Moments

Sometimes, we just need to stop thinking too much and enjoy the present moment while it last.

Who is John Galt

Who is John Galt - It's a character created by author Ayn Rand in her novel Atlas Shrugged. The novel portrays how society changes from little to mature and eventually collapse due to excessive control over how things should be done. Below is a quote by the author at the end of the movie:

"Money is the barometer of a society's virtue. But When you see that in order to produce it, you need to obtain permission from those who produce NOTHING... You will know that your society is DOOMED"

 - Ayn Rand

Fitness and Target

Yesterday was my first time in life enjoy going to gym. In the past, I regarded gym as boring, dull and not interesting. I participated in activities that requires rigorous body and muscles movements, such as badminton, basketball and volleyball. However, that was in the past when I was still studying. 

Nowadays, I am working with a semi-government body and my daily routine would be wake up in the morning, get ready and start driving to the office before 7 a.m. in order to avoid the morning rush on the road. That will allow me to arrive at the office before 8 a.m. my working hours would be from 0800hr to 1700hr. If I go back on time, I will stuck in the jam for a good 1.5 hours (best scenario) to a 3.0 hours journey back home. 

A few days ago, I started thinking of how to utilise the hours I lost due to jam in a more productive and positive activities. Then come about my friend whom loved jogging since her university years, E. E joined a recent marathon in Bukit Jalil for a 10km open. And to do that, she would need to train her stamina and strength to achieve her target. I then realised that this is exactly what I need to boost my motivation to fitness in the long run. I need a target and a sport that is easy and simple like running, jogging, sprinting etc. 

So today marked the second day I used the gym to do my routine. I followed a simple and easy routine for a start as a way to let my "hibernated" body to accommodated to the sudden activities at such hours. It was a real achievement and I am really really proud of myself for the very first time.

Now that target is set. All I need to do is to achieve it. All the best to me and to people out there having the same problem before. 

Are You a Thinker or Just Simply Memorizing?

“How do you know when you are thinking?” 

This is a question asked by one of my facilitator during a recent course I attended in Malacca. My answer to that question was simple, I said “ I think all the time” with pride and confidence. And to my surprise, the facilitator replied to me with a “Wrong and let me tell you why you are wrong”.

He then proposed to me to answer 3 simple mathematical questions as an example. First he asked “ What is 5 +5 and 40-20 respectively?” and I answered it correctly since it is a simple question. Then he asked “What about 34 x 4532?”. I was stunned for a moment and thought I needed some time to do the calculation in my head. Then he stopped me right there and said “ Now you are thinking, for 2 seconds!”.

I was dumbfounded and he explained the meaning of the scenario. The previous questions were regarded as simple due to many encounters we had with the same mathematical questions. As a result, it was stored in our memory which will allow us to give an instantaneous reply with a correct answer without the need to think critically. However, the latter question posed a challenge to us and needed our brain to compute the calculation in order to provide the correct answer.

It is true that sometimes we take the word “thinking” for granted and do not understand the real meaning and importance of practicing it.