Day 6: feels like I've been here for a while
Southeast Asia is a new and exotic place for me and I definitely didn't know what to expect when I threw myself into this melting pot of dizzying color, flavor and culture. But they say sometimes it's better to not have any expectations at all, that way anything that happens is adventure versus one disappointment after another.
And I must say, this trip so far has been a smooth highway with very few potholes. Anything that goes wrong or isn't exactly what you expected it to be just like rain; without you rain, sunshine just doesn't seem that wonderful and a blessing everyday. I already had many disappointing moments, some that turned out better than it could have been and some that were amazing and I'll never forget them. I think it's all about balance. The balance of the good and the bad and the million things in between. It's like missing someone when they're gone, but not knowing how much you'd actually miss them until they're not there anymore. I haven't studied Buddhism to quote anything about it but the basic idea of being happy with what you have and appreciating it, coincides well with what I am talking about. Accepting what you have and embrace sing it rather than wishing you had something else instead. Change is almost always possible so in situations where you are not happy, sometimes all it takes is some kind words or selfless gesture. You'll never know what will happen if you don't go for it. As a very smart man once said to me; "Live for the probably nots but the just in cases", thanks R.B. :) So go out there and be careless, be free, be who you feel you are inside but might never let it be seen by others. It might be something as small as crossing that busy street that you were always afraid to cross or something as big as changing careers when all you've known has been one thing. Step out of your comfort zone. Too many of us get so comfortable with whatever state our life is in that we forget our dreams and aspirations. Those dreams that used to carry you through a hard day at work or a long day at school. That little haven in your mind where you go when everything else gets too hard. Find it and open it up for possibilities. Let it become real and not just a dream. Big or small, young or old; say 'YES' to possibilities, say 'YES' to life. You'll be surprised where it will take you. Whether you succeed or whether you fail in your quest, whatever it may be, new possibilities are right around the corner, waiting to be explored. Even if it's bad, it's never as bad as it seems. After the storm, there will be calm.
So as I sit here on a small bus, going down winding roads as the sun is slowly setting over lush green hills and mountains, I realize that life is just like these roads. Sometimes it's nice and straight with no sharp turns but sometimes it's sharp turn after another which comes with the uncertainty of whether whatever is waiting for you around that corner is good or bad. So keep on riding and forget expectations, just dive right in!
And I must say, this trip so far has been a smooth highway with very few potholes. Anything that goes wrong or isn't exactly what you expected it to be just like rain; without you rain, sunshine just doesn't seem that wonderful and a blessing everyday. I already had many disappointing moments, some that turned out better than it could have been and some that were amazing and I'll never forget them. I think it's all about balance. The balance of the good and the bad and the million things in between. It's like missing someone when they're gone, but not knowing how much you'd actually miss them until they're not there anymore. I haven't studied Buddhism to quote anything about it but the basic idea of being happy with what you have and appreciating it, coincides well with what I am talking about. Accepting what you have and embrace sing it rather than wishing you had something else instead. Change is almost always possible so in situations where you are not happy, sometimes all it takes is some kind words or selfless gesture. You'll never know what will happen if you don't go for it. As a very smart man once said to me; "Live for the probably nots but the just in cases", thanks R.B. :) So go out there and be careless, be free, be who you feel you are inside but might never let it be seen by others. It might be something as small as crossing that busy street that you were always afraid to cross or something as big as changing careers when all you've known has been one thing. Step out of your comfort zone. Too many of us get so comfortable with whatever state our life is in that we forget our dreams and aspirations. Those dreams that used to carry you through a hard day at work or a long day at school. That little haven in your mind where you go when everything else gets too hard. Find it and open it up for possibilities. Let it become real and not just a dream. Big or small, young or old; say 'YES' to possibilities, say 'YES' to life. You'll be surprised where it will take you. Whether you succeed or whether you fail in your quest, whatever it may be, new possibilities are right around the corner, waiting to be explored. Even if it's bad, it's never as bad as it seems. After the storm, there will be calm.So as I sit here on a small bus, going down winding roads as the sun is slowly setting over lush green hills and mountains, I realize that life is just like these roads. Sometimes it's nice and straight with no sharp turns but sometimes it's sharp turn after another which comes with the uncertainty of whether whatever is waiting for you around that corner is good or bad. So keep on riding and forget expectations, just dive right in!
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