The Search

Recently, a friend of mine had been contemplating career choices and one of the topics we talked about was happiness.

She said that for the past 12 years of her life, she had been living under the fear of not having enough, not earning enough. Hence, she always chose a job that gave her that. There's nothing wrong with it but now after 12 years, she says she realised that she has not been and is not happy. I wonder if it is the fear of not having enough or the pain of not doing what she liked that was talking. She isn't the only one who has told me the same thing over the last few years.

Happiness is something people often search their whole lives for. People feel happy for different reasons. Some people feel that happiness comes with a price. Some people feel that happiness comes for free. I like to think of it as a little of both.

To me, happiness is like air. It's always around and you don't have to pay for it most of the time. Happiness arises even in the smallest of things- a good day with clear blue sky, a good meal, a good chat with a dear friend. There are many opportunities for happiness. If that is the case, why do so many people feel unhappy? I am inclined to think that we like unhappiness more than happiness because we seem very happy to live with it.

There are times you can buy happiness. I sure feel very happy when I buy something I like or know that I have the ability to buy something I like. Yet, there are times you can't have it even if you paid for it.

There are times when happiness comes with a price - when it requires much sacrifice, whether from oneself or from another. The thing is, most people tend to focus on and require this area of happiness more than what little everyday joys can give. Most of the time, it requires a choice, a sacrifice of time, effort or money. What I do see more often is that even when a choice of happiness was available, people would walk away from it. That friend of mine said that another friend of hers had encouraged her to set up her own business because it was rewarding. I say, if you like it, anything is rewarding.

I think happiness is a combination of many things - expectations, desires and choices. Just do what you like, find joy in little things, take contentment in achievements even as you look to the horizon and make wise choices. Awfully simple and even more awfully cliche but it's amazing how we so often not do it, isn't it?

Ahhh So Romannnttiiccc

Gosh this is beautiful...I actually like this version more than the originals...You won't even be able to tell that it was sung by a Korean..she's got such a voice!

El Dia Que Me Quieras
Lee Yin Young
A Moment To Remember OST




Spanish:

caricia mi ensueñoel suave murmullode tu suspirar.
Cómo ríe la vidasi tus ojos negrosme quieren mirar.
Y si es mío el amparode tu risa leveque es como un cantar,ella aquieta mi herida,todo todo se olvida.

El día que me quierasla rosa que engalanase vestirá de fiestacon su mejor color.
Y al viento las campanasdirán que ya eres mía,y locas las fontanasse contarán su amor.
La noche que me quierasdesde el azul del cielo,las estrellas celosasnos mirarán pasar.
Y un rayo misteriosohará nido en tu pelo,luciérnaga curiosa que verásque eres mi consuelo.

English:

It caresses my dream the smooth murmur of your sighing.
How life laughs if your black eyes want to look at me.
And if it is mine the shelter of your slight laughter that is like singing,
it calms my wound, everything is forgotten.

The day that you love me
The rose that adorns, will dress in celebration with its best color
And to the wind the church bells will say that already you are mine, and the crazy fountains will tell about their love.

The night that you love me from the blue of the sky the jealous stars will watch us go by.
And a mysterious ray will nest in your hair, inquisitive glow-worm that'll see that you are my consolation.

The day that you love me there'll be nothing but harmony.
The dawn will be clear and the water spring will be happy.
The breeze will quietly bring a rumor of melody.
And the fountains will give us their crystal song.
The day that you love me the singing bird will sweeten its cords.
Life will bloom pain will no exist.

The night that you love me from the blue of the sky the jealous stars will watch us go by.
And a mysterious ray will nest in your hair, inquisitive glow-worm that'll see that you are my consolation.

credits: www.planet-tango.com

Goodbye Jimmy

For the man who always asked me to put on more make-up...

He always scolded me for not having enough make up on even though I had put on more black eye shadow that I ever used.

For the man who always insisted on lashes for his shows...

I remember the time I tried to avoid seeing when I forgot to bring lashes. Big mistake.

For the man who always had the glitziest and shiniest costumes...

Who can possibly forget the sequins?

For the man who spoke to me more than a choreographer...

I remember the time when he was worrying if I got enough and the time he spoke about his personal life backstage.

For the man whom I didn't get to know better...

I never got to know him enough. It was always rehearsals, show and home. In my memory, he was always lively and bubbly, always full of energy and running around getting dancers ready, costumes sorted out, show organised, putting on impeccable make-up, with lashes that would beat all the other female dancers.

Perhaps that's why my tears felt like falling when I saw his cold body lying in a coffin wearing a make-up of another kind. That's not the Jimmy I remembered. Even if I didn't know him that well, it still shocked me and made me sad to hear of the news. It was so sudden...I was just thinking of calling him up recently...

I would like to say goodbye and rest in peace...

Goodbye Jimmy.

Jimmy Newton Lim

(February 13, 1969 - June 7, 2008)