A Lazy Wednesday Afternoon

The other day, a friend and I were talking about how life can drastically be changed by things that can happen on a lazy Tuesday afternoon. We were talking about things with global implications such as a hurricane hitting Florida, two countries going to war, those newsworthy stories that can affect a large population. They usually happen on a lazy Tuesday afternoon when nobody expects them, when we're busy enjoying the sunshine, out shopping, or sleeping in. Those things can happen to us at a personal level as well. Those events that can change the direction of our life forever.

I Want A New Papa

Note: I was asked to write an article for The Peaceful Dragon newsletter. I've reprinted the article here for posterity.

Earlier this year, my daughter (who was three at the time) and I were having an argument about the cleanliness of her room. She was adamant about not wanting to clean her room because she couldn't. I was adamant about her cleaning her room because she should. Either way, it ended in tears (hers, not mine) and her storming into my office declaring, "I want a new Papa!" and then storming off to the living room to cry. I guess her room was too messy. Moments later, she comes back to my office still sobbing. I looked at her and asked, "Do you still want a new Papa?" She looked at me and between the sobs she said, "No, he would be just as difficult." I was stunned and I almost fell out of my chair in hysterical laughter. I asked her to repeat herself to make sure I heard correctly and so that I wouldn't make her cry further by laughing at her. I'm not sure if I was stunned because she didn't want me to be her Papa or that I was being taught a life lesson by a three year old. Probably a bit of both. I got over the former (she has told my wife that she wants a new Mama), but I'm still stunned (and impressed) over the latter.

Time Enough For Nothing

Every month, my Sifu sends out a monthly lesson. Each lesson contains an assignment to be done by each student and returned back to him by the end of the month. This was my response to his assignment: "Write a paragraph explaining whether you feel you have enough time in your day, and why."

Do I have enough time in my day? Hmm, well from a purely scientific point of view, I have 24 hours - the time it takes the Earth to rotate 1 revolution around it's axis. I physically can't have any more time no matter how much I demand (or think I need) it. I also can't have any less time. We all have 24 hours in a day - no more and no less.

Happy Children's Day

Last night, my daughter was making a Mother's Day card for my wife. After she was done, she asked: "When is it going to be Happy Children's Day?"