Bye Prof Shih...

Not that i know him personally or that i am a fan of him..

But I saw an article on him in Straits time today. As many of us would have known, he is stepping down to take up another appointment as the Founding President of the King Abdullah UNiversity of Science and Technology.

Found this part of his speech made at the commencement dinner to be kinda motivating.

"We are very glad to be sending you off into the working world-so that you can start paying off your loans and stop spending your parents' money. May you be lucky to find voices of conscience to speak critical truths, May you have men and women for all seasons lighting up your life with love and grace. May you also have knights to lift your spirits and dragon friends to help you face the unknowns in your life and conquer your fears."

所谓 千金易得，知己难求。。。

For me, working world is really a complex environment. Fresh naive students out from the university being thrown into a world where only the fittest survives. Learning how to protect themselves against the onslaught from seasoned players or from people trying to stand out from the crowd can change a person. A life changing experience (akin to that of NS).

I always find that guys don't change as much as gals do when they start working. Maybe it's because the short stint in army has already done the evolution. Other than the size changes, i don't really find any big changes in my working army buddies during reservist.

Going into my 4th week of my 30 odd years more of work really set me thinking. Can all these changes be good? or must it be bad? Frankly speaking, the changes i saw in other people really freaked me out. From the naive, kind person to a practical, dominant creature. I fear the day when it will happen to me. Must always have my character and personality in check. Humility, responsibility and trustworthiness are virtues which i value most.

And working life is really a black hole. It sucks everything in.. if that's how a black hole works.. haha... everyone seems to be the same after a while.

Colleague a, b, c, d (4 people): Justin.. what is your hobby?
Tin: oh.. i love to run and swim!
Colleague a, b, c, d: huh? you call that hobby?
Tin: okie ma... what's wrong with that?
Colleague a, b, c, d: wait till your work starts to pile up.. we see whether you can still have the time to exercise... soon you will join our shape clan.. the round shape clan
Tin: Come on la... Work is always never ending... it only depends on whether you are willing to push everything aside and go for that 30 mins run or swim.
Colleague a, b, c, d: Trust us la.. you wont.
Tin: *Pek chek*

Health is a personal responsibility we all should take charge. Don't feel ostracised when you are in a group where round is the common shape.

Read this from "My paper"

"Running makes the heart stronger, aids blood circulation and decreases the risk factor for disease like diabetes. Those who run regularly are less likely to experience bone and muscle loss as they age, compared to those who do not run regularly or at all, according to the Runner's guide website"

A meeting with the commandos during work motivated me even further. They are in their thirties.. and i swear that they look younger and fitter than all the GUys in the building. The tanned appearance with the defined jawline. *i sound like a gay* If you think Zheng Bing hui in the drama where he acted as the Cdo is shuai, you must really see the cdos i met. THey easily trash him.... Sometimes you can see some army officers walking around. It is so obvious that they are trying to 电 gals.... Their Sei and they way they talk.. cannot take it.. But these Cdos are so friendly... They are high rank officers but they dun behave like what other officers do.. throw rank... they really set themselves apart from the other vocations. I am so proud to be part of the cdo family.

anyway, Life is not only about work. Stike a balance... exercise and learn more things. In this way, you won't fall sick so frequently.