Pursuing Happiness

We thought of relaxing...that will be good. My husband and I took our respective lazy boy, and played this DVD.

Wow! The story line amazingly grabbed us the minute the film started. Chris Gardner's story was so gripping, it will pierce your soul. Denzel played the character so well. Aftet the film, I was in tears...I can't believe what this man has gone through without losing his nuts. He got no money, has no real job, lost his partner, lost his home and has to fight every afternoon to have a space at the shelter. Yet he should be tough enough for his boy. He took a training program without a cent-wage nor a promise of a real job. To get the job, he got to beat the other aspirants.

He is tough cookie, overcoming all the turmoils. My story telling won't do justice on the lessons you'll learn when you read (watch) the story yourself.

Can you pursue happiness? Why is it elusive? Can you say you're content and also happy, do they really go together? If you are content and therefore happy, is there anything else to pursue? Once you feel discontent, you start searching for something to make you feel happy again. So is happiness a real thing, or just a positive feeling? Search within.

Go ahead, be inspired.

Double rainbows

My family saw a double rainbow yesterday morning...We've never seen one (or two) before.

It was 730am, still dark and clouds are pregnant with rain. The sun was fighting its way to shine, but not that successful.

My son was so happy seeing two rainbows, "Wow, two rainbows!". I should say so..it was amazing.

The happiest place on Earth..Disneyland

The sign says, " The Happiest place on Earth"...i love that. My 6-year old was so excited, eyes were everywhere. Don't know where to start. We just let him lead us where he wants to go or ride; for us, whatever he likes should make him happy that day.

Carousel ride, can't go wrong with this one.

Balloons! Happy balloons!
A rocket ship ride was fun too.
The Disney castle is so colorful and a sight to behold.

Buzz Lightyear, "to infinity and beyind" at the Astro Blaster. My boy's favorite.
A fire engine ride around the park. He was also the bell ringer.

Aww, i love this shot with Goofy. He is a favorite.

And one with Mickey's dog, Pluto. He is a nice dog.

Alice in Wonderland and the MadHatter.

We watched the colorful parade. It was awesome and spectacular.

Disney is also a sight even at night.

Wave Rock at Hyden WA

Hyden's history showed its resilience, patience and industry. Migrants have lived without electricity, water (except fromthe Hyden dam), telephone nor television. The used push-bikes to generate hydro-power for their town. For a long time, the town uses a generator situated in the town centre (Lynch Street).

The Hippos Yawn is one of the stopping area at Wave Rock trail, it is a cave looking like a yawning Hippos, thus the name.

We spent one weekend (28-29 May 2011) at Hyden WA. Our intention is to see Wave Rock, a popular tourist spot. It gained attention when a tourist's photo was published in National Geographic in 1967. The Rock is amazingly likened to an ocean wave. It is 15 meters high and 100 meters long. So what is it? It is a long granite of natural overhanging wall. The lichens and algae produced the variant color-wave and change colors during different times of the day. The rock is estimated to be over 2700 years old.

It is a magnificent work of nature...of God's wonderful artistry.

Of graduation and reunions; of winners and losers.

The air was filled with excitement and hopes for the future, of sadness regarding separations and anxiety of what tomorrow might bring.

I've sat on several graduations, almost 20 rites, mine included. Every graduation rites came with graduation speeches from various guest speakers. I have listened to everyone of them, but sadly, I don't remember anything in particular, they sounded all the same to me. Maybe graduation speeches were delivered to sedate students before they are let loose into the chaotic professional world.

I don't remember much from those speeches. I just vaguely recall they were flooded and "tsunami-ed" with so much words for hopes and dreams and "individuality" despite everyone being dressed up alike in caps and gowns. They keep on saying education is the key to success. They have to say it to keep us in school until you reach college or university. They have to persuade us to be in school to keep the unemployment rate down. Obviously, we won't find a decent job anywhere as a teenager. Finding a suitable job with a college/uni degree is tough; finding a job as a teener is tougher.

Graduation at any level is officially saying, "Welcome to the unemployed world."

At the end of every speech, they "God bless everyone", or "May your future be bright as your dreams". True enough, they have to "Godspeed" because the best things happen only to some and not to everyone. For every opportunity is unique and has to be identified. As a graduate, you uttered a simple prayer, " I hope it will be the best indeed".

Then reunions will come. Are you attending, or not attending?

You will attend because you are a winner. Maybe brag about it? Brag a bit or brag big. It doesn't matter, it is likely and probable, that you are attending to size up yourself with your previous peers; size up physically and professionally. (Hey, you've grown--wider).

Not attending? Thinking that it will be shameful to be branded or classified as a loser. You've realised that your goal was not achieved the way it was printed in the yearbook, "I want to be a computer programmer."

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS OUTRIGHT FAILURE!

That is the failure which is not really yours but the judgement of other people. People are poor judges of success and failure. Your heart knows what you have achieved. Don't judge each day by the quantity of harvest you've reaped but by the seeds you have planted. For whatever you sow, you shall reap.

"The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” ~ Benjamin Mays

Realities in Life your children should learn*

1. Life is not always fair.

2. The world won't care about your self esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

3. You will NOT make BIG money a year right after HS/university. You will not be a VICE PRESIDENT with a car phone until you earn BIG money.

4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

5.If you mess up, it is not your parent's fault, so don't whine about your mistakes--learn from them.

6. Your parents were not boring before you were born. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and running you to and from events. So before you save the rainforest, try cleaning your room.

7. Your school may done away with winners and losers, but LIFE has not!

8. Very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

9. Reality television is NOT REAL LIFE. Real life is much more exciting and fulfilling.

10. Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

*posted on the Bulletin board of Ken's School.

Ken's Artwork

Kendrich is now 5 years old and nearly finished with pre-primary schooling.

He is described by teachers as shy yet kind and gentle. He disliked loud voices and classmates not following rules. Expect Ken to point his fingers and alarming his teachers about misbehaving classmates.

He is so fond drawing when at home. Whenever we visited office/school supply stores, he would always place a box of crayons or coloured pencils in my shopping baskets. Ken would draw on the back of a printed A4 paper; I am not happy with the thought of wasting too much papers.

Let me show you his artworks for 2010. I have lots of them in a big filing folder.

He is an active boy but not a talkative one (yet). However, he is able to express his feelings and memoirs through his drawings and "colorings" (that's his term).

Yes, like any parent, I am proud of his works..Very, very proud. I remembered myself immersed in drawings when I was in Grade 4 but no one taught me so my drawings didn't progressed. I hope to find a good art tutor for Ken.