Reflection, dreams and hope

Source: Positive Thoughts

It’s mid-December now. Two more weeks to go and the year will change. How fast time flies!

So, how do you feel? Has 2014 been good to you? Is there any improvement or reaching on goals and resolutions that you made previously? Any of your dreams have come true?

Generally, 2014 has been a good year. So far most things have gone smoothly. Most importantly, all of us are blessed with a very good health. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!!

My dream to travel to a new place each year has come true. It was not only traveling to one place, but also to many unexpected places such as Korea, Tasmania, and Russia. I’ve spent a good and quality holiday time with my parents, spouse, son, siblings, besties, friends, and so on.

Those were such amazing places where I met up with many different type of people, tasted different kinds of food, experienced different cultures, looked at many different kind of sceneries, enjoyed many different kind of seasons – from snows to autumn, autumn to summer, tasting different kinds of alcohol, and so on.

Career and development wise – it is almost the same with not much changes. Hehe… I am not such an ambitious woman. Sometimes I envy those who dreams high to continue study or to get promoted. But to think back again with time that I enjoyed, it’s all worth it just to stay in ordinary life.

Do you remember the reason why I skipped my cycling and yoga class recently? It was due to watch the Korean drama on TV. Today the series has finally come to the end. But since I have appointment with besties tonight, I watched the last episode from Youtube instead, last night.

Wang's Family - Pic source: Google.com

The title of the drama is Wang’s Family. It depicts the challenges that Korean society and families facing in real life, such as: money, love, relationship between parent and child, husband and wife, in-laws relationship, etc. The hardship to maintain the marriage was apparently difficult and many would have to face many hurdles to be together again.

When I first watched it, I pitied the family because when I thought the storm should have been over, it was actually not ending yet. Things even got worsen each and every day. One by one the problems kept coming up and seemed like it would never end.

At the last episode, as expected (as what drama usually has to end with), it’s all back to good again. What I loved most was the last part where 30 years later, the adults in family gathered together in their living room and each of them told what they have become. Most of them told their current status, on which most of them were successful and rich – Vice President, famous handbag designer, famous writer, Pizza chain owner, owner of 3rd biggest company in Korea, Captain, and so on.

But the wise parents and grandma who experienced much more hardship than the younger generation and once experienced the bedridden situation were commenting differently. “Writer, Captain, business owner… Who cares if you couldn’t be those? One shouldn’t be too greedy. One day when you are old, money doesn’t matter anymore. But being healthy, it’s all that matters.”

One of the daughters, a career woman who spent most of her time working and earning more money commented with a slight regret, “I wonder why I worked so hard. I should have enjoyed myself more.”

“The outcome isn’t important in life. Every step that you take is more important” – which means enjoy more on the journey to reach the destination rather than the destination itself – was said by the father.

The main male actor who faced lots of hurdles and obstacles like bankruptcy, divorce due to third party, separation with kids and loved ones in the drama gave his short but truthful comment, “Having an ordinary life is not easy.” 

Pic source: Google.com

And at the end, the grandma who aged more than 100 years said according to her vast experience, “Even if you work hard, it will end the same way. You come empty handed, and leave that way too.” 

In fact, I felt relieved hearing their comforting words. First, to have an ordinary life, in fact, isn’t easy. When you have your life journey too simple, you will be tempted to make it complicated. 

E.g. when your marriage and career go smoothly, you can easily get bored. You want more excitement, and temptation can come easily from the oncoming of third party – in this case, affair; want to pursue further study (thus leaving your families back home and somehow temptation can happen to both couple); want to be promoted to higher position, status and to earn more money (thus less time spent for own self, families, and friends, and gained more stress and pressure on daily life, which at the end affected own health), etc.

Although my life is kind of simple, I enjoy each second of it. I spend most of my time doing things what I love doing, such as: traveling, writing, reading, cycling, watching some interesting TV programs, spending time with families and friends, etc. Work life balance is very important for me. Time to work, I will work wholeheartedly. Time to rest, I will rest fully. Time to socialize, I will socialize accordingly.

Learning doesn’t mean to open the book and earn certificate, diploma, or degree. Learning can be many things. Even learning from various people’s experience in life is also an interesting learning in life.

How much is enough? It will never be enough if you never feel content in your heart. And every goal you reach, there is consequence in return. So, choose wisely in life on what you want to do and prepare your next year resolution soon!!!

Live simply, love much, laugh often, and dream big. These four simple guides will be enough to maintain my simple life yet to the fullest, because at the end of the day, just like the grandma said, “You come empty handed, and leave that way too.” 

Live your life to the fullest!!! :)

Enjoy the rest of the time left in 2014 and embrace the New Year with open heart and positive mind!!! Not forgetting, enjoy the journey and be happy! :)