What it means being a slow learner?

For many of us, growing up is fun and always filled with daily inputs of things we see, feel, touch, taste and hear. But to some of us, growing up is difficult, slow and sometimes even painful. That difference comes from the difference in learning abilities. More specifically - learning speed.

I ask myself why some of us find it difficult to learn things while some people just pick things up very easily and grasping new things, ideas, technique or knowledge very quickly? I used to be part time cello during my university days. I am blessed in the sense that I got a chance to teach a fairly wide spectrum of students -teaching those who were fast at learning and vice versa.

Some have asked me who do I prefer to teach - fast or slow learners. Honestly, I don't really have preference in terms of who I teach as long as they put effort in trying to learn. In many respects, it is much gratifying to teach slow learners especially those who really work hard to improve and to learn from me. It has always given great satisfaction and probably because I too fall in the category of a slow learner.

Being slow at learning things is frustrating. Not just frustrating, it is very frustrating. It is demotivating and emotionally stressful. As for myself, growing up with an elder brother who learnt things so much faster than myself has always been difficult. Constantly being under the shadow of an elder brother is not fun. We both learnt the cello and piano at the same time, and whatever our teacher taught us, which I took 4 to 5 weeks to grasp he'd do it in 2 weeks or less. Even studying, he always faired well by spending half the time I had to spend to achieve equivalent or maybe slightly better. Coming to think of it, even in squash when we were both under the same coach I have never beaten him everytime he got serious!

Even till today, he always seems to be a step ahead, having the edge while I am constantly digging deep to barely survive whatever is thrown at me. Being positive is not easy but it helps to keep me afloat, but there are times when I just run out positivity fuel.

Even in my work place, I see many who are like myself and I also see many who just learn things at a very quick pace..... quick learners just do well and become high flyers while slow learners just trail from behind struggling with every bit of strength and effort. I guess hardwork alone cannot surpass those gifted in learning things quickly. Sad.... but true.....

Over Drive

The story begins with a flashforward to the Tour de France, where Mikoto Shinozaki would become the first Japanese champion. Time before this, and while feeling a deep crush for Yuki Fukazawa, Mikoto then decides to get into his high school cycling club as Fukuzawa's suggestion, even though he has never practiced any sport before. Ironically, the club's leader is Yousuke, Fukuzawa's older brother and a renowned road racer from his town. Yousuke's long time cycling partner and club's vice president Kouichi Terao sees in Shinozaki all the potential and courage necessary to become a road cycling legend. Over drive is the story of how Mikoto Shinozaki becomes interested in cycling and all the ups and downs he must live to get his dream of becoming Tour de France's champion come true.

Really enjoyed the show, since I love sports and I love cycling as well. In terms of plot, it really emphasizes how Shinozaki worked hard and through guts manages to become a champion. The plot is emotional, showing the emotional challenges Shinozaki has to face since he is a loner at school and often picked on by so calleds 'cool students'. In addition, the plot also shows the dark side of human nature for many people simply passed Shinozaki as a loser and would never make it or even last the cycling training. Despite all the negative views of him, he constantly pursues his dream to become a true cycling champion.........

Kiss it Up to God!

Are you the worrier, the type that cannot stop thinking about the future and how the future can affect you or what the future holds for you? Well, that's because I that sort of person - always thinking about what's going to happen next - "full of what ifs"!

I guess some of us are born worriers just like some born talents, only that we are talented at worrying rather than being a piano, cello or a math prodigy. Thing is, it is not that we want to worry about things but it just comes naturally like how we breathe or just blink our eyes without us being conscious about it.

I worry alot because there are always expectations to meet and goals I want to constantly achieve. To be honest, it does not necessarily help me emotionally and mentally.

When one is troubled, I believe we should always fall back on the Word of God and I found this wonderful piece of text - in the Bible, Matthew records Jesus' words saying: "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:25-26, 33-34).

Reading that qoute really made sense to me - when you worry too much about the future you get bogged up with all the "what ifs" and you find yourself really troubled over scenarios you think may happen. But let's face it, one cannot possibly predict all the outcomes of any given scenario because what lies in the future cannot be predicted so easily. Besides, predictions are mere guesses and even if one can do simulations; even then, simulations are just informed guesses which are still guesses!

I have to just accept the fact that our lives have been well planned by Him and whatever that is happening now were all predestined by Him. When I think back now, I am thankful for He has done much for me and I could not possibly be happier right now! :) When one is in doubt just "kiss it up to God", He'll help us take care of the problem........

Have a read about "Kiss it Up to God"..... a story I bumped into while I was in the conundrum of all the "what ifs".

'Kiss It Up to God'
A young girl learns that God takes care of everything--from lollipops to pet fish.
By Bob Perks

I heard a phrase today that I hadn't heard in a long time.

"Kiss it up to God!"

When we were children and we dropped a piece of candy on the ground, someone would say, "Just kiss it up to God." Supposedly that would wash away all of the germs and dirt and make it safe to eat.

Now I must admit that I'm not exactly sure if it was our faith in God that called us to do that or the fact that we weren't going to waste a perfectly good piece of candy. But whatever it was it helped us to believe that a kiss would make it all better.

It was a young child who reminded me of that today. She had been walking with her Mom hand in hand in the local mall. Mom stopped suddenly and sat down next to me on the bench. The young girl dropped her big lollipop on the floor. Now I must tell you even I would have washed that lollipop. But quicker than Mom could say, "Honey don't!", the young girl yelled "Kiss it up to God," and popped in back in her mouth.

Okay, so my faith these days says that God would protect her in spite of all the dirt and dust that stuck to that thing.

"Honey, you shouldn't have done that," Mom said.

"But Mom you told me that's what you always said when you were a kid," the child replied.

"Yes, that's because I believed that God could make everything better if I just believed. But you should have washed that first."

"But God took care of it, right?" the child said with a look of concern.

"Yes, honey. I'm sure he did. God takes care of everything," Mom assured her.

"Well then why did my fishy die this morning? Should we have kissed him up to God, too?" she asked.

"Well..." Mom had to think about this one. This was an important moment between a parent and child.

"Honey, God kissed him up and made him all better by taking him home," Mom said with some relief and satisfaction

"God kissed him up to God?"

"Well, yes. Then he made him better and kept him."

The young child stood there thinking for a moment while Mom tried her best to clean off the lollipop.

Then with all the logic and innocence of a young child her daughter said, "Well, then I'm glad I did it so fast. He's not getting my lollipop!"

Mom, a bit stunned at first looked up at me and we both started laughing.

I believe God smiled at that one.

Hitman: Enemy Within by William C. Dietz

Yes people, it is the same Hitman from the video game franchise! For many fans of the game, you get go through what Agent 47 goes through working as a top notch assasin for The Agency.

This is the same William C. Dietz who has written numerous franchises including Halo and Star Wars.

Quick synopsis of the story:
Bred to kill, Agent 47 is The Agency’s most valuable assassin. So when a competing murder-for-hire organization decides to destroy The Agency, the first person they target for elimination is Agent 47. Tasking someone to off the best hitman in the business is one thing; getting the job done is another. When the attempt falls short, Agent 47 is ordered to track down and kill the culprit who is feeding vital information about The Agency to its enemies.

Agent 47 must follow a bloody trail halfway around the world, fight his way through the streets of Fez, Morocco, and battle slavers deep inside Chad. Then he will discover a shattering truth: If he fails at his mission, the price he’ll pay will be far greater than his own life. . . .

My take of the book:
First thing to note, I really did enjoy the book. Took me only three days to finish the book simply because I was so glued to it! The story does shed some light on Agent 47's life growing up to be an assasin - live, breath, see, think and dream about killing people for The Agency. So for those who pick up this book and for the first time getting to know Agent 47, you will not be lost and thinking aboutn how he came about.

I must admit, there is quite a number of killings going on in the book and very well described, thus putting the reader in a very close-to-the-scene feel of the story. On top of that, the tactics the author applies into Agent 47 when going for a kill is very detailed and professionally done - very closely related to the game. Hence, simplest way to describe it - imagine kill rates like Rambo but done discreetly and withouth big guns, grenades or rocket launchers, meaning to say silent and quick deaths to all his preys.

Although Agent 47 is known to be the best ever assasin known to the underworld, the author still highlights the fact that his past as a child still haunts him, so there is a sense of realism to the book.

The main drawback of this book - because the author truly puts in the details of how Agent 47 goes through his kills, the plot becomes predictable and to some extent does take away the element of surprise. Then again, you cannot possibly have the best of both of worlds for details and element of surprise! Notably a good effort by the author.

In a nutshell, a good book to read and at a reasonable price of only RM32.50, which is a bargain for me! However, for parents who may want to get this book for their children, some discretion is needed due to the certain degree of language/nudity applied to the book.

Personally, I hope the author will continue to make a series on Agent 47 and hopefully this is not the first and last novel about Agent 47......... :)