Tonight wasn't about me. I wanted to have dinner with my parents and spend some time with my mom before she goes. We had dinner at home. After dinner we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. My dad isn't into working out / exercising. My mom and I finally convinced my dad to go for a walk about a month ago. Now my parents go for walks every other day? (I'm not sure...I'm not home every night to know.) After we got home from the walk, my mom started packing for her trip.
My mom was packing tonight for her month long trip to visit my sister in California. I wanted to spend some time with her and help her pack, if she needed it. She was looking for her list of things to pack. She is more comfortable writing in Chinese and Vietnamese. (Remember in my previous posting that I don't read or write either languages). She finally finds the list and gives it to me and tells me to read it to her. I'm a little bit shocked and surprised that she wanted me to read it. I said to her that for the past 30 years I was never taught how to read and write Vietnamese and Chinese, but now she expects me to read the list to her. I tried my best to read the Vietnamese words. Vietnamese words are like French with all the accents. I got most of the words I read right. I gave up when I got to the Chinese characters. I told my dad that he can teach me how to read and write Vietnamese by the time my mom gets back to Vancouver at the end of August.
It's the long weekend coming up this weekend. I don't have anything 'bucket list' related planned for this weekend. I am hoping I can hit the gym or do aquafit in the next few weeks.
Ok time for bed..it's midnight and I have to get up at 6:30 am to be at work by 8 am tomorrow.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day 5: Donating blood
My blog won't be very long today. I am feeling a bit lightheaded after donating blood today. I will commit myself to 10 mins of writing on this blog. If my grammar and sentence structure is not very good, I am very sorry.
This morning I went to see my doctor. While I was there I asked him if he had any advice on donating blood. He said, 'there are 4 good things about donating blood'
1) it is a good thing to do
2) you get cookies at the end of it
3) you get to find out your blood type
4) you find out if you have enough iron in your blood
I was really excited about getting the cookies ;)..jk.
I got to my appointment at 1:30 pm. First thing they do is test your iron level. If your iron level is too low, you are not allowed to give blood. My iron level is fine so I continued on to the next phase. The next phase was filling out a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked you if you are at risk of HIV and if you are exposed to / sexually active with someone who is at risk of HIV. After the questionnaire, you are taken into a room to talk to a nurse. The nurse then takes your heart rate and your blood pressure. Once you pass that phase, you are now on to the donating blood stage. They remind you that you can stop at any time and choose not to donate blood. After 10 mins or so (depends on how quickly your blood flows into the viles), you are then lead to the refreshment area. There you get your replenishment of juice and cookies.
It's 10:40 pm and I'm still feeling a bit lightheaded and a nauseated. I am heading to bed and I hope to make more sense tomorrow night.
This morning I went to see my doctor. While I was there I asked him if he had any advice on donating blood. He said, 'there are 4 good things about donating blood'
1) it is a good thing to do
2) you get cookies at the end of it
3) you get to find out your blood type
4) you find out if you have enough iron in your blood
I was really excited about getting the cookies ;)..jk.
I got to my appointment at 1:30 pm. First thing they do is test your iron level. If your iron level is too low, you are not allowed to give blood. My iron level is fine so I continued on to the next phase. The next phase was filling out a questionnaire. The questionnaire asked you if you are at risk of HIV and if you are exposed to / sexually active with someone who is at risk of HIV. After the questionnaire, you are taken into a room to talk to a nurse. The nurse then takes your heart rate and your blood pressure. Once you pass that phase, you are now on to the donating blood stage. They remind you that you can stop at any time and choose not to donate blood. After 10 mins or so (depends on how quickly your blood flows into the viles), you are then lead to the refreshment area. There you get your replenishment of juice and cookies.
It's 10:40 pm and I'm still feeling a bit lightheaded and a nauseated. I am heading to bed and I hope to make more sense tomorrow night.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 4: Why a bucket list?
I have mentioned my bucket list to some of my friends. Their response is 'why did you make a bucket list?' One friend actually didn't like the word 'bucket list'. He said it sounded morbid and that I was going to die soon. I can also call it '100 things to do before I die list' but that is quite a long name. I will refer to it as a 'bucket list' for easy reference. I have made a bucket list for many reasons.
Usually after break ups I feel really sad and unmotivated to do anything. I feel really sad for a few months before I can get back on my feet and start doing things again. I worked with my friend Marc Hurtubise (www.lifesuccessconsulting.ca) on some life coaching sessions a few years ago. He helped me subscribe to 'Insight of the Day', it sends me a motivational quote everyday. It has motivated / encouraged me to get back on my feet and live my best life.
My friend sent me a life expectancy calculator (http://www.sonnyradio.com/realage3.swf)(thanks Cindy!). It is more for fun than anything. But I did it and it says that I have a life expectancy of 78. With 46 years to go, what I am going to do with my life? I thought about it and I really don't want to die knowing that I didn't at least try some activities that I have always wanted to do.
One of the programs I took with Marc Hurtubise (www.lifesuccessconsulting.ca) was a Goal Achieving course. It is a program where you list your goals and work towards it. I haven't worked towards my goals since I finished the program (which was about 2 years ago) (sorry Marc). When I was in California, I brought my list of goals from the Goal Achieving program to review my goals. I thought about some reasons why I haven't worked on my goals. I'm full of excuses. The excuses are no money, no time, no one to go with, too young, too old, too hard to accomplish, etc. Now it's time to put all those excuses to rest. I have some money. I will make time for things on my list. I will do some activities by myself if no one wants to do them with me. I am not too old or too young to do anything! NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!!!
So with 46 years to go with no more excuses and with motivational quotes to keep me going, I'm off to conquer my bucket list :)
10 things from my list (in no particular order):
1. Learn to swim
2. Learn to do aqua fit
3. Excel at rollerblading
4. Run the Vancouver Sun Run
5. Learn to play golf
6. Learn to ski
7. Learn to snowboard
8. Go horseback riding
9. Learn to play tennis
10. donate my hair to cancer / shave/cut it off to raise money for cancer
11. Go to Tofino
12.Go paragliding
Day 3: Blink 182
Tonight my friend Steve (www.freehomeshipping.com) took me to the Blink 182 concert at GM Place. It was a last minute decision. I originally had plans with someone else but that fell thru. Steve had an extra ticket and he invited me to the concert. I don't know any of Blink 182's songs. But being in a stadium with thousands of others enjoying the music, I just can't help but enjoy the music. The encore was the best part. The whole concert was about the 3 musicians on stage. But the encore had the drummer by himself on a circular stage 'elevating' back and forth and playing their songs. It was pretty amazing. As we were leaving the stadium, the crowd was still wound up and yelling and screaming as we were walking to our car.
After the loud concert and some bubble tea, I am ready for bed. My ears are ringing and my head is pounding but that's ok.
After the loud concert and some bubble tea, I am ready for bed. My ears are ringing and my head is pounding but that's ok.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Day 2: Mandarin lessons and school
My parents know three languages fluently: Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese. I can understand Cantonese but dont speak it that well. I can speak and understand Vietnamese. I can't read or write Cantonese or Vietnamese. I think Mandarin is a good language to learn. Hopefully Mandarin will be able to open more doors and help me with my future endeavours (not sure what they are yet). I am taking beginner Mandarin classes at night school. It's tough. I didn't realize how hard it is learning a new language at such a late age. There are a few people in my class who are about 15 years older than myself. I really admire them because it shows me that no matter what age you are you can accomplish anything. It really inspires me to finish off my bucket list no matter what age I am.
I think going to night school is difficult, I don't know if I would be able to finish my BBA (Bachelors of Business Admin) degree. I started it in 2005. I took 2 out of 20 courses. Then I decided it wasn't something I wanted to finish at that time in my life. I have been thinking about going back to finish my degree. I am not sure if I want to pursue it part time or full time. If I pursue it part time, it will take me a really long time. If I pursue it full time, I don't know if I will be able to work. That means I will have to focus on my schooling for 2 years straight. When I finish my schooling, will I be able to find a job that pays me more than what I make now? I am going to talk to a counsellor / adviser on Thursday and see what my options are. Maybe I waited too long and they don't like students that come back after leaving them for 4 years. Maybe I should've have waited, tuition was cheaper back then.
I didn't have too much of a sense of direction back then. I think since I made my bucket list I have more of a sense of direction. I am more positive, more energetic and more focused. It gives me a sense of accomplishment everytime I cross an item off the list.
Ok...time for bed.
I think going to night school is difficult, I don't know if I would be able to finish my BBA (Bachelors of Business Admin) degree. I started it in 2005. I took 2 out of 20 courses. Then I decided it wasn't something I wanted to finish at that time in my life. I have been thinking about going back to finish my degree. I am not sure if I want to pursue it part time or full time. If I pursue it part time, it will take me a really long time. If I pursue it full time, I don't know if I will be able to work. That means I will have to focus on my schooling for 2 years straight. When I finish my schooling, will I be able to find a job that pays me more than what I make now? I am going to talk to a counsellor / adviser on Thursday and see what my options are. Maybe I waited too long and they don't like students that come back after leaving them for 4 years. Maybe I should've have waited, tuition was cheaper back then.
I didn't have too much of a sense of direction back then. I think since I made my bucket list I have more of a sense of direction. I am more positive, more energetic and more focused. It gives me a sense of accomplishment everytime I cross an item off the list.
Ok...time for bed.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Day 1: First day of the challenge
I went to get my hair cut this morning. I had my hair permed and colored a few years ago. It`s growing out and the colored part is very noticeable. I finger comb my hair when I sleep and the ends that are permed are more tangled. I end up taking a long time to untangle my hair and I end up waking myself up from my sleep.
My Sunday afternoon was a lazy afternoon. I hung out at home watching some tv. I spent 2 hours on the phone with my friend who is a female. It was a typical female conversation: about men, what we are doing with our lives, anything else that is interesting to us. I was going to go to the gym and work out. But the conversation was much more interesting. I ended up taking a nap from 5 - 6 pm. I only intended to take a nap for 30 mins. I set my alarm but my alarm didn`t go off. I must`ve been really tired. My naps are usually only 20 mins.
Tonight we had a dinner at my auntie`s house. We had spring rolls and bbq`ed beef with boon (Vietnamese vermicelli noodles). It was so delicious. After dinner we had fruits for dessert. We had cherries (one of my favourite fruit), logan (another favourite) and blueberries. One of my cousins made a blueberry pie. I think it was her first time making blueberry pie. It was good. The adults chit chatted with each other and the cousins chatted with each other. I spent some time talking to my cousin`s daughter. She is a cutie pie. She is 12 and going on to high school in September. She is a very quiet person. But once you start talking to her she will open up. We see her about twice to three times a year. We ended the nite at about 10 pm.
I was really disappointed I didn`t get to go to the lantern festival last night. I have heard about for a many years. I have never made it out. This year I really wanted to go and even invited friends to go. I had a dinner to attend in Burnaby before meeting my friends at Trout Lake. But when 8 pm rolled around, there were sprinkles, then there was rain, then there was thunder, then there was lighting. One friend called to tell me he wouldn`t be attending. I understood where he was coming from. I even bailed on my friends on attending the festival. I was wearing sandals. I really didn`t want to walk in the mud in the rain to see lanterns. Maybe next year.
It`s 11:25pm. Time for bed.
My Sunday afternoon was a lazy afternoon. I hung out at home watching some tv. I spent 2 hours on the phone with my friend who is a female. It was a typical female conversation: about men, what we are doing with our lives, anything else that is interesting to us. I was going to go to the gym and work out. But the conversation was much more interesting. I ended up taking a nap from 5 - 6 pm. I only intended to take a nap for 30 mins. I set my alarm but my alarm didn`t go off. I must`ve been really tired. My naps are usually only 20 mins.
Tonight we had a dinner at my auntie`s house. We had spring rolls and bbq`ed beef with boon (Vietnamese vermicelli noodles). It was so delicious. After dinner we had fruits for dessert. We had cherries (one of my favourite fruit), logan (another favourite) and blueberries. One of my cousins made a blueberry pie. I think it was her first time making blueberry pie. It was good. The adults chit chatted with each other and the cousins chatted with each other. I spent some time talking to my cousin`s daughter. She is a cutie pie. She is 12 and going on to high school in September. She is a very quiet person. But once you start talking to her she will open up. We see her about twice to three times a year. We ended the nite at about 10 pm.
I was really disappointed I didn`t get to go to the lantern festival last night. I have heard about for a many years. I have never made it out. This year I really wanted to go and even invited friends to go. I had a dinner to attend in Burnaby before meeting my friends at Trout Lake. But when 8 pm rolled around, there were sprinkles, then there was rain, then there was thunder, then there was lighting. One friend called to tell me he wouldn`t be attending. I understood where he was coming from. I even bailed on my friends on attending the festival. I was wearing sandals. I really didn`t want to walk in the mud in the rain to see lanterns. Maybe next year.
It`s 11:25pm. Time for bed.
365 Day Challenge
This is the first day of the 365 Day Challenge. This challenge is about working on my bucket list every day for the next 365 days. This is a commitment to myself that I can achieve everything on my bucket list. My bucket list is a list of things to do before I die. I do not want to die anytime soon. But when I die, I would like to know that I have accomplished the things I have always wanted to do. I may not be able to cross off all 100 things off my list by the time I die, but I would like cross of 50 - 75 % of the items on my list.
The 365 Day Challenge is about working on my bucket list. For the next 365 days, I will spend at least 10 mins a day on my bucket list. It will range from doing an activity on the list to researching something on my bucket list. Some items will be a one time thing (paragliding) and some items are more long term (live in the now).
I will be writing in this journal every day. Learning to write is on my bucket list. I will be writing about anything on my mind. It will range from my family, my thoughts about my day or my feelings about my past or my thoughts on anything else.
I have to get to bed. I will be trimming my hair tomorrow. They say that cutting your hair will make your hair grow longer / faster. I am hoping to grow my hair longer to donate it to cancer patients or to shave it off to raise money for cancer.
The 365 Day Challenge is about working on my bucket list. For the next 365 days, I will spend at least 10 mins a day on my bucket list. It will range from doing an activity on the list to researching something on my bucket list. Some items will be a one time thing (paragliding) and some items are more long term (live in the now).
I will be writing in this journal every day. Learning to write is on my bucket list. I will be writing about anything on my mind. It will range from my family, my thoughts about my day or my feelings about my past or my thoughts on anything else.
I have to get to bed. I will be trimming my hair tomorrow. They say that cutting your hair will make your hair grow longer / faster. I am hoping to grow my hair longer to donate it to cancer patients or to shave it off to raise money for cancer.
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