Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011

Happy Chinese New Year! Let us usher in the Year of the Golden (Metal) Rabbit.

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, 2011

02/03/2011 - 01/22/2012 (Metal)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.  The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs.  The Rabbit is a lucky sign.  Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted.  People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends.  They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space. (Click here to read more...)

I live in Chinatown but this is the first time that I've seen the celebration of the Chinese New Year right in my neighborhood. Honestly, I find it too lavish. I guess you can attribute it to the growing influence of the Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines. Time was when only the local Chinese celebrated this occasion. Times have indeed changed! Although I personally do not conform to this type of pompous celebration, I am nevertheless hopeful that this signals a more prosperous year for everyone. The turn of the year is a significant one for me. I truly love the New Year as it never fails to bring HOPE. The turning of the year always signals change. May the Year of the Golden Rabbit bring better changes in all aspects of our lives. And as much as I'm fascinated with Feng Shui and other similar knowledge, I'm a staunch believer that we are the master of our destiny. There may be things beyond our control, but at the end of the day, we shape what happens in our lives by the choices we make. So let's all welcome the brand new year. Grab that chance to make a difference! ^_^ 

Till next blogging time... ta-tah!

新年快樂..恭喜發財

A Day to Remember

I can't believe how time flies indeed! Today is the first death anniversary of my dad. I still somehow can't believe he's really gone. We have not been really close the few years prior to his passing, and yet I do miss the times when he was such a part of my life, esp. my growing up years. For some of you who have lost a parent or a loved one, you'll probably understand when I say that things don't really get better.True, time passes and the pain goes but you just somehow miss the fact that you'll never see them again. Then again, when a person becomes so much a part of you, they're never really gone. I guess I just want to remember this day solemnly and pass the time quietly. It's the perfect time to sit back a bit and reflect on life's teachings. Life is too short to be spent being bitter or sad. Besides, there is hope for as long there is tomorrow. ^_^ Pardon the melodramatic entry today. I just want to remember the day. It will be back to online work pretty soon. Till next blog... ta-tah!

Oh and do take the time to spend it with your loved ones. Show how much you love and appreciate them while they're still around :D Have a great day!

Did You Say 'Resolution'?

The start of the year is always a good time to draft one's resolution. We've heard it often enough, esp. at the turn of the year. Somewhere, somehow, someone almost always has a 'New Year's Resolution.' What does it mean? Resolution is defined as...

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. A resolving to do something.

3. A course of action determined or decided on. (source: thefreedictionary.com)

 

Based on the above definitions, let me now ask you.. have you drafted your New Year's Resolution? I will be honest in saying that I haven't had one in a few years. I don't exactly recall when I stopped making one. I can't explain it either. There are just changes in life when you somehow stop planning and decide to 'go with the flow.' I may not have drafted a concrete plan, but I'd say that I do draft goals. Perhaps they qualify as "mini resolutions." I draft them and revise as I go along my journey. One thing is for sure, though, I intend to succeed in whatever field I choose to be in. After all, success requires hard work and determination. ^_^ This year is much like every other year that has come and gone. It always starts with hope and lots of good things one looks forward to. And you won't know till end of the year whether you have indeed accomplished everything you have set out to achieve for that year. 2010 wasn't very kind to me or my family. It started with the passing of my dad, something we totally didn't expect at all. The year then was spent on trying to cope with the loss and moving on with our lives. I was grateful for everything that happened for 2010, but know and believe in my heart that this year will be better for me and my family. I guess then my resolution for the year should be 'to make 2011 better than last year or other years past.' :D Well, more updates on my online earning journey in the coming days and weeks... If you want to know more, do visit my website too..

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

I just want to start the year with a New Year greeting! ^_^ HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone. May 2011 bring you and your loved ones peace, prosperity, health, happiness, and love the whole year through.

Here's the fireworks video that my daughter took. It's just a short clip that I have uploaded to my youtube account as well. Hope you'll enjoy it! It was of course more spectacular to see it live!

The Year Ending 2010...

I believe that a year-end blog is but fitting. Everywhere you look you'll find year-end reports. Even TV shows have year-end specials. Heck! We all look forward to it. I know I do. This time of the year I always find myself in a reflective mood. I somehow like the idea of looking back on things I've done and assessing how far I've come in achieving my goals. Yup! Somehow I do set goals, but unlike many years past, my goals are not set in stone. I guess I have come to realize that there are many things in life that come unexpectedly.. that the best that we can do is to always be prepared.. to always expect the unexpected.. and to believe that all things happen for a reason. This year is no exception. We lost my dad way back in January. For all who have lost a loved one, you know how challenging it can be. Practically every aspect of the family's life is affected. Normalcy is disrupted. It does take time before everything else gets back to normal. Or does it really? I wonder...

I'm thankful for the chance of being able to get back to work even for a brief moment. Six months into a dead-end, no-brainer job, I was just grateful for the extra income. But I somehow feel that it's not for me. And since middle of the year, I have explored the possibility of earning extra income online. And few months down the line, here I am still learning a lot, hanging on, bent on finding that elusive residual income I've heard many people talk about. Life is indeed a journey, not a race. I'm in no hurry but I hope and pray that this journey would be a fruitful one. ^_^ A Happy New Year to everyone! May 2011 bring you peace, prosperity, health, happiness, and love! :D