The volunteer trainer made an excellent suggestion that mentors should focus on positive outcome in all situations without forgetting to provide objective feedback.
For example, if a job application is not successful, focus on the positive aspects of the experience as a lesson learnt. Results are not always binary. As disappointing the outcome may look like, it is important to focus on the “silver linings” and march on with head held high.

This week was quite a busy week for me as I attended the Prince’s Trust mentoring training for 2 days.
I would like to share some quick takeaway points in mentoring young people.
First, let the young person (mentee) talk by asking open questions.
As people more mature in age, we tend to form opinions in our minds based on our longer life experience.
However, it can be counter-productive in mentoring others if we form our own opinions (and sometimes solutions) too early.
In addition, as suggested by some people, it is better to teach someone to fish than just providing them with the fish.

A few days ago I wrote about the French course that I was not able to sign up for due to the January effect of over-subscription. I am here to update my readers as some of you are curious how that all ends.
Well, I am proud (as a teacher’s pet) that my name dropping of reminding the instructor who I am finally has brought a favorable outcome. The registration office called me tonight and told me that the instructor had made an exception to accept me. Now I will have to keep up with the homework (some if not all) to earn my place in the class.

It is where…
the sun shines;
the moon glows;
the air flows;
the rain drifts;
the snow floats;
the flowers grow;
the birds sing;
the dogs bark;
the people smile;
the children dance;
love thrives;
God speaks and
mountains move.

Besides the January gym-going, I did not realize that taking language course is another popular January “activity”. Well, I learned it the hard way.
It took me more than one week to get through the registration telephone line (and emailing them) trying to re-enrol my French course and the lady at the administration office politely told me that the course was FULL. She will need to speak to the teacher to see if she can accept more students. I told her repeatedly to mention my name to the teacher hoping that it would make a difference. Still awaiting an answer as of today.

On the back of my previous blog on “Giving the Best Shot”, another friend of a “certain age” echoed with it.
He said, “I think the best is yet to come and I am definitely not calling this the peak of my life.”
Indeed, at whatever age we are, we should explore and find new ways to contribute to the society, interact with and bless others as well as enjoy life.
There are new people to meet, new horizons to reach, new grounds to break and new jokes to crack :>

A friend of mine, an entrepreneur in his mid-50s, told me that he is no longer “obsessed” and worried about his retirement which deterred him from taking on risk in the past. In his words: “What the head! I only live once and I must make the best out of it – Being carried out feet first or not!”
I applaud his attitude for not letting anything stop him from getting to where he wants to be as an entrepreneur. A word of caution that it does not apply to everyone as we all have different choices, circumstances and paths to go on.

A friend of mine told me that the first week in January is considered as the toughest work week of the entire year.
Well, I can attest to it. It does feel that way as I am battling with jetlag coming back from Canada last weekend (it actually took longer than I thought). However, with the weekend in sight, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In addition, there is retail therapy with post-Christmas sales still going strong in London. To top it off, a French friend told me that today is the Saint Raymond in France. That made my day :>

A friend of mine who is a regular gym-goer asked me for ways to avoid the rush of January gym goers.
My advice is:
a) The rush usually lasts no more than the first two weeks of January. Keep calm and carry on.
b) Continue your gym-going routine in terms of frequency
c) Shorten the gym session (to a minimum of 30 minutes) if the crowd is unbearable
d) Change your gym schedule to non-rush hours (the best is 45 minutes before the close)
e) Blend your gym going with other sports (or simply walking more) to maintain the same level of exercise

Have fun and keep it up :>

Happy New Year to ALL :>

January is often a “dramatic” month including all the jazz about new year resolution and detoxification (detox). For those who are into new year resolution (including me – what a surprise!), I would advise making realistic goals on what you can achieve in the month of January, in particular coming from December, a month mostly filled with festive activities.

Take small giant steps and avoid becoming over-zealous
risking “falling flat on one’s face” (not a pretty picture!).
One step at a time and walk/run with both feet before flying up high.