Meteor shower

Last night, I heard that there was going to be a meteor shower. There was quite a lot of hype about it- some people were setting up their cameras, some were drinking coffee to stay up late, some were doubting the legitimacy of the rumors. 

But one thing everyone had in common was that they kinda want to watch the meteor shower. 

Why? Cause this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! It could be a life changing experience! I'll have something to tell my friends about! 

But if you think about it, this meteor shower is an event which has too many expectations tied to it. People are already expecting to be wow-ed and dazzled by an amazing show of... I don't know, light and heat? And expectations never fail to steal the magic from an experience.

The first (and only) time I ever saw a shooting star, I was caught unaware. I remember I was in the car. Staring straight ahead, I was shocked by a brilliant flash of light that sped across the night sky. It was over in less than a second, but after that I was just sitting there, delighted that I'd seen something so cool. I'm ready to bet that staying up for this expected meteor shower would be less cool.

But hey, of course this meteor shower could have been a special experience for some. Maybe you convinced your family that it would happen, and you all went out and spent time together stargazing. Maybe you had the chance to appreciate the beauty of the night sky, something you haven't done in a while. Maybe you had fun laughing with your friends about how gullible your other friends are... 

Which goes to show that it doesn't take a big, once in a lifetime experience to fulfill you. It's about appreciating the small, unexpected things in life, always marveling at how magical life is, if only you allow it to be.

One more day

Today is a blessing. Today is a gift. Be grateful for today.
No one ever guaranteed that today would be yours. But here you have it. You're lucky enough to have this brand new 24 hours. You can do whatever you want with it!
Today was really rainy. On the road, our car almost got hit by a truck. I didn't even know we had come that close to death. When my mom told us what happened, I had a thousand thoughts running through my mind. Would I have been happy with the life I have lived? I wouldn't have gotten to live till 15, but I'd be happy. Would I have saved my brother? I hope so. Would I be able to tell my family I love them for the last time? Probably not. But I'm lucky enough to be given one more day.
It's really scary thinking about how something so precious can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Our lives would be lived in vain if we don't live every day to the max.
Today is a new day, full of opportunities. It's yours for the taking.

Reflection

Reflection was the topic for today's power lunch. I didn't share, but I while listening to others share I was reflecting on what reflection means for me.
I guess that when we take the time to reflect deeper on our actions and words, we manage to achieve a few things. We see instead of look. We listen instead of hear. We understand instead of know. And we feel instead of think. 
With reflection, we can find out our strengths and flaws. Then it's up to us to make the choice to build our strengths and to fix our flaws. 

Money $_$

Last night, the topic for the power dinner was MONEY. 
I didn't get to share, so here I am.
Money is energy. It is a symbol of all the energy that has been put into it, all the effort to have gained the money. Until it reaches your hands, there is a story full of energy behind the money, including the effort YOU put in to gain the money. 
So before you spend the money, compare the energy you spent to earn that money with the energy put into the product you are planning to exchange the money for. Is the value equivalent? Is the product really worth all the energy you placed into getting the money?
Also, your sense of self worth can also be judged by the way you spend your money. If you have a sense of scarcity and don't spend sufficient money on yourself, it's obvious that you don't value yourself enough. Worse still, if you find the need to steal, you really do not think you are worthy of having whatever you want. 
Money is a tool. It should be used for good, not for bad. Someone shared last night that 'I like things that money can buy, I love things that money can't buy.' That's true, because a lot of the best things in life are priceless. But the things that money can buy...they can either build or destroy you. Be aware of how your money flows.

What's the big deal?

Sometimes we humans make a really big deal our of nothing. We rush around doing things that are 'important', forgetting to slow down and live life. We chase after goals that seem to be of extreme urgency, but by the time we've accomplished the goal, what do we get? A little ego boost, that's all. And then we go on pursuing more. Think about it. We live in this vast expanse of a Universe. In comparison, the Earth itself is just a small piece of carbon matter in outer space. We are not more than a tiny speck troubled by big problems. Ironically, we create those problems ourselves. Human beings are funny. They want to feel important, like humankind depends on them. It's selfish, really, thinking that we matter so much. We DO matter, but the world does not revolve around us. Sometimes, things in life go wrong. When you feel like everything that matters is lost and you feel like giving up, think again--is it really so destroyed it can't be fixed? If your answer is no, good on you. Go out there and make things better. If your answer is yes, it's too late to fix anything--well, let me just tell you that every second is a chance to turn it all around. It's not too late to apologize to that person you neglected cause you were rushing to work. It's not too late to say 'I love you' to someone you've taken for granted for years. It's not too late to make amends with that person you've been avoiding all this while. It's not too late to call up a friend and go out just like old times. And when the going gets tough--think about it--is it really what matters? Stay true to yourself, don't lose who you are. THAT is what truly matters.

Limits

I realized that I set way too many limits to my abilities. I think I know myself and my boundaries so well, so whenever I THINK I've crossed the line, my mind tells me to quit.
Limits are good, in a way. They stop you from getting too big for your boots. But too many limits confine you into a tiny box.
Last night I dreamt that I was chasing someone on a bicycle. But after running less than a few meters, I told myself to slow down before I get tired. It was a DREAM, where I had the power to fly even, but my limitations in real life existed in my dream too!
That proves that limits aren't very healthy for growth. 
So believe that you can spread your wings and fly...in a metaphorical sense, of course.

You are significant