Confessions of a City Slicker

Finally, after 6 months since I started Herbalife, my weight dropped to the 40 kg range.  Yay!!!!!!!

There were times when I thought I would never get there.  I still have some ways to go in terms of body fat, though, but I’m getting closer to my ideal weight.

This whole diet has opened up my eyes on what making a simple decision can do.  It’s true what they say, just decide to do it and that’s that.  The other things become irrelevant after that.

So, has all the months of foregoing makan sessions and staving off cravings been worth it?  Definitely!

Would I do it again?  At the drop of a hat!

Thank you, Herbalife!

I wrote this article yesterday in 15 minutes flat.  Got the inspiration from reading a book by Donal Trump and Robert Kiyosaki.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” remembers this quote from his own dad:

“A lot of rich people live in a poor environment”

For the purpose of this article, let’s restrict the definition of “poor” to the financial sense.

Here’s how he explains the effects of our surrounding environment hampers our quest to become rich, even though we have a strong desire, the drive and the mindset.

Your Childhood

Robert was born poor. That is not to say that his family was not a happy family, but it is a family that values frugality and hard work above all else. Wanting to be rich was something of a taboo because the rich were scorned upon by his family.

Investment was a big gamble at the time, something that they cannot risk with the limited income that they had.

Having said that, how then can a person who has had to live within his means overcome that?

The way is to look think of things from a different angle. Instead of thinking of how you can stretch your income to accommodate additional expenses, think of how you can generate more income to cover those expenses.

You have probably seen girls taking up babysitting jobs to buy a new dress or young kids setting up a lemonade stand on the street corner to make more money for new toys. That’s enterprising spirit at the most basic level.

Your Work Environment

A lot of people probably feel like they are trapped in a dead end job, yet they can’t just quit because they have a lot of financial commitments that depend on their meager earnings.

The first thing you have look at is if the company you work for is committed to making itself richer or making the people who work for it richer?

Does the company you work for encourage education for its people so that they can advance higher and take on more responsibility or do they prefer people who are contented with where they are and have no ambition to advance in their careers?

An Environment Full Of People Who Are Afraid Of Losing

A lot of people fear losing, especially when it comes to money. They may take risks when it comes to their love lives, their family, their friends, but when it comes to money, it is a zealously guarded asset that they take absolutely no chances with.

This is the employee mentality where job security and a steady pay check each month is the norm.

Create Your Own Winning Environment

Money don’t grow on trees but they are just like one. They need an environment where they can grow in, in order to multiply.

A tree needs water, sunlight and fertilizer to grow. If you want to grow your money, you also have to give it a suitable environment.

The first thing you need to do is to get rid of the people in your life who are negative financially. Hang around with people who are driven to make more money for themselves and not the budgeting wizards who are able to balance their income and expenses each month based on their pay check.

You might also want to consider getting yourself educated about money. Maybe you can learn about investing or take up multi level marketing. If investment is not a topic for you, look around your own environment to see if there are other ways you can make additional income.

Not all of us are Robert Kiyosakis, therefore it is understandable that investment or real estate is not our cup of tea. But there are other ways you can make money with what you already know and a little creativity will help.

One last question that Robert Kiyosaki asks – if you do find yourself in the right environment, are you willing to work hard to be rich?

An environment is just part of the trimmings. You are the main course. If you want to be rich, you have to do your homework.

The parents have upped the ante when it comes to communicating with The Stranger.  Oh why don’t they just hold a seance in there, for goodness sake?

Although I am very facinated with all these, I also believe that one shouldn’t mess around with these things unless one knows what kind of consequences to expect.

With the case of The Stranger, it has made him bolder when it comes to them, at least, they believe it so.  Their attempts have opened the door for him to make mischieve.  This is freaking them out.

Personally, I believe that it has to do with the vibration that each of us sends out.  Why some people are more vulnerable than others?  Why The Stranger wouldn’t come near me?

I picked this one out from the boss’ self help forum.  One of the participants was talking about vibrating and we started discussing the topic because it has to do with Law of Attraction which I am a big believer of.

Simply put, I have my faith and I believe that no matter what, Jesus will be there to protect me.  Therefore, I am sending out a vibration that "You can’t touch me".

I call on Jesus to make me stronger and when I need direction.  He has never failed me.  Even when at times, it seems that He is silent, He is still around.  It’s just that He always wants to give me the best and sometimes, the things that I ask for are not the best.

I remember reading an interview with Kirk Douglas when he said, "God always answers your prayers.  It’s just that sometimes, His answer is No".

Anyway, the parents seem to be vibrating in an unresourceful state, that of fear and needing.  This has given The Stranger all he needs to take advantage of the situation.

This goes for dealing with people on a daily basis too.  When you give out a vibration of weakness, you basically give the other party the opportunity to walk over you.

Well, the parents are out now and I’m home alone.  All is quiet in the home front.

Here’s another thing I believe in.  My home is my castle.  It’s my fortress of solitude.  Therefore, if I don’t defend it, who will?

The Stranger can do all the mischiefs he wants, but I will stay and fight.  He will find me a very formidable adversary, so he’d better leave quietly.

Exactly a year ago to this day, I celebrated my Independance Day from being liberated from that chinaman company.

This is probably the best decision I ever made.  What a relief it was.  I really couldn’t take all the politics, the phor-fessionalism going on there and of course, having to put up with seeing the KKC-less salted fish’s uglier than an ass mug every day.

Indeed, those were the days when I learned to swear in a few different languages.  I have forgotten most of that vocabulary now due to lack of use.

Ha ha….guess that shows you how happy I am with where I am now.

I mean, seriously, how many people can say that their bosses take them on vacation, all expenses paid to boot, have company meetings during tea time at Secret Recipe, let them buy anything they want to work with regardless of the expenses as long as they like it, find courses for them to improve themselves and most of all, thank them for their day when they leave work?

Not many, right?

In addition to that, the things that I get to learn today, are priceless.  They will definitely be something that I can use should I decide to strike it out on my own one day.

A word of advice to the ex bosses, sometimes, if you cut people some slack, they will be more willing to reciprocate.

If you want to run a tight ship, make sure you do it within reason and not based on the tantrums of a 3 year old.  Good people will always find opportunities to jump ship.

Count your blessings that you did not have to deal with a mutiny.

Hiding behind an email or Skype does not make you any less of an asshole.  We will probably respect you more if you come right out and admit it.

Lastly, don’t think that your deceptive smile and overtures of friendship can hide the fact that you betrayed, manipulated and lied to us, you two headed snake.  You are just fodder for our jokes when we get together.  So why don’t you just give up on calling us up under the pretense of catching up when you just want to dig for info?  Go back to dreaming of one day actually getting to have salted fish banana split, why doncha?

Chee Muis, am I right?

Happy Independance Day, America!

Unknown to the parents, I have been meeting him almost every night now.  He will usually be waiting for me when I get home from the gym.

Last night was no exception.  I was looking for him but didn’t see him at first, until he called me from his bike.  My heart came alive when I saw him.

As usual, we sat and enjoyed our cuddle session.  He will look at me with his pale eyes, imploring me to invite him in.  Of course I can’t.  Mom wouldn’t allow it.  So this is how we spend our time together.

He is practically putty in my hands. I can fold and stretch and mould him any way I want and he will just go along with it.  As long as I keep rubbing him the right way

I love him already.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love bak kua.  But there is one type of bak kua that I’m sure is hated but not just me but everyone else.

This is none other than the type issued by our beloved gentlemen in blue, who are supposed to protect & serve, but occassionally, demand a cup of kopi-o from us for their services.

They have been giving away free bak kuas everyday since Saturday, according to the folks from the offices here.  However, they always come late in the evenings when most of the office workers have left for the day.  Today was an exception because they came during lunch time.

No wonder there was so much parking spaces available in the area today.  Since it was raining this morning and I didn’t want to have to walk too far to get to the office, I parked a little nearer to the building.  The fact that there was so little cars should have clued me in that something was not right about the picture.

That foul piece of bak kua is gonna cost me at least RM30.00, if I’m not mistaken.  Grrrrrrrr…….

Well, at least my colleague might be able to help me to get a little discount, ya Bang?  Abang akan tolong I settle ni kan? (flashing big brown eyes)