Everyday life is the Way

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  • Humans are creatures of habit and comfort zones. The realization of our potential is hindered by our constant striving for security and familiarity. Deep down, we know of the immense potential that each and everyone of us holds, but choose instead to settle with the low hanging fruit of life. We rationalize our inaction to accomplish our dreams with petty excuses and thoughts of procrastination. Instead of pondering the meaning to our existence, we choose to be preoccupied with things that have little value. We become so caught up with other people’s lives, that we ignore our own.  Why are you alive?  ~ My stay here in China has been an experience that has molded my outlook on life. Each person I talk to, every sight, sound, and taste I encounter, teaches me a little bit more about myself. The stark contrast of culture has allowed me to see both differences and similarities.  Interacting with people while gaining a better understanding of their situation, has taught me a few valuable insights, as well as strengthened other beliefs. Learning can be done anywhere, from anything. If you believe you know everything that needs to be known, then I wish you the best. ~ Time: 11:06 PM, May 30th, 2012 Place: Chuxiong, China Just returned to my apartment. Currently feeling slightly ambivalent, but refreshingly realistic about my situation.  I won’t go into details currently, but the culmination of various experiences in the last few days has led to my present state of mind. My innate nature to seek ease and pleasure has unfortunately led me on a path that has ineffectively utilized precious time. I have just realized this. There is still time left to make the most use. It requires diligence and a focused state of mind on the important opportunities. Do not dwell on the past, or dream of the future, concentrate the mind on this present moment.

    Humans are creatures of habit and comfort zones.

    The realization of our potential is hindered by our constant striving for security and familiarity. Deep down, we know of the immense potential that each and everyone of us holds, but choose instead to settle with the low hanging fruit of life. We rationalize our inaction to accomplish our dreams with petty excuses and thoughts of procrastination. Instead of pondering the meaning to our existence, we choose to be preoccupied with things that have little value. We become so caught up with other people’s lives, that we ignore our own. 

    Why are you alive? 

    ~

    My stay here in China has been an experience that has molded my outlook on life. Each person I talk to, every sight, sound, and taste I encounter, teaches me a little bit more about myself.

    The stark contrast of culture has allowed me to see both differences and similarities. 

    Interacting with people while gaining a better understanding of their situation, has taught me a few valuable insights, as well as strengthened other beliefs.

    Learning can be done anywhere, from anything. If you believe you know everything that needs to be known, then I wish you the best.

    ~

    Time: 11:06 PM, May 30th, 2012

    Place: Chuxiong, China

    Just returned to my apartment. Currently feeling slightly ambivalent, but refreshingly realistic about my situation.  I won’t go into details currently, but the culmination of various experiences in the last few days has led to my present state of mind. My innate nature to seek ease and pleasure has unfortunately led me on a path that has ineffectively utilized precious time. I have just realized this. There is still time left to make the most use. It requires diligence and a focused state of mind on the important opportunities.

    Do not dwell on the past, or dream of the future, concentrate the mind on this present moment.

    2 days ago 0 notes →

  • 4 days ago 0 notes →

  • 4 days ago 0 notes →

  • 4 days ago 0 notes →

  • one of my loves of China — xi gua zhi (fresh watermelon juice)

    one of my loves of China — xi gua zhi (fresh watermelon juice)

    5 days ago 0 notes →

  • The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience. -Frank Herbert, Dune

    The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

    -Frank Herbert, Dune

    6 days ago 0 notes →

  • My stay in China has been a valuable experience to me. Everyday I am in contact with new situations and sensations that are foreign to me. My struggle to communicate in Chinese is a a daily reminder to my purpose here: To effectively learn Chinese in the short time I have left here. My pursuit of the Chinese language has taught me a few tips that can be applied to anyone seeking to learn another language. I will write more tips and thoughts in the near future. 1. Talk as much as possible with native speakers. With repetition comes familiarity, then fluency. Once a phrase or thought is spoken without the need for prior, mental translation, your mind has grasped the idea behind the words to be expressed in the new language. 2. Primarily focus on verbal communication, then written communication. Learning how to write words can always be studied at home, but to practice speaking to native speakers on a daily basis is a rare opportunity. Once a level of communication that allows someone to navigate daily life is reached, the person will have a much better time in building and refining other aspects of the language/culture. 3. Never give up and take the harder route. It is quite easy in a foreign country to be a recluse, by escaping to familiar and comfortable places. It is our innate and natural inclination to take the easy route. If you are traveling abroad, I recommend seeking and trying things that may seem unfamiliar and uncomfortable, for these experiences are what initiate the most growth in a person. Forcing yourself to encounter difficult situations in a foreign language will force your mind to push pass its current grasp of the language.  Learning Chinese has been one of the most difficult things I’ve done in my life. However, as I find myself understanding more and more, I feel accomplished and motivated to grasp the Chinese language. Time is running quick, and unless I remain focused and determined, I will find myself on a plane back to America with little value to show.

    My stay in China has been a valuable experience to me. Everyday I am in contact with new situations and sensations that are foreign to me. My struggle to communicate in Chinese is a a daily reminder to my purpose here: To effectively learn Chinese in the short time I have left here.

    My pursuit of the Chinese language has taught me a few tips that can be applied to anyone seeking to learn another language. I will write more tips and thoughts in the near future.

    1. Talk as much as possible with native speakers. With repetition comes familiarity, then fluency. Once a phrase or thought is spoken without the need for prior, mental translation, your mind has grasped the idea behind the words to be expressed in the new language.

    2. Primarily focus on verbal communication, then written communication. Learning how to write words can always be studied at home, but to practice speaking to native speakers on a daily basis is a rare opportunity. Once a level of communication that allows someone to navigate daily life is reached, the person will have a much better time in building and refining other aspects of the language/culture.

    3. Never give up and take the harder route. It is quite easy in a foreign country to be a recluse, by escaping to familiar and comfortable places. It is our innate and natural inclination to take the easy route. If you are traveling abroad, I recommend seeking and trying things that may seem unfamiliar and uncomfortable, for these experiences are what initiate the most growth in a person. Forcing yourself to encounter difficult situations in a foreign language will force your mind to push pass its current grasp of the language. 

    Learning Chinese has been one of the most difficult things I’ve done in my life. However, as I find myself understanding more and more, I feel accomplished and motivated to grasp the Chinese language. Time is running quick, and unless I remain focused and determined, I will find myself on a plane back to America with little value to show.

    1 week ago 1 note →

  • “shi jian hao xiang liu shui (time is like flowing water)”

    — Chinese saying

    1 week ago 0 notes →

  • Every decision we make in the present, will affect our ultimate destiny.

    1 week ago 0 notes →

  • Time: 11:53 PM, Monday 5/21/2012

    Location: Chuxiong, China

    ~

    Compared to the unimaginable vastness of the universe, we are an insignificant speck.

    Each of us are often so caught up in our small bubbles of existence, that we forget about the larger picture of life.

    My time brief time spent here in a China has shown me that all people are inherently the same.

    Regardless of ethnicity, culture, or circumstances, we are all trying to find meaning to our lives. 

    We all experience emotions, of happiness to pain, during the path we follow in life.

    I wish everyone to be happy and fulfilled in everything they do and feel.

    1 week ago 0 notes →

  • Time: 11:05 AM; Sunday, 5/20/2012

    Where: Chuxiong Normal University; Chuxiong, China

    I have about a month left in this study abroad trip. Time flies when you’re not paying attention. 

    For the next week, I will write at least one post a day relating to a specific experience I’ve had so far in China. 

    One of my aims for this trip is to share my experience in a way that will hopefully inspire others to travel abroad. 

    I unfortunately have been doing very little in accomplishing this objective.

    It is easy to fall back in the comfort of habit, so let this following week be a shift of momentum towards a focused and productive mind state.

    1 week ago 0 notes →

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