#248 Online recipes

Nothing like ripping a good recipe off from the internet! Who needs does thick hardcover books that cost an arm, a leg and possibly an eye?!

#249 Survival food

Grateful for food my mum stacked up before she left for home.. Snack bars, meatballs, Instant noodles.. Oh, and not forgetting those Hup Seng biscuits! They've never tasted so good with Milo!

#250 Time to unwind

Nothing like a quick read to end the day. To kick back, relax and not care for 5 seconds about what you should be preparing for tomorrow.

#251 Surprise snail mail!

Emails, SMSes, Whatsapp and Skype can never take over the joy of getting an unexpected letter/card/postcard from a loved one:)

It's the thought of someone taking their time to choose a card, writing the words and the effort of buying stamps and posting it that makes it all the more special. It's just such an awesome feeling tearing the envelope open while trying not to rip the card in half. Waiting in anticipation to read what's inside. The feeling is equivalent to receiving a love letter hehehe.

It's a nice feeling knowing you are thought of. That you're loved:)

#252 Perfect song

Nothing like turning the radio on when you're driving and hearing the song you've been putting on replay recently. It puts that silly smile on your face. Singalongs are always a good icebreaker when you're in a car with random people.. Unless of course they really can't stand your taste in music.. Than perhaps talking about the weather, current exchange rates and the earthquake scare would be better topics of conversation..

#253 Sharing dessert!

Ever felt so full after a meal but still wanted dessert? Is it NOT a great feeling when everyone else has the same thought? That grin on everyone's faces (well, on mine anyway) when we order that one slice of cake to share. That somehow you feel less guilty eating that few spoonfuls of cake because you have four other people sharing the calories with.

Bring on the weekend!

(Picture courtesy of berrysimple.net)

#254 That random phone call :)

Nothing makes your day brighter like having an unexpected long phone call with a friend that knows you as well as you know yourself. That old friend that freezes time always.

Though we seldom meet, it always feels as if we've just had coffee a few days ago. Nothing ever seems like ages ago. It is always easy catching up and it's always encouraging knowing someone is running the race with you. To know you've got a partner to rant to. That someone who's been through med school and is surviving as an intern in Tawau. That someone who inspires me everyday. That someone who pushes me to be better.

That sister I never had.

#255 Nice consultants

GPs with a sense of humor, who are always ready to teach, who're just so nice make long days bearable (:

And the countdown begins with #256

Reason #256 to be grateful? Air!

Oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide. All these and a few more are what we breathe in and out every second.

It sounds silly, but I thank God for this gift. For our bodies doing the breathing for us. With no need to worry about keeping our lungs together, huffing and puffing every millisecond. Each nut and bolt at its right place, perfectly aligned with such precision! Such craftsmanship can only reflect the best Craftsman!

101

I was reading 1000awesomethings.com when I had this inspiring conversation with The Surgical Clown about aging. Aging and the importance to seize everyday as if it was our last. That anything could happen in a split second and change our lives forever. We know that life is fragile yet it takes a massive car accident, a family death or a global disaster to shake us up from our mundane, routine lives. It's like we need that electric jolt or a bit of ECT (electrocompulsive therapy) to zap us into awareness of everything beautiful.

As scripture puts it, we are but a vapour that appears for awhile and then vanishes (James 4:14). We are, as Shakespeare put it, a brief candle. Easily blown out by the wind. Short and in the end, only as meaningful as we make it.

This reality has hit me hard this few months; challenging me to reassess relationships, to reprioritize commitments. To make the effort in reminding someone how much she or he means to me. To live with purpose.

It also happens that today is the 101st day of the year. I should already have a hundred and one things to be grateful about.. And and and, it is never too late to start counting your blessings so I have decided to spend the next 265 days listing things I am grateful for:)

To whoever is reading this, even if it's just you, the only other person who will ever read this, I pray you be inspired and encouraged to see life through new rosy lens:)