so long, and thanks for all the fish.

2014 hasn't been kind to the nation and is going out screaming and kicking with massive floods in the East Coast and a crashed flight, but in the face of pains and fears and uncertainties, I want to wrestle a shred of hope for myself by bringing to mind all the good things that have also happened and be thankful for them.

As I went through my 2014 blog posts and also Facebook (srsly, I'm so thankful for social media otherwise my life is essentially gone with the wind), I am repeatedly reminded that I am blessed beyond measure, and how could I not when I have..

• these gals
• this miracle 
• this new look 
• this wedding
• this farewell
• this food trip
• this work trip
• this drive
• this family
• these friends
• and these
• and these
• this boy 
• and this
• this hobby
• these songs
• this musical
• this list
• this opportunity
• this milestone
• this charity, and 
• this reunion?

And on this high note, I bid this blog goodbye. Kinda :( but I'll hold it in. See you on the other side!

theevanescentloafer.blogspot.com

This is the most moving piece I've read in a while. Maybe because the subject matter is close to my heart. The very mention of pedophilia would usually send me heaving and panting in rage screaming bloody castration on the perpetrators, so reading this was kinda agonizing, because it humanizes the very group of people I detest with all my soul. Granted, the person in the story hasn't committed any crime, but still.. I felt an incredible sense of sadness and sympathy reading this. I pray for strength and courage for the person, and his fellow "strugglers". I still hate everything to do with this, but I found compassion for them. :(

me, success kid?

Hmm, going by this list, I suppose I'm doing pretty well in life. Let's see..

1. Your relationships are less dramatic than they used to be. - YESSS
Drama is not maturity. As we age, we should develop maturity. So maybe your relationships were drama-filled in your past, but if you have moved beyond that, then you are successful.

2. You are not afraid to ask for help and support any more. - I SUPPOSE SO.
Asking for help does not equal weakness. In fact, it is a strength. No person has ever succeeded in isolation. It takes teamwork to accomplish goals. Asking or help is a sign that you have grown as a person.

3. You have raised your standards. - OR HAVE I LOWERED THEM?
You don’t tolerate bad behavior any more – from other people, or even yourself. You hold people accountable for their actions. You don’t spend time with the “energy vampires” in your life anymore.

4. You let go of things that don’t make you feel good. - KINDA
No, this is not narcissistic even though it might seem like it. Self-love is success. Love yourself enough to say ‘no’ to anything that doesn’t make you happy, doesn’t serve your purpose, or drags you down.

5. You have moments where you appreciate who you see in the mirror. - YEA, THE WONDERS OF MAKEUP
Ideally, you should appreciate who you see in the mirror at every moment. But even if that doesn’t happen, if you do it more than you used to, then that is success. Love yourself. You are awesome.

6. You have learned that setbacks and failure are part of self-growth. - WOULDN'T I KNOW IT.
Not everyone can have success 100% of the time. That’s just not realistic. Life is about victories and losses. So look at your setbacks as stepping stones to something better. In reality, there really is no such thing as as setback. It’s all just part of a wondrous journey.

7. You have a support system that includes people who would do anything for you. - YES :)
If you have figured out the people who “have your back” and recognized the ones who only pretend that they do, then you have succeeded. This is a painful realization, but once you learn to see the signs of betrayal, you can stay away from those people.

8. You don’t complain much. - NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE.
Because you know there really is nothing to complain about. Unless you really have gone through some horrific life experience and had unimaginable losses, most of what we all experience on a day-to-day basis is just mundane. And successful people know that. And they live in a space of gratitude.

9. You can celebrate others’ successes. - YES
Just because other people succeed, that doesn’t make you a failure. Applaud the people who rise to the top. The more positive energy you give to other people’s victories, the more you will create your own.

10. You have passions that you pursue. - ERR. YES? MAYBE. NOT SURE.
You are not stagnant. You know you have something wonderful to contribute to the world. You have unique talents and gifts. Not only do you know that, you pursue it.

11. You have things to look forward to. - YES!
If you don’t have exciting things going on in your life that you are eagerly anticipating, then you are slowly dying inside. Successful people create goals that they are passionate about pursuing. They let this excitement drive their life.

12. You have goals that have come true. - YES
Even though “failures” are a part of life, you have stuck to your goals and dreams long enough to make them come to fruition. You have some tastes of victory. It fuels you.

13. You have empathy for others. - YES
A person without empathy is dead inside. Empathy equals spreading love and positive energy into the world. Successful people know this. They love others as if they are family.

14. You love deeply and open yourself up to be loved by others. - YES
Love is risky, and sometimes scary for people. It’s the one thing we all strive for, but it’s also intimately tied to the one thing we fear the most – rejection. If you open your heart enough to love and be loved, then you are successful.

15. You refuse to be be a victim. - YES
You know that life doesn’t always happen to you. Many times, you are a co-creator of your life experiences. Successful people know this and refuse to be kept down by life experiences. The rise up and conquer anyway.

16. You don’t care what other people think. - FOR MOST PART, YES
You know you can’t please everyone. You know that the standards with which society judges people is many times unrealistic. So you just keep true to yourself and love the person you are.

17. You always look on the bright side. - YES
Life can be full of disappointments – if you choose to see them that way. Otherwise, they are learning opportunities. No negative experience is ever wasted as long as you learn from it.

18. You accept what you can’t change. - MM, YES?
Let’s face it – there many things you can’t change in life. All you can change is how you view what happens. If you can change your negative perspective on situations to a positive one, then you are successful.

19. You change what you can. - YES
And let’s face it again – there are many things you can change in life. Successful people don’t sit around accepting the negatives that are changeable. They get out there and do something about it!!

20. You are happy. - YES!
To me, this is the ultimate definition of success. It doesn’t matter what the balance is in your bank account, how big your house is, or how many fancy vacations you take. If you are happy, then you are succeeding in life.

I suppose as long as the definition of success doesn't take into account career achievements or monetary gains, I should be okay hehe! Sometimes I do wish I have those as well... but oh well, I KNOW that I'm very, very blessed so I'm really thankful for all I have.

of a few boys.

Was discussing some work with my website servicing consultant this morning, when I found out he was down with some nasty cough and that he was going to leave for home soon after the conversation, and so when I saw that he was still online after about half an hour, I buzzed him.

Hey what are you still doing here!

Finishing everything up at the moment. Since today we have quite a lot of urgent tasks at hand, I could only ever go back at 4 pm the earliest today. :(

Aiyo! :( But you're sick!

Yeah, but I'd much rather take it upon myself to stay here and get things done and sorted out first than to cause trouble for everyone here for leaving early. It really doesn't sit with me too well if that were to happen haha xD So no issue for me I guess, as long as I can stop myself from dropping dead suddenly from all this sneezing :P

Haha you're quite an awesome worker. Your attitude is really commendable. :D But please don't drop dead. It would be quite a hassle getting rid of your body. It's crunch time for your colleagues too so don't be inconsiderate. :P

Haha! Now that you mention it, perhaps I should really leave now. xD I truly believe that if you try your hardest for other people, they will return the favour in one way or another! X) Or even if they don't, at least you know you have done the right thing! :) Alright, time for me to get things sorted out as quick as possible before I really do drop dead, while I still can xD Thanks again and enjoy your day!

Srsly, how many people, especially guys, do you know who type in complete, properly punctuated and correctly capitalised sentences? I think I can count the total of everyone I know who's like that on one hand (A, C, M and A, there ya go). But even I don't chat like that, as I feels it looks too formal but I'm warming up to the practice (it looks weird when I don't, so when in Romeee..)

He and one of his seniors are some of my most favorite people I've worked with. Ever polite, efficient and helpful, I find their bright eyed and bushy tailed attitude so refreshing and their youthful exuberance so infectious -- it's always such a joy to talk to them although it does make me wonder what cynical cow I'm turning into. :D

Anyway, on the opposite end of the mood spectrum, I find this sad sounding song rather soothing. Makes me think about stuff. Hat tip to A for the intro. :)

Oh I might as well put this here cos I lazy to start a new post about it. So I watched the Jersey Boys musical with my regular kaki WW. For some reasons I didn't think of checking out their songs prior, so the enjoyment level was less than optimum. Still enjoyed it though. Did you know that the Four Seasons were the biggest rock group there was before the Beatles? I didn't. And I found it strange that I only knew ONE of their songs (the evergreen Can't Take My Eyes Off You). Shame on me! :P The other songs didn't really stick, except for one called My Eyes Adored You. This musical is about the formative years of the group up until when they found fame and their subsequent unraveling. That bit was sad. I always have a soft spot for friendship-themed productions, so yeah, this left me a little bummed out especially knowing that it was based on real life events. Hmm life's sometimes like that.. you win some, you lose a lot. I saw on FB that there would be a new JB movie directed by Clint Eastwood coming out soon -- would love to catch it in the cinema!

Speaking of JB (are you still reading? lol), one of the most unlikeliest things happened yesterday morning. I listened to a sermon (which I rarely if ever do because I don't like listening to audio of people talking)(that's the main reason why I don't like radio, except for BFM89.9 on my morning drive to work, which is about the only time I catch up on business news lol)(ok, I wasn't really listening to the sermon, just whichever bit I managed to catch while doing other things, like actual work heh).. ANYWAY my point is that this sermon was linked from Twitter.. and the strange bit was that of all the 174 accounts I am currently following, it came from one Justin Bieber. Yes, good ol Biebs. Bizzle. (If you wonder what business have I got following him when his music is nowhere in the same universe as what I like, and his propensity for grating public antics and embarrassing gaffes is ridiculous.. I'm not excusing him in anyway, it's just that hmm, I think on some level I am a tiny bit concerned about him, it's not easy being a kid growing up in such spotlight. So this is like err, I don't know.)

Anyway, the sermon I Was Born For This (linked here) was by Ps Carl Lentz, a very hip looking Hillsong NYC pastor and father of three, I could totally see him chilling out with his kids in his V-neck tee lol. It was not a mind-blowing sermon, if anything I'm sure I've heard a few of its other incarnations, but he sounded like he has his heart in the right place, and I think for some people, especially the kids who were listening to this for the first time, it would definitely give them something to think about, and who knows what could happen from there.. so yeah, JB the social media evangelist, who would have thought right. Given that he's the most followers on Twitter for anyone ever, that's really something that he did. :)

We were born for this http://t.co/LSPWjPD8rb
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 28, 2014

These two videos are so beautiful and heartbreaking and they made my day, and I hope they do the same for you :)

Requiem for Romance from Jonathan Ng.

From Ng’s description:
In this “crouching love, hidden breakup” story, inspired by 50′s Shanghai water ink animation & kung fu films, themes of distance, tradition, art and longing dominate a telephonic conversation as a martial arts tango provides the visual backdrop.

A Letter From Fred from Green Shoe Studio.

96-year-old Fred submitted a song he wrote for his recently departed wife to songwriting contest advertised in the paper. Since Fred can't play any instrument and thinks that his singing "would scare people haha" (his words =), he only mailed in his lyrics which didn't meet the criteria of the contest rules, but the studio running the contest saw his song and read his story in the letter he attached and decided to have the song professionally recorded for him.

anachronous.

This could have been the anthem of my life at one point. I'm just glad there was a happy ending for all of us. :)

Btw, The Bright Side hasn't seen an entry in a while. I've read a lot of things I've liked on Quora but it's quite a hassle to get them out from the phone to here (side note: I'm beginning to wonder if I'm spending too much time on Q). Nevertheless, this entry should make up for the absence.

I never thought I'd live to a very old age, but if I ever do, I want to spend it like this man..

Meet Hal Lasko, mostly known as Grandpa, a 97-year-old man who uses Microsoft Paint from Windows 95 to create artwork that has been described as “a collision of pointillism and 8-Bit art.” Lasko, who is legally blind, served in WWII drafting directional and weather maps for bombing raids and later worked as a typographer (back when everything is done by hand) for clients such as General Tire, Goodyear and The Cleveland Browns before retiring in the 1970s. Decades after his retirement his family introduced him to Microsoft Paint and he never looked back. Approaching a century in age, Lasko is now having his work shown for the first time in an art exhibition and also has prints for sale online.

[via]

So yeah, every one of his amazing paintings was painstakingly dotted on MS Paint. Who would have thought! Watch this very inspiring video..

the bright side #4

I don't know if I have shared this before.. it's from a long time ago. I would find it very hard to grapple with this kind of loss. And I would like to think that friendship is one of the most amazing gifts we could ever receive in life.

#829 Smiling and thinking of good friends who are gone

So I came across this quote again today from S's FB note, which I think fit so well with that post. I don't remember having read it before, but I saw my 'Like' so I guess I did. :P

“When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles may stand between us. It means that if we meet again, you will know me. It means that even after I die, you can still see my face and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.

For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost. When I'm feeling most ghost-like, it is your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I'm feeling sad, it's my consolation. When I'm feeling happy, it's part of why I feel that way.

If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget, part of who I am will be gone. "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." the good thief said from his cross (Luke 23:42). There are perhaps no more human words in all of Scripture, no prayer we can pray so well.”

- Frederick Buechner, American writer and theologian -

*******

The level of awesomeness is this video is astronomical (pun very much intended)! It's recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station, who did a revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity. From a SPACE STATION. Srsly, I think the fact that this video exists is just mind blowing. Like, WOW.

Check out the original version by David Bowie here. Check out xkcd's take on this, which btw was how I got to know about the vid. And oh, one of my fav bits from that write-up was this tidbit:

The Larrivée Parlor acoustic guitar in the video went up years ago on the Space Shuttle, and astronauts have been playing it ever since. Given that launch costs at the time were between $20,000 and $30,000 per pound, the cost to send up the guitar was probably in the neighborhood of $75,000.

******* 

A capella artist, Yeo Inhyeok, does another amazing cover, this time of Michael Jackson's Bad. The very thought that our humble vocal chords could produce something so complicated (computer technology notwithstanding) is just astounding. How do they do this?!

the bright side #3

Malala Yousafzai

I only have one item for this entry this week: The 2013 TIME 100 Most Influential People in The World.

Most of these accounts are really inspiring, of mostly ordinary folks who have done extraordinary feats under various circumstances, or some people who are just really good at what they do.

Some of my personal favorites on this list:

• Bassem Youssef by Jon Stewart 
• Roya Mahboob by Sheryl Sandberg
• Malala Yousafzai by Chelsea Clinton
• Justin Timberlake by Stevie Wonder
• Jennifer Lawrence by Jodie Foster 
• Li Na by Chris Evert. 

As for Kim Jong Un, I can sorta understand his inclusion in the list, but mm, I wonder what he's up to. The internet has been making fun of him of lately, I just hope it wouldn't end up badly. Btw this is interesting too, from the list: a quick look at the three power couples who made the list: Mr and Mrs Obama (Barack and Michelle), Mr and Mrs Xi (Jinpeng and Peng Liyuan) and Mr and Mrs Carter (Jay-Z and Beyonce). Wonder what that is like!

Anyway, Sunday is looming. I can't wait it to be over. I don't want to keep getting get into silent rage reading about the shenanigans of the current government in trying to ensure victory (temporary citizenship to foreign workers? Which brilliant mind came up with that?!). It's so blatant that it's farcical. Deep breath, deep breath. RAWWRRRRRRR!

the bright side #2

• The presently weekly (Tuesdays) inter-church prayer meeting at DUMC. It was really spiritually uplifting to see so many churches coming together to pray for the nation and the imminent general election. I was deeply encouraged. The battle is bigger than what the mind perceive and eyes see, but I believe that God is on our side when our cry is one for justice and mercy.
  
  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12

• This explanation (by PKR Strategist Director Rafizi Ramli on the rumours surrounding his departure from Petronas).  

• This review of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away by the late movie critic Roger Ebert. It is so beautifully written that it made me download the show and watch it again. And it was like I've never watched it before--I have practically forgotten about the entire plot line! I haven't figured out why I found it so forgettable when my friends thought the world of it. This excerpt holds a key, though:
  
  I was so fortunate to meet Miyazaki at the 2002 Toronto film festival. I told him I love the "gratuitous motion" in his films; instead of every movement being dictated by the story, sometimes people will just sit for a moment, or sigh, or gaze at a running stream, or do something extra, not to advance the story but only to give the sense of time and place and who they are.
  
  "We have a word for that in Japanese," he said. "It's called 'ma.' Emptiness. It's there intentionally." He clapped his hands three or four times. "The time in between my clapping is 'ma.' If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all, it's just busyness."
  
  I think that helps explain why Miyazaki's films are more absorbing than the frantic action in a lot of American animation. "The people who make the movies are scared of silence" he said, "so they want to paper and plaster it over," he said. "They're worried that the audience will get bored. But just because it's 80 percent intense all the time doesn't mean the kids are going to bless you with their concentration. What really matters is the underlying emotions--that you never let go of those.
  
  "What my friends and I have been trying to do since the 1970's is to try and quiet things down a little bit; don't just bombard them with noise and distraction. And to follow the path of children's emotions and feelings as we make a film. If you stay true to joy and astonishment and empathy you don't have to have violence and you don't have to have action. They'll follow you. This is our principle."
  
  Yes, I enjoyed it much, much more this time, thanks to the review. :)

• This Draw My Life video by Ryan Higa.
  
  
  

• Many topics on Quora. Try it. There are few things more humbling than reading messages from countless other smart people putting forth their thoughts and sharing their knowledge. 

• I've already shared my current favorite song (Mercy Mercy) from Hillsong United really awesome new album, Zion. Here's another one:
  
  

• I love how my friends now has a crush on Brendan. Here's his photo gallery--I'm usually not a huge fans of photo archives but I enjoyed going through this (of course, seeing LH in some recent pix is a bonus!) He seems like the type that would always go out exploring the city he's in, and I can very well relate to that adventurous spirit! How awesome it is to be doing something you love and getting to travel the world while at it. Sigh~ Check out his blog too.

TGIF folks. Xoxo.

something beautiful, something kind

I know I'm supposed to be sleeping, but I've just finished my work for today, and I WANT to end the day doing something I really like, like writing this :P Okay, I'm not writing much, because I don't have to. He actually beat me to this---I had wanted to blog about the person who is the subject of the post earlier, but haven't found the angle. But 'sokay, how many times could I actually say that "Leehom has done the job for me"? Hehehe.. So yeah, I'm just gonna plug the entire post here:

王力宏 Wang Leehom
I made an inspiring friend last week. Her name is Yvonne Foong, and she has neurofibromatosis, a genetic illness with no known cure, which has left her completely deaf. It's rare for a deaf person to come to one of my concerts, so I was fascinated to hear what she had to say after the show. She told me that eight years ago, when she had her hearing, she saw me perform live. Now, with no hearing at all, she could still "hear" the concert, but with all of her other senses. She excitedly described the show to me, in vivid detail. It was amazing for me to hear her go on and on, obviously moved by the music, having heard not a single note.

It made me think of Beethoven, one of the greatest musicians of all time, who wrote some of the most celebrated music in history, while completely deaf. It's incredible to think that his music, which millions know and love, was never even once heard by its composer. Yet there's no doubt Beethoven, like Yvonne, could still "hear" with all his other senses, and profoundly, at that.

When a tree falls in the woods and no one hears it, does it make a sound? People have debated this cliché question for centuries. Some say no, that sound must be perceived in order to exist. Some say yes, that sound doesn't have to be heard to exist. The argument is interesting because, either way, how can you prove it when no one heard it? But can music exist when the notes are inaudible? Is there something more to music than sound waves with varying amplitudes and frequencies?

One of my favorite musicians, Leonard Bernstein, would have us think so. Toward the end of his life, he wrote:

In the beginning was the note,
And the note was with God.
And whosoever can reach that note,
Reach high and bring it back to us on earth,
To our earthly ears…
Partakes of the divine.

I don't know if anyone can prove or disprove that Yvonne heard my concert, but when I met her that night backstage in Malaysia, looked into her eyes and saw her excitement, I had my answer. And I want to thank her for reminding me that music goes beyond sound waves, and is not a tree falling in the woods. Thank you for reminding me that Bernstein was right, music comes from the divine, and what a blessing it is to reach higher and higher, reaching to bring those notes down to earth.

Read Yvonne's blogpost here.
Support her foundation here.

Her story was really inspiring and I was touched by what she's been through, and also the kind gesture of her friend and the fan club people to arrange for this. I'm happy that of all people she got to met him, and I think it was really nice of him to have spent the time with her after his exhausting 2.5 hour concert (he has done something similar before this---in another post-concert clip I've seen before, he went to say Hi to a group of cancer-stricken kids who were at his concert courtesy of Lovelife---the charity organisation founded by his best bud Blackie)... :)

And that quote attributed to Leonard Bernstein---I love it! It's so beautiful and what I imagine good art is all about---divine, a gift, to be shared, inspiring, thought-provoking, uplifting. It reminds me of this other quote I saw floating about recently, which I agree with. This is a subject somewhat close to my heart, and maybe one day I'd have enough substance to actually write about it.

For now, I'm going bed happy. Good night, folks.

the bright side #1

i spend (waste? hehehe so debatable) a lot of time on the internet.. and if you don't know it already, the web can be a terrible place with all the bad news and sad news and worst of all, belligerent trolls. that aside, i still love the good that comes with being online, and it's especially worth it when i get a glimpse of what my fellow earthly sojourners can achieve at the height their creativity, or how big one's heart could be. i'm trying to start a weekly archive of the awesome stuff that float my way (i would have shared some but not all of these on FB), and hope that they bless you too! :D

• The Master Chef

Based on a true story, this film is about pursuing your dreams no matter the odds.

In 2003, Christine Ha was diagnosed with a disease that caused her blindness. She didn't think that she could move on, and felt devastated and alone. But through her love for cooking and the people around her, she started to see her purpose in life. By picking herself up, Christine became the first blind contestant on the hit reality TV show, MasterChef.



[via The Jubilee Project]

• A tale of a student and a legend

During a question-and-answer session with Billy Joel at Vanderbilt University, one bold but endearingly nervous student went all in and asked if he could play “New York State of Mind” on the piano for Billy Joel to sing along to. Joel paused for a second and then said, “Okay.”

It’s awesome…

[via 22 Words]

• Yeo Inhyeok does an amazing a capella cover of Stevie Wonder's I Wish

Amazing what we can do with just our mouth and voice (and the computer! :)



[via 22 Words]

which led me to finding this:

Mike Tompkins and his a capella cover of Coldplay's Paradise 

• This girl

COFFEE SHOP | NEW YORK, NY, USA
(A young girl that is about 14 years old walks in. She gets some looks from our other patrons, as she has bright purple hair, multiple piercings, a leather jacket, and ripped jeans. It is freezing outside and she has a scowl on her face that makes me nervous.)

Me: “Hello, welcome to [coffee shop]. How may I help you?”

Young Girl: “I’ll take five of the largest black coffees you have, and ten of your ham and cheese sandwiches.”

Me: “Okay, will that be all?”

Young Girl: “Yeah.”

Me: “Your total is [price].”

(To my surprise, she pulls out a $100 bill. I am suspicious, and I check to make sure it’s real. It checks out, and I give her a bag with her sandwiches.)

Me: “Here is your change. Your coffee will be ready in a moment.”

(I keep an eye on her as she stands around glaring at anyone who looks at her. I see her looking at the tip jar. When I hand her the coffees, she asks me about it.)

Young Girl: “Your tip jar says that the money goes to you guys. Are any of you in college?”

Me: “Yes, I’m going to Rochester Institute of Technology. A few others are in college as well.”

Young Girl: “Good for you.”

(She pulls out the change I gave her and a few more $20 dollar bills. She crams then in the jar and salutes me jokingly before walking out. I am stunned, and chase after her. I find her on the street corner talking to some homeless people and handing out the sandwiches and coffee.)

Me: “Excuse me!”

Young Girl: “I’m sorry, did I forget something?”

Me: “No, but you just tipped us over $100 dollars. You’re also giving away a lot of food.”

Young Girl: “Yeah, my dad is crazy rich. I feel like I can do more if I actually interact with people instead of signing a check to a charity. Every Friday I gather anyone I see who needs a good meal, and buy it for them.” *she smiles brightly* “I may be young, but I can make a difference. I usually hand out flyers for homeless shelters or soup kitchens, too.”

(Without another word, she walks off silently. I didn’t stop smiling for the rest of the week. It goes to show you that appearances aren’t everything!)

[via Not Always Right]

• This thread on Quora

What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

There are 44 answers in this thread, and every one is as heartwarming as the next. :)

TGIF peeps! ^__^