What do you want to do with your life? What experience do you hope to gain? Where do you want to live? What is your desired salary to live your idea of a quality life? What is your salary in your field? Part-time or full-time? Benefits? Want to travel? Promotional opportunity? What special skills do you have? Credentials? Special perks?
Less to social pressure, yes to shopping procrastination
There are so many choices of merchandise to choose from and so many ads/ marketing schemes that sellers use to get people to buy. New products are reaching the market at immeasurable speeds. It is easy to want the next latest thing that everyone has. In the tech world, it’s the MacBook Air Lap top, or the iPhone, for example. It’s great to want these things, but understand that the price will drop once the initial fad is over. It’s also worth the wait, even though you don’t get the Ooh’s and Aahh’s of people around you, you’ll have more money in your pocket.
My parents, along with some of our family friends are avid orchid enthusiasts. After watching their beautiful orchids grow each year, I became more and more interested. Last year, I attended the Orchid Show in Santa Barbara, which displayed a myriad of unique orchid species. There was one that stood out called Oncidium Sharry Baby that actually smelled like chocolate. I also fell in love with the cattaleya’s and bought a few to raise on my own. It is exciting to see them grow and I am looking forward to the flowers blossoming. It is amazing what growing an orchid can teach you. These are a few things that I have learned:
photo of when I visited Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Japan
Traveling will broaden your horizons
Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies because it is always a fun learning experience. You can read about places in books and watch television, but there is something to be said about experiencing any place first hand. One of my most memorable experiences is when I traveled to Japan. My cousins and I visited Kyoto, which is one of the most beautiful places in Japan. It is where modern Japan co-exists with traditional culture. On one street, you will find the bustling city filled with modern stores, electronics and office buildings. When you turn into another street, there are wooden doors, geisha’s walking elegantly and a UNESCO world heritage listed site called the Kiyomizu-dera . It is noted for the vast veranda, supported by multiple pillars that is held together by precision architecture and no nails.
Sometimes I want energy, but I don’t want to have to go to a gym or go get energy bars. These are the 4 ways that have worked for me.
Walking
I usually like to walk in the morning for about 15 minutes and also after dinner. I enjoy different paths to disrupt monotony and also stay away from busy streets. Sometimes I feel particularly lazy so it helps to have my walking partners for motivational support. AARP and Medicine Net both have information related to the benefits of walking.
It is so difficult to get away from the internet these days, especially because for some it is their livelihood. But sometimes one can be so absorbed in the “virtual” world that the “real world” can be far away. I, myself am somewhat addicted to the internet. I write blogs, check emails, play games, but I know that I have to take breaks or not be continuously on the internet because it can wear me down.
This is one of the hardest things to do. Sometimes situations call for this. Once my mother and I were driving and when we were stopped at the red light, this man called out “Hey Japs, go back home, you don’t belong here.” We were both surprised as this was in LA in the 1990s. I was only 8 at the time, but I still remember it vividly because it was so painful. I remember asking my mom that I am home because indeed I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I wasn’t really aware of race, until this time, when it became apparent that I was different. I wanted to do something, but my mom told me that there are more powerful ways of fighting prejudice. By calling him names or being violent, the situation could be worse and we would live up to the prejudice.
Whether it be a board meeting or a student organization meeting, everyone has had some exposure to what meetings are all about. Sometimes meetings are great, but other times, they can be long, boring, and pointless. Here are some ideas that I’ve taken from great effective meetings that I have attended.
Shortest time possible
Sometimes the more time you have the more opportunity for people to not pay attention, not ask appropriate questions, or get bored. In shorter amounts of time, you can be more productive.
I myself have felt angry and frustrated from driving and being around angry drivers. Having been a big city driver all of my life, I realized that you have to find ways to not stress yourself out or get angry. Here are some ways that have worked for me so I don’t become immersed in the road rage circus.
Sense of touch can stimulate a positive response. I feel happy when I touch soft pets like dogs and animals. It also feels comforting.
Funny
Pets can keep you on your toes. They can tort their bodies funny, watch TV, etc. Laughing can help keep the wrinkles away.
Companionship
Just as human friendships can be rewarding, so can having pets. True, they cannot speak, but it is nice to see them wag their tails when you are home. You can also build a relationship with them through training and doing activities together.
