You are a free moral agent so you can do whatever you want to do and you can choose whatever you want. But like any good father, provisions are made that will enable you to have the perfect plan for your life.
The race is set. Your job is to discover the plans and the purposes that God has chosen for you. The discovery of said is called vision but you need instructions and directions to help you to get to that destination.
Locating God's Direction for Your Life (Divine direction or instruction)
Your direction is wrapped up in the instruction.
How do you receive direction?
1. The Word of God
2. The Voice of the Spirit
The Word of God - the compass
Prayer: Lord as I go through your Word, open my eyes to locate direction. Help me to encounter light in my area of calling so that I will know what steps to take. I believe I receive it right now! Amen!
The Voice of the Spirit
This starts with the Word of God because if you don't know the Word of God you will open up yourself to strange voices. Sheep know their Shepherd's voice so as you start to spend time with God, you will learn to "hear" His voice.
If I say something to you but you are not in the same room with me, then most likely you won't hear me or you won't hear me clearly. Likewise, if you are not in God's presence, don't expect to hear from Him!
Whereever God has mapped out (my high calling) for me has a purpose and will bring me to utmost fulfillment!
If you want to know why you were created, ask the Creator!
References
Psalm 119:105 - God's Word is a lamp unto your feet (shows you where to walk and lights up your path)
Proverbs 22:29 - Be diligent in your calling (business, IT, ministry), don't be slothful and you will stand before kings!
Deuteronomy 28:1 Hearken (hear and do) the voice of God and be diligent to keep God's commandments
Proverbs 14:23 - In ALL labor, there is profit! Talk is cheap!
Hebrews 12:15 Let go of the bitterness - its blocking your direction
2 Timothy 3: 16 - All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for instruction
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Desiderata
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Stickfly Review
In an attempt to broaden our cultural experiences together, a few girlfriends took advantage of Broadway Week and went to see Stick Fly, which has received some notable acclaim as it was “presented by Alicia Keys”.
This is a modern day tale of an African American family who lives on Martha’s Vineyard and explores issues of race, politics and dysfunctional families through a heartfelt story and bouts of comedy.
We are led into the LeVay home and meet Cheryl, played by Condola Rashad (yes she is the daughter of Phylicia Rashad). Cheryl’s character promises to be the most unpredictable and humorous of the bunch. Watching her story unfold through sarcastic quips will leave you with laughter and tears.
The title “Stick Fly” is certainly a metaphor for newly engaged entomologist, Taylor who is meeting her fiancé Kent’s (Dule Hill) family for the first time. Tracie Thoms brings this character to life as a young middle class woman with a giant chip on her shoulder. Having grown up in a single-family household while her father a well-known author shacked up with his other family. Her character though very humorous at times, becomes tiresome to watch as she consistently has a “woe me” attitude.
Mekhi Phifer plays Kent’s brother Flynn, he is the ladies' man, plastic surgeon and is ready to ignite flames by bringing his “wasp” girlfriend Kimber (Rosie Benton) home to meet his mother. Kimber’s personality and confidence shine through on the stage with quirky comebacks and a strong backbone against Taylor's many stabs.
Though at times the story is overly exaggerated and the writing is foreseeable, there is enough comedy and drama to keep you entertained!
What took me away was the emotion and life lessons embedded within the drama, as a woman who has experienced interracial relationships and the youth of a broken home, Tracy and Kimber shed light on moments of my own experiences.
It’s definitely not one of those must see plays that you should break the bank over! However, if you are looking for a good laugh, a great cast and very relatable life story then this show is for you. If I had stars it would get a whole 4 ****
Review by Ladika Sagar
Why I travel
“Some people don’t understand why I am here and it hard to explain unless you have the travel bug…..
I travel….
Not to escape life but to experience it….
Not to experience a trip but to experience extensive travel….
Not because I´m lost but to get lost….
Not to experience a loss of my language, but to learn a new one…. by the people of that culture….
Not to experience cold showers, no stove, and no washing machine, but to experience what it is like different people in other cultures… what they live with and what they live without….
Not to be without a home, but to experience the generosity of other people sharing their home….
Not to miss the holidays with the people I love, but to be taken in by people of a different culture and learn of their traditions……
Not to experience being sick but to trek through canyons and feel the wind on my face….
Not to be without a gym, but to have the world as my gym….
To be able to have better intuition…
To walk down the street and not fear the people…
To know when not to walk the streets alone…..
Not to be in a resort, but to go further…..sand board the dunes at sunset and climb the dunes at 5 am to see the sunrise….. to just lay there and not feel like I have to run off to do something……
I know it´s not always safe, easy or fun, but life never is…. You can´t avoid certain hardships in your life but you can enjoy your life and just adjust to what difficulties may come.
Some people have said….”I hope you find what you are looking for” And yes, I did, because all I was looking for was the plane … But I found so much more.
Life is all about memories!!!!”
To a certain extent, I don’t care what people think of me going off and traveling, but to the people that I am genuinely close to, I do care. I hope they will find they have an exciting journey also, even if it is very different from mine!
While this presents a semi negative view of the experiences of traveling, I like it anyway... this is from the travel blog of Nichole Carlson explaining why she travels.
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless
Please dont give me the Holy Spirit!
Growing up there was a woman who would "catch the Holy Spirit" every Sunday in church religiously around 12pm.
She would frolic, run around the church and occasionally, foam would ooze out of her mouth. It would be a huge distraction but I was told that it was the Holy Spirit.
I vividly remember praying "Lord, please don't give me the Holy Spirit!" As I reflect, I am thankful to God that
1. I attend a Word based church that does not perform or have the dog n pony show
2. I am taught the Word of God with simplicity and understanding
3. He didnt answer that prayer!
People are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Jesus walked the earth but as He was leaving, He assured the people that the Holy Spirit would be sent as a Comforter (John 16:7). Now there I was praying that I would not "get" something that God wanted to get to me and that was a gift!
See... the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, He does not force Himself on anyone.He would never just "come over you".He has to be invited. He stands at the door knocking (Revelation 3:20).
He would never disrupt the order of service because God operates in order and excellence. Now whether this lady was faking is not my place to judge but I know that she lacked understanding.
Once I started attending my current church, I realized that speaking in tongues is biblical and its also useful! We actually have corporate prayer sessions where we would make statements in English and then we would be asked to "pray that in the Holy Spirit" Oh noooo, wait a minute! I started having a problem with it because I still had the mentality that "it should come over you" so I thought it was fake. How could you just turn it on and off?
Let's consider two scenarios:
1. You walk into a room, its dark, you dont know what to do and you dont know where to go but you know where the light switch is so you turn on the light. Voila! Light be
2. You have a weapon and you are being attacked. You want the trigger to go off but you are not releasing it.
Whats the point of having a tool of you wont use it? What the point of staying in darkness if there is light? The Holy Spirit has to be accessible to be effectual. You have to be able to use when you want to and turn on at your disposal.
The benefits of the Holy Spirit include but are not limited to edification, revealing unknown mysteries, building up the inner man.
Denotation: (perverted words)
Perverted: (definition: having been corrupted or distorted from its original course, meaning, or state)
-- typically reserved to describe sexually abnormal or unacceptable practices
Why are words so perverted now that you have to ask for clarification when statements are made? Usually if someone said that something was "wicked" or "bad", it would have a negative connotation but now wicked means good/cool where as "bad" is something that is "hot"...even though "hot" used to refer to heat or spice/flavor.
Before if someone was called a "dog", it would be highly offensive, now friends call each other "dog". You would hear greetings like "wassup dog". Nigger refers to someone who is black and has been used interchangeably with the neutral word "negro". On the other hand, hip hop utilizes the derogatory term "nigga" and now its cool to say "wassup ma nigga"?
Why can't we just say what we mean and mean what we say? Why can't we express ourselves using words that were not made up so recently that it hasn't been included in the dictionary?
The word "incredible" has a dictionary definition of "something that is not credible". Why is it that we say God is incredible when He is the most credible in existence?
Do you remember when "gay" used to mean "happy" and when "kool" used to start with a "c"?
Liberty Tax Service
Seriously? Is this the best marketing strategy you could come up with? Name your company Liberty and have people stand in 30 degree (farenheit) weather with a sign that says "Honk if you love liberty" as they solicit passerbys?
I thought the strategy was lame and ineffective until I realized I just spent two minutes blogging about it! I guess any publicity is good publicity lol!
You look really productive
I am off from work today so around 11:30 am, I grab the garbage and my laundry bag to complete those errands.
As I am walking towards the outdoor garbage in my colored jeans, a guy passing helps me with the garbage. I greet him, thank him and head towards the laundromat.
I cross the street and he asks me a few questions and says that I look productive. Im thinking "dude its 11:30am I am clearly not going to work, what about me looks productive?" So I ask him. Whatever he responded did not leave a lasting impression because its only 4:20pm and I have already forgotten.
Now I am in Connecticut, my dad picked me up from the train. Going to see the rest of the fam now.
Why do I associate productivity with work? Why do I assume that I would look more productive if I had on a suit rather colored jeans? Is that a cultural mindset? Is it unproductive to rest or sleep?
Go figure this entry was simply about a guy randomly calling me productive and now I am having all these thought provoking "productive" thoughts ;)
Text message from a friend
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Religious Lingo: Are you saved?
1. Are you saved?
Saved from what? What does that mean?
The Word of God should be taught with simplicity and understanding. That's why pastors shouldnt hoop and holla and put on a show when they preach because if people cannot understand, how will they know? If there is no knowledge, how will they have power? If there is no power, how can you initiate change?
People are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
So let me simplify it for you:
To be saved means that you have a personal relationship with Jesus. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior by confessing that He is Lord. Simply put, have you accepted or rejected Jesus in your life?
What are you saved from?
Damnation, hell, a bad future, etc
Mark 16:16 says if you believe and you are baptized, you will be saved but if you do not believe, you will be damned.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Alicia Keys presents Stickfly
My girls and I went to see Stickfly with Mekhi Phifer and Dule Hill.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Cross Cultural Hurdles (Blog post)
Stolen from aranting's blog "Hindsight"
Source:
http://aranting.blogspot.com/2008/04/cross-cultural-hurdles.html
So I know some of you are not diligent enough (lazy) to click on the link but I really want you to see it so.here is the blog
Last week I was in the Hepatology dept. and was talking to one of the doctors there. Out of the blue, he asked me what I thought about Chinese economy. I started out on a winding comparison of Indian and Chinese economies when he cut in and said,"No, not economy... just China." Observing my puzzled expression, he asked me,"Where would you like to live, India or China?" My answer was of course India and he wanted to know why I didn't choose China. "Less freedom", I promptly answered. He looked rather sad when I said that and remarked to his colleague next to him how most of the foreign people seemed to think that there is no freedom in China. He said to me that he would defintely want to live in China and that he knew that sometimes the government had to take hard decisions but they were for the good and helped in the development of the country. He wanted to know what lack of freedom I experienced here and I thought of the ban on Blogger among other things. I just told him about freedom of press and information and then he asked me,"Do you want the Olympics in Beijng to run smoothly?" "Of course", said I, even though that question took me by surprise.
We moved on to different topics, mostly about liver cirrhosis, but all of that got me thinking.
One, I love sports and I wouldn't want anything getting in the way of the Olympics.
Two, the people here don't really care about lack of information; the ones who do, know how to get around the system.
Three, you will always judge others using your own standards not theirs. This applies to me and the Chinese.
Four, the Han majority in China view themselves and everyone within official Chinese boundaries as Han. For them, 'Chinese citizen' and 'Han' are synonyms. In other words, what's good for Beijing, is good for China.
Five, sometimes what's okay for me is not okay for you... and what's okay for you is not okay for me... and we just have to accept that.
Cross Cultural hurdles (title plagiarized)
Hindsight: Cross cultural hurdles
Read this post from my friend Sooraj. Follow him at http://aranting.blogspot.com/2008/04/cross-cultural-hurdles.html
We should not measure culture, ideas or thoughts with our own yardstick rather the means by which they make such predictions.
I have always prided myself on being culturally, religiously and other types of "ly" tolerant but Sooraj taught me that there was room for growth.
If you went to Jamaica and wanted to.experience what I used to call real Jamaica, I would not advise you to go to one of the tourist locations nerely because it is not an accurate depiction of how a "typical" Jamaican lives. We dont vegetate on the beach all day because we have to work. My usage of the words "real/typical" did not have a negative connotation or mean that we lived a lifestyle of lesser quality because we were not on the beach, it simply meant that the majority of Jamaicans did not live that way. Clearly I did not mean, come let me show you the poverty stricken ghettos because that was not how I was raised. It also did not mean lets go see the rich and famous, the Parliament or the dancehall stars. In effect, I guess I was using my lifestyle as the prototype for what it meant to be a typical Jamaican. But then I realized something, I was
A. Creating a stereotype and putting people into a box of how real Jamaican lived or should live and by doing that
B. Taking away from the "real" people who lived in Jamaica but worked in the tourism industry.
The point is people are different in many ways and similar in many ways. What binds them together through culture should not limit them or pigeon hole them to a certain standard. Culture is a collective thought but it is made up of a number of individual people with different perspectives, lifestyles and paths.
I've experienced positive and negative stereotypes of what it meant to be Jamaican for example
"Really, you are Jamaican and youve never smoked weed?" or
Oh youre Jamaican, you must know how to dance or
Oh you lived in Jamaica for 16 years, when did you learn how to speak English??
Noo, stop lying you dont "look Jamaican"
You must be a good cook
You dont sound Jamaican
You must know how to run fast
You dont act Jamaican
Thank God for hindsight and thank God for friends who will challenge you and your thinking!
Show me the real India
"I Saw The Real India
Follow: http://aranting.blogspot.com/
Touche!
See below for post:
Perhaps it is borne out of the need to see something very different from their own surroundings and the world they grew up in, but whatever the reason, many travellers use the word "real" to denote something negative - like poverty or corruption. Some travellers aren't satisfied that they have seen the "real" people until they have seen someone dying of hunger. Maybe I should not read too much into this, because when we say that we have seen the "real" face of a person, more often than not, it means we have seen their less than good side. But I still cannot shake off my belief that the word "real", in connection with travel, has been blatantly misused. Why should you go to a one room mud hut to meet a "real" person? What about the rest of the people? I concede that sometimes a tourist is so insulated by the machinations designed by the tourism industry for the comfort, and exploitation, of its guests, that they often come away with a very different perspective of the daily realities of the natives. But it has been my long standing view that true understanding of "real" can never be achieved without using true scales and measures whatever be the experiences you have - insulated or otherwise. I believe understanding comes from within. Here, allow me to quote The Doors, "People are strange when you're a stranger". As I'd mentioned before we will always judge others using our own standards not theirs. Wherever we go, our sense of reality is determined by the yardstick that we carry within ourselves at all times. "Real" is all around you - you just have to see it.
Oh, let me just come to the point. Don't come up to me and tell me that you want to see the real India unless you have a very good answer to, "Oh, so you think I am a fake Indian from fake India?"
Friday, January 27, 2012
New York State of mind (tourist in my own city)
I'm okay. Alot of times that is my default answer to "how are you?" but I have developed an increased sense of contentment and I love it.
Enjoy the view of the Empire State Building.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Discount!
Negotiations are part of the fabric that is weaved into cultures. In China,everything is negotiable. Clearly if you are purchasing fruits from a street vendor, you feel that you can bargain but rest assured, you can walk into an official store, see a price tag and negotiate the price you want!
Sherane and I went to Thailand and after being mesmerized by the Grand Palace, we went to the airport late and the check in counter was closing. We pleaded with the rep to check us in even if it meant our luggage would have to come the next day. We pleaded to no avail. So we walk up to the man with a clipboard, explained our situation that we missed our flight and tried to purchase a plane ticket. Afraid to hear the answer to the question of the cost of a same day plane ticket from Thailand to China, we heard "how much do you want to pay?" Are you serious? I am not negotiating on a plane ticket! How much is it? And the question was presented again "How much you want to pay? You give me good price" then to top it off,the charming Thai smile that is used when you are about to get ripped off.We ended up paying less than our original tickets but we walked away convinced that either this plane does not have wings or when we get to the security gate, we will be charged for fraud. We landed in China safely!
So I carried this mentality through Asia and was given a rude awakening in South Korea. I saw a shirt that was reasonably priced but before purchasing, I decided to use my negotiating skills I had developed so nicely. As I counter offered, the Korean salesperson said " this shirt is made in Korea, not made in China, no discount". I smiled, purchased it and left.
So once I touched down in America I left that mentality on the runaway. No way would I walk up in Macys and counter offer. How wrong was I?
I had a conversation with a guy I met today that left me flushed and gasping for air as I literally laughed out loud. We were talking about the differences in bargaining amongst cultures. He was telling me that he negotiated a good deal for his cable deal and I responded "well yeah I guess that if you told them you were cancelling they would give you a deal but you cant walk into Macys and counter offer" How wrong was I? He actually went to Macys and for someone who speaks perfectly good English, he just stood by the register and said "discount" I burst out laughing in disbelief as he continued "sometimes you have to use different words like presale or say it repeatedly." As much as I laughed while he was telling the story, I am sure he was the one laughing when he walked away with 20% off his coat!
Discount! Maybe you had to be there!
How are you? Just kidding, I really don't care!
Why should I blog if I can just steal from other great bloggers? LOL
Another post from Katie China v America- http://katiemarshall.blogspot.com/
Point to note: Katie is from Oklahoma, I still think Americans tend to be friendly, its just New Yorkers that have issues lol
America
Americans are good at being everybody's friend. They want to talk to you, even if you're a complete stranger. From the waitress bringing their steak, to the cashier at the grocery store, they will always ask, "How are you?" I love this about Americans. We want to be friendly to everyone we meet. What I never realized before I left, was that it often only goes ¼ inch deep. I can talk to a stranger for 10 minutes about the movie that came out last week or the crazy weather we've been having, but I'd better not start to tell them about about the year I've had. The look on their face turns to fear if they think they'll have to emotionally invest. Keep it casual folks!
China
I just came from a place where you don't smile at people you don't know. You don't stand politely back and let them go ahead of you--you shove them out of the way and jam your elbows into ribs in an effort to give yourself the 30 second advantage. The difference is, when you break past those barriers and get to know someone, you go straight to the heart. Once someone becomes your friend, they are there for life--whether you like it or not. It is not a casual thing. Soon they're coming over uninvited, eating your food, asking you all kinds of personal questions you never wanted to answer, and borrowing your things. They are no longer your friends, they are your family and it's forever. I love the deepness, and the closeness those relationships contain despite the lack of personal space or privacy.
It came as a shock to me that the American way seems so foreign. I grew up in this land. I should know how it works. Yet I was annoyed and surprised as people asked, "How are you?" as they walked past without pausing to hear the answer. I am used to my friends coming over without calling, when I'm in the middle of eating dinner, plopping down on my couch, and not leaving. They spend 6 hours finding out how I am, instead of 3 seconds. They know all my quirks, from my habit of using hyperbole in every sentence to my crazy need to be better than everyone else at speaking Chinese. They know that "How are you?" can't be answered simply. It can't be boiled down to 2 words.
Great relationships take time to build. So though I reminisce about the deep friendships I left behind, I need to keep in mind the fact that it was almost a full year before those friendships were born. But like Tom Petty said, "The waiting is the hardest part."
Another post from Katie China v America- http://katiemarshall.blogspot.com/
Point to note: Katie is from Oklahoma, I still think Americans tend to be friendly, its just New Yorkers that have issues lol
America
Americans are good at being everybody's friend. They want to talk to you, even if you're a complete stranger. From the waitress bringing their steak, to the cashier at the grocery store, they will always ask, "How are you?" I love this about Americans. We want to be friendly to everyone we meet. What I never realized before I left, was that it often only goes ¼ inch deep. I can talk to a stranger for 10 minutes about the movie that came out last week or the crazy weather we've been having, but I'd better not start to tell them about about the year I've had. The look on their face turns to fear if they think they'll have to emotionally invest. Keep it casual folks!
China
I just came from a place where you don't smile at people you don't know. You don't stand politely back and let them go ahead of you--you shove them out of the way and jam your elbows into ribs in an effort to give yourself the 30 second advantage. The difference is, when you break past those barriers and get to know someone, you go straight to the heart. Once someone becomes your friend, they are there for life--whether you like it or not. It is not a casual thing. Soon they're coming over uninvited, eating your food, asking you all kinds of personal questions you never wanted to answer, and borrowing your things. They are no longer your friends, they are your family and it's forever. I love the deepness, and the closeness those relationships contain despite the lack of personal space or privacy.
It came as a shock to me that the American way seems so foreign. I grew up in this land. I should know how it works. Yet I was annoyed and surprised as people asked, "How are you?" as they walked past without pausing to hear the answer. I am used to my friends coming over without calling, when I'm in the middle of eating dinner, plopping down on my couch, and not leaving. They spend 6 hours finding out how I am, instead of 3 seconds. They know all my quirks, from my habit of using hyperbole in every sentence to my crazy need to be better than everyone else at speaking Chinese. They know that "How are you?" can't be answered simply. It can't be boiled down to 2 words.
Great relationships take time to build. So though I reminisce about the deep friendships I left behind, I need to keep in mind the fact that it was almost a full year before those friendships were born. But like Tom Petty said, "The waiting is the hardest part."
Boy can I relate to this!
Original post by Katie Marshall : http://katiemarshall.blogspot.com/
我离开中国一年多前。(I left China a year ago)
If I were to be completely honest--which I'm not convinced is possible--I would admit that when someone asks me for a blog post, or tells me they check my blog daily because they love reading it, I shine inside. Fireworks shoot out of the ends of my hair. I grow to be 6 feet tall, and could run 1,000 miles without taking a drink of water.
Then I sit at my computer and stare at the page for a few hours, hoping a brilliant thought will crawl out of my ear and onto the keyboard. That's what I've been doing for most of today. The result has been a few scratched out sentences in my notebook, and a lot of coffee flowing in my veins.
When I write, most of the work is done before I ever sit at the computer. I carry a notebook with me and I observe things while I'm inhaling smoke on a train, bouncing down rutted mountain roads on a bus, sipping coffee in a cafe by the river. I no longer do any of those things on a regular basis, and I've lost the habit of soaking in human behaviors around me. I left China over a year ago, and somehow don't feel like I've moved at all since then. It's time for that to change! The future is mine for the shaping, and I will not let it pass me by.
"The mission of life is to live [your] potentiality. How do you do it? My answer is, 'Follow your bliss.' There's something inside you that knows when you're in the center, that knows when you're on the beam or off the beam, and if you get off the beam to earn money, you've lost your life. And if you stay in the center and don't get any money, you still have your bliss."
-Joseph Campbell
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard T
我离开中国一年多前。(I left China a year ago)
If I were to be completely honest--which I'm not convinced is possible--I would admit that when someone asks me for a blog post, or tells me they check my blog daily because they love reading it, I shine inside. Fireworks shoot out of the ends of my hair. I grow to be 6 feet tall, and could run 1,000 miles without taking a drink of water.
Then I sit at my computer and stare at the page for a few hours, hoping a brilliant thought will crawl out of my ear and onto the keyboard. That's what I've been doing for most of today. The result has been a few scratched out sentences in my notebook, and a lot of coffee flowing in my veins.
When I write, most of the work is done before I ever sit at the computer. I carry a notebook with me and I observe things while I'm inhaling smoke on a train, bouncing down rutted mountain roads on a bus, sipping coffee in a cafe by the river. I no longer do any of those things on a regular basis, and I've lost the habit of soaking in human behaviors around me. I left China over a year ago, and somehow don't feel like I've moved at all since then. It's time for that to change! The future is mine for the shaping, and I will not let it pass me by.
"The mission of life is to live [your] potentiality. How do you do it? My answer is, 'Follow your bliss.' There's something inside you that knows when you're in the center, that knows when you're on the beam or off the beam, and if you get off the beam to earn money, you've lost your life. And if you stay in the center and don't get any money, you still have your bliss."
-Joseph Campbell
"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard T
LIFE Skill: get organized
Yes I get a new start! So I expected 2012 to start with a bang, I would be extremely productive and do all these things I was interested in. In some areas it has been extremely fruitful, (for example travel and social life).
Travel - I already went to Italy for my January trip
Social Life - I have plans to see Stickfly on Sunday, I had a uber duber big sister reunion, etc
Activities -I frequent salsa classes, completed my kickboxing sessions and go to the sauna when I want to.
But other things like, language learning….pssshh.. I started out well with Hindi but I haven’t been consistent with French and Mandarin. So I was feeling disappointed because of my half-victory. But then Chinese New Year rolled around and gave me a new start lol! (PS Ellen I am super grateful for your Chinese New Year gift- thanks a million, means a ton to me!). I am a lunar calendar kinda girl, gimme the moon any day.
My girlfriend seemed to be having the same feelings and sent me an email asking me how to be more organized since I usually balance a pretty busy life. I think its very basic
Practical
Write a list of everything that needs to get done (and get it done)
Ensure you know what is priority
Keep a tracker- Outlook/Google calendar for automated reminders, otherwise buy a planner and keep track on paper
Command your day the night before- write a list of the top 3 things you want to accomplish as well as other realistic action items – if you do it the day of, you are already behind on schedule!
Personal
Learn how to say no unapologetically!- sometimes you really can't- it is such a struggle for me to tell someone NO but I have to learn, can I practice on you? :)
Be realistic- Rome wasn’t built in one day- don’t try to accomplish too much, you will feel overwhelmed, its better to have 6 things on a list and feel accomplished when you get them all done than to have 12 and feel disappointed
Spiritual (yes include God in EVERYTHING- why not? He cares!)
Commit your plans to God, you do your best and He will do the rest
Command your morning - tell the satanic squatters to bounce!
Pray for favor, wisdom and guidance to complete your tasks
Here is something else that may help: BAGELS
B is for Behaviors for today. My to-do list. What do you want to
accomplish for today?
A is for Affirmations. Say something good or nice about yourself.
G is for Goals. Write down your major goals in present tense with a
date on them.
E is for Evaluate Yesterday. How did it go?
L is for Lesson Learned yesterday. Write down one thing I did and
learned yesterday.
S is for Success I had yesterday. One thing I did well. Does not have
to be business related
Travel - I already went to Italy for my January trip
Social Life - I have plans to see Stickfly on Sunday, I had a uber duber big sister reunion, etc
Activities -I frequent salsa classes, completed my kickboxing sessions and go to the sauna when I want to.
But other things like, language learning….pssshh.. I started out well with Hindi but I haven’t been consistent with French and Mandarin. So I was feeling disappointed because of my half-victory. But then Chinese New Year rolled around and gave me a new start lol! (PS Ellen I am super grateful for your Chinese New Year gift- thanks a million, means a ton to me!). I am a lunar calendar kinda girl, gimme the moon any day.
My girlfriend seemed to be having the same feelings and sent me an email asking me how to be more organized since I usually balance a pretty busy life. I think its very basic
Practical
Write a list of everything that needs to get done (and get it done)
Ensure you know what is priority
Keep a tracker- Outlook/Google calendar for automated reminders, otherwise buy a planner and keep track on paper
Command your day the night before- write a list of the top 3 things you want to accomplish as well as other realistic action items – if you do it the day of, you are already behind on schedule!
Personal
Learn how to say no unapologetically!- sometimes you really can't- it is such a struggle for me to tell someone NO but I have to learn, can I practice on you? :)
Be realistic- Rome wasn’t built in one day- don’t try to accomplish too much, you will feel overwhelmed, its better to have 6 things on a list and feel accomplished when you get them all done than to have 12 and feel disappointed
Spiritual (yes include God in EVERYTHING- why not? He cares!)
Commit your plans to God, you do your best and He will do the rest
Command your morning - tell the satanic squatters to bounce!
Pray for favor, wisdom and guidance to complete your tasks
Here is something else that may help: BAGELS
B is for Behaviors for today. My to-do list. What do you want to
accomplish for today?
A is for Affirmations. Say something good or nice about yourself.
G is for Goals. Write down your major goals in present tense with a
date on them.
E is for Evaluate Yesterday. How did it go?
L is for Lesson Learned yesterday. Write down one thing I did and
learned yesterday.
S is for Success I had yesterday. One thing I did well. Does not have
to be business related
Sweetest Commute!
The train ride to work consists of several stops and on the express train, I get to work in about twenty minutes. That was a factor I considered before moving to my place last year. Today, I worked at another location and it was only two stops away from my house! There is also a bus that leaves me a block away from the work site and two blocks away from my house! Free pass to get on the train and such an easy commute! What more can I ask for?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Ladies: lesson of the day
Whenever you see a gorgeous man that you cant shake out of your head, just talk to him.
I was walking around today and I saw a really handsome guy....and he saw me too. He walked over to me and we started talking and miraculously I got over the fact that he was so gorgeous.
He started talking and his perspective/thought process was so off! I was like ok thats enough!
Lol ok fine that was harsh...but it worked.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The New York Train Hustle
Excuse me ladies and gentlemen sorry for the interruption. My name is xxxx and I am out here selling candy to support my basketball team.
Then when that line got weak, people would replace the basketball line with "Im not out here selling candy for no basketball team. Im selling candy for myself. That will keep money in my pocket and me out of yours" (scaring me into buying from you for fear of you robbing me? Seriously?)
Then another one added the line...
Some of yall may know me, some of yall dont. My name is xxx, they call me the candy man. Im not out there robbing and stealing, I am on the A Train candy dealing.
I have mixed feelings about this. Today I have a headache and my brain feels fried so that was totally an interruption but most days I enjoy the creativity...
#newyork#
Passion like fire is neutral
Whenever I think about passion, I usually refer to something I really enjoy or love. I have learned that passion is not always something that brings pleasure but could potentially produce anger.
I was on the train when something brought tears to my eyes. There was a homeless guy on the platform trying to find something out of the garbage but it was too low so he couldn't get to it. I do not like the thought of anyone going hungry or being unable to secure a meal on a daily basis, its worst if they are homeless or a child. Clearly this angered me but shouldnt your passion move you to action? Should I have gotten off the train and given him money? (Oh right my money was stolen last night). Maybe thats why I have been having my moods with New York. I feel helpless here. There are so many things I see on a daily basis that I cannot immediately fix. Where are all the resources? Is that where I come in?
That man could have been my father. Homelessness is not necessarily sprung upon someone because of bad decisions. It just takes one untimely unfortunate situation and anyone can become a victim.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Last day of kickboxing
Lets face it. I'm a lover not a fighter lol
Pics:
Gavin teaching the children Brazilian jijitsu
Regional boxing champion Heather Hardy and my mean game face
3 time world boxing champion and professional boxer Devon Cormack (Jamaican might I add)
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