The Green Grass

I have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pacific University….thanks to technology and specifically the lap top. The only other thing I could need is wireless internet connection.

I am enjoying this trip, this journey more than I thought I would. The people here are so kind and sincere, nature so calm and cool and the learning so engaging and dynamic.

The first session is over. I wish that the course would have lasted longer. I thoroughly enjoyed our facilitator as well as the class members. I learned so many concepts, facts and generalizations about Asian and Asian American culture. I made the statement that this feeling should be extended beyond the three day session. And my goal is to continue to develop my skills in all areas of my life including the rich history and tradition of Asians.

There are many keys to life and one includes knowing one’s own self. Cultural self awareness is important and a concept that I will always seek until my last breath. A solid foundation is needed…people need to understand themselves in order to understand others. When I use yahoo driving directions, I find the address of my destination and I also input my location of departure. In order to know the directions of where I am going, I need to know where I am starting from.

Tomorrow my colleagues and I will drive around Oregon. The first day we may take the scenic route of the Columbia River and the next day maybe a trip to the beach…wherever our interests and gas and our sense of directions lead us. I am so glad that I will be here for another week and a half.

I was supposed to meet Chau after the session. I have walked around the campus and was not able to find her. She is very interesting and very compassionate about the same things I am such as life long education, personal and professional development, and helping society. I hope to see her at tonight’s karaoke event.

As I walked around to find her, I came upon a man who I believe was a community member using the college library. He asked me a series of questions about morals and values and the fairness of life. He said that it was not fair for people who have no experience to make decisions and impose their values and egos on others. I told him that I was not sure of his situation but those who have power make the rules. Some things that people can do to have influence with the rules or decisions are to become part of the process through leadership or developing relationships with people who have those capabilities. Life is definitely not fair but we live life to live life and should not necessarily focus and live the regrets of the past.

I tell people all the time that the sign of character is when things go well and when things do not go so well. The latter will let you discover what you will do…stay down and give up or stand up and keep on moving. And sometimes, we will fall often. We should not give up. A great quote from the Batmen Begins movie is the quote “Why do we fall down, so we can learn how to pick ourselves back up.”

I am very fortunate and thankful for all the blessings in my life. I am also aware of one of the concepts of the wicked six…OPPORTUNITIES. In life, we have opportunities whether we know it or not. How do people handle opportunities? Do they take advantage of them or do they let them pass them by?

Also, one has a responsibility to create opportunities for himself as well. Life goes on whether we live our lives fully, half empty or do not live at all. I feel it is very important to live life and live life with values and commitment to service to others. When all is said and done, a person will not be able to take anything with him when he leaves…yet there are so many things that he will be able to leave with others that they can share.

I read a quote from I book I believe was titled The Greatest Success Story in the World. I believe the quote read something like, “If you want to plant for days, plant flowers, if you want to plant for years, plant trees, if you want to plant forever, plant ideas.”

Education and service are two of my values. I plan to live my values daily and evaluate myself and the decisions I make and the things I believe regularly. These are some of the components of strategic planning…gathering ideas, developing a hypothesis, implementing an action and evaluation the action. If things conflict, time for change.

I feel so refreshed and so enlightened. I plan to replicate these feelings and experiences at Richland College and the community.

The journey of life can be a lot more fun with good people. I thank God for all the wonderful people in my life.

Live life to the fullest…live life without regrets….LIVESTRONG!