Today is Friday, January 20th. The weatherman said the rain will continue for the next three days. Great, this means my jeans will get soaked since I have not find a right pair of boots yet. I love the rain but only if I have the chance to stay home, sit back and enjoy the sound of the rain drops from the outside.
It is dark and grey in the backyard. The rain is pouring on the swimming pool and the droplets can be seen pouncing on the surface of the water. The wind knocked over the a brown mattress that my landlord put in the backyard and the wind could be heard blowing through the wet air. The weather has always inspired me to write and once again I find myself to yearn to put words down on paper.
Today is the Inauguration Day for the new president Donald Trump. I have always been neutral about his victory in the Presidential election last November and I still am. To be complete honest I was never a fan of Mr. Trump or his opponent Hilary Clinton; partly, I did not like their past and their comments and actions on certain issues. For instance, Clinton voted for the US troops to invade Iraq back in the early 2000s and look at the Middle East now? It is in a disarray; terrorist groups, rebel groups and government military are in constant battles for power and there seems to be no end to the conflicts, even though European and American leaders have triggered peace talks and ceasefires. Mr. Trump, on the other hand, has no political experience and his comment on banning Muslims to enter the United States would only cause more problems as it offended Middle East and European leaders. In another word, I did not believe Clinton and Trump were qualified for the highest office position in this great country.
But what can we do ? Nothing much since the people have spoken and chosen the next chief. I am living in a democratic country so I will have to go along with whoever won the election. For now, all we have to do is pray for the new President and hope that he will lead America to the right path.
1/20/17
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Being a Role Model
Growing up, we were taught in school that we need to learn and practice leadership skills. This included joining clubs, getting involved in some sort of organizations in and out of school, signing up for a leadership position, etc. This experience will look good on our resume and college application--whether that is for the application to the undergraduate universities or graduate schools.
As I grow older, I find that being in any leadership position will help me in my personal life and even inspire me to make a difference in the world. As an avid reader, I love reading the news and this habit has given me a chance to learn what I care most about. I cherish reading about world leaders such as President Barack Obama, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Francis, etc. These leaders have changed many people's lives for the better and they have given new opportunities to individuals who truly need it. President Obama, for instance, created Obamacare which provides health insurance to millions of Americans who cannot afford one. Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the other hand, helped thousands of Syrians escape the civil war in their homeland and provided them a place to live in Germany. Pope Francis prayed and worked toward helping the very poor; on his 80th birthday, rather than celebrating this special day with his colleagues, he invited a group of homeless people to have breakfast with him in Rome. All of these leaders want to make a difference in other people's lives and it is apparent in their action.
With that being said, I believe we do not need to be in a leadership position to make a difference. Each person can be a leader in his or her own way; we all can change other people's lives by doing small act of kindness and by being open to the very needy. Each of us has an innate gift that we can use to serve other people. For instance, a person who knows how to play the piano can volunteer at a local hospice or nursing home and play for the sick there. Or we can also volunteer for the voting booth, educating the public about the importance of voting.
I find that looking up to people who have no leadership position help me to define what is a leader. A leader does not have to have a title or any position in an organization. They can be normal people who walk on this earth. The only difference between leaders and followers is their mindset. A true leader thinks differently than other people; they think outside the box and use creativity to fulfill their goals. Also they have different qualities than the followers. A leader take initiatives; know their strength and weaknesses; love reading; always work toward being a better person; embrace mistakes and learn from them; and last but not least, know that there will be people who will never like them and there will be people who will always stand by their side.
A great example of a good leader is Anne Frank. She was not a government official or a child of one, but rather she was a Jewish child who had to hide from prosecution. Her journal has inspired young readers to make a difference in their lives and to up their game in life. She once wrote," How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." I was a kid when I read that quote but it inspired me to wanting to make a the world a better place.
In conclusion, leaders are people who desire to change the world. They yearn to be the maker of change and have no anger if they are excluded from the world because of their actions. They have goals and they pursue them, even if getting criticisms is a sure consequence. They do not give much attention to the fact they have a small group of friends or not being the popular one. And best of all, there is a light in them and it keeps them going in the darkest of days.
As I grow older, I find that being in any leadership position will help me in my personal life and even inspire me to make a difference in the world. As an avid reader, I love reading the news and this habit has given me a chance to learn what I care most about. I cherish reading about world leaders such as President Barack Obama, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Francis, etc. These leaders have changed many people's lives for the better and they have given new opportunities to individuals who truly need it. President Obama, for instance, created Obamacare which provides health insurance to millions of Americans who cannot afford one. Chancellor Angela Merkel, on the other hand, helped thousands of Syrians escape the civil war in their homeland and provided them a place to live in Germany. Pope Francis prayed and worked toward helping the very poor; on his 80th birthday, rather than celebrating this special day with his colleagues, he invited a group of homeless people to have breakfast with him in Rome. All of these leaders want to make a difference in other people's lives and it is apparent in their action.
With that being said, I believe we do not need to be in a leadership position to make a difference. Each person can be a leader in his or her own way; we all can change other people's lives by doing small act of kindness and by being open to the very needy. Each of us has an innate gift that we can use to serve other people. For instance, a person who knows how to play the piano can volunteer at a local hospice or nursing home and play for the sick there. Or we can also volunteer for the voting booth, educating the public about the importance of voting.
I find that looking up to people who have no leadership position help me to define what is a leader. A leader does not have to have a title or any position in an organization. They can be normal people who walk on this earth. The only difference between leaders and followers is their mindset. A true leader thinks differently than other people; they think outside the box and use creativity to fulfill their goals. Also they have different qualities than the followers. A leader take initiatives; know their strength and weaknesses; love reading; always work toward being a better person; embrace mistakes and learn from them; and last but not least, know that there will be people who will never like them and there will be people who will always stand by their side.
A great example of a good leader is Anne Frank. She was not a government official or a child of one, but rather she was a Jewish child who had to hide from prosecution. Her journal has inspired young readers to make a difference in their lives and to up their game in life. She once wrote," How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." I was a kid when I read that quote but it inspired me to wanting to make a the world a better place.
In conclusion, leaders are people who desire to change the world. They yearn to be the maker of change and have no anger if they are excluded from the world because of their actions. They have goals and they pursue them, even if getting criticisms is a sure consequence. They do not give much attention to the fact they have a small group of friends or not being the popular one. And best of all, there is a light in them and it keeps them going in the darkest of days.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
The Old Posts
I have been reading the old blog posts and I cannot believe I have kept up the habit of writing blogs for the past three years. Bad habits are easily picked up on but good habits can be hard to get by. Writing is a good habit that I hated as a child but grew to love as I become an adult. Partly I have to blame on how the school system make and force students write essays after essays when they have no interest in the writing topics. I don't like to blame anything or anyone but when it is a fact it is good to speak up and say the truth, even if it offends someone.
One skill that writing has taught me is that when we truly believe in something we can make it a reality. If we truly believe that we can improve at something then we can. If we truly believe that something will happen then it will. The key is to adjust our actions and techniques in accomplishing the goals and to always be aware of our mistakes and actions. When we do those, we can easily reach our goals.
In addition, my thought process is different. I went from using blogging as a medium to complain to strangers about my life problems to using it as a space where I write what I am passionate about. I came to like politics, science, even cultures and the people in the world and all sort of topics that school taught us while writing my blogs and this comes from not having a teacher standing over my shoulder and tell me what to do; through writing I became a child again who is open to the world and who loves to learn whatever is out there.
Compare to what school has taught me, my life experiences have definitely given me a better lens to see the true reality of the world . I am more matured and clear in my thinking and especially in my own actions. I take responsibilities in my own hands rather than being dependent on other people. I learn to think for myself rather than having books teach me how to think. The best part is I saw the world for what is is and learned how to adapt to it and this comes from the act of writing and the worldly experiences I have . Writing definitely has the power to transform anyone into a new person and I am a testimony to the fact.
One skill that writing has taught me is that when we truly believe in something we can make it a reality. If we truly believe that we can improve at something then we can. If we truly believe that something will happen then it will. The key is to adjust our actions and techniques in accomplishing the goals and to always be aware of our mistakes and actions. When we do those, we can easily reach our goals.
In addition, my thought process is different. I went from using blogging as a medium to complain to strangers about my life problems to using it as a space where I write what I am passionate about. I came to like politics, science, even cultures and the people in the world and all sort of topics that school taught us while writing my blogs and this comes from not having a teacher standing over my shoulder and tell me what to do; through writing I became a child again who is open to the world and who loves to learn whatever is out there.
Compare to what school has taught me, my life experiences have definitely given me a better lens to see the true reality of the world . I am more matured and clear in my thinking and especially in my own actions. I take responsibilities in my own hands rather than being dependent on other people. I learn to think for myself rather than having books teach me how to think. The best part is I saw the world for what is is and learned how to adapt to it and this comes from the act of writing and the worldly experiences I have . Writing definitely has the power to transform anyone into a new person and I am a testimony to the fact.
Quote of the Day
"Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school."
- Albert Einstein
- Albert Einstein