I just got back from a 2 1/2 week trip to China with my parents. The most memorable moments was when I visited my relatives whom I haven't seen since 1992 ( 15 years )

Some things I took away from this trip.

• I have learned to slow down enjoy the pace with my aging parents. Be considerate and empathize with them.
• Some of my relatives are still very poor and might have trouble sending their kids to college. If I wanted to make an impact to people's lives, I could help to finance my nieces and nephews. Since I live so far away, financial help is probably my biggest contribution.
• San Francisco for me is the best place to live. In terms of variety of food, mild climate and diversity, there are very few places that can match it.
• I've read 3 books on this trip, all in Chinese (translated from English books). More that I've read in the U.S. all year. I need to learn to channel this love of reading back to the U.S.
• My parents still treat me (37 years old) as a child, worrying when I don't get back by 12:00am. This is one of the roadblocks why I could not live with them in the same house right now.

Flickr Sets

http://flickr.com/photos/tonytam/sets/72157606484951013/
http://flickr.com/photos/tonytam/sets/72157606448669762/
http://flickr.com/photos/tonytam/sets/72157606387250040/

Do you look forward to Mondays ?

If you do not look forward to Mondays, is it because you will miss spending time with family and friends? Or is it because you don't look forward to going into work?

If you dread going into work, perhaps you can actively look into how to improve the situation.

1. write down all the things you like about your current job
2. write down all the things you don't like about your job
3. every week, figure out who you can do to increase #1 and decreate #2

btw, I look forward to my weekends, but I also look forward to my Mondays

If your life were to end on this Earth in a couple of months, would you have any regrets?

Would you regret not having gone on the trip you've always wanted to?

There is no reason to wait, plan for the trip, buy the tickets and you can go. If this is your priority, set a target date, save up, spend less on other things, and go.

Would you regret not telling your love ones exactly how much you love and appreciate them?

Talk to them now. Show people around you that you do appreciate them, love them. Be generous, kind, do for them more than they expect from you. Surprise them, show them that you are taking dramatic positive steps to change yourself. Encourage and support your love ones. Create positive energies in your family.

Would you regret not spending enough quality time with your kids?

Spend the time now, evaluate your time with your kids. Are you creating lasting memories with them? Are you putting your best foot forward. If you put yourself in your child's shoes, what does he see? Does he see a parent whom they admire? Does he see someone who he wants to model his life after?

Do you have anger, jealousy in your mind? Have you forgiven people who you think have wrong you?

Treat these feelings like poison and figure ways to purge them from your mind.

I believe if you try to live your life always without regrets, you will be blessed with a life that is content, fulfilled, honest. Your life will be surround with positive karma.

My last Bay to Breakers was in 2005. I found an excuse to skip it in 2006, then I broke my foot in 2007.

I was trying to find an excuse not to run it this year, but couldn't come up with anything. This morning, my snooze button didn't work at 6am and I woke up at 7:34 to try to make it to the starting line for the 8:00am run. The day was already starting out poorly.

The race itself was easier than I had imagined since I have not trained or run recently. The hardest part was the last mile or so, when I had to mentally push myself to run faster, after all it is a race, beating the guy in front of me is the purpose.

Final time 1:03:12 (compare with 58:54 3 years ago)
Pace: 8 min 29 sec / mile
Overall 1725th place out of aprox. 30,000 registered runners
Male : 1438
My age division : 379

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