10 Reasons Why Simpler People are Happier People

Simple people - the happy go lucky types, the ones who are easily contented, uncomplicated, and just want the simple things in life. They probably don't compete as much, are grateful for the things they already have, living a life that they are pleased with and do not foresee negative circumstances that may happen in future.

One may think them foolhardy or silly, to waste one's life not aspiring to attain more. But, simpler people, simpler thoughts and simpler deeds, are the people who are often happier. As opposed to someone who is not easily contended, always seeking to break new grounds and not spending enough quality time on themselves.

Why Are These Simpler People Happier then?

Tom Valeo, a writer for the St. Peterburg's Times, said, "Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you try to chase it, the more it eludes you..." Let us look at the the Top Ten (10) reasons as to why simpler people are happier in general. 

1. They are easily-contended and easy to please.

They don' t ask for much; status quo is probably what they believe they are comfortable with and can afford. They don't feel the need to be demanding or have more than they are capable of achieving. Hence, their mentality is more relaxed and not burdened with the overwhelming worry that over-achievers or ambitious people harbor.

2. They are not bogged down with unnecessary stress

With a happier state of mind, they handle or deal with things in a more relaxed manner. They are not stressed out over sales targets, investment losses or massive financing probably. They don't stress themselves out unnecessarily. As such, it is easier for them to appreciate the simpler things in life and and count their blessings. Even when they set targets, they probably make it an easy-to-achieve goal, something that they feel more comfortable attaining without striving too hard for.

3.  They make people around them happy

These people send off their happy vibes to those who are working with them, or their friends and family. Because they are simple and happy go lucky, they seldom give people any demanding or unreasonable requests to fulfull.   This in turn makes the people around them happy, and everyone gets along easier.

4. They make friends easily
Yes, it is true that they make friends easier, and they don't even need to be gregarious or eloquent. People feel comfortable striking conversations with them, and hanging out with them. So simple people usually have different groups of friends from work, from school, from church, and those in the yoga classes etc. Though, the downside is, they are never certain of the motives why some of these "friends" got close to them in the first place, they don't suspect even if the friends have ulterior motives such as wanting to borrow money or looking for other benefits.

5. They take things at face value
When they hear something, like a compliment or even an excuse for someone else's wrongdoing, they choose to believe it, and do not let their mind wander - they don't wonder if the compliment might be a falsey or sarcasm; they don't wonder if the "reasons" given might be untrue. It does not matter whether they are really clueless / ignorant, or they choose to be nonchalant.

6. They are not bothered by details
Whether travelling or handling a task, simpler people tend to take good care of the basic requirements and not think too much about nitty-gritty details or the "what if" scenarios. They put their mind and heart to completing the task on hand; contigencies or unforeseen circumstances are usually not taken into factor as yet, so they don't need to split their focus and load themselves with too many details or deviations. A more ambitious person tends to attack the task with too many questions on hand, including minuscle details or a million questions from seeing things from different angles.

7. They do not need need to seek validation of self-worth from others
Simple people are contended with everything, including their own appearance, their dressing and their lives in general. They do not need someone to tell them they look good to feel happier. They do not need to impress anyone other than themselves, and maybe the loves of their lives. The constant need to seek assurance from others that we are beautiful, smart or talented can be a very painful process, often leading to stress, insecurity and paranoia even.

8. No green-eyed monster in them 
Yes, not only do simple people not need to seek validation of self-worth from others, they do not envy or compare as well. We have already mentioned that they are happy with the simpler pleasures in life, and do not pressurize themselves to chase what is not theirs. They are also happier because they do not envy others who may be richer or get jealous over someone who looks better. To them, certain luxuries or beauty is something that if they have, they learn to appreciate it; but if they do not have, they do not feel the need to be envious of said luxuries or beauty. Constant comparison and jealousy may motivate someone to work harder to a certain extent, but overdoing it gets unhealthy and the chase is never-ending - there is always someone who is richer, someone who is more successful, someone who is more beautiful out there.

9. Honesty is the best policy
These are the people who are down to earth and do not resort to lies or trickeries. They do not spin tales to attain something that they want, and they are usually frank or direct. They may not always be mild people, in fact they may be downright blunt - but they'd not harbor ill intentions or have intention to manipulate or cheat. Being able to speak one's mind frankly, and being able to be understood easily, makes one happier, as opposed to someone who often has to rake their brains over manipulative or hypocritical measures to get what they want.

10. They handle sorrow the simple way
Even if something untoward happens, or someone hurts them, they tend to forgive and forget easier. They might cry, even inflict a little violence i.e. a slap or punch on the harmbringer, but they don't plot vengeances or paybacks. They simply move on after the sorrow has faded, and continue living their lives. The constant need to plot revenges or holding on to the past is unhealthy, and complicated people are often unhappy because of this.


No part of this may be republished without the writer's permission. Copyright  ©  Thearcticstar. All rights reserved.

Dinner at Careshop de Cafe

Talking about cafes in neighborhood, it has been quite awhile I visited one, ever since Shoney Cafe at Balestier closed down eons ago. But to support a buddy, and curious about their food, I decided to give it a shot. Careshop de Cafe is a quaint little chilling hideout tucked away at 70 Bendemeer Road #01-05 Luzerne, Singapore 339940 (Tel: 6294 9298).

I like the white, sparkly exterior of this place, hidden away amongst the heartland and industrial office buildings - eye catching, warm and almost elegant even. The interior was rather tacky in comparison though, with a theme more targeted at relaxation and simplicity I guess - think folding chairs, wooden tables and a pool table for winding down.

Besides serving a rather wide variety of food, Careshop de Cafe is also a very environmental friendly company which uses, supports and cares about the environment. Yes, a cafe that goes green and supports environmental causes through practices and contributions.

We decided to go green too, and start off our dinner with a Garden Salad with Smoked Salmon appetizer - no dressing, so it was reckoned to be extremely healthy. The salmon looked dry but tasted nothing like that- it was rather succulent in fact, and not overly-salty as most smoked salmon are. Paired with crisp greens, this dish opens up one's appetite.

I had a hard time debating between the Soft Shell Crab Bento Set or Spicy Pork Belly with Rice - eventually I stuck with the latter one. Crunchy and spicy, thin slices of pork belly were stir-fried to tender perfection; eaten with rice and a fried egg, this dish notably nutritious in a way. . There was strong hints of Kimchi for the pork belly. Tasty as it was, we were rather put off by the hard circles of "soft bones" embedded within the meat (inevitable, yes), these hard circles were rather disturbing and caused hindrance to enjoyment of the dish in its entirety.

The poached peach slice made up for the hard circles of soft bones though...:)

Never mind, the Chicken Chop was sumptuous - the tender chicken was well prepared and came with the explosive flavor of Hollandaise Sauce - sweet with sour overtures. The wedges were very crispy on the outside but the inside was stuffed with soft, mashed potato flesh instead of flour. This was a winner in any case.

Finally, it was dessert time, and we picked a slice of Oreo Cheesecake from the counter as we were informed that all the desserts on the menu were unavailable today. It was rather disappointing as we were banging on the Chocolate Lava cake... nonetheless, the oreo cheesecake that we ordered was divine. It was moist, sweet but not overly so, very smooth and the oreo powder sprinkled on top of the cake was incredible. I kept scooping up the oreo powder on the plate to eat as the rich chocolatey taste simply melted me.

Drinks-wise, we had fresh carrot juice and lemonade. We spent an average of SGD$23.00 each on our dinner here, and it was very affordable in our opinion. Come for the food only, don't expect too much of service.

Spring Cleaning

               Photo source: http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2011/03/vernal-equinox-science-folklore-collide-2/


Spring Cleaning Tradition and Origin
Yes, the Spring Equinox is approaching, and all of us are busy with Spring Cleaning, as it is so-termed. What is Spring Cleaning and how did it come about?

No one knows where exactly it originated from - it is believed to have derived from Persian's "shaking the house" practice on the first day of a brand new year, or the Jewish before the "Passover" and springtime feast.

Basically, heavy and thorough cleaning of the homes are being conducted during this period, including discarding of old stuffs. Especially for countries with cold climates, such as in Northern America and European regions - where the houses are cleaned in spring to rid the musti-ness and dust caused by winter's high winds and dank.

In Greece, the Clean Week is set aside for cleaning to welcome the Great Lent (or Julian New Year)  in April.

Now, for the Chinese, this spring cleaning is usually done in the first two months every year, to welcome the Lunar New Year.

Physical Cleaning
Tiring as it may be, it is an essential move, as families work hard together to scrub, dust, mop, sweep, wipe and re-organize their homes, repainting or touching up if need be. As laborious as the tasks may be, the final results of seeing a sparkling, shiny home is often rewarding, and the family members grow closer as they work together to clean their beloved homes.

The homes are now ready to welcome guests over for visitations, and for the home-owners to decorate it anyway as they please.

These days, many people engage part-time maids or cleaning teams to take care of the spring cleaning (for those who do not already have maids). The idea sounds appealing, but more suited for those who do not have much stuff to toss out, I believe?

Emotional Cleaning
Yes, leading from the point above, I am a sentimental junkie basically. Certain things may be in the way, and messing up the rooms etc, but I cannot bear to discard them due to sentimental value.

I have alot of ornaments, clothes, trinkets, old letters, books etc that I no longer use, wear or read. However, I could not throw them away as I would not know their fate after they leave my care. I always harbour the believe that someday, I would still take these old letters or books out to read; someday, I will be needing this piece of clothing; someday, I would be looking for that particular souveinir...

Yet, some of these things, if they are mysteriously or accidentally misplaced, never to be found again - I don't find myself feeling sorrowful or even sad about them... I guess I need to learn the art of discarding everything that no longer serves any practical purpose , for they're taking up unnecessary space for sure.

Plus, I collect everything from coins to stamps to books to perfume bottles to CD albums, so this makes my belongings bulkier than the norm.

But yes, discard, I shall - dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Sometimes, when the old ones don't go, the new ones cannot enter. It may be painful and difficult letting go, but it is a necessary evil, for our own well-being.

Spiritual Cleaning
Yes, in accordance to the above, fresh stuff such as positive energies cannot enter if we do not rid the old, negative ones.

Decluttering is always  therapeutic and good for geomancy's purpose - or so believed. Once in a while, we need to re-organize and clean our homes and offices to bring fresh energies of wealth, prosperity and well-being to ourselves. When our energies are being blocked, we feel burdened and overwhelmed. In order to free ourselves, we declutter and rebalance the feeling through a reorganization of our immediate surroundings.

Let go of the unnecessary, undeserving baggages and move on to a brand new year, with a brand new look to our surroundings. Re-color the walls or change the carpetings after spring cleaning, if need be.

The sparkling clean "new look" alone is fulfilling and brings a smile to one's face, and one's mood become a lot better, too.

So, have fun spring cleaning. May this decluttering and cleaning bring about cleansing, healing and good new things be able to flow in! Have fun preparing for Lunar New Year.

Lunch at Deli Moroccan

Wandering through the exotic Arab Street, it is inevitable that one would feel surreal, as if having been transported into another place and time. This is a culture haven lined with shops selling exquisite accessories and souveinirs, and restaurants serving palatable Mediterranean / Middle Eastern food, with the gorgeous golden dome of the Mosque in the backdrop. Yes, this is definitely a draw for tourists.

We decided to eat Moroccan food, having heard reviews from friends that it is delicious. I was always very curious about their cuisine, so Moroccan fare it was. Delimoroccan is located at 30 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199448 and the number to dial is 6298 0113. This is right in the heart of Arab Street itself.

The setting is done in heavy Moroccan taste- patterned table cloth with fringes, and the interior is filled with intricate cultural ornaments gracing the walls. One can choose to dine in the authentic restaurant, or enjoy the breezes of alfresco dining. Delimoroccan serves delicious, traditional Moroccan food in good portions - but the service leaves much to be desired.

We chose an outdoor table. and we started the meal with Mint Tea - both the Iced ones and the Hot ones, served in lovely glasses and teapots. The fresh mint leaves gives a subtle fragrance to the tea, nothing too strong; just refreshing.

We began the feast with a Hummus Musharmal - a stew of lettuce, tomatoes, chickpeas, onions and chicken dices cooked in a delicious, tomato-tasting hummus dressing. This was a delicacy served in elegant silverware, and we loved the light flavor of this ingredients with hints of sour-sweetness of tomatoes. The boiled chicken was very, very tender.

Next, the Grilled Chicken Kebab - a blend of deliciously-charred chicken meat with a salad of tomatoes, chickpeas and onions. The chicken was still pretty tender despite its grilled state.

Then the Beef Kufta Tagine - a Moroccan beef meatballs dish cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. We loved the spicy sauce, thick and scrumptious with eggs beaten in - and the ground beefballs were succulent as well. Paired with their delicious, thin, slightly-coarse pita bread, this dish was my favorite.

Finally, the Grilled Beef Kebab - a delicacy served with salad of tomatoes, chickpeas and onions on the side. We were surprised that the well-flavored, slightly smokey beef was tender (even slightly moist) instead of being too-dry, as most grilled kebab dishes are.

Three of us spent SGD27.00 each on our Moroccan meal, glad for the experience and pleased with the dishes.

Chilling out at Piano Lounge @ Quality Hotel

The Piano Lounge is a small, cosy lounge / pub located within Quality Hotel Marlow at 201 Balestier Road, Level 1, Singapore 329926 and the number for reservations and queries is 6355 9988. It is done in warm, earthly shades that are easy on the eyes and soul, perfect for a day of unwinding and relaxation. Contrary to its name though, there is no piano here though.

The Piano Lounge offers both indoor or alfresco seating. I love the pretty Raindrop Lightings that one could easily see when seated outside - either on high tables or on cushy armchairs. There is a pool table at the far end providing recreational relaxation for patrons. By nightfall, this place is usually packed with office executives, tourists and some tai-tais who are regulars. 

Besides good food such as Laksa, Spring Chicken, Satay and fresh Salmon Sashimi, The Piano Lounge also serves a variety of snack food available for order even after the kitchen closes at 10.00pm. I had the Topshell - large, thick and, succulent and deliciously spicy; and the Spicy Mid-wings - tasty and paired with crispy ikan bilis on the side. Their friendly wait staff exude warm hospitality most times.

They also serve a wide variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic such freshly-squeezed fruit juices. I usually take their red wines or Snowball - a delicious cocktail made of Advocaat and Lemon or Lime juice, but it does not contain a single hint of sourness. It is largely sweet smoothness.

The Golden Sunshine comprises of Whiskey, rum etc and an egg yolk which one is supposed to stir before drinking. The taste is rather dull, just Whiskey, rum etc. The only interest highlight was the huge yellow eye yolk, which unfortunately, does not add to the taste of the strong drink.

Finally, the tip of the iceberg - at this cosy, relaxing respite, there is live band performance, usually teams of three ladies from overseas. They entertain the guests with good singing, fanciful dancing, dedications and very friendly reception. They are so talented that they could sing in English, Mandarin, Korean, and a variety of dialects.  

Yes, while sipping my Daiquiri , I can hear the amicable singers bellowing out tune after tune. They would come down to grace tables with handshakes and small talks. Overall, I think this is a pretty cool place to chill out at and listen to live band perform. Drinks are not expensive as well, about SGD$10.00 per cocktail.

Chilling Out at The Merry Men bar @ Robertson Quay

All right, so after one round of beers at Medley Amaii Cafe next door, we finally arrived The Merry Men bar, a drinking place by the scenic riverside. Welcome to 86 Robertson Quay, #01-02, Singapore 238245 (Tel: 6732 5057).

Another relaxed hangout with quirky furniture imported from all over the world, this place also sets out to capture and captivate the busy, tired working crowd as well as families to hang out at, over good, simple food and delicious drinks. Hence, the "merry" name. 

Yes, we liked the relaxed ambience already, and friendly patrons. The long-table concept was comfortable, and allowed patrons to mingle with each other, creating a rather amicable atmosphere immediately. Great music, scenic riverviews, merrymakers crowding around smooth tables - this was a non-pretentious place to unwind for sure. No fuss, no muss, just bring your appetites to the party.

Drinks-wise, it was Blackforest Mojito for me - a delicious thirst-quencher encompassing my favorite combination of mojitos, chocolate and cherries. 

Food-wise, we shared a Duck Pizza - thin, crispy slices of pizza piled deliciously with mushrooms, duck, olives and cheese. Every bite was a crispy explosion of flavors. This was truly comfort food for the work-weary souls.

We spent SGD$19.00 each here, not pricey at all, for a wonderful ladies' night out.

Drinks at Medley Amaii Gelato & Cafe @ Robertson Quay

Before our drinks at The MerryMen, we decided to pop into Medley Amaii for a drink each, since the interior design was rather interesting, and cozy. It was still daylight anyway, too early for The Merrymen.

Located at 86 Robertson Quay, #01-03 Robertson Blue, Singapore 238245, Medley Amaii's contact number is 6838 0792. There are different seating arrangements in this cosy hideout with a lovely riverview. Whether one chooses to sit indoors or outdoors, the place makes you feel right at home, and mellow.

As this place is "born out of love for sweetness", there are scores of gelato and drinks to indulge in, as well as good food. Unfortunately, we did not partake of any gastronomical indulgences as this had been a passing point enroute to The MerryMen for Sharona* and I that evening.

We liked the exquisite furnishing and laid back atmosphere, as we sat to chit chat, people watch and sip cool beers, away from the hustle and bustle of citylife, away from the late afternoon heat of the setting sun. I'll be back for food and some sweetness someday soon, rest assured.

Dinner at AppleBee's Restaurant

This entry is a reminiscent about AppleBee's that has since been closed. Whenever I was at TripleOne Somerset, I would pass by AppleBee's, and was always curious about the kind of food they serve. Besides Fukuichi Japanese Restaurant, I have never eaten at TripleOne Somerset before. One day, I finally succumbed and decided to give this American restaurant a try.

AppleBee's address was at 111 Somerset Road #01-11 / 12, TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164. It boosts of huge booth seats as well as the good old tables, a cosy ambience and exudes an all-American comfort, even cheery. It is almost a pity that business could not sustain.

Anyway, the appetiser to start off was huge, crispy Crunchy Onion Rings - humongous and thickly delicious. Eating these delicious sweetish rings resplendent of distinctive onion flavor would have been filling enough.

The Lime Chicken with Rice was specially created to cater to local flavor, I reckon. The chicken was rather tender,  and was flavored in tinges of spiciness of black pepper. Paired with chips and flavored rice, this was a lovely westernized "chicken rice dish".

The Rib-Eye Steak, generously-portioned, was marinated in a lovely peppery sauce and grilled to tender perfection. The slightly charred hints enhanced the dish. The smooth, buttery-soft mashed potatoes was delicious as well, but what a contrast to the very hard brocooli and carrots served on the side.

Lastly, the Cheese-Coated Chicken with Mushroom Pasta - the grilled chicken was a little dry, but I enjoyed the smokey smudges amongst the saltiness of the chicken. Coupled with creamy mushroom pasta that (the pasta was a little soft, in my opinion), the marriage was a lovely match. 

We spent SGD$42.00 each on our dinner, a rather fulfilling dinner. Our only complaint was that the portions were gigantic, we had difficulty fnishing everything on our plates.

Tea at L'atelier Tiramisu @ The Central

I love pastries, so when I heard of this cafe near my workplace that serves only tiramisu - in many different flavors, I knew I had to have a slice. Well, looking for this tiny cafe named L'atelier Tiramisu was not a piece of cake, though.

Located at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #B1-09 Singapore 059817 (Tel: 9389 8582), this quaint little cafe in warm, enigmatic hues of black and red, serves four exquisite flavors of the classic tiramisu. The ambience is cosy and welcoming, perfectly peaceful for one to indulge in delicious pastries and do a little afternoon chilling out.

Everything looked good in the shelves but I was debating what to eat, since I had just finished lunch. 

The tiramisus come in four distinctive flavors - Classic, Matcha, Dark Cherry and Lychee. I could not decide, therefore decided to go for the Sampler's portion - four minis in one, just simply perfect. A slice of Tiramisu is SGD$6.80 and the Sampler's portion is SGD$15.00 (with an additional Pandan flavor).

First, the Pandan flavor - it was resplendent of the soft fragrance of pandan but tasted more like Oneh-Oneh (a Malay / Asian kueh) than tiramisu. Needless to say, it wasnt a loss that this flavor doesn't come in large slice.

Next, the Dark Cherry flavor - rich, sweet, with tiny pieces of real cherries within the strong aroma of good coffee and tiny hints of liquer. Being a cherry lover, this definitely rocked my tastebud.

My next favorite has to be the Lychee flavor - a moist, sweet serenade mouthful of bliss. Lychee has a very distinctive sweetness, blended with the soft-sandyness texture of this cake, the combination was simply divine.

Classic came next - an explosion of rich, smoothness of Liberty coffee infused with sloshes of liquer with marsala wine, this palatable flavor leaves one hanging around for more.

Finally, the Matcha (green tea) flavor - a lovely creation of moist, soft, creamy delight that boosts of the healthy, slightly-"veggie" taste of green tea - it felt deceitfully healthy enjoying this delicacy.

Last but not least, Iced Cuppacino and hot French Tea to indulge the delicious pastries with.

All in all, I was rather pleased with my tiramisus, and would be back to enjoy the large slices of my favorite flavors.

Dinner at Black Angus Steakhouse

It was the annual gathering between Edwin*, Chris*, Aimee* and I, so since the lady wanted to sink her teeth into some red meat, I suggested going to Black Angus for dinner. With its large. distinctive signboard drawing the eyes of pedestrians, it was hard to resist the temptation to just pop in for a meaty feast. at 1 Tanglin Road #01-08 Orchard Parade Hotel, Singapore 247905. The number to call is 6734 1181.

This American steak and seafood house oozes warm hospitality, coziness and a very relaxing ambience that makes one feel right at home. We snagged one of the comfortable booth seats and pawed the menus eagerly.

We started off with the Shrimp-by-the-Dozen Cocktail for sharing. A dozen of very succulent and fresh shrimps to be dipped in their special spicy-sweet sauce. This was a tantalizing starter for us. Three shrumps each did not seem sufficient.

My Plain Salad came next - just a plate of crisp greens with no dressing, so I sprinkled black pepper over it. I would say this was very healthy, no calories from dressing.

I had the Sirloin Steak (medium rare) and Salmon Combo - tender, juicy beef that went well with black pepper sauce, and buttery smooth salmon fillet. The fact that the steak was slightly charred, giving it that smokey hint, delighted my tastebuds. I also liked the sides of greens and crispy fries - this made for a very hearty and wholesome American fare.

The rest of them had steaks and prime ribs as well, and everyone enjoyed their large portions of dinner. We spent SGD$50.00 each on dinner, all leaving with full bellies.