Mix a Cup of Happiness

You need to concoct a mixture for your mood.  When you wish to be happy, then you’ll be happy.

Are you feeling great today?  Early in the morning when you wake up, take a good look at the mirror and read the letter ‘m’.  Now, give yourself one minute to think when you read the letter ‘m’.  What do you think of?

‘McDonalds’, ‘Man’, ‘Myself’ and ‘Mind’.

When you think of the word ‘McDonalds’, it shows that you still have the innocence of a child.

When you think of the word ‘Man’, perhaps right now what your heart desires for is a relationship.

When you think of the word ‘Myself’, maybe there will be changes in your life.

If you think of the word ‘Mind’, which consists of thoughts, feelings and determination, it represents that you are in the same mood as I am while reading this.

Why do we have to talk about ‘mind’?

The reason is very simple.  It is inseparable from our daily lives, and yet most of the time we are too blind to notice it and neglect its existence.  Therefore, start off your day with a positive ‘mind’, and it will make a good mixture for your mood.

When you read the letter ‘m’, try and take a look at the mirror.  You will discover that at the corner of your lips are tilted up, and it seems like you are smiling at yourself.  Perhaps when you read this letter, at the same time you have already started off your day with a happy feeling.

When you wake up in the morning, the first thought that comes into your mind is very important.  It will determine your mood and how you feel for the rest of your day.  Early in the morning when you are about to brush your teeth and wash your face to start off your day, try putting on a smiling face and a happy feeling.

Many times in our lives, we need to practise over and over again in order to do well at something.  Being happy needs practises too.  If you want to lead a happy life, you have to start from the little issues in your life.

Now, read the letter ‘m’ out loud.  How is it?  You can feel the difference already, can’t you?

What Is Online Friendship?

I learned a lot about online friends when I started playing Audition. In this virtual world of friendship, who can you truly call your friend? Who is genuine and sincere? Who is a poser and just pretending to be your friend?

I learned that a friend is someone I trust to be with me when I am at my weakest and most vulnerable. And they are people who, no matter how painful it is to see, are willing to be with me when I am so helpless and weak. It’s not about whether you are trustworthy, or whether you are friendly, it’s the actual act of trust that is the basis of friendship. If I trust you to be truthful, then you’re a friend. If I find I must be careful on how I say things, then it’s something other than friendship.

Friendship is not a state of mind, it’s an act. It’s something you do. It's not about whether you’re good or not and it’s not a reflection of you. It is a balanced relationship between people. That doesn’t mean it’s always balanced at every moment. Sometimes you “need a friend” and other times it’s the other way. It’s a trust that is being returned.

There’s a world of difference between being a friend and being a fan. I’ve heard from people who I’ve never met say we’re friends. And then of course when I do something they don’t like, I’ve betrayed the supposed friendship. They’re living in a dreamworld. The more popular my character in Audition has become, the more people have this dream. Of course that’s not friendship, that’s torture.

“When a friend changes you can find the bond that’s connecting you at a deeper level. The surface stuff isn’t a good thing to depend on. Physical bodies change as they grow. So do emotional bodies and intellectual ones. Take a deep breath. People move, life is more like a wild dance than a ceremony. You just can’t tell what’s coming next.” - Dave Winer

So if you find yourself trying to coerce someone into not changing, that is not friendship. That is coercion.

One of the hallmarks of a person who is more likely to be a friend-that-was than a friend-for-life, is that person quotes anonymous people who say they were my friends but I betrayed them. That’s such a huge turnoff, that usually wakes me up in an instant. A friend would never even consider saying something like that, because it’s so objectifying, so impersonal, so unfair, so un-friendly. In a court of law you’re entitled to cross-examine your accusers. Same in the court of friendship.

I want to thank those who have been giving me their support, and been there for me even at my lowest and weakest time. You have been understanding to the real me, accept the whole me (the few of you should know who you are in my heart).

As for those who are a huge turnoff to me, thank you too for leaving a chapter in my life, and are history now.

The Inner Journey

I'm not really a writer or a poet. I started writing poems, philosophies about life, and short stories about 10 years ago. No doubt that I'd written quite a number of articles, but it just didn't seem right. What I wanted to write was something that would show me how to reconcile my deepest spiritual, authentic, and creative longings with often-overwhelming and conflicting commitments - to my parents, siblings, invalid boyfriend, work at office, work in the world, friends, and community. I knew I wasn't the only one in this world to feel this frazzled, depressed, and worn to a ravelling. I also certainly knew that I wasn't the only one in this world with the answers. And the ironic truth was, I didn't even know the questions.

For the past few years, I wanted so much - money, success, recognition, genuine creative expression - but had absolute no clue as to what I truly needed. At times my passionate hungers were so voracious I could deal with them only through denial. Was I ever kind to myself? More often than to feel comfortable to admit, I was an angry, envious woman, constantly comparing myself to others only to become resentful because of what seemed to be missing from my life, although couldn't have told you what it was. Frustrated and unable to fathom why some people appeared to lead much more fulfilling lives - I careened between feelings that I was frittering my life away to feeling that I was sacrificing it on the altar of my own ambitions.

One day, I had a good look of myself at the mirror. Perhaps for the first time, I had to be ruthlessly honest both inwardly and outwardly. I came to the realization that, almost imperceptibly, I'd become a happy woman, and because I finally found myself, I could barely recognize the woman I once was. I've made the unexpected but thrilling discovery that everything in my life is significant enough to be a continuous source of reflections, revelation, and reconnection: bad hair, mood swings, pimples, excruciating deadlines, overdrawn bank account, exhaustion and don't know what to wear. Everyday, I learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, living with a gratitude feeling, and through that it leads me to simplicity. And through simplicity, it gives me order, both internally and externally. And because of this order in me, it brings harmony into my life. Harmony provides me with the inner peace I need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me each day, and beauty opens me to joy. All these open teh eyes of my inner awareness.

Always we ignore what our hearts are telling us. Our authentic self has not abandoned us. Instead it has been waiting patiently for you to recognize and reconnect. Turn away from the world that is churning around you. Listen to the whispers of your heart. Look within. At long last, the journey you were destined to take has begun, just like mine, which has taken flight.