5 Things to Do Before You Start Investing

We may not think a lot of it but in today’s world, simply working and earning money is not good enough. We work hard for our money but it may not be enough for us to lead the lifestyle we wish to have 10 years or 20 years down the road, or fulfill our goals. So that is why we should look into investing our money wisely to get good returns.

1. Emergency fund

No matter how much we save for the future, we always need to also set aside an emergency fund. Emergencies are bound to happen in any life time and we should always be prepared for it so as not to throw us of on our financial plans.

2. Pay off your debt

Paying off your debts or minimizing it especially credit card debts should be top priority before you start investing. It is already an investment gain when you pay less in interest.

3. Understanding investment

It is always best to understand and get more knowledge about investments such like stocks and bonds. Like everything else, you clearly will be more successful if you have a pretty good knowledge on the subject.

4. Know your cash flow

It is good to know your cash flow in order to plan how much you can afford to invest each month.

5. Set goals

As everything else, set your goals for investment. Knowing why you have decided to invest will help keep you on track to achieving what you set out to do.

Signed, DRUGS

I saw this post on Facebook and it hit home hard. This poem was perfectly written in the saddest way possible. But unless you have lived a life as a drug addict or as a person trying to care for a drug addict, or one who has a loved one who is a drug addict, you will never really understand...

"I destroy homes, tear families... apart - take your children, and that's just the start.
I'm more costly than diamonds,
more costly than gold - the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
And if you need me, remember I'm easily found.
I live all around you, in schools and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor,
I live down the street, and maybe next door.
My power is awesome - try me you'll see.
But if you do, you may never break free.
Just try me once and I might let you go,
but try me twice, and I'll own your soul.
When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie.
You'll do what you have to just to get high.
The crimes you'll commit, for my narcotic charms,
will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.
You'll lie to your mother; you'll steal from your dad.
When you see their tears, you should feel sad.
But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised.
I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways.
I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,
I turn people from God, and separate from friends.
I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,
I'll be with you always, right by your side.
You'll give up everything - your family, your home,
your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.
I'll take and I'll take, till you have nothing more to give.
When I'm finished with you you'll be lucky to live.
If you try me be warned this is no game.
If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.
I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind.
I'll own you completely; your soul will be mine.
The nightmares I'll give you while laying in bed.
The voices you'll hear from inside your head.
The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see.
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.
But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart,
that you are mine, and we shall not part.
You'll regret that you tried me, they always do.
But you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen.
Many times you were told, but you challenged my power,
and chose to be bold.
You could have said no, and just walked away.
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?
I'll be your master; you will be my slave.
I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.
Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not?
It's all up to you.
I can bring you more misery than words can tell.
Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell."
Signed
DRUGS

Christmas Reflections ...

Christmas is always a time where we give gifts to the people we care about and celebrate all the festivities. In midst of everything, it is always important to always be grateful for all we have and to not take anything for granted.

Sometimes, we never know how valuable something is until it is gone.

So tell your friends and family that you love them and hug them. Cherish every moment.

Since this post is a little late as Christmas is over where I am located at (Singapore), maybe we could all try and remember this for next year.... Always remember that gifts are great but the best gift you can give your loved ones is to pray for their well-being, for good health and happiness. It's the thought that counts after all.

May this Blessed Christmas bring joy to you and your family, today and always.

Engelbert Back In Singapore After Three Years

It is just hours now to the show, the concert of the year; Engelbert Humperdinck. The excitement had been brewing for weeks now and right now, I just cannot describe the feeling. It's been three years since the King of Romance stopped by my part of the world. So yes, this is pretty special and exciting for me. The other times, over the last 3 years, I had caught him in Malaysia and Philippines. 

I have been a fan since I was 10 years old. My late grandfather introduced me to Engelbert. His favourite song was 'Love Me with All Your Heart'. So on his final send off, we sang that song at Church and in 2012, I tattooed part of the lyrics from that song onto my arm in memory of my grandfather and as a little tribute to the man whose music had saved my life on numerous occasions.

I met Enge for the first time in 2003; it would also have been my very first EH concert. That memorable day happened at Foxwoods Casino in USA. Since that photo was posted on his official website, my life changed forever. 

I was blessed with the opportunity to get to know him on a more personal level through the countless meetings I've had with him and through his children. I was given the opportunity to assist in his social media presence from the early beginnings, to the opportunity of a lifetime to assist in his weight loss most recently. 

But through it all, I was never star struck. I admire the man. I am impressed by his life story and his struggles to get to where he is today. I somehow can relate because I struggled from a very early age to get to where I am today. Of course nowhere close to where he is, but it is pretty decent for a normal woman like me. 

If you had the chance to ask Enge, I am sure he would tell you that I treat him just like how I'd talk to you and I am the same way with his kids. They don't get special treatment just coz of who their father is. It's me. I am always who I am. I am true to myself and what you see is what you will get. 

Through the years of being in the line of work I am in, I have met many celebrities and are friends with many. I have gotten the same response from a few as to what makes me stand out from the rest of their fans and why I am lucky enough to be friends with them? Their answer would always be because I am refreshing and I treat them like how they should be treated... like any normal human being. 

However, I have to admit that every time I see Enge, it is very exciting and it is always a new experience alongside new memories made. I have fond memories and bad memories and that I will not deny. But go back to when I said, he is human after all. 

People have asked me numerous times how many times have I seen Enge in concert or how many times have I met him. I have only seen him in concert about 15 times in my lifetime. What can I say? I started late in to his career. However, it is better late than never right? I have met him several times backstage and at the hotel he was staying at. I have had meals with him in a group setting obviously. But I have a total of 4 photos taken with him. Why? Because most times I meet him, it never crosses my mind. It is like meeting an old friend and just 'catching up'. I don't think you have photos taken with your friends each time you meet them, right? So that was just how it was.  I was just very happy and blessed to be in his presence and to simply just enjoy a chat with him. 

Maybe he found that cool as well because I never acted like a fan only wanting to be near him and taking photos of him all the time. He gets enough of that from others. He sure did not need it from me. Ha.

Looking back, I can't find the words to describe how fortunate I really am. Here is a man, a legend, larger than life, so very popular and everyone wants to meet him and I have on many occasions. I know many ladies who are much older than I am, and who have been following him since the 60s and still they have yet to meet him in person. When I hear about that, I feel even more grateful but I always tell them to never give up hope. Keep trying. And when they do meet him, he is simply a man who cares about his fans.

Being a fan of his has brought me lots of great friends and enemies. Friends who support me and are happy simply by hearing my experiences I had at his concert or with meeting him. Then the enemies are the ones who seem jealous of that and make up stories.

Let me tell you this, I have never once accepted a free ticket from the Dorseys. I have never once opened my mouth to ask for a backstage pass. I always paid big bucks for my tickets, I was always first in line when the box office opened and I paid for my travels and accommodations. Wait. I admit, back in 2012, I was traveling to see my other favourite band New Kids on the Block when Engelbert tickets went on sale in Singapore. By the time I got back, I only managed to get 19th row. EH's tour manager then did ask what row I was in, and he managed to upgrade my mom and I to the front and he also took us backstage after the show. But that was the only time and even so, I still paid $600 for my tickets. 

Then let’s not forget the users. The ones who would talk behind my back about me having any agenda then when Enge is coming to town or somewhere near them, they contact me and ask if I can upgrade their seats or get them backstage. What do I look like? Their fairy godmother?

Anyway, in about 17 hours, I get to see Enge in concert again on my turf this time. This is pretty exciting. And after the show, I'd see him again and that would be another memory for the books. This time around, it is going to be a lot more special because my daughter will be with me.

So until tomorrow or after, I will share photos and videos and an update of how the concert was and how the meeting went.

Until then....

Cheerio.

Work To Live or Live To Work?

You must always find your balance. You must always remember that you should never get too busy earning a living that you will tend to forget to make a life.

As Confucius one said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Here are a few Dos and Don’ts on achieving a balance:

DO:

·         Without rushing, be sure to set your alarm to wake you up earlier so you will have enough time for breakfast which is the most important meal of the day.

·         Prioritize your work. Work smart and not hard.

·         Never skip your lunch. Be sure to take at least a 30 minutes lunch break and try to eat healthy. Head out for a walk, if possible, even if it is for 10 minutes. It is nice to get some fresh air and sunlight.

·         Never be afraid to speak up and say no when your workload gets too much.

·         Best to disconnect from any work related communications, be it text or email, after work hours. If you have to work past your normal work hours, be sure to set an allocated time for it and never let it eat in to your leisure time.

·         De-stress. Best way to do so is to exercise. This would not only de-stress you but allow you to keep fit. Try allocating at least 3 – 4 hours each week for exercise.

·         Plan fun things to do such as a holiday. This way you will have something to look forward to.

·         Head to bed early so as to feel refreshed the next day.

DON’T:

·         Have an on-the-go kind of breakfast. Don’t stress first thing when you wake up and start checking or replying emails and texts. Unless it is of a very important nature.

·         Hop from one task to another.

·         Over work or work through your lunch hour or to keep/eat unhealthy food at your desk.

·         Take on too many responsibilities and try to prove anything. Always be sure you have plenty of time to finish your current workload.

·         Take home work if possible and don’t stay back too late to finish your current project unless it has a set deadline and you have to complete it.

·         Put off your exercise routine because you are too busy.

·         Be afraid to book vacations because you are afraid of the amount of work you will miss.

·         Stay up late, working through the night as it will leave you feeling exhausted the next day.

Being Healthy is a Lifestyle

Not too long ago, I'd say about 4 years ago, I weighed almost 200 pounds (90.9kg), 198 pounds (90kg) to be exact. I never did exercise, I ate whatever I wanted to eat and whenever I wanted to eat, I simply did not care.

I did consider losing weight a few times when I got tired of people telling me how much weight I have gained and when I could not find any nice outfits that would fit me. I tried to eat healthy and not as often but I loved food too much, and the thought of exercising was just not exciting at all. I did not have the willpower to stick to it. And to be honest, those tries actually made me gain more weight. I just wasn't blessed with good metabolism.

One day, I decided to step on a scale and I was shocked to see that I was 2 pounds shy of being a whopping 200 pounds!! That really woke me up! Not to mention that my career was also determined by how you look and not forgetting stamina. But the biggest motivation to change was the fact I had two little ones who needs a mom and a mom to be healthy so she can stick around for a long time.

I wanted to better myself. I wanted a new ME. I wanted to do it mostly for myself instead of someone else. I wanted me to be healthy so I can set a good example for my kids and that I could take care of them better.

I started with Zumba. That was a huge change. Shy with 2 left feet and no rhythm, and there I was, dancing up a storm. The class was definitely fun. However, I wasn't losing the weight as fast as I had wanted to. So I started brisk walking twice a week. After a couple months, I was jogging 6km (3.72 miles) in an hour. Still, the weight was only gradually going down. I will be honest; it was starting to get very demoralizing. However, I guess I wasn’t losing it as fast also because even if I had cut down on my eating, I was still eating more than I should. So can you imagine how much I was really eating before??

Not too long into the exercise routines and salads, etc, I learned of Juice Cleansing. I gave it a shot. I started with a 7-day juice cleanse. I had nothing to eat, just 3 juices a day and water. The first 3 days was a struggle but after, it was easy. Weigh in after 7 days and I had lost 10 pounds! That was motivation to keep at it.

Oddly enough, I think all I needed was that juice cleanse. My body got acclimated and it started accepting healthier food. I cut on carbs and I started experimenting with healthy recipes. I continued to jog and did a juice cleanse each month.

Eating more fruits and veggies did not sound disgusting anymore. In fact, the thought of sipping soda made me sick. I stuck to water, juice or oolong/green tea. Overall, my diet has changed drastically.

I won’t lie. I still have issues with my willpower. But each time I think of indulging or treating myself to an extra sweet dessert, I remember how far I’ve come. I think of all the hard work I’ve done to get to where I am so why would I allow myself to go back to where I was before?

As of today, I weigh 44 pounds (20kg) less than when I started my journey and it has made a big difference in my life and in my career. I still have a bit more to lose but I will gradually work on it as long as I continue to follow this healthy lifestyle.

Aside to everything else, CONFIDENCE has been the biggest benefit from this journey. I am more secure about myself. I feel comfortable in my own skin now.

So before making another unhealthy choice, always remember when your clothes didn't fit, when your body felt sluggish, your skin didn't glow, you didn't have energy, and how you wanted to feel beautiful.

Being healthy and fit isn't a trend. It is a lifestyle

SELF WORTH - Affirmations

Did you know that self-esteem is the most important thing for success? And if you think you have low self-esteem; affirmations can help you restore it. You can be successful in anything you set your heart to if you have lots of self-worth.

Affirmation can keep you positive and improve your attitude and how you look at life.

In short, in order for you to build your self-worth, you need affirmation. And how the human brain works is that if you keep repeating said affirmations over and over again, you will slowly start believing it and you will then notice the change in the way you behave.

In order to create positive affirmations, start with the words “I am”, keep it brief, make it specific and use present tense.

1.       I am choosing happiness

2.       I can and I will

3.       I trust myself

4.       I am enough

5.       I am worthy of the best life has to offer

6.       I am happy

7.       I am taking my mistakes as stepping stones for success

8.       I am beautiful

9.       I honour every decision I make

10.    I refuse to give up

11.    I am proud of myself

12.    I am unique in my own way

13.    I will surround myself with positive people

14.    I won’t worry about the small things

15.    I have the power to create the life I choose

16.    I believe in myself

17.    I choose positivity

18.    I appreciate all I have

19.    I will release anything that does not serve me

20.    I am whole and complete