Linsanity

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

I am aware of the fact that a few of you dislike Jeremy Lin, but this article from the New York Times is worth skimming through! They [NY Times] pretty much implied that if we skim through this or apply these principles before starting our week (every Sunday night or Monday morning), then we will see ourselves in a better place! They may not be that wrong! 

1. Believe in yourself when no one else does. Lin’s only the 4th graduate from Harvard to make it to the NBA.  He’s also one of only a handful of Asian-Americans to make it. He was sent by the Knicks to play for their D-League team 3 weeks ago in Erie, PA.  He’d already been cut by two other NBA teams before joining the Knicks this year.  You’ve got to believe in yourself, even when no one else does.

2. Seize the opportunity when it comes up. Lin got to start for the Knicks because they had to start him.  They had too many injuries.  Baron Davis was gone.  The other point guards were out.  Carmelo Anthony was injured.  Amare Stoudemire had to leave the team because of a family death.  Lin could have squandered the opportunity and we would have never have noticed.  But he made the most of it.  You never know when opportunities are going to arise in life.  Often, they’re when you least expect them.  Make the most of them. Don’t fritter them away.

3. Your family will always be there for you, so be there for them. It wasn’t until a few days ago that Lin got his contract guaranteed by the Knicks for the rest of the season.  Before that, he could have been cut at any time.  He had to sleep on his brother’s couch on the Lower East Side to get by.  His family always believed in him and picked him up when he could have gotten down on himself.  That made him continue to believe.  If you want your family to believe in you like that, you’ve got to be there for them too when they need it.

4. Find the system that works for your style. Lin isn’t Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant.  He’s not a pure scorer.  He’s a passer and distributor – who can also score very well.  It didn’t work for him in Golden State or Houston – where he was before landing at the Knicks.  But Mike D’Antoni’s system at the Knicks has been perfect for him to show off his strengths.  You’ve got to do your best to understand what your strengths are and then ensure that you’re in a system (a job or organization or industry) that is a good fit for those strengths.  Otherwise, people overlook the talents you bring to the table.

5. Don’t overlook talent that might exist around you today on your team. You probably manage people at your own company today.  Are you sure you don’t have a Jeremy Lin living among you now?  How do you know that “Mike” couldn’t do amazing things if you gave him a new project to run with?  How do you know “Sarah” isn’t the right person to take the open job in London that you’ve been talking over with your colleagues?  We put people around us in boxes.  He’s from Harvard.  He’s Asian-American.  Not sure he can play.  How many assumptions have you made about talent around you?  Don’t be like the General Managers in Golden State and Houston, and let talent slip through your fingers.  With all their money, scouts, and testing, they didn’t have a clue what they had in their hands.  Do you know what your people (or even yourself) is really capable of?  Take off the blinders of assumptions you wear when you look at the world.

6. People will love you for being an original, not trying to be someone else. You’ve got to be you.  You can’t be some 2nd rate copy of Michael Jordan.  There will never be another Michael Jordan.  Just be Jeremy Lin — yourself.  Whatever that is.  That doesn’t mean you don’t work hard — it just means you find what you’re good at and do it.  Fans will love you for being you, just like they love Jeremy Lin. 

7. Stay humble. If you one day are lucky enough to have newspapers want to put you on the cover in order to sell more, don’t let it get to your head.  It’s been remarkable watching how humble Lin remains through all this media frenzy.  It makes his teammates and fans love him that much more.

8. When you make others around you look good, they will love you forever. I didn’t know how good Tyson Chandler was, until I saw him playing with Jeremy Lin.  Lin has set Chandler up many times over the last week for easy dunks because he drew the defense and then passed the ball.  That’s partly why the Knicks are playing so well.  They are all working harder to share the ball with others.  And it’s beautiful to watch.  And when the media swarms Lin, he tells them how good his teammates are.  Do the same with your peers and reports.

9. Never forget about the importance of luck or fate in life. Some people believe in God, some in destiny, some in luck.  Whatever you believe in, be grateful for it.

10. Work your butt off. Lin couldn’t have seized his opportunity if he hadn’t worked like crazy for years perfecting his skills.  There are no short cuts to hard work.  Success is a by product of that.  If you’ve got a Tiger Mom who’s always pushed you to work hard, great.  If not, let your conscience be your own Tiger Mom!  Get up early, stay up late.  Nobody gave Lin any free passes. Why should you get any?  You can only control what you control and that means you’ve got to work harder than anyone else you know.

I hope the Lin-sanity continues.  And I hope we all can apply these lessons to our own work and family life.

All we do is Lin, Lin, Lin! =) 

So long <3 

Untitled

"The more and more I spend time with you, the more and more I realize I am doing the one thing I told myself I would never do again...Fall in love."

*** 

First,

I disliked you
Was annoyed by you
Thought you were rude
Until I got to know you

Then?

I liked talking to you
Liked seeing you
But when it came time to say good-bye
I had no problem walking away

Now?

I miss you
I want to see you
Want to laugh with you
Need to hear your voice

Why?

I've fallen
Fallen faster than before
Harder than I'd like to
I'm unstoppable

What?!

Yes, that's right
It's not what I wanted
Not what I expected
But I can't help it.

Your smile
Your laugh
Your voice
I miss it all.
 

I say I'm okay 

But that's a lie

I say I don't want you 

But that's not true.

Now,

I miss you.
I want to see you.
Want to laugh with you.
Need to hear your voice.

No more good-byes.  
Please, no more good-byes. 


***


So long <3 

God

I might have shared this story earlier, but I'm too lazy to go through all of my posts and find out so I'll just re-post it. This is one of my most favorite poems! I have a poster of it, and love reading it again and again. I would love to cite it but I don't know where it originally came from...but mad props to whoever wrote it. Enjoy! 


***

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along
the beach with god.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed
two sets of footprints in the sand,
one beloning to him and the other to god.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the
very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him and he questioned god about it.

"God, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."

God replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffereing,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

***

Don't forget Him, ever. (Or whatever force you believe in.)


So long <3

[Positive] Change is Good

"You don't have to be satisfied with America as you find it. You can change it. I didn't like the way I found America some sixty years ago, and I've been trying to change it ever since."

Upton Sinclair said to above many years ago, but I think it should still apply today. For those of us whose parents came from another country hoping for a better future for us in America (you know, with the American Dream and all), did they find exactly what they were looking for? From personal experience, I'll go on to say no...not really. Yes, we do have "more opportunities" but what are we missing here that could make our country even better? A lot. To list a few quick things, our education and political system have many flaws. Our idea of "it's who you know, not what you know" is definitely an issue. The apparent racism and discrimination that still exists today is an issue. Gosh, there are so many things that I'm sure you're all thinking of right now, whether it be things you see at work, in your schools, in your towns, etc.

But what exactly are you doing to change it? Sitting around and complaining won't get us anywhere, trust me, there's no way. For example, our local school district just spent $25,000 per car for security guards, when they already had functioning cars to go around in. Unfortunately, they don't spend any money on supplies that students might actually benefit from. Although many people are frustrated, I am positive that most of them are not doing anything about it. To change things, my friends and I are going to file complaints and go to board of education hearings to state our opinion. After all, it's our money, our students, our future...shouldn't be we have a say?

I gotta get back to my research :) but on this Saturday afternoon, I just wanted to say...get off of your lazy butts and make a difference. Together, we can change our country and really make it the land where dreams come true.

So long <3

Leap of Faith

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.”

There are so many times when I over-think things. Whether it's about what to buy, what class to take, where to go for dinner, or more serious things that I don't think you care to know about...I just keep thinking. Sometimes, I'll try to figure out my answer on my own and other times, I'll go to people for advice. Most of the time though, I'll know my answer ahead of time and just need some convincing. After a loooong week of discussing something like this with others, I realized that I was just wasting time and pushing back what it is that I do/don't want to do. And then I realized, it's time to just take a leap of faith. Stop thinking. Stop analyzing. Stop asking people. Just jump right in because what's the worst that will happen? You don't know. You also don't know what the best could be. 

Honestly, just check out this video and be that penguin! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TRj6RZ3nFpU ...it's really cute and inspiring :)

I know some of you very well and am sure you're wondering "what if I don't believe in God, who am I supposed to have faith in?" You. Your parents. Your friends. Your educators. Whoever you want! (But definitely you.) It depends on the situation. When you first rode a bicycle, you had faith in your parents. You knew that they were there for you and you trusted them. (Forget about the fact that they actually let go of the bicycle when they said they wouldn't...they technically just had a lot of faith in you!!)

This might be stretching it a bit too much but here's a classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_-BOvWVycM

But basically, I just wanted to say: stop thinking and go for it. What if opening that door will give you the world's happiness, even if it's labeled "do not open"? How will you know until you actually open it? You won't. Plus, life's not fun when you follow all the rules. After all, rules are meant to be broken! So go on and have some fun in life. Take risks and see where it gets you!

So long <3
 

Random Acts of Kindness

Instead of a quote, I will share one of my favorite stories with you. If you've heard me say it, it's another version of it...I think this one here is the true version, not sure. Read it even if I've told you-it'll still be as impactful!

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. 

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mothers sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life."

Take a moment to think about this...one boy decided to take a few minutes out of his life to help another kid carry some things to his home. He could have easily walked away to do other fun things or made fun of the boy. Instead, he stopped and gave up some time for another person. Of course, he had no idea what he was really doing or the impact that he really had, because it seemed like a normal correspondence to him. But it turned out to be so much more...

Next time you see someone struggling, stop and help them.
Next time you see someone in a rush at the grocery store, let them go in front of you.
Next time you see someone in need of anything, stop and think: is it really going to take a lot out of you to be nice and do something kind for them? 

Maybe you won't save a life, but you could make someone smile. And isn't that the point of life? To be happy? So if we can stop and do something kind, then we are making others smile and spreading joy. What could be better?

Challenge: Do one nice thing per day (minimum) and see how it changes your attitude!  

So long <3  

Just Do It. ...or Don't.

"A day will never be anymore than what you make of it. Practice being a "doer"! 
The other day, my friends and I were talking about a variety of different things, when we realized a common theme in each of our stories. Before I jump into that, here's a glimpse of what we were saying.

Friend 1: I really wanted a bagel today because I was so hungry after class! I got on line at Dunkin Donuts to get one, and while moving up in the line, was just thinking. I thought about my goals for eating healthy, and realized that this was going against my resolution. After a minute, I walked away and didn't get a bagel. Instead, I ate something healthy.

Friend 2: I really didn't want to do research for one of my papers because I wanted to catch up on a TV show. I went to open up the link, but realized that I really had a lot of work to catch up on. Although the obvious thing to do was my paper, I really just couldn't my mind to it. Just as I was about to start watching the show, I forced myself to stop and really attempt to do some research. It wasn't the most productive research session, but it was obviously better than watching TV. 

Me: My resolution, as I shared earlier, is to write two posts a week just to make it a habit and continue writing down my thoughts, regardless of who reads this or doesn't. Many Saturday nights I just want to quit and say "it doesn't matter, no one else cares, so why should I?" but then I don't let myself sleep until I finish writing both. I hate myself for it at times, but when I look back at my post, I realize it was worth it.

What did we realize through all of this? We each have goals, dreams, needs and plans for ourselves. To fulfill everything we want, we have a plan-of-action that we have to follow, whether we explicitly state it or not. For Friend 1, the goal is to eat healthy; one action step is to avoid eating unhealthy foods one day at a time. For Friend 2, the goal is to stay on task with school; one action step is to watch less TV. For me, the goal is to write more; one action step is to not wait until Saturday night to write. If our action steps are very basic and easy to follow, why is our dream or goal so difficult to achieve? 

Simple: it's because we let ourselves forget our ultimate goals. We literally find ways to go around our "plan-of-action" and make life more fun. After we lose sight of our goal, we are "happy" but only temporarily because we eventually realize that we still want what our original goal was. Does that make sense? 

So, when you need to stop eating unhealthy food, just force yourself to stop. Just don't eat it. It's quite simple. When you need to do some research before watching TV, just do it. You're online anyway, it won't take a lot of you. And if you need to sit down and write, JUST DO IT. Stop stopping yourself! 

BUT the reason I wrote this is because of a really cool thing we discussed. At times, you are REALLY going to want to eat something unhealthy, watch another episode of your show or procrastinate a little longer when it comes to doing something. If at that time, you really force yourself to take a step towards your goal, meaning NOT eat that food, NOT watch another episode, and NOT procrastinate, then you are really building your character. Think about it, it's easy to avoid unhealthy food when your home is filled with fruits and vegetables. But what if it was filled with chocolate and pizza? If you are able to stop yourself from eating it at that time, then you are strengthening your willpower. What more could you want? You are becoming a better person, developing your qualities and reaching your goals all at once! How awesome! Good luck with whatever your goals are!

So long. <3

Quick Question

For once, I have no quote to share with you because nothing will really relate to what I have to ask. I have started this discussion with six friends (kind of individually) and will continue to ask around to get everyone's opinion. Know this: I am not judging you, I am not asking you to strengthen or weaken my beliefs, I am not doing it for any reason but out of pure curiosity. Here's how it will work: I will ask you the question and then give you a ridiculous example that will help explain the question. After that, you can apply it to any situation you would like to and come up with your own answer. You don't have to share what you believe, but I'd love to hear what your thoughts are regardless of your answer. I recommend not posting it on here for privacy purposes: email me, text me, FB message me (don't call, I probably won't pick up). (To my newest friend, ask Anj for a way of contacting me if you'd like to continue this topic.)

Question: Let's say that you are good friends with someone. You have two options, and can only pick one. Option 1: You value your friendship. Option 2: You value the person. There is no way to have both.

Random: YOU define what a "good" friend means. YOU define what "valuing the person" means...it could mean valuing their character, their future, their development, anything you want it to be.

Silly example to make the question clear: Your good friend is about to touch a hot stove. You have two options. Option 1: You value your friendship with her and don't want to sacrifice this friendship so you decide to let her touch it. Result? You can assume what happens. Option 2: You value the person more than your friendship with her, so you tell her not to touch it because it's hot and she will get hurt. Result? She may or may not touch it but she is no longer friends with you.

I know, ridiculous example but it can apply to ANY situation. I can give you more if we discuss it on our own, but would prefer not to because I will be biased! I know my answer already, but would love to know what you think!

So long <3