Take It As Is.

Indulge
Go for it, do what you want to do.
Do it too much.
Life's too short not to take it all in,
So why not?

Invigorate.
Feel refreshed and relaxed.
You can never be too relaxed.
All work and no play makes you really boring.
Feel new again. And again. And again.

Innovate.
Change the way you think.
Be a little different, its okay.
Having your own identity will make people remember you.

Invest.
Take your time with everything.
Make sure its time well spent.
Give your self a break, it can only do you good.

Inspire.
Share advice, listen to others.
Be yourself and be there.
Be all ears, and you will be rewarded.

Iterate.
Rinse and repeat.
Live your life to the fullest.

我爱你

Its funny how different cultures handle different things.

For example, the use of the word love is a very interesting subject.

A subject that is relative to every human being, but handled differently by different cultures.

High context cultures, like Chinese culture, have a strong sense of tradition and history, 

and change little over time.

Low context cultures, like American culture, change 

dramatically from one generation to the next.

People from high context cultures don’t say things clearly or specifically,

but instead derive meaning from the context – what you might call ‘reading between the lines.’ 

In low context cultures, people generally say what they mean.

In American culture, for example, people usually mean what they say.

American culture is usually more black and white (no pun intended...).

Its clear and generally most words don't change meaning upon context.

Brother usually means exactly that, even if the context changes.

From what I get from my friends who are Chinese or know much about Chinese culture,

they don't words like "love" or "commitment" lightly. 

In the Chinese culture, actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to love.

To the Chinese mind, if someone does all these things for you, then you should know they love you. 

Its almost like it doesn't have to be said, but more felt.

If someone Chinese says ‘I love you’ in English, it’s like touching someone’s arm who is wearing a coat. 

But if they say it in Chinese it’s like touching the skin, it’s very sensitive. 

‘Wo ai ni’ is very specific. It means responsibility, commitment, loyalty, if you say it.

'Wo ai ni' isn't like saying I love you in American culture. 

People say I love you a lot in American culture, but don't always mean it like that.

Those three words have lost its meaning in American culture.

If a Chinese person said "I love you" often, the other person may think that maybe you don't really love them because you say it too much. 

In Chinese culture, to say ‘I love you’ is too touchy, too creepy; it opens one up too much. 

So people find other ways rather than say it directly

Instead, one might say "If I had a next life, I would like to be your husband/wife."

They would find that phrase flattering without being too touchy feely.

"我爱你," or Wo Ai Ni, is hard to say for some Chinese, because it essentially means a solid commitment.

Love is more passionate, more intimate, than Western or American Culture. 

I think love should be that way, not all of this "we're seeing each other," or "we're dating now" stuff.

If love is to ever retain its more valuable meaning, love should be more reserved and passionate.

I know, I sound like a dork, but its true. 

But through it all every culture has a kind of a "sixth sense" :

Even if we don’t speak, you can sense what I sense; you can feel what I feel. 

We Missed the Train

During the Holidays, there was a special train that went around Chicago.
People said the train lit up like a Christmas tree; it had flashing lights,
brightly colored pictures and ornaments covering it.
There were even reindeer manning the head of the train as if it were Santa's sleigh.
Old St. Nick supposedly rode the train bringing people joy and Holiday cheer as well as tons and tons of candy.

This train only ran on certain routes on certain days, at certain times,
so you'd be lucky to catch the Holiday train.

One day, my roommate and I peered outside our window to see the glorious sight of the Holiday train.
It looked exactly how everyone described it. Bright, flamboyant, and cheery.
Like children on Christmas morning, we quickly put on our coats, grabbed our keys and dashed out to see if we could catch the train.

We got to the platform, panting and out of breath, as we saw the motorized sleigh wheel off.
We told each other we were gonna wait for the next one, in the bitter cold hiding under the heat lamps.
Ten minutes later, we hear a train, but it wasn't the one I was looking for. 20 minutes pass, still no sign of the train.

By then it was about 6 o'clock. We decided its totally worth it to wait for the train just a little longer.
Another train comes and goes, but no Holiday cheer. Another, then another, still nothing but the cold seats of the regular trains and the bitter wind chipping away at our faces.

Around the brink of frost-bite, we asked one of the conductors on the train if the Holiday train is still running.
"No, I'm sorry sir, but the Holiday train stops running at around 5 o'clock."

Disappointed, we said thank you and briskly walked back to our door 300 feet away from the platform.
We waited over an hour for this train, the train that didn't come. We missed it, the train that would've been a joy to catch.

I hate waiting around for something that's not coming.
Moral of the story.