GROUPON DAY

My mom texted me the other day, reminding me of how I used to be
when it comes to art projects, specifically coloring books.
She texted me this way,

"Do you remember when you were young, maybe around 7 years old,
I was preparing breakfast one day at 6 in the morning,
and you went down after me with squinted eyes to the kitchen?
I was so surprised but I just observed.
You were carrying your coloring books with you.
You pulled a chair, you laid down 70+ colored pencils
with your 4 coloring books and started working on one.
And instead of greeting me "Good morning!", you asked,
"Do you know that there's a shade called PERIWINKLE?"
and I started joining you because I was so
surprised to hear what you just shared to me.
I thought that was the cutest ever!"

OK! She didn't include that last statement in her message.
But I thought that's what she wanted to say back then
but knowing my mom, she has her silent approach when it comes
to giving in EMOTIONALLY.

As I was checking what's featured on GROUPON almost everyday,
on that day she sent me the message,
I came across a feature in Groupon about this 4hour DIY (Do-it-yourself) art jam.
I purchased it after checking the deadline for usage and
how accessible it will be for me to go at the location.
(Yep! The drill in purchasing from GROUPON
besides knowing if it will interest you,
benefit you or if it's cheap enough.)
Holidays came by and so did the Chinese New Year
that I totally forgot about the purchase.

Anyways, I was talking to Aaron Jan (AJ) one time, and I don't know how he ended
up saying, "PERIWINKLE!" and that reminded me to call "Coloring Art" to book a session.



As I reached the place, it was totally true how they described what to expect.

• High quality drawing tools (different sized brushes and very nice quality paints, you will be provided with your own working apron and 30cm x 40 cm canvas)
• Free flow of drinks (with choices such as lemon tea, green tea, apple juice)
• Relaxed atmosphere for creativity and bonding if you're doing it with your kids, family, relatives, friends and/or partners (they were playing an array of classical music, mellow ones and laid back tunes to enhance the brain's artistic function; it was pretty calm and quiet too)
• It was accessible to Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok stations (I used my iphone to track the address provided in groupon so it didn't really give me difficulty finding the building - meaning, groupon care of Ko's Building, provided a reliable and accurate address - just fabulous!)
• Washing equipment and lockers are provided if needed.

The moment I saw my workstation, I've let myself settle after coming from the lieu so that I would be good for the next 2 hours at least. (And it was really clean, let me tell you that. I'm sorry I had to include this information, that is important for me.) I started stretching my hands, reviewing all the images that I might work on, putting out my earphones and played my "own" music. I already came up with a playlist of acoustic sounds for my own ease.

Surprisingly, all that I planned to draw didn't make an appeal
when I was about to start. It all changed when I saw the kind of paint I'm going to work on. I told myself, I have to use as much colors so as to maximize the worth of my GROUPON indulgence. Practicality my friends!

I thought, I should work on something else during my days off without
letting go of what I'm truly passionate for. This is actually an application
of an important point I learned from the book, "Happiness Project".
It was suggested there that if you're in a situation where
you don't know what to choose, choose work or something about it.
So, I considered our costume, the jungle skirt for an inspiration.



Every time I swing it around for a performance,
there's an unexplainable high with it, most especially,
when I share the stage with passionate and dedicated bodies of exploding talent.
I never knew it would come out like this.



I never had a formal training or education
about shadowing, shading or critical sketching.
Though once, I imagined myself working for Disney not as a performer
but to be an animator. But, my mother didn't agree with it.
She suggested being an architect is what I should pursue rather than be
an artist. According to her, (or like almost all of the elders of her generation),
being an artist will never put food on the table.
Of course, she was just being cautious and protective of my future.
Going back, besides the fact that I was a Disney baby,
that I adored and memorized, Beauty and the Beast,
Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin, Pocahontas and the Lion King
and many more,
I was fascinated with the colors that they used most especially with
Lion King and Little Mermaid.
I haven't let go of that dream as I did this project.

I had just let go of myself.
I had just been me.... for the complete 3 hours.
And it's .... actually, AMAZING.

To my mom, you have never forgotten.
I thank you for that.

Happiness PROJECT

There was a struggle in me whether I should come up with one of my own as I went thru this book right before the new year came. I stumbled across it in the Hong Kong International Airport on my way to Samoa. As obsessive-compulsive as I may become, in following airline rules, there's no controlling me if it's about maintaining safety on board the trip. I knew that mobile phones would be requested to be shut down. Therefore, my iPhone (though it has that airplane mode) would be useless for 10 hours! I just "had" to get a book.

Last November, 2011, books about Steve Jobs had gone wild. You could see his face all over magazine stalls, bookstores and news stands.... big and small, on hard bound and soft bound covers with a very tempting ad that goes, "You want to be as rich as Steve Jobs???" that would really make you grab it and go. It was expensive let me tell you that! But I was on a tight budget and I was on my way to a vacation that I want to hold on to as much cash as I can. Since I didn't know how it is in Samoa in terms of usage of credit cards if worse comes to worst, I went around and looked a little more. I saw this book at a dim corner. At first, I was judging my own self for being pathetic in choosing this book because it seems like I am admitting to myself that I got attracted to it because I sense UNHAPPINESS in me. But I managed to ignore the thought and like how I always convince myself (when purchasing reading materials), I thought, "It's for research purposes! You'll never know how it may serve you later on!".

Come on the plane, after getting settled and all, I started reading the the book. Needless to say, it was true after all.... it's not that my life was stable that I could absolutely say I'm happy. I am not taking little blessings for granted. Hear me out. I read this book, "RULES OF LIFE" where it suggests that being "HAPPY" is too much to wish for. It is just too vast of an emotion that the pursuit of it is almost impossible. I agreed with what it suggested that people, in general don't get happy unless satisfied. Say for example, if you get to eat 3 times a day, sometimes, it wouldn't satisfy you if it doesn't come with dessert; or it wouldn't satisfy you if it's not in a fancy restaurant; or it wouldn't satisfy you if you're not going to be served well.... and these demands could go on and on and you and I know that it may never stop. So, this book, basically convinces the person to go down a notch by pursuing "SATISFACTION" instead of "HAPPINESS"... And you can go from there.

Going back to the book, "HAPPINESS PROJECT", it pushed me into maximizing my potential in all aspects. Career, relationships and status. My personal argument regarding "HAPPINESS" vs "SATISFACTION" had once again given life. Bits and pieces of Gretchen Rubin's experiences (the author) are similar to mine. Though very stable, I admire her for admitting how limited she was and the extension of her humility to doing something about it in order to be happier. Moreover, convincing other people to change for the better too. I never came up with my personal commandments, nor my personal resolutions but it seems that I was starting to apply them altogether subconsciously. I've put her theories into action and oftentimes, I see it very beneficial to my own life. I sat down and thought about it again. Since, it got all woven to completion, first month of the year, the book meant goodness and balance, why not, go for it after all!!!!

Let me start with my 12 resolutions adapting Gretchen's style:
1. Get energized.
2. Try something new.
3. Focus on one thing at a time.
4. Be real, be Kyte.
5. Share more.
6. Let go.
7. Identify the Problem.
8. Stand up for what's right.
9. Make it happen.
10. Spend out.
11. Be there.
12. There is only love.

There you go....

In beginning this blog, I gave myself one rule, "JUST" write about happy experiences. But from now on, some of my blog entries would be confirming to these personal commandments. What I learned from reading "The Happiness Project" was that, it's hard to realize that you're happy about something when you haven't experienced a devastating loss or great absence of it to make you see further on how it makes you appreciate the happiness that that "something" brings. So, to make it more realistic, interesting and natural, I may start to share events that helped me grow up, challenges that made me test my attitude and memoirs that may be upsetting at first but for sure got underlying reason and purpose. Again, you all are free to share your opinion by commenting, sharing and suggesting.

Be happy!!!!

Related posts:
1. THE 30 MAJOR CAUSES OF FAILURE - A selected part of the book by Napoleon Hill entitled, "Think & Grow Rich"
2. RICH DAD POOR DAD - Wanting to know the secret of getting rich? Read this review of the book that leads you to it.
3. HOW TO SAVE HK$5000 IN 52 WEEKS - You have the urge to save but have a system in doing it. Here's how.