Soulbirds union with love and joy

Soulbirds are married! Finally! Yes! I'm still listening to "Love is a gift" song as I'm writing this. This is my new life's anthem. Whenever I hear this, I'm filled with so much gratitude and love. For two person from different life to finally unite as one new life.. it is such a joyful moment. It don't just happen overnight. It takes lot of patience, understanding, love and most of all gratitude & appreciation. The certificate of marriage is nothing compared to the a year long of preparation processes, the little hiccups, the differences in concept of planning. It is really quite a process! We were terrified being caught in such process that involves more than just us but families. To think back now, it is perhaps a necessary step to prepare both of us to grow to a next stage of life. Always find a way to work together. Be patient and always holds gratitude in your heart is the key to all relationship. We are fortunate to have friends, loved ones around us to support us and make our wedding a blast! yeah! The moment just before you said the vow is one moment you wont truly understand till you actually doing it. I always wonder why do woman tears during the vow. I thought it was about being so touched. But being at that moment myself, I think its a mixture of anxiousness and gratitude. Anxiousness in taking a leap into an unknown, making that commitment that you will stick together no matter what. Gratitude in having found this person you are willing to take a leap with, you are willing to hold his hands wherever you go and grow old together with. It is no small deal. I'm like a bird, I love to fly, explore and wander. To finally meet someone who can fly together with me is what I'm really grateful for.

Asking good question

"These days when young people tell me they want to be lawyers, I tell them to go for it, but be aware that the real thing is nothing quite like the movies." -quoted from an article written by an IT journalist in the paper, speaking of his experience of discovering how being a lawyer is not meant for him after working in the law industry for 4 years. The article is beautifully written and most of all, it strike a chord. Well I'm no lawyer. Toy around with that idea long way back when I was still in elementary school. But decided designing is more exciting. Yeah! I get to create and have a chance to make a difference or so I thought. It sounds awesomely cool to be called a designer isn't it.

2 years in design agency proves to be more depressing than exciting. Late night works, last minute changes to make logo bigger and fill in catalog with as much products as possible as requested by the client. We don't get to deal with clients directly because there is a role called account exec. That means we have no voice to speak and sell our ideas at all. I got out of agency, grasping for life, doing occasional freelance works and it's just so common to meet clients who take freelancers as "free lunch" literally, not paying or late payment for works that consist of endless amendments. Went on with a few other stints as insurance advisor, computer art teacher for the kids and etc. I never really lose my roots in design.

I'm lucky to meet a toy company and got in as a designer who does almost everything under the sun. Of all things I learnt over the course of my years being a designer, something I'm glad I didn't missed out is that no matter what you do, what you work, eventually it all comes full circle to a lesson of life. I learn about love, giving, truthfulness, big hearts, managing expectation, making the best out of emotion. What I remember most of my days as a designer are the zest in the discussion of a "big idea" with colleagues, friends. The little sweet and sometimes silly things people do.

I have seen friends parting the glamourous ad agency and doing completely different things but with so much more fulfillment.

Time will change, glamour will fade, dream will change as we grow. Movies are fictional. The fact is there is a long story, hard work behind every job, every role. It is up to us to make it a love story.

Work is love made visible. "- Kahlil Gibran

I'm thankful of all lessons I get being a designer. It gives me the space to reconnect with myself and constantly challenging myself by asking question out of the box. In life as much as design, asking good question proves pivotal to a breakthrough.

Gratitude and love

It seems like a short Sunday..but I have a long day of little moments.

1. Walked to granny's place to pass something and on my way, I found this lovely leaves laying on the ground with such beautiful clear water droplet right on it.. I just have to take a pic! 

2. Found those lovely pink flower blooming from pots of plants my granny and aunt keep. Looking fresh and beautifully green:)

3. I wandered alittle along a little jungle, snapping pictures of those big leaves with water droplets on it..they are beautiful:) (*I didn't realise my aunt was behind me...she probably wondering what am I doing and walked away, because I only saw her back as I turned around hehe)

4. While waiting for the bus, I saw this white clouds moving real fast above and across swisshotel@cityhall. Lovely. I wonder how many people notice that. 

5. Met up with Bird and someone who is feeling a little blue. I kept quiet all the time, just listening. 

and here's something inspired from it somehow; 

"Everyone have different perspective n opinions but everyone want one thing similar.. Everyone want to be happy. How hard n how easy to be happy don't depend on cert.. It's all within us to be. Success is not about having qualification or high paid job or rank.. It's the ability to identify that we hold the power to be happy. N this don't depend on anyone, anything. If we want to fight n prove ourselves, all we need to do is to be happy. Because how many people will be jealous of our happiness that we can give ourselves when most people are waiting for others to give them happiness."

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 Be appreciative for at least one thing a day and each day will get rosier and prettier:) Today I'm thankful for little moments that show me journey of life, compassion and gratitude.

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Spend each day as if it's your last, you will find that there is no time for fear, anger and hatred for others and for ourselves. (aww now i feel like watching tuesday w morrie again in this cold windy weather:)

6. On my way back, Saw this couple in the train look china maybe Tibet or somewhere far.. They r sitting down with two trolley wheel tied to those plastic basket we seen in market. They dressed in somewhat not so tidy clothes. The woman is kind of bald n hair messy.. But somehow I feel they r beautiful in some strange way I didn know how to describe maybe because they seems contented n comfortable with how they dress n what they bring even tho it may not be the norm. The woman has her eyes closed look tired the guy tried to pinch her nose n ears. I can't hear what they say but he look like he is playing with her. Somehow I thought the scene is beautiful, little moment of life eh. 

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Being contented opens the door of our heart to happiness

7. Saw a young couple feeding a kitten with kitty food in this windy cold night. Seeing such scene makes me feel touched and thankful that whether people are conscious about it or not, compassion is something in all of us in some point of our life. I hope the kitty had a full meal and a good sleep with warmth :)

8. Wind gets stronger and as I look up, I saw the rain drizzling down so quietly with the wind, looking like snow:)

9. I'm glad my mum is fine:) 

Thank you.

Mr & Missy happy

Wanted to post this some long time ago.. because it makes me smile and I think it's brilliant to have it greeting people. It never fail to put a smile on my face looking at these little Mr and Miss happy. An artwork with soul!? Perhaps. Each time I see one of these, it just reminds me of the yellow sunshine and big wide smile! Have been feeling sick with loads of work piling and my work computer just turned blue...not a fantastic way to start a day but this little yellow Mr Happy picture which I found on my desktop while salvaging my files for backup just kind of remind me of that phrase "Don't worry, Be happy!" It's interesting how a drawing could change your mood. 

And I'm glad to have chosen a angel of gratitude and grace card from the angel card deck Bird got for me. 

It ease some kind of tension boiling up and I was listening to Soulbird mix I compiled, feeling gratitude for the joy I have experienced for the past months. Remembering is important so perhaps we won't take things for granted and forget the days where the sun shines upon us. And the grace card has this on it " To be in a state of grace is to put into practice the certainty that if we knock the door will be opened and if we ask it will be given unto us." Thought this is what I need. Grace and faith I supposed. 

Being in the Moment

Share Your Sparks! Live in the moment & allow light to flow into your experience of life... Love will fulfill your hearts & overflow into laughter... & you will be a sparkling gem of light!

 

Love this picture! The dog and man leaning against each other, watching the break of dawn, rise of the sun. A picture sent by Bird to Bee. And amazingly, we both set it as our wallpaper coincidentally, or should I say with much synchronicity. I feel love and humanity in this beautiful photo. 

Speaking of being in the moment, I found this little bourbon candy tin with a beautiful scene of a couple leaning against each other, looking out into a dream ahead, while living in the moment. It reminds me so much of the Dog and Man photo above. Synchronicity, connection or pure coincidence.. No matter what it is of this, I'm thankful to be able to live this moment and looking into the future with love and light. 

I got this for Bird! :)

Oh, the sales person in the store told me in the past, Bourbon candy are used during dating in Paris. Simple and Lovely:)  

Love, laughter & light,

Alex Chua

Soul in Love, Soul in Gratitude

Soul in Love, Soul in Gratitude, Soul in Synchronistic Flow, Soul in Tune with Life :o)