Run For Your Life

I fell in love with running. It wasn't love at first sight. It was more like a curiosity when I started back in April 2012. An old couch potato like me tried to take up running? Then I discovered that running is pretty similar to life. Both require endurance, patience, perseverance, commitment & humility. Both demand I be happy with who I am and be content with my own progress. Comparing myself to others, whether in life or running, only lead to self destruction. I will always find someone who is doing a better job than me and I will get discouraged or worst I will quit. I will always find somebody I'm doing a better job than and I will be filled with foolish pride or worst I will be arrogant. It takes a lot of practice to be gratified with whatever today's achievement in running (whether it's 1K, 10K, 21K or 42.195K) and in life (whether it's daydreaming, getting promotion, inventing something or making world peace).  Practice makes perfect. Life is good. 
I'm in love. 

The First Race

Running Journal by Outodbox, made from Brooks shoe box

Most-Loved Running Track

Moving On

I have zillion art stuff. I'm literally running out of space at home! I'm going to rent a work space for my art studio. Packing can be a daunting and overwhelming task. To make it less so...buy the best looking cardboard of the same size & design to avoid clutter; make up titles for each box to organize things; and create a mantra to keep you insane. Repeat after me: change is good, change is necessary to grow! :-)

Wish You Were Here

If you miss someone you love, sleep in her or his clothing article. Feel like they are hugging you. Feel cozy and warmhearted like drinking a cup of hot mint tea on a lazy afternoon :-)

Catch Of The Day #9

Empty Nest

Loss of purpose, depression, feelings of rejection, worry, stress, or anxiety over the welfare of a child? According to Wikipedia I'm suppose to feel all those feelings as a parent when my only daughter left home to live on her own for the first time. Yet I feel excited as she is writing a new chapter of her new life in Vancouver. Yes, it's quieter now around the house but I have all the time in the world for myself now. Guess Wikipedia is not so reliable after all! Empty Nest has so much energy & possibilities.  Life is awesome! :-) 

The Lands Beyond

My only daughter, Dena, is moving to Vancouver for college. Her life packed in two suitcases + a guitar case. She will be 8,289 miles away from me, I will be 14 hours ahead of her. Have an awesome life journey sayang! Remember Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth when you were in grade 5? Go swim in the Sea of Knowledge, hop to the Island of Conclusions, visit Kingdom of Wisdom and watch out for Terrible Trivium & Senses Taker in the Mountains of Ignorance! I'm going to terribly miss you.

Map from The Phantom Tollbooth, Illustration by Jules Feiffer

Eye Spy #3

My favorite voice in the world + delightful drawing = Life is good

See You Letter

My friend lent me her precious letter paper & envelope so I can up-cycle them into a journal. Last month when I had a once in a life time chance to write a letter, I couldn't find any letter paper in any book store. The sale girls looked at me with a puzzled look like I'm some kind of a weirdo from another planet when I asked for letter paper. Who has the time to write letter in an e-world these days? In a fast world patience is such a lonely word.

One

One friend with amazing collection of cute & whimsical letter paper/stationary + One artbin full of art tools + One cassette = One sunny afternoon filled with cutting, gluing, measuring, binding, sewing & giggling. I love letter paper. I used to collect them when I was small.  I love getting letters; they always put a smile on my face and brighten any day. I'm such an old soul lost in the e-world and i-world :-)

Catch Of The Day #8