I was almost amused when folks from the department of health came around to my work place earlier this week. They sure left a mark by the time they left: every available space was riddled with posters that read “it’s hand washing week”, “have you washed your hand today?” and specifically over every hand washing basin was stuck a sticker with two hands ; as if we did not know the wash hand basin was meant for hand washing!
My amusement came into play when I imagined how differently I might have interpreted a hand-washing week if I had no knowledge of infection control in the workplace. For one, it will mean “ceremonial hand washing”, that obsessive compulsive disorder in which an individual persistently forgets he has washed his hands and keeps going back to the wash hand basin would be considered abiding by the rules!
What is it about our species that makes us want to celebrate? And it does not matter whether it’s the odd or just plain semantics. April 1st is called fool’s day and we all just enjoy being told about a good joke pulled on someone that day of the month. However, do adults have to be reminded again that they should wash their hands after and in fact before any activity of significance? My take leans towards what is effective. Stickers reminding me to wash my hands are funny. May be it’s about adding fun to common sense. If the fun does not undermine the seriousness of the subject matter, then we may conjure a smile while we wash our hands.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
TGIF
Thank God it’s Friday! I wonder who “invented” the phrase but it must have been construed from feelings similar to mine today. Or better still, the direction on how I like my Fridays when I am neither working on the day nor any other day of the weekend.
Today is one of such days. A pair of jeans was an appropriate part of what I wore to work. For unknown but well- appreciated reasons, the work place had one of the quieter days. As I gnawed on the home-made pop-corn this evening, the enthusiasm of the day even led me into divulging an intended surprise to my significant other: I had just found and saved on the navigator a nearby resort with spa services and I intend for us to make the trip (on a Friday) soon.
It turns out there is no rigorous demand on me for this particular weekend. Just yesterday, my (masters) research tutor finally gave me thumbs-up on the effort on my project (one with an interpretive-hermeneutic study design involving framework analysis!). So I am spending the weekend on whatever comes to my mind; including a little slumber. I think it is this emancipation- mental or any other wise (constituting routine) that makes a Friday feel good. I like Fridays like these. Self indulgence is an essential part of healthy human behaviour and we can all do with the un-winding that sometimes come along with it. Already tonight, I have had a good laugh watching some comedies and when I am done with this post, I would be capping it with some more mentally-teasing political drama. There is still Saturday and Sunday to come! TGIF
Today is one of such days. A pair of jeans was an appropriate part of what I wore to work. For unknown but well- appreciated reasons, the work place had one of the quieter days. As I gnawed on the home-made pop-corn this evening, the enthusiasm of the day even led me into divulging an intended surprise to my significant other: I had just found and saved on the navigator a nearby resort with spa services and I intend for us to make the trip (on a Friday) soon.
It turns out there is no rigorous demand on me for this particular weekend. Just yesterday, my (masters) research tutor finally gave me thumbs-up on the effort on my project (one with an interpretive-hermeneutic study design involving framework analysis!). So I am spending the weekend on whatever comes to my mind; including a little slumber. I think it is this emancipation- mental or any other wise (constituting routine) that makes a Friday feel good. I like Fridays like these. Self indulgence is an essential part of healthy human behaviour and we can all do with the un-winding that sometimes come along with it. Already tonight, I have had a good laugh watching some comedies and when I am done with this post, I would be capping it with some more mentally-teasing political drama. There is still Saturday and Sunday to come! TGIF
Saturday, March 26, 2011
ALLY MCBEAL
As I strolled by the shops today, I went into the Movie/Musical store and got myself the first season of Ally McBeal. Yes that hilarious, yet sensible TV series I watched those years ago. I am surprised at myself because everything was against my buying the DVD collection. One, it was more expensive than most DVD series on the shelf and I had just pulled a new zipper on my spending. Also, no thanks to studying, my TV time has been markedly cut down lately.
The week has been a tedious one. I wanted to reach out to the past and at the same time indulge myself. You know that feeling when you just want to indulge yourself. Yes, indulge in some thing fascinating but calm. The past can be quite an inspiration. It reminds us of how far we have come, how the daunting challenges of its moments have become history.
Back to Ally McBeal, I guess I also wanted to see the world through her eyes today. That twisted, harassed-by-the-world-but-grim character really reminds us to be true to ourselves; that we should take life easy; that life goes on. Indeed.
The week has been a tedious one. I wanted to reach out to the past and at the same time indulge myself. You know that feeling when you just want to indulge yourself. Yes, indulge in some thing fascinating but calm. The past can be quite an inspiration. It reminds us of how far we have come, how the daunting challenges of its moments have become history.
Back to Ally McBeal, I guess I also wanted to see the world through her eyes today. That twisted, harassed-by-the-world-but-grim character really reminds us to be true to ourselves; that we should take life easy; that life goes on. Indeed.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
THE TEMPTATION
Often and again, one is confronted with people and circumstances that affect behaviour and over all response. It is like this, a simple act of kindness is abused by the recipient to the point that one refuses to be kind.
Our world is diverse and as we grow into adulthood, we are faced with a variety of human behaviour. Without knowing it, one’s childhood innocence is lost. Lessons on human improprieties are often learnt first hand and hence in unpleasant ways. One is then tempted to shut the door of compassion and live to make oneself happy.
Should one hold back alms because the recipient is a “junkie” or refuse a hitch-hiker because the latter may be a serial killer? Another spectrum of this discourse is borne from the unspoken expectation that every act of human kindness should be reciprocated when the circumstances are reversed. Supposing the recipient does not feel obliged at the moment but comes for another favour thereafter?
It’s what I call the temptation not to be one self. Should we become indifferent to people in apparent need because of previous experiences, should the recipient of our goodwill be affected by their ability to pay back, don’t we lose the moral high ground when it is in fact within our power to give such a helping hand, are our actions not merely reactions to others’, are we really our virgin self when our lives is determined by others?
Our world is diverse and as we grow into adulthood, we are faced with a variety of human behaviour. Without knowing it, one’s childhood innocence is lost. Lessons on human improprieties are often learnt first hand and hence in unpleasant ways. One is then tempted to shut the door of compassion and live to make oneself happy.
Should one hold back alms because the recipient is a “junkie” or refuse a hitch-hiker because the latter may be a serial killer? Another spectrum of this discourse is borne from the unspoken expectation that every act of human kindness should be reciprocated when the circumstances are reversed. Supposing the recipient does not feel obliged at the moment but comes for another favour thereafter?
It’s what I call the temptation not to be one self. Should we become indifferent to people in apparent need because of previous experiences, should the recipient of our goodwill be affected by their ability to pay back, don’t we lose the moral high ground when it is in fact within our power to give such a helping hand, are our actions not merely reactions to others’, are we really our virgin self when our lives is determined by others?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
TALKING TO MYSELF
I like the wittiness of the human mind; man’s ability to conjure the politics and dynamics of life. The resourcefulness and positivity that is yielded from the variability of its use gives me a utopia. This is because there is always something better in life. For me, hard work and pleasure are not opposite sides of the same coin, rather one hand washing another. I believe in diligence but I let myself enjoy the hunt before the kill. Hence I attracted to everything freestyle: dancing, dressing...and obviously, writing.
I am also a staunch believer in the fact that life is so much what you make of it. I believe there is a greater force represented in God. The good desires in our hearts come from Him and when we put the resources (including our minds/intelligence) He gives to work, we are able to produce these (His) desires for us. Occasionally, there is the miraculous which He injects at His own time and setting, confirming His presence as Partner and His limitless ability in the walk of life.
(To be continued)
I am also a staunch believer in the fact that life is so much what you make of it. I believe there is a greater force represented in God. The good desires in our hearts come from Him and when we put the resources (including our minds/intelligence) He gives to work, we are able to produce these (His) desires for us. Occasionally, there is the miraculous which He injects at His own time and setting, confirming His presence as Partner and His limitless ability in the walk of life.
(To be continued)
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