So much to do...

Not a lot done. Sometimes I wonder if I'm pushing myself too much. It's a double-edged sword right..because on one hand, it's like life is so short, I want to do the most I can and get the most possible out of it. But on the other hand, because life is so short, I feel like I should be out in the sun, spending quality time with people who matter to me, making an impact and leaving a legacy etc. instead of striving and dating Excel spreadsheets and books for most part of the day. (I still like to read though- I think reading a good book is like having a great conversation with a really bright person that I don't always get to meet) :P

But then... it's like I've committed 2 years of my life to this program that I'm now in - living and working alone overseas, and I want to make sure I'm a better person by the end of these 2 years. I want to make these one of the finest 2 years of my life (especially since age is one those fine things that goes up and never quite comes down :p) So I do my best I can at work, look for opportunities to really add value, try to build up professional/ personal knowledge and awareness, get closer to God, volunteer in the community, hang out with new friends, explore and see the world... And needless to say, it ends up packing for a sardine's life.

Sometimes people tell me, "You're pushing yourself too hard. I feel you should relax abit..stop and smell the roses" and I agree... to a certain extent. But at times, I also feel like I am smelling the roses- it's just that maybe our roses are different. Sometimes, this set me going on a little neglect which may end up breeding great mischief as the world keeps spinning and work keeps swelling. (if you think about it...if work never ends, why bend backwards to finish it?) Most times honestly, I hardly feel stressed out with all that I'm doing cos' I'm enjoying it. That's just the way I am- Leisure time is for doing something useful. That could too much of a utilitarian way of looking at things, but I don't think that is something to be frowned upon. For example my love for photography is useful in enriching myself, gaining new perspectives etc. My hanging out with friends is useful for staying connected, building relationships, being challenged and humbled etc.

But at times when there are deadlines to meet, I invariably end up questioning myself (like now!) on what my purpose is in life. We can go on a philosophical debate about a purpose-driven life but that's not for now. Random muses. Now back to my spreadsheet... -_-"'

Ain't Misbehavin'

The plan to go to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve didn't work out today due to 2 friends who flaked at the very last minute. I don't mind if people change their mind, but I think it's courtesy to at least inform me beforehand. I then endeavored to make the weekend productive with all the hours I've saved to get a financial model/ case study that I need to complete done but looks like I failed in the first part of the day...I did everything but my actual work- I cooked, went apartment-hunting, finished reading 2 books (George Washington's Law of Civility and The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin and caught a musical!




I seriously love musicals!!! Love 'em so much, I caught my life's first hip hop musical on Thurs - Venice (loosely based off Othello). That made for 2 musicals in a week. LA is such a big city that there's always something happening, somewhere. :) Despite all my tragic monthly encounters, I try to remind myself that I'm lucky to be able to combine professional growth with personal development. ;)



So now it's time to get to real work. Hope to get the model done up asap..it's been taking too long! Btw, I loved reading The Way to Wealth quite alot and ended up googling to see if it was available for free...Read it here!! (Won't take you more than 30mins)

Personality test!

Got bored and decided to try a random personality test:
I'm a O90-C96-E89-A83-N4 Big Five!!

The Way to Wealth

Came by from work early today before night fall. Just decided to lie down, chill and read a good book. So I finished "The Way to Wealth", one of Benjamin Franklin's famous essays in 1 hour ;) In essence, the ideas were:

INDUSTRY:

• Taxes by the government are heavy, but we are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our folly (WOW!)
• If you love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of (WOW!)
• The sleeping fox catches no poultry
  
• Lost time is never found again
• He who rises late must trot all day- Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise
• There are no gains without pains
• At the working man's house, hunger looks in, but does not enter
• Industry pays debts, while despair increases them
• Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and keep
• Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today
• Little strokes fell great oaks
• Since you are not sure of a minute, do not throw away an hour
• A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two different things

CARE:

• Trusting too much to other's care is the ruin of many
• A man's own care is profitable; for if you want a faithful servant and one that you like - serve yourself

FRUGALITY:

• A fat kitchen makes a lean will
• If you want to be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of earning
• Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship (WOW!)
• Buy what you do not need, and soon you will sell your necessities
• A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees (WOW!)
  
• Always taking out of the pot, and never putting in, one soon comes to the bottom
• If you want to know the value of money, go and try to borrow some
• Pride is as loud a beggar as need (WOW!)
• It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it
• Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue - it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright (WOW!)
  

KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience keeps an expensive school, but fools will learn in no other
  

U can't be robbed of your happiness

30 seconds ago, I have -finally- gotten connected to the internet at home! So HURRAY to blog updates & the ability to go on trading sites. >.<"' I've missed out on so many market rallies because of the inability to get online at work. (the trading sites are all blocked) Ugh.

But for now, something more serious stops me from these- My house was broken into last Mon (!!!) and the burglar(s) (& you thought they only appeared in primary 1 essays!) took away many things (e.g. electronics, watches, bags, wallets, cash, credit cards) and freeformed thousands of dollars on my credit cards. Ughhhhh. >.<''' I was tempted to ask, "Why do so many bad things keep happening to me one after another?" (e.g. unkind folks, car accident, getting a viral infection that left me sick for 3 weeks, house break-in)...And whether it was simply a wrong decision to come to the USA. Then today, revelation struck me. Instead of asking "why", it's more constructive to dissect the matter by asking "how"(yes, age old analytical me that needs an explanation for most things).

"How can I learn to be adaptable under all circumstances?"
"How can I find joy and manage emotions?"
"How can I be resilient?"
"How can I surrender, trust and accept, even if I don't understand?"

It increasingly seems to me like each lesson happens to bring me to the next level that I need to go. I'm a pretty let go, let flow person without much worries but I think these experiences have taught me really not to sweat the small stuff (& to increasingly expand the context of what "small" means!!) Sure, these lessons could have come in kinder forms like learning from the mistakes/ experiences of others - but maybe God wanted to give me a steeper, first-hand learning curve. So anyway, I have digressed from my original point. The burglary has taken up a lot of time from me, from the police reports to looking for a new house so now I have a HUGEEEEEE backlog of CFA studying and work to do...so maybe my blog posts will be sporadic :( Still, I'll stay in touch!!! ^_^

Lesson learned: No one can rob you of your happiness but yourself. :)