The Prodigious Life

Good Bye 2011, Hello 2012

By Evon on Friday, December 30th, 2011 | No Comments

Hey, it’s my turn for the obigatory end of year review and setting resolutions for the coming year!

Year 2011, I believe this is a year many people would like to put behind them fast. A lot of unfortunate and sad things had happened — natural disasters, economy downturn, deaths and all. My heart goes out to all who suffered. On the personal level, year 2011 was very much a peaceful year for me. In fact it was a year of rest and re-aligning with myself, after a very much disastrous turn out of my job.

As you may know, I suffered a mental breakdown at the end of 2010 due to stress issue dealing with the job environment then. Early part of 2011, I was fortunate to be able to return to the HQ to work, and even granted a one month break before that. Things have been good since then. I’ve enjoyed getting to know more people, better motivated and appreciated in where I am now.

I’ve also taken to pull back from a few of my usual events participation. In fact, I’ve decided to drop going to events as a booth owner totally (except for one in Malaysia). Well, besides feeling disappointed with my almost non-existing improvement in my drawings, I thought I would rather concentrate on enjoying my hobbies other ways. In fact, Andrew and I got back to a little of cosplaying at the invitation of a friend and I find myself more eager to do random drawings more nowadays without the pressure to draw better.

More time was given to enjoy ourselves in year 2011. I was very happy we had the chance to go to some places we havent been before. Visited KLCC Aquarium and went to Phuket to do rafting! I’ve also indulged myself with some good musicals such as The Lion King musical, concerts (orchestra) and exhibitions.

All in all I felt really enriched.

The best part of 2011 for me I guess is to have taken up the Forex trading classes with Terraseeds and getting to know the group of great mentors. Things made better when Andrew also took up the classes a little later and we are able to help each other. Although I’m still struggling and I have to admit it’s tiring trying to maintain day job and trading at night (which in fact has taken a lot of time out of my evening free hours), I am proud to say I’m still eagerly on for it and I’m going to succeed. =)

Of course, there were some unfulfilled parts of my previous resolution such as to declutter and to slim down and get healthier which I have to work on harder in 2012.

Year 2012 is going to a big change in our lives, with the coming of the new house and a shift in lifestyle when we finally come together to really learn what is “marriage”. I guess I shouldn’t load myself with too much to achieve.

To conclude the post, here are my resolutions for 2012:

Achieve consistant profit in forex trading
Build a healthy and wealthy new home with my dear
Declutter current stuff and keep the new home clutter free
Exercise more
Master the Japanese language (Advance classes starting soon!)
Get back in shape with my guzheng (when there’s finally space in new home to play the instrument)
Draw more

So dear friends, have your 2011 been good? And what are your resolutions for 2012?

Lots of love,
Evon

It’s that time of the year again…

By Andrew on Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 | No Comments

You got that right, it’s THAT time of the year. That time where we say farewell to the old and welcome to the new. The period of much celebration and merrymaking. A period of new hope for some and reflection for others.

As for me, I was never into the habit of reflecting on what has happened in the year and setting new year resolutions. To me, it’s just an ordinary period of holidays where I get some time away from work to spend time with family and loved ones. A lot has happened in 2011, not just to the world but to me as well. It had been life-changing, so to say and that prompted this post.

This year, the world had seen umpteen number of incidents which has tested mankind. The March 11 Japan earthquake, the Euro zone crisis, the flooding in Thailand and the list goes on. Indeed it had been a trying period for many around the globe. My heart goes out to the people who are struggling in the affected countries.

In a more personal way, a lot had happened to me too during the course of the year. Some things that I have put off doing for years and it has come full circle. One of it is attending a forex course conducted by Binni over at Terraseeds. Nothing beats seeing a master at work teaching and guiding you through the basics than reading all the books on the shelves. It is also worthwhile to note that Evon had actually attended the course 1 batch earlier than me. Readers who have been with us from the start would have already knew that she is pretty resistive to money management in general and it really is a big step forward for her.

With the general state of the world economy in a bad state, my industry had been hit hard by it. Having been in the company for about 2 years, I have reached a point of stagnation and is feeling kind of lost on my future prospects. However that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy being in my current job. It has its perks like the freedom of time and mobility but lately a series of morale affecting incidents occurred which climaxed in a “token increment” that barely can cover a day’s worth of meals. I am okay if there is no increment as I understand that there is an economy crisis but giving this kind of what I call “pity money” really hits my pride in my work badly. Having little more than 2 years of experience and nothing more than a diploma I went on to seek new opportunities once again. As Lady Fate would have it, I met up with a job matching agency who caters to companies who seeks people with a command of the Japanese language. A language which I have put off learning for a good half a decade with the excuse “I need to go out to sea often and will miss classes” and “I have guard duties to do on weekends, I can’t make it”.

Life works in mysterious ways, isn’t it ?

With all that had happened in 2011, I think back to what I have done with my life so far. I have always been wondering around while life goes past me. Aimlessly searching for a goal but never seem to be able to find it. It is here and now that I should put into writing some aspirations that I hope to achieve in the coming year(s) before it is too late.

New Year(s) Resolution
1) Trade regularly and profitably
2) Obtain higher certification for my Japanese language
3) Learn a musical instrument

A short list but nonetheless it is something that I really wanted to achieve. Always better than a long list which I know I will procrastinate about later. With that I shall bring this post to a close and I bade you fair tidings for the years ahead.

Over and out,
Andrew

A Special Christmas Gift

By Evon on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 | No Comments

Weeks back, Andrew had been telling me that he had found an interesting gift for me for Christmas and left me guessing the whole while before the gift arrived.

At some point, I got a little annoyed with guessing and his teasing, I asked if he had shipped back some foreign soil for me. Little did I know, I was half right.

My devious partner in life bought me a Title!

Deed of Title and introduction documents of Laird's Wood

Besides being able to address ourselves as Laird (Lord) and Lady, we now own a small plot of land on an estate in Lochaber, Scottish Highlands.

No we aren’t going to be able build any house there. What we have now is probably just a standing spot, it would even take a few years later before we can have the financial means to visit the place.

The land, Laird’s Wood, is a part of the ancient Caledonian Forest that once dominate the Scottish Highlands, and today just 1% of the forest remains. By subdivding the land into hundreds of small parcels and selling them, it can never be built on or developed, thus would allow the woodland and its biodiversity to regnerate again with time.

Maybe you would think it’s a pretty useless gift, maybe a new dress or a new gadget would be better. But when I held the documents in my hands, there’s the very sense of happiness and warmth that washed through me – This is a guy who truely understands me, understands my dreams and love for nature, even if sometimes I’m lost in this materialistic world myself.

And I know he never really concern himself with environment preservation or getting close to nature, but he appreciates and supports my interests.

To my dearest, I’m not sure if you’ve realised, what you have gotten for me has a way much more deeper meaning in the love I felt from you. Thank you.

For those who are interested in putting in a share to preserve Gaia’s gift or simply just want to get a kick out of able to address yourself as Lord or Lady, you may visit http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/ for more details.

Lots of Love,
Evon

PS: On another note, we have just picked up the keys to our new home! =)

In memory of Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple Computers

By Evon on Thursday, October 6th, 2011 | No Comments

Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011

Although it should be expected, in view of his health. Mr Steve Jobs’ passing still came as a rude shock this morning, when I saw a re-tweet, linked to the Apple website with the news.

This is a man who had become so distinctive in many people’s life, whether you hate him or love him. Undeniably, his creations, his passion has made great changes to our lives. (without iphone, my mum would never have a chance to learn how to email, use facebook, use youtube or entertain herself with games)

There’s never enough words to express gratitude to a man who had made great impact in the world, positively, but live by his wonderful advices and carry on his legacy.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
– Steve Jobs, Standford commencement speech, June 2005

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
– Steve Jobs, The Wall Street Journal, May 1993

Transforming Lives

By Evon on Thursday, September 8th, 2011 | No Comments

It takes some Confidence, some Optimism, lots of Action and a great deal of Commitment and Belief.

Hi! I’m sorry I have been away for a really long time. I’m guilty to admit that I’ve let life overran me for the past few months. Yes, you got it right, life overran me. I was just passing day by day trying to catch up with life.

Today I would like to just share a short piece and a great book from my current mentors.

While trying to catch hold of myself in the whirlwind of everyday work and things, I was glad I still managed to have some break, went for enrichment classes and met new people. In these occasions, I met some people who made me felt amused and yet sad at the same time. These new acquaintances all spoke of wishing for a change to be better, but yet at the same time, insist that it is impossible for them to change.

“I’m too old to change”; “I really don’t like it”; “Too difficult to understand”; “Actually I’m fine now too”.

We were in classes with great mentors who shared many skills and wonderful ways of life with us, but these people listened, admired but decided to close off their minds. They decide they cannot change. They believe they cannot change.

Years back, I too said “It’s too difficult to change”. I rejected advises and help then. What made me change? Till today I am very grateful to Andrew, Success Resources and T. Harv Eker, very grateful for Millionaire Mind Intensive, for the nudge to move ahead, for giving me the courage to change.

Today, there’s another group of mentors who are holding my hands, directly and indirectly, teaching me the skills, edging me towards a Prodigious Life. I’m not the best student, am still stumbling at the start of the journey, but I am all the same grateful to Terraseeds, Binni, Tiong Hum and the trainers. =)

There are many fellow students out there who shared the same gratefulness towards Terraseeds and our seniors have came together to share their success. We invite you to take a read at their success stories.