Being Grateful

There are a lot of things to be unhappy about in this market and in this world right now. If we desire, there are a lot of good reasons and logical circumstances can prove that we should be dissatisfied with our lives. From personal finances to global economic recession, the seemingly forever shrinking 401k, the outrageous AIG executive compensation, and wars and political insanity of the Middle East, Africa, and USA. Everywhere we look, there are reasons and circumstances to drag us down... However, it is in this economy and in this difficult time that made me see how lucky I am to be where I am, to have what I have, and appreciate everything that I have always taken for granted...

It has been many many months since I last saw Rob after his retirement. Since then, the market crashed and the economy tanked. However, seeing an old friend and being reminded that I have a community that supports me and tolerates my never ending harassment and questions make me appreciate all of my friends' love, patience, and support.

The evaporation of personal wealth was extremely discouraging when Jim and I looked at our accounts, 401ks, and total assets. However, there are so many people that are being foreclosed on that have to leave their homes and some even become homeless due to the housing downturn. Knowing that there are so many people that are suffering in this economy made me realize what we have. I am thankful for the lifestyle that we can still afford and the choices that we made to live within our means.

The global recession and financial meltdown made me see that the material possessions that I accumulated are not the drivers of my happiness. It's the choice that I made to see how blessed I am that give me the satisfaction in life... Being grateful as the pathway to happiness is the greatest gain that I obtained from this financial and economic downturn.

Friend or Foe?

The past 4 weeks of our 7 months ILP has been amazing because of the teamwork. Our group teamed up and made the impossible happen for one another and I realized that we can accomplish anything if we support each other's commitment and refuse to pad one another in the back until our dreams are fulfilled.

All of my friends are amazing in their own ways. Despite our differences in values, beliefs, and personalities, our commonality is that we all have commitments. Commitments to our relationship, work, family, health, etc. Whether those commitments are declared or not, they are there! I believe that true friends will support one another in fulfilling in those commitments by being honest with one another. I expect my friends to not let me walk out of a restaurant with spinach stuck between my teeth, I expect my friends to keep me honest and grounded, and I also expect my friends to trust me that I have their backs and have good intentions when I remind them of their commitments . Most of the time, we are too polite or too politically correct with what we say to one another and even with our friends. Sometimes, we'll even go as far as lying to our friends so that we don't hurt their feelings. However, by lying to our friends so we seem nice, we are not supporting them to live the life that they love. In that case, are we friend or foe?

Selling Out

My Introduction Leader's Program through Landmark Education is coming to an end in mid-March and I have learned a lot about myself and others through this program. This course has been the major inspiration of many of my postings. I became more aware of my thoughts and I became more observant of others'. One of the most interesting things that I learned through this program is that we sell out. We not only sell out other people's goals and dreams, we also sell out ours.

"Selling out" might not be how we like to see it. We like to look it as "being reasonable", "evaluating the pros and cons", or "being realistic". All of these have some sort of hidden resignation to it because the next emerging view becomes "this is good enough, so what if we don't have it all"

When I started this program seven months ago, I wanted to make a difference for the people in Taiwan. Many others in our course also had goals to contribute to their communities. As the program continued on, each one of us got a lot of results. The results were amazing and life-changing and I am still intoxicated by our accomplishments. Out of this program, I got a new relationship with my family, friends, myself, and even with Sacramento. I heard myself saying "these results are great and they are good enough for me!" I pat myself on the back for achieving these results... I am not attempting to minimize the accomplishments but the truth is these results were not what I sat out to achieve. As things get harder and tougher, I changed my goals so its smaller and easier. I do this to minimize the risk that I might fail to accomplish what I declared that I would do - The resignation and selling-out are subtle, but they are there nonetheless.

If we do this to ourselves, we will definitely sell-out other people. When others are committed to run a marathon, if they don't complete the 21.4 miles, we compliment them for finishing a half-marathon. If their commitment is to have a great relationship with their spouse or significant other, we give them credit for effort. If our politicians don't implement policies that the voters desire, we get cynical and give them the out by saying "because they are politicians". I am not saying that we shouldn't be there for one another. However, the true support that we can have for one another is not to sell out but support each other in accomplishing what we have declared to achieve.