This and that

Wow, school is super busy. Who knew that studying MBA can be so challenging and exhausting? It's taking so much of my time and energy that I really haven't had the time to write in this blog for the past three months.

Anyway, what's new? The weather has been kinda weird lately, which is causing many people to fall sick. Also, spring is coming up. So excited that the flowers are going to bloom and nature is going to regain its brilliant color. I can't wait to see the jacaranda trees with its gorgeous violet color decorating the streets again, especially along the 5 freeway along Santa Ana. It's pretty cool.

Daylight savings is coming up this week. Wow, time sure flies!

Anniversary

Last January 9th was my 6th anniversary of dating Mr.B exclusively. In a few months (in June) we will be celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary. I know it's still 5 months to go, but I love the idea of making this cute "little stitched Love Note":

Traditionally, the 2nd anniversary gift is cotton.  So how perfect would this love note be for the 2nd anniversary gift? You can find the DIY tutorial from Beverly's Flamingo Toes blog. I love all her tutorials. Beverly is so talented and generous with her ideas. This tutorial is so simple yet beautiful...

Persistent

per·sist·ent/pərˈsistənt/Adjective

1. Continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

2. Characterized by a specified habitual behavior pattern, esp. a dishonest or undesirable one. 

Whether we realize it or not, life offers us countless opportunities to be successful. It is the hard work that we put in that prepares us to take that opportunity and turn it into something of value. Without hard work and preparation, the opportunities will go to waste.

Persistence. A word that used to terrify me for fear of being found too aggressive. Me? Aggressive? More like passive aggressive. I'm very much a people-pleaser, so when someone says 'no', I usually say 'ok' and walk away. But how is that going to help me get what I want? So my sister encourages me (ok, it was more like a demand) to be persistent in my approach. Don't take no, and just keep finding a way to get what I need to get. So far I'm still getting a 'no', but I feel that things are starting to change. So... hopefully.... hopefully my persistence will pay off.

New Year, New Beginning, New Crossroads.

Time passes by so quickly. Suddenly it is already the 3rd day of the new year. As always, the end of a year prompts many people to make new resolution for the new year. My resolution is to be more healthy. In particular, I'm going to try to got on board with the "meatless mondays" program that everyone's talking about. Not sure if I'll also do the "tofu thursday" yet. I guess we'll see :)

What other good new year resolutions out there? My friend Cindy has a good one: she tries to master one new skill per year. I remember a few years ago she took up drumming, which is pretty cool. I think she said this year she wants to learn to play the violin. Hmm... I think my resolution for 2010 was master playing the guitar, but that didn't happen quite yet, so I guess I still need to push myself to do that. Yep, time to put away all the holiday decorations, and dust off the guitar that I stashed away in the far corners of my room, and start strumming again. So that's my second resolution. The third one is kinda hard. I really want to stop wasting time. Time is so precious. There's  so much to do and so little time, so this year, I will manage my time better and be more productive. So there you have it. My three new year resolutions.

By the way, here's a very inspiring article from one of my favorite writers, Paolo Coelho about.... life and living it your way.

 Manual for conserving paths

1] The path begins with a crossroads. There you can stop and think what direction to follow. But don’t spend too much time thinking or you’ll never leave the spot. Reflect a lot on the choices that lie ahead, but once you have taken the first step, forget the crossroads for ever or else you will always torture yourself with the useless question: “did I take the right path?”
2] The path doesn’t last for ever. It is a blessing to travel the path for some time, but one day it will come to an end, so always be prepared to take leave of it at any moment. However enraptured you may be at certain landscapes, or scared whenever you have to make a great effort to go ahead, don’t get too used to anything. Neither to the hours of euphoria, nor to the endless days when everything seems so difficult and progress is so slow. Don’t forget that sooner or later an angel will appear and your journey will reach an end.
3] Honor your path. It was your choice, your decision, and just as you respect the ground you step on, that ground will respect your feet. Always do what is best to conserve and keep your path and it will do the same for you.
4] Be well equipped. Carry a small rake, a spade, a penknife. Understand that penknives are no use for dry leaves, and rakes are useless for herbs that are deep-rooted. Know also what tool to use at each moment. And take care of them, because they are your best allies.
5] The path goes forward and backward. At times you have to go back because something was lost, or else a message to be delivered was forgotten in your pocket. A well tended path enables you to go back without any great problems.
6] Take care of the path before you take care of what is around you. Attention and concentration are fundamental. Don’t be distracted by the dry leaves at the edges or by the way that others are looking after their paths. Use your energy to tend and conserve the ground that accepts your steps.
7] Be patient. Sometimes the same tasks have to be repeated, like tearing up weeds or closing holes that appear after unexpected rain. Don’t let that annoy you – that is part of the journey. Even though you are tired, even though certain tasks are repeated so often, be patient.
8] Paths cross. People can tell what the weather is like. Listen to advice, and make your own decisions. You alone are responsible for the path that was entrusted to you.
9] Nature follows its own rules. In this way, you have to be prepared for sudden changes in the fall, slippery ice in winter, the temptations of flowers in spring, thirst and showers in the summer. Make the most of each of these seasons, and don’t complain about their characteristics.
10] Make your path a mirror of yourself. By no means let yourself be influenced by the way that others care for their paths. You have your soul to listen to, and the birds to tell what your soul is saying. Let your stories be beautiful and pleasant to everything around you. Above all, let the stories that your soul tells during the journey be echoed at each and every second of the path.
11] Love your path. Without this, nothing makes any sense.

So let's start 2011 with positive attitude and a smile, for we all know that when we smile, the world smiles with us.

End of year rituals

In my family, we have a tradition to go to the beach and watch the last sunset of the year on December 31st. It's a wonderful way to reflect on all the things that had happened throughout the year, and a nice opportunity to kinda finalize the new year's resolution list.

Here's what the last sunset of 2010 looked like from Huntington Beach :)

Amazing, isn't it?

The rain and the wind and the confession.

I went to confession tonight, and the priest said that I don't need to do penance because I came despite having to brave the rain and wind. What more can I ask from the Lord who has forgiven my sin and not making me pay for anything in return? Such unconditional love, such merciful God.  I feel as though a load of weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It's been about 3 years since I went to confession. Even though I felt queasy and nauseous before the confession, I felt a wave of relief and at peace after the whole thing is done. Needless to say, I promised to be a better person and to not do all those bad things that I did before.

It's 5 days before Christmas, and I feel like I'm finally ready to welcome baby Jesus into my heart.

Now I Know

School is out, work is enjoyable, life is wonderful and God is good.

I woke up this morning with no worry in my mind for the first time. I'm done with the finals, and for some reason, I can accept that I have done my best and whatever the outcome, I'll be alright with it. I don't have a full-time job, but that's ok. My partnership with my sister is going good. She's so smart and professional. I need to do a better job in helping her out. My relationship with family and friends is warm and comforting. Even though I don't own a lot, I feel so blessed with countless, invaluable, immaterial things that only can be found if you just let go of your worries and just live.

I remember six years ago, crying my eyes out while saying goodbye to the life I knew back in college. Pursuing the 'American dream', I packed my two suitcases and three boxes and drove from Indiana to LA. I didn't have a place to live yet at the time, but my parents (who were along for the journey and very supportive) were optimistic and very supportive. With lots of prayers and luck, my friend found me a place to live when we were just a day away from arriving in LA. Six years later, here I am. I am still pursuing the dream, but slowly I'm realizing that I am actually already living the dream. Who would've thought that the unsure, scared 21 year old girl, would end up like this? With time I realize that the best things in life is indeed free: the smell of pine trees in the woods after a weekend of non-stop rain, the good morning kiss from a person who loves you unconditionally, even if you don't have a job. Stuff like this, you know?

This Christmas season, I would like to wish you all the true peace and joy that Christmas means to bring. Live life to the fullest. Give without expecting anything back. Love earnestly.