My periods are now cramp-free. :) Let me say that again – I HAVE CRAMP-FREE PERIODS. On my last two cycles, I didn’t suffer the debilitating stomach cramps I’ve associated with my monthly flow for the past 20 years or so. Yay!

I really, really never thought that this day would come. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s like discovering something for the first time or finding out that there’s a better way to do something you’ve been doing your entire life. “This is how it should feel? Life doesn’t need to come to a screeching halt every month? Fantastic!”

I went out about town meeting customers the other day and  was on my feet, during my heaviest flow day for 5 hours. Ha! What liberation! Just months before, I would be doing my routine of  sitting on the chair the whole day crying the pain away.

How did it happen? Well, it started with me trying to find a vitamin supplement that comes in soft gel capsule form for my mum (she has difficulties swallowing large hard tablet ones).  I ended up buying the only one that fit the criteria (it’s called Vykmin). I bought the bigger box because I thought I’d give them try too. (I’ve been on and off various supplements for a while now.) After about 3 weeks of taking them, I had my period. Amazingly it was without any cramping. It was so unbelievable that I didn’t tell anyone about it, in case it was a fluke.  So I continued and lo and behold! no cramps again this month!

I have not made any drastic changes to my diet or lifestyle. I drink the same amount of water as before. I had no increase or decrease in physical activity or stress levels. Unless the government has been tinkering with the water supply here, the only difference I could think of in the past two months is the red and black gel capsules I’ve been taking daily.  Have I, despite my attempts at eating copious and varied amounts of fruit, vegetable (and milk, among other things), been lacking in the vitamins and minerals department all along?

Whatever it is, I am very, very thankful this wish came true. I’ve spent so much time away from school and work due to the pain and so much money at the doctors and pharmacists to try to fix it. I feel for you girls who are still suffering as I once did. I hope that this post would give you some hope in finding your own cure.

PS: Although I am without cramps now, I am not without pain. I have major headaches 2-3 days before the onset of period. I’ve never had this before, at least not with this intensity. The headaches were very, very painful and even after 3 rounds of Panadols Extra, the pain would still be there. I can’t sleep properly because I’d be dreaming of having my head drill throughout the night.  One of the nights, I had a dream of a soldier bashing my head repeatedly because I coloured the battle scene wrongly (pink and green leaves?), it was kinda funny. LOL

Dear Secret Law of the Universe,

When I weighed myself this morning I found that I’m nearly 3 pounds more what I weighed in January. What happened? Was it the mindless snacking? Not enough of exercise? Water retention? All the above? I was mildly shocked but instead of planning to exercise more I decided that the best method to lose that extra weight was… to wish for the extra pounds to melt away. Not only that, I asked the powers of the secret law of the universe to reduce my weight by tonight.

At about 6pm, I had a funny feeling in my stomach and at 8pm I started having a bout of explosive diarrhoea that lasted for nearly 3 hours.

While groaning in pain in the the bathroom, I actually made time to appreciate your wicked sense of humour. Yes, I asked for this, yes, you granted my wish, and yes, you did it before the end of the day. When I weighed myself again just before the stroke of midnight, I was indeed 3 pounds lesser than I was in the morning. Very well done.

If you don’t mind, please automatically include the following addendum to all the wishes I’ve made and will make in the future:

1. No one is hurt — physically, mentally, spiritually or any other means possible– in the process of granting the wishes (and that includes me!);
2. The wishes are granted through means that are legally-, morally-, environmentally-, ethically-correct;

In return, I will do my best to:

1. remember to be grateful for all the wishes granted (lest I forget, I’d appreciate it if I’m reminded gently) and
2. have patience for the wishes that will be granted — I’m sure you’ve not forgotten my Macbook Air wish in January ;)

For that, I’d like to thank you for today’s lesson: be careful what you wish for — it might get your bum burned.

Gratefully yours.

Tomorrow, I’m going for a 2km run! :)

The joy on my mother’s face when David Cook was announced the American Idol winner

The joy on my mother’s face when Manchester United were crowned winners of the UEFA Champions League

Finding a sachet of instant coffee at the bottom of the snack drawer

The smell of magazines with uncoated pages

My geriatric cat giving me the “I love you so much” gaze :)

A group of teenage girls was sitting next to me as I was eating lunch at a fast-food restaurant on Wednesday. They were talking about their schools assignments, boys, mobile phones and er, boys.

20 minutes later, the group left and a gang of 3 teenage boys took their place. The topic of the boys’ conversation moved from girls to mobile phones to Friendster accounts and then back to girls. Ah…the priorities of youth! I’m glad I’m no longer a teen — such a stressful and confusing period!

I remarked to B a few days ago that I’m in a comfortable position in my life where I’m glad for the lessons of the past and look forward to the fruits of the future. Guess that’s one more thing to be thankful for! :)

What are you grateful for today?

Speaking of work, I can’t help but be thankful for the fact that, being my own boss, I can choose my working (and blogging) hours. I’m typing this on a word processor, at 2:30am (I’d probably post this at a random time later, when the connection is up). Yes, I’ve never been so busy in my life — as I approach deadlines, I’d be sleeping just 6 hours a day ( the past week, I averaged 5 hours a night) — but I never had so much fun and joy doing work either.

10 years ago, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do for a living, but I do know:

1. I want to work in the creative industry;
2. I want a job that starts at 10 am and ends at 4pm (so that I can see the deep warm glow of sun set);
3. I want to work in a place where I don’t have to answer to/for anyone.
4. I want to enjoy what I’m doing

I remember writing these Ideal Job requirements on a piece of paper. I shared it with a good friend who told me it was a good list albeit an unrealistic one.

7 years ago, I started work as a designer in a company. Though the pay was good, I wished I had a job that didn’t require me to wake up at 6.40 am, I wished I didn’t have to answer for less than competent colleagues and most of all, because I tend to finish work after 7pm, I wished I could experience the magic of the moment when the sun bids me goodbye for the day (this is really important to me till today).

I didn’t mind the job but I didn’t enjoy the environment. However, because of the promise of a stable career, it took me a long time before deciding to start my own business. The early years of doing business was full of hard lessons — contracts not written properly, deals lost to bigger companies, partners bailing out. It was only less than a year ago, things started looking up.

If I look back at my list now, I have pretty much accomplished all that I’d wanted a decade ago. Sure, it was 10 years in the making, but I have done it. Every other day, at 6.30pm, I’d rush downstairs to soak in the golden hue that precedes twilight. Sometimes I have my breakfast at 11am, sometimes I have my dinner at 11pm. Life feels like it couldn’t get better, but I’m sure it could. I have made a new list in January this year:

1. I want to try everything I’d like to within the creative industry and beyond;
2. I want to start work when I’m ready and end work when it’s time;
3. I want to travel the world and work from anywhere I want to;
4. I want to earn enough to do anything (but not enough as to do nothing);
5. I want to enjoy what I’m doing and give others joy while doing it.

My advice to you is obvious — have goals. Specify what your Ideal Job is. You might not know how to achieve it yet but you can constantly work towards it, everyday, slowly but surely. It might take me another 10 years to achieve my new goals, but I have a strong feeling I’m on the right track. :)

If only my internet connection would cooperate with me now!

What is your dream job? Are you doing it now? If not, what are you doing to inch closer to it?

Wow! I’m starting to think that The Secret does work, at least for some wishes.

Value: $300? $50? $0? It was an old model.
Time taken: 7 days
Granted by: My SO
How bad did I want this? Enough to give up donuts for a week.

Original Wish
Wacom Tablet

Previously on Wishes Granted
Donut — (Granted)