consumed by consumption

Shopping as a leisure activity has started to lose its appeal. I am a big fan of shopping out of necessity. Why should I let retailers dictate what I desire when I can figure it out before I get to the stores?

Rather than browse for things and buy on impulse, I am all about keeping a running list of what I need. Then, on occasion, I will run to the store and pick up the items. If on sale, great, if not, then I look to the used goods markets like Crossroads or Craigslist.

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In the end, my time is too valuable for me to be consumed by the habit of consumption. I don’t have time to keep track of, clean, organize and store things. I want my life to be about joyous experiences that appreciate over time. Almost all consumer items depreciate as soon as they are purchased, so that pair of shoes cannot compete with the value of reading a great book or sharing a simple meals with friends.

ask and you shall receive

Ever since I read Squire Rushnell's book Winks, I have been having fun looking for the signs to answer my deepest desires. The trick is to be able to see the subtle responses.

Late last year, I wondered if I would ever fall for someone in a foolhardy way ever again. Then, unexpectedly, I met the sexiest man alive and was just smitten. Yet, the guy was just not at the same point in life, so I moved on. Still, to fall so freely and to be so happy, even if briefly, was all I ever wanted and got.

That's what life is all about. These little moments of joy and pleasant surprises that make up of our life. Every day is an opportunity to be grateful for something perfect, even if not on our terms.

the secret of success

Despite education being a good indication of achievement, I still believe that fate has the most influence on ultimate success.

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Recenlty, I found another key. It is trust.

Despite the constant reminder that business is war and that I have to be careful, my gut always tell me to be open and invite others to be free with me. Hey, if it works in my personal life...

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Sometimes I struggle with working with people I don't trust. Unlike personal life though, I cannot just write a simple just-not-into-you note or go on w/o looking back. Ironically, this challenge is happening at a good time. Maybe that's why I am not so quick to move on in my personal life.

part chicken lady

There is an expression in Taiwanese: chicken lady. She is a noisy busy body. Sometimes it also means doing the extra things that no one appreciates. In Taiwanese, the word chicken is prounced the same as the word extra.

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Well, I just tried to delete some repeated comments (had the wrong setting so the comments weren't showing up automatically before), so the comments would look neater. The page shows the acts of deletion but not the reason for delete. Now it looks like I am someone who censors unnecessarily.

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I can be such a chicken lady at times. hehe. Love it when I find something off about myself because it's so hard for other people to act so silly. whahahaha.

keeping my own secrets

In a time where professional achievements are such a big part of our identity, have we also let personal events be reasons to show off?

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If there is something I want to do more in 2006, it would be to be more private.

In time of pain, being public is useful. By the 40^th time I tell a traumatic experience, it is no longer upsetting but funny.

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On the other hand, I have found that keeping the good news to oneself a bit longer has its rewards. First of all, the news may be false. Let’s wait until we close on the property, get the test scores, or get the raise before spreading the news. Other wise, any changes in the expected plans will require some embarrassing explanation. Besides, most people sound like sour grapes when they don’t get what they expect.

Second, the other parties involved may not be ready to spread the good word. Out of respect for the other person, wait for them to break the news. At times, other people’s curiosity makes me forget that privacy is important to me.

Another reason to be private is the joy of basking in good news. The experience of keeping a secret to oneself is valuable because it happens so rarely. Try this experiment. Do something wonderful for yourself and not tell anyone. Doesn’t it stay on your mind that much longer? The minute we share, the news loses some of its special quality.

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I have plenty of happy thoughts in my life these days, but rather than telling everyone in sight, I am going to keep them to myself for a while...