“Be significant to yourself, to your family, and to the world!”

I was watching Oprah and I was inspired to write! The show was on people who quit their jobs to go pursue what they love. For example, there was this woman who left her job as a Vice President of a bank to become a trampeze artist because she was miserable as a VP.  She took a 90 percent paycut, but she said she was happier. She said she did not realize that making less money, but doing what she loved would change her life. 

Oprah had a “specialist” on the show who said something interesting about how  if we view our careers as a “purpose” instead of a job we would be happier.  I have to agree with that because as a teacher I see it as my purpose in life to make a difference in the lives of my students. What happened today just reaffirms that belief.  One of my former student from last year came to visit me after school and he said kids were talking about me and saying how I was their inspiration.  He said my students from last year was telling other people in the class how I would motivate them to do their work and how they looked up to me.  Of course, I was touched my their devotion, but what really made me euphoric was the fact that I was the reason they love school and learning.  I truly feel that I am fulfilling my purpose in life by helping my students and those in need which includes family, friends, and even strangers. If I could steal a book title for the story of my life it would be called, The Purpose-Driven Life  which is an actual book by Rick Warren.

I definitely can agree with Oprah that “being significant first to ourselves, then to our family and then to the world” is an important goal and purpose. She believes that once we do that, think of others and then help, everything good in life will come to us in due time. Our life should be purpose driven. In order for that to happen we must first be happy within oursleves. We have to value ourselves enough to be able to do what’s right and what’s going to make us happy.  If we are unsatisfy with our own lives, we can not expect to make  a positive change and impact to our family and world. We are all an instrument of change good and bad.  The magnificence of it is that we have  a right to decide our own course in history.

” Be significant! Be daring! But above all, always be you.”

Visit Lao by Alexandra Bounxouei

I absolutely love this song sung by Alexandera Bounxouei.  It reminds me of old folk songs I have heard before about Laos.  It tugs at your emotions and pulls at your heart.  It really makes me think of Laos because it’s so nostalgic. It’s difficult to describe the sense of homecoming or familiarity I feel when I listen to the words.  I feel the same sense of warmth and comfort when I listen to this song as when I wrap myself in my favorite  fuzzy blanket.  Another way to describe how I feel is when I get that deja vu feeling, like I have experience something similiar before but can’t remember where and when. That sense of longing is bittersweet and long-lasting. Even though I left Laos when I was four, a part of me misses it when I listen to this song or similiar songs about Laos. Listening to Lao music gives me a sense of  peace and contentment.

Karma: A guide to life

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I am a profound believer in doing good things for others to make their lives better.  The act of charity and kindness has always been an integral part of how I live my life.  I am not a saint or Mother Theresa by any means, but I am guided my an irrepressible urge to save the world and everyone in it.  This might seem naive but I wholeheartedly believe that the more good we do for those around us, the more bless our lives will be.  I consider  the act of helping  and giving to others out of the kindness of our  heart as an act of charity. As a result of our unselfish action and thought, I deem that we will be repaid in kind. If our action is motivated purely by our need or our want to end the suffering of others, we will get some of that charity back ourselves when we need it the most. The events of this week is a confirmation of my belief in karma as explained by Lama Thubten Yeshe of The Bliss of Inner Fire “Karma is not something complicated or philosophical. Karma means watching your body, watching your mouth, and watching your mind.Trying to keep these three doors as pure as possible is the practice of karma.”

To me this means treating our body like a temple and not do anything bad that will desecrate it like drugs,alcohol or overindulgence. Sometimes we tend to forget to take care of our body because we think we can always stop those bad things anytime we want.  For some of us we figure that out too late. 

If we are all honest, it is very difficult to watch our mouths or at least what comes out of it especially when we are frustrated or when we dislike something or someone.  Sometimes, I have to struggle to keep my mouth shut when I have a problem with someone or when I disagree with their words or actions. When I feel the urge to say negative things to others for whatever reason I mentally tell myself to just be silent and listen to what they have to say and hear them out.  Sometimes I learn more from listening to others even if their opinions are disagreeable.

Buddha wisely advised, “Desire is the cause of man’s suffering”.  Sometimes we let our desire for others or things control our thoughts so obsessively that we end up doing something we will regret later. It is incredible to think that our thoughts can have that much power over our actions, but sadly for some of us it is a harsh reality. 

Lama Thubten Yeshe’s teaching about keeping our body, mouth, and mind pure is a good rule to live by as well as these wise words by an anonymous author:

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.Do you belive in using karma as a guide to life?  Do you believe that your good actions will be repaid or rewarded or come back to help you when you need it the most? 

Underneath the blue sky

 Underneath the blue sky

I lift my face, watching the clouds roll by

smiling, raising my arms high

The sun shining on my face

lieing on the grass, my personal time and space

content, sublime, no other place

Cool breeze carassing my skin

gently my soul do mend

lifting away my worries, happy again.