Where Is the Light?

I woke up today with loneliness. This is the first time in a very long time that i realize how life can be hard at times.

This is not about me anymore, this is what makes me. I finally graduated and here I am, still confused, waiting for anything that might come. Some might lead me to failure while I hope some will lead me the way tot he right path. What is the right path anyway? What do i want?

Everyone is kicking me out of their lives. But I'm the only one left for myself. I need something, a motivation that will let me see the way. Hopefully, that road is coming soon..

Keep believing, it's eventually going to happen.

The End is Near..

I have been feeling nervous, excited, and happy all at the same time as my graduation is fast approaching. It's very nerve-racking. I can't explain. In 9 days, welcome to the real world.

I feel pressured to get a job after school. Paying off loans, bills make me even more nervous on what to do next. Closing one chapter of my life and moving on to another brighter opportunity is quite an adventure and probably one of the most challenging experience I have to go through.

Nonetheless, i am confident and very much positive that I am armored with enough knowledge and abilities I need to succeed in this journey they call "LIFE".

Imperfection is the Perfection

Albert Einstein once wrote, "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new". People are always afraid for failure. They always want to live a perfect life. Life should be convenient, easy, and comfortable. To do this, avoid committing mistakes. This is where everyone is wrong. People should not be scared of failing. Failure makes us stronger and wiser in the future.

Oftentimes, imperfection is the way to achieve perfection. This is true (as I think it is for me). I am not encouraging people to keep failing and making mistakes in life, rather, to be able to stand up and take responsibility of whatever it may be that comes along the way. Mistakes are good foundation for a successful way of living. You made mistake, you eventually learn and make better decisions in the future.

This is another problem of the society. Everyone deems themselves perfect. There is nothing wrong with achieving perfection, but at least understand that we need cooperation rather than division.

The Next Destination

In exactly 25 days,  I am finally graduating from college. The question I always asked myself every time i wake up in the morning waiting for that special day, what is next?

All my life I dedicated to school and work. Nothing else. I remember most of the people I know would call me boring, that I don't know what is fun. They are quite right, I never really done anything in my life that can be considered "fun". I never understood that.. I believe, studying and going to school is the only thing I know that makes me feel good and that i consider "fun" except for those weeks that I am dragging to finish all  my homeworks and study for tests...

So what's next? Would I be one of those jobless fresh graduate students, or would I make a difference? I still have yet to reveal the answer for that soon, and yes, it is fast approaching. I have already identified who I am. Making it in the real world would be a great accomplishment for me. Next chapter, here i come!

The Clash of Cultures

How do you feel when you are caught in between two rocks? For all i know, it is not as simple as i think it can be.

One day you are a different person and one day it is magic, you are a different person again. How is this possible? We always adapt to our environment. When you do not like mushrooms and your friends like it, you become a different person and eat mushroom because you do not want to be an outcast. Is this considered hypocrisy? yes, i would consider that. We are all hypocrites in our own ways. I think it is part of human behavior that sometimes, at the end of the day we can no longer identify who we truly are.

Is this what we want? They said we are all unique, but how is it that we want to be alike in several ways? This is unfortunate. We deny hypocrisy, we do not like hypocrites, but we act on it. Accept it and do nothing, or reject it and prove I am wrong.

Smile..Even Though It Hurts

My family migrated in the United States few years ago. I still have a clear memory the first time we arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. I was bundles up with 4 layers of clothes. One thing is for sure, I am not in tropical country anymore where we get an average of 75 degrees. Most of the people I see are white and blonde. I felt like an outcast. And worst,  I felt like all eyes are on me.

Remember Inception? Yes, I perceived everything that time as dream. Until I woke up the following day, and I am still cold. It was not a dream after all. I am in America. We went to a restaurant and instead of using fork, I used a spoon because that was what I'm used to. I heard a giggle from the other table. I felt embarrassed. It hurts.. but I still smiled.

I attended school in America,  the professor criticized my writing so many times saying that "I don't belong in this class". She said I write differently. Being different is not considered a sin. It is not wrong. It is not similar as being deviant. I don't belong, but I still continued pursuing my dreams.

yes, I do things differently, I say things very different from how people say things. I tell you what, I guess at this point of my life, I don't really care. Let's live life tot the fullest.

The Zombie Apocalypse

It has become a trend in film industry to include zombie-like actions. Walking dead, The Stand and many more have been some of the great examples on how zombie movies are very well accepted in the society. Several episodes and sequels have occurred to fulfill people's "fantasy" for zombies. Why? Do we really need all these when humanity is gradually shifting to a zombie-like society?

The zombie apocalypse is already for us to witness. People are alive not because they are living, but they only live to survive. The apocalypse is coming so quick unless we act and put a stop on it. There is no culture for anything anymore. There is only imitation of everything, adapting everything we see in the TV and hear on the radio.

We walk like dead people, we do not have our own ideas anymore. We only seek for pleasure all the time, and we become threat to each other. This is a contagious disease, let's do something about it..

The Unstoppable

There so many good things in this world that people take for granted. We always want what we don't have. Is this the right way of living? I don't think so..

People are unique in their own ways. Even identical twins have differences also. But why do we make so much individual isolation between the world and ourselves? It's easy. The answer is that we all want the best part. Social diversity leads to conflict. Conflict leads to a more difficult development of social cohesion. We want what we just want, but never think of other things. We eliminate so many things in life when we isolate ourselves form others who we perceive as different from us. We are used of labeling people that will fit them in our own categories. Is this right? Of course not. This is just making the world end very quickly.

When we try to become different and unique, we tend to isolate ourselves from others. People are unstoppable for search of what's best, what is pleasurable for them and eliminating strong bonds and open channel of communication. It is not about culture, it is about our individual prides.

Back to the Future

If given the chance, will you go back to the past and try to fix the future? As much as I hate to agree with that idea, I would still try to back and change the past.And as mush as I hate to admit that all of us in this world are all in pain in some ways, i would still say yes.

Yes, we need to do something. Everyone has turn their back to the culture they use to have, rather, that we use to have. Mass society greatly transformed into what we now call as mass media. The culture I use to remember when I was still young is gradually fading. We have become highly specialized society that we no longer have any connections at all. We interact in a very shallow level, but not "real" interaction. We built walls between ourselves and others and created a virtual reality.

Is a time machine a solution or it's time for everyone to wake up from the dream? The time machine is waiting for you, but only if you can no longer stand a chance to a machine and give up for life. We are humans, we are more capable than any machines out there, if we just choose to be one.

The Problem with Conformity

"Everyone has it, so I need to have it too". A statement that one day will harm each and everyone of us. We conform to what society and media dictates to us what we need to do. If not, we don't belong. We are considered outcast of the community. Is it chicken and egg? Do the society dictates us what we need to do or do we tell society what is acceptable or not?

iPhone, iPads, Flat-screen tv, and many more gadgets that can be mentioned. Do you have them? I do. I asked myself one day, "Do i need all these stuffs?" Obviously, the answer is, I don't need it, I just want it. This is not the culture I use to know. I don't carry all these extravagant, branded things that become tools to conform tot he society.

Everything changes. I changed a lot. And i know everyone did, and we keep changing over time. The only thing that never change though is we keep conforming, even we know it's wrong.

To be Detached or Attached?

I watched a movie last night and it was called, "The Detachment". It was very simple, not famous, but very inspirational if only people would pay attention to the explicit message of the movie..

Well, guess what, the movie actually pertains to all walks of life, and I would go even further than that. It is about how messed up the world have become, how human beings try to prove all the time that they are destroying humanity...

Teenagers or rather the youth they say are the "hope of the future". Well tell me, how can they be when they are starting their life in a wrong path. Middle school students, high school students and even young college students themselves do not take school seriously and think that the purpose of life is all about fun and pleasure. You see these kids walking down the street without any respect for themselves anymore not even respect for the adults.

Everyone can still make a difference, but first, we need to start within ourselves..

The Rider and the Elephant

On one of my classes, I found something interesting that is worth blogging. There was a research study call the The Moral Foundation Theory. This is a theory that shows how the people's intuition is more influential in decision-making rather than reasoning.

The theory used the illustration of an elephant and its rider. The elephant represents the intuition. Intuition is defined as the actions that people do without any use of rational thinking. It is our personality, "gut" feeling and emotions. The rider on the other hand represents the reasoning. Reasoning takes place when an individual use logical explanations for things in decision-making.

Western culture propagate individualism, while Eastern cultures practice collectivism. Men are believed to be more rational than women. The Moral Foundation Theory have the answers for these things. It seems like men are programmed to be more rational while women are big on emotions. Eastern cultures are big on using their intuition, while Westerners mostly side with reasoning.

When we use our intuition over our reasoning capabilities, we are more vulnerable for being taken advantage of. We tend to only use reasoning when we try to justify our feelings. Look at America, and look at all the other cultures who thrive in this country, it seems like they are bound to justify each others fault when truly their enemies are just themselves alone.

The Rule of Dialectics

We tend to look a people and observe them. Likewise, they do the same. The question though is how two different perspectives come down to one resolution?

United States of America is so diverse that it is necessary to develop a good interpersonal communication with everyone or not?! Sometimes the problem is not about just the communication itself, but actually just little differences that root from up there (your mind alone).

But, guess what? Admit it or not, when someone comes up to you and tells you that everything you know "are all wrong", you will freak out, or worst try to chase him off. When this possibility takes place, it leads to even worst scenario: turning yourself away from the "perceive threat" you have.

I believe that human beings are built with a system that makes it harder for them to accept other's ideas, especially if this is beyond what they know. Eventually, it would create chaos unless people learn that different people have different cultures, and as a result truth is perceived differently. But, is there really "truth"?

Dave Rhea: Moving Toward a Better Future

This was the first time I listened to Dave Rhea, and it was awesome! He stood in front of the class as a picture of a successful, hardworking man that knows what he was talking about. He said very important messages that I'll remember for a long time--Individual Responsibility.

Dave Rhea disagreed that blogs are not credible enough for people to read them. He said, "it's up to the creator/blogger on how he chooses to do with a blog". I realized at that moment that no one is responsible for anything that you do, but yourself. There is no blaming a blog if you find it not credible because you chose it. A blogger might decide to put trashy and satirical information in his blog, but that is his choice and have the rights to do so. On one hand, as a blog reader, you also have the right to choose which blog is reliable and worthy of your time.

The Journal Record Managing Director also was very informational when he proposed that blogging can actually make a difference for the future. As a blogger, I believe that a blog can be very  helpful to anyone while giving myself the pleasure to share people ideas.

Like what Dave Rhea said, "Just keep doing what we started and keep blogging, it will eventually be the future".

Fear of Seeing the Truth

The 2011 film entitled, Atlas Shrugged shook my world last night. I have always seen posts and reviews about it and how bad it is. Well, i tell you what, it is one of the greatest movie ever!

Atlas Shrugged is sure a movie that represents a culture full of secrets and showing people how to open their eyes and accept reality. Here in United States, people are so accustomed with the bandwagon effect. "Everyone do it, and so do I", that's a famous mentality that people have. This is also the same reason why most of the audience denounces the movie and projected it as worthless and useless as they can infer to it.

I say, open your eyes people to a reality. Live a culture that sets you free, and not because you are in self-denial. Problems are everywhere, and guess what they are inevitable. It is part of life.

Let go of fear embrace life and happiness with clear conscience.

The Wandering Princess

I am just a simple girl with very simple dream in life, and that is to freely be myself and be happy with whatever I have.

Dreams. We all experience that. We all love to dream especially when we were still kids and believe that dreams do come true. Far back from my childhood experience, I had always felt like everything I do matters and measured by my parents. I should wear this...but not that... I should act like this and that.. and many more.. I never really understood how and why I should follow all those things that adults tell me to do. Ever since I was a kid, i always thought that the stories that I hear were true. Well, I got news for you, there were dreams and Sigmund Freud might be right when he said that it always came from our unconscious, but everyone have the choice to freely find happiness and be satisfied..

Kids: Girls are princesses, hoping for a prince to come and be their knight in shining armor. They are very delicate and sweet. Boys, are prince who are always expected to be brave enough to save everyone..

Well, I got news for you again, the princess all along is wandering down that road. The good news is, a wandering princess, can find her destination if she chooses to be..

Advices to give Spice on the Blog

I have looked at several websites that gave me ideas on how to improve my blog.

Don't forget about HEADLINES! This is the start of a blog and if you messed it up, you are going to lose some of your audience. It is important to grab the attention of the readers by putting a headline that interest them. Sometimes, it is not always about YOU, it should be about THE POST you want to share to your readers.

Keep the posts CLEAR! You don't want to share your blog with your readers and they will end up not understanding anything that you just posted. Write your post in a very organized an structured manner if possible. I have learned that this really keep the reader's attention to read what you are about to say.

Talk through the USE OF IMAGES! It makes sense that sometimes you don't have to write a bunch of words just to describe what you think about something interesting to you. Get your camera and get a snapshot of the object that you want to share with people. This really helps not only to keep variations regarding your blogposts, but also is very helpful to prevent boredom from your readers.

Remember, this is A BLOG not a NEWSPAPER! Keep in mind that short paragraphs help. While it may depend on what kind of topic you decide to write in a blog, it should always be short, clear, and concise.

And oh, the BACKGROUND COLOR TOO! Make it lively, but not exaggerated sense of having a lively, colorful background that would actually damage the entire blog page. You will posts several items in the blog, so, male it simple color that would not actually interfere with the fonts that you decide to choose for the blog.

Typography blogs

http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://lifeducation.com

This blog got my attention not because it is amazing but because it's bad. I can't almost read the blogs because the blog have very small fonts and barely used space for each of the paragraph.

http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://reachfinancialindependence.com

This blog is actually very good. It is very simple, but the fonts are great and the structure of the blog posts are good.

new york times article

We are truly living in a different society now and there is no way of turning back. Living in a world where technology is widely used and in certain cases, somewhat helpful tot he people makes our lies not only easier, but also have strings attached to it.

People have come a long way that based on the article form the new york times, everyone needs to provide control over the others and restrict them in doing several things like utilizing the technology for social networking, for blogging, and most importantly, to use the modern technology to share opinions and helpful ideas to each other. I would personally say that blogging in essence need not be restricted for it is just one of the few ways that people can be free and influence others in such a way that the bloggers themselves are actually not hurting anyone in an offensive manner.

Everyone is entitled of being free in sharing their opinion to people in all aspects of life. Those who are in authority should be able to teach themselves that restricting others in voicing out their ideas and reactions to certain things will just lead into a mire complicated misunderstanding of everything in this world.

One of the blogs that i personally admire

The title of the blog is 1 Voice 4 Peace. It got my attention right away just because it seems so alike with mine. I have the opinion that a blog does not have to be so complicated full of so many effects and whatsoever as long as it has the content that you want to tell and share people. I am more for what the blog is all about and this blog that i found is amazing! The blog is so simple that the flow of ideas is just really very clear and i also would like to do that in my blog. The only concern i have about it though is thatsome of the articls gets a litle confusing at times when there are different ideas introduced in just a paragraph. Just hard to understand and make a connection at times.

One of its articles entitled "Create your Best Life" captured my heart. I am on the same opinion about taking control of my life and ot because others want me to be this way or that way. The blog really have very interesting ideas to share about living life and learning how to be at peace even if things get really so rough for us.

Well, go to this blog, and I promise, you would not regret it. http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://1vox4pax.blogspot.com/

Interesting blogs

Here are some blogs that would help me or anyone else out there understand life even better and hopefully find our identities:

http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://1vox4pax.blogspot.com/
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://2010mysd.wordpress.com/
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://151daysoff.com/
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://ritehere.wordpress.com
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://maryqin.com/