bao = love

This morning I stepped out for brunch with some friends I hadn't seen in about a month. It was a warm wonderful and delicious meal (never eaten at Luna Park? I highly recommend it)

And it was wonderful to hear a friend talk the way she normally doesn't. At length. Excitedly. It was such a blessed relief to just listen. Spending a lot of the week walking people through tasks or explaining methods, my life turns into a lot of talking. So it was nice to give a friend her space, for her to feel comfortable and delighted in having the spotlight.

Also had to go home to pick up my stupid traffic violation fine (San Bruno, you may have had a pipe explode, but your yellow light cameras suck), and when I got home - my parents had picked up an extra chicken bao in Chinatown all for me.

Not because I said I was stopping by. But just because...I said I might.

That's some serious love people. Buying a bao cause your daughter MIGHT stop by.

Went straight home to get a pedicure and now out for a night on the town. It's a good Saturday.

Worth...

Hi Team!

Still out and about and recovering from my company's Annual All-Hands Meetings last week. I have to give myself and my peeps for organizing a delicious meal at Foreign Cinema (which is amazing) and getting through the week without killing anyone.

This article today via Already Pretty: Learning How to Believe You Are Worth It.

Too many of us are walking around in our daily lives pretending and hiding from our inner lights. I'm sure the blogosphere is overrun with the retreads of "Asian culture = humility, modesty and denial of accomplishments" While American culture is rife with self-promotion and bolstering up achievements. Too much self-esteem leads to arrogance and disregard for others, too little leads to a sorry sense of depression. There has to be some sort of medium ground. I believe that all achievements are tempered with gratitude and generosity.

Give thankfully.
Receive thankfully.

To me, the best people are not those that step on others, interrupt conversations or disparage the people around them. The people who use their incentives of "getting ahead" to justify the worst human actions. The best people are the ones that ask questions, that are constantly willing to grow, who are gracious and kind and fair to the people around them.

“ Insensitivity makes arrogance ugly; empathy is what makes humility beautiful."
— Renford Reese, Ph.D

One of the best things I've ever told myself was, "You're not crazy." That revelation was the lead up to just one of the reawakenings I've had in my life. I'm sure a ton of kids with Asian parents can relate. That moment when you decided to stop living their insecurities and started to live your own life. When their opinions became "just" their thoughts, and not your doctrine.

The moment when you decided to be different.
Be different today. If not for yourself, then for your children. Or someone who needs you. Or for the inner peace that you'll attain.

Be. Different.

Block 4: Cooperation

Today's Building Block of the Pyramid of Success : Cooperation
[koh-op-uh-rey-shuhn]

–noun

1.an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.

2. more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc.: We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.

3. willingness to cooperate: to indicate cooperation.

4. Economics . the combination of persons for purposes of production, purchase, or distribution for their joint benefit: producers' cooperation; consumers' cooperation.

5. Sociology . activity shared for mutual benefit.

6. Ecology . mutually beneficial interaction among organisms living in a limited area.

Ever notice how easy things are when you have a friend? And how easy it is to complete tasks or reach goals when you work together? Selfishness, while touted and hailed by objectivists and business people alike, doesn't work in the grand scheme of things. Sure you have the most toys, and then what? Webster's also quotes "cooperation" as mutually beneficial interaction. You never have to view cooperation as only benefiting one party. So when you're helping someone, think of all the different ways you could be helping yourself. Only small minded people who don't take sight of the larger goal reap the benefits of pure selfishness.

Wooden's quote: "Have utmost concern for what's right rather than who's right."

Do you ever realize how much your personal feelings about someone will affect your reaction to their decisions? Even though that decision could be one that is highly appropriate or effective considering the situation?

This week's challenge. Listen honestly and as objectively as possible to the people around you, especially the people you don't generally like, respect or answer to.

Emotion is your enemy.

2011...get better.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Be back soon, just going to the copy store... (the below via unicornology)

"We need hard working people with excellent work ethics. I’m not sure I’m aware of a group of people who work harder than design students. We need individuals comfortable with ambiguity. We need people who can simplify complex ideas, without watering them down, and transform intimidating data to approachable information. We need people who can tell a good story to soften hardened ears. We need individuals who have a knack for stepping back from everything and recognizing patterns in the big picture. The best designers do all of these every day, and these are the skills you’ve been polishing (hopefully) in school.

The tools of creation are widely available: they’re out there for almost everyone. If you figure out what better is, you don’t have to wait for someone to enable you. You can make it yourself, or with the help of like-minded people. Better is about more than typefaces, composition and color. It’s about planning action and moving. Better is about change and recognizing potential. This world can be better. And we can make it that way. The world is not yet done."

Getting Better by Frank Chimero