"I have found it of enormous value when I can permit myself to understand another person. The way in which I have worded this statement may seem strange to you. Is it necessary to permit oneself to understand another? I think that it is. Our first reaction to most of the statements which we hear from other people is an immediate evaluation or judgment, rather than an understanding of it. When someone expresses some feeling or attitude or belief, our tendency is, almost immediately, to feel "That’s right!"; or "That’s stupid!"; "That’s abnormal"; "That’s unreasonable"; "That’s incorrect"; "That’s not nice." Very rarely do we permit ourselves to understand precisely what the meaning of his statement is to him. I believe this is because understanding is risky. If I let myself really understand another person, I might be changed by that understanding. And we all fear change. So as I say, it is not an easy thing to permit oneself to understand an individual, to enter thoroughly and completely and empathetically into his frame of reference. It is also a rare thing." - Carl Rogers
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saving the World: STEP ONE
Today I came across an extremely inspirational blog by local Hong Kong guy who has decided to boycott the oligopoly for one year. So what is he doing exactly? He isn’t riding buses at all - because they’re all owned by just one private company. He isn’t buying groceries from ParknShop and Wellcome - the two biggest supermarkets who are trying to push all other smaller, family-owned stores down under. He isn’t buying his medicine from Watson’s - which I thought was the ONLY pharmacy around in HK - because they’re EVERYWHERE. What an inspiration this guy is! He keeps all this cans and bottles and when he’s filled up a huge bag, he puts them outside his apartment for the grannies to collect - 500 bottles yields HK$50!
This is actually a very serious issue because once these private companies (I also found out that a handful of the richest men in HK own the real estate companies, the telecommunication companies, large food chainstores and many clothing stores too - WOAH!!) These rich men are close to monopolizing the whole consumer market of HK and THAT is a big deal.
So yes, I do want to join in and do more for a better society.
What will I do?
1. - RECYCLE. I’ll confess, I’ve been so lazy about recycling ever since I came to HK. For one, it was compulsory in Australia and the bins were also much bigger and I had more space to put my bottles and cans. My tiny matchbox apartment in HK leaves me no room to even put a normal trashbag. BUT that’s just an excuse. And an unacceptable one too. So from now on, I shall recycle.
2. - SHOP. I’m talking about groceries. Hehe. I’ve actually already been shopping for local-produced things such as honey because I watched a show about local honey-makers in HK who are being pushed out of the market. So I guess I’ll continue doing that and maybe a bit more and try to shop at the local markets instead. There’s actually one about a 10 minute walk away and I’ve only been there once. Shame. Yes, I’ll admit that. It was awesome though because the vegetables and fruits were so much fresher and bigger and CHEAPER!!
3. - DRINK. Yes I like beer and I probably won’t stop drinking beer (please don’t tell me it’s bad for the environment/society??) I meant water. I’ve always carried my own bottle of water around until all that fuss about the BPA or PBA or whatever bad chemical is in the plastic. But again, that’s just an excuse! Bottled water was expensive back in Australia (hello, Mt Franklin?!) and that was one reason why I carried my own. Here in HK, it’s relatively cheap. But very un-ecofriendly. So I’ll buy a bottle that’s free of bad chemicals and one that the lid actually does open - the reason I say that is because during winter I bought a thermos to put my own coffee in and I could NOT, absolutely NOT twist open the cap. So now it’s just used as a “cup” in my house. Anyways, I’ll buy a better quality one next time.
Okay, I think three goals seem quite achievable and reasonable. What do you think? Care to join? You may think that one person can’t do much but there’s what is called the circle of influence. If, in every handful of people, there was one who took a step, that would make a whole lotta difference.
On a lighter note….enjoy this cartoon: Two men being pro-Tibet. One shows support through wearing of a T-shirt and the other…..boycotts ‘Made in China’. Go figure.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Maybe Satan could use some therapy...
The other day, I had too much time on my hands. Actually, more like I wasn’t paying attention to whatever it was that I was doing. Yea, that seems more like it. I’m usually always doing something, just not necessarily paying attention. R found out that when we talk on the phone and I’m agreeing to everything he says that I’m actually not really listening at all.
So the other day, I had time (in my mind). And I thought about all the bad stuff that’s been happening and how there’s all this sin and evil and Satan. And then I thought, was Satan always evil? And then I thought, what if Satan had therapy? Would he become better? And then I thought, what kind of a childhood could he have experienced to traumatize him so much that he wants to do such evil? Because really, how can anyone or anything come into this world and just want to be evil?
Maybe, Satan could become a bit nicer and a tad more humane from some therapy…..
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I scream on public transport
So I found this fascinating game called Doodle Jump. Any of you play it? Well, I would say it is rather addictive, and it doesn’t require too much thinking. Because, as fun as Words with Friends is, it really does put me off how much thinking I need to do. Heck! I play games to relax! Not to make me feel frustrated and dumb!!!
Anyways, I really do like this Doodle Jump game. But the only problem is….I can’t play it in public. It’s a good time killer for those subway rides. But seriously, I scream out loud. I get a little too excited and I scream a little bit whenever I die (which is quite often - hey, I said I liked to play, didn’t say I was good at it).
