December 3, 2009

Well, this is it. The day that I have been planning for almost a year has come. How do I feel? Emotional. Maybe there is a small tinker of excitement but I will really have to nurture that to come to surface. I hope that once I have landed, even in Narita airport, I will feel it more. In fact, I need to feel it. I have wanted this to happen for so long…but I can’t help but feel that I left behind so many good things.

For the past month or so, planning for the departure date was kicked into turbo mode. First was the selling of furniture on Craigslist. Then came quitting my job, seeing my SB friends and co-workers one last time, and the preparation of a 2-day garage sale. The last phase was moving back to my mom’s in the bay area and storing what remains of my 31 years in a corner of the garage and some in my so-called room at my mom’s. I also spent time with my sister in San Francisco, had a small gathering with my extended family, went back to Santa Barbara one last time, then Thanksgiving, and finally, doing all the shopping – buying new suits, shoes, Target etc. I knew I would get it all done but I didn’t expect take up so much time so unfortunately, it wasn’t much of a relaxing break before I embark on this journey. Plus time passed by so quickly that it was like my life was rushing through to the end this chapter.

So what is this new chapter? At this point, I know that this definitely is a career move. Someone reminded me that I should make more money in this stage of my life as I have spent my 20s in learning and gaining experiences so it is time for the returned investment. I am also looking to define my profession. You know when you were young, people always asked what do you want to be when you grow up? Well, I still don’t have a defined answer. And since I am not young anymore, I need to figure it out. Personally, I want to get to know myself better. I have never lived alone before so here’s the chance, my friends (especially to those that have nagged me all these years!). As I shrugged to what I am writing here, I think I will mostly just let it ride and see what happens.

Here I am, December 4, 2009 marked as the new chapter of my life. I lived a good life so far and I have only my friends and family to thank for the love and support they have given me. The biggest lesson I have learned from this chapter of my life is the power of friendships and love. I will end today’s blog with this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."