13 wishes

Today is my birthday. I have now officially lived 13 awesome years.
If  I got a wish for every birthday and added it all up until now, here's what I'd wish for:
1.world peace
2.a happy family
3.true friends
4.to make a difference
5.to make dreams come true
6.to be more sociable
7.to think good of everyone
8.to show up as my best in life
9.to be more confident
10.to be more authentic
11.to exceed expectations
12.to adopt better habits
13.to be all I can be

Hey, now that I look back on the list...I have accomplished quite a lot of it! Well...I have a wayyyy longer life to go!

Today was a very different birthday experience. Why? if you remember one of my posts from last month, I have a classmate to share my birthday with. I got lots of birthday blessings today, and I made sure to say thank you in reply to each one.
   The friend who was born on the same day as I was, and in the same hospital too...she gave me a book. :)
   Another friend who decided to step out and befriend me when I was still new...she gave me a box of  rainbow markers. :)
   Another friend who decided to include me in his project group...even though I had only been there for a week...gave me a hug. Another friend from another class gave me a hug too! :)
   And all the other well-wishers...I may not know you that well, but thanks for making my 13th birthday a special one. New friends, new life experience! :)

Comparing

You know how people say comparing yourself to others is bad? Well, in a certain aspect it CAN help us.
   For instance, if you think life is rotten, you can compare yourself to those less fortunate than you. Shift your thinking and you can be a happier person.
  Another example of how comparing helps is something like this: 
  When I was 9, I still couldn't ride a two-wheel bike. Really. And when I saw my 7 year old cousin riding it around like it was oh-so-easy, I decided to try it out. Guess what? I've been riding a two-wheel bike for four years now. :)
  One more example was when I joined primary school. Everyone was so different from me. That was when I decided to learn the ways of the Chinese School kids. It has proven to be quite useful. 
  Comparing isn't always bad. It depends how you use it.

Leisure (by William Henry Davies)

What is this life if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheeps or cows

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of star, like stars at night

No time to turn at beauty's glance

And watch her feet, how they can dance

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

How often do you take time off from the hectic day-to-day life?