7 Ways to Restart a Day

Rise and Shine

As Soon as the Alarm Rings...

Spend your first 15 seconds awake planning something nice to do for yourself today. "This can really set you up in a good mood—even if it's just going by the farmers' market and getting fresh strawberries," says Alice Domar, PhD, author of Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception.

Get Up

The longer you lie there, the more you ruminate, the darker your outlook is likely to become, says Christine Padesky, PhD, co-author of Mind Over Mood. So get vertical and make a cup of coffee, take a shower, feed the cat…

Drink...

…make that two glasses of water upon awakening, the time when our bodies are dehydrated, says Susan M. Kleiner, PhD, author of The Good Mood Diet. Dehydration causes fatigue, which affects your mood.

Move It

You already know the number one way of chasing away a bad mood: exercise. A workout at the gym sure helps. But even just a few minutes of movement—a fast walk, for example—raises energy and reduces tension, says mood expert Robert Thayer, PhD, professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach, and author of Calm Energy.

Investigate

When you're dogged by anxiety or the dread you woke up with, try to pinpoint what's causing it. Did someone say anything the day before? Do you have a meeting today you wish you didn't? Was it the dream you were having when the alarm went off? "If you can figure out why you're upset, that's halfway to feeling better," says Domar.

Be Kind and Thankful

This isn't exactly news, but generosity and gratitude are both big contributors to happiness, according to Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, who directs the Laboratory for the Study of Social Anxiety, Character Strengths, and Related Phenomena at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Do something nice for a stranger or friend and see if you don't feel better about yourself. Also, jot down three things that you're grateful for. It seems so simple, but counting your blessings just has a way of making you remember the sun is shining.

Laugh at Yourself

The best comedians point out the mundane aspects of life—relationship strife, a boring job, a closet full of too-tight clothes; they exaggerate those circumstances, and give us a perspective we can laugh about, says Mark Ridley, owner of the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, Michigan. Look at your own life and try to appreciate the absurdity of what doesn't go exactly according to plan (the diets, the men, the buzz cut). Acknowledging how little control we actually have over what happens is sometimes a most freeing gift to yourself.

By Kathryn Matthews on Oprah

The Story behind VALENTINE'S DAY

In spite of what you have been told by everyone, the truth is that Valentine's Day originated hundreds of years ago, in India, and to top it all, in Punjab.

It is a well known fact that Punjabi men, continually mistreat and disrespect their wives (Punjabans). One fine day, it happened to be the 14th day of February, one brave Punjaban, having had enough "torture" by her husband, finally chose to rebel by beating him up with a Velan (rolling pin).

Yes....the same Velan which she used daily, to make chapattis for him....only this time, instead of the dough, it was the husband who was flattened.

This was a momentous occasion for all Punjaban women and a revolt soon spread, like wild fire, with thousands of housewives beating up their husbands with the Velan.

There was an outburst of moaning "chapatti-ed" husbands all over Jalandhar and Ludhiana. The Punjabi men-folk quickly learnt their lesson and started to behave more respectfully with their Punjabans.

Thereafter, on 14th February, every year, the womenfolk of Punjab would beat up their husbands, to commemorate that eventful day. The wives having the satisfaction of beating up their husbands with the Velan and the men having the supreme joy of submitting to the will of the women they loved. Soon The Punjabi men realised that in order to avoid this ordeal they need to present gifts to their wives....they brought flowers and sweetmeats. Hence the tradition began. As Punjabis under the influence of Western culture, that day was called 'Velan time' day.

The ritual soon spread to Britain and many other Western countries, specifically, the catch words 'Velan time!'. Of course in their foreign tongues, it was first anglisised to 'Velantime' and then to 'Valentine'. And thereafter, 14th of February, came to be known as Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Valentine Special - A Story from Oprah

What I Learned from Dating 100 Men


She was 34 and she meant business, so she placed an ad with an online dating service and let the e-mails roll in.
Last year, in under six months, I dated more than 100 men. I dated on beaches, on hiking trails, on the back of a Harley-Davidson. I told more than 100 men about my work, my family, my years in Czechoslovakia. I weathered personal-revelation fatigue and relied on pep talks from girlfriends to see me through. I didn't kiss any of these men, reserving physical contact for the one—I might as well say it—who would eventually win my heart.

After years alone, on the cusp of my 35th birthday, I was serious. I'd learned that letting myself kiss the wrong guy set in motion a sort of unwitting hormonal bonding stronger than rational thinking. If I was going to meet the right man, I decided, I needed to remain chemical-free, to think clearly, to get to know him first.

I didn't understand this in my 20s. Back then, I'd followed the Hollywood movie model wherein men and women tend to tumble into bed, then into love, and finally into marriage. The string of breakups I endured demonstrated that, for me at least, this strategy wasn't working.

My frequent experiences with the Wrong Man also taught me what I wanted this time around. I was looking for someone who could see my best self despite my imperfections. A gentle but strong man with the capacity to become as deeply devoted to me as I would be to him. In a word: available. I suspected it might take awhile to find him in greater Los Angeles, and I was right.

To get started, I posted an ad on an online dating site. I asked a girlfriend to take a picture of me bathed in late afternoon sunlight and wore the most glamorous smile I could muster. I stated that I wanted a man who "somehow manages to strike that tricky balance of being both dependable and spontaneous. Or who can happily tolerate both of these aspects in me."

I got a lot of responses right off the bat. Some were ludicrous, like the 50-something guy in a Hawaiian shirt who offered to fly me to Vegas for the weekend. I deleted far more than I answered. But Week One still found me on dates with 14 men at local coffee shops. In Week Two, I slowed down to seven. I shook hands with a Danish architect and an hour later zoomed across town to meet a swoony soap opera actor. The next day was tea with an airfreight handler, followed that evening by a walk with a real estate lawyer. I dated aerospace engineers, entrepreneurs, doctors, an oceanographer, film animators, a romantic man who lived impecuniously on a boat, and a self-proclaimed gazillionaire who resided atop a mountain.

"Are you insane?" my astonished girlfriends said, laughing.

I was overwhelmed but exhilarated. And I overdid it. At the end of Week One, I startled friends and myself by bursting uncontrollably into tears. A lifetime of pent-up loneliness came unglued all at once. Then I hit a groove. No matter how the date went, I reminded myself I was taking a stand for what I wanted.

And I tried to relax. I steadied myself right before each new hello. Nothing was worse or more exquisite than my date's first flicker of disappointment or approval. If he clearly wasn't interested—like the swing-dancing entertainment lawyer or the Harvard-educated wine expert—then he was simply another woman's catch. I got out of her way. I knew I'd meet someone else tomorrow. Even if a first date wasn't fantastic, I tended to accept second dates to make sure I hadn't been too hasty in my judgment. About four or five men survived through fourth or fifth dates before I said goodbye. The thing I liked best about my whole dating project was that it validated that nagging sense I'd had for years: Every Saturday night I'd spent alone or with girlfriends, I'd believed there had to be several thousand potential dates out there for me, somewhere. It turns out I was right.

To date so many men, I needed to be honest in a new way. In my 20s, when the wrong man asked me out, I usually lied. I was either (a) busy, (b) dating someone else, or (c) moving to Siberia for a year. Sensing my fib, some men refused to let go. A few talked me into dates or, worse, relationships. I marvel to think I left the nest without ever learning how to verbalize my own needs and desires.

One of my earliest electronic dates taught me about honesty. "It was really nice to meet you," the tall, good-looking athlete wrote me in an e-mail after Date Number Two, "but I didn't feel that indescribable something that would tell me we're a match."

I sat there looking at my computer screen. He had found the words to describe my own sentiments. I didn't feel rejected. I felt liberated by his courage. Better yet, I stole his line.

A handsome telecommunications executive I met over a drink at a restaurant one evening looked and sounded far less alluring to me a few days later in the sober light of day. In a subsequent telephone conversation, my whole body tensed while I told him that I didn't get the sense he was the right one and that I didn't want either of us to waste precious time. I wished him well. He sounded a little startled. But the discomfort was short-lived. We were both free.

It's embarrassing to admit that I was learning the very basics about personal boundaries at the age of 34. But it was also a thrill. Like a suit of comfortable, lightweight body armor, my newly declared boundaries kept me safe.

At times my faith flagged, like when the well-spoken National Guard pilot bought me a single California roll for dinner and called for the check. Phew. Rejection in a bit of raw fish. The best remedy was always the next date. When the soap opera actor or the triathlete didn't call—both of whom had looked deep into my eyes and proclaimed their attraction to me—I did nothing. I let them go. I wanted a man whose actions matched his words.

The initial frenzy mellowed to a couple of dates a month, and one sunny Sunday afternoon in late summer, I met Johanne. I had, by this time, trained myself to listen closely to what my deepest instincts said in the first nanosecond of meeting a man. "Hmm...maybe," I thought when I spied him waiting across the Art Deco lobby of a seaside hotel. With every subsequent date, the voice grew surer.

I never expected my man would come from a faraway continent where he was raised on a tea plantation, but he does. We can talk and play and work things out together. We have each finally found a home in the other.

Johanne says he's more confident in my feelings for him, knowing I looked long and hard to find him. He's right. The parade of men who preceded him helped me know myself better. They repeatedly tested my ability to speak up or to stay quiet when I needed to. They certainly taught me to appreciate the man who, in the end, answered not only my ad but my dreams.

By Ann Marsh

Farewell Party

So there we were at La Cocina.... we were supposed to meet up at 7:30pm but obviously how many actually are punctual!!! Well only a hand full... As usual tanni session starts....

The first VVIP to arrive was Oommen. Continued by Ratha and Richard. Finally the entry of the royal Sangeetha and Pam. Sangeetha stontaneously won the best dressed....

Everyone was all chit chattering away while gulping down their drinks while waiting for the food to be served. The last to arrive were the SQE team which had another agenda to attend before this farewell....

Our MC of the day was Charanpal!!! with the help from Siva too. Luckily I didn't have to talk anything as I would be coughing more than talking. One by one the VVIPs were called out to give their speeches and then they got their farewell souvenirs.

The speeches were the highlights of the night as we laughed and laughed on how daniel descibed the different characters these wonderful people were...At the same time we could see that Sangeetha has always something to comment or to interrupt Daniel...Hey give him a break already!

Others who gave speeches were Harch, Mathavan, Vijay and Charan. Harch had a lot to say as he was like from the same era as those who were leaving. As for Vijay, the only thing that was on his mind was his new born baby but he managed to sqeeze some past out. Last but not least, Charan who had to talk about Richard....gosh the boss that hired me TWICE???

We had fun, lots of laugh....good food and for those who drink lots of boooozzzeeee.

So I left just after 11 and the next day I heard that the party carried on till 4 in the morning. Gosh! A salute to the guys who came back to office in the morning ON TIME.

More Daily Kiss Fortune

The last I posted this was like in August 2008. I have not forgotten about it and have been still collecting the motivational Kiss Fortunes...Facebook has been revolutionized since then. Now I have 237application and 726 friends. GOSH that is a lot and I can say 50% I really really know. 25% have met but don't really really remember much. And the rest unknown???????


A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom. Keep your thorns - but be sure to put them to use ONLY in the right situation, be gentle with your love - fiercely defend what you believe is right but withhold the thorns from your love.


Tell them what you really think. Otherwise, nothing will change. Speaking honestly right now will save you much sadness and will, set the course for you to move through life with strength.


One cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked. Love is a great risk, but not loving is of greater risk, even though you may have been hurt badly before, a great love will come to you soon and you must be ready to accept it.


Pay attention to your dreams tonight. They will tell you what you need to enhance a relationship.

Farewell For Five???

We'll miss YOU as there is no other like YOU !
So after a few weeks without these 5 people...we call them back to give a proper farewell and say our byes...Oommen, Richard, Sangeetha, Pam and OMG Ratha!!! To me the first 3 I worked with mostly....they were the bosses that gave me work to crack my head with. Now without them, yeah I get to focus more on the servers but the next group taking over is gonna eat my head for new reports to suite their preferences.....DIE DIE!!!

After all the hard work I have put in to create the reports for Oommen, Richard and especially Sangeetha...GOSH .... hopefully these report will still be used.

As for Pam....nice knowing her though never actually spent much time with her. And last but not least Ratha.....OMG!!! This is someone you can hardly forget....especially her voice and the way she just says things. It just gets to you! I'm glad she was not my BOS??? Will miss you definitely and hope to see you again....in fact all of you and wish to see you all in the future upcoming Sensata Diwali Dinners.

OK so TOMORROW is the DAY!!! PARTY!!!

Frustration!!!

What a day!!!! Just the start of it!

My work place is just 15 minutes away that is if the roads are clear. Normally if I leave early before 8am or late after 9am the roads are clear and smooth flowing. But today was just an extraordinaire day...

I woke up at 5AM!!!!!!!!.... I did not put any alarm.... I just woke up automatically... not my usual routine... Surprisingly???!!??? I took my bath, did my morning prayers, ate breakfast, and off I left just about 7:45AM.

As I drove out of my house I was not aware what was waiting ahead! As I reached the main road just outside the shop houses.....KABUSH....there it was ..... the horrific JAM!!!

This was the road facing to the Petaling Police Station. AARRRGGG.....it was terrible....it took me 1 HOUR just to pass the jammed up turning to PJ. After that it was quite smooth....

These are the things that demotivate me to go to work early!!! Maybe if I wake up again I shall try leaving before 7:30 this time....=(

Next time I'm gonna keep a book in the car incase I get stuck in such a TRAFFIC JAM.

Fellowship Camp 2009

It has become a custom to go to Cameron Highlands for Fellowship Camp during Chinese New Year. It is the first thing we look forward in the beginning of the year. For me I always loved a change of climate for a change and a time away from home and work!!!

It was the year of 2007, it was the first year I attended Fellowship Camp. I was outstanding!!! I had a wonderful time, it was a blast! I just love it all....the freezing mornings....the cold water showers (not that they didn't prepare for us warm water....some bathrooms even had hot water showers). It was my personal choice to take the cold icy cold water showers because of the blood rush and then the warm feeling after that... It just made the whole day more bearable.

I was elected as the group leader....my group members were the most happening people....we named our group LE ROUGE which was THE REDS in French..I think. Our team started a bit down but after one fall, we excelled all the way to TOP. We were the champions. I miss LE ROUGE.

Then it was 2008, help was needed in organizing so I decided to join as a Sewadar. Well it wasn't that bad....I had a good time too....penalizing marks out of teams that made mistakes... I would say many people hated me but it was just because of the duty that was given to me. The Amazing Race on this year was the most longest....I think they had to run around camerons more than 7 kms. The highlight was made after the camp when one of the bus broke down at a rest place... The bus's air brakes got jammed. They tried their best but failed.

We ended up sending the Singapore participants into the nikitan bus and all other passengers squeezed into one bus. This was extreme....so many in one bus + the bags....it was a scary ride. First one guy got sick..then we realized one tyre was getting pregnant because of the weight overloading one side...We had to stop for a while and re organize the weight system on the bus.

Gosh what a trip back....we reached very very late.....

That was the PAST now....let's talk about this year's FELLOWSHIP CAMP 2009!!!

I decided to get back to being a participant this year... hmm.. senior participant..ahem ahem... So here it goes again Friday night meet up point, Titiwangsa Gurdwara!!! The excitement starts there...seeing familiar faces and many new faces....everyone excited!!!

I was in the first bus so what I write is what happened in the first bus... no idea what happened in the second bus. But I will share what I roughly heard which may or may not be true. Don't say I didn't warn. The trip up was good.... All the way we sang songs....we had many talented singers in the bus... We started of with Rehraas...HAHA ... Waheguru tera shuker hai that we had a safe journey!

After the Tapah rest place break, we started antakshri....left side of the bus against the right side. Oh I just love the oldies....we went from old songs to new songs....and then Chinese, Tamil, Malay....GOSH....finally we ended with some kirtan all the way till Tanah Rata Gurdwara.
{Pssssst shhhhhh: I heard the other bus watched a sad movie and slept off}.. =)

As we got of the bus.....gggggrrrrrrrr.....ccccoooolllllldddd...we could feel the chilly cold air....first challenge starts there itself....in that cold chilly wind...dragging our bags up the hill....Then getting a place to sleep....OK even though there were a lot of places here and there....my dearest group doesn't wanna split up. So the six of us endded up sleeping on 2 1/2 mattresses...Left to right....Jasvin,Jusprith,Harvin,Nampreet,Salprith,Gurdeep...Well even though we could not spread ourselves openly and sleep...we kept ourselves warm being so close.

So every night, for me it was very important I had reinforcements to keep myself warm. I know the feeling of the cold morning. DAMN COLD. I wore my favourite thick wooly pajamas, socks and another wool sweater on my tshirt. I had a good sleep and after my cold shower as usual, I am ready to face the day.

Registration was ok... since everyone were adults....we didn't need nametags hanging, we just had temporary stickers.

Ice breakers: It reminded me of the market in Egypt. Where everyone was screaming for attention...The activity was simple....pick 4 numbers out of 1 to 101... go out of the class find the name that is linked to the number and then obviously find the person and get some questions answered about the person. I think you can basically imagine how everyone was.

Grouping: Picking 5 leaders....3 guys and 2 gals....Here it goes again...someone suggested me to be a leader...Who was the culprit? Wait till I get u? I had to go up in front. Guys done need another girl. Another 2 nominations....IDEA.....no need voting...let me step down....Luckily Sanjay agreed because I had already experienced being a leader. So then the rest of the participants were open for sale.....and that's how we got into our groups.

My group: Takht Sri Keshghar Sahib
I would say my group had awesome people in it....there was a variety of all types.....musically inclined, sikhi history masters, kirtanis, hip hoppers, cool, naughty, smart, rebellious, quiet, fun, angels and devils.....A good mixture I would say. =) We just lacked a tabla player which we imported a sewadar .... of course the best, who else, Phobinder.

Well one change which was a great idea was doing Japji and Rehraas in your own group. Instead of the few do in front in the darbar as most of the participant wander in dreamland. We get to choose our own spot and pray together.

Carring on....classes were fantastic and educational....we had our laughter time with our all mighty SANJAY (SERJIT) veeerji. We also had veerji Inderjit, Amreek, Father, .... did I miss out anyone???

I'm still writing this ...not completed yet....