#Haiku – Transformation
Where is compassion?
A stunning transformation
Angel’s caprices
Twenty-Four Seven | Daily Inkling #7
Just when I think I’m going to be doing haikus for the rest of the year due to my tight schedule…
Blogger “Normal Happenings” has tagged me in an interesting challenge that seems to coincide with a random daily horoscope I received a few days ago from a free Vedic astrology app called Yodha. (By the way, I like your new branding! It’s bold and glowing like a neon sign. 🙂 )
Happy new year! For those of you who are new to my blog, welcome! Thank you so much for following my blog, and I will be swinging by to read yours as well. I see a lot of new faces out there, and I just want to say hi! This is my fun, personal blog where I typically write about all sorts of subjects in a variety of formats: poetry, story, photo-story, music. I’m about to start another blog for school related stuff, but that’ll be shared on another post!
You may wonder how did I encounter Vedic astrology? Well! One day, I was chatting with a young lady about the staggering synchronicity in both our lives, and she told me about how she regularly talks to her Vedic astrologist for all sorts of decisions. She said that she made some of the best business decisions of her life with his guidance and that it is a lot more accurate than western astrology. I was skeptical because there are a lot of quacks out there as you well know, but intrigued nevertheless.
So, I downloaded the free Yodha Daily Horoscope app where authentic Vedic astrologists from Nepal share with you their insights. I started learning more about it. Apparently there are Indian universities that offer advanced courses in Vedic astrology despite scientists protesting about it being a pseudoscience. Jyotisha is the traditional system of Hindu astrology. Its etymology is from the Sanskrit term, “jyoti” meaning “light heavenly body”. The term Vedic astrology came about later around the 70s.
Below are the sort of messages I get. This is one I received this morning:
“Due to your nature, you are a rather positive person. You are someone who can find a silver lining in most of the situations. Perhaps you are aware of this gift and know how to implement it. At times, you can put a smile on your face even when the circumstances don’t naturally warrant it and in doing so you can spread good vibrations to others. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that not everyone has that gift and you may be dealing with someone who doesn’t. The planets are encouraging you to show how it’s done.”
Astrologer P. Bhattarai
Anyway, back to the horoscope that inspired this post! She mentioned how when time and money permits, I enjoy traveling to an exotic locale and experiencing new things. However, lately, I may be seeking a more spiritual experience which may not be a physical location: a journey to understand myself better, gain a deeper understanding of myself, be more conscious and aware. I thought Daily Inkling’s prompt might help me explore this arena!
“Write 24 talking points between current you and you from seven years ago. Consider teaching yourself something you’ve picked up since then.“
Twenty-four Seven
Seven years ago was the year 2013. A pivotal point in my life: the beginning of a lot of new things, drastic changes to my lifestyle. This is a rare occasion when all of my category boxes on my blog have been checked! I’ve chosen 24 random topics to discuss in no particular order: then vs. now!
1) Career
2013: Grocery store cashier – Served a lot of people from all walks of life! I love to meet new people and listening to their stories.
2020: Technical writer for a cybersecurity firm & vacation business manager – nice balance between the two!
2) Books
I read a lot of books during both years, but I’ll just mention two for now:
2013: Shantaram, an epic, philosophical tale of an Australian convict opening up clinics in the slums of India
“Some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again. Some truths are so painful that only shame can help you live with them. Some things are so sad that only your soul can do the crying for them.”
― Gregory David Roberts, Shantaram
2020: The Atlas of Happiness: The Global Secrets of How to be Happy – People worldwide share unique testimonials of what made them happy
Optimism isn’t frivolous: it’s necessary. If we feel hopeless all the time, if we’re always in crisis, the natural response is to give up and stop trying altogether. But we can’t let snark win. Problems are there to be solved. Challenges, to be met. We can be aware of the bad while also being mindful of how we can make it better. … Empathy is essential, and learning what matters to people on the other side of the world helps us all. Understanding how different nations view happiness can impact how we interact with one another going forward.
Helen Russell
3) Friendships
2013: Friends were there to lift my spirits, give me warm cup of tea when going through a new challenge, have fun in the cosplay contests at school. Really enjoyed checking out the Ghostbusters!
2020: All of the above still applies, but my friendships seem to have more depth and honesty. Also, true friendship has a way of helping me see things in myself that I didn’t think was capable.
5) Nature
2013: I took my family and friends to check out the Arboretum gardens in Dallas, TX during special holidays like Mother’s Day
2020: I hope to visit Vanderpool, TX sometime and bask in the warm glow of the “lost maple trees” during autumn
4) Love
2013: Infatuated by a gentle young man I met one beautiful autumn day while feeding the birds at the pier down by the lake. A rather electrifying meeting, though the relationship never developed due to my fear of commitment.
2020: Enjoying a long term relationship of 4 years. Its been a dream come true filled fun adventures, humor, and passion with the normal ups and downs of life.
6) School
2013: Attended community college on a digital forensics academic track. The most memorable project was where I developed a website for a hypothetical geologist living in Colorado. He was studying various types of gemstones he found during his excavations. I researched stories of legends surrounding their origin.
2020: Currently working on an online masters program for technology and innovation management track. The most memorable project so far involved a hypothetical four million dollars granted to me to develop a civil engineering software application from start to finish.
7) Volunteer Cause
2013: I worked with a group of friends with Habitat for Humanity. Learned a lot about house building and painting!
2020: Currently helping a school teacher collect cans and plastics with the Rotary Club for a contest with Pepsi Co.
8) Music
9) Recreation
2013: Had a thing for barre workouts!
2020: About to do Hot Yoga with my cowokers!
10) Sustainability
2013: Back when Google+ was around, I heavily got involved with a sustainability discussion group for many hours. The discussions intrigued me. I wanted to learn how to be eco-friendly and be up to date with all of it.
2020: I’m itching to get plugged into community initiatives regarding sustainability issues. They’re looking for ideas, and I hope to contribute in someway!
11) Blogging
2013: I fancied the idea of being a student blogger on campus. I applied, but was turned down for the position. It may have been because the writing sample I sent was about the sound of a lovely bell ringing off in the distance as I was walking around the campus lake to class. Maybe they want more samples about student life? 🙂
Below is the walkway of the lovely campus I used to walk by often.
2020: Didn’t matter! Here I am blogging my heart out on my own without anyone else’s approval! I don’t know why I thought of it sooner! 😉
Blogging my thoughts has been a freeing, exciting experience. Thank you to my readers for making the experience so worthwhile!
12) Fashion Interests
2013: Bold floral-print Sunday dresses
2020: Bandage skirts, Currently love them! Sorry no picture of me in them, but I love to wear them with leggings
13) Television
2013: 30 Rock, CSI Miami, Supernatural, Glee
2020: Meteor Garden, Witcher, Miraculous Lady Bug
14) Movies
2013: Frozen, Iron Man III, Man of Steel, The Croods, Monsters University
2020: Star Wars (2019), want to see Mulan, Artemis Fowl, Sonic
15) News
There were a lot of news stories that deeply affected me and my path trajectory.
2013: Nelson Mandela’s death, Boston Marathon bombing, Edward Snowden
Nelson Mandela was a leader whom I was captivated by. Boston Marathon and Edward Snowden prompted my interests in security.
The news story above impacts me because it deals with one of my favorite childhood pastimes. My first major Lego project was a pirate ship. Always fascinated by adventure even then! Will be going to a Lego Brick Fiesta event with some friends this year to indulge in this interest!
16) Sports
2013: Followed Maria Sharapova tennis matches quite a bit since I practiced developing my forearm swing at the tennis courts!
2020: I might go check out some Spurs basketball players play! Matt Bonner signed my basketball. He was so down-to-earth and friendly!
17) Technology
2013: I was really curious about consumer drones. Always felt tempted to buy one to take awesome aerial photos and videos from the sky!
2020: Right now, I’m super curious about the Click and Grow smart garden!
18) Favorite Hang-out spots
2013: White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX
I enjoyed walking sections around this park almost every day. Seeing the scenery change with the seasons is a great beauty. I once walked around the whole park which took four hours! There are some incredibly beautiful views, expansive hiking trails, fishing spots. There’s also a well known ghost story as well about the Lady of White Rock Lake! One of my favorite memories is sitting on a wooden bench on top of a hill and seeing the sunset as the breeze is blowing the tall grasses.
2020: Riverwalk & Pearsall Park in San Antonio, TX
I enjoy walking downtown and checking out the riverboats with curious spectators gliding by in this river. At night, it’s bustling with tourist activity. Families and couples are dining in the restaurants. Some of my favorite memories here was when my brother visited me and we got to listen to a beautiful mariachi band singing a lovely serenade and when my boyfriend and I celebrated Christmas slow dancing in the island platform.
Image by: Thrillist
I love to go jogging here with my exercise buddy early mornings! The fields and the hills are incredible. Breathing in the fresh cold air is refreshing.
19) Languages
2013: I was trying to continue my Spanish studies on Babbel
2020: Duolingo’s mascot, a little owl, has been guiding me in learning Spanish and Vietnamese basics. It’s been fun learning from their podcasts too!
20) Theatre
2013: For an English literature assignment, I had the opportunity to watch a live Shakespearean comedic play, Taming of the Shrew.
2020: Curious about the Miss Saigon musical in town!
21) Environment
2013: Fascinated by Google’s chart that compiled deforestation rates by country
2020: Currently checking out Mongobay’s environmental snippet summary
22) Health
2013: Learned about Healthcare.gov’s crashing website as millions of Americans tried to sign up for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. Stress is relative though!
2020: Everyone around me is getting the flu! Got my flu shot. Learning about personalized AI medical care innovations
23) Games
2013: Played Juice Cubes a bit!
2020: Curious about Smash Hit and Megaman Zero!
24) Quote I lived by
2013: Eleanor Roosevelt impacted me from an early age.
“Do the thing you think you cannot do. You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
2020: Right now, these below! More to come later!
Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction
Germany Kent
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
Socrates
That was fun! See you soon everyone! Hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
SoCS: 2020 Vision – Happy New Year!
Happy new year everyone! I hope you all had a blessed day! Cheers to new dreams and goals ahead with powerful declarations for the future. You’re worthy of great things in your lives and I hope that you will live up to your full potential.
I’ve been relaxing, tidying up my room, enjoying time with the family, and entranced by a variety of shows on Netflix. Growing up, I had terrible vision, and always needed glasses. I always wondered what it would be like to see with 20/20 vision with full clarity.
What does my vision for 2020 look like? Maybe it can be clearer with the help of this really thoughtful gift my coworker gave me as my Secret Santa this past Christmas. He knows I enjoy blogging, and I’m very excited to explore these quotes! Here’s one I’ll think about:
“I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.”
Frank Lloyd Wright
2019 feels like a blur to me! From computer networking classes to public speaking classes, it’s been a journey of self-improvement. The ideas from the pictures and phrases that I glued to my vision board this year started manifesting left and right. I don’t know why I feel surprised. It’s typically a fun, relaxing craft activity for me. To be honest, the metaphysics behind the mysterious “Law of Attraction” still fascinates me. Maybe, I see what I want to see. Regardless, it’s been an interesting year and there are stories to tell!
I can share one story. I cut and pasted an intriguing quote I found in Forbes magazine from Douglas Baker Jr., CEO of Ecolabs. Curious to know why he was 2017’s Person of the Year by Twin Cities Business.
“Our focus is delivering clean water safe food, abundant energy, and healthy environments. These needs are fundamental and transcend economic ups and downs. Wherever water needs to be conserved, food needs to be safe, energy is required, and people seek healthier environments, we will find opportunity.”
Douglas Baker Jr.
One evening, the president of the local Rotary Club invites me to a meeting to see what’s new in the community. The Rotary Club’s central causes are: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.
I’ve been on the fence about joining because of other obligations. Despite my reasons related to time, I find myself participating in and feeling enthused by their community projects.
So, that evening a communication arts teacher shares with us a recycling contest the school has joined with Pepsi Co. My ears perked up. I’ve been looking for an environmental cause post-graduation. I immediately got to work and started to partner with the local Wal-marts and Mary Kay representatives to collect aluminum cans and type 1 and type 2 plastics. I’ve been collecting at my friends’ holiday parties as well.
My car smells soda and the scent has been attracting honey bees. My poor guests have been carefully shooing them out the window. I haven’t been able to drop them off at the school because the facilities are closed for the holidays. Thank goodness my boyfriend offered his truck to help which reminds me of this song!
In response to:
- Sheryl’s Daily Word Prompt: Declaration
- Linda G Hill’s SoCS: Year
- Fandango’s Word Challenge: Honest
Moments in December
“Topology is the science of fundamental pattern and structural relationships of event constellations.”
R. Buckminster Fuller
Partaking in the sweet delights that start with P
Peppermints, Prunes, Pudding, Parfaits
Relishing in a blogging sabbatical
Capturing beautiful scenes
Snapshots through my lens
Swimming in scholarly research
Computer networking class investigations
Challenging me beyond belief
Navigating among puzzling topologies
Sailing the network infrastructure
Listening to holiday live orchestra
Created by Air Force’s talented musicians
Looking forward to Breakfast with St. Nick
Playing arcade games and bowling with friends
Enjoying my coworker’s Secret Santa mission
A Russian gentleman’s favorites
Color black, Rock n’ Roll, Extreme Hot Cheetos
Playing music & games, Reading the night away
Black gift bag filled with goodies
Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro 2033
Rolling Stones Circus Expanded Edition
Coffee-scented snifty pen
Terminator button pin
Gothic pocket watch
I write Leo Tolstoy’s quote
Inside a greeting card of a festive cat staring at a gift box
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Hope you are enjoying the holiday season! 🙂
Life’s Too Short
“We only have one life and one body to care of, and we better do it right. You never know what tomorrow may bring and so we better live this life the best we can and be grateful for everything we have.”
Novak Djokovic
I want to wish all of my readers a very happy Thanksgiving! Life outside the blog-o-sphere has been very busy. Tried a confetti creamed corn recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe for a few potluck dinners I was invited to, and though it doesn’t quite look like her pictures 😉 it was still a great hit!
Rory’s Challenge? 3 quotes. 2 songs. 1 image…
Once again, I over-delivered! Take care everyone! ❤
Tell the Story – Marceline’s Stage Fright
Inescapable
Nowhere to turn but the now
Moon is spotlighting
After meeting with lobbyists from various advocacy groups all day, Princess Marceline attempted to sleep. Despite residing in the comfort of her castle, she was entangled in her sheets and unable to rest in her bed as she tossed and turned. In her dream, she was supposed to pitch several ideas and initiatives to help her country recover from the damage caused by war by presenting a speech in front of the people she served. Wearing a brilliant blue gown designed by fashion designer, Pierre, she marveled at the beauty of the intricate lacy French brocade near her wrists.
She pulled the curtains aside and stepped forward out to the balcony. As her subjects’ eyes attentively stared back at her, Marceline’s typical poise was disturbed by her inability to speak. She suddenly remembered something that a dear friend once shared with her which elevated her spirit.
“Surfing in crowds is like mind over matter. If I don’t mind it don’t matter.”
Brodus Rogers
Her trembling was imperceptible from such a far distance, but she refused to be daunted by the anxiety of her temporary muteness. She drew in strength from her loyal, dedicated audience and smiled. She turned to her interpreter on the right and began performing sign language. The interpreter read her hands and began speaking into the mike and out to the crowd before her, “Thank you for coming out today. Contrary to a popular critic’s prediction that the crowd will not come out due to the cold and rain, it seems like today is quite the exception!” Marceline slowly felt the anxiety melt away as the crowd cheered in unison.
Lucid dreams present
A chance to change the outcome
Dignity and charm
Inspired by the prompts below:
- Tell the Story – Jenna’s castle
- 3TC – pitch, comfort, surf
- RDP – imperceptible
- Daily Word Prompt – elevate
- FOWC – lobby
- Word of the Day Challenge – prediction
- Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday – Haibun: Grace & Style (synonyms only)
Wordless Wednesdays – The City that Never Sleeps
