You are special - Max Lucado

In this charming village of colorful shops and cobblestone streets live the little wooden people known as Wemmicks. Their workshops are on a high hill where they are able to view the entire village from. Every of them look different, some with big nose, some with big eyes, some tall, some short, some wearing hats, some wearing jackets. But they are all carved by the same person and they all live in the same village.

All day, everyday, the whimsical Wemmicks go about town doing the same thing: they give each other stickers. Golden stars are awarded to the talented and clever, while the clumsy and less gifted receive nothing but gray dots. Some of them are strong, some are able to jump very well. Also, some are very clever and some can sing very well. Everyone will give these people stickers. Some of them have stickers all over their bodies! They will think of more good things to do so that they can earn more stickers. Those who don’t have any talents will receive a lot of gray dots.

Punchinello is covered with the dreaded gray stickers. Try as he might, he just can't seem to earn even one golden star. He wants to jump as high as his friends but will always end up falling on his bum. When he falls, people will rushed over to put gray dots on him. After some time, he has so many gray dots on him that he did not dare to go out. He is afraid of doing more wrong things and getting more gray dots.

One day, he meets a most unusual Wemmick and discovers that things can be different. She has no stickers or gray dots on her. Her name is Lucia. Punchinello thinks to himself, “I want to be like that too.” He asked Lucia how he can be like her.

She asked him to visit a woodcarver who stays at the top of the hill. When he takes his new friend’s advice and visits the extraordinary woodcarver something strange begins to happen to Punchinello. The woodcarver said to him, “I think you are special”. Punchinello said, “Me? Special? I don’t run fast, jump high. Why do you care about me?” He looked at him and said, “Because I made you, you are mine.” At that time, the gray dots from his body dropped to the ground one by one.

Career Orientation

I did my career orientations inventory today and here's the results...

Lifestyle (Top)
Those who are focused on lifestyle look at their whole pattern of living. They not so much balance work and life as integrate it. They may even take long periods off work on which to indulge in passions such as writing a book, or travelling. They would not like work to compromise their lilfestyle.
(This is so true of me ...)

Service/Dedication to a cause (Second)
These are driven by how they can help other people more than using their talents (which may fall in other areas). They are willing to take lower status or pay, or even difficulties in the job if they see it as meaningful and doing good for others.
(definitely)

Independent/autonomy (Third)
These people have a primary need to work under their own rules and steam. They prefer to work alone, with little supervision. They like to be trusted and respected for their work.
(Yup!)

Ice age 3

Rational versus rationalising beings

"Life is about faith. Jesus knew that most of what we do in life is simply taken on faith. We like to think we are rational beings living logical lives based upon objective facts. But the truth is, we are rationalising beings who base most of our decisions on what we feel or believe and come up with the logic to justify our actions afterwards. We don't really know as much as we think we do. "

(Excerpt from Jesus The Greatest Therapist Who Ever Lived)

Roses are red, violets are blue

I have always liked new beginnings...creating something out of nothing :) These 2 days I have been setting up my study table, I call it my cosy corner cos I can be at my comfort where I am - studying, reading, writing, drawing, anything. I value comfort greatly :D

I saw 2 lovely red gerbera at Ikea and I knew I had to get it. They really cheered me up and true enough, it brings warmth and cheer to my cosy corner. I came across this flower years ago from a show I liked a lot, "To heart" and I have been drawn to it ever since. Did some research on it and also the flower that Pris likes - the white rose. There is this thing abt flowers that has a effect on most girls. The blooming of a flower - a breathtaking moment.

When you want to send the gift of cheer, gerbera daisies are your sure choice. Distinguished by large flowering heads that closely resemble those of sunflowers, gerbera daisies come in a vibrant rainbow of colors. Bright pink, snow white, sunny yellow, and ruby red are just a few of the gorgeous colors that these happy flowers boast.

The gerbera daisy was discovered in 1884 near Barberton, South Africa, by Scotsman Robert Jameson. While the flower’s scientific name, Gerbera jamesonii, recollects the name of its founder, the meaning of its common name draws from German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Breeding programs that began in England in 1890 enhanced the flower’s quality and color variations. The gerbera daisy’s popularity soon traveled to growers in the Netherlands which, along with Columbia, is the primary distributor of the flower’s cut version today. The gerbera currently ranks as the fifth most popular flower in the world behind the rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip.

The meanings of gerbera daisies stem from those attributed to the general daisy family. These meanings include innocence and purity, and daisies are also a classic symbol of beauty. However, the gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colors available. An assorted bouquet of gerbera daisies can lift the spirit and sending one is an ideal way to brighten someone’s day. The sheer multitude of available varieties has helped the gerbera daisy become a favorite choice for many different occasions – birthdays, get well, congratulations, thank you, and more.

There are many types of flowers which can help to express our thoughts and feelings for our loved ones, but the gerbera daisy and its meaning stand out as one of the most distinctly bright and merry. With its bold and striking appearance, the gerbera daisy has become the most highly-prized daisy variety. When you send gerbera daisies, know that these fresh flowers convey a deeply meaningful message and make a lively lasting impression

The meaning of shimmering white roses is not very hard to decipher if you go by their appearance. The color white has always been synonymous with purity and virtue. And so, sincerity, purity, and chastity are some of the obvious meanings of a white rose. When you need to convince that your affections are straight from the heart and are as pure as virgin snow, use a white rose. But there are more hidden meanings in a white rose than meets the eye. White has ever been a symbol of innocence, of a world unspoiled and untarnished. The meaning of a bunch of glowing white roses is innocence and spiritual love. The white rose glorifies a love that is unaware of the temptations of the flesh and resides only in the soul. As opposed to the red rose that speaks of passionate promises, the meaning of a white rose is in its simplicity and pristine purity.

Purity, Innocence, Silence, Secrecy, Reverence, Humility, Youthfulness, "I am worthy of you", Heavenly, Loyalty, penetrating and platonic love, honor, spiritual love In Scotland, when the white rose bloomed in autumn, it was seen as a token of early marriage. Also symbolizing truth and reverence, it sends a message of loyalty and says "I am worthy of you." Create an atmosphere of purity and spirituality with a white rose. With their aura of innocence and honor, white roses have become popular wedding roses and are often used to symbolize new beginnings or as a tribute to a departed loved one. White roses have been symbols of reverence and humility ever since Medieval Christian Europe. In those times, Mary was often represented by a white rose to represent her purity. In Wales, white roses are seen to mean innocence and silence, and are often placed on the grave of a young child. Meanwhile, some native American cultures see the white rose as representing security and happiness, so this is why they are traditionally worn at weddings.

Sometimes called "the flower of light", one of the meanings of white roses is everlasting love - love stronger than death, an eternal love, undying and all sustaining. White rose speaks of a love that is sustained more by loyalty, reverence and humility than by red-blooded passion. So, in its capacity to worship someone till death, the meaning of a white rose is unchanging loyalty that endures beyond all else.

The white bouquet has been a tradition since Queen Victoria’s wedding in l840. It was in this romantic era that gentlemen started sending flowers to their lady friends to denote special meanings. The white rose is the queen of the bridal bouquet. Here, the meaning of a white rose is something different altogether. A virgin carrying the white roses seeks to assure her loved one of her purity and innocence. Untarnished and untainted - the white rose is the bride on her wedding day. In the "language of the flowers" the meaning of white roses is "I am worthy of you". The meaning of the white rose will not be lost on a groom when he sees his bride's eyes filled with unchanging love and loyalty, a promise to stand by him through all.

The meaning of white roses is not only in their full blooms. A withered or fading white rose is also clamoring to be heard. Fleeting beauty or “you made no impression” - as cruel as that may sound. When you need to keep away from the ardent sighs of an unwelcome admirer, perhaps it is wise to present a bunch of fading white roses.

The most famous meanings of the white rose arise from mythology. Many of these surround Aphrodite (Venus) as Goddess of love. She sprang forth into life from the foaming sea, and where the foam fell to the ground, white roses grew. This and later myths about Aphrodite display the dual nature of love: purity and innocence represented by white roses; desire and sexual gratification by red ones. In one story she runs to help her wounded lover Adonis and catches her flesh on the thorns of the white rose bush. Her blood falling on the bush turns the roses red, symbolizing the way innocence and purity change to experience and motherhood.