I recently just finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert、which is an emotional, vivid, witty, and soul-cleansing tale of self-discovery about a divorced and heartbroken woman's journeys to Italy, India, and Indonesia where she learns to find pleasure, spirituality, and finally ends with her learning how to balance the two. Only after achieving balance did the author experience true happiness and content in her life.
I have to agree that there is something to be said about the art of balancing, and not just strictly in the physical sense of how long you can stand in tree pose during a yoga session, or Elizabeth Gilbert's balance of pleasure and spirituality, but more about balancing the needs, demands, priorities, and pleasures in life. Everything in life can more or less be broken down into three types: there are things you must do, things you should do, and things you want to do, with possible overlaps between two components. For example, I must go to class everyday. I should write in this blog once a week. I want to hang out with my friends and boyfriend more often. As an overachiever, I try to attend to all of the musts, shoulds, and wants in my life, but what often results is frustration and general unhappiness. There is only so many hours in a day, and only so much ebullient energy a person could have. Trying to attend to everything generally leads to less quality time and less positive experiences in each, which ups the frustration and stress levels, which in order to compensate leads to more musts, shoulds, and wants.
I am in no way an authority of how to perfect the art of balancing, as can be seen by my insane 9am to 6pm (sometimes 10:30pm) schedule everyday. I am guilty of biting off more than I can chew and not tasting before swallowing, and then complaining how the food doesn't taste good. However, I would like to quote my Introduction to Entrepreneurship professor, R.F. Culbertson, who said to make a list of your musts, shoulds, and wants. If there is anything under your shoulds column that has been there for god knows how long, toss it. Unless you make that should a must, it's not going to happen. And here, I will extrapolate from his idea about wants. Unless your wants fits the sentence "I must do/have ________, because it makes me happy and feel like a better person", you should also toss it. You want to de-clutter all the distractions, and focus on putting in quality time and effort in the musts and only in the important wants and shoulds.
One thing I have been trying to work on (only partially successfully) is to de-clutter my life in all ways possible. I have recently cleared out unused clothes and books from my closet and donated to Goodwill. Now, I need to work on de-cluttering other distracting elements from my life, and hopefully find that perfect balance that will satisfy all my wants, achieve all my musts, and still find time for my shoulds.
It will be a work in progress. Hopefully, dear reader, you are being more successful than I currently am.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Triathlon Challenge Log 2
August 13, 2010--Completed 800 meters swimming, but only about 4K of running. Need to add in bicycling practice of at least 6 miles next week.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I Can Do It, So Can You--Staying Healthy Over The Summer (Or Anytime, Really)
I find that the best way to stay healthy and work out regularly over the summer is to have a specific goal ( or what I like to call a Fitness Challenge) and someone to share that goal with. Or if you're someone who likes a bit of an edge, find someone to compete with to see who gets to his/her goal the quickest. To make this work, the goal has to be:
1. attainable
2. specific
3. fun or rewarding, or both
Last summer, I came up with the idea of a fitness challenge partly to motivate myself to work out frequently, and partly so my boyfriend and I (we were doing long distance last summer) could have a common goal to work towards and share the process together despite the distance between us. Over Skype one day, I challenged him that by the end of the summer, he has to be able to effortlessly lift me up (me, horizontal) and carry me from the living room couch to my bedroom, about 10 feet. If you're scoffing already, don't. First, I'm not a tiny Asian girl. Some serious muscle needs to be had to complete this task. Second, what's wrong that a girl likes to be swept off her feet by her man? In return, my boyfriend challenged me to run a 5k. Just to give you a background about my running abilities, well, at that time, I had none. I hated running, and most of all, I feared running--800 meters on the tracks was my longest run in high school; the thought of running more than that turned my legs to putty. However, my goal was attainable-- 5k is not that far-fetched for a 20 year-old in good health; it was specific-- I just needed to run 12 and a half laps on the tracks; and it was fun--If the other person couldn't complete the task by the end of the summer, the winner gets to ask the loser to do anything for him/her. Fun, right? I started my challenge by running two laps on the tracks, vowing that I will run just one more lap the next day. Every time before I run, I set a mini-goal to run a specific number of laps before I can call it quits. I was also forgiving of myself when I just couldn't get to my mini-goal that day, as long as I tried harder next time. Before I knew it, I was running 12 laps on the tracks and my speed had increased too!
So this summer, for the same reasons (even though my boyfriend is here with me this summer) and to continue what I believe is now a tradition, we gave each other another fitness challenge to complete. My boyfriend mentioned how he wasn't that good at swimming, so I challenged him to swim 15 laps (roundtrips) in the pool. My challenge was to run to the Waterfront from the Carnegie Mellon University Campus, which was about 3.8 miles (more than 5k, with intense Pittsburgh hills). In just two short weeks, with some instructions and coaching on my part, my boyfriend started from madly front-crawling to get to the other side of the pool, which in effect, drained him from all energy to complete more than a lap, to swimming 15 laps with broad confident strokes. I am immensely proud. With some foundation from last summer's training, and some slope-training going up Squirrel Hill, I also managed to complete my challenge by the end of June.
With still a month left, we decided to try another fitness challenge; only this time, we are sharing the same challenge--Sharing the same fitness goal with a special someone also keeps you motivated, because not only do you get to spend time together, and remind each other not to slack off, but you also get that guilty feeling if the other person gets ahead of you and makes more progress because you've been slacking off, which also encourages you not to slack off. Our common fitness challenge this time is to complete a mini-triathlon (also known as a sprint triathlon), which consists of 750m swimming, 20km biking, and 5k running. I am capable of completing each of these items on its own, but all in a row? Never in my wildest dreams. However, I am always up for a challenge that is fun, intrinsically rewarding, beneficial to my health and fitness, and one that involves spending time with that special someone. And I believe anyone can have a more healthy and fit summer, or really, life even, by having attainable, specific, and rewarding goals to achieve.
Completing this latest challenge is still a work in progress , so I would also like to use this blog to document my progress.
Mini-triathlon Progress Log:
August 2, 2010--swam 800 m and ran 5k. I felt energetic after the swim, but the run really did me in!
Hopefully with more updates to come!
1. attainable
2. specific
3. fun or rewarding, or both
Last summer, I came up with the idea of a fitness challenge partly to motivate myself to work out frequently, and partly so my boyfriend and I (we were doing long distance last summer) could have a common goal to work towards and share the process together despite the distance between us. Over Skype one day, I challenged him that by the end of the summer, he has to be able to effortlessly lift me up (me, horizontal) and carry me from the living room couch to my bedroom, about 10 feet. If you're scoffing already, don't. First, I'm not a tiny Asian girl. Some serious muscle needs to be had to complete this task. Second, what's wrong that a girl likes to be swept off her feet by her man? In return, my boyfriend challenged me to run a 5k. Just to give you a background about my running abilities, well, at that time, I had none. I hated running, and most of all, I feared running--800 meters on the tracks was my longest run in high school; the thought of running more than that turned my legs to putty. However, my goal was attainable-- 5k is not that far-fetched for a 20 year-old in good health; it was specific-- I just needed to run 12 and a half laps on the tracks; and it was fun--If the other person couldn't complete the task by the end of the summer, the winner gets to ask the loser to do anything for him/her. Fun, right? I started my challenge by running two laps on the tracks, vowing that I will run just one more lap the next day. Every time before I run, I set a mini-goal to run a specific number of laps before I can call it quits. I was also forgiving of myself when I just couldn't get to my mini-goal that day, as long as I tried harder next time. Before I knew it, I was running 12 laps on the tracks and my speed had increased too!
So this summer, for the same reasons (even though my boyfriend is here with me this summer) and to continue what I believe is now a tradition, we gave each other another fitness challenge to complete. My boyfriend mentioned how he wasn't that good at swimming, so I challenged him to swim 15 laps (roundtrips) in the pool. My challenge was to run to the Waterfront from the Carnegie Mellon University Campus, which was about 3.8 miles (more than 5k, with intense Pittsburgh hills). In just two short weeks, with some instructions and coaching on my part, my boyfriend started from madly front-crawling to get to the other side of the pool, which in effect, drained him from all energy to complete more than a lap, to swimming 15 laps with broad confident strokes. I am immensely proud. With some foundation from last summer's training, and some slope-training going up Squirrel Hill, I also managed to complete my challenge by the end of June.
With still a month left, we decided to try another fitness challenge; only this time, we are sharing the same challenge--Sharing the same fitness goal with a special someone also keeps you motivated, because not only do you get to spend time together, and remind each other not to slack off, but you also get that guilty feeling if the other person gets ahead of you and makes more progress because you've been slacking off, which also encourages you not to slack off. Our common fitness challenge this time is to complete a mini-triathlon (also known as a sprint triathlon), which consists of 750m swimming, 20km biking, and 5k running. I am capable of completing each of these items on its own, but all in a row? Never in my wildest dreams. However, I am always up for a challenge that is fun, intrinsically rewarding, beneficial to my health and fitness, and one that involves spending time with that special someone. And I believe anyone can have a more healthy and fit summer, or really, life even, by having attainable, specific, and rewarding goals to achieve.
Completing this latest challenge is still a work in progress , so I would also like to use this blog to document my progress.
Mini-triathlon Progress Log:
August 2, 2010--swam 800 m and ran 5k. I felt energetic after the swim, but the run really did me in!
Hopefully with more updates to come!
Monday, August 2, 2010
The Hunt for the Golden Pig
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, five young hunters embarked on a long and perilous journey to find the elusive Golden Pig...
"So how do we get there?", I asked The Crazy Driver, after a successful harvest of peaches, plums, pickles, and peppers.
"I don't know, I only know it's somewhere in this area" replied The Crazy Driver, already munching on a sweet fruit of labor, "can anyone access Google Maps on their phone?"
Turns out, the Golden Hair One could access Google Maps from her Blackberry phone. I secretly wished that I could get a phone with GPS function one day, soon actually, as I will be taking my Driver's License road test in a few more days and will soon (cross your fingers) become a legal driver.
It also turns out, that one should not rely too much on technology. Even with explicit directions from Google Maps, we took the wrong turns, passed a side street and had to make a U-turn back, debated and argued with much gusto in The Crazy Driver's old yet loyal Honda Civic.
"I love the positive energy in this car!" I exclaimed with not so much as sarcasm but genuine excitement that we were on a road trip, with college friends, the way college is supposed to be like. And no road trip is complete without getting utterly lost, and without, of course, the ensuing argument of how to get back on track. The Evil Twin, the Golden Hair One, and the Lovely Sprite were all swiveling around in their seats, straining to spot the illusory road signs as we meandered through twisted and turning paths of rural/suburban Pennsylvania towns.
.......
Finally after 40 minutes, we finally arrived at the Golden Pig. It was a quaint little restaurant owned by a Korean family quite literally situated in the middle of nowhere (though according to the owner, we were only 20 minutes away from Pittsburgh city). The words "Authentic Korean Cuisine" was posted on the windows. A jingling bell on the door welcomed us as we stepped into the small yet homely restaurant. The restaurant was separated into an open kitchen where the owners could be seen bustling about preparing food, a bar facing the kitchen, and two small round tables with high bar stools placed near the windows.
We split up to sit at the two tables and perused the menu. Although the number of choices on the menu were very limited, all of the dishes seem to represent the most popular and traditional Korean dishes. I decided on the Buldak, a spicy marinated chicken dish "not for the faint of heart", while the Golden Hair One and the Evil Twin both decided to order the Bulgogi, most popular of the classic Korean dishes. The Crazy Driver, always the one for fancier foods, chose the Oh Jing Uh Bockeum (spicy squid). As a vegetarian, the Lovely Sprite did not have much to choose from, but in the end settled upon the Ramen Noodles, advertised as "Not the same old Ramen noodles you're used to!".
The food arrived in perfect Asian portions, served with a small side of glistening and fragrant Jasmine rice. My Buldak was spicy and slightly tangy and loaded my taste buds with intense flavors. The rice was the perfect consistency and texture. Although I am not a big white rice person, I devoured it all. I tried my companion's dishes, and they were all equally lovely. At the end of our meal, The Golden Hair One asked for the check in perfect Korean, which delightfully startled the owner as she glanced up and realized who had spoken. We thanked her for the meal and exited the restaurant, taste buds and bellies satisfied, and we agreed it was worth the trouble to find the Golden Pig.
"So how do we get there?", I asked The Crazy Driver, after a successful harvest of peaches, plums, pickles, and peppers.
"I don't know, I only know it's somewhere in this area" replied The Crazy Driver, already munching on a sweet fruit of labor, "can anyone access Google Maps on their phone?"
Turns out, the Golden Hair One could access Google Maps from her Blackberry phone. I secretly wished that I could get a phone with GPS function one day, soon actually, as I will be taking my Driver's License road test in a few more days and will soon (cross your fingers) become a legal driver.
It also turns out, that one should not rely too much on technology. Even with explicit directions from Google Maps, we took the wrong turns, passed a side street and had to make a U-turn back, debated and argued with much gusto in The Crazy Driver's old yet loyal Honda Civic.
"I love the positive energy in this car!" I exclaimed with not so much as sarcasm but genuine excitement that we were on a road trip, with college friends, the way college is supposed to be like. And no road trip is complete without getting utterly lost, and without, of course, the ensuing argument of how to get back on track. The Evil Twin, the Golden Hair One, and the Lovely Sprite were all swiveling around in their seats, straining to spot the illusory road signs as we meandered through twisted and turning paths of rural/suburban Pennsylvania towns.
.......
Finally after 40 minutes, we finally arrived at the Golden Pig. It was a quaint little restaurant owned by a Korean family quite literally situated in the middle of nowhere (though according to the owner, we were only 20 minutes away from Pittsburgh city). The words "Authentic Korean Cuisine" was posted on the windows. A jingling bell on the door welcomed us as we stepped into the small yet homely restaurant. The restaurant was separated into an open kitchen where the owners could be seen bustling about preparing food, a bar facing the kitchen, and two small round tables with high bar stools placed near the windows.
We split up to sit at the two tables and perused the menu. Although the number of choices on the menu were very limited, all of the dishes seem to represent the most popular and traditional Korean dishes. I decided on the Buldak, a spicy marinated chicken dish "not for the faint of heart", while the Golden Hair One and the Evil Twin both decided to order the Bulgogi, most popular of the classic Korean dishes. The Crazy Driver, always the one for fancier foods, chose the Oh Jing Uh Bockeum (spicy squid). As a vegetarian, the Lovely Sprite did not have much to choose from, but in the end settled upon the Ramen Noodles, advertised as "Not the same old Ramen noodles you're used to!".
The food arrived in perfect Asian portions, served with a small side of glistening and fragrant Jasmine rice. My Buldak was spicy and slightly tangy and loaded my taste buds with intense flavors. The rice was the perfect consistency and texture. Although I am not a big white rice person, I devoured it all. I tried my companion's dishes, and they were all equally lovely. At the end of our meal, The Golden Hair One asked for the check in perfect Korean, which delightfully startled the owner as she glanced up and realized who had spoken. We thanked her for the meal and exited the restaurant, taste buds and bellies satisfied, and we agreed it was worth the trouble to find the Golden Pig.
 |
| **Photo from Pittsburgh City Paper, taken by Heather Mull. |
Friday, July 16, 2010
Starting something new...
This will be my first attempt ever at starting a blog. Lately, I've been inspired by some of my friends' blogs--whether they be photo blogs, art portfolio blogs, or construction project blogs. I was amazed by how interesting, colorful, and rich life could be if one only takes the time to write down experiences, because in order to write anything of substance, you need to put in extra effort to feel, think, remember, and learn. And this is what I hope to achieve personally by starting this blog--to live life like it's worth writing about.
To be honest, I am not very good at writing. Even more sadly, this has not always been the case. In middle school, I had a curious passion in writing Harry Potter fan fiction, Edgar Allan Poe style dark fantasies, and documenting interesting daily occurrences with (what I considered at the time) caustic wit and drawling sarcasm. Earlier today out of harmless curiosity, I Ctrl+Ved a page of my old Harry Potter fan fiction writing to the controversial I Write Like online writing analyzer, which compares your writing style and word choices to famous writers using a series of enigmatic algorithms and tells you who you write like. I was decidedly and secretly pleased when my result came out to be J.K Rowling, even though I knew that the mere act of including the words "Harry Potter", "dementors", "wands", "owls" and "Hogwarts" in any manner of writing will probably produce the same result. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, I have lost the imagination, the humor, and the interest in writing. Writing has become please write a 5 paragraph essay because that's the way SAT and GRE graders like it; writing became scrambling to finish that psychology research paper 3 o'clock in the morning and a solid oath to hate writing forever, period. I am about to break that oath, as this is the second goal I wish to achieve through this blog--to find enjoyment (if not passion) in writing again. I know starting will be the hardest part, like starting to run--just the thought of it is frightening. But each step you take lessens the fear, and before you know it, you will be striding a 5k with confidence. This is where I want my writing to be, and I am rising to the challenge.
To be honest, I am not very good at writing. Even more sadly, this has not always been the case. In middle school, I had a curious passion in writing Harry Potter fan fiction, Edgar Allan Poe style dark fantasies, and documenting interesting daily occurrences with (what I considered at the time) caustic wit and drawling sarcasm. Earlier today out of harmless curiosity, I Ctrl+Ved a page of my old Harry Potter fan fiction writing to the controversial I Write Like online writing analyzer, which compares your writing style and word choices to famous writers using a series of enigmatic algorithms and tells you who you write like. I was decidedly and secretly pleased when my result came out to be J.K Rowling, even though I knew that the mere act of including the words "Harry Potter", "dementors", "wands", "owls" and "Hogwarts" in any manner of writing will probably produce the same result. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, I have lost the imagination, the humor, and the interest in writing. Writing has become please write a 5 paragraph essay because that's the way SAT and GRE graders like it; writing became scrambling to finish that psychology research paper 3 o'clock in the morning and a solid oath to hate writing forever, period. I am about to break that oath, as this is the second goal I wish to achieve through this blog--to find enjoyment (if not passion) in writing again. I know starting will be the hardest part, like starting to run--just the thought of it is frightening. But each step you take lessens the fear, and before you know it, you will be striding a 5k with confidence. This is where I want my writing to be, and I am rising to the challenge.
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