How to live your life?

I suppose this question is too far out for our dear Secondary Ones reading here (or is it? Perhaps there are some budding Satre and Descartes among them!) but I am sure the Secondary Fours should given this question some thought.

Lots of research and energy has been spent on finding the perfect formula. For example, the latest research points out that Multitasking, the hallowed ability to handle many things concurrently at the same time, is counter-productive (pun intended). It makes you less productive for one.

Others have taken the effort to find out how we can effect a positive change in out lives. Here is a very well-written article on how to find that transformation in your work.

Delight in metaphors and analogies. Every object or idea can stand for something else, or suggest an unexpected link. Dull people restrict their thinking and reading to what seems obviously relevant. Clever ones peer into what isn’t.

Currently I am interested in the ideas of Getting Things Done (GTD). This is a book as well as a system for organising your life and work with greater efficiency. Nowadays we are all swamped with endless commitments and tasks that we are all looking for ways we can be more effective as a person. This system originally developed by David Allen promises a better way to be more productive in your work and life. When this book was first introduced in 2004, it has been steadily garnering many positive feedbacks and reports on the various net communities around the world. Numerous websites run by volunteers have been started elsewhere cover issues on personal productivy and self management. I am currently reading this book.

On a side note, I have a disciple!

Disciples | No Comments »

I have been to Morocco on holiday once and I read this recent news about this ultimate marathon, the Marathon des Sables, that is beginning today with great interest. My trip itself was very eventful and quite dramatic in its own way, almost the kind you can write a travel journal about, and Morocco to me is synonymous with the idea of adventure.

About this Marathon, the competitors have to race 6 marathons over a week in the hottest period in the Moroccan desert. They have to carry all their equipment and food for the 6 days, paying $3000 for the privilege of taking part in the race. If this isn’t the ultimate challenge, I don’t know what is.

There is this amazing story of an Italian competitor, Mauro Prosperi, who got lost in the 1994’s race during a sandstorm and ended up 300 kilometres off course (the ultramarathon itself was only 254km long) . He ran out of food in the first day and thought it might be easier to commit suicide than to die a slow terrible death. Unfortunately or fortunately, he was so dehydrated that his blood clotted quickly over his slit wrist and so he decided that he will live instead. Mauro continued running and survived the remaining 8 days eating dead bats, lizards and snakes and drinking his own boiled urine. Eventually he was picked up by nomadic tribes people in Algeria and taken to a Algerian military camp. He lost 18kg through the entire ordeal.

He returned to race in the ultramarathon event twice more. Now that is determination.

Disciples | No Comments »

It was nice to meet student’s parents during Parent Teaching Meeting (PTM). You meet all sorts of different kind of parents. I only had 3 parents who came but it was interesting meeting all three in their own way. I am sure every parent came with genuine desire to learn more about how their children are doing in school. It is such a priceless gift when parents take on an active concern for their student’s activities in school.

Of course I am only saying so when I only had 3 parents to converse with this morning. Imagine instead if I had as many as some of the teachers here who didn’t even have time to visit the washroom today! But I reckon for better or worse, I will never get to experience that situation as long as I am teaching Art.

You like Art?

General | 6 Comments »

It is your responsibility to bring the following:

• Poster colour
• Paintbrushes (small synthetic nylon ones)
• Palette
• Water Container
• Rag

You are painting this week.

Sec 1 | No Comments »

The Sec 3s first assessment consist of 4 exercises they did in class -the upside-down copy of a Knight on a horse, a drawing of their hand holding an item, a shading study of an egg and the drawing of two chairs stacked together. Some of you might remember that the Sec 3s last year also had a drawing of chairs in their first CA as well, except they had 3 chairs then.

The Sec 3s generally did very well in their first assessment. I have strong hopes for their progress.

There are more but wait till I find the misplaced name list first!

Sec 3 | 5 Comments »