Cinta Sendiri

Sneak Peek

EXAM FEVER. Can you feel the HEAT?

Now that exam fever has returned. Yesterday one of the boys told me that he hasn't revised my subject despite he will sit for my paper today. WHY?? Reason 1: not enough time for revision (usually heard from them since they have 13 subjects to revise, yes my dear reader 13). Reason 2: too tired (commuting from Bandar to the college- which is around 30-40 mins drive). Reason 3: bla bla bla. Frankly speaking, I myself dislike exams but no matter what we have to get through of it. Teachers, parents would also start worrying few months or weeks before the exam begin. So as to achieve better performance of their respective students/children, several efforts have been made. Extra / remedial classes, motivational talks are some of them. As for parents, they will spend for tuition classes, purchase those supplementary pills to maintain or improve good memory. You guys (students) are lucky to have parents who really care.

For the case of my students, the following might help:

• time management is important. They know they have 13 subjects with hundreds of topics to revise and practice.
  
• Concentration during the lesson is crucial.
  
• For subjects like maths, POA or any other subjects. Try to gather the formulas and paste it on your room's wall, preferably near your bed. By doing this, it can helps you to memorise easily since you are looking the formulas before you to bed and the first thing you see after you woke up will be the formulas posters hehehe. (This is what I did yeahh).
  
• Revise more during weekends. Skip your weekends activities for a while.
  
• Sleep well. (Ok, I admit it might be impossible but at least try).
  
• Remember during Tuesday's assembly. There were few tips given like: jangan makan organ dalaman binatang (e.g. hati, kaki ayam). Btw, is kaki ayam consider organ dalaman binatang??. Do not look at your private part too often (the climax of the assembly of course) and much much.
  

When I searched for 'exam fever' from the web, I've found few which are useful. Here has mentioned that ' According to doctors, the sheer pressure of the event can cause an increase in a number of minor ailments, including headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhoea or constipation. Exam fever can also lead to a flare-up of certain stress-related conditions such as eczema, asthma and acne. Most of the ailments are manageable, but at their worst, they can affect exam performance.' If the stresses and strains become too much, pupils should not be afraid to go to a GP. It can be a stressful time for people and it is better not to put it off if you are having health problems.'' Hay fever is one of the leading culprits and often hits hardest just as the exam season gets into full swing. With students spending long hours revising or cramming for their exams, they can easily suffer from insomnia as they find it difficult to switch off. Long periods spent reading or working on a computer can lead to tired, red eyes and muscular pain.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU) has issued a Safe Code to help students ease some of the symptoms. Here are their recommendations:

HEADACHES

Study in a well-ventilated room and take regular breaks. Students who wear glasses or contact lenses should make sure to do so when they are studying so as not to strain their eyes.

DEHYDRATION

Drink lots of water and avoid too much coffee or stimulant drinks such as Red Bull, because they can cause dehydration. The weather is usually good during exam time. If studying outdoors, be sure to wear high factor suncream, wear a hat and cover up in the sun.

STOMACH UPSETS

Avoid spicy foods or foods that you know don't agree with you. Eat small amounts of food at regular intervals. A glass of milk or peppermint tea can be good for stomach upsets. Motillium tablets can be good for certain stomach upsets.

DIARRHOEA AND CONSTIPATION

Stress can cause disruption to a student's digestive system which could result in diarrhoea or constipation. If a student is constipated, they should drink plenty of water and eat fruit and high-fibre foods. For diarrhoea, make sure to drink plenty of water.

ASTHMA

Be extra vigilant in using inhalers correctly. Preventative inhalers should be used regularly. Make sure that you have an ample supply of inhalers and carry one with you so it can be used during the exam if required.

ECZEMA

Stress can cause eczema to flare up. Keep the skin well moisturized with the cream prescribed by your doctor. Wear loose-fitting clothes that won't aggravate the condition.

COLD SORES

Use preventative cream as a precaution if you are prone to cold sores during times of stress. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying the cream to avoid the cold sores spreading.

INSOMNIA

Take some light exercise or other activity such as having a bath or shower in order to relax before bedtime. Don't study in bed, because this will overstimulate your brain. Set aside a period for relaxing during the study schedule.

MUSCULAR AND JOINT PAIN

Posture is very important in avoiding muscular discomfort. It's important to have a chair that will provide good back support. Avoid crossing legs or slouching over a desk. Take frequent breaks, walk around for a few moments or perform some light stretches.

HAY FEVER

Those who suffer from hay fever should take steps to ensure that the condition does not flare up during the exams. Keep doors and windows closed in mid-morning and early evening when pollen levels peak. Apply a little Vaseline inside the nose to help reduce symptoms. If you use antihistamines, check they don't cause drowsiness.

EAT WELL

Make sure you eat regular, well-balanced, healthy meals.

Aoife Mulligan, who scored 10 A1s in the Junior Cert, tells how she got through the exams

With only three weeks to go until the exams, it's easy to spend all your time studying and to forget that there is another side of exam preparation: staying fit and healthy.

I knew sleep was really important, so I tried to get around eight hours of sleep a night. I studied in the morning rather than late at night, because studying and then trying to sleep was difficult. I found it helpful to stop studying at least an hour before going to bed.

Exercise was a really good way to clear my mind and relax, especially walking, jogging and cycling.

I also found a good way to save time by exercising and working for the exams at the same time. I took my iPod with me and listened to the audio CDs for the aural exams while I was out.

During the run-up to the exams I started eating more healthily, cutting out foods such as sweets and crisps, and replacing them with fruit and vegetables. I knew breakfast was important -- if you don't usually eat breakfast, now is the time to start. Porridge was really good, because it kept me going. I also found that eating a healthy snack between meals was a good idea.

During the last few weeks, I think the most important thing is to avoid getting too stressed-out, since it is not going to get you anywhere.

Remember that in a few weeks the exams will be over and done with.

To accomplish great things,
We must not only act,
But also dream,
Not only plan but also believe,
Best wishes for your exam.

Human brain is the most
outstanding object in world.
It functions 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
It functions right from the time we are born,
and stop only when we enter the examination hall. J

SOLO ACT – THE GREAT ESCAPE

Hellewwwwww....... Last Tuesday, I've made the monumental decision and book a solo trip to KL for two sleeps (Friday – Sunday). Since it was a last minute trip, I didn't have much time to plan a project other than window-shopping and relaxing. I booked myself into a nice, convenient but expectedly very honeymoon hotel & lots of tourists from the Middle East. After checking in – the bell boy – Cik, sorang aje?? Attend conference? Meeting? . (Ok, ok, yes m alone... judge me as a loner... muahahhahaa). Soooo..... what did I do for this trip?

Day 1 – After checking in, I feel lonely as soon as I entered my room and texted Z. (She told me to think of the stuffs waiting hehehe)

• Ada Complimentary fruits.
  
• The initial pangs of loneliness and self-consciousness soon gave way to a sense of empowerment and freedom (yahooooo).
  
• Went to the pavilion (5 mins walk- on the right of the hotel)
  
• Went to Times bookshop (i prefer here than Borders KL)
  
• Nine West on sale (so apalagi...).
  
• Tapau food at Genki Sushi.
  
• Back to the hotel before 8pm (as advised by the hotel staff... not to go alone at night time)
  
• Had Sushi for dinner than made an appointment for massage at the hotel spa.
  
• Watched The Holiday on HBO.
  
• Overall, a little bit boring nite hahhahaa.
  

  
  

  Day 2 – Late for breakfast... went to the cafe at 10am and it was packed. So I decided to go straight away to KLCC and had breakfast at Secret Recipe. Confidence was forced upon me or I'd never have left my room. I never eat alone outside home but here, I had no alternative, except the decidedly defeatist room service option. Also a 5 mins walk to KLCC ... there are few options going to KLcc from the hotel. Either walk along the main road, or the best part, go to KL Convention Centre (opp the hotel), proceed to the basement level where Aquaria is... jalan straight then u reach Suria KLCC.... or u might choose via KLCC park... exit the Convention Centre where u can enjoy the scenery. At Suria KLCC, - M&S, Zara (no size lah), ISETAN were on sale during the weekend. By 2pm the premise started to pack and I decided to go back to the hotel, have rest for a while and go to Pavilion again. Parkson SALE.. kemarin no.. so I am LUCKY. Then, I went to Times again.... till 7pm coz I have SPA appointment at 8pm.
  

  
  

  At Swasana SPA – I chose a 90 minutes massage comprising of Balinese, thai massage. What a relief, great ambience, pleasant scent.... so relaxing. I don't know how to explain... m not good in writing actually hehehe.
  

  
  

  Day 3 – balik Brunei and back to the real world.
  

  
  

  Closing Stages: I feel fresh, stress-free, blissful and have enjoyed my first day at work today – after 2 weeks break (haha..my colleague told me I have this radiant look (entah banar or not). I wish this will be forever (dream on).
  

  
  

  P/s: Have you listened to Faizal Tahir's beautiful song, 'Sampai Syurga'? Sighs......
  

Deadly Heredity Cancers

Salaam everybody.

When we talked about heredity diseases, more over cancers, ermmmm. Do we really care? The response definitely YES. BUT.... do we really really care about ourselves? For example, if we know that diabetes runs in the family, but we still take high intake of sugars in our daily life. Hehe... normal kan tu. Anyway, here I would love to share an excerpt from the New Sunday times (about 75% from the article). Who knows it can educate us (it does actually). J

All cancers are genetic in origin. When genes are working properly, cell growth is tightly regulated, as if a stoplight told cells to divide only so many times and no more. A cancer occurs when something causes a mutation in the genes that limit cell growth or that repair DNA damage.

An estimated five to 10 per cent of cancers are strongly hereditary, and 20 to 30 per cent are more weakly hereditary.

GENETIC CHANCES

In hereditary cancer, the mutated gene can be transmitted through the egg or sperm to children, with each child facing a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the defective gene if one parent carries it and a 75 per cent chance if both parents carry the same defect.

A woman with a BRCA mutation faces a 56 to 87 percent chance of contracting breast cancer and a 10 to 40 percent chance of ovarian cancer.

For some hereditary cancer genes, the risks are even greater. A child who inherits a so-called RET mutation faces a 100 percent chance of developing an especially lethal form of thyroid cancer. There were red flags that suggest as cancer might be hereditary:

• Diagnosis of cancer at a significantly younger age than it ordinarily occurs.
  
• Occurrence of the same cancer in more than one generation of a family.
  
• Occurrence of two or more cancers in the same patient or blood relatives.
  

For example, a woman with a BRCA mutation is at high risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. A mismatch repair mutation, known as MMR, significantly raises the risk for colon cancer and somewhat for uterine and ovarian cancer. Thus, the occurrence of colon, uterine and ovarian cancers among blood relatives suggests that the family may carry the MMR mutation.

PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

Knowing that you have a high-risk cancer gene mutation offers the chance to take preventive action like scheduling frequent screenings starting at a young age or removing the organ at risk.

• While surgery was clearly a drastic form of cancer prevention, in the future drugs might be to thwart cancers in people at high risk.
  
• A third possibility, when a cancer gene runs in a family, is in vitro fertilisation and genetic analysis to identify affected embryos and implant those lacking the defective gene.
  
• It was suggested that a woman with a BCRA mutation should start at an early age to conduct monthly breast self-exams and have a doctor examine the breast two to four times a year. It was also advised alternating mammograms and breast MRI's every six to 12 months, starting at age 25.
  

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Before choosing surgery to reduce risk in an otherwise healthy person, these factors should be carefully considered:

• Possible nonsurgical alternatives,
  
• Actual cancer risk from the inherited gene and how much surgery can reduce it.
  
• Timing of any operation
  
• Effects on quality life.
  

You can read more here.

On the holiday front, this time is a bit poles apart. Hehehe.... kiter orang jadi baby sitter lah. An enjoyable experience (sometimes) & nerve-racking (often)à not really lah hee. Just that, lil Widad demands a lot. Anak manja lah kan.... Anyway, I can feel that KL (or Spore) is calling me on Thursday. J

Discover the 90/10 Principle.

My bro who is a big fan of Stephen Covey, emailed me this. So enjoy reading, think and act. J

It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations).

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic.

We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? ……….By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light. But you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee

onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse.

You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home.

When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? …. Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is "D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5

seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why?

Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!

React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you

curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job.

Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take outpour frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on.

Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result?

Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!!!

Enjoy….

Spiritual Journey

How many of u have watched 'the darjeeling limited' starring Owen Wilson. To make it short, it's about three siblings (all boys) seeking for healing and meditation after each of them suffered from major depression. The journey started in India then to Himalaya (Tibet) to meet up their mum who became a nun. Overall it was a comedy movie & there are some scenes which attract my attention:

- Francis (being the eldest) keeps his siblings' passport while travelling (which I did if I travel with my siblings).

- the train got lost (impossible!).

- Peter's quote more or less like this: 'I like every scents of this country. It smells spicy'.

- suitcase from Louis Vuitton

On a lighter note, here are some pics taken during our super weekend (you guys should be proud of me since I've decided to spend it at home :) ). My parents are currently in semenanjung, so I bring Widad jalan-jalan to cheer her up.

While waiting for the rain to stop

Missing Oman & Babu (or apa durang belikan widad ahh....)
Kaka.. look ada fish!! (which actually nada)
Si bongsu & si bongsu inda jadi

p/s: I met a guy fren back during my MD years and I introduced Widad as my daughther huhuhu