What do you do when you're feeling stressed?

When I am feeling stressed, I :

- If it's guy-related, I'd rent 7 romantic comedy dvds and do my own little sad movie marathon with lots of microwaved caramel popcorn, a large prawn+mushroom pizza, a tube of cookies n cream ice cream n a big bottle of coke. Diet coke if the problem isn't so bad. And a big box of tissue to cry/wipe my messy mouth.

- If it's money-related/very broke, I'd drink lots of green tea 1teabagto7cups ratio. Have a long hot shower and sleep. Try not to be stressd as it can cause bad skin/pimple hence has to spend somemore money on facial. Hence will be more stressed.

- Other problems(family,work,study) Similar approaches - drink bottles of coke, eat tubes of ice cream n snack on good quality ham. Salt n sugar somehow help. Put on a mask to prevent bad skin n take vitamin to prevent from getting sick/die of saltsugar overdose.

After I feel better (or full), I'll break down the problem in my head, find each solution, realize that it's not the end of the world, and tell myself that everything has a solution/ the world won't give you more than you can bear/ everything will be allright in the end, if not, it's not the end/ things happen for a reason/ stop stressing idiot, you'll get a pimple.

Maybe I should try that playing chess + drinking tequila combo.

What do you do when you are feeling stressed? Which pizza toppings do you normally order? Do you prefer butter or caramel popcorn? Which flavour of ice cream do you like? I especially love soft serve ice cream! xx

Laugh, read the funniest novel and laugh somemore

photo taken from http://helenkosings.wordpress.com

One UCLA study documented that on average, at age 5, we engage in creative tasks 98 times a day, laugh 113 times and ask 65 questions. By age 44, the numbers fade to two creative tasks a day, 11 laughs and six questions.

As we get older, we don't laugh as often anymore. We get more worried about our increasing responsibility & expectations.
Career, mortgage, family, hence more dramas, more problems, more stress.

As I get older, I tend to watch/read more serious stuff. Then when I get familiar with the world's concerns and problems, I'll get thinking. Sometimes sad.
I even swap Tv comedies to shows such as Oprahs, Dr Phil, The View
and current affair news. And I swap channel Arena and Hits (where stupid reality shows and Friends and comedies are at) to Lifestyle channel, Travel and Living channel. Adventure and Bio channel. Even National Geography for what I care. The idea is to make myself wiser, smarter, more aware and more adult-like.

And for conversation topic starters too :) (??)

So I become wiser, yes, but I also laugh less (because I dont watch comedies & varieties shows anymore)
So do you choose to be happy or to be wise?

Alot of studies show that laughter can prolong one's life. Cancer patients who have good sense of humour are said (and proven) to survive longer than cancer patients who are not. Laughter is also
-strengthen your immune system,
-boost your energy,
-improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow (help protect against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.)
-a good laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
-triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, and can even temporarily relieve pain.

The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Best of all laughter is all around us and cheap, if not free.

One of the ways to laugh is to read Lucy-Anne Holmes novel 50 ways to find a lover. The book is really hilarious. Sometimes I wonder why people read thick serious (abit depressing) deep-thinking book about happiness when you can read comics or chicklits, where you can laugh (which leads to happiness) ? But some chicklits have too-over-the-top stories or cliche/boring stories which make me even more depressed :(
But I love this novel. Lucy-Anne is so funny xx



Lucy-Anne Holmes ia an actress living in London. 50 ways to find a Lover had its genesis in Lucy's blog www.spinstersquest.com cataloguing her real-life love woes.

Lucy said

I make a pledge: I will explore fifty ways to find a lover. I will start with speed dating. I will also enlist some help in what to wear and say. I will stop dressing like a male road protester and brush my hair. I will stop asking men stupid questions such as 'Have you ever seen a ghost?' and 'If you were a biscuit what sort would you be?', which only I ever find entertaining.

It's so tempting though.

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These are 3 of my (many)favourite lines :
From page 13

" A few days ago I started the important steps of thorough room-tidying, which are:
1) picking up everything on my floor and putting it on my bed
2) hanging up one or two items of clothing
3) getting bored
4) going out
5) coming home and needing to go to bed
6) moving everything on my bed on to my floor again "

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from page 38

" I have announced in my blog that Quest No. 1 is Speed Dating. I even hatched a plan, which I described in my blog. The plan involves
1) talking to all the men as though they are ugly. I reasoned that it is always much easier to talk to ugly people
2) asking all the men if they know any good jokes, then at least I will learn something. "

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from page 333

" There is a covert operation going on in the flat. Simon's planning me a surprise thirtieth-birthday party. Where Simon's covert operation fails is that he does all his planning on the phone to Julia early in the morning. He forgets that he has a voice like an old tractor and that when I am lying in a bed with eyes closed I am asleep, not dead. So far, I know where it is and who's coming, but they seem to be stuck about what to tell me.

'We've got to tell her she's going out somewhere so she puts some clothes on or she'll just be wearing those crusty pink pyjamas with red-wine lips.' It's a good job I am not a sensitive type.

I can even hear Julia on the end of the phone. Laughing.

'Listen, we've got to get in touch with Paul the Plonker, Jules. He can pretend he's taking her to dinner, but in actual fact take her to the venue. Genius. Then she'll dress up. Have you got his number?'

'Fuck, no!' screams Julia.

'I'll go in her room and get her phone now,' says Simon, opening my bedroom door and tripping over a pair of my shoes. I hear him mutter, 'Dirty goat' as he stumbles around in my dark room, hoping to locate my phone. He's never going to find it. My phone is currently situated inside my coat pocket, which is in the living room draped over the sofa.

'It's not here, Jules,' whispers Simon. 'I'll have to hang up and call it.' Simon leaves the room and closes the door. Two seconds later I hear my phone ring.

I spring out of bed and run into the lounge. This could be fun.

'Morning! Who's calling me at this time, I wonder?' I say innocently to Simon.

'Oh, um, me!' he says as I take my phone from my coat.

'Why?' I say with wide-eyed innocence.

'Wake-up call!' he chants. 'I thought we could go for a run.'

'Oh, that would have been lovely, Si, but I think I've hurt my foot; oh yes, it's very bad!' I say, pretending to limp.

'I'm only trying to help, Sare. You have to take a lot of clothes off in that play, remember.'

'Hmmm,' I say, frowning. the play involves me getting down to my underwear. The sight of me in my underwear is pleasant only for blubber specialists. 'Maybe later... I was thinking about my birthday, Si.'

'Oh yeah, when is it again, Sare?' he says casually. He's a better actor than me. Bastard.

'Oh, it's Saturday, but I think I might just go down to stay with my mum and dad for the weekend.'

Simon pulls a face as though he's stepped on a drawing pin. I go back to my room, clutching my phone. It's not that I don't want a party. On the contrary, my two best friends organising one for me is so touching I'm sure I'll cry. I just want to tease them a bit.

'Sare, your mom's on the phone!' yells Simon, banging on my door.

'I didn't hear the phone ring', I say.

'Oh, didn't you?' Simon's innocence is increadibly belieavable. I start to distrust everything he's ever said to me.

I pick up the phone.

'Er, darling, you can't come down this weekend, we're, um, going away,' she says. Now, my mother can't act at all. i start to fear I might have her to blame for my failing career.

'Where?' I say.

I can hear the cogs in my mother's brain turning while she tries to think of a destination.

'Oh, um,' she hesitates. 'France.' A triumphant sigh.

'Can I come?'

A silence. This is painful for my mother. She hasn't worked out her back-story at all. I start to feel bad. While I am feeling bad I can hear Simon tripping around my room, obviously getting Paul's number from my mobile phone.

'Let me talk to your dad. I'll call you back.' She hangs up. I run to my room, hoping to catch Simon with my phone. But he's already finished. Imeet him coming out.

'That was quick,' he says.

'What were you doing in there?'

'Oh, I was going to make your bed. But then I changed my mind.'

We both glance at my unmade bed with the mobile phone sitting proudly on the mattress. It starts to vibrate.

'I've got a text,' I say, picking it up. 'From Jules.'

I look at it and grin. I read it aloud to Si. '"REMINDER!! PARTY!! Saturday. Surprise for Sarah's big thirty (the old trout)! Eight p.m. sharp. Fifty-one Greek Street. If any of you fools tell her I shall personally pee in your bath."'

Bless her, she sent it to evryone in her address book. Including me. I look at Simon. He's shaking his head.

'I knew already, Si, I heard you on the phone this morning.'

'Ah. I thought I was doing well.'

'You were. Your acting was really good! You could have a new career. You could be the next James Bond.' I hug him and kiss him on the forehead.

'Thank you.' "

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Ps : It is so much funnier when you read the book page by page :)

I was really scared

So last weekend, on saturday morning, around 5.45am, I was in the convinience store near central station. I was really hungry, so I was out buying hotdog and a juice and I sat just in front of the store to eat them (there are a few chairs around).

There were 3 young girls entering the store. One of them came out first carrying a can of coke. The other two were still inside.

The first girl, was around 15 years old, she was standing beside me. She whispered, her voice was totally creepy.

'You little slut, I'll bash you if you don't give me your bag'

She was totally on drugs, her eyes were red and watery. She had so much hatred in her eyes. She looked at me as if she was going to to kill me. she wasnt afraid of anything.

I said 'what?' prentending not to get it.

I was thinking what to do. I definately didnt want to give her my bag. I had afew hundred dollars inside, my phone, ipod, etc. But i was so scared of her.

She said, in a slightly louder voice, showing me her can of coke.

'I'll break your head if you don't give me your bag, bitch'

So i said 'okay'.

I stood up and ran inside the store. she didnt chase after me or jump to me. wuihh! I told the guy that she's crazy and what she just told me. I know the guy. I go to that convinience store quite often. and he said yes, her friends were trying to steal some stuffs. They then left.

I was so scared to go home afterwards, worrying that she's watching over me and that she hated me even more then. So I hanged around at the internet cafe nearby for a little while.

I thought, if not only her, but her other two friends were circling me too, I wouldnt be able to do anything. Or if I had my bag on the table, instead of on my lap, she would just grab it and ran.

I know the situation was not that life threatining considering she didnt have a knife or gun, but her eyes scared me like endless. And she was about fifteen!

I walked on the street of sydney so many times and seeing people asking passerbys for money. They would say they needed a bus ride fare home, they haven't eaten for days. I used to give them when they asked. I thought of karma you know, how difficult is their life and how blessed is mine and that 5$ is nothing to me. But apart of that, I was quite scared too. I was scared of them cursing me, screaming at me, being angry at me, I was scared of being hated.

But nowadays I dont give anymore. If they are old or disable, I would. Really I swear i would. But if they are young and healthy, and I know exactly that they can get enough money from social security regularly to be able to live decently. And I know that they ask money from people daily. it's like their everyday job. And they are all yound and healthy! Sometimes they harass people for it. and we, on the other hand, work so hard to earn every cent of our money. If its indonesia, totally different story, people there are really really poor and starving, they cant really get money from the government just by saying they are jobless. and there are barely jobs there too. people dont have money because they truly can't find any work. My heart goes out to them and i would give them any money if I have.
It saddened me and touched me how poor fathers (in underdeveloped countries) works and sweating from early morning to late at night, doing hard tiring demanding stuff to earn very little income to just keep their family alive and hopefully to send their kids to school. And when it comes to food, they would selflessly give their shares to their wife and kids.

And these people when they have had social security still demanding money from strangers. Not 1 or 2 dollars, but sometimes 10to 20 dollars.
So now, i say no to them. The first time i did it was hard. I'm the type of person who doesnt like to disappoint anyone or for people to hate me. But it got easier from time to time.

Their response was usually 'Fuck you, bitch' or other types of nasty swear words.
One particular woman is the same woman who asked me and I gave 5$ the week before. (yes, you'll meet the same person). She didn't even remember or respect me, does she?