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stop tripping, Andrea. FOCUS.

Futures

It's been a while since I've written.

Life has been a roller-coaster ride these days. Some days are really high and some days are really low. But in general, I'm coasting on a higher plane. I've got a steady income from tutoring and an on-campus job. I'm inspired by the classes I'm taking. I've got friends I can count on, a boyfriend I can trust, and a family that supports me. And I'm healthy.

Right now, I'm faced with a few choices in terms of my career and although I know what I want, I don't seem to know what I need... I have an option of staying in Hong Kong for the summer to take up a drug delivery research position in a lab where there I would probably do work that inspires me. Not to mention, I would have an awesome advisor who could potentially write a killer recommendation letter for me! In addition, staying in Hong Kong for the summer would give me the chance to participate in iGEM, which would also be an opportunity for me to demonstrate creativity and have real experience working in an intercultural team.

Problem? Staying in Hong Kong for the summer is a purely career-driven move, though it would contribute to my 'success' in the future. But it has nothing to do with the people who are important to me in my life who still await me in the United States (eg. my mom, dad, little sisters, and boyfriend). The best reason for me to come back to the states is if I came back for an internship in Cali during the summer so I can boost my chances of finding a biotech job in the future... but again that's career-driven. And I'm still waiting for my chance...

Perhaps there would be a compromise in the future? I hope so. I'm missing my family and life back home immensely. The relationship between my boyfriend and I is already heavily strained due to our long distance and there's still a year and a half left before proximal happiness can aptly be called ours. I wouldn't say I'm tired but I do wish the end of this endeavor would come sooner rather than later!

At this point, the only thing to do is trust that things will work out.

God has His ways and I don't need to be so anxious.

Jeremy Lin

If I have a son, his name would be Jeremy. That's a sentiment I think many Asian girls who are fans of basketball might be feeling.
I've been following the http://www.jeremylin.net/ blog since he joined the Warriors last NBA season. I always thought he was a good player starting from his UConn videos and summer league before he got drafted. He played "scared" while he was with the Warriors but I still believed. However, even I didn't dream that he'd have such a dramatic and magical "extended minutes" debut, leading to a linsane 10,000 surge in his Twitter followers and international media coverage.

Jeremy Lin was the reason I started following the NBA so closely last year with the Warriors. Now he's the reason I'm almost obsessed with the NBA. I can't stop telling people about him. I love his story. I love the fact that he's so humble and such a hard worker. I love the fact that he makes his teammates better and gives them opportunities to shine. He brings a team together. I love the fact that he passes the ball and keeps it moving. Anyone who's been an underdog would be inspired by his story. Anyone who's fought the stigma of stereotypes and perceptions that act as invisible walls. I wouldn't be surprised if his story translates to the cinema as another of those inspirational sports movies.

And even apart from my personal biases, J.Lin's basketball savy mesmerizes people. True, he makes mistakes on the court and critical eyes can identify serious weaknesses that might surface as he progresses. But I would say, J.Lin doesn't have anywhere to go but up. Nobody doubts that he's going to work hard enough to improve where he's weakest. Jeremy has always had skills and fundamentals. He struggled with the Warriors but now that he's passing the social stigmas of Asian Americans in basketball, he can focus on improving and maturing into a great and popularly well-liked NBA professional.

"I've given up trying to compare JL to anyone. He isn't the "Next" anything. He's the FIRST Jeremy Lin." (a comment by zxcvb on jeremylin.net)

So true. So true.

P.S. The Lin-Chandler-Novak combination = triple threat!

Number "123" repeats

Do you think it's a coincidence when you have three events, of random number assignment, significantly different in participation quota, and different affiliations... assign you the same bib number?

Granted, I've had other bib numbers... For example, USFHK Cross Country: 090 and the Standard Chartered HK 10km: F2843. But those 123's are not things you expect to happen.

I want to think it's not coincidence. Because such a unique racing number doesn't land on you so frequently. And it got me curious. What does it mean? Numerology gives us a number of different theories. The one I like the most is the angel number theory. I've always loved those theories (it's why I still make wishes at 11:11).

In a nutshell, the number 123 says "Simplify your life. Get rid of anything that’s pulling at your energy, time, or finances—especially anything that pulls you away from your life purpose. The ascended masters are helping you with this simplification."

If there's anything my life has had in the past year and a half--it's clutter. Messes that I haven't cleaned up, places I've yet to go, and things I've yet to prove. Over-ambition is one of my greatest vices and it always leads me to never being able to do one thing excellently. I've always been that 'jack of all trades, master of none'.

Well, here's where I draw the line.

In a time of metamorphosis, I believe that God is telling me to calm down. Even if it's just coincidental number repeats, I feel that this is a very important lesson and my life's huge turning point in perspective:

I must take life in stride and be happy in the now; things will naturally fall into place if we do things consciously and happily for the future. I have to focus my energies where they are most needed. In the past year, I've been putting my energy in things that are simply not worth the time. Why? I guess because I think that I have to. To prove myself. I want so badly to do something awesome. But perhaps... perhaps God has some other plan for me. You know, we don't always know what's best for ourselves. Sometimes we chase things that don't even make us happy. And ultimately, it doesn't help anybody else or make anybody else happy. Ultimately, life is really simple in that sense. A meaningful life is not about doing many things; a meaningful life is about making an impact where it matters.

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. --Elise Boulding

Priorities:
1. Academics
2. Finances
3. Self-improvement (personal fitness and language learning)
4. Fitness Connection/REDbird

A lot of major events since I last posted. A lot of it has been landmarked by my 365+1 Photo Project but I'll re-document it here.

Clearwater Bay Chase Charity Run 2012 (1/15)

Ebeneezer School for the Visually Impaired Athletics Meet (1/19)


A Hong Kong Chinese Lunar New Year (1/22-24)


Adventure Terra Race 2012 (1/29)


Fitness Connection Nam Sang Wai Trip (2/4)


Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 - 10km (2/5)