7/31/2013 0 Comments A Road InvisibleDespite that I have had something on my mind for awhile, I did not think I could share it until now.
Now, I am a college graduate. For the past several months, my mind has been captivated by a gravel path that represents the rest of my life, or at least the next few years of my life. That path is not clear but blurry, not well-paved but incredibly cluttered and surrounded by inevitable dust. Before I get too carried away with my metaphor, I will state that I have felt captured by the fact that as a college graduate, I do not know what my future will look like. Sure, I have some idea of it--I know that I want to take a year off before I apply to the Christie's Masters Program in NY (or London, still must decide on the location). I know that I want to spend the next year growing intellectually and emotionally through internships and/or a full-time job. I know that I want to spend the year also by spending more quality time with my family, since school always got in the way of my making time for them. However, we all know that life is unpredictable and that it can sometimes take you to places you would never think of. I don't mean to make this sound negative, in fact I think it's positive! It is exciting to not know where you're going; and at the same time, we have the comfort of knowing that as long as one is always honest with him/herself and makes the right choices, they will be in the place they were meant to be. There is a part of me that's scared and that wishes the gravel path wasn't so blurred into the rest of the ground. But, part of life's beauty is knowing that you have the power to grab all the sticks and rocks you can to try and clarify that path, and that the gusts of wind will collaborate with you to naturally help make the path look the way it is meant. Again, I notice myself getting carried away by the path metaphor, so I will finish this blog post with a striking quote that relates to the topic, and with the hope that you have understood what I was elaborating :) : "We are glorious accidents of an unpredictable process with no drive to complexity, not the expected results of evolutionary principles that yearn to produce a creature capable of understanding the mode of its own necessary construction." ~Stephen Jay Gould Have a lovely (and pleasantly surprising) day! ~~MC
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7/16/2013 0 Comments Run!As you are walking along the gravel at the park, gently but slightly assertively pushing the ground behind you with each step and letting it become your past, you feel a surge that screams none other than "Start running!" What do you do? Run, of course!
There is something extraordinary about getting such a message that comes only from within yourself; and, with that, something irreplaceable about the epiphany you experience that you cannot ignore the voice that is speaking. When I was walking yesterday at Greenlake Park, I was enjoying the green and blue scenery around me (it's July, thus the time of year in Seattle where we get the rare and extremely treasured sunny days!); but then suddenly, the voice in me told me to start jogging. While thinking to myself that this was the most random thing ever unless my instincts were telling me that a man was running towards me from behind with a knife, I would also be reminded that it is always good to listen to your gut. For instance, if I didn't start jogging, I would have felt less challenged as a person wanting to get in better shape; I then would have been less likely to gain the confidence I did once I had started running--because during yesterday's trip to the park, I ended up jogging nonstop for one and a half miles (which probably doesn't sound like much to those who are highly athletic, but it was quite a big step for me!). Such a pleasant surprise is a treat for me. And, many more pleasant surprises will come when you follow your instincts. ~~MC 6/7/2013 0 Comments ChangesHappy Friday everyone!
Today I have decided to write a simple blog post dedicated to inspire you to make a change in your life once in awhile. This is because it is good to be reminded from time to time that a life without change is perhaps not a fulfilling one. Or rather, this quote delivers my point better than I can: "If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary." ~Jim Rohn Here is a list of ways you can add more variety and spice to your daily routine: 1. Get a major haircut 2. Pick a recipe you usually wouldn't go for, such as a complicated cake (never thought I would write "complicated cake" in a blog post, or anywhere for that matter) 3. Take a hot yoga class 4. Instead of your usual, pick a different coffee drink from the menu, or even choose a different syrup flavor for the beverage. 5. Buy a piece of clothing in a color you normally wouldn't wear (personal example: I recently bought a teal and white striped quarter sleeve shirt, when usually I wear short sleeved v-neck blue shirts) 6. Start a blog! It's a fulfilling hobby that allows you to put thoughts out there and share your passion with others. 7. Talk to a stranger. Even small talk can potentially open you up to fresh perspectives. 8. Add something to your pampering/self-care routine (ex. using olive oil instead of face wash to get rid of makeup and dirt at the end of the day. Yes, people do this, and it can also lessen acne!) And there you have it! A short list of ways you could change up your life! You are welcome to suggest more if you have any in mind; I am open to hearing what you think. Have a good day all! ~~MC 6/6/2013 0 Comments Time to ReleaseWhat do you do when you have thoughts tumbling and twisting in your mind, thoughts that won't let go of you until you find some way to release them and put them out of their misery?
There are probably many solutions, but one I personally have become familiar with is writing a poem. Or, perhaps I should say "re-familiar," because I used to write poetry when I was in middle school. For each piece, I would start by doing a bit of research about a chosen subject, usually a subject that was suggested in my poetry journal (which I still have)...followed by taking my pen and jotting down ideas that came to mind; followed by typing the revised, polished version on Word; followed by choosing the right font that matched the mood; followed by printing it, cutting it out of the solid white printer paper, and pasting it into the journal; and finally followed by adding a colored pencil illustration to connect myself more to the poem. And now, we have the final product. This was my artistic process as a 14-year-old. At the time, I perceived poetry as something methodical, with a goal assigned to you from the outside, and where you must follow a specific list of steps in order to write a successful string of verses. It is almost like I understood poetry as more of a science than an art. These were things I believed until recently. To put it briefly, I came across events during the past several months that had pushed me to a state of near-constant worry, stress and fear. These emotions reached a point where thoughts tumbled and twisted in my mind. It was as if my eyes could not see in front of me, but rather they were consumed by the invisible and intangible, the fluid statements and questions and anxieties in my head that never stopped rising and falling like uncontrollable waves. And so, my instinct was to release these thoughts, to free them and thus to free myself. In other words, I start writing poetry. And I soon realized that this was real poetry. I understood that, like all other forms of art, writing a poem is something that comes out of you and that is not given by another person. The words seem to jump onto the paper, and there is something miraculous about that. When you feel as consumed with magnified feelings and thoughts as I did in my case, it is a good idea to make use of them instead of letting them render you lost and helpless. You don't even have to be faced with feelings/thoughts that are negative--Finding yourself in times of inexplicable joy, or perhaps times where you learn new things about yourself that you want to carry with you like you would an injured bird you found in the road, are also lovely opportunities for you to jot words down. It is always nice to remember the good and bad of your experiences, and to allow yourself to create such an art as poetry in order to make sense of this big world you live in. :) So grab a pen and paper--or if you like to be organized like myself and keep a journal solely dedicated to poems, which you can keep close in order to release those overwhelming thoughts any time--and start writing, because by doing so you are enlivening not just a poem, but one of many footprints you will leave in the universe. ~~MC 3/21/2013 0 Comments Forgetting MichelangeloSometimes when you find yourself in such a state of worry that you pray for your inner sanity to escape from it unscathed, it helps to turn your face to the window and watch the rain fall outside.
Whether you see a drizzle as light as the weight of the foam that sits quietly on your mug of morning cappuccino, or a hailstorm as tormenting as the itching anticipation of Monday sneaking from around the corner (not today, obviously, because it's only Thursday), it is always comforting to witness an act as natural as Mother Nature quenching her thirst through one of the most refreshing things a human being can ever encounter. Will watching the tumbling drops allow you to calm your worried mind? Undoubtedly. Will it lead you to be so inspired that you end up writing one of the best masterpieces of poetry anyone has ever read, or sculpting a piece so endlessly captivating that one can easily forget that Michelangelo's David statue existed? Maybe, maybe not. You can never dream too big though, and it never hurts to see where a calm mind can lead you to. :) ~~MC 3/18/2013 0 Comments Surfacing from the Deepest OceanĀSometimes it feels good to take a breather from the Internet.
The photo of above is just one of the things you can choose to avoid, as other examples can be the news (especially since most of what we hear nowadays can be too heart-wrenching to let enter your mind) or YouTube videos. Here are just a few ways you can take a break from it today: -Reading -Writing (whether it be music, lyrics, music and lyrics, poetry, or stories; the list is endless--We humans were born to literally get our hands on something raw and material, and use our inner capabilities and spiritual creativity to turn it into something of our own.) -Talking with a family member in the kitchen or living room (I guess this can especially apply to me, since I spend 90% of my time at home in my room studying). -Admiring the nature outside your window while enjoying a mug of hot tea (or coffee, depending on what time of day you decide to do this.) -Listening to music -A combination of any of the above; to give you a helpful example, this morning I turned on the radio to a soothing jazz station and let the tunes echo in my room, while I watched the rain fall gently outside and held my mug of coffee in my right hand (my left hand was busy clicking and scrolling idly through numerous Word documents of practice problems for my upcoming accounting exam). So, I guess this list has (hopefully) inspired you to realize that time can always be spent in other ways than on the Internet. Sure, you need the Internet to get some work done, to study, or to get yourself updated on what's going on in the world outside your window. But, there is always the point that your brain reaches where it needs to swim back up to the surface of the deepest ocean ever and take a few refreshing breaths. ~~MC Tea...
There is something about the pure herbal goodness that is so soothing. Particularly, when you are going through a stressful or a generally less-than-ideal time, brewing and pouring yourself a mug (or glass cup, like in the above image) feels like a most natural method of finding your calm center. Or if not your calm center, if the turmoils of life have been so grand or so unavoidable to your thoughts that it seems nearly impossible to find any sense of peace in the midst of them, tea can at least act as your 5-10 minute (or even 15) breather. As you wrap your hands around the cup and take in the light steam subtly infused with the sweet or tangy scent colored by the flavor you have chosen, you begin to forget for a minute what was taking place around you just moments ago, and you concentrate on the allure and the comfort of the beverage you hold like it were to take you to safety in the middle of the whirlwind storm. Or, if you're not in need of being rescued from the negatives you are going through, tea can help you emphasize the positives (which I hope win over your number of negatives disproportionately). For example, are you sitting by the window and watching the Sun come out, after what felt like an eternity of rain buckets? Make yourself your favorite mug of tea, whether it be earl grey (which I personally love to blend with 2% milk and honey), green, or oolong tea (my latest obsession; apparently its caffeine level is somewhere between black tea and green tea); then, sit by the window as you take in the lovely scenery, aaccompanied by the spontaneous, calming bird chirping that fits in the nature just as effortlessly as tea does in your day. Enjoy a cup of tea today! ~~MC 3/8/2013 0 Comments Monet-esque Kind of DayThere is something about a sunny day that makes you want to get out and do everything on your mental list you always wanted to do on such a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion.
Well...That's probably the mindset of a Seattleite like myself who is used to (and admittedly usually enjoys) the rain. Today, the Sun has come out, and it has done so in highlighting not only the general scenery but also the little, emerging signs of spring. Flowers are blooming, birds echo in a sing-song melody beginning as early as 6am and stretching on to 7pm or so, and clothing stores have brought out the brightest palette of clothes one can imagine...So bright that, as someone whose fashion sense includes a love for muted, neutral colors like navy and beige, I find it alarming when I see store mannequins wearing pink skinny jeans and a yellow-white striped top. But, I digress. Probably regardless of where you live, it's always nice to take advantage of the state of weather that is most open to activity and interaction (both with people and nature). What are your plans for this lovely Friday? How does it look outside your window? If your outdoor scenery is encompassed in a Monet-esque view of vivid blue and soft, glowing yellow, get off your chair already and make the most of the Sun's rays! :) ~~MC 2/6/2013 0 Comments Pendulum of TunesThe sky could be blue, could be gray
Without you I just slide away The sky could be blue, I don't mind Without you it's a waste of time These are my favorite lyrics to the song, of which I have here posted the lovely music video. To be honest though, I am listening to "Somebody to Love" by Queen as we speak...as I am writing a post about...a Coldplay song. Oh well, some things in life just don't make sense. Anyway, this is one of those songs where the music alone renders the listener more at peace. Maybe it's the playful tune that swings slowly like a pendulum from one note to the next; or, maybe it's the soothing, flowing hues of lead singer Chris Martin's voice that nearly echo into the background mass of melodic waves, waves that one can easily get lost in (and I mean 'lost' in a good way). Whatever the source of this sense of calm, it doesn't hurt to have even just a brief listen when you are in need of a study/work break, if you need something to get your creative/artistic juices flowing as much as the song, or if you just plain love Coldplay (one of my own personal reasons!). So go ahead, press the play button and allow the aura take hold of your senses! ~MC Today is a lovely day in the midst of June, the gateway month to the irresistible next months that we call Summer...
But, I am wearing long pants, a thick t-shirt, and my GAP knit cardigan that I was so devoted to during the near-hypothermia, coffee-consumed months. On top of that, I am wearing a pair of slippers that are keeping my feet all warm and snug, as I'm sipping on hot peppermint tea from a mug. What is wrong with this picture? I care not to make any effort to answer this question, because I have been relishing those very acts of wearing such cozy clothing and being snuggled up in my humble warm abode (warm probably because I snuck to the thermostat when my parents weren't looking and turned up the heat just a bit) with my hands snuggled up around my mug. I guess this goes to show that whether it's June or December, you have the permission to dive yourself into a pillow-soft ensemble and take the time to be surrounded by all things you define as 'comfy.' Particularly during times where you would rather feel differently or just feel stressed out by things happening to or around you, I can guarantee you that doing this works wonders. Go ahead, try it. ~~MC |
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