Thursday 30 October 2014

Death is not the end

I met someone on my walk yesterday. His name was Pete. Pete told me that he had a fear of death. I thought of Pete again today, and suddenly this came to me:
Death is not the end. It is only the start of the next adventure. 
Do not fear death. Only fear your fear of death, for it prevents you from fully living.

Of course, this is not limited to mortal death, but death of anything (an event, experience). Our human mind has been conditioned to wish for everything to last forever. But why? Change is the way of nature. Everything is impermanent. So just live in the moment, enjoy what you have been gifted to experience right here, right now. Live without fear. Living in fear, I think, is even worse than death.
=)

Real love is a choice

Sharing a well-written perspective on real love in a relationship.

We (especially girls) grow up thinking that love and relationships will be like a fairy tale, happily ever after, two people staying madly in love with each other for life. But the reality is, no matter how good a match you are, those initial, wild passionate, feelings fade away. The passion can still remain, but some effort is required to maintain the love. After all, a relationship is a partnership between two imperfect individuals who have been brought together to learn from and support each other. A relationship is a union between two best friends. Learning can be hard at times, but you have a choice over how fun the journey will be. It only depends on your perspective -- do you see difficult times as challenges and growth spurts, or as suffering? 
True deep love is one that is accepting, understanding and supportive, knowing that the other person is only human and wishing the best for them no matter what. True love is selfless; you look after the other person's needs as much as you look after you own. The best love you can offer a relationship originates from one where you fully love yourself, because only when you love yourself, can you truly love another. And because you are full of love from yourself, love comes easily for another, there is no effort required. This union becomes one of two people standing hand in hand looking out to the future together, instead of two individuals seeking another to complete his/herself. Just as the Dalai Lama says, "Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other." Such wise words. 


Tuesday 21 October 2014

Trust in life

I have a friend at work who has been having trouble professionally and in his relationship with his family. Every day I remind him of what I believe in, which I will share here, and hope it can help you too! =)

You cannot ask someone to change, but you can love and try to understand them from their point of view. Your thoughts influence how you see and interact with the other person. Check your own thoughts before dismissing the other person. 
You may not like what he/she does, but you are not them. Neither are they you.
Also remember that what others do is not personally directed at you, but is only the result of their inner state. 

Everything in life happens for a reason. 
Everything that happens is a gift from God (or the Universe) to help us learn and become better human beings.
Life can only get better. You are loved. Never forget that. 

All will reveal itself when you stop worrying so much. Have faith. 
Just do your best.

Never underestimate the power of human touch. A hug works wonders. Always. =)

And finally, 
May peace come to you, my friend.

Sunday 19 October 2014

Beauty is everywhere if you open your eyes to it

Beauty is everywhere if you open your eyes to it =)

From Tiny Buddha:

Soul Pancake handed out a bunch of frames to people on the street and asked them to find beauty in the world around them. As one very wise participant shared, “I think that if we took some time, if we looked up, we looked down, we looked at each other, we would find that there is beauty everywhere around us.”

Monday 13 October 2014

Stop trying to be happy and just be.

Sharing an article: "Stop trying to be happy."
Love it.

"...with regards to being happy, it seems the best advice is also the simplest: Imagine who you want to be and then step towards it. Dream big and then do something. Anything. The simple act of moving at all will change how you feel about the entire process and serve to inspire you further.
Let go of the imagined result — it’s not necessary. The fantasy and the dream are merely tools to get you off your ass. It doesn’t matter if they come true or not. Live, man. Just live. Stop trying to be happy and just be."

An additional note from me:
When you realize that no one is here to save you, you can actually get started on living the life you want. You are responsible for your own happiness. So get out there and start creating it.

Sunday 12 October 2014

Be whoever you want to be


The Tutu Project comes to town!

The Tutu Project came to Bloomingdale's at the Stanford Mall this weekend! I am so excited and honored to finally be able to meet these two amazing individuals! They are truly an inspiration. Bob is so kind and Linda, just look at her! She is so so so beautiful. She is still fighting cancer (go, girl!!) yet look at that smile on her face! She is radiant and they are both being so positive about this whole journey. This is a fabulous example of seeing difficult times as challenges, instead of problems, and rising above it. This is how truly living life is. Never give up. Find the silver lining. 
Linda told me that when they started the project, they faced discouragement from naysayers who said it wouldn't work, but hey, they're just doing this from the good intention within their hearts, and whatever they can raise is enough. This is something I completely agree with! It does not matter if things will work or not work. If you have intention, just try. And try your best. No agendas. Act from the goodness of your heart. You never know what life will give you. One can only try! Without trying, what's the point of living? ^_^
I don't know if they'll ever see this, but to Bob and Linda Carey, Thank you for being such an inspiration. You two are my idols (I must have said it 5 times yesterday, haha), you will always be superstars in my heart. Keep up the good work and Linda, I wish you all the best with this battle, and I hope you find a new spunky pair of reading glasses! I know that you will win, no matter what. Bob, you are an amazing man. I can feel the love you have for Linda behind every photo you take. I am so happy that your non-profit is gaining more and more support by the day, and I have faith that you will be touching many many more lives in the days ahead.
Love you two lots. =)
xoxo

p.s. To find out more about The Tutu Project and the Carey Foundation,
I had written about them earlier here. Or find out about them on these pages:



I was so wowed by their presence that I lost half my verbal capabilities, but that's OK, there's always next time =p 

Tuesday 7 October 2014

Asking for help when you need it

My kitchen's InSinkErator has been jammed for a year now. I did not bother to try to unjam it after the initial attempt, but have been worrying about it lately. Today, I decided to do something about the situation and buy a kitchen drain declogger. On the way home, I came across a handyman parked outside my apartment complex, who was fixing something for a neighbor. After a few moments of hesitation, I decided to ask him if the declogger liquid I bought would do the trick. He said no, and offered to come up to help. I was not sure, given my trepidation about letting strangers into my house. He told me to take his wrench and try it out myself, which I did and failed, since my InSinkErator was not the standard kind. Embarrassed, I went back to him and asked if he could come up to help. He said, "What did I tell you?" (haha) And we fixed the problem in less than 5 minutes (though it was no simple feat), with extra tips from him about what to do in the future. I could not have solved the problem on my own without his help! And all this for nothing, except for a friendship and referral in return.
In a nutshell, I learnt that sometimes, asking for help when you need it, isn't that bad at all. Someone else probably has the expertise that you don't, and you can get the job done more quickly and painlessly than if you tried to hack at it yourself. You just have to be brave enough to ask, and accept help. =)

Thursday 2 October 2014

Discover yourself by not looking

Sometimes we ask ourselves, "Who am I? What defines me? What are my passions and interests?" Do you feel lost if you don't have a definite answer to these questions?
Why do you feel lost?
Why be limited by a definition or set of 'things' that describes the wonderful being that you are?

Life is a journey of discovery. Allow yourself to wander around, try new things, find out what you like at that moment, right here, right now. 
Interests change all the time. We change all the time. Why hold on to definitions that don't hold true anymore? It's OK that you aren't the same person you were a year ago. In fact, more than OK, it's wonderful! Isn't the constant growth and discovery of new things, of the new person you can be, the most amazing part of life?

So just live life. Don't be tied down. Live moment to moment, embrace what life has to offer. Fall in love with that, and give yourself wings to fly. =)

Be brave, love. You can be so much more.
xoxo

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Stay optimistic always

The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts. 
How do you choose to think?
=)