Making A Difference Part II

Daddy is getting older. That’s what I noticed as the passing years aged him physically. How I watched his life evolved since my teenage years – the starting age that I could remember and comprehend about life. Daddy paved and groomed my career and made me realized what I am good at. I guess he enrolled me in technical stream seeing me a rough girl – a rough girl which I couldn’t believe myself being a bully at a tender age of 12 … hahaha. Fights a lot though with my brother who’s a year older than me.

Daddy is still there for me when I was fighting for my life. Help and advises from friends could not compare Daddy’s words of wisdom. His words and prayers seeped through me, realizing myself I am not on the loosing end. There are more hopes and I need to stay completely clear about my life purpose and to do all the learning I need to do to make my life work.

But Daddy won’t be there for me forever. I couldn’t imagine what would I do without him around – am I ready and prepared? Al told me that I have his words of wisdom – heed and use what was taught to me. Sure, but it will be different without him around.

Yesterday I went running in the rain. There were big puddles all along the way. But all the discomfort, all the unhappiness, was about imagining how uncomfortable it would be. I put on my giant-sized umbrella and just did it. Once I was going I barely noticed the rain.

Lessons My Father Taught Me

I watched you today, as you watched
your grandchildren, my children- and wondered
how you endured the pain, fear, joy and elation
that transforms us into parents.
I remembered the patience, the laughter, the tears.
Do I have the strength to endure it all?

It is with great anticipation that I take these
baby steps as guardian, guide and parent, filled with
a fear of flying and failing- hoping that I might find
as you have- the child within myself, the magic of youth.
To encourage the spirit and to nurture the imagination
as well as the soul.

I will move slowly, delicately, yet boldly-
armed with the wisdom of your life, your love,
with full awareness of my shortcomings, yet pride
in my strength, thankful that it was you
that brought me to this place, this time, this love.
I watched you today as you watched your grandchildren.

-Poem by Monique Wright-Hanna

Making A Difference Part 1

I think this is really interesting, in relating our beliefs about people: that we are all looking for how to make a difference, a desire to have some positive impact on the world; and that we all have the capacity to do so.
How we each define "making a difference" will vary, but my sense is that in a world that can feel isolated, confusing and scattered, this drive to make positive impact is central and needs nourishing.

So, what does "making a difference" mean to you?

How do you act on it in your daily life?


"It Makes A Difference"
The following story, by Loren Eisley.


A well-known author and poet was working and vacationing on the southern coast of Spain. One morning very early, he was walking along the beach; the sun was just rising. While enjoying the beauty about him, he glanced down the beach and saw a lone figure dancing about.

Fascinated by this other person celebrating the day that was about to dawn, he moved closer. As he came nearer, he realized that the young man was not dancing, but in one graceful movement was picking objects up from the beach and was tossing them out into the sea. As he approached the young man, he saw that the objects were starfish.

"Why in the world are you throwing starfish into the water?"

"If the starfish are still on the beach when the tide goes out and the sun rises higher in the sky, they will die," replied the young man as he continued tossing them out to the sea.

"That's ridiculous! There are thousands of miles of beach and millions of starfish. You can't believe that what you are doing could possible make a difference!"

The young man picked up another starfish, paused thoughtfully and remarked as he tossed it out into the waves,

"It makes a difference to this one."

Wireless communication

Wireless communication isn't brand new; for several years, a variety of other technologies have promised similar benefits. But each in its own way entailed serious compromises in scope, speed and reliability.

“WHEN YOU WANT TO GET SOMEBODY’S ATTENTION, THROW A ROCK AT HIS HEAD. IT’S THE LATEST THING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION!”

Life Purpose

The day goes very lame today though it does refreshed my mind - make me think, adjusting my life, correcting where it deemed necessary ... hahaha ... my office's word jargons here .

When the mind is thirsty of something meaningful, these fingers will surfed the internet. Reading rejuvenates my thinking, rather than letting it goes astray ... would be bad for my personality ...

The life season has gotten into me of lately. I guess it could be wanting me to reason my actions, the decisions that I had made ... a review session ??? hmmm... might be this is the call.

Life Purpose
... excerpts from Richard Broodie

People have a lot of conflicting concerns and desires in life. To sort through the confusion it can help to have a clear idea about what’s most important. I call that my life purpose. A life purpose can be viewed from many angles. From one perspective, it’s my contribution to the universe. Looking back from the end of my life, what is it that was most important for me to be doing? How do I make my life more about that than about anything else? From another perspective, my life purpose is what fulfills my own sense of satisfaction in the moment.

This can be different from my long term judgment about what is most worthwhile, yet it is incredibly important. It’s possible to imagine a world of glum martyrs, all of whom sacrifice their own personal fulfillment for the greater good. But for whose greater good?

I have a faith-based position that it is possible both to fulfill myself in the moment and to contribute to the world. In fact, my contribution to the world involves expressing that core part of myself from which I derive great fulfillment. I express myself in a way that creates value for others.

I envision a world of people experiencing great satisfaction in their lives, all clear about what is most important to them and in the process of creating it. For me, if I were to put a label on my life purpose, it would be “special agent for progress.” Everything I do is about progress, both for myself and for others. The advance of technology lights me up like a little kid. I just love new gadgets. Even more, I love seeing and helping people grow in their owm consciousness. And the more I feel special—like I really make a difference—the more energy I have to contribute.

Self-sacrifice is the biggest mistake people make in living their life purpose. It doesn’t work long term. Find a purpose that you love, and the world will ultimately be happy you did. That doesn’t mean that all your feedback will be positive. On the contrary, getting flak is a sure sign that you’re making a difference. If I’m fitting quietly in, the chances are very small that I’m really on purpose. People who are on purpose shine with an unmistakable light. Discover your light. Uncover your light. The more truly you express yourself, the bigger difference you make. If I express myself truly, with the constant intention to add value, not to destroy it, I have found my life purpose.

In our personal lives ....

In our personal lives, most of us realize that the world doesn't owe us a living. Whatever our individual circumstances, we know that we are responsible for doing what it takes to get the things we want in life. We’re responsible for earning a living that provides for both current and future needs. We’re responsible, not just for doing our jobs day by day, but for finding a job in the first place and for acquiring the knowledge and skills it takes to find a job. We’re responsible, not just for paying current expenses like rent and groceries, but for saving some portion of our income for long-term needs like retirement and for unexpected ones like an incapacitating illness.

We’re responsible, not just for getting the kids on the school bus in the morning, but for making sure they are learning what they will need to know in life. And we’re responsible for choosing to bear children in the first place, knowing the long-term commitment it involves and the investment of time and money we might have devoted to other pursuits.

Ordering Off The Menu

Sometimes we decide that our own personal fulfillment should take a back seat to the difference we can make in the world. This is always a trap. I am nourished and motivated by meeting my instinctual needs. Denying them is counterproductive. What works is to identify them and find a way to meet them en route to making that difference.

Since then, I've often recalled the lessons of this experience - learning to accept things as they were, trusting my body, and knowing my limits - to remind myself of my strength, capacity, and humility. Taking on a big challenge, stepping out of my comfort zone, ultimately helps me to take on greater challenges, and keeps me moving towards my goals to make a difference.

Here is something that I read from Richard Broodie’s article. Amusing though…hmmm.... will I do it

I used to have lunch at the same place every day, so I got quite used to the menu. Sometimes I’d have a chicken Caesar salad. Sometimes I’d have a hamburger. Sometimes I’d have veal parmigiana. I knew the menu well and didn’t even need to look at it any more, although I usually did. Every day they had a special. I’d listen to the description and sometimes order it. It was always a little exciting if the special was something I wanted. It broke up the monotony.

One day one of the guys brought his old college roommate to lunch with us. He was one of those guys you’re immediately suspicious of because he looks happy all the time. I wasn’t particularly interested to see what he would order, but I saw him give the menu the briefest of glances and put it aside. When the waitress came, she took several orders, then came around to this man.

“Can you make me some fish, grilled in a little olive oil, with no sauce?” “We have swordfish,” the waitress said. “That will be great. And I’d like a big plate of asparagus too.” “We don’t have asparagus. How about green beans?” “Great.”

So I ate my hamburger and watched this guy, beaming, eating his fish grilled in a little olive oil, and I thought, “What gives him the right to think he can order anything he wants to when the rest of us have to order off the menu?”

The guy never came back, but one day I had a thought. Chicken parmigiana wasn’t on the menu, but veal was. I knew they had chicken because of the chicken Caesar salad. I drew in my breath. When the waitress got around to me, I glanced briefly at the menu and said, “Can you make me a chicken parmigiana?” “No problem.”

When the food came, I sat there, beaming, eating my chicken parmigiana. It tasted even better because it was mine. Next time I’ll order a plate of asparagus too.

...... Richard Broodie