Go on and take the first step!

When you take a step back and think about it, I am sure you will realise the first step in everything always seems to be most difficult. For many of us, approaching the opposite sex you have a crush on is likely to be THE toughest moment in your life (makes you feel seeing your boss isn't so bad right?).

I too find it difficult to take the first step at times. I found myself in a predicament when I was trying to decide on my career path. Just two days ago, I tendered my resignation to the HR department of my firm of chartered accountants. Upon tendering my resignation, I felt a sense of excitement. Excitement pointing me at the direction where a new experience awaits me.

At this juncture, I am going to hop on a train to a different career path. A brand new journey of which the destination is unknown to me right now.

Now that I look back at the path leading to my decision, I've come to realised it took me close to a year to make the decision to switch - that first step. Too many things were running through my head, my brain trying to work out all the possible outcomes that may arise from my decision to change my career. Truth be told, it was not something easy for me. It was very well an internal struggle trying to balance making a decision with my brain and with my heart. Having the thought process skewed either way would after all, produce an undesirable outcome.

Deciding using my brain would have led to too much thinking and no action taken. Deciding with my heart would have led to a hasty decision.

After all the struggling within me, I finally spoke to people I found tremendous respect for - my parents, superior(s) in my firm, and close friends outside my firm.

I met an array of reactions - some surprised, some indifferent and some thinking I had lost my mind. But all in all, my chats with them gave me a holistic view I desperately needed. Independent views from people who know me from different angles.

My parents were supportive of my decision albeit my mother was at first unagreeable with my idea of leaving the firm. My dad on the other hand supports me and has been a key figure in my decision making process. But most importantly, both of them had one similar point to note, "if I am going to have to see my son come back every night looking and feeling horrible, I'd rather he get a job he likes doing and at least I get to see him being happy." That statement in itself means a lot to me. It shows how much they care for me and I guess having to see your own child in a sad state like that isn't exactly what I would call a gratifying sight. Most importantly, they said the ultimate decision lies with me and no matter what decision I make, never regret it later on.

I also spoke to a superior in my firm. Well, actually more than just a superior - someone experienced and knowledgeable enough to be a head of department of a firm of chartered accountants - go figure. In terms of respect for people in my firm, if there is one person I'd respect the most in my firm (soon to be ex-firm), it will be her. For someone at her level to bring herself down to my humble level is to me, an exceptional feat. Communicating with her has been all about open communication. To a certain extent, talking to her has been almost like having a mother in my office - someone I could turn to to seek advice above and beyond work matters. In a nutshell, she gave me much encouragement to choose something I had passion for and not just do something that only has monetary measures. Personally, I feel that the opportunity to work with her would be something I would miss dearly. Throughout the time of slight over 2 years with the firm, the best working experience came from working with her.

Another superior mentioned one thing that meant more than many other sentences. She said, "impossible means I-M-POSSIBLE". For those who are still scratching your heads - it is read as I AM POSSIBLE. Opportunities are everywhere, and I just need to go get it.

All the people I spoke to shared one similarity - they were people who showed me the door and opened the door to a new beginning for me. At the end of the day, I have to walk through the door by taking the first step into that door. I finally made that step and it shall forever be a first step for me to remember for the rest of my life........

So, remember - for you to make something happen, you will have to take the first step. So go on and take the first step!

We Are Not Alone..... we can always find comfort in those around us

Our days never really gets easier as we grow up and mature. From the day we are given birth to as a tiny toddler, as we go into kindergarten, primary school, secondary school then into tertiary studies and then finally coming out as a graduate to look for a job to make ends meet.

For those who have been in the workplace would understand how tough it can be, having to deal with a myriad of complications from an unreasonable client, to having an uncooperative subordinate, to working for tough bosses; some if not all of us usually end up getting some sort of combination to the above complications and sometimes some unfortunate ones end up having to deal with all three misfortunes.

Forget the workplace, some of us already have a load of other problems at home - car loans, kids' education, house loan, etc...... and the list goes on. Some people even have to deal with the death of loved ones.

Times liks these, when one is dealt with tough reality blows really can really steam roll one's motivation and emotions. In fact, these are the sort of things that lead to depression - mind you, cases of depression increase every year.

Deep down, most of us look at people who suffer from depression as being mentally and emotionally weak not knowing that we ourselves can succumb to depression. I'd know because I went through a rough time earlier this year and I think I am still recovering from it.

Believe you me, it is far from what I would call a nice experience. To some extent I am lucky to be able to speak to people around me (parents, close friends, relatives) and get their insight but there are many out there who don't have people to turn to, and therefore most of the time breakdown and some even end up taking dratic measures like suicide.

Although I haven't fully recovered, I am slowly trying to get myself back in shape by reading more motivational books, blog more to just let it out (not so just much of letting it out, but simply because I like sharing through writing), and playing with my dog.

I do not know how much of it is true, but going on the road of recovering from depression is made less bumpier with the assistance of a pet. I think it is true because during the early part of this year when I went through a horrible time I found much comfort in my dog. I don't have an expensive dog and I don't even know what sort of breed my dog is, but it is nice to have him around.

I must admit that I do find his barking sometimes irritating but I must accept the fact that he is dog and he is going to bark at people, other dogs, cats and etc..... But strangely, I find playing with him relaxing and even if it is for a short moment, I am able to forget about stressful and unwanted thoughts; even if it is for one minute, that one minute of cheerful time means a lot to me.

I clearly remembered the time when my mom wanted Blackie (that's my dog's name anyway), I was rather adamant about it because I knew having a dog would pretty much mean another member of the family, which eventually was going to mean more work to do - cleaning his poo, feeding him, etc..... But now that I look back, I am pretty glad to have Blackie around.

These days when I get back from work, I find myself looking forward to food (that's obvious given my high metabolic rate) and I find Blackie waiting for me to give him a pat. He'd be pacing up and down impatiently for me to pat him. Probably because of his sharp ears, he surprisingly recognises the sound of my car's engine and knows that I am home. It is a good feeling to know there's someone waiting for you when you get home. After all, sometimes I get back pretty late and I find my parents already in bed but I still have Blackie around to fool around with before I go to bed.

Bad times and sad times can come at anytime given the volatile state of our lives - ups and downs are always around. Knowing you have someone around to just be there when you need them can really lift you up, whether it is to just hold your hand, give you a pet on the back, give you a hug or even if it's a dog that goes, "woof, woof!" when it sees you feeling down.