Issues In These Days

Here I am is my last station of this business trip, Donguan, China. Where our factory is outside the downtown. As people well known that security issue always exists in this city, we won't go far from the hotel we stay. So I got more silent hours playing with myself.
Our team has lacked of manpower for a long time. Though there is 1/3 new staffs in my team, they still make these audit projects successfully proceeded. I knew the experienced staffs felt heavy loading but I got no helpful solution for them. They counted themselves and did their best. They all sacrificed their time with their families during this trip. I profoundly felt grateful to all of them and thanks God to give me these good staffs.
More 3 days, we are going to our hometown. I almost can imagine how difficult the following jobs will be, the expectation of upper management, the effective coaching on new staffs, the deficiency of resources, the uncompleted works,...etc. Those issues all test my will and patience. However, there seems no way to escape and no time to make daydream.
So guess what! To survive myself in such hard issues, some days I just released my pressure by eating and sleep, and it worked sometime.

Why Bothering?

I had a few experiences in the past week. Some awful, some sad and some pleasant. These days made me exhausted not in my physical body but in my spirit.

Event #1, funeral
I attended a funeral for my aunt. At the end of that day, a thought came acrossed my mind, no matter how our beautiful days or hard days ever existed, all lives will be ended at the same destination, sooner or later. And then I started to think my issues,
What I have been searching for? What's my mission in this life?
Am I moving on the right way toward my destination?
When should I drop my persistence if I lost my faith on the way I chosed?
Well...the thing really gave me a strike on my head. I don't have the right answers about the above issues. But I try to tak a different look when I met unpleasant things.

Event#2, shortage of human resources
I was asked to compromise on the job assignment for one of my staffs, though I had tried to state how we pull our resources among projects. I felt much pressured and offended by the in-charge of the operating unit. I tried to settle the different view points between us but failed. No good communication but only one-way listening.
Finally I supposed his behavior probably due to the pressure from his management, so we ended the conversation. I'm not good at dealing such argument. I hate to wear a mask in front of people.
However, for the good sake of my staff to avoid him isolated by the group where he dedicates, I need to adjust my plan for the following projects. Anyway, a right decision is not eaqual to a good decision. Sometimes we have to give up the current "benefit" to achieve the long term "profit".

Event#3, a trip of pumpkin tunnel and water show
Yesterday was a hot weekend. The sun crazily danced during the day time. I joined a trip with my classmate to visit the pumpkin tunnels and water show. Except the trip route was not well arranged, that was a fresh experience for me.

明德水庫 水舞秀 Water Show

苗栗造橋金瓜傳奇-南瓜隧道 Pumpkin Tunnel

Feeling the Existence

It's a rainy Sunday, a wet city. I have stayed at home since I woke up this morning. It's a good time to spend more time with myself. Though I am not good at cooking, I can make some cookies and cakes. It has been a long time since I made dessert last. I found some excuses for my laziness. This weekend I pick up my energy and make dessert, almond cookies and brownie. Here are my jobs.

I felt great while concentrating on cooking. Before that I was a bit worry about my techic. I almost forgot the procedures. Fortunately I completed these jobs.

There were not much feeling to write these days. I am not sure if it's a good thing for me. I got endless works at office, and had no time to think what happened. However, the days keep going on, and it's my real and ordinary life. I still find time to walk around and hunting good stuff. Last Sunday I went to Dan-Shui Old Street. As usual, the place were filled with crowds. I noticed there some change since my last visit, street arts and new stores. I felt inspired and walked along some streets I had never been there.

Through I seriously observe the people around and read the latest news about earthquakes of China, I felt so lucky to live in the city. What a wonderful thing to exist in a safe place of the world. Here is a good quote for sharing and concluding my rough thoughts.

Slow down and take the time to really see. Take a momentto see what is going on around you right now, right whereyou are. You may be missing something wonderful.
~J. Michael Thomas

(from livinglifefully-dailymeditations)

Lunar New Year Festival

We call this Lunar New Year is "the Year of the Golden Tiger". Everything regarding "Tigers" are seen as auspicious stuff. We wish this Golden Tiger will bring us great wealth and good fortune. As our traditions, most people go to temples for asking Buddha and God bless us a happy, lucky and prosperous year. So that at the Lunar New Year's Day, we went some temples without exception. We saw people crowded everywhereHere one thing deserved to be mentioned, the Lunar New Year's Day was also Valentine's Day, February 14th. According to the news report, it had been fifty years since these two festivals were at the same date. So we also asked the God who unites persons in marriage for a good fate at the New Year's Day.

There are many traditions in Lunar New Year Festival. We paste new spring couplets on our house. Family reunion dinner is held on Lunar New Year's Eve. Children receive red packets from their parents and elders. People say "Gung-Shi-Fa-Tsai" (means congretulations and wealth) each other.

The second day of the Lunar New Year Festival, married daughters will return to their parents' home. As usual, my sisters' families were all back at that day. Since my mom was still in recovery from her surgery, so I had to cook some dishes for treat. Regretfully I am really not good at such housework, I can see that they must have endured my bad cooking a lot and hardly complained a word.

Today is the fifth day of this festival, is the birthday of the God of Wealth. We also have trational ceremony on worship.

All of these traditions seem to be so religious. People believe the intengible power and usually search for their peace and comforts through these ceremonies.

Due to my duties on worship as the eldest child of my family, I almost stayed home and saw videos during my leisure time. I enjoyed the slow tempos very much. I waked up without alarm rings. I ate a great deal during holidays. But I had to admit there were sometimes buzy and I felt a bit impatient.

The weather wasn't good during the holidays. It has being cold and rainy since the second day of the lunar new year. I choose to be a dweller at home. I would rather stay in the warm blanket than go outdoors.

Health Care

Today my mom was operated a "percutaneous coronary intervention" due to her coronary heart disease. This was her second time to experience such operation. I took my annual leave for taking care of her. Regardless that I was told such operation is very simple in today's medical technology, I still got upset more or less. It took about 3 hours and had been operated very successfully this morning.

Most people in sickness are needy and impatient. It's indeed a good timing to test my patience and train myself in a good temper. Sometimes I couldn't help to think, how will I be when I grow as old as my mom's age? Will I be so needy then? Will there be someone standing by me? However, I would rather to be the healthy one to take care of others.

I really don't like to go to hospital. To be more precisely, I am afraid of that. I think the main reason is I am afraid to see those people suffered by illness and accidence, and so many separations between loved ones in life or death occuring there. I know those are parts of our life and we might have to experience that someday, but I still can't overcome such feeling.

These days I heard of some friends and some friends' relatives got sick or uncomfortable. I also heard that some of them had worked too hard to ignore their red signals on health. Though I'm not a good advisor on health, I still want to remind of them- "Health is the best wealth". As you might be told that " While there is life, there is hope." I wish you may take good care on your health while you "enjoying" your works.

Ready to Meet Challenges

Finished packing my luggage, I am ready to fly for my first business trip of 2010. There will be two stops in the coming 3 weeks. This time I have one excellent colleague being my company. I knew she got a bit nervouse since we need to audit and read documents in English for our projects. I wish I may try my best to be a good partner to release her pressure.

Everything seemed smooth these days except the breakdown of my computer two days ago. Some good signs made me fell peaceful. I got a lot of supports from many colleagues and friends as if I was empowered to be a superman.

I know it will be tougher than my last visit with a series of challenges. Here wish us every good luck and have a pleasant trip for the coming new projects~

Fate? Or Just Coincidence?

There are times when we feel lonely, depressed and helpless in life, and there are always friends showing up and expressing their concerns on us, especially in such greeting seasons. This special year I got some good friends around and felt lucky to be blessed and concerned. Some are long time friends, some are coworkers, some we never met. I felt grateful for being supported by those considerate, kind and sweet friends.

Lately I met and heard of some coincidences. We are easily to be related to other social network between friends, like the connections in "Facebook", "Plaxo" or other networks. We met some old friends, and friends of our friends or coworkers who knew each other earlier or later than us. It's so wonderful, isn't it? Our social networks were extended naturally by these connections. For sure in some circumstances, we may reject their connection request if we chose staying alone or feel unsafe with them.

I like one of my friends lately said "everything happens for a reason". It might explain something in some way and someday. Things seldom come up to our expectations. It happens occasionally that the last person we don't want him to know or involve in our affairs, or the last thing we don't want it happen, but they will come to our life eventually. For me, I would like treat that as a test in my life. I want to see how God arrange everything. I hope myself to pass every single examination. The moment every option is open, and no decision would be made. I keep learning to listen my real voices inside and walking on the spiritual tempos.

In Life, As In Crosswords

I had a very relexed time for this weekend. I joined an outing to Yilan. We visited Green Onion Culture Palace, went to see silver willows and beautiful maples. It was bitterly cold yesterday, especially walking on the hills.

Perhaps I had spent out my energy for the outing, I woke up very late this morning. But I felt peacefully today. It was still cold outside. I didn't step out my house until I went out for hunting food this evening.

I just watched a comic film "All about Steve", acted by Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper. I enjoyed its metaphors of some dialogues, some meaningful quotes. I would like to paste some here for reminding myself of these good words.

In life, as in crosswords, some days are harder than others, and that's what keeps your brain alive. The key to surviving those tough days is to pick yourself up and stay focused on your life's purpose.

If you quit a puzzle, you can't finish it. Sure, every once in a while, you run into a doozy, that you don't think you could ever solve in a million years, but if you stick with it, you figure it out eventually. Worst thing you can do is leave it unfinished. It's never the solution, is it?

We have a natural compulsion to fill empty spaces. I like to think he means not just crosswords, but the empty spaces inside of us. That comes from making your way in a world, that doesn't always embrace unique.

I tried to fill my empty spaces with words and puzzles- and Steve, but that wasn't the answer. Now I know, on the journey, just find someone as normal as you, even not the whole bunch.

If you love someone, set him free. If you have to stalk him, he probably wasn't yours in the first place.

Take A Break

This is a busy week. Even I had taken two days for my annual leave, I still worked at home. Some important meetings and tasks have been proceeded by today, so I felt relaxed. Just want to sit for a while without thinking of those bothersome stuff. Empty out my skull and take a break. Have a nice weekend~

photo: street advertisement of yahoo, shot on Dec.13,2009.

Dancing With Pressure?

It have been one month since we moved in our new office. I walked to office in the morning if I woke up early. Recently I have been busy on preparing our annual budget and project plan for next year, and keep receiving many instructions from my boss.

Actually I am not a glutton of work, but in some friends' view, I might be. Somehow, I indeed think being busy is a good thing. It means I am needed by something or someone, either in my family or company. Plus, I won't have time to make daydreams.

I just read an artice from my friend's email, and I like its philosophy-"There is no boring work. Only our attitude toward works makes it interesting or boring." In my most approaches to face heavy loadings would be acceptance first, then trying to negotiate a new deadline about tasks. But unavoidablely, I might easily become impatient when I am busy or deliberating on something. I think I still need a lot of efforts for improvement.

Outside the window of my office, I can have a great view about the surrounding buildings and the distant mountains. There is always a good chance to refresh my mood in each brand-new morning. Looking the farthest, the mountains, I become so tiny.... like dust in the wind....

Climbing Mountains

Last weekend I took part in a two-day trip to Sun-link-sea, which is located in Nan-Toa. Though this area had ever been closed for 4 years due to 921 earthquake of 1999, it's still beautiful and very natural. You mightn't have a chance to visit there, but can easily take a web tour. Go to Sun-link-sea.

The most unforgetable experience was climbing. We had walked along the path through the woods about 3 hours. Most friends felt exhausted during the way, for sure "a city animal" as I, couldn't be exceptional. There was always surprising stuff showing up whenever we almost gave up. The amazing and beautiful scenery was like a painting, and we stood there. I felt so glad to have attended this tough task. I am thinking now...maybe people would more cherish life only after they passed through a trail of difficult experiences.

Another exciting event for me was riding a bycle in the country road. I ever thought several times to take a ride but never did in this busy city. It has been almost twenty years since I rode last. I didn't expect that I would have a chance to ride, and I would like to look that as a precious gift. I am not sure if you agree? sometimes we will feel happier when we keep less expectation toward life.

My harvest from this trip was beyond my words. In short, I did have a great time in this trip.

Cheers To The Happy Moment

How about your mood today? happy or sad? felt encouraged or depressed? What effected your emotion? people, your job, a judgement, or something else? But why and who care? If you feel right and happy for the moment, just ask others to join in and share with them. You will get the double of your happiness.

I had a chance to have a Japanesque dinner with my colleagues yesterday. I like to dine with them in a very relaxed atmosphere. I don't like the social dinner, it enforces me to wear a laughing mask. But as you see, sometimes we have no choice and have to compromise with life. It's the reality we know very clearly. So I will hold the available moment to have fun for myself, to invite good friends to enjoy the happy hours, even only one night of my trip, like an episode for recharging my energy for the next journey.

If you really felt not good today, you may try to question yourself what made you laugh last time. What things had led you to laugh easily and loudly without considering other's attention? How about a comic, a novel, or freak jokes? Then just do it now! Before your warmhearted help to others, you need to be generous to yourself, and you deserve to give yourself the best.

An Untitled Day

I am on a business trip and plan to stay here for this whole week. The first night I spent much time on connecting to my blog but failed. As you might heard, this country has blocked a lot of internet web resources for a long time. I felt bounded in mental needs and depressed in each failed search result. As one of my colleagues living here ever said we should cherish our freedom and resource where we live.

The picture of this post was shot in a Korea traditional craft store of Seoul Airport. You can do this cute stuff by yourself there and free of charge if you have time to stay for a while. I think it's fun for those who like handmade craft.

The hotel where I am staying is very near beach with a nice view outside my window. Since the weather was getting worse from last night, I am still trying to find a chance to take a walk along the beach. Compared with other business trips, I felt easier this time. Not because of the request of the project, I think the major factor is I find back my I key to control my changeable mood.

A Short Break For Myself

I took an annual leave this afternoon and went to see Julie & Julia. I enjoyed watching movie during others' working hours. I felt easy and comfortable without crowd in the theater. I like Merely Streep's great acting whatever she acted. She always successfully led the audience to feel like they also experienced that.

I also got some rough thinking after seeing this film, and would like to record what I felt for the moment.

-the enthusiasm, concentration and persistence are the keys to make our dreams come true.

-imperfection gives us a chance to learn more in different aspects. we may not get everthing we pursue, but we still own much.

-give full supports to those whom we deeply love, and take a part in their hard working toward their goals. maybe there is no second chance to join in their dreams.

-make them feel important and hopeful while they fail in the way.

From Ending To Beginning

Yesterday was the last working day in Taipei Neihu Technology Park. We will move to a new building in downtown from next Monday. It's very near where now I live. Excluding traveling days, I may go to my office by walking. For me, it's really a good luck and an unexplainable fate. I am very familiar with this area since my first serving company is located here. It's also near Taipei 101. Who can predict where I will be? About 5 years ago, I didn't know I could hold on my current job up to the present and our company will move to this downtown.

The past few weeks a lot of things changed. Some friends were laid off and some is going to quit. To go forward the past few months, I lose an important distant relationship with my friend, but I found new land for my soul, I learned how to do self-healing, I got warm friendship and comforts. As well as those kind consideration, there were also some critical comments and warning to pull out myself from the sad mood. I knew very well no matter which way they expressed, they indeed cared and concerned me. As Mountainmama sent me this quote "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction ~ Winston Churchill”, I would rather believe that everything will be arranged in its best way.

I think we all got some difficult issues for learning in this life, perhaps in family, friend or career, in physical or mental area. Sometimes I couldn’t help myself to fall into self-pitying, but I won’t allow that emotion stay too long. Now I am looking forward to my new working tempos.

Here I paste some wisdom quotes for myself and share with my dear friends.

About maturity~

Henri Bergson:
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.

About expectaion~

Joan Didion:
To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves -- there lies the great, singular power of self-respect.

About beginning~

Lazurus Long:
Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.

Beyond Planning

I got a surprised notification this morning. Actually it wasn't a good one. My staff told me he will resign the job as I chatting with him how to go to our new office from next Monday. It seemed he already made up his mind since he already got an offer. I really felt regretful I was told at the last moment. It's not a good timing now just after I finished the project plan of the next year.

But...when is the good timing to tell the bad news to the relevent persons? If it happened to me? How will I do?

In the other way, I sincerely bless his new career and wish he indeed get a better one. I think the following projects won't be easier than the past jobs if he really felt overloaded or pressured. He won't be happy for the coming year. Everyone deserves a better life quality if he already got a new chance.

Another thing out of my plan is I was asked to have a business travel for one week in middle November. New project, new challenge. Though it's not scheduled in our annual plan, it's not a bad thing for me. I persue myself that I just need time to think and plan how to proceed it well, and I commit myself to try my best.

Most people don't like change and movement especially beyond their planning or expectation. But not all things come as our wish. The truth is most things couldn't be decided by ourselves. So to keep a peaceful mood and think those are nothing special is very important. Not an easy job but a good lesson for life.

Deal With Unpleasantness

How would you react if any uncomfortable situation happened between you and your family, your best friends, or partners? Will you adopt a straight way to speak out your feeling? or pretend you didn't care? or persue yourself nothing happened? Either which one, they might embrace the good side and the bad side. It is really hard to get the balance for all.

An unexpected visitor came to my house yesterday. If he just stayed for a while or a couple days, it's all right. But I was told just one hour before his coming and said he might stay for a couple weeks. I felt uncomfortable. I felt my private space was offended. I am not good at hiding my feeling, so I said some serious words to my family last night. After then I kept quiet for a few hours. Why some person often ignored the others' existence?

Today is Sunday. I have done a whole day of housework. The guest is still here. I was trained to be a polite person so I couldn't expel the guest. It seems I couldn't change the thing. I tried to remove my focus from his long stay. I kept myself in my room, listen to some music, and watched a movie to cheer myself. Later I will have a beauty treatment on my face and keep relaxed. I need to drive out the negative emotion quickly. Why should I let others effect my good mood and add wrinkles on my face?

Here is a good quote for all my dear friends.

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance"
- Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

I also paste some happy tips from website by google search. Now I am trying to practice these as my spiritual homeworks.

It's more important to be happy than to be right.

You can either be happy, or unhappy. Choose happy.

Learn to show cheerfulness even when you don't feel it.

Treat everyone as you want to be treated.

Unfairness And Puzzle

There was a bad news for these two days. Our head office is cutting back in personnel. We felt terrible some of our good colleagues were in the list. We couldn't figure out what standards for the list. We saw other department still add new staffs in the title of project assistant manager, so why to lay off those basic level of staffs? For sure, we can do nothing for such a cruel event. It 's hard to comfort those good friends now. I think they need more time to accept the fact though they were asked to leave by this Friday.

Such unfair cases exit everywhere. No acceptable reasons were given. sometimes you indeed have talents and skills, but you need good luck to accomplish your success. Who is the real loser? So far we don't know. Maybe those management had their good reasons for their doing.

We also heard it might have another cutback action. How to ask the left staffs to show their loyalty in the current unstable atmosphere? What I hope is my team could survive if that happened. As for me, I should do well what my duties and build good skills in case of that bad things falled on me.

Here I sincerely wish those good friends will soon get recovery in their career and get much better one than they had. May all the resources come whenever they need.

Clearing Useless Stuffs

This weekend was a cloudy and rainy day. My mood was a bit affected and stuck by the weather. After staying for half a day, I decided to step out for 'hunting'. By a chance, I walked in a bookstore. I felt fresh for a while when I found new stuffs-memo papers and notebooks with cute cartoons. I hadn't spent much time outdoors since it's very wet outside.

For a moment, I didn't know why I was so blue for the whole weekend. Though I enjoyed the silent hours but I didn't like the anonymous emotion came. To drive out the unwelcome feeling, I chose to watch a comedy- 'The Proposal", acted by Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.

I don't know how about your way , but it works that those simple things always can bring me simple happiness. It's an easy approach to expel the pressure from me.

I guessed there should be some useless stuffs on my mind, and I had to take actions for cleaning up. It had been a long time since I rearranged the layout of my room last. I thought it would be a good timing for making change as well as brushing my blue mood. Trying to dispose of some useless stuffs, I was getting delighted whenever throwing one away.

Later, I will continue my cleaning job...both for environment and spiritual land...

Touching Moment Lasting

Our classmate reunion just passed off very successfully this Sunday. I think everyone did have a good time and carried a lot of beautiful memory home these two days. All surprising and sweet arrangement indeed moved us time after time. It's so nice to see those friends almost lost in touch and finally showed up in this important activity. Some said they ever thought not to come and felt glad to be there eventually. We also invited our professors to join in our programs.

The afternoon of the first day we walked around our campus and saw there changed a lot. Those memory of school days came back in that moment. Non-stop chatting, picturing and laughing during our gathering.

A few friends and our teacher had a tea time after our activity, and kept discussing how to plan the next big event- 30th anniversary of calssmate reunion. Wow! Can you imagine that scenery? We all get a little older and some might brought their grandson . It might be another wonderful gathering then.

How lucky I am to have such good partners. Thanks God to give us the fate and unforgettable friendship. No matter how different way we walk along, there is always an invisible connection among us. We will cherish it forever...

If you had interest in sharing our memory, you are welcome to visit my video website.