During the last little while I have been trying to lead a more meaningful life. A more grateful life. I slow down and try to really think about what makes me happy, what I want to spend my money on, and who I want to spend my time with. Recently I've been inspired to take this up to whole new level!
This week I accidentally came across a blog written by a Canadian ex-pat who currently lives in the U.S. I thought it was a blog about some guys' experience with his personal finance, investments he made, and his magic formula for 'early-retirement'. Dime a dozen, lots of stuff out there like this; any ding-a-ling can write a blog, see I'm doing it! But after 3 days of reading (starting at his first entry) I must say it is life changing. How do I describe it? I think it is best if you discover it yourself. Here is the blog site:
http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
I started reading from the first post dated April 2011. After a week of reading I'm only about 6 months into this blog - there is still a lot of reading to go but I am excited to put into practice some of the things I am learning. More importantly though, it is not just my actions I want to change, but a 'mindset', a way of living, a way of being I hope to accomplish.
Friends, will you join me on this journey?
Y.C.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Saturday, February 6, 2016
A Day In The Life Of M3
At school I like to play with V*** and K*** and S*** and E*** and M*** and O*** and J***. I can do lots of things for Ms. S. Ms. S lets me help her. I really like school. School seems like it is fun because I like to play with people. I play Lego sometimes. I play blocks sometimes with K*** and V***. At the end of the day me and V*** and J*** sit together at our cubbies because our cubbies are beside each of other.
My grandpa picks me up from school. My cousins come to my school. My sisters are M1 and M2. I like playing its my cousins and sisters. My cousins are C and N. My school is named W*** Public School. When I come home I eat a snack. After I eat a snack I play with one of my cousins and one of my sisters. Sometimes both of my sisters go to dance but sometimes I go to dance too. When I go to dance my grandma brings me to my studio and she picks me up. My studio is called A*** Dance Studio. I take acro classes. I like to eat fruits and vegetables because they are healthy for you. I like to write notes to people. When I write notes sometime I tell them about me and also I ask questions and tell them about my day.
I eat dinner with my family. I sit at a table and we eat healthy food for dinner because my grandma makes healthy food. She makes cauliflower and broccoli and rice. My favorites food is fish. My uncle Pepe makes me good food that I like which is "doke mein".
After dinner I shower and my dad helps me brush my teeth and change. And sometimes I do workbooks with my mom and sometimes I play checkers with my mom. Every night my mommy reads with me and my mom lies with me before I fall asleep. My mommy lets me keep her old pajamas to sleep with and sometimes I carry it around.
M3
My grandpa picks me up from school. My cousins come to my school. My sisters are M1 and M2. I like playing its my cousins and sisters. My cousins are C and N. My school is named W*** Public School. When I come home I eat a snack. After I eat a snack I play with one of my cousins and one of my sisters. Sometimes both of my sisters go to dance but sometimes I go to dance too. When I go to dance my grandma brings me to my studio and she picks me up. My studio is called A*** Dance Studio. I take acro classes. I like to eat fruits and vegetables because they are healthy for you. I like to write notes to people. When I write notes sometime I tell them about me and also I ask questions and tell them about my day.
I eat dinner with my family. I sit at a table and we eat healthy food for dinner because my grandma makes healthy food. She makes cauliflower and broccoli and rice. My favorites food is fish. My uncle Pepe makes me good food that I like which is "doke mein".
After dinner I shower and my dad helps me brush my teeth and change. And sometimes I do workbooks with my mom and sometimes I play checkers with my mom. Every night my mommy reads with me and my mom lies with me before I fall asleep. My mommy lets me keep her old pajamas to sleep with and sometimes I carry it around.
M3
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Stand By You
One of the benefits of my girls dancing is that I get to know & hear songs I wouldn't normally listen to. I recently heard a song that resonated with me immediately. When I first heard it I thought what a great song to describe a mother-to-daughter bond! The song is called 'Stand By You" by Rachel Platten. Here is a youtube link to it:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-urmcz2RSwI
After listening to it a few times and reading over the lyrics I realized that this is not just a 'mother-daughter' song. The lyrics to this song made me think of my friends, my siblings & my brother/sister-in-laws, and The Big Oh.
I was driving home from an appointment the other day and as soon as I started the car this song was just starting to play on the radio. I felt like it was a sign. I was overcome with emotion - happiness, strength, peace, gratitude....
"Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine 'till yours can open, too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you.
Oh tears, make kaleidoscope in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine 'till yours can open, too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you."
Sometimes just hearing a song can make an average day turn into a beautiful one. Thank you for standing by me.
Y.C.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-urmcz2RSwI
After listening to it a few times and reading over the lyrics I realized that this is not just a 'mother-daughter' song. The lyrics to this song made me think of my friends, my siblings & my brother/sister-in-laws, and The Big Oh.
I was driving home from an appointment the other day and as soon as I started the car this song was just starting to play on the radio. I felt like it was a sign. I was overcome with emotion - happiness, strength, peace, gratitude....
"Hands, put your empty hands in mine
And scars, show me all the scars you hide
And hey, if your wings are broken
Please take mine 'till yours can open, too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you.
Oh tears, make kaleidoscope in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine 'till yours can open, too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you."
Sometimes just hearing a song can make an average day turn into a beautiful one. Thank you for standing by me.
Y.C.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Big Oh's Top Ten List of 2015
Just so you know, my wife and I come up with our lists independently. Then we compare to see what we have in common. We are not allowed to revise our list unless it's a special exception. I think this only happened once or twice. This year there were no revisions.
10) Family events like BBQs and Christmas parties and our trip to Niagara Falls - just hanging out with them and staying up late.
9) Peaceful and joyful activities with my wife and daughters like the 2000 piece puzzle and playing Hollywood Game Night.
8) Watching Star Wars with my girls.
7) Attending Pan-Am torch relays where my brother and sister were torch bearers.
6) Trip to Great Wolf Lodge.
5) Watching my daughters at dance competitions.
4) Seeing M3 grow up - she finally listens to me now and she had her first dance performance on stage - although, she just smiled and waved at us.
3) M1 and M2 perform a duet together.
2) My three daughters.
1) My amazing and beautiful wife.
Happy New Year!
Big Oh
10) Family events like BBQs and Christmas parties and our trip to Niagara Falls - just hanging out with them and staying up late.
9) Peaceful and joyful activities with my wife and daughters like the 2000 piece puzzle and playing Hollywood Game Night.
8) Watching Star Wars with my girls.
7) Attending Pan-Am torch relays where my brother and sister were torch bearers.
6) Trip to Great Wolf Lodge.
5) Watching my daughters at dance competitions.
4) Seeing M3 grow up - she finally listens to me now and she had her first dance performance on stage - although, she just smiled and waved at us.
3) M1 and M2 perform a duet together.
2) My three daughters.
1) My amazing and beautiful wife.
Happy New Year!
Big Oh
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Happiness - A Consequence Of Personal Effort
I have been writing a lot lately. I write on this blog when I feel like sharing. There are also writings I keep personal when I don't want to share (yet). This year I started 3 journals - one for each of my daughters. I usually write about things we've done, how I felt, what I observed about them. Sometimes there will be a life lesson on family, friendship, or themself. In reading these entries I've realized that sometimes crisis can turn out to be trivial & humorous in the end. Other times, what I originally wrote to be small & insignificant can have a profound meaning a few months later. I hope my daughter's see this & understand this. I don't know when I will give these journals to them. I have a feeling I will know when the time is right.
I read this on the internet today:
"When I say that happiness is a consequence of personal effort, this is kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about showing up, paying attention to the instances of good fortune in your life, putting a spotlight on the small good things, and creating a body of evidence that you are (on ALL days) brushing up against grace.
Look for it, and you'll find it. "
This reminded me of something my friend L.W. gave me a couple of years ago. It was a box that was filled with pretty pieces of paper. On each one she hand wrote something to 'cheer me up'. I read through all of them at least once - I think it's time to re-read them. Or better yet, create my own notes - I will write down something good, happy, fortunate that happened that day. It can be as trivial as getting a great parking spot in a crowded mall, trying a new restaurant, or spending some quality time with friends or family. I will start with this one:
Sleeping in on a Saturday morning. To be awaken by M2 & M3 coming into our bed for some snuggling time.
Wishing all our family & friends a happy healthy 2016 !
YC
I read this on the internet today:
"When I say that happiness is a consequence of personal effort, this is kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm talking about showing up, paying attention to the instances of good fortune in your life, putting a spotlight on the small good things, and creating a body of evidence that you are (on ALL days) brushing up against grace.
Look for it, and you'll find it. "
This reminded me of something my friend L.W. gave me a couple of years ago. It was a box that was filled with pretty pieces of paper. On each one she hand wrote something to 'cheer me up'. I read through all of them at least once - I think it's time to re-read them. Or better yet, create my own notes - I will write down something good, happy, fortunate that happened that day. It can be as trivial as getting a great parking spot in a crowded mall, trying a new restaurant, or spending some quality time with friends or family. I will start with this one:
Sleeping in on a Saturday morning. To be awaken by M2 & M3 coming into our bed for some snuggling time.
Wishing all our family & friends a happy healthy 2016 !
YC
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Top Ten List Of 2015
I have to be honest, I'm glad 2015 is over. I did it. We did it. We made it through & I'm still here - for this I am grateful. I don't know what will happen in 2016. But I do know that I will make everyday matter - I will laugh louder & love harder. Here is my top 10 list for 2015:
10) Watching old episodes of Star Wars & then watching The Force Awakens with the girls - they truly were excited about the movie
9) M1's first sleepover & realizing she really is a big girl now
8) M3's first dance recital
7) M2 & M1's first (and possibly only) duet together - Dream
6) Supporting Pepe & Selina on their Pan-Am torch relay & celebrating afterwards with the only way we know how - A Big Feast
5) My new found peace with faith, spirituality & God
4) My newest niece & nephew - twins D & A
3) All the amazing people (friends & family, new & old) in my life who have kept me focused, calm, sane, & made me feel so loved & blessed
2) My beautiful daughters
1) The Big Oh
YC
10) Watching old episodes of Star Wars & then watching The Force Awakens with the girls - they truly were excited about the movie
9) M1's first sleepover & realizing she really is a big girl now
8) M3's first dance recital
7) M2 & M1's first (and possibly only) duet together - Dream
6) Supporting Pepe & Selina on their Pan-Am torch relay & celebrating afterwards with the only way we know how - A Big Feast
5) My new found peace with faith, spirituality & God
4) My newest niece & nephew - twins D & A
3) All the amazing people (friends & family, new & old) in my life who have kept me focused, calm, sane, & made me feel so loved & blessed
2) My beautiful daughters
1) The Big Oh
YC
Sunday, December 20, 2015
My Holidays
I played with Olivia a nd Kayla and Jessica and Suniya and Valerie and Ella. I made a truck on a track when it was my group's turn to do the pictures.
I slept with my dad because I was sick. And I like to stay with my mom at home. When I stay at home I don't get kids at school sick. Today I went to see Dr Chan.
Today is the holidays. When it is Christmas I will celebrate with my cousins. On the 27th I am going on vacation with my family. There will be 24 of us going. I am going to swim at vacation.
In January I am going to see the ear doctor at the hospital. I can bring my favorite mommy shirt. My mom is going with me. I will be in the room by myself. My mom will be sitting in the waiting room. I like Christmas when it is with my whole family.
You should always be friends at school. My teachers names are Ms S and Ms G. My school's name is W******r Public School. I can't wait until Christmas because it is about being with your family. I am in bed with my mom doing a blog. My mom is going to put this on our blog. Last year I was in Ms B and Ms M's class. I was a JK last year. This year I am a SK. My last year's friends were Lucas and Tristen and Dylan and Jessica and Olivia. Last year I had 5 friends.
M3
I slept with my dad because I was sick. And I like to stay with my mom at home. When I stay at home I don't get kids at school sick. Today I went to see Dr Chan.
Today is the holidays. When it is Christmas I will celebrate with my cousins. On the 27th I am going on vacation with my family. There will be 24 of us going. I am going to swim at vacation.
In January I am going to see the ear doctor at the hospital. I can bring my favorite mommy shirt. My mom is going with me. I will be in the room by myself. My mom will be sitting in the waiting room. I like Christmas when it is with my whole family.
You should always be friends at school. My teachers names are Ms S and Ms G. My school's name is W******r Public School. I can't wait until Christmas because it is about being with your family. I am in bed with my mom doing a blog. My mom is going to put this on our blog. Last year I was in Ms B and Ms M's class. I was a JK last year. This year I am a SK. My last year's friends were Lucas and Tristen and Dylan and Jessica and Olivia. Last year I had 5 friends.
M3
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