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clarisse656

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    • Gender: Female
    • Member Since: 5/31/2004

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Saturday, 05 May 2007

  • Does success make you happy, or does happiness make you successful?

    I think the same goes for both.  Yes to both.  Depends how you define success.  For some, it could be that dream house and car, or a high-paying job.  "Do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life."  It would be the ideal scenario, sure.  Personally, success to me would be that plus harmonious relationships with family, friends, other loved ones, and myself.  To just be happy with what I have.  In a perfect world...that would do it for me.

    On the other hand, happiness is a prerequisite for success, to some extent.  When you're happy you feel great, you take on the role of the do-gooder more often.   You encourage those around you, inspire others...and your laughter is contagious.  Because of this you're more productive at work, you give it 101%...and success comes just around the corner.  Everything seems to be looking up.  You look great too.

    Just what does it take for one to realize they are in charge of their own happiness?  A few books?  Magazines with self-help articles?  I watched an old mini-series months ago and what one character said struck a chord:  he said something like "you have to find joy in little everyday things," Makes sense, right?  If you rely on just something/someone to make you happy, what happens when you get disappointed? 

    So I say just keep looking ahead.  If you stumble, get back up.  Roll with the punches.  If life throws you lemons, make lemonade.  Keep working hard but don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.  Have a goal and achieve it.  Make time for those you care about and who care about you.  

    Just some little things I tell myself every now and then.

Wednesday, 24 January 2007

  • WITH ABOUT THREE and a half hours left 'til we land in Dubai, I try and recall the defining moments in tonights' 14-hour flight.  I've kept myself busy so far after returning from my break in the CRC (crew rest compartment), and two mothers with their babies occasionally popped into the galley to make food for the little ones.  I would see SFS Mishal carrying the babies, keeping them entertained while their mums prepared their snacks or went to the toilet.  My favorite one so far is the little baby in the white sleepsuit.  As Mishal carried him he faced backward and turned to me, with those big, blue eyes staring straight back.  Now in cases like these, I don't hesitate to make some major eye contact.  Amish, the ten-month old baby had definitely captured my attention.  I gave him a big smile, waved...and he smiled back--revealing two little front teeth.  He was well-behaved throughout the flight, and by that I mean no loud crying whatsoever.  After a while he was sleeping soundly with his mum and it was a picture-perfect sight; mother and child in white, sleeping contentedly in the first row.

Saturday, 30 September 2006

  • view-from-my-hotel-room ST. GEORGE'S BAY, MALTA--Wow, this is great.  I got pretty good trips for this month, and this is one of them.  My third Malta for the month, actually.  I went sightseeing in Mdina and Valletta during the first time, and I was more relaxed on the second; I stayed in the hotel and went to the pool to get some sun the morning after.  They have some good tv shows here too (for those of you who don't know I don't watch tv in Dubai).  I went to the mall yesterday and bought a dress...it's hard to find nice ones nowadays and it happened to fit well so I got it.  I think slept about 9.5-10 hours last night, which is really good for me as I felt great upon waking.  I still have a few hours left until my wake-up call, and I will use my time wisely and go to the gym for a quick run, and then the pool.  That's the view from my room, by the way.

Sunday, 27 August 2006

  • TRIPOLI, LIBYA--  My first time here and I'm hanging out at the business center.  I would have wanted to go sightseeing, but there isn't much time to do stuff around here; furthermore it's not safe to go out alone in an African country where Arabic is their first language.

    Things have been great since my last entry.  I'm still doing yoga, not too much of salsa but my dance clinic has been a staple every Friday of this month.  The dance exams are this week, and graduation is set two weeks after.  All I can say is that I need to practice badly.  I kept telling myself that if I had the chance to practice everyday, I'd go for it...but my schedule won't permit.  One Filipino couple, both dance instructors offered their assistance, them being aware of my irregular schedule.  Ate Elma said I could go to their home to practice whenever I want.  I might just take them up on their offer.  It would be nice if my friends would be around on September 15th, because that's the big day.  Our group is presenting the Tango, and it's actually one of my favorites.  I just have to master the twirling and stuff.  Anybody want to come see me dance? Hehe.

    I will have worked over 97 hours this month, and it's no easy feat.  Barely made it through, you know?  Then again I'm a homebody which helps a lot; my idea of a relaxing day is curling up in bed, watching a good movie...or reading a good book (something I haven't done in a while).  I can't wait 'til I go on vacation next month.  I'll be visiting Spain for the first time with a bunch of friends.  I realized my desire to see the country after watching my then favorite TV show, Meteor Garden.  One of the stars went to Barcelona and I saw how lovely it was.  I won't be going to that particular city, but I'm expecting some similarities.  It's also enough motivation for me to brush up on my Spanish, the basics of which I learned in college.

    Hmm, I think I'll go back to my room and have a nap now.

Saturday, 22 July 2006

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    SHANGHAI, CHINA--Logged in from the non-smoking crew lounge.  At 0600 hours, I didn't expect to see anybody in here and had the internet all to myself.  The sky outside certainly tells of the storm that had just gone through (or is to come?). 

    I miss blogging in here.  Then again I've been quite busy--bitten by the yoga and dancing bug, life in Dubai has become more enjoyable.  I joined a salsa class and a dance clinic which teaches one how to swing, cha-cha, boogie and tango; it's great because I've always had an interest in ballroom dancing.  One time I was with my parents during one of my dad's medical alumni balls last year, and the program included dancing afterward.  Dad probably saw the look of dread on my face as he pulled me to the dance floor, and after a few minutes of struggle, I finally gave in.  He's a terrific dancer and I love watching him dance with mum, but with me?  I always said I couldn't dance to save my life, so there.  I did take classes when I was in college, but that was it.  Anyway it's not so tough when you're in the arms of someone who knows what he's doing, because they'd lead you, and I had fun.  Now I'm just doing the things I've always wanted to (but had been putting off).  Yoga...now that I had been thinking about for a while, but had never gotten around to checking out until a friend brought me along one time.  It's not the regular hourlong session, but bikram (also called "hot") yoga which lasts 1.5 hours in a room with a temperature of about 40°C.  The high temperature is said to have health-giving benefits and you will come out of it sweat-drenched as it's also physically challenging.  I'm into my fourth month of it now, and yeah--looking forward to more classes.

    A cargo pilot came over a while ago, and we had a little morning chat.  He made some coffee, which I had the pleasure of getting a whiff of all the way from this desk.  I love the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee, but that's about it as I hardly ever drink it, with the exception of frappuccinos and other iced varieties.

    We leave for Dubai tonight, but before then I have a whole day to myself which is great.   

     

     

     

     

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