Happiness by Aristotle

Read this article dated 28 March 2007 in 'Mind YOur Body' and find certain points made by the famous philospher....Aristotle on his view on Happiness thought provoking.....What do you think?

HE SAID....

• Happiness is the ultimate aim of human life...

Why?

We seek things that have intrinsic value because we believe by seeking them, they will make us happy. Things like wealth, reputation, knowledge and friendship.

INA ASKS....BUT DO THEY?????

Aristotle said....

The only thing we seek entirely for its own sake is HAPPINESS.

Therefore, HAPPINESS IS THE SUPREME GOOD.

• Happiness is an ACTIVITY of the SOUL...

It involves more than passive enjoyment. Its about living the RIGHT WAY....not just feeling the RIGHT WAY...

A HAPPY life requires a SENSE OF FULFILMENT ~ the feeling that we are doing something with our lives and making something of ourselves....

TO achieve it....requires EFFORT & COMMITMENT...

• Happiness is a LONG - TERM PURSUIT...

Sometimes by denying ourselves INSTANT GRATIFICATION...we build a more lasting kind of HAPPINESS...

TO END IT....ARISTOTLE SAID...

"HAPPINESS REQUIRES US TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW...TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE AND TO DEVELOP OUR POTENTIAL AS HUMAN BEINGS. THIS TAKES EFFORT AND COMMITMENT. YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL...."

so guys....are u ready to get set for a lifelong pursuit of HAPPINESS..........???

i am.......

InsyaAllah......& Alhamdulillah.....

AArgghh...I got summons!!!

Oh my.....wat a waste of hard earned $$$$......
this month thus far......I have chalked up an accumulated total of $100++ of parking summons....
anyone care to foot the bill of this babe?? heheh.....

Aaarrggh.....all due to my new car....**sob..sob....

moral of the story: dont stinge on parking coupons while waiting for the transfer of season parking ticket...haha..hah....

to make myself feel better....think of it as a form of contribution to the government for year 2007!!

It feels so great to be home @ 2plus pm on a weekday....imagine tat!!!! wat pleasure....
now...i guess gotta read up on the news happenings for today, research on my dued extended assignment.....before going out...with lil Hariz...since today i am on childcare leave!!!


Oh no....another two more days to the weekend!!!

oh...i chanced upon this quote while surfing...and it makes me thinking....and i fully agree to it:
"Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings."

InsyaAllah......

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Back at last....

It's been daze...and finally i get to squeeze some time to blog...

Time has been real short...i wonder...are we really racing against time for all things? it seems 24 hours are never enough.....

maybe blame me on time management...but somehow...not really...cause..
being so called the organized me...i still could not complete "today's work today..." (**a quote made by a trainer recently)

i wonder where the fault lies....me? time? or unrealistic demands by society?

First, i have to admit...i have not even hit the books on my upcoming tma due tomorrow!!!
Fortunately, my compassionate and understanding tutor has kindly extended the deadline to end of the month.....

if not...i'll be a dead meat...

5th Day of Term Break!!!

Oh how fast time flies! In no time it be the weekends and aarggh....school starts!!!

Reality in check...I have yet to start any markings so far...still neatly placed at a corner of my room and there's more sets of books on my workstation..which was left untouched since Wednesday. I am now getting ready to set the mid year exam paper which is due next Monday. In addition, I have not even set down to think about the revision of the scheme of work for Term 3!!!

Hmmm....fire-fighting starts now!!! I am skipping my SIM lecture tonite to complete setting of the exam script. Most prob, I will stay up tonite and tomorrow nite to finish up my markings.
It really goes to show that I have been utilising my term break well that I completely forgot or try to forget about my work deadlines and tasks.

Let me see....yeah!! Last Wednesday, I actually went to Changi Boardwalk with the P3 kids to do some outdoor trail. Tiring though..but it was time well-spent with the kids and my colleagues. Luckily, the rain stopped halfway else..i'll see disappointed faces of the kids cause we might have to make a U turn back to school.In the evening, we sat down for dinner at Anatolia in East Point and just chill out!!I had chicken salad....haha..haha...i guess i only ate the chickens....and cheese and dumped all the vegetables thingy to my frens!!! Night falls.....Hariz and I visited his other grandma....**it was her 69th birthday...Hariz sang a birthday song for her and we left after an hour to go for karaoke...
I love singing but my voice sucks!!! Haha..i guess i can sing in the company of frens only! Stayed up till 1 am...ate Mac stuff...Hariz loves the songs cause we sang children's song in between of adult song!!!!

What about yesterday??
Yesterday was another time well-spent....too!! Had an outdoor nature ramble @ Pasir Ris Park with my Brownies in the morning!
Noon time, went to Vivo City with my frens...ate at Too Hot Halal Cafe...not very nice setting and service a little bit slow and inefficient...price wise reasonable but the food not as great.Anyway, it was a treat from Sue...haha...so...i dont feel the pinch anyway..Thanks Sue!! Happily, I got for myself a nice top,..in fact a discounted one @ 70%...off... I love it....
Gonna bring Hariz one of these days there to Vivo to sit in the monorail...and play with the fountain.....He'll surely love it!!

OH....Hariz is down with slight fever...and a bad cough....hopefully he gets better by the weekend! Praying for his speedy recovery.......InsyaAllah..

2nd Day of My Term Break

It's way past midnite and i am still awake!! This is really a golden opportunity for me to stay up later than usual especially on weekdays! Haha...though i still gotta wake up early at 7am tomorrow...but the feeling somehow is different when you know that you do not have any teaching to do...no lesson planning...no scolding of kids...no raising of voice...it's just DIFFERENT!!

Despite having to come to school tomorrow....it's going to be an outdoor trail...with the P3 kids. We are going to the Changi Boardwalk. It's been quite a while since i make my trip there...i luv the place..it's really peaceful, serene and calm. I remembered the last trip when I was there with Hariz and he literally loves listening to the sound of his footsteps on the wooden planks and watching the planes flying high...and observing the anglers there as well as looking at the panoramic view of the vast sea..it's really a natural beauty...of God's creation...Allahu Akhbar..

Talking about Changi Boardwalk, I just went to Changi Beach just now...after our library trip at CCL, followed by some minor grocery shopping. Changi Beach is actually one of our favourite hangout place, irregardless of morning , noon or nite...

Hariz and i are really nature lovers....

What we usually do at nite:

We love lying down together closed beside each other or seated close with each other, watching,admiring and counting the glittering stars, observing the planes zooming above us, gazing at the bright moon, feeling the breeze on our face, listening to the sound of the waves slapping the shore, watching the boats past by us and even snacking under the moonlit.

What we usually do in the morn/aft:

We love having a mini picnic, playing with the sand, building train tracks and tunnels, writing numbers and alphabets on the sand using twig, having a game of bowling using used bottles as the pins and coconut as the ball, throwing stones and shell at the water and see the ripples form, immersing our feet in the cool water, touching the seaweed and let it get blown by the breeze, holding the bubble wand and let the wind blow for us and we catch the bubbles, lying down and admire the clouds forming different shapes, looking at the number of planes flying above us, observing the different vehicles that past us, playing on the slide, see-saw and swinging together!! running together..

You might wanna try these activities ......yourself...and see how happy and satisfied u be at the end of the day...

That's real quality time spent....and we enjoyed it tremendously!!!

What we have not tried:

Nite:
1)Playing with sparklers!!!
2)Nite Cycling at the beach
3)Nite Fishing (**not sure how to fish)
4)Camping (**safety concern,..being just me and Hariz)
5)Mini BBQ



Morn/Aft:
1)Day Camping
2)Cycling
3)Swimming in the sea
4)Day Fishing
5)Playing with a remote controlled boat or hovercraft


Looking forward for the next Changi Beach hangout session and trying out the 'untried'!!

1st Day of Term Break

First day of term break is over....and i am quite satisfied with how my plan has turned out...

I have been staying up late during the weekend...to do up my class blog!!
Proud to say....it's already ready! You are all welcome to go to www.paradiseof4g.blogspot.com

All thanks to my fren, Huda, who gave me the inspiration to make my blog better with the slides. Thanks dear!!! I need to learn more from you to make my blog even better....

Seriously, I am hooked on to this blogging thingy....it's sort of an outlet for me to express whatever that i am feeling for the day. .watever tat bugs me....watever tat makes me happy...or sad...or angry....anything under the sun...u can say tat!!

Oh yeah....i just got a hair cut today!! Got a new stylist for this year....Dave from shunji matsuo.
recommended by my colleague, Sharon.... so far so good....friendly guy who gives me tips and advice abt my hair.

Soon, I'll upload my new look ....
Give me ur frank sincere comment......
Do i look better with my new look or with my previous look (**the one on the right)?
Why?

IT Show 2007 @ Suntec

Aargghh!!! Now my legs are feeling the pain....after walking and standing for hours since morn..
Not just me....my lil Hariz is already sleeping like a log...dead tired...since we have been out since 9 am and reached home at about 9pm...

We actually spent our time that whole hours at Suntec City...going to the IT show...
I actually thought of buying the Q1 by Samsung....the mini laptop...it's so sleek and small...and really portable... I love it!! price wise a lil bit too steep though... going at $1999 and it comes together with an external keyboard @ $99.

I almost bought it....but after sitting down at Swensen's having my ice-cream and thinking thru in my mind....the needs and the wants....issue...i've decide to give it a miss....

My next on the list which i believe then which was a 'need', is getting a new phone 'again' since my so called new Motorola L6, ended the same fate as my Ericsson Cybershot, into the toilet bowl!!!!

But somehow or another .....there's a twist to it...cause..my brother text and told me that my Motorola is working!! Alhamdulillah......

Though i went back home empty handed....I am really HAPPY....happy coz my lil Hariz enjoyed himself........being with his mum and her frens!!

I love You , My Hariz........

Accident knows no place nor time nor people....

It has been 2 days and i am still feeling shell shock!! My cousin got into a freak accident...in fact its reported in the newspaper Berita Harian dated 10 March 2007....with this headline:

PUB Technician badly scalded

Accident happened at the basement of a pump station at Pioneer around noon. SCDF were called at about 1240noon to put out the fire. According to them, the cause of the fire was from an electrical source. Police is still investigating the case.

Just an overview....rite now...everybody is keeping vigil and praying hard for his recovery as he is still in ICU and is unconscious....He suffered 45% burn second stage, burn area is behind his back and both his hands are also badly scalded!!

On top of that the most saddest thing is.....his wedding day is just around the corner!! In fact ....in a week's time!! Oh Ya Allah........

Let us all pray and hope for a speedy recovery for my cousin.....InsyaAllah....

Colour Me Beautiful

School was different today on the last day of term...kids went back by 10am. ..but for the non-kids..hehe....we gotta stay later for a workshop, 'Colour Me Beautiful'...

I sort of like the workshop on the whole and i do learn a certain things that i can apply for myself. Basically, it's about projecting yourself .a sort of grooming course....trainer from Jill Loewe International....not because we teachers are ungroomed...but mayb...to better project ourselves in a more professional way..

i like it and give it a thumbs up though there are certain points that Diana mentioned which i dont really agree...not sure what u think of it?

Let me recall....

What i agree...

1.When you dress up.....u are already saying it loud without opening up your
mouth!! It's a big different when you dress down....

2. She said i belong to the 'autumn' group....so my choice of colours are more of
the brown base dirty sort of colours.....cause those people in the 'autumn' group
are the sophisticated type of people!!

3. My jaw feature can suit me with any kind of hair styles...and with a long
hair ....i can be creative in styling it....so...maybe...i can bun it....or tie it pony
tail..but it must be at the level of the higher part of my ear....not lower.....so i
look better...

4. I need to put on at least a 2" heel....never a flat....for the sophisticated look.

5. The way your tone...how u walk....shows how well u carry yourself ...

6. You put on make up to show ur assets....not to be made up or hide them! I
look better with a brown base lipstick..


What i dont really agree....

1. A bigger bag stands for someone with lower IQ or low education????
**I bring big back to school.....to stuff my
worksheets...laptop...wallet..pda...keys..makeup
pouch...pda....camera.....story book!!!

Can a small bag accomadate those stuff....i dont think someone of low iQ
would have those stuff anyway....

2. Wearing black top....only meant 2 things....going to a funeral or taking mc!!!
**black is my fav colour mind u...i mean...i feel sexy n sophisticated with
black...


Reflection:
To better colour myself beautiful......these are the area of improvement that i am going to work on...

1. My hair colour has run...but i cant redye it....cause it will spoil my hair if i do it before 6 months are up...so CUT my crowning glory off......for a new Korean or Japense style hair style....

2. Get a decent looking straight cut....working pants...my Giordano pants are a bit loose even after alteration...and its sort of baggy at the bottom...

3. Get a high heel shoe....not too high...just nice ....for myself...currently a flat formal shoes and a wedge....tat's already worn out....

4. Get a nice cool brown base lipstick....currently using pink red lip gloss...or just
the shiny lip gloss...

5. Get a new trendier bag...still as big....!!


Signing off...to catch a little shut-eye...!!

I M ACTUALLY NOT ALONE!!

Today.....after school...dead tired after conducting a so-called house practise with my green house children...i was jolted after hearing some unexpected news from Mum......

I found out from her conversation....that there are people whom i know....my aunt....,my cousin....my long distance relative.... are now...either on the process of divorce or just got the big D...

This news struck a chord in me....stirred my already settled emotions.....but alhamdulillah...i am already strong by now....cause surprisingly...tears didnt flow naturally as of previous cases before....the mention of any thing pertaining to the Big D..will result in me...shedding tears...

I guess....i might have move on a step further from where i last stop....which i believe is a good sign......to get a life and move on with life...positively and meaningfully...

But, hearing this news...make me realise that i am definitely not alone....as a single mum..as a divorcee....i guess the stigma attached when u are labelled as one...is not as bad as last time...where its a sort of tabboo....

thinking back...around our circle of friends...we would at least know about 2 who are divorced..is this normal??? the rate is going up.......is there something wrong somewhere???
with modernisation....is this one of the consequence that comes along with it....??

hmmmm........i wonder....is it better to stay single.....?
cause i realise that 'marriage is after all a GAMBLE,,,....either u win or u lose...
if u are afraid to take risks....then dont 'GAMBLE'....

personally,....i feel that when 'gamble'...though i thot i am on a winning streak..all these while..
it didnt dawned upon me that i might lose the game at the end of the day...

but seriously....i did not regret 'gambling' cause i know that while i 'gamble' i have done my best in the game.....to my utmost ability...

Another question now....should i be afraid to 'gamble' again? or try taking another risk?
Only God knows....wat's in store for me in future!!!

Rite now, I pray for the best of happiness to my son, my parents, my frens, my siblings, and myself..InsyaAllah..

I am Trying Hard not to ZZZZzzzzz....

oh....i am way past my bedtime....it's almost ten pm! My lil Hariz is already deep in slumber...Nighty nite dear!...He is totally dead tired...that he actually slept while playing his favourite racing car game on the X-Box....imagine that!!! This is the second time it happened!

I actually thot of giving his nite bath routine....but he slept earlier than expected.....so..gotta give it a miss....mayb...just change his diaper...while he is asleep...do not wanna distur his dream!

And as for me...I am mid way through my lesson planning for this Thursday. I am expected to think and create an interesting lesson plan and to make use of the school learning trail and the sophisticated canteen facilities.....After thinking since last week...finally i am almost there!!

I am excited to carry out this lesson....which have through many process of thinking ...i am calling it the "Amazing Race Journey" lesson works out fine on the day itself....keeping my fingers crossed!!

I am feeling perky these days....despite the occasional....downs....created by my kids...who forgot to bring their homework....as expected...tat's life!!!
so gotta live with it....at times....

So....now...though i am really tired...after a long day in school...went back @ 5pm...i have yet to catch my power nap either...and now....i am still trying hard...to finish up my lesson plan...before i turn in...

oh..yar....i went to Bedok last Sat and lil Hariz wanted me to have my weight taken....and
I am so...satisfied...tat i managed to gain a lil bit of weight.....YES!! an increase of 4kg....yeah!

the card also comes with a nice quotation...which i would want to end my post with the beautiful and thought provoking quote for the nite:

"With the will to stick to a task until completed, you will have many triumphs in life."

Quality Saturday w Lil Hariz......

Aha....2 hours more before i fetch my lil Hariz back from his Al-iman....
Reflecting back, I am real proud of my son.. who has not any exposure to school environment apart from him coming to my school during tat last holiday when i need to do up my class..........and surprisingly he is adapting fairly well to school life......

Perhaps....it could be tat its just a weekly school thus..!! But all the more....it's a remarkable adaptation....since being in a once a week class, he does not cry and cling on me after 2 school visits. Aint tat amazing??! No more separation anxiety!!

Tips which i found effective(** tried and tested) to reduce separation anxiety:

Prior to Start of Term
1. Orientate your child to the school before their first day of school to prepare him/her..
2. Talk with your child about school life and exciting activities going on in school.
3. Involve your child in the registration process, buying of uniform and in fact getting him/her to put on their uniform prior to start of term.
4. Bring him/her on a neighbourhood visit to a nearby preschool and let him watch the kids have fun.

First Day of School
1. Show him his new bag and uniform the night before and prepare him for the exciting day tomorrow.
2. Convince him of the fun he is going to e xperience in school tomorrow getting to know new friends and friendly teachers.
3. While sending him/her to school, reassure to your child that you will not be around during that few hours but will be back once school is over.
4. In school, give him a nice hug and give a firm goodbye. ** No tearing...or sobbing...at all ..SELF_CONTROL!!
5. Be punctual to receive your child at end of day.
6. Ask him how his day in school was....and remind him of the fun he had...**PRAISES comes in
7. Bring your child to any interesting places....after school...*if possible


Coming back.....
I still remembered his first day of school..everything went well in the hall but the moment he need to be in the classroom which was the moment where i need to leave him under the care of the ustazah....tat's when he started to cry bitterly at the door.....My heart felt heavy and seriously i cried literally...not sobbing...but somehow...tears naturally flow.....having had to leave my son for 3 hours.......

Fortunately, being a teacher gives me an added advantage to feel for the ustazah's position. In addition, this is my first time taking in the role of a parent....an anxious parent....thinking back to the day when i was on my orientation duty for the primary one last year....now, my heart really goes to those parents who are brave to leave their precious ones in the care of the educators.....to trust the teachers.....

so with the same sentiment....i left my son on his first day of school despites his loud cries.. knowing and trusting that his ustazah has the experience and capability to handle this problem!...I am glad....i left immediately....ALONE...

ok signing off...one and a half hour more....!!

Exciting Days to look Forward 2!!!

It's been days since I last log in....it's really really....hectic...and I am practically rushing for time...and learning to juggle my tasks and responsibilities well.....as agood Muslim, a teacher, a mother, a friend and a daughter. In fact, i am still in SCHOOL!! after hours of really racking my brain for some creative ideas for experiential outdoor learning for my observation...i have come to a naught and my brain spins! Putting that aside.....i turn to marking...and making merry with my fellow frens...here...joking and laughing...and enjoying the day....it's a real cool way to de-stress!!!


Thinking about it, we are coming to the end of Week 9 and i am really counting days.....for the term break....I am so excited..i wonder why....hmmm...let me see wat are the exciting things i have coming up in my schedule for the next few days..!

For a start..my day today in school ends real well....except for the occasional...scoldings and all....It turns out as expected as compared to YESTERDAY!! **dont even wanna mention wat or why..receiving unnecessary publicity in school .....anyway..

Tomorrow....most prob..am going to Parkway after fetching Hariz from Al-Iman...and shop!! oh...first and foremost...sending Hariz there for his hair cut....btw...there's a good kid saloon there....where the service is superb!!

Those having kids who are fearful of the sound of the razor and the sight of scissors...highly recommended to go there!!

The first time i went over...Hariz who has been fearful of hair cut since young....SURPRISINGLY... didnt shed any tear...no power struggle in fact!!

Why so?
1. Friendly child-like environment
2. Plentiful of toys for kids to play around while waiting for their turn.
3. There is a private tv screen for the kid to watch Barney while their hair is being worked on.
4. There is this so called 'vacuum-llike' machine that sucks out the strays of hairs on my lil boy body...
5. At the end of it, my lil boy get to choose a balloon of his favourite colour....
6. I received a discount coupon for Hariz next hair cut...

So....all these...made just for kids!! No wonder Hariz didnt cry..

All rite..will update the rest of my exciting activities...coming up...

Signing off with this beautiful and thought provoking ....Quote for the day:

"THE HEART HAS REASONS WHICH REASON CANNOT UNDERSTAND"