I have been thinking of getting a second tattoo for quite some time. I think I mentioned it in some previous entries. A loved one designed it for me - simply beautiful.
After ding-ding-dong-dong for quite a while, I took the printed design to the tattoo parlour to make an deposit and an appointment which I had expected to be say, 2-3 weeks from yesterday? And she asked me, "are you free now? we could do it for you right away!" I was shocked... but since I had to fetch Thea from school in an hour, and it didn't cross my mind to ask my beloved brother for assistance, I blurted that I can't. And she suggested again, "how about Friday?" wow, this was interesting! As the dates didn't seem quite far off! This place has been known for being fully booked and I must be lucky! Finally settled in for today at 11am.
The experience this time round was somewhat different from the first. The first time was a lot of nervousness and this time, there was a lot of excitement and joy. I had to keep bringing myself back from the excitement otherwise I'd be skipping and jumping all over! A lady at the bench asked me, "are you nervous?" I smiled and said, "surprisingly, no! I am estatic!"
The whole process of drawing and inking took about 2 hours. Painful? hmm.. yes and no.. and I had so much fun chatting with Lina, the tattoo artist. It was like finding a kindred spirit in the midst of a tattoo inking session!!
The end result - beautiful... and I don't know how to express the joy and gratitude I feel for the experience. Poor hubby has to wait for 3 months for his tattoo session... and I got mine almost instanteously!
I can't help admiring it. At least now I get to see the dragonfly without having to turn my back. :)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Street Party
Today we had a street party for our community. It was requested by some of the residents quite some time ago and we decided to get on with it since the rest of the committee members were also enthusiastic about it, except me. I am not so much of a fan of these things. I didn't even attend the last one organised by the previous committee. Not that I am not supportive of what the community did, but I am just kinda an introvert, comfortable in my own world, though I do portray myself as someone who is an extrovert.
Anyway, we did it. I didn't think I did much as tasks were delegated and I had my supportive committee to be grateful for. All I did was 'yes, yes, yes' while they posted suggestions, or 'ok, ok, ok' when they asked for consensus. Everything that they suggested and did was great. And all I did was being updated periodically through emails and sms on what was going on. I really didn't know what to do, you see.
The turn out tonight was better than anyone had expected and thankfully, there was abundance of food, as in leftovers. A neighbour even baked a cake for the party, and another contributed lucky draw prizes. It was quite awesome. It was very heartwarming as I witnessed neighbours connecting with one another. I was like the butterfly hopping from one neighbour to another neighbour and to another. I don't know, I just felt moved to connect with all of them who were there.
What touched me, was the endless appreciation and comments I received on what a good job we've done thus far for the community. And the committee kept pointing back at me - it was Gerry. It was an interesting experience for me, as I felt that I did nothing and when I expressed that, strangely they too expressed the same, that they didn't do anything. Well, to put more honesty in our words, I trust that what we all meant was that with each of us co-operating, the tasks that we did was very little, but combining together all our little efforts, it tantamount a great effect which was enjoyed not only by us, but by the community.
Listening to neighbours comment that they now feel more secured and safer, that they could leave home without worry only did I realise what the committee and I had done actually did created such an impact on these families - that they could go about doing their stuffs with ease of knowing that their family and homes were safe. Can you imagine that peace of mind? Not only them, we feel it too. Of course, I get the most phone calls since I am the chairman - ma'am, hse 14 alarm went off and we can't locate owner; the gate for hse 8 is open and no one is at home; the dog ran out; the flood lights are out... Yes, I get that a lot and they get addressed or not, depending on situations... but so far, everyone seemed pleased.
It dawned upon me as I stood with my committee members later in the evening listening to yet another compliment we received from another neighbour, that when we all voluntarily took up the task, we didn't really know what we were doing. We only knew that we wanted to serve the community, to do what we can and we gave our best, sticking to a common objective and priority - which was and still is dedicated to the wellness of the community. And trust me, there are moments when we get a little overwhelmed that we feel like resigning the posts.
When I emailed one of my teachers the outcome of our failed AGM as there was no conclusion and I felt like leaving my position as the chairman, he asked me, "What would God do?" and I knew that God would serve, for the highest good for all. I remember making an aspiration after that, that if I could truly play that role to bring wellness to the community, then so be it. And in the repeated AGM, my committee and I were elected once again to serve the community, with two additional members.
Today it is evident once again, that I didn't have to do anything to be someone or to seek anyone's approval. All I have to do is to be myself, do what is true to me and to continuously give the best of myself without any expectations of being appreciated or gratified. And there, when my committee members and I just went about doing stuffs which were honest to us, we were appreciated and gratified for doing what we believed in doing.
This is a lesson of Love, where a service is performed without any form of returns and the rewards returned were plentiful in abundance, as in the support received. And this, I have my community to be grateful for, for allowing my committee and I to serve them and to experience this beautiful part of life; not forgetting my supportive committee members from whom I derived much joy and fun while working with them.
Anyway, we did it. I didn't think I did much as tasks were delegated and I had my supportive committee to be grateful for. All I did was 'yes, yes, yes' while they posted suggestions, or 'ok, ok, ok' when they asked for consensus. Everything that they suggested and did was great. And all I did was being updated periodically through emails and sms on what was going on. I really didn't know what to do, you see.
The turn out tonight was better than anyone had expected and thankfully, there was abundance of food, as in leftovers. A neighbour even baked a cake for the party, and another contributed lucky draw prizes. It was quite awesome. It was very heartwarming as I witnessed neighbours connecting with one another. I was like the butterfly hopping from one neighbour to another neighbour and to another. I don't know, I just felt moved to connect with all of them who were there.
What touched me, was the endless appreciation and comments I received on what a good job we've done thus far for the community. And the committee kept pointing back at me - it was Gerry. It was an interesting experience for me, as I felt that I did nothing and when I expressed that, strangely they too expressed the same, that they didn't do anything. Well, to put more honesty in our words, I trust that what we all meant was that with each of us co-operating, the tasks that we did was very little, but combining together all our little efforts, it tantamount a great effect which was enjoyed not only by us, but by the community.
Listening to neighbours comment that they now feel more secured and safer, that they could leave home without worry only did I realise what the committee and I had done actually did created such an impact on these families - that they could go about doing their stuffs with ease of knowing that their family and homes were safe. Can you imagine that peace of mind? Not only them, we feel it too. Of course, I get the most phone calls since I am the chairman - ma'am, hse 14 alarm went off and we can't locate owner; the gate for hse 8 is open and no one is at home; the dog ran out; the flood lights are out... Yes, I get that a lot and they get addressed or not, depending on situations... but so far, everyone seemed pleased.
It dawned upon me as I stood with my committee members later in the evening listening to yet another compliment we received from another neighbour, that when we all voluntarily took up the task, we didn't really know what we were doing. We only knew that we wanted to serve the community, to do what we can and we gave our best, sticking to a common objective and priority - which was and still is dedicated to the wellness of the community. And trust me, there are moments when we get a little overwhelmed that we feel like resigning the posts.
When I emailed one of my teachers the outcome of our failed AGM as there was no conclusion and I felt like leaving my position as the chairman, he asked me, "What would God do?" and I knew that God would serve, for the highest good for all. I remember making an aspiration after that, that if I could truly play that role to bring wellness to the community, then so be it. And in the repeated AGM, my committee and I were elected once again to serve the community, with two additional members.
Today it is evident once again, that I didn't have to do anything to be someone or to seek anyone's approval. All I have to do is to be myself, do what is true to me and to continuously give the best of myself without any expectations of being appreciated or gratified. And there, when my committee members and I just went about doing stuffs which were honest to us, we were appreciated and gratified for doing what we believed in doing.
This is a lesson of Love, where a service is performed without any form of returns and the rewards returned were plentiful in abundance, as in the support received. And this, I have my community to be grateful for, for allowing my committee and I to serve them and to experience this beautiful part of life; not forgetting my supportive committee members from whom I derived much joy and fun while working with them.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Dragonfly, Dragonfly
I've always felt a deep affiliation with dragonflies. Of course, it came to a point in time, where I actually 'forgot' how dragonflies made me feel, until the time when I was thinking of a design for my first tattoo, the first thing that came to my mind, was a dragonfly.
And dragonflies fly around my garden most of the time, mostly red ones and occasional green or mixed with yellow ones. They are beautiful. Unfortunately, each time I attempt to go closer to them, they fly away.
I have been thinking of getting a second tattoo, and nothing comes to mind except dragonflies again. And the other day, I was telling Alina about it and she shrugged her shoulders and said, "well, you have always loved dragonflies". I was shocked because I thought it was just a recent thing as in a few years ago that I've developed such love for dragonflies and she said no. She reminded me that during school days, I would tell her how much I loved dragonflies and would draw dragonflies on pieces of paper. It was weird, as I could not recall that part of my memory. Well, she always has good memory, so no point arguing with her.
So I've got this dragonfly design that someone dear has taken the time and effort to draw for me, and I was showing it to Thea. She smiled and said, "oh mommi, it's a dragonfly and it's your favourite..." again, shocked.. how did she know? ah well... perhaps I have been unconsciously talking about it that people pick it up! So interesting...
Well, dragonflies denote a symbol of carefreeness, innocence and love for me. Perhaps there are deeper meanings, I have yet to discover. But they bring me joy almost all the time when I see them hovering around my garden.
The other day, I was really down, and there was this dragonfly at my car poach which was pretty unusual as they usually just stay in the garden area. I moved up close to it, and it did not fly away. It was the closest I've ever been to a dragonfly, as if reminding me of my innocence. I was so touched that I burst into tears. It was a lovely moment for me.
And dragonflies fly around my garden most of the time, mostly red ones and occasional green or mixed with yellow ones. They are beautiful. Unfortunately, each time I attempt to go closer to them, they fly away.
I have been thinking of getting a second tattoo, and nothing comes to mind except dragonflies again. And the other day, I was telling Alina about it and she shrugged her shoulders and said, "well, you have always loved dragonflies". I was shocked because I thought it was just a recent thing as in a few years ago that I've developed such love for dragonflies and she said no. She reminded me that during school days, I would tell her how much I loved dragonflies and would draw dragonflies on pieces of paper. It was weird, as I could not recall that part of my memory. Well, she always has good memory, so no point arguing with her.
So I've got this dragonfly design that someone dear has taken the time and effort to draw for me, and I was showing it to Thea. She smiled and said, "oh mommi, it's a dragonfly and it's your favourite..." again, shocked.. how did she know? ah well... perhaps I have been unconsciously talking about it that people pick it up! So interesting...
Well, dragonflies denote a symbol of carefreeness, innocence and love for me. Perhaps there are deeper meanings, I have yet to discover. But they bring me joy almost all the time when I see them hovering around my garden.
The other day, I was really down, and there was this dragonfly at my car poach which was pretty unusual as they usually just stay in the garden area. I moved up close to it, and it did not fly away. It was the closest I've ever been to a dragonfly, as if reminding me of my innocence. I was so touched that I burst into tears. It was a lovely moment for me.
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