Help Self

I collect Self-Help books. For me it's like going to a mental gym.

Having those books gives me a feeling of doing something good for myself, but also doesnt require me to actually read them.

But I do read them sometimes. And with my limited attention span, try to stick to the text as long as I can. There is a common thread to some, but not all. Think positive, enjoy what you do, keep a relaxed soul and a healthy body.

It's like getting budhistic life lessons repeatedly. I don't mind, but you get the idea pretty fast.

And then there are those who don't stick to the formula, that are actually practical guides to whatever they claim to do. I can't tell that they work - yet to finish any single one of them.

Self-help connects to most people with new-age, hence hippy culture, fairies, rainbows and lots of love and peace.

For one thing, there's nothing wrong with some more peace and love in the world. God himself knows the world could use more of those. For another, there are actually people making a living out of these books. Sometimes a lot of money. Like Robin Sharma.

For another, It's always easier to mock than to understand. I don't always subscribe to the non-mocking crowd, I admit. But I find that the older I get, the more chances I'm willing to give to things I wouldn't even consider in the past.

The self-help industry is a multi-million (if not billion) one. And as it is so very much prolific, it's difficult to find the gems in the gigantic bale of hay. I normally go by titles, but titles are meant to catch your eye and grab your attention. That means I have to read at least a few pages over the book's jacket in order to see the direction a book is taking.

So, I try and focus more. To do that, I look for specific things. Like certain skills I covet rather than general promises of fame and fortune.

I'll let you know what I find.

Tired, Sleepy, Exhausted

I've been feeling all of that lately, and so I went and took some tests (blood as well as others).

Turns out, my immune system is not having a good time at all, and my white blood cell count is lower than grass. (the short kind, like at golf courses)

Going to follow up on it of course, but for now my alertness levels are in the shit house, and I got no idea how to boost them up. Taking vitamines might help, but so far there's no idea what's causing this and how it will get better.

It feels like I'm going to drop down and fall asleep, only when I get home and fall into bed, I cant really sleep. I just feel exhausted, not sleepy.

There's one upside that started today or maybe yesterday - my mood is better. I think it's an expression of the fatigue - but I'm enjoying it none the less :D

Doors

Our renovation has basically ended, but the doors are still not properly set.

So now we’re on the hunt for two nice doors that will fit the grandeur of our renewed bathroom and lavatory.

Of course, money is an issue, but we do not neglect the aesthetics. It has to look good and feel right.

And then of course there’s the light.. It’s never-ending. Never knew being a homeowner (or flat owner) will be so tiresome at times – till I ended up being one.

It’s all for a good cause though. Making our lives more comfortable.

Cockroaches

We had a cockroach incident last night. G found a cockroach staring her in the face and instantly called me to the rescue.

I chased it around the kitchen and sprayed half a canister of insecticide on the poor flying bastard.

Finally he made his haven the back of the fridge. I left him there and closed the kitchen door.

The instant response to those critters is disgust and fear. The disgust part is understandable. The fear however is irrational (not that I don’t have some fear of them myself). They’re small, vulnerable, and pretty much fear us humans. They only come into our houses for 2 reasons: Food, and Warmth.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel much sorrow for them. They’re insects and insects belong in nature. My house is not that place. When us humans go extinct, they’re welcome to my former house in their hordes – but not while I’m living there!

Mostly for them, the issue is PR. If they had a better image in the public eye, like say, the pandas – they’d have a much better life. And probably longer too.