4 years in Singapore

Just an overview about my 4 years in Singapore:

Relationships

Since coming here, I’ve had chances to meet many interestingly different people (various cities, countries & races) which I think I would have never had if I had studied in Vietnam. I also love the country & the people here. However, I soon realise many people come (to me) just to pass. (And really we can’t do anything but appreciate what we’re having)

Love

It would be a pity if I talk about relationship without mentioning love. I had quite a few short loves mostly during my holiday trips back in Vietnam? (2010, valentine = lny tet – t/ch, summer – ch; 2011, tet = hn, no summer 2012, tet – hn no more, summer – shj; 2013 – lm) just a reminder of mine 😀 before getting in an “indescribable” relationship (cos idk what it was) with a sgprean girl. One of many great lessons I learned from it is, many love endings involve the third person. So in order to keep & make it last long, you’ve gotta have not only the so-called “love”, give-in sometimes but also have to share the same passion – this is really the key to any relationships. Otherwise you will just lose or get bored of it sooner or later.

Education

I gave up on the “excellent GPA” goal after my 3rd semester to seek for some specialised web knowledge. And it turned out to be a great decision (& my final GPA was not low either):

(I got a degree in 2.5 years.) I got an interview before my final exam & my 20th birthday and then 5 or 7 more before ending up working at my current company, which I am quite proud of considering the “tough economic times” that many people usually refer to.

I read a lot of great books. Now I’m having a small both online & offline library 🙂

I wrote my incredible “Money won’t make you rich” just over the age of 18.

The only regret of mine is I didn’t have a good balance esp in relationships during my Uni times which is quite a shame. I should have had more friends & loves .. Anyway sometimes we need to some necessary trade-off..

Opportunities

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Good chances usually come twice or once. Seize it. Or at least do anything you can do. Ask for help from your old enemies. Approach and talk to a strange girl, etc. At the end of the day, shameful & embarrassing moments are nothing compared to what we did/attempted to do.

Life

Life has been good for me. I’m a lot better since coming here. I cook. I wash & dry my own clothes. I do almost everything my mum usually did for me. Though I did make a lot of mistakes, I hope I learn sth about it.

Now I’m just grateful for what I’m having.

Work

Yesterday I told her, “If you work for me, you will quit. But if you work for yourself, you will never”.

The fear

The lizard brain—that prehistoric brainstem that all of us must contend with—doesn’t like being laughed at… Being laughed at is the lizard brain’s worst nightmare” – Seth Godin

The fear of being different.

The fear of standing out.

I was so scared of being different and of standing out simply because if I do, I may fail and people out there may laugh at me.

OMG, I would be so embarrassed. I would have to dig a hole to hide my face… lol

Ironically, even if I dare to do it anyway, they would come and tell me why you would dare to do such things, why you are so arrogant!? A few questions why follow by another few of hows, how are you gonna do that? That’s impossible…

10 songs that keep you motivated for life

Music is amazing. It helps us chill out. It raises us up when we’re down. It motivates us to move forward. Sometimes it’s simply a lovely reminder of love & beauty…

With hundreds of beautiful inspirational songs like Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) (Kelly Clarkson), Firework (Katy Perry), Imagine (John Lennon), Human (The Killers) or I believe I can fly (K. Kelly) out there, it’s really challenging to pick a top-10 list  – a welcome headache though 😉 But among them, there are ten – 10 songs whose lyrics and titles always give me, and maybe you too, a good feeling & an extra lift that help me stay the course.

Speakers on? Volume up? Ready? Alright, here are they:

10. What a wonderful world – Louis Amstrong

…I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world!”

9. Shame – Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow

…What a shame we never listened
I told you through the television
And all that went away was the price we paid
People spend a lifetime this way
And that’s how they stay
Oh, what a shame!”

8. I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

…No, I won’t give up

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make

… I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough

God knows we’re worth it!”

7. Because We Can – Bon Jovi

…I don’t wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock not just another grain of sand
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain’t a soldier but I’m here to take a stand

Because we can our love can move a mountain
Because we can if you believe in we
Because we can just wrap your arms around me
Because we can we can!“

6. Stand By Me – Ben E. King

…No, I won’t be afraid, oh, I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no, I won’t shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me!”

Here comes the top 5…

5. My Way – Elvis Presley

I want this song to be played at my funeral!

…I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and every highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows – And did it my way!”

4. When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston

This is more than just a song. It’s a lesson – a big secret to be precise!

…We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could, whoa, yes
There can be miracles
When you believe

…Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe!”

3. Better man – Robbie Williams

This summarizes what I always wanna tell myself, “you don’t need to be better than anyone but yourself”. Just be a better man!

…I know I’ve been taught
To take the blame

As my soul heals the shame
I will grow through this pain
Lord I’m doing all I can
To be a better man

I know some have fallen
On stony ground
But love is all around
But love is all around!“

2. We are the Champions – Queen

Each and anyone of us is a champion!

… And bad mistakes
I’ve made a few
I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I’ve come through

We are the champions – my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting – till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions – of the world!”

1. Rule the world – Take that

Though I really like the cover by Gary Barlow & Michael Buble, I decide to pick this original. It’s just too good to me – sang by the sexiest voice of the sexiest man & whose lyric is simple yet so inspiring. One of my favourite songs ever!

…Yeah, you and me we can ride on a star
If you stay with me, girl, we can rule the world
Yeah, you and me we can light up the sky
If you stay by my side, we can rule the world!“

You’re beautiful – James Blunt

Oops is this the 11th song? :O Nvm, I just leave it here for you. Remember. You’re beautiful! <3

Ps: This is a full youtube playlist of the above 10 songs that you can watch them all together.

Rexy.me 1.5 years look back

I still remember it was end of October or beginning of November, 2011 when I was going to graduate and trying to find my first job. I wanted to have a blog hosted and coded by myself as my first one was on blogger. So I went and coded it using CakePHP framework. I find naming it a bit difficult but finally went for a xyz subdomain @ huuthinhhouse.com. xyz was inspired from my English name rexy 😀

As far as the design is concerned, Its top header containing my blog name and title was mostly inspired from Jacob Wright’s blog. Of course, my so-called “Rexy theme” is a completely different design which consists of 1 column – the main content only.

But it didn’t last too long. I started my new blog project somewhere during the summer of 2012. It was mainly because I found it too time-consuming having to build very basic blog features from scratch. Besides, as a self-coded blog, blogging and importing content from my old blog was extremely inconvenient as well. So I went to build another blog using WordPress based on the original design and still hosted at @huuthinhhouse.

I added in a “brand new” footer, animated header and removed all the unnecessary stuff in the left hand side. Apparently, it was much neater and more professional. But again it didn’t last long either. In fact, I bought and did some HTML5 experiments at the new domain rexy.me just a few months later. After some hesitation, I finally migrate my whole blog here.  Design wise, it’s basically same as the 2nd one with some considerable improvements.

I particularly love the new navigation. I think it’s just awesome! 😡 The footer also looks better. The downside would be the left new navigation which seems not perfect… I feel there is still some more room for improvement in this design. The next version would be significantly different, perhaps  showing off a minimalistic design!? 🙂

Ver. 1.0

Ver. 2.0

Ver. 2.5

My Habits

“Compose a new blog post listing the top 5 to 10 things that you do almost every day that help you to be successful. They can be anything at all, but they have to be things that you do at least 4 or 5 times every week. Anything less than that may be a hobby that helps you out, but we are after the real day in and day out habits that help you to be successful.” – Aaron Potts @ Simply Successful Secret

Doing…

I eat 5 meals every day, viz, breakfast (plus after work-out meal), lunch, tea, dinner and supper.

I exercise almost everyday. I do some push-up, lifting in the morning on Mon, Wed & Fri & running on Tues, Thu, go to gym once in a while. Play soccer or go swimming once a week.
> I have played soccer at least once – sometimes twice a week since October 2014

I listen to motivational audio programs everyday, then jot  down the lesson for myself.

I drink plenty of water.

I do one task at a time single-mindedly.

I mediate almost everyday at least for 3 – 5 minutes
> I combine mediation + visualization in 2014

2014
Since August 2014, thethaovanhoa & goal are my daily reads for sport; Viet-studies.info & BBC Vietnamese for news. That’s all.
I do NOT read news everyday.

I have kept a one-sentence journal since November 2014.

I write down my 3 1-3-5 major things for tomorrow on the night before since September 21, 2014

2015
I get up at 5am (almost) everyday.

I read books everyday

Attempting…

I try to read books everyday, mainly personal development, time management, success books. => golden hour. (The Science of Getting Rich)

I try to practise communication and/or learn new vocabulary everyday.

I try to have a great 7 to 8-hour sleep almost everyday then wake up early.

I try to blog & write my journal almost everyday – at least often enough.

I try NOT to read news everyday.

I try to plan my week then my day in advance, ideally right at the night before.

I try to learn new things everyday.

Planning…

Meditate everyday (used to do it often..)

I’ve been living these habits since March 2013, als@ as part of my 2013’s resolution. How about you? What are your habits?

Last Updated: September 29, 2013

Xúc cảm 2

– Mai 10h t toi roi. Chac m ban roi ho?

….

– “5ph cũng phải gặp!”

…và thế là e tới đúng giờ và chờ a đến gần 1 tiếng…

Những tiếng cười đùa pha chút e thẹn, bối rối, mừng rở.

Nhanh.

nhưng vui & đẹp!

Yêu <3!