My "life pattern"

Here I am, my "life" to share :)

Connected or disconnected ?

Each time when I've visited Japan and saw these cable pole, I will take a break to look for the greatest angle of perspective view that can be found along the street. I love the rhythm of wire connected pole one after another till to the far end and all disappear in a single vanishing point.

I will imagine they are peoples appear in different period of my life; at that moment, we are connected, their existing become the ripples of my lake, and therefore my life was built eventually. One day when I still think we are connected, part of them were disconnected sometime someday in silence. 


My friend said : let go, it used to be happened in each of us; nothing has to regret, it's just a natural phenomenon.

Yes, it's true, I accepted and continue to walk, I once again look at my picture, the perspective is still as beautiful as before, even some of the cables are disconnected, they did take part to create this amazing scenery in their moment of connecting, that is life; a never ending connection to all people who once bring you joy or sad.

Let me out

Do any of us once thought of these...?

When we were a kid: other kids might live better in a  larger house, has more beautiful clothing, more toys, more chance to travel and a better parents...

When we were a teenager:  other young ladies might has a more beautiful face thus has more chance to find a better job, and of course can choose a better boy friend...

When we have our own blog: others might has more talent in writing, more nice photographs, more followers, more readers willing to comment = more traffic...

When we have our family: other guys might has a more beautiful and helpful wife, more lovely children, more easy handle pet...

When we get old and ready to die: other people might has more fruitful of family members, better retirement life, a nicer land for RIP...

We always have an illusion that there must be something better and nicer outside,  and what we are having right now that can not be compared with.  We just want to break the glass, rush out to experience what we think other peoples might enjoying, even we know that we neglect all the bad side emotionally. If we can't we will blame others who don't let us leave no matter what the reasons are.

I myself may still have such silly thoughts now a day, but I will take a break from all the imaginations and have a quick review of my life again. What I usually end up will be back to the reality, treasure what I am having, looking for improvement when I am ready to take the challenge; I am sure the reward that I've got after my hard work will be more concrete, not only reflects the good side, but the power to overcome the bad side as well.

Never too early

It was 4:00a.m. in the morning, I just climbed onto my bed at 1:00a.m., as far as I've remember, I was in a hotel of Nanjing, a local called "5 stars" hotel; their buffet breakfast were delicious, but how come I've got these? The reasons was I had to catch up with an 8:00a.m. international freight, so I booked a taxi at 6:00a.m. and I should check out at around 5:30a.m. But the worst thing was I woke up earlier even I was so tired. If you were me, would you forced yourself to sleep for another 45mins.? It's difficult, really really difficult.


So finally I decided to pack and finish my instant noodle + instant 3in1 coffee for an instant "refresh".


In normal practice, to arrive the airport 2 hours earlier for international departure is quite common, especially in China, because you have to spare extra time of facing the unexpected delay by human issues; in addition, if you have hand carry luggage, you better boarding as soon as you can, otherwise your luggage storage above your seat will most likely be occupied by someone else; then you have to say goodbye to your bags and hopefully they are safe in 10 rows in front of yours.


But there are always an exception. I remembered I did arrive Nanjing airport at around 6:30a.m. assuming I could start check in immediately, but the fact was all passengers waiting outside the gate (the international departure zone is usually smaller then the domestic without much to shop or to eat) together with their huge packs of souvenirs, until 7:30 something, all rush towards the counter at once, you can imagine how messy it was?! Don't worry, I will leave those details.


At that moment, I regret to give up my sleeping time and deluxe breakfast to wait outside the gate; but if I have to re-arrange again, I am sure I will have the same schedule, because there is never too early; just like our life, by having one minute extra, you may have a chance to reverse the whole story. 


P.S. - Blessing to people affected by the Iceland volcano ashes, wish they can return home very soon.

Totoro

I am an animation character in a Japanese film, my name is Totoro. We, as a family live in the forest, we sleep on leaf bed with sky as blanket, our favourite food is chestnut, we walk & play everywhere in the town, even in the backyard of our human neighbour.

But let me tell you, only kid and small child will discover us, like the pair of sisters who live next to us. We meet in the forest and bus stop, they find us and play with us often. One day, their mother have to stay in the hospital for a long time,they miss her so much, so we bring them to the hospital by our totoro bus. It is a very high tech and high speed bus, very comfortable and I wish you will have a chance to try. 

Well, they finally see their mother while their father visited her, almost recover and most likely can return home very soon. These two girls feel so relieve and happily enjoy their short trip on the tree branches. And we are happy to make their wish come true.

You know, there is always a secret, there are miracle everywhere, but you must have a simple heart as pure as a kid, they will believe the unbelievable. We just can't wait to be discovered and be friends with you, .......Oh, oh, we have to sleep now, good night.

The way home

In Chinese, we say 鳥倦知還, meaning when a bird flying anywhere, once it feels tire, it will return to it's nest. If reflect to a human, he or she will know the way home after passing his /her wild life.

To us, it may not be that extreme of being live in an uncontrollable or irresponsible life. But we may once leave our home sweet home, rushing into this secret world that is waiting for our exploration and discovery; to look for self value, respectful, excitement, freedom, ......when we were young. Did you?


Or we may not act in such a physical way, but let our free mind fly every where in the universe, then after knowing an infinity of new stuffs, receiving uncountable of new data, then what next?Try to apply those in our life? Try to act like what we admire?Without anyone to be responsible for, how free and amazing it would be.

Some people do have these kind of experience, by not setting any target, just go wherever there is a way out towards the world, to start their adventure without regret; instead of living like other people in a standard life cycle of studying, working, married, saving for house, car, pet and waiting to get old. They may gain or lose after all, but one day, they have to stop like Forest Gump stop running, take a break and find their way home. A place that always open to wait for their return, because there is our destination......our family.

Insist stubborn

When I saw this van, the first picture came to my head was red heated charcoal all around those nice sweet potatoes, you could smell from very far away on the street corner, feel the warmth,  and you just couldn't wait to buy one for a big bite immediately, especially during Winter time.

I am not sure whether they are still using charcoal these days, I guess and I wish they insist, because the taste of sweet potato will be different, if it isn't.

Year 2010, my own career is still being affected by the financial crisis. People and friends keep on telling me that I shall stop working as a design consultant only, but working with build, too; i.e. a main contractor, to gain more client and money. I do struggle for a while, I even plan to see if it is feasible; but when I look at this photo, I take a break from my worries and remind myself something once again that I insisted in the past 20 years......

......to be a design consultant, because I am a designer not a contractor even people say there is no conflict in this two roles, but actually it does. I am stubborn, even I don't have much work to do while the market is changing and my client can't /don't want to afford a design professional any more; and I am sure for some days later, I may come to a financial difficulties as a result. But what is the point to have my own company if I can't insist to be myself?

Will the sweet potato seller earn more living if it was being modernize with electrical equipment? or computerized? Yes! but I am sure he won't...that is what people's thought of his (my) stubborn, we guess.