October 24, 2006

Last week I was frustrated because everything in my life is new: where I live, what I do daily, who I hang out with and when I train. While change is hard, it is necessary in order to grow.

The main reason I moved to Sacramento was to spend more time with my mother and assist with her health.  I never want to regret decisions made in my life, and I never want to take every opportunity I have, to make every effort in my life…purposeful.

In America we stress independence and individuality.  But in my background…we stress family. When I say 'my background' - I mean my Asian Culture, my Christian Faith and my Parent's Family Values.

Everything that characterizes me today: my courage, strength, passion and drive all stem from my background.  Building a strong foundation of  'culture', 'faith' and 'value' will assist you in your decisions and actions each day. Regardless of the beautiful houses we build in the physical dimensions of our mind's dreams, if we have no foundation, it will all break.

I broke when I left Sacramento.  I thought I needed to be 'free' - be 'independent' and discover who I was without the influences of my family.  While it was a priceless experience, what I learned from the event wasn't necessary how to disconnect from my family…it taught me how to 'connect' once again.

Leaving made me a better person. It made me realize the piece of the puzzle I was fulfilling at home…and how in order to grow, I couldn't be a piece of the puzzle, I needed to be my own puzzle. I needed to be whole.

Now I'm back…and I know who I am. I'm not a daughter, a sister, a friend, an employee. I am me. I own me. And I don't need anything to relate myself to in order to know exactly where I stand.