So this evening I got my hair done, once again, on impulse. The weather caught me in a good mood today and so I decided to do a walk-in at Artica instead of some random budget salon around my neighbourhood.

Artica Hair Studio
14 Scotts Road
Far East Plaza
#04-82
Singapore 228213

I’m usually not particular about the salon I visit, but I changed my mind after an unpleasant experience yesterday at a particular neighbourhood salon. Though I paid a hefty sum for my hair treatment (including a bottle of hair collagen and SGD10 festive period surcharge), I felt it was worth my every cent. With an outstanding team of hairstylists and their skillful hands and hospitable smiles, what more can I ask for?

I would love to take a proper picture to show you how soft and shiny my hair is now but since they do not do justice in portraying the most authentic condition, I gave up the idea altogether. Well, for safekeeping’s sake, I couldn’t help but to take a self portrait of my post treatment hairdo! Please do not judge me.

I hope my hair stays tamed until the festive period is over.

2) Do what I love

3) Be joyful always

4) Bring someone to know God

The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.

I never liked running. De facto, I hated it.

Friends who had been accidental victims of my eleventh hour ditches at the gym would be able to testify best, my abhorrence for the sport.

There was something I wanted very badly though. It was a silly wish I made when I was 15. As frivolous as it may sound, it was something I wanted very much, and even more, as years went by.

Smitten by the distasteful comments for being an airhead with all talk and no action, I signed up for my first half marathon, alone. Considering my record-breaking history of laziness, 21 was no easy feat. Furthermore, I have never ran more than 3K. Call me mad, call me crazy, or call me nuts, I think it was a combination of pride and insanity.

The birth of my new hobby began there and then, on 28 May 2011 at the Sundown Marathon (21K).

Hooked by the adrenaline, I signed up for the adidas KOTR Singapore (16.8K) which was held on 28 August 2011. I managed to rope in my brother and Doreen for this race, who I am glad shares the same likes.

There was also the very much anticipated annual Nike We Run Singapore (10K) held on 9 October 2011. No certificates were issued for this particular race. Running up and down Nicol Highway was not exactly exciting, and not to mention some pardonable glitches at the start pen. But as usual, Nike never fails to impress its runners with the food and entertainment at the race village.

Finally, the biggest highlight of the race calendar, on 4 December 2011, the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore. Even though I did not manage to complete it under my target timing of 6 hours, I made it past the finishing line before noon, and did a little victory dance in my head. Thank God for the friends I bumped into at the later parts of the race. They made the journey a whole lot more joyful.

With a total of 89.995K clocked in four races over a period of six months, I thereby conclude my running addiction for the year 2011.

This is why I run.

Cheers to the many kilometers ahead.

#1 Canon EF 15mm f2.8 Fisheye Lens

#2 Holga 135BC

#3 Nike Tempo Running Shorts 

#4 Royce Chocolate Potato Chips

To be continued…

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.

When we plant a rose seed in the earth, we notice it is small, but we do not criticize it as “rootless and stemless”. We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed. When it first shoots up out of the earth, we don’t condemn it as immature and underdeveloped, nor do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear. We stand in wonder at the process taking place, and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development. The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. It seems to be constantly in the process of change: Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is. A flower is not better when it blooms than when it is merely a bud; at each stage it is the same thing — a flower in the process of expressing its potential.