of the codings.

And so I did.

It was the best decision I have made today.

Today's Small Wins:

• Planned my day
• Was disciplined to go work early to do more work; higher chance to go badminton after work
• Didn't finish my codings, but I got quite far
• Exercised by playing badminton
• Good dinner and a small cheers for my new promotion with the badminton folks

Today's Small Losses:

• Didn't plan my weekends yet; I will leave it to tml's morning
• Didn't mediate
• Slept late
• Chatted too long at dinner

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• My promotion, and a group of friends who are happy for me
• My colleague who shared his life details with me

Day #597 - Importance of Time

The importance of time will never change.

Goals of the Day:

• Create time schedule draft for the week
• Not Achieved
• Plan my time for today
• Achieved
• Brainstorm potential timeslots for free tuition
• Not Achieved

Worked on creating action items from my new year resolutions.

These action items will eventually feed into the time schedule.

Today's Small Wins:

• Made the right decision to go home after going to camp instead of going back office
• Planned my time for today
• Contacted my estate resident committee to explore options of venue availability
• Sent my mum the details for this Sat
• Created action items from my new year resolutions
• Meditated for 10 min
• Slept on time

Today's Small Losses:

• Slow pace on coding which needs to be completed tomorrow
• Didn't create time schedule

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Option to go home after camp to go home early to rest
• A good lunch conversation with colleagues
• Dearest encouragement and praise from me being proactive

Day #596 - Fresh Work Day

It's the 1st work day of the year!
Unfortunately I fell sick from yesterday and have to take MC in the morning to see doctor.
Felt good enough to come to work.
Planned to finish off the slides for tml and then go home and rest.

Goals of the Day:

• Plan my day on my new diary
• Achieved
• Create time schedule based on priorities (and new year resolutions)
• Not Achieved
• Rest my body sufficiently
• Achieved

Today's Small Wins:

• Despite my illness, I felt that my body was well enough to go to work to finish off the slides needed for tomorrow, and I got some breakthrough in the analysis
• Meditate for 10 min
• Planned my day

Today's Small Losses:

• Was a bit nua this morning so I started the morning late and took my time to go to the doctor
• Didn't start on my time schedule
• Might have spread the illness to my colleagues

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• The promotion certificate personally handed to me by my senior director
• Dearest reminding me gently to be mindful of my TV watching

Day #595 - New Year, Fresh Start

It's the Year 2019.
I'm gonna rock this year!

Goals of the Day:

• Go see the beautiful sunrise with Dearest
• Achieved
• New Year Resolutions
• Achieved

Fell sick after coming back from seeing the sunrise with Dearest.

What a different way to start the year. haha...

Year 2019 Resolutions:

1. To start trying for a baby with Dearest
2. To go on a romantic getaway with Dearest
3. To strive to be an affectionate and loving husband
4. To help mum and dad
5. To continue to spend time with mum regularly
6. To find a common activity with Dad to spend time with him
7. To schedule time to meet friends regularly (guys, John, e4, psych, army)
8. To get started on the adventure of JMaths and see how it can evolve
9. To do regular financial research and update A2RY blog at least once per month
10. To research and execute financial decisions that would benefit the family
11. To finish the only course of Mobile App Development
12. To create and publish one app on Google Play Store
13. To make time to play hard
14. To plan a short solo hiking trip
15. To reach an investment portfolio of $50K
16. To reach $50K in savings
17. To plan my time religiously
18. TO build a habit of meditation
19. To reduce my weight to 63kg
20. To read 6 books

That's quite a list of things that I want to do for the year.

And it's gonna be an exciting one!

Today's Small Wins:

• Had a good time seeing the sunrise with Dearest 
• Had a good time visiting Dearest's friends
• Rest adequately to recover from illness
• List out resolutions and shared with Dearest; she shared hers too
• Meditated for 5 min

Today's Small Losses:

• Fell sick

Things I'm Grateful for Today:

• Sharing the view of a beautiful sunrise with the love of my life
• Didn't push my body out of the limits by going out when I felt sick
• Dearest's tender loving care towards me when I'm sick