Change Yourself for 2012 with a Resolution

So it’s late to give some of my thoughts on 2012 new year resolution? Nah-

You forget I am Chinese? I live with two calendars and get to celebrate some of holidays at least twice a year, including my birthday. pretty cool, right?! anyways, FYI, Chinese new year in lunar calendar is January 23rd this year in Solar calendar.

I know, I can always find excuses for my procrastination. But, on the other side, it’s never too late to start. So, “if you want to change the world, change yourself;” and if you want to change yourself, change it today, I mean right now.

Action should be taken immediately, but with a resolution, even just a draft one; because a written new year resolution can constantly inspire hope in yourself.

Also, a new year resolution gives you a pause to think and plan. It could be called a self-assessment as you need to look yourself with your heart in the mirror and ask what you want to change by the year and how is it going to help you achieve your next big long-term goal. However, not everything you list on your new year resolution needs to be related to your long-term goal. It could be some pure interests based.

And a well-thought new year resolution can always remind you of your dream (I mean the big dream, the one you’d happily cry for.) and then lead you to your dream with your instinct and belief in yourself. In this period, you may need to modify and update your resolution, be constant yet flexible. Besides, you know in the end of the year, no one really cares if you have completed it or not. Don’t let the tool fix you, you are the maker.

Though I am not the most qualified person to give you the reasons why you need a new year resolution as I failed some in mine last year:

I did not work out as much as I planned, after April 2011.

I did not take as many pictures as I planned, after September 2011.

I did not study abroad in Spain, neither did I practice my Spanish.

I did not take GMAT exam.

I did accomplish something on it if you might wonder. Besides, the last two was because I revised my bigger plan.

But I did find some flaws in my new year resolution last year. Not well defined.

Yeah, so my another advice for you is to DEFINE whatever little things you could in your new year resolution, give a marked deadline or sequenced schedule on your planner. At least, that is how I am doing mine this year.

As you are reading the post to this point, I really want to share this awesome project that I saw today about Jeff Harris’ 13 Years of Self-Portaits. 13 years ago, Jeff made a new year resolution that he is going to take a picture of himself everyday. And today, when I look at his pictures, his project, what he has gone through in his life; I am truly inspired and touched. The continuing project isn’t just done for the promise he made in the dated resolution, it is the evidence of his fighting against cancel and of that he is truly living his life; and it is the faith he has in himself. 

I hope Jeff’s work can inspire you somehow.

Happy Dragon Year. Make a Difference in 2012.

Cheers. (Off to do my BrazilButtLift workout.)

Look for Changes in Yourself

If you believe in peace, act peacefully; if you believe in love, act lovingly; if you believe every which way, act every which way, that’s perfectly valid – but don’t go out trying to sell your beliefs to the system. You end up contracting what you profess to believe in and you set a bum example. If you want to change the world, change yourself.
Still Life with Woodpecker

“What Are You About?!” – Tom Ford

I saw this video weeks ago, meant to share it. But since I have limited access to WordPress in China, I couldn’t update my blog.  Anyway, if you have a bit free time, watch this, be inspired. It is not about other’s dream, fashion, life; but yours. Be humble and free, then ask yourself – “what am I about?”

You gotta know what you love in your life…then you can feel rather than think.
You have to look into yourself, what are you about?!

Tom Ford

Things that I’m thankful

 a postcard from Vienna

  a girl who threatened me that she would cut my hair like a boy

 roomie love

 laugh

 sister love

 style

 feast

 morning tea

 coffee and books

 good food with friends

a glorious autumn day

a letter and a picture from Norway.

emails, skype calls, messages from all the lovely people from all over the world.

… …

I have been lame not taking actual photos, not writing words, not replying letters, not answering messages~
but I’m so thankful for everyone who is in my life!

A friend said to me, “Angel, you can’t plan your life, you just can’t,” I guess. I guess everything will be alright as long as I can see northern lights one day, as long as I can keep traveling around and seeing the world. Because in the end, no one cares what you did, what you are doing, what you will do. You are the only one who is living your life, you ain’t living upon someone’s expectation.

Every possibility starts with the love in yourself

Please enjoy the mix, I’m a Tourist Traveling Around the World.

I have skipped my only two classes of the day,  and here I am, sitting under the sunspot in my room, listening to that mix in so many languages that I do not know and blogging, and sipping hot Chinese green tea between whiles.

With an ocean breeze incense on the windowsill, I can smell it mixed with sunshine as breezes come through the window.

I called my dad last night and told him I missed him and mom very much. I also told him I felt tired. He said something, very softly. I know he was sad but still tried to cheer me up……

There is massive amount of homework and study that I am responsible for, but yeah, I am not doing any shit of that but resting my heart right now.

The second when I opened my eyes this morning, I really felt like that I needed to do something, to change something, or just anything. But what am I capable with?!

Myself.

Nobody is responsible for me, except myself; and nobody is obligate to love me, except myself.

Someone said, “If your ambition isn’t firmly rooted in compassion and loving kindness for yourself, you may get big, but you’ll always feel small.” I believe so.

You have to know to love yourself, because you, as a human, deserve love.

You have to know to love yourself, because then, you could possibly love others.

You have to know to love yourself, because your dreams need the love and your love gives lives to your dreams.

You have to know to love yourself, because every possibility starts with the love in yourself.

Because when everything fails, you are still capable loving yourself.

Please, do your own a favor, be nice and kind to yourself and love yourself.

Give yourself a break if you think you need it.

Heart to Storm.

 

5:30 p.m. Storm.

7:35 p.m. Sky.

One day, all the things there have been going through will be paid off;
And all the things there have been shrouded will be clear.

KEEP POSITIVE.

You are stronger than you think.

Always KEEP POSITIVE. On the Road.

sometimes

Sometimes, I just want to cry out loud as I laugh out loud.

But I know only a victory deserves my tears.

乌镇 Wuzhen· China

Chinese culture is not what you can learn in a class for a year or two years. I’ve grown up in a cultural family. Although I didn’t turn out to be the kind of girl my dad wanted me to be, I’ve known the customs very well. And everytime I feel so fascinated when I learn a little bit more about my own culture. It is just so much to learn. 

I’ve been to a few other places in the world and learned some other very interesting and superb cultures! Everytime when I hear about them, it actually makes me think of my own culture again, and you could catch on something new about your own. Culture is like this, so much to dig.

I visited Wuzhen (more offical information here) end of May when I got back in China and spent a day walking around the town with my camera. Wuzhen is one of the oldest watery towns in China, representing part of Chinese southern culture; which is very different from the North where I grow up. Here are some of the pictures I took there. Enjoy them.

 

Story of Days

Hi, guys. I’m back on the site. It has been a couple of busy weeks since I’m back on my motherland.

You know, there is stuff such as FOOD that I am busy with and so enjoy dealing with.

I didn’t shot very often in the past weeks, could have given you pictures of my life. But some of the moments when I feel so pleased, or … childish staying where I grow up; I just simply forget I need to capture those. Those are something that you feel attached to you and you believe never leave you, as you used to think all the toys in the world belonged to you when you were young.

Shanghai: