Mitch Albom happily signing his name away!

Yes, I finally met up with this international best-selling author of Tuesdays With Morrie (now you know where my blog title came from!), 5 People You Meet In Heaven, For One More Day and the latest addition to his family of inspirational books – Have A Little Faith.

Arriving 35 minutes ahead of the scheduled starting time for his autograph session at Books Kinokuniya at Takashimaya, I wasn’t prepared for the long queue before me. Already, one could feel the intense anticipation in the air. It was pretty welcoming, I thought.

Morrie, I mean, Mitch, arrived to hordes of screaming from his fans who had gathered in front of the mini stage and at the sides where the long human snakes were. It was such sheer pleasure to stand there and hear this man out. He spoke about his journey of writing his latest book Have A Little Faith, and of course, about the first book that shot him to international fame, Tuesdays With Morrie.

As I stood there among the sea of heads listening to Mitch, I began to wonder what an extremely, absolutely wonderful feeling it must be to be able to have such a great reception from your fans. To be able to reach out to millions of people and touch their lives in one way or other through your words is my dream as a writer. And I’m dead sure I’m not alone in having this dream.

Through the stories writers write,  they bring their readers on a journey with them.  Along the way, the writer and the reader learn from each other.  They come together in one in mind and spirit. It is an unspeakable sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. It brings meaning to the words. It brings meaning to the readers life, and even more so, the writer’s life and purpose.

Mitch, obviously, knew about this too. Because as I was lost in these thoughts and dreams, he encouraged people who are writers, or aspiring to be, to never give up when others tell them they can’t. Fortunately, he never did give up when publishers rejected his manuscript of Tuesdays With Morrie. Otherwise, we would have missed out one of the greatest works in the world.

After I came back, I replayed the brief encounter I had with Mitch, who came with his beautiful wife. It was a very pleasant one, with short exchanges as I waited for him to sign my books. I was beginning to imagine this: me him and our loved ones relaxing at a nice, cosy cafe and talking about life, dreams, goals, passion, interests, and of course, writing. We can talk all night! Well, another dream that I’m weaving. Oh well …

At the same time, I thought about what he said on stage. And I realised I remembered this better than the rest. He said the reason why publishers rejected his first book was because they felt that people wouldn’t be interested to read about dying.

Strangely, after reading Tuesdays With Morrie, dying was the least thing on my mind.

On the contrary, I feel that this book is about living. Truly living.

This book remains as my top favourite.

Until I finish reading Have A Little Faith, that is! (I already have the feeling that it won’t beat Tuesdays haha)

Thank you Mitch for bringing inspiration, hope, love and warm to this world.

Group photo with Mitch and his wife

If you merely sit there and hope for something to happen, that’s wishful thinking.  If you hope for something and work on it, that’s a true hope.

                                                                    ~ Kloudiia Tay IIng

How would you describe it? Is your life a routine? Or is it full of unexpected surprises?

Do you enjoy fulfilling relationships with the people you love? Or are your interactions with them too few and bland?

>> Click here to continue reading . . .

Love of an Avatar

Love, is the answer.

That’s the conclusion I get while craning my neck in an uncomfortable position watching the humans and the Na’vi slaying each other in a bloody and painful battle in Avatar.

There are no sides to be taken, because I’m sure nobody likes to see so many lives dead, homes destroyed, natural habitats demolished and trees that contain more interactive cells than the neurons in our brains razed to the ground.

Yet, the war did happen. Due to what? Greed. The insatiable greed of the human beings. For greed, they’re willing to attack and invade a territory that doesn’t belong to them.

>> Click here to continue reading . . .

I was 73 years old, physically. But, barely a week ago was I only 63! So, what happened in between?

I couldn’t accept this fact. Depression overcame me as I slumped in the couch, pressing my knuckles and letting them sink deeply into the soft, plush leather seat – my comfort zone – and reflected upon my own misery.

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Well, I saw that in my mind, and it drew me like Winnie the Pooh to honey. I was hopelessly seduced and tempted to the idea of lunching by the lake. It would be idyllic and so romantic, I thought.

Without further consideration, I changed the day’s itinerary to include this event. I turned to Stuart and excitedly announced the decision: “Let’s go and have lunch beside the lake at Yang Ming Shan National Park tomorrow, ok?”

>> Click to continue reading . . .

We are like tea bags — we don’t know our own strength until we’re in hot water.

~ Sister Buche

It’s another new decade! Or well, almost. Remember the time when everyone was on their toes about the new millenium? We’re worried and still ful of anticipation of what this new era is going to bring us. New inventions, new dreams, new hopes.

Has it been like this for you for the past nine years? Or has it been even better than you’ve imagined? Or worse?

Well, whatever it is, we’ve come through those fears and we’re entering into the year that will mark the first decade of the millenium. I don’t know about you, but I’m truly, deeply, madly excited!!

So, learn from our past mistakes, whip up our experiences, put on our gears and let’s go!

If you’re still single, it’s time to either adopt a new strategy to get yourself noticed and liked, or just get yourelf out of the door and go have some fun! Love will happen when you’re ready for it, you know? *wink*

If you’re happily attached or married, enjoy your relationship and add more spice and flavour to it! You know how, don’t you? In case you really are clueless, go check out on my 69 love notes for you and your partner. *wink wink*

Last but not least, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Thanks for being around – reading my posts, sharing my thoughts and giving me the strength and motivation to carry on what I’m doing.

Love you all!

LOVE, Kloudiia *wink wink wink*

My friend who is staying in Guangzhou, my first stop, told me that there are currently three thousand construction projects going on at the same time – all because the city is getting ready to impress the world once again at the 2010 Asian Games, where it will play the host.

And my, there really is construction going on at every stone’s throw away. Drilling, piling and building – dust is accumulating and flying all over the air. I even wondered if the fog was due to the cold weather or the pollution, and my friend had no clear answer for me too. Not that it mattered, as I spent most of my time in doors. To be more specific, at my friend’s home.

That was also when I had the chance to watch the TV programmes.

>> Click here to continue reading . . .