I AM HAPPY

I AM VERY HAPPY …
I am very happy.
Why am I happy?

Somebody got me some free lunch?
Somebody gave me a gold bar?
Somebody offered me a free return ticket to fly to the east and back?
No!

Then why am I happy?
Because an assignment that has been on my shoulders for almost two months is now officially out of the way.
Now I am free to get back to do my own personal projects – including ones that I planned at the start of the year but just could not complete.

I will also now write more and post more on things that have been on my mind but I could not develop due to the assignment. 

Ah, to the writing desk again.
What is comparable to that?

I am just happy.

TROPICAL FRUIT DISH

LAST Saturday, my step-mother prepared some fruits to take away to a clan meeting.

 Photo: Fruits from PNG

I thought her preparation was good and decided to take this picture.

Here we have watermelon, pineapple and cucumber pieces, all prepared and ready to be eaten.

She gave me some melon and pineapple pieces. They were yummy.

FRENCH PHRASE LEARNED: LES CHANTICLEERS

LES CHANTICLEERS … Our sports editor was just tidying up his pages on the Rugby League World Cup items and asked me a question tonight.

Editor: Thomas, what is "Les Chanticleers"?

(He often asks me these kinds of questions when he wants to check things in French.)

Me: I do not know. However, "chante/chanter" in French means "to sing". So I think it has to do with singing.

We are aware that the French national rugby league team is called “The Roosters” and so we thought the phrase might be related to the one in English.

We checked and I learned a new phrase today. “Les Chanticleers”, the phrase, means “The Roosters” in French.

Quiz for you: Which French national team is known as “Les Bleus”? And what does the phrase mean?   

EVALUATE YOURSELF: WORKER'S TIP

WORKER, EVALUATE YOURSELF: As an individual, we must evaluate ourselves.

In my job, we are given an evaluation form each year to evaluate ourselves.

In that form, you also give a score (x/5) for yourself on your PUNCTUALITY, DRESS CODE, TEAM WORK, INDEPENDENT PERFORMANCE, TOP TASKS YOU PERFORMED THIS YEAR, ETC.

Upon your evaluation, and your supervisor’s comments, a pay rise or other benefits may follow.

Now, even if we are not given an evaluation form to fill out, it is good practice to evaluate yourself.

You see, others may have an impression of you – but you, as an individual, should also have an impression of yourself.

Some questions we can mentally ask ourselves are:

Am I punctual for work?

Do I show enthusiasm at the workplace?

Do I work well with my colleagues?

Can I work unsupervised?

Can I effectively supervise others – as in showing the ropes to new staff members?

Am I reliable?     

Have I mastered skills in my job?

Answering those questions honestly, and trying to up your level of performance in those different areas will certainly improve you as a person (which I think is the reason why we are still breathing).

Now, let me give a last challenge.

Someone (I forgot who) often challenged himself by asking the question: “If I were the owner of a top enviable company, would I hire MYSELF?”

And with that I leave you all for the weekend.

Enjoy your weekend and be safe and productive.

I have a few items to write for the children apart from some house work and will be busy.

Cheers.

Bon weekend et bonne chance!

(PS. I was invited to board a French warship for a party tomorrow (for me it is clean party – no alcohol) but had to turn it down due to my wish to complete some housework. Another invitation came for me to go to Hanuabada village with some sports personnel for a special clean-up campaign but I had to turn it down as well. I have to fix up my place first. Those opportunities will come around soon.)

WORK TIP: SHOW THEM YOU ARE RELIABLE

SOMETHING has been on my mind lately – and that regards having the right mentality towards work.

Always give your best in what you are tasked to do.

Show your employers and those who engage you in different tasks that you can do the job.

Yes, there are times (many, I think) you know that your efforts were not rewarded equitably/rightly … yet learn to give your best nonetheless.

Some people would consider hiring you for much bigger jobs with more benefits if they know that you can handle what is given to you.

Being a volunteer in different organisations is another way of showing possible employers (who may also be volunteers) that money and convenience are not the only motivators to complete given tasks.

There are people with talent and knowledge who are not reliable. And there are those who lack talent and knowledge who are very reliable.

Show people you can be trusted. Be reliable.       

IN GIVING YOU ARE ENRICHED …

IN Life, people often thinking about being enriched if they are given more – or when they accumulate more.

That however, is an incomplete notion.

People who give to others (and with some wisdom) are enriched by the very act of giving.

This is seen in the case of good teachers and coaches.

Whenever a teacher does his/her best to give the best to his/her students, s/he is also enriched in the process.

The writer who wants to give the best in what s/he writes for an audience is personally enriched.

The reception of the deed by the students/audience enables the teacher to delve deeper into the subject at hand.

In trying to explain a concept clearly, succinctly and simply (in the classroom or on the printed page), the teacher/writer grows and masters the art of teaching/writing.

It is possible that such skills mastered could increase a professional’s material gain in the future.

However, even if there is no material gain, the skills gained is “richness” enough.

Good leaders or employers will certainly notice the “richness” and reward that accordingly.     

So, do give to others what you know and have mastered. The rewards will come.