Blog 9: How to stop worrying

As we know, we are trying to adapt to the environment of Singapore. So it's natural for us to have some worry, for example, about the new life in NUS. Do you want to know "How to stop worrying and enjoy life"?  

There are frequently asked questions you may also have, for example, Where does worry come from? What should we do when worry really comes?

Let me explain.

Worry comes from unknown. Only when you are not sure about something will you be worried. Right? So we shouldn’t pay too much attention to the future.

Let me tell you a story.

William Osler was a medical student in 1871, he worried about where to go, how to make a living in the future. One day he picked up a book and read 21 words. After he became famous many years later, he said these 21 words had changed himself from a worried student to the most famous doctor in his generation. These 21 words are: Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.

It doesn't mean we should not make any effort to prepare for tomorrow, but the best way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, enthusiasm on doing today's work today.

Now we’ve known where worry comes from, but it’s not enough, we should also learn the magic API formula for solving worrying situations:

A stands for Ask. Ask yourself what is the worst situation if you can’t solve the problem?

P stands for Prepare. Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst situation.

I stands for Improve. Improve upon the worst- which you’ve already mentally agreed to accept.

Now you know why it’s magic? Maybe you have no idea at present. But try this formula when you feel worried next time and you will find why.

From the above, we've known 2 facts about worry: worry comes from unknown and we can use API formula to solve worry.

I hope I have made myself understood and you have found this report useful.

This Saturday, I went to Jcube to watch the movie “man in black 3”. It is a classical movie. But I do not like it very much because as an action movie, it did not give me much unforgettable impression or some exciting fighting scenes. The plot is that James—the main character went to the past to save his friends---Agent Kane from the attack of a monster. Today, I just show you my reflections on that movie. My recommendation is that you should do some research before you go to the cinema unless you love the series of Man in Black very much. Maybe because of the culture differentiation, I did not think there are some funny scenes and even feel a little boring. The good aspect of this movie is that it has a meaningful ending to show the spirit of sacrificing. Besides the meaningful ending, the movie also shows us the magic power derived from the friendship. In addition, the movie also gives me the strong third dimension although some details have been ignored. In the other part, the movie also shows me some advanced technology in America but maybe some are not real, such as the space gun and the giant brain washer. All of them are showing us the creative imagination. Furthermore, the plot is based on the background that human are living in harmony with aliens, which is a great imagination. How brave the director is to show us that scene! Human beings are living peacefully with different kinds of aliens without any consciousness of it. In conclusion, I think it is not an excellent action movie but maybe a good science movie.

The most delightful character

     Having seen the movie Pride and Prejudice twice, I do love the unique character Elizabeth Bennet who I have never seen before.  As one of the most popular characters in English literature, Elizabeth Bennet lacks extraordinary physical beauty, which makes audience pay more attention on her unique character.  Firstly, her wonderful wit always leaves a deep impression on the audiences at first sight.  She has an infectious smile and a sharp wit when she was talking with others.  Her conversation sparkled with her own subtle blend of wit and charm.  With her brilliant wit, she can form the arguments, quips and even rebuttals perfectly and powerfully.  Secondly, Miss Bennet is an icon of modern femininity, a budding feminist who advocates equalities between the sexes.  Although she is not good at playing music and dancing, she is interested in reading, which helps her become intelligent and have an independent spirit.  She does not care how others’ comment on her behaviour and still holds a clear view of what she wants to do with her life.  It may be one of the chief reasons she is attractive to Mr. Darcy.  In addition, Miss Elizabeth shows obsequiousness in dealings with Darcy and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  While she is facing the powerful and domineering Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her forthright and brave rebuttal wins Lady’s trust.  In closing, Elizabeth Bennet is the most delightful character I have seen.

Blog 9. The Crash of Ego

    On Sunday, my friend invited me to attend an activity of a Chinese church.  Though I am a determined free thinker, I was attracted by the preach by a paster during that activity.  The content of the preach is about the crash of ego (translated from Chinese by me), which is quite meaningful.
    What is the crash of ego?  Why the ego should crash?
    First, this paster told us a story that Jesus saved a servant of a certain centurion.  There were three interesting sentences.  First one is that "he is worthy for you to do this for him,
for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us."  which said by the messenger who was sent for Jesus.  The point of this sentence is that the messenger took the Jesus's grace for granted which is the ego.  However, according to the Bible, what all people have including their body, foods and even the ceils are all provided by the God.  People do not deserve them.  Second interesting sentence is  that "lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word, and my servant will be healed.
For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers.
I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes;
and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it."  These were the words of the centurion which shows that though the centurion was well off, he did not take what he owned for granted and he even did not think he deserved them.  Then the Jesus said "I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel."   After it, the centurion's servant was recovered.  The paster said because the centurion crashed himself, the God rewarded him.  And he gave an example, when Moses, the King of Hebrew, was the prince of Ergypt, he could not achieve anything, but after he lived through 40 years as a sheepherder, he got the help of the God and release Hebrew. 
    Personally, it is very tough for me to accept the fact that there is a powerful God in the world, but I am glad to admit the moral parts of Christian which are not contradictory to our Chinese traditional morality.  For instance, the crash of ego is quite similar to a famous saying that when heaven is about to palce a great achievement on a person, it always tests resolution first, exhausts him, makes him suffer and frustrated his efforts.  Also, I am proud that this saying is hundreds of years earlier than the Bible.  Are you?

Blog 9: My oral report

Last Wesday, I was supposed to do my oral report.   Ms Brenda Lee did not let me  present it.  However, I really want to share this with you.  Here is my oral report.

I believe that each of us want to be health.  Well, if we want to be healthy, we need to live a healthy life first.  It is suggest that our diet should be high in fruit, vegetable, whole grains and lean meat.  Therefore, we can be healthy and live a happy life.  I would like to share some tips about how to live healthily.

1. Limit or avoid fried food
It is not easy for us to refuse fried foods because they taste so delicious.  However, after the oil has been used over three times, some harmful substance will come into being.  So limit yourself to fried food if yoou can not avoid it.

2. Choose whole grains over refined-flour product.
 As life becomes better and better, each family can afford to eat flour and rice.  Those whole grains has gradually out of our diet.  However, there are some essential nutrition in whole grains which do not exist in refined-flour.  So it is better for us to eat whole grains regularly.

3. Limit consuption of alcoholic beverages and quit smoking.
I believe each of us know it bad to consume alcohol and smoke.  So do not tempt to try it.

4. Exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight
Because the transportation is very convenient now.  We get less exercise than before.  After having meals, we just go back, sit down and do not move any more.  This is really bad for our health.  Gradually we will put on weight and the risk of getting disease also increase.  There is no need to find a particular time to exercise.  You can choose to go upstair instead of taking an elevator or walk home after work.  All thses small attempts wil help a lot.

That is all about the four tips, I hope you can benefit from them.

Blog 9

Last week, I watched a video about how foreigners think of China.  In the video, people from diversity of countries were interviewed and expressed their impression of China.  Inwardly, I was disappointed, because at first several people merely appreciate Chinese food.  They consider Chinese people as a large population to conquer the whole world.  When some people tried to describe Chinese friends, the only word I could hear was friendly and Chinese always stayed in their small circle and seldom participated in social activities.  Isn’t there any other good traits or some admirable culture?  When I finally heard a man said that some Chinese colleagues are not responsible enough for their tasks, I turned off the player.  I began to ponder why the comment is like this.

         Having lived in Singapore for quite a long time, I am familiar with many SM3 or SM2 students.  Due to the similar background, we became friends spontaneously, but I have only a few Singapore friends.  I don’t go to church so that I don’t have an opportunity to be connected with others in the same committee like Singaporean.  I still feel weird while being chatted up in the street or MRT station, but Singaporean does not, even children.  I am not accustomed to be exposed completely to a new culture.  I am reserved.  In addition, the traffic accident which occurred recently was caused by a Chinese.  The other two victims met their doom unfortunately.  The news provoked Singaporean so that they wanted to kick Chinese out of Singapore.  I felt humiliated.  No wonder they said Chinese are not responsible.  In some countries, the negative impression to foreigners is becoming terminal.

         In order to change but not to nag, I am far away from my motherland.  On behalf of her, I must behave myself.  It is the very time to start to join the new groups and accept everything new.  I wish everything will be better.

Last Sunday, I had watched my first film “Avenger” in Singapore in Golden Village. Although it was a very exciting and a little funny action film, I do not recommend all of you to watch it. This film’s main actors were not like other films which has its own special main actor but it has combined many recent big American action films’ protagonists such as “the capital of American” and “Iron man”. Therefore, if you are not familiar with these guys before, you may not understand these characters’ behaviour or thoughts. As a result of this reason, I am inclined to agree that it is a perfect film although I enjoy a marvellous version of the American technology. This film shows many scenes about the advanced American technology such as the invisible giant spaceship and the exploding arrow. Besides the advanced technology, the film shows the team spirit and the sacrificial spirit, which is the key to defend the alien’s attack. Maybe the plot of this film is a little bit old fashioned but the magnificent fighting scene is very impressive. In addition, the funny factor is also set in the plot. Let me share you with the following scene. After the evil boss said “You people should give in to me. I am God.” After a little stop, the green giant man wrestles him without any hesitation and he cannot have any resistance. Then the green giant man said “a weak god”. Only after you watch the movie, you can appreciate the merits of the film.