#bestbuds

awwww... melts....

the unsung hero in Harry Potter

Chance across this article written by Emily Asher-Perrin http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/11/neville-longbottom-is-the-most-important-person-in-harry-potter and I don't think many people can put it better than her


"In the final hour, Neville is given a chance to make the same cowardly choice that Peter did, to join Voldemort’s forces and go the easy route. And instead he pulls Godric Gryffindor’s sword out of a burning Sorting Hat and destroys the final horcrux by slicing off Nagini’s head. It couldn’t be more clear than it is in that moment; Harry needs Neville in order to end this war just as much as he needs Ron and Hermione, the same way that his parents needed Peter. And it is true that Harry is a much better friend to Neville than his father might have been to Peter, but at the end of the day, that’s still down to Neville—down to a boy who demanded respect from his friends right from the start, no matter how small or unremarkable he felt. Who had the gumption to do what he knew was right, not when it was hard but because it was hard.

That distinction makes Neville Longbottom the truest of Gryffindors and a surprising balancing point of the entire Harry Potter narrative. Who Peter Pettigrew might have been had he understood that courage wasn’t about blind action, but about doing what was needed even if no one ever asked. In a world of leaders and followers, there are some who don’t attempt to fit either mold, and it is those distinct few who really determine the future of us all. That is what Neville Longbottom can teach us.

I especially like the last two sentences, which is really a good reflection of the world as it is. So many don't want to take up the roles of leaders to make a difference because it is hard work, and yet, a lot of the same people refuse to be followers to contribute to a cause. They will be happily sitting in one corner criticizing everything about the direction and efforts of leaders and yet, refuse to do anything more than be a negative spirit, out to tear people down, and never wanting to make an effort to build people up, only have thoughts for no one else but themselves.

being scared

"Doesn't being scared let you know you are on to something important" 
"If your not scared, then you are not taking a chance. And if you are not scared, then what the hell are you doing?"

- HIMYM

only one way to do it..

there are times in life where you want to take an action to do something, with the hope of getting something that your heart desires. more often than not, one has many ways to carry out the actions. you might choose to do it like most people in the world will do, it is usually the easiest way. you may or may not achieve the ending you hope, but very often, it is not God's way. or you can do it God's way, very often is the hardest, very often you have to sacrifice something, but deep inside, you know it is the only way you want to do it, no matter how much easier all other ways are.

I can choose to do it the world way. it is very easy, especially with modern technology. I may or may not achieve the short term outcome, but I know in the long run, it is not an outcome I want. I can wreck my brain and try to picture what each outcome is like, lose sleep over it, but whatever scenario I can come up with, I wont know for sure which one will definitely happen. on the other hand, God has provided another way, to do it His way. Many things I can lose by using His method, higher probability that it will fail. But at the end of the day, if it fails using His method, I know in the long run, it's a good thing it failed cause I wont like the outcome. It's funny how using what seem to be the harder way can make the picture so clear and so simple.

baby watching

not even babysitting. I spent a good 6 hours baby watching today. im definitely not skilled to babysit yet, especially im clueless about changing diapers, and feeding a baby. hence, I offered to baby watch, to entertain the baby while she is awake and not hungry, so that the parents can catch their breathe and finish some marking and some housework, near enough that whenever something happens and carrying cant solve, they can come and make sure the baby doesn't cry for too long.

the first time she started crying while I was carrying her a few weeks ago, I panicked and didn't know what to do till the parents came and take over. turned out she's at a age where she doesn't like to be carried facing up, but rather carried upright so that she can look. so when she started crying again today, that's exactly what I did, thinking that I shall apply something I learnt! turned out that I was wrong again! she was getting sleepy and wanted to sleep. third time, she cried again, and I was wrong again! turned out she was getting hungry and want to be fed!

i hardly did anything very tiring, nor for very long, but i came home a little tired, just from carrying her, singing to her, second guessing what her cries meant. can you imagine what parents have to go through, having the to take care of a child round the clock. it is definitely not exaggeration when they say you wont get much sleep and you will be perpetually tired. saying that, you can just totally see the joy she brings to the parents through every single interaction they have. i didn't ask, they didn't mention, but i bet they will say the joy of having a child outweigh all the things they have to sacrifice.

the last days...

nope, not about the end times. today marked my last official working day at my current workplace and in typical cliché tv show style, I left office with a box of things.

you know you have done some things right along the way when most of your colleagues make time to go for a farewell lunch, express how much they will miss you, and even asked to meet up over the next few days. for this, I thank God, from whom I learned to treat people not just like colleagues, but showing love and care towards them. looking back, I really didn't do anything that I'm very proud of, work wise, but I think I might not be too far off from how God wants me to treat people. it's quite apt that today's QT, it was about first being a Christian, then your occupation - I'm a Christian that happens to be in the marketing line.

so the company finally hired a brand manager to replace the outgoing on. Even though I have only met her three days ago, and our interaction wasn't that much, it was so nice and refreshing to work with someone that came out from similar background. of course it's not good to group think, but it was such a nice change to be able to communicate with someone on the same wavelength. it's a pity that this only lasted 3 days though. it might have been fun.

ash ville

for a country with summer all year round and little pollution, the last few days have really changed the appearance of the landscape. on a first look, it looks like what you would imagine England will look like, grey all the time. but soon, your eyes starts to irritate a little, the air smell like someone somewhere has a giant bbq party, you feel the urge to cough every now and then and sometimes, you feel like you need take in a little bit more air. all these, no thanks to the plantation owners from across the border.

im thankful that I am healthy enough not to feel too affected by the change in air quality. nothing more than feeling my eyes being a bit dry, throat a little itchy, and a bit of blood in the nose (but then again, this could be caused by all the fast food I already consumed this week)

it is also times like this that I feel so dishearten and disappointed with people. many will use this opportunity (or any other opportunity) to criticize the government, and almost all the time, they are never constructive, and almost all the time, vulgar. they think that they have perfect knowledge, that they know how things should be done better.

one good current example would be how everyone seems to think how much the PSI should be based on how hazy it appears to be. I don't dare to say I know much about air quality, but logically, I know PSI does not measure visibility, nor does visibility necessarily correlate with air cleanliness. for one, water in the air causes visibility too (as seen in fog, steam, cloud). secondly, there are many colourless poisonous gases out there, which once again makes sense that visibility does not necessary correlate with air cleanliness. but it's amazing how so many people just insist that the PSI should be this and that based on what they see. it's like everyone suddenly major in environmental science.

when such relentless comments come along, I always wonder what would Jesus do, what would Jesus want me to do? do I attempt to correct them, knowing most of the time, these people are blinded by their hatred that they wont listen to reason? do I leave them alone and let them influence others with their words? do I remove them from my social circles so that I wont have to read about their rants?