"THE FLOWER"

Came across this poem in the toastmaster's meeting (I almost got called on commenting on it in tabletopics!) Like it a lot... Don't think I really "understand" the poem all that well or that my interpretation is actually what what Tennyson intends... but somehow this makes me think of how easily human minds can sway... and how many different perspectives one can have on the same objective/thing/idea...

The Flower
Poem lyrics of The Flower by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Once in a golden hour
I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said, a weed.

To and fro they went
Thro' my garden bower,
And muttering discontent
Cursed me and my flower.

Then it grew so tall
It wore a crown of light,
But thieves from o'er the wall
Stole the seed by night.

Sow'd it far and wide
By every town and tower,
Till all the people cried,
"Splendid is the flower!"

Read my little fable:
He that runs may read.
Most can raise the flowers now,
For all have got the seed.

And some are pretty enough,
And some are poor indeed;
And now again the people
Call it but a weed.

An act of kindness

Sometimes it only takes a seemingly-small act of kindness that touches one heart.

This afternoon I went to the optometrist to get my eyes checked. It was a regular check-up thingy, but because I was a little afraid that he will decide to dialate my pupils (after which I can't face direct sunlight), I accepted an offer from a friend to drive me to the office... Anyways, the optometrist did decide to have a look at different edges of my eye, and so when I came out of the office I was quite sensitive to the sun. My friend not only drove me back to church (where my car was parked), he followed my car almost to home to make sure that I was OK.

It's not a very long distance--probably less than 5 minutes... I don't know, but this seems like such a small thing, but today it touches me a lot. Maybe it's because of today's sermon at church--the pastor talked about how things are never accidental, and we can't attribute all the good things that happen around us to be "good luck". That we are to be intentional in recognizing God's favor/blessings and in turn grateful for everything that we have and everyone who is around us.

So I am learning to never take friendship for granted. I also think too: so many of us take these little acts of kindness as a normal thing--in the end I do wonder if these ppl who are kinda our guardian angels--whether they would ever feel like they are being taken for granted or used...

I remember before I never liked being helped, because I always feel that I owe the other person something. Then somewhere along the way I got lazy--"people help me and I help people--it will all even out anyways... perhaps they would think that I'm fuzzy if i say too many thank-you's!..."

But indeed every good, perfect gift comes from [God's] kind and gracious heart... I think I should say more thank-you's from now on... gotta look at a good side of everyone and appreciate their existence around me =)

A letter from the disappointed

Dear Salsa teacher,

I have been in your class for more than a month now. I have to say that more and more I have found myself disappointed in you. Not because you are a bad dancer. You obviously have your own style; it's very fun to watch you dance (probably more so than my first salsa instructor); and definitely your dancing group has very good reputation.

But I'm not so sure if you're a good instructor. I always thought that a teacher is good if s/he can motivate and encourage people and is patient with people. People come to your class because they want to learn salsa and enjoy the time, not because they want to be ridiculed and singled out by the instructor! I have seen at least 5-6 different salsa instructors now (and hence 5-6 different styles) --and you're the only person who I really think is mean. If I came here tonight as a first-time tryout class, I would have never come back.

Anyways, maybe I'm too idealistic. I really think that I join a dance class to have fun and to learn. Even watching you scold others upsets me. You probably don't care much about your students, but I hope that one day you'll realize a lot of times students' frustration is actually caused by you and your display of disapproval. Well, at least I wasn't surprised why one guy left before the class ended!

I thought about actually mailing you this communication--to tell you that there is a lot of room for you to improve as a salsa instructor. Then again - why should I bother? Ultimately I'm just writing to let off some steam. I guess I'll just finish the rest of the class and then go back to my original salsa instructor. At least he makes me feel more comfortable.

Yours truly,
Disappointed

My first half-marathon

I haven't been actually impressed with myself for a long time. But this time I really am.

A few months ago, I decided out-of-the-blue that I wanted to run a half-marathon. At the beginning I just wanted to have a goal to force myself into more vigorous physical training, and even though I have always run the 10K Sun run, I haven't tried running more than that distance.

Anyways, I think I signed up about 7 weeks before the actual run. I thought I had a lot of time to prepare... but work ended up eating most of my days and nights, and then I was traveling on business for 2 weeks in April. When I came back from Philadelphia, I knew I was in trouble. I was totally lacking in sleep, and I ran only 2 "longer" runs and they were both no more than 10k. The last one was even worse because my knee started hurting. So my initial confidence ("No problem, half marathon is just a little more than double the 10k! I don't need to train!") faded. The weather forecast didn't help either. I was growing a little scared at the thought of running in the rain.

Well, I paid $65, so I "should" go. So, I went. I did my best to prepare the day before I ran: I went to the Running room and bought an $80 water-resistant jacket.

The big day came. I seriously think that it's because of all the anticipation and adrenalin I had in me. Didn't matter about the pouring rain and the mere 6-hours of sleep I had the previous night (ok, I was stupid watching MI3 the night before the run)--I actually managed to start the run with a pretty good pace. I actually felt excited to be a participant and even surprised my friend a bit by accelerating throughout the run (except the last part, of course).

So we did it!!! Amidst all the rain and all the hills and the lack of water stations (Grrrrrrrrr)... Both my friend and I were very pleased with how fast we finished (under 2 hr 5 min)... and amazingly I felt less sore than expected the next day. So it was good.

People always talked about running 10k or half-marathons or full marathons as milestones or "something to be proud of"... I never really understood that. But for some reason, after this run, I do now...

Interestingly another friend commented afterwards about how our run is almost like an analogy of one's spiritual journey--running against elements not in our control yet still achieving the final goal. Never thought about it that way... but Hebrews 12 does describe my feeling well:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Although now that I think about it, I wasn't actually disciplined and didn't actually persevere. If I were, I would actually have trained to get myself prepared .... oh well....