The Lion Dance

This year, my uncle decided celebrating Chinese New year with Lion Dance, a traditional art form the incorporates physical training commonly associated with martial arts and ascetic expressions.

The lion performances the "Picking the greens" 菜青 to usher an auspicious new year. The lion during such performances are also associated with Nian, the mythical creature who is frightened away with firecrackers and red color during the Chinese New year.

According to Chinese lore, hundreds of years ago, a Chinese village was under constant threat by local bandits, who dressed up as demons to scare away villagers. Te marauders then took the townspeople's food and valuables. To defend themselves, the villagers concocted their own creatures - dragons and lions - out of papier-mache. The villagers banged their pots and pans as their colorful creations swayed, scaring away looters and evil spirits. Thus the lion dance was born.

Subsequent generations adopted the lion dance as traditional part of the Chinese New Year celebration, as well as festivals and other special occasion. The lion dance is believed to bring peace and good fortune.

Look at my grandma, she is so excited about seeing the lion dance yet so afraid of the loud drum and gong sounds!

Die With No Regrets

After reading an article recommended by Danny which is named “The Top 5 Regrets people have on their deathbed” and it really makes me think a lot about my life.

The Top Five Regrets of The Dying:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my feelings.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

This is surprisingly common one. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of changes had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.” ~ Bronnie Ware.

Sometimes, the realistic of life is really confusing almost everyone. We work hard to earn more money, to get a better car, better house, and better lifestyle. You thought you have everything you want and you wish, however, there’s something you will never realize until the day you are dying…

I’m trying to recall back the ‘me’ when was 17 years old, a girl with lot of dreams and passions towards her life. It is very important to try and honor at least some of my dreams along the way. I fought so hard to get myself a chance to study Fashion Design but I know I have never put more then 60% effort into it yet. Sometimes, I do feel shame on me. God gives me a pair of talented hands to draw, to sew and play piano but I never fully utilized it.

It's time to find back my dreams and do something for it. I don’t want to end up my life with full of regrets. I do remind myself, life is so short and it has no repeat. If there’s a single chance for me, I would try everything that I want in my life before I die. It’s always easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled when life is almost over due to the choices they had made or not made and I know that it’s always too late from the moment that we start losing our health.

"Life is a choice.

It is YOUR life.

Choose consciously.

Choose wisely.

Choose honestly.

Choose happiness."

My Resolution of 2012

Happy New Year to everyone...

Time passed so fast as it's already 2012. Reviewing on what I had done for myself on the previous year, so far so good. I managed to get myself a car, further improve myself in different sector beside fashion designing and drawing. Start letting myself getting involved into sales and customer service so that I can improve my communication and negotiate skill as I really very poor into it.

I know it's not the best yet to me as I really haven't try my 'super best' to achieve all the goals that I set for myself but yet... 2011 was still a wonderful year to me. I'm still a clumsy girl as every one knows but feeling grateful to those who had helped me a lots during 2011. Without them, my 2011 is not going to be so wonderful and amazing as I wish.

I have a Resolution of 2012 for myself before the new year starts, three things that I wish I can achieve within 2012:

1. Quit smoking!!!

2. Get myself a property!!!

3. Start promoting my own design creations!!!

I guess that's might be too much confidence but I think I am going to get what I want and nothing is going to stop me now! That's decided. I will try to fight whatever comes my way!

"When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself."

Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

Don't Forget The True Meaning of Christmas

Another simple Christmas day at home without any celebration but it's still a day with lots of joy and happiness while spending time with those I love...

Everyone is grooming well and ready for party tonight...

There are traffic jam everywhere....

It seems like everyone is so excited about Christmas Day...

But...

How many of them out there know the true meaning of Christmas day while they celebrate it?

Is it the gifts under the tree?

Turkey dinner with friends and family?

or shouts of "Merry Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets?

We all put up our Christmas tree and decorative ornaments but do we really live in the spirit of Christmas or merely put on the front and still rush around trying to buy presents for everyone and make sure that everyone is happy on Christmas morning?

Christmas is not all about how many gifts you get under the tree on Christmas morning of that the gifts that cost the most are. Yes, Christmas has become more of a commercial economic structure and the true meaning of the season is being forgotten.

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. Without any of that there wouldn't even be a Christmas.

Don't get me wrong and I'm not of the Christian faith. I absolutely love the idea of ripping open presents on Christmas morning but at the same time, we do really need to try to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas...

So...

Merry Christmas to everyone~~~ <3

Just Because He Loves You

Just because he loves you,

He try his best to give you everything is good to you...

Just because he loves you,

He attaches his life with you...

Just because he loves you,

He does everything to cheer you up...

Just because he loves you,

He's always be there for you...

Just because he loves you,

He doesn't mind to show you the real him...

Appreciate it...

Just because he loves you...