Blessed to have JJ and DD

I remember, and often relive those moments that I felt to touched and proud of JJ and DD.  The hard work, the talent, and the perseverance of JJ and DD. The years of learning Chinese, thousands of hours of practicing piano, the pain, burden, suffering, defeats, and triumph.  I remember DD practice Beethovan's tempest for the entire year, confident that he is as good as anyone, but did not win the competition.  He cried at the announcement.  My heart bleeds with him. 

I can understand that when I struggle in my PhD study, going into the fourth year, Dad comforted me telling me that if I really don't want it, I should just stop, which made me worked harder and eventually finished it.  I remember when I was in my last year of high school, had not exercised for a long time and joined the running competition, passing the finish line, I ran out of strength and fell to the harsh ground, scrapped my entire right side of the body and bleed with mom and dad watching in horror.  I know how worried they are and I know they much be very proud of me. After raising JJ and DD, I understand how much pain a parent can go thru when they see their kids struggle. The even more difficult one is that you have to know that they will have to face the journey alone.

But it is not only the fact of life that we have to face and overcome the challenges, in the end, but there is also sweetness in the defeat if we have strived.  The experience we gain, the scar we endure, they build character and form the building blocks for your future journey.  Trying is already worth the effort.

Truth, Good and Beauty

These are the three virtues that we are after.  They are also a journey.  We pursue them in stages in our lives.  During the first 20 years, we observe the world, memorize many of the facts, in the twenties to forties, we apply that knowledge to better our surroundings, we work hard for our selves, for our family, and for the community.  Then we gradually shift our focus to peace and beauty in our later stages - the things that make us content and happy.

The cycle continues in our lives, we continue to learn, to apply and to appreciate. How to balance the three is the lesson that we have to practice and refine throughout our years.