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This Much I Know is True

Fatih is not a religion, nor a belief. Faith is having trust. Yes, I am talking about having trust in the world.

Shit is shit. You can't grade it. So, stop determining who's got it worse.

Just because it's on sale, doesn't mean you have to buy it. In other words, you don't have to date him just becuase he is a good kisser Lol! There are so many situations to apply this advice to.

Sleep can fix almost anything. It always has for me.

Life is sometimes hard, but it doesn't have to be. Like squeezing a bar of soap in the shower, the harder you squeeze the more elusive it becomes. Open your hand to the bar of soap, go gently and relax.

A job started is a job halfway completed. Just get started.

Learning is a possession. It cannot be taken away from you. But you should always share it.

More to come.......

Cogito ergo sum

Sidney Madwed's famous quote about Life:

Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.

Oh how wonderful it would be to possess such brilliantlly articulate ideas! I don't always know how to explain myself. I fear writing my thoughts because words end up diminishing meaning. And this becomes a source of frusturation. But Sidney here has proven that words are merely a means to communicate the message. Essentially words are unimportant. For even if the words we chose do shape our realities and build a context for the world we walk in, it's the quietest thoughts that infintively perpetuate our existence. Once you think it, it's out there. It's real.

And as Rene Descartes famously put it “I think, therefore I am”.

Rotten Vegetarians

Vegetarian principles comprise more than simple dietary constraints. Its philosophy surpasses the kitchen/dining room parameters and has found its way into deep-rooted conversations on politics, the environment and even spirituality.

I personally do not have a problem with people who have a vegetarian lifestyle. In fact, I was a herbivore myself for 2 years. But I do have a problem with vegetarians who impose their "vegetarian-ish" values on others. I am sure you know what I mean because everyone has felt the glare from a vegetarian merely for using a plastic container. In addition, you’ve probably come across several vegetarians who tend to speak out on several issues, not necessarily related to food, who truly believe they are right all the time! And quite a few non meat-eaters I know are extremely fundamental and dogmatic about almost everything under the sun. I see that a culture of vegetarians who portray self-righteousness and superiority is increasingly growing. Dang it! It's so annoying! Do they really have the right to take a moral high ground?

A woman I used to work with was a proactive vegetarian and made known her issues whenever someone heated up meat in the microwave or forgot to recycle a can. It amazed me how oblivious she was to the friction that occurred every time she impressed her views upon the staffroom. Understandably, this woman wasn’t well liked around the workplace. She did not know that by attacking others she was losing respect and making herself look bad. So, this makes me wonder. Why do vegetarians so often feel the need to preach? It's a completely backward and hypocritical line of attack. As far as I know, they see themselves as loving, sympathetic and humane. But often they ridicule, judge and sneer at others. I would say some vegetarians can be fanatical extremists who are no worse than sinister, evangelical leaders. Which brings me to the woman I worked with. I later learned that her father is a pasture. I heard her tell me how rigid and unapproachable he was. Funny to think how 'the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree' for that family.

Like I said I have nothing against the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Only I can’t stand those who take up a holier than thou, elitist attitude. Attacking others and putting them down, it only makes you look like an ass!

Pain and fear are not the only methods of growth; you can more elegantly grow through joy and love ~Lazaris


It’s fairly easy for me to remember personal experiences when something good came out of something bad. It’s probably not difficult for you to recall some examples either. My failed relationships taught me about unfulfilled needs, my dull jobs pointed me to follow my inner passion and many of my wrong choices led me to take responsibility. And whatever that bad thing was, I often ended up coming out stronger. But it’s a lot hard to remember learning a lesson from a joyful, encouraging moment. Indeed, there are limited examples for that one. And this may be owing to the lack of positive-reinforcement in my life, and I would go as far to say in our society. The truth is we all want good, affirmative experiences, but unfortunately we tend to focus on the negatives. It’s not all that surprising though, because our world zooms in on the negative: the media, quite a few teachers, the finger wagging boss and at times even our parents. It’s a belief. Our society believes that lessons need to be learned from bad actions and bad behavior. That’s just the way it is. It’s a shame nontheless, that we don't believe more in the power of positivity.

How to Celebrate P.H.S.D.

A whole season had passed by without a single posting, and the truth is I feel rather guilty. Needless to say, there hasn’t been much to write about. Fortunately for you, I won’t tell you how crazy busy I’ve been with my new job and I dare not annoy you with an account of my very humdrum autumn and Christmas. No, I won’t bore you with the inane drab details of my life. Obviously, that’s not what you want to read about. So, I’ll try something different.

Today is Thursday: my favorite day of the week. Very soon, the weekend will fill up the rest of what some people may describe as the dreariest, rainiest, heck even most depressing week of the year. I declare that we need more "things" to celebrate! Could it be Post Holiday Season Depression (P.H.S.D.) that has me in a funk? I know that I am not alone. Oh no, let me tell you that Vancouverites are also depressed. I see it! Their faces are not those of happy people. Not to mention that spring is still another 3 months away and despondency is starting to settle in. Sadly, it’s not different from what I am used to. I have lived here all my life: grey skies and grey faces are the norm.

So, I made a list of things to do, things to celebrate as a way of getting me through this lackluster winter. To my fellow Post Holiday Season Depressives..try these picker-uppers:

• Start a blog; seriously your creative side will thank you
• Clean out your closet
• Find your new favorite band, buy their CD and burn me a copy!
• Cook a new dish you never made before.
• Exfoliate your whole body; trust me it feels great!
• Attend Yuk Yuks with friends; get drunk and laugh to your heart’s content
• Put on rain gear and stomp in puddles like you did when you were 5 years old
• Buy an exotic fruit; savor it as you dream of someplace tropical.
• Go to a sauna and sweat out your angst!
• Frame a picture and hang it.
• Dance, dance dance!
• Try your hand at Sudoko; it’s challenging and very addictive!

Of course, there’s so much more out there and these are merely a few of my suggestions. What about you? What pulls you out of your funk? Go ahead and add your idea(s) because those lifeless faces really do need brightening up.

Is life like toilet paper?

September has arrived. The beginning of this month sends Vancouverites scrambling, trying to relish the last few days of sunshine. This month is also when people go back to their routines and stay indoors more. In Vancouver, that means many people will begin buying their tickets for the Fringe Festival, the Film Festival and yes, even planning their ferry rides for the Thanksgiving holiday. The next thing you know, we'll be dressing up for Hallowe'en and seeing Christmas lights in the mall.

Indeed, it amazes me how time seems to accelerate as I get older, and I'm not even that old! Will I ever be able to make my time in this Earth slow down? More importantly, why does TIME go faster as we age? I once met someone who compared the speed of our lives to a toilet paper roll. As she explained it, from the beginning of the roll, it is new, full and takes a long time to deplete. However, as the roll is used more, it begins to run out. Faster and faster it spins, after each use, then, just when you are not at all ready for it to end, the roll finishes. No more toilet paper for you. Time's up! Bye-bye. Sort of depressing, isn't it?

The thing is, I see it another way. The feeling that time just files by is not an issue of age, but of mentality. I thought about the world a lot more differently when I was young. I rarely pined over the past nor did I wish my life away over unknown future events. Aside from a few birthdays and Christmas seasons, perhaps you were the same as I was. I didn't worry over the past nor did I try to control the future. But now, as an adult it takes so much effort for me not to do that. I can't seem to get out of the habit of obsessing about prior experiences as well as the ones to come. As a result, I am not aware of how fast my life is speeding by. I only start to realize the present at times like these, when seasons change for example. Indeed, this is why TIME just seems to slip through my fingers.

I am aware that this is not an original thought, it's been said many times before in various ways. But, it may make you think about toilet paper in a way you never have before, or not.

Random Thought

Life In Balance.
I have been having thoughts about passion and desire and let me share with you what I know to be true from the Lao-Tzu (the writer of the Tao Te Ching)

Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present

Once

Every once in a while you see a good movie. Yet, let me ask you a question: "how many times have you walked out of a theatre believing you had just seen the finest piece of art on screen?" Yes, I know it doesn't happen very often, but it did to me.

Once is a beautifully written and directed story of two very gifted and candid musicians who unexpectedly meet and fall in love. Subsequently, we become witness to the process they go through as they write and record music together that reflects on their hurtful past relationships and new-found love for each other. Coined a modern day musical, it is a testament to love, beauty and art. But hold on men! Don’t run away because this is by no means a sappy, romance. Indeed, Hollywood could take a few lessons from Once writer and director John Carney on portraying real, complex, and mature characters.

Though the story is somewhat predictable, the filming of the unique life events and struggles surrounding these two musicians seem totally unrehearsed - as though the audience experiences everything at the same time as the characters. Filmed in a style that feels like Polaroid snapshots, the movie’s camera work and angles pull the audience in and captivate.

However, the real brilliance of this movie begins with the opening of the movie, as a heartfelt and honest song is played out on guitar by Glen Hansard. I will avoid going too much into the musical aspects because words won’t do any justice. If for no other reason you watch this film, go for the music. The soundtrack is inspiring, refreshing and heartening.

Interestingly, I also came away with some valuable life lessons on passion, dedication and responsibility, which added more layers to this apparently simple story. What all of this means is if you are like me, you will be skipping out of this movie yelling "Thank God people out there still know how to make a movie!" Amen.

Sting is Magic

Every little thing Sting does is magic. I say this after watching the Police reunion tour concert on Wednesday night at GM place. I am not a die hard Police fan, but at age 11, I listened to their tape cassettes in my brother's bedroom just before going to bed. Back then, I didn't understand what the lyrics meant, though I bopped my head to the rock ballad of "Every Breath you Take" as well as the reggae sound in "Roxsanne." At Wednesday's concert, I revisted the memory bank of all my first times and happy endeavours, all the while waiting for them to play "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and of course "De do do do, de da da da"

But what I realized from this concert was that the Police are still very talented musicians and take themselves quite seriously. I was blown away by their attempt to bring even more life to the old classics such as "So lonely" and "King of Pain." With the personality of Stewart Copeland's percussion interludes as well as adding soul and funk to Andy Summer's guitar rifts, and playing up the chorus to the point where the audience was singing along, it seemed as though the infamous band and I were sitting alone in the same room.

Thankfully, there was a huge movie screen hanging from the top of the stage - meaning that every nook and cranny of Sting's face fell under scrutiny. His eyes twinkled, his smile communicated a calm, self-respecting manner and he had by no means any problem belting out those long high notes. It was a very personal concert for many and I wasn't surprised when I heard someone behind me crying alongside other members in the crowd to the song "Wrapped Around your Finger." (For me it had to have been the best song of the entire concert.) I don't know if it was the lights, the smoke from the smog machine or the way Sting looked out at the audience swaying in sync, but I probably could have cried too. For me, it was not simply a night of musical appreciation but one of nostalgia and sheer celebration of a good old-fashioned rock band. At the risk of sounding like my parents I must say: "They sure don't make them like they used to!"