Tuesday, March 13, 2012

20 Things to Start Doing in Your Relationships
(http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/01/29/20-things-to-start-doing-in-your-relationships)

Family isn’t always blood. They’re the people in your life who appreciate having you in theirs – the ones who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways, and who not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be. These people – your real family – are the ones who truly matter.

Here are twenty tips to help you find and foster these special relationships.

1.Free yourself from negative people. – Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded. Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be. Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. When you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be YOU – and being YOU is the only way to truly live. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

2.Let go of those who are already gone. – The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need. When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave. The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people you can count on. We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are. So when people walk away from you, let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you. It doesn’t mean they are bad people; it just means that their part in your story is over.

3.Give people you don’t know a fair chance. – When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed them, and forced them to grow. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours. We meet no ordinary people in our lives. If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer. So appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work. Trust your judgment. Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory. Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.

4.Show everyone kindness and respect. – Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. People will notice your kindness.

5.Accept people just the way they are. – In most cases it’s impossible to change them anyway, and it’s rude to try. So save yourself from needless stress. Instead of trying to change others, give them your support and lead by example.

6.Encourage others and cheer for them. – Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places. So be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings, openly. What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.

7.Be your imperfectly perfect self. – In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress. Be your imperfectly perfect self around them. We are not perfect for everyone, we are only perfect for those select few people that really take the time to get to know us and love us for who we really are. And to those select few, being our imperfectly perfect self is what they love about us.

8.Forgive people and move forward. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the remedy. It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened. It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life. Remember, the less time you spend hating the people who hurt you, the more time you’ll have to love the people who love you.

9.Do little things every day for others. – Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts. You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people. Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.

10.Pay attention to who your real friends are. – As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones. Remember, life is kind of like a party. You invite a lot of people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late. But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess. And most of the time, they aren’t even the ones who made the mess. These people are your real friends in life. They are the ones who matter most.

11.Always be loyal. – True love and real friendship aren’t about being inseparable. These relationships are about two people being true to each other even when they are separated. When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option, but a priority. Loyalty is everything.

12.Stay in better touch with people who matter to you. – In human relationships distance is not measured in miles, but in affection. Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart. So don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words. Stay in touch with those who matter to you. Not because it’s convenient, but because they’re worth the extra effort. Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of. Paying attention to these people is a priority.

13.Keep your promises and tell the truth. – If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT! If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE. It’s always better to tell people the truth up front. Don’t play games with people’s heads and hearts. Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out; half-truths are no better than lies. Remember, love and friendship don’t hurt. Lying, cheating and screwing with people’s feelings and emotions hurts. Never mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours. Always be open and honest.

14.Give what you want to receive. – Don’t expect what you are not willing to give. Start practicing the golden rule. If you want love, give love. If you want friends, be friendly. If you want money, provide value. It works. It really is this simple. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

15.Say what you mean and mean what you say. – Give the people in your life the information they need, rather than expecting them to know the unknowable. Information is the grease that keeps the engine of communication functioning. Start communicating clearly. Don’t try to read other people’s minds, and don’t make other people try to read yours. Most problems, big and small, within a family, friendship, or business relationship, start with bad communication.
16.Allow others to make their own decisions. – Do not judge others by your own past. They are living a different life than you are. What might be good for one person may not be good for another. What might be bad for one person might change another person’s life for the better. Allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.

17.Talk a little less, and listen more. – Less advice is often the best advice. People don’t need lots of advice, they need a listening ear and some positive reinforcement. What they want to know is often already somewhere inside of them. They just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help them find their direction.

18.Leave petty arguments alone. – Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right. There are many roads to what’s right. And most of the time it just doesn’t matter that much. Read How To Win Friends and Influence People.

19.Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary. – No one has the right to judge you. They might have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through. No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right. What most people think and say about you isn’t all that important. What is important is how you feel about yourself.

20.Pay attention to your relationship with yourself. – One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving others too much, and forgetting that you are special too. When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters? When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there? When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?

michelle.verma at 11:04:00 PM

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Got a dream? Go catch it ;)

michelle.verma at 11:21:00 AM

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

" It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean." -John Locke

Success in sport doesn't depend on the gifted talent, but on the possibility to fully develop it.(Bulgakova,2000)

Funded by the Olympic Solidarity, the International Triathlon Union Development and National Olympic Committee of the Philippines held the ideal Level 2 coaching course to pave the way for a new generation of high level coaches the past week, for 20 coaches represesnting Egypt, Iran, Philippines, Singapore and Zimbabwe equipping them with all the neccessary tools & knowledge focussing on the advancement of developing the Asian and African region to make a mark at the Olympic Games. It was an honour to have had ITU facilitators and world best Olympic triathlon coaches: Luc Morin, Sergio Santos and Libby Burrell imparting their expertise.

michelle.verma at 11:52:00 AM

Friday, January 13, 2012

"Ohrenschmalz, Kragenspeck ; Mundgeruch und Nageldreck.
Achselschweiss im Überfluss; Fettfrisur und Käsefuss.
Nimm mich jetzt auch wenn ich stinke - Denn sonst sag` ich Winke Winke."
Die Doofen

michelle.verma at 12:04:00 AM

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Vietnam 2011-2012. Saigon; Cu Chi; Hanoi; HaiPhong; Halong; Cat Ba.
My travel intercourse right now is limited to gobbling my mushed carnation puffs pappyspelt with maple syrup.

In a nutshell: mafias donning our boat- leaving us 35km away in a dilapidated island in the wintery cold on Christmas day, best underground partying in Phuc Tan, sleezy steam baths & massages by prostitutes, haggling and fighting with cops & cabbies , overpriced drugdealers pushing marijuana to us, explosively funny accidents, dancing like a crazy fool in the midst of a local stage during new years eve & eating & getting drunk with a bunch of locals along the roadside. My most experiential backpacking trip by far. Can't wait for Malacca, Indonesia, Philippines & Thailand in the coming weeks.

Perfect company, perfect trip, brillant aventure. (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150442221503951.367500.517353950&type=1&l=dcfb63e26d)

michelle.verma at 11:47:00 AM

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I take it you already know
of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
On hiccough, thorough, lough** and through.
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
... To learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead: it's said like bed, not bead --
For goodness sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt)

A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear.
And then there's dose and rose and lose --
Just look them up -- and goose and choose.
And cork and work and card and ward.
And font and front and word and sword.
And do and go and thwart and cart.
Come, come, I've hardly made a start!

A dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd mastered it when I was five!

michelle.verma at 11:40:00 PM

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Well, it seems to me that the best relationships - the ones that last - are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is... suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with :)

michelle.verma at 2:59:00 PM

Friday, October 21, 2011

Time: In a wink.

Our illusions float on waves of times like concentric circles in a pond.
Time is a thought, and we are clocks whose heart beat is its tick tock.

Time is such a funny thing.
Its like the hole inside a ring.
It's always now and never there.
But when I see, its now again.
It's never now but always there.
We're always here but never there.
But when I go from here to there.
Where there is here and here is there.

Should you think you're very tall,
next to a tree you're not at all.
And if you think you're very small
next to the a tree you're ten feet tall.
When we dream we seem awake,
But all along the dream was fake.

To me I'm "I" and never you.
You say you're "I" and also me,
I know that isn't true, How can that be?
I'm not you, and you're not me
Time is not what you might think.
It is and isnt. I am a wink.

michelle.verma at 2:43:00 AM

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Human Condition.

I am what is being experienced, the universe focused in the eye of the beholder.
There is a quality of sensation felt as myself which like the "I' of the hurricane is a calm centre of the storm of awareness.
The exact point of myself in this calm is held as if it were a black hole, where my purest reality cannot escape itself, the absolute.

I am tethered to the absolute by the cord of consciousness.
Again and again I gaze hard at my reflection in the looking glass.
Then blink without acknowlegement for my stare reveals no one is there.
All desciptions of me are like barnacles attached to me.
Nothing is really mine.

My name is a word like any other sound, which wen repeated blurs to babble.
My pride enjoys the false luxury of vanity; a cosmetic decoration that casts me into the furthest ring of self-dlusion.

I distract myself with novelties.
But they are not me.
I identify with follies.
But they are not me.
I am an accomplice to my own ignorane.

Under the magnifying glass of my attention my personality has the permanence of fog.
I communicate with myself in monologue.
My questions echo in my mind.
All this thinking exhaust me and I must rest.
But who falls asleep and dreams?

Ah Dreams. Those luminous meteors that light the night skies of our consciousness. Their own Reality!

michelle.verma at 1:47:00 AM

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

All things mellow in the mind,
A sleight of hand, A trick of time
And even our great love will fade
So we'll be strangers in the grave.

That's why this moment is so dear
I kiss your lips and we are here
So lets hold tight and touch and feel
For this instant we are real.

michelle.verma at 11:03:00 AM

Friday, October 14, 2011

Ignite the light and let it shine.

"Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel so paper thin like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep, Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing?
Do you know that there's still a chance for you, 'Cause there's a spark in you.

You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night,
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh as you shoot across the sky.
You're gonna leave 'em falling down

You don't have to feel like a waste of space;
You're original, cannot be replaced.
If you only knew what the future holds after a hurricane comes a rainbow.
Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed;
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road.
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow;
And when it's time, you'll know

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you; and now it's time to let it through."

-Katy Perry-

michelle.verma at 10:40:00 AM

Sunday, October 09, 2011

One Moment In Time.

"My finest day, is yet unknown
Each day I live. A day to give the best of me.

I broke my heart, Fought every gain to taste the sweet.
I face the pain, I rise and fall;
Yet through it all, this much remains.

I want one moment in time
When I'm more than I think I can be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel eternity and I will be free

I've lived to be the very best
I want it all, No time for less
I've laid the plans, Now lay the chance here in my hands.
I am a winner in this lifetime
If I seize that one moment in time, making it shine."

-Whitney Houston-

michelle.verma at 2:53:00 PM

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

I am constantly searching for the perfect moment, for the 100%.
When will it finally be right and making sense?
I know when the perfect moment arrives,
everything will fit perfectly together,
like the stars being incredibly aligned,
and my heart would take favour with peace.

michelle.verma at 12:59:00 AM

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Wir sind am Leben (We're Alive)

"Hast du alles probiert? (Have you tried everything?)
Hast du alles versucht? (Have you tested everything?)
Hast du wirklich gelebt? (Have you really lived?)
Was willst du sagen? (What would you like to say?)
Wen willst du fragen? (Who would you like to ask?)
Was willst du erleben? (Through what would you like to live?)
und was willst du geben? (And what do you intend to give?)
Wer gibt dir den Frieden? (Who gives you your peace?)
und was ist liegengeblieben? (And what’s left incomplete?)
An was willst du glauben (In what do you wish to believe?)
oder glaubst du an dich? (Do you even believe in yourself?)
Wie oft wirst du betrogen? (How often will you be deceived?)
Wie oft belügst du dich? (How often will you deceive yourself?)
Wieviel Türen wirst du öffnen? (How many doors will you open?)
Welches Schloss knackst du nie? (Which lock will you never crack?)
Wie oft kannst du widerstehen? (How long can you hold out?)
und wann gehst du in die Knie? (And when will you fall to your knees?)
Hat deine Welt sich wirklich gedreht? (Has your world really revolved?)
Hast du alles getan? (Have you done everything?)
Wenn nicht, fang an! (If not, begin!)
Keiner wird dich zerstören (No one will tear you apart)
Hör deinen Herzschlag (Hear the beat of your heart)
Du bist am Leben! (You’re alive!)
Weil dein Herz noch Feuer fängt ('Cause your heart still catches fire)
Weil dein Herz die Liebe kennt" ('Cause your heart knows the love)
- Rosenstolz-

michelle.verma at 4:02:00 PM

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"Sometimes I go whole days listening bored, half sleep.
I won't say anything that's worth a thing to me.
One day, suddenly, time took a turn that once felt so brief;
I blinked to see polite ghosts fading quickly

What begins as an unguarded train of thoughts slowly can become an addiction to the slumber of disconnection and the resonance of memory that no longer has a shape but keeps you numb through the hours till gone is another day

Be aware, my darling these things I say I mean are just traces of something I long to feel again I see our time expand in the air almost forcibly, spreading thinner till it dissolves completely."

Fine, so I think that yet another late pot of coffee coupled with beers might have been a tad bit unnecessary. I mean, I guess I have been wide awake in the wee hours of the morning constantly for the past 2 weeks. Hello, artificial jetlag! Today, in 5hrs time, I will my start my last day of insane social lubrication and liquidation in Indonesia with some sweetassed drunk cableskiing stunts before I try to get my head back in line for continued serious run training. I reckon I am still in my extended holiday mode and would need to refocus my thoughts on some crucial plans that are to come my way for the following months and I am extremely excited for it.

Открывайте шире краны, Открывайте шире двери.

(Open wider cranes, Open wide the doors.)

michelle.verma at 9:13:00 PM

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

18th August - 18th September 2011, It’s been the best summer holidays of my life. Castrophically 9 countries in exactly 1 month (Qatar, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Turkey).

I realized, some people travel to escape. There's nothing wrong with that. But those who want to challenge themselves, to immerse themselves in the variety of talent and lifestyles available on this planet, must open themselves up. Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it. I need to amuse myself, I need to travel. Not I - not anyone else, can travel that road for you. You must travel it for yourself. In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself.

(*pls click the individual links below to the public photo albums.)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150265899533951.337076.517353950&l=012eb5080c&type=1

to see top 200 snaps from the amazing trip
and

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150285696138951.342248.517353950&l=ec15cd28f0&type=1

to see UK & Graduation Snaps

As I am sitting on the plane on my way back home to Singapore reminiscing my trip … I got to say I am amazingly overwhelmed with everything that I have experienced. From the people I met, travelled with, trusted my life to and fell in love with, to the depth of culture I managed to dig into this short period of time.
Well in a nutshell, I decided to take the don’t sweat the small stuff approach and surprisingly all I needed was to open up the bottle of wine bottle in bagpack and soak myself in the bathtub whenever things didn’t go as planned and my mind was back in place. Wow, so many mixed feelings- Let's break it down. But before i start, a special magical thanks to Thenna, who took the special trouble to intricately book my main international and domestic flights at a fantastic rate and figure out the main schedule for me to do some of this crazy trips with care.

Doha, Qatar
Evgeny and Elena had a baby girl born an hour before I landed the day I started out on the trip:) As Evgeny was super happy and Elena was stuck in the States right after delivery, we had the best crash night tour of parch, posh, desert land in an amazing cruiser catching up over lethal Singapore slings made by a true Russian to celebrate this special occasion:) Exactly a month after which, I went back to see sweet Indigo Elisabeth Stolyarova- she was such a bundle of joy. Sadly I couldn’t bring the bottle of best Turkish Raki for the Russkis as it got confiscated at the customs as no alcohol was allowed in the country. That feeling wasn’t even half as bad when they said they thought they lost it 20 mins before my plane took off.

Austria- Vienna, Puchberg & Schneeberg
Anne Tscheliessnig, where can I start to tell you how much you mean to me:) I am lost for words to describe how much you have done for me and am truly indebted to you. Your hospitality to let me stay in your house and the trust you rendered to me- Unspeakable- All the effort you took to bring me up to the mountains- That is still definitely one of a major highlights of my trip for sure:). Really enjoyed your company and pep talks and I salute your ability to take a lot of my annoyingness, nonsense and all the yakkadiyaks. Just wanted to add you played a big role in a lot of the decisions I take in my life as I look up to you as a role model. You are the loveliest friend one could ever have and I would be a fool to lose you ever.

Slovenia- Ljubljana, Bled /Austria
Johnny Bliss, today I was actually really thinking a lot about you during my trip back from London from Paris. I was smiling to myself about the awesomeness of everything- from the under-aged people, flirting with thy hot lifeguard and getting back 90km away from civilization in Slovenia, picking people up in a random village Balkan party that seemed like an endless circus and how we managed to hitchhike our way back to the hostel at 2am, in just our simple tops, shorts, beachtowels & swimwears beneath through the chills and frills and even had enough time for an epic dirty wild party:) you really had my back and vice-versa. I will never forget that. You saw me giving my heart to someone; the many side not many who have seen;) you're the best travel buddy I ever had and yeah I really hope to terrorise, have more chilled moments and play pick up in other lands too... If you know what I mean :) btw I was also listening to the fm4 playback we did and all I can say is I'm still scared of my own screeching:) thanks for sharing a little window in your life. E.g. your little playground cum picnic/hiking secretspot- Hütteldorf sipping Almdudlers and sommer Sturms together ,your colleagues and friends like Albert, Mona, and Lukas. They were really cool. To Maria, Lorant, Christine, Corrina- It was also amazing to have met you lovelies and grooved in Austria. And to the special someone reading this; That night i met you, your eyes reflected the skyline and I was not prepared for a highlight till i found you sitting there in this bright light but now i know you won't come when i call.... you’ve really got me this time round and found your way to a spot in my heart that I thought I had harden a few years ago. I was really scared to tell it to you initially but after i did, i fell much better and thank you for filling that space.

“Don't try, you'll find; was not your fault. The goal, reach out. The choice is yours to find. Design, you've got the life to guide. Your faith decides. The world's your goal to find. Relax, slow down. They'll hope, design. Even though he's hard to forgive; when you can't just fall in love. Just to know your thoughts you know that. You'll be all right in time” And one thing for sure all of you- I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! :)

Slovakia, Bratislava
Best absinthe, food and meeting amazing local people that kept popping up having good conversations constantly while strolling to the beautiful sights.

Hungary, Budapest
Csenge and Vato! Crazy wild stripping night on the bridge till dawn! Walked endlessly in flippingly, blisteringly hot Budapest with the best company. Met some angels and demons but it was all good with Csenge’s love and craziness.
Spain- Barcelona, Catalonia, Villa Franca, Terressa
Marti and fanny- Without you guys I wouldn't have experienced that much! Similarly to Anne, the amount of effort and time you took to pick me up, telling me constant safety tips, ensuring i get my way around, showing me every touristy and non touristy spot in Barcelona and Catalonia was immense. I will never forget the first human tower and crazy festival in villa Franca, meeting your lovely family for dinner, introducing me to your culture and friends, feeding me some of the best food ever with overflowing alcohol, your crazy generosity of footing every bill and getting angry when I even spoke about taking it. I really owe you loads now. Fanny taking time to drive me to the little posh village and lake for a super cold but refreshing swim, and of course Charles for taking time to catch up after our Bali escapade 2 yrs ago.

United Kingdom-London
Second home! My sister, bro-in-law with love picked me up from the airport and we were immediately put to work to help my mum out of homesickness:) It's was a pity my dad hates to travel and wouldn't be here for my graduation. But well, being home with family again felt really warm and secure undoubtedly :) wasn't long before we dragged mum out for some sightseeing and shopping before heading for an all-girls rendezvous to Paris.

France, Paris
3 ladies=Mum,sis & myself=3 different ideologies=insanity and loads of squabbling...surprisingly not! In fact, we had really intimate beautiful days and nights together. Had my first Louis Vuitton purchase that was over the top and enjoyed good champagne, food, ate loads of orgasmic pastries- Too many tarts that I felt like a retard. The walking up and down the stairs definitely did a lot of help to lose the calories.

United Kingdom: Wolverhampton, West Midlands & Seaford
2 Days to graduation, terrible queue at the UK border control, was rushing to get my last minute interrail city ticket a day before my graduation day just to find out an asshole chose to jump onto the train tracks killing himself delaying my train making it more “unsafe” for me to make my way in the wee hours of the morning to my junkified, sleezeball, boring, drizzling, chilly west midlands hotel. Nevertheless the following days were spent fruitfully visiting my campus, collecting my gowns, catching up with my old friends and lecturers over whisky, wine and food before my family came to rock with me on the actual day only to find out that their photo skills got me on my nerves.
After the prestigious day of my life donning the ever so flowy gown and strutting down the stage collecting the certificate that would open up my eyes to the world after academics, we headed back to good old drizzling London, where I then decided to head to meet up with the Mitchell sisters and head down to the Thames river festival with crazy Michael and friends till dawn with the plan to escape to Seaford the following morning to walk the most gorgeous pristine coastline accompanied with a sweetassed picnic with other crazy fellow couchsurfers only to get lost yet again, this time with veronica and nina, but having a really cool hitchhike back to the city centre stuffing our faces with german wafflely crackers offered by our saviours. It was indeed some international havoc. Especially back home at Micheal's frat house with the 3 shopping crazed polish chics over late night story telling!

Turkey- Istanbul, Bosphorus, Cappadocia
Plane-train-tram- ferry- bus- walk. That was my mean of getting home day in and day out travel between the European and Asian continent. At first I was thinking it was way to hectic and was having half the mind of staying in a hostel rather than crashing at Mehmet's beautiful house in the suburbs, but after much contemplation, I realized the saying “In Rome, do what the romans do” and so similarly that was just what I did in turkey and with that I managed to meet such amazing locals along the way. I gotta say it was weirdly bizarre with so many weird sexually drived man so openly hitting on me -not that I was a beauty or whatever. Nevertheless they were extraordinarily friendly and the views were beautiful.
After a few days of the city life and trying out a Balkan clubbing experience, I decided to take a 10 hrs. local bus ride to the kapodokya with not a single soul understanding a word of English. But I was lucky enough to have met 2 couchsurfer who were quite well known in the area and they were amazingly sweet enough to take the day to drive me around showing most of the Turkish culture and the spectacular culture in a day. Welcomed me with the best Turkish coffee and apple mint tea, dondurum (Turkish ice cream), raki, mint alcohol and balik and bread. Taught me hands on pottery from the master, a twirling traditional dance, had the honour of watching their beautiful dance performance in a reformed ruined mosque which was topped off with an after show communal dinner with all the funny Turkish men.

Basically all in all, the people I met were really all blessed to be a blessing! To all those who made my trip so eventful and memorable I just sincerely have only two words, but these two words are from the bottom of my heart: Thank You.

And now i am all refreshed to be back at work with my beautiful kids, colleagues and parents. Was extemely excited, suprised and overjoyed to see myself on the headlines of the Hollandse Club Singapore magazine as the youngest female ultramarathoner in Singapore with my article donning a whole page of its own:)

michelle.verma at 2:22:00 AM

Sunday, July 03, 2011

“Put me at ease;
Fill me with peace.
Take me to all the places
I’ve ever wanted to reach.
Strike me with desire;
Lift me up on higher,
To constellation of love, laughs and delights
O Scent,
Heal me.
Empower me.
Infuse me.
Complete me.”

michelle.verma at 12:42:00 PM

Monday, June 27, 2011

100km Sundown Ultramarathon 25-26th June 2011

Youngest female Singaporean Ultramarathoner; 16hrs; 18th position Women's Open Category

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Statistics shows that less than 0.01% of the world running population can actually do a full 100k without stopping. No matter how one trains, we'll never be fully ready. But what the heck, this 25-26th night will never be forgotten by me in this lifetime. Mission Sundown 100km Ultramarathon 2011 completed as the youngest female Singaporean in 16hrs and coming in 18th under the Women's Open category was just the cherry on top of the cake!

In a nutshell, I got to say this was one of my most painful races- In fact most tortorous night of my life running through exhaustion, pain and humidity. It totally broke me down mentally and physically. Never before have I wanted to give up so many times in a race itself. Its been 2 years since i hung up my shoes after completing 1 1/2 hrs Ironmans back to back at the age of 22- also hitting the record of being the youngest female Singaporean Ironman completor. After a pleasant age group rank then of 4th in Langkawi and 3rd in Singapore respectively I thought it was the pinnacle and pilgrimage of my sporting career. My body was battered and I never saw myself racing an Ultramarathon in this lifetime. Least did i expect that one day I was going to partake in one. I was always considered a swimmer base and even in triathlon, the land elements had always taken the worst side of me. So, what was I actually thinking before, during and after the the race? Honestly?! Even I myself haven't got a clue to that answer. Probably I wasn't thinking at all.

All I knew was that the first 21km i ran a 1:50, 42km in sub 5hrs, 50km in 6:20 and had the longest and most mindmessing stroll back to the finish line sharp 16hrs. Through that time, I had learnt so much more about myself than I never knew about-i.e. my reactions to people overtaking me, learning the importance to pace myself with realistic goals, my pyschotic high pain tolerance, communication and composure under fatigue .

So, what were some of the breaking points? Had my first little toe swell up to 3 times its size hitting the shoe suddenly at 21km when i was in top 3 position. I plopped to the side of changi coastal road in tears all set to give up. But after a while, I realised I wasnt here to quit but to continue. Even if I had to pinch those 3 blisters and wrapped it with a wet plaster, I told myself I had to complete it. 21km was just like any other ordinary weekend recovery run I had. I couldnt just stop that easily. As Lance Armstrong may put it, “Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” To my suprise, it was relieving without any overwhelming pain and I got up continuing my race trying hard not to fall back.

So past the 50km mark my knees started to act up but i was only at the 66km mark that i decided to curl up on the on the floor wanting to quit and in tears yet again. The sharp pains in the knees were killing me- I was cardiovascularly and muscularly fit but my joints just had to act up. Luckilly i had 2 angelic supporters that kept me going on and even stopped to give me a massage. Now at the 96km mark, the sun was beating down hard, the piercing knee pains were just killing me and there came the thoughts of quitting again. One may think how dumb would it be to quit just 4 km to a finish of a 100km? but seriously it was that painful. Well with just some self-coaxing of and self-talking myself through what i did during all my 3 months of disciplined training sessions and the

thought of getting to the finish line to see my family and friends (in person and in thoughts overseas) was simple enough to practically get me trotting to the finish line. Suprisngly, the last 300m hobbling sprint uphill was just like entering the pearly gates once again after 2 years of "retirement". The feeling was overwhelming and the sweet scent of success and completion, invaluable.

Whoever thought an Ironman was tough should think twice and try an ultramarathon before letting their horses run wild. Scientists estimate that our bodies contain anywhere from 75 to 100 trillion cells but out of all its functioning systems the cells in the brain are the most powerful one. We are all the same- Humans- The difference in completion, winning and dropping out is how we are able to permeate every cell in our mind and body to maximise our individual potentials.

So, in closure, I would also love to thank God above, my family, support crew, besties, friends, sponsors, colleagues and each and everyone who was involved in some way or another in me accomplishing this amazing feat. Thank you all for the touching and motivational calls, wishes, congratulations (both locally & internationally, personally & technologically) and just being there in spirit and person supporting me to the finish. WE did it.

michelle.verma at 12:27:00 AM

Saturday, June 11, 2011

What is my identity?
I am interested in madness. It probably is the biggest and most constant thing in the human race and I wonder how does one take away a man’s madness without also taking away his identity? Ain’t gonna let my identity be stolen. Everything first happens in our mind, then in our body- spirit and soul. The thoughts we have about ourselves, the way we feel, and the words we speak are what ultimately define us as an individual.
We should consciously try never to envy a person unless we are willing to swap identities with them.

michelle.verma at 12:59:00 PM

Saturday, May 21, 2011

100km Ultramarathon: Sundown 2011

Isn't it wonderfully crazy?
Ich bin selbst verwirrt über mein Gefühl.
Trying to remain cool but can't even understand myself.
I realise I am quite delighted as long as I am not near being crushed.
To me, knowing what my body is capable of doing is the ultimate challenges in being a sportsperson.
The mind is a very powerful thing & it’s generally the only thing standing between me and something incredible. We can always do more than we think we can.

The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.

michelle.verma at 3:54:00 PM

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Every trip has six degrees.
Life is one big trip and we are all travellers.

Every traveller goes through the first five degrees
Only a few have reached the sixth.
It has always been my dream to leave my monotone lifestyle,
But never had the courage to.
And sometimes I think to myself;

Every first moment of a trip, Everything would seem natural.
But then I understand quickly that the destination is far.
And only what counts is the road to reach it.

I wouldn’t know for sure where I’m going to be in three months,
So there’s no point to have a fixed date.
I could always leave and come back later.

I’m surely going to open up the doors to the world I never knew would exist
I know I’ve gotta get out there!

A world where every night brings up a new dream
And time has its value according to what we give it.
Live in the moment
Don’t worry how much time is going to pass
Or what you’re going do in life,
Because in one sense it really/ doesn’t matter

It’s the sixth degree.
It’s the ultimate trip,
That has no beginning and no end.
That’s it. Life. Live.
I’m in a great trip.
I’ve never had a better trip than ever.
It’s like a drug!

We are all searching for a mystical power.
I enjoy myself meeting new people.
I enjoy myself travelling.
I want my life to be a circus!
I wanna live!
I wanna remember!
Every move is a birth as every movement is a breath.
The heart beats as if my life goes away by the second;
To go towards the unkown that I’ve been looking for my entire life;
It may be ****ed up,
But I’m always moving.

And if by luck, the sixth degree is waiting for me on my journey
I wouldn’t have to regret anything.

michelle.verma at 12:48:00 PM

Thursday, May 05, 2011

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

But somewhere along the line, you changed.
You stopped being you.
You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good.
And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.
Let me tell you something you already know.
The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows.
It's a very mean and nasty place;
and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life.
But it ain't about how hard you hit.
It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward.
How much you can take and keep moving forward.
That's how winning is done!

Cause if you're willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who's got the right to stop you?
I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished,
something you really want to do,
something you never said to someone, something... and you're told no, even after you paid your dues?
Who's got the right to tell you that, Who? Nobody!
It's your right to listen to your gut, it ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be what you wanna be and do what you wanna do.

Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth.
But you got to be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!
Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!
But until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life.

“It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
"

michelle.verma at 11:11:00 AM

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"The Physics of the Quest."
A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity.

The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this:
If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you.

Attraversiamo! :)

michelle.verma at 10:39:00 PM

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Gladiator in Us.

Success; Acknowledgment; Fame; Glory;
Many of us fight for reasons like that, but we don't build a good name from one day to the next.
It is necessary to work hard, even if there are stumbles and falls.
It is necessary to overcome obstacles.
It is necessary to have motivation, persevere and insist.
Life is a succession of battles.

Job; Family; Friends.
All of us have a current status.
What we do in life, echoes in eternity!

We also have expectations for the future,
("3 weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops, Imagine what you'll be, and it will be so")

However the twists and tricks of fate, takes us by surprise.
One can't always do what one likes, but those that like what they do and are proud of all what they do for the better make more progress day by day.

There are moments of quiet, ethic, decisive moments when your good intentions are not good enough that's when life demands of us.

Courage; Boldness; Creativity & an Unquenchable Fighting Spirit.
The truth is that problems and setbacks happen more frequently than you would like.

Times change;
New challenges arise;
New objectives need to be reach
The true warriors look into the eyes of the future without fear or arrogance, but with the confidence of those who are ready for battle will overcome.

Living is also been prepared for difficult situations.
How we approach the difficulties is what makes the difference.

Sometimes we ask how can we cope with the radical changes that we are faced with- Like acting in a new scenario with things we used to do so well and now need to be relearnt;
How can we fight without letting go of fundamental values;
More how do we know what needs to be done at the right time.

The amazing thing is that it is precisely upon facing adverse situations that many of us rediscover the best in ourselves.

Ethics; Friendship; the Capability to create new strategies based on experience and Talents that promote Positive alliances, Spirit of Leadership, the Awareness of the Strength that resides on true team work.

All these comes vivid when required by circumstances but one knows there is an important ultimate goal.

Naturally is not easy to give up habits and customs;
It is not easy to adapt to new environments or resources we are not familiar with. But all warriors know that pessimism and/or uncertainty holds one back on moments like this,
Even if the threat comes from many sides,
With agility, strength and determination we can achieve our goals.

A combination of energy and intelligence, as well as a balance between emotion and reason are essential to success.

It is the most satisfying feeling to reach the end of a task with the feeling of duty fulfilled;
and receive the accolades and respect of all our colleagues and admiration of the people we love.

To hear our name spoken with pride,
the pride to have overseen the obstacles, the opportunity of growth.
The price of been able to face life's ups and downs and win.
The pride of been a winner without giving up fundamental, moral and ethical values.

michelle.verma at 10:49:00 PM

Monday, March 07, 2011

" Es ist mein Wunsch wieder Träume zu erlauben ohne Reue nach vorn in eine Zukunft zu schauen

Wir waren geboren um zu leben mit den Wundern jener Zeit, sich niemals zu vergessen bis in alle Ewigkeit.

Wir waren geboren um zu leben für den einen Augenblick bei den jeder von uns spürte wie wertvoll Leben ist."

-Unheilig-

michelle.verma at 11:11:00 AM

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cambodia,Phnom Penh & Siem Reap February 2011

michelle.verma at 11:25:00 PM

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Realize the value of time. Time in perspective.

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day.

What would you do?
Draw out every cent, of course!
Well, everyone has such a bank. It's name is time.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the records of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow.
You must live in the present on today's deposits.
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember, time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.
Right here, Right Now.

michelle.verma at 10:12:00 PM

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

India December 2010-January 2011.

michelle.verma at 1:05:00 AM