Several weeks ago I wrote about the new Chinese School in Woodbury, which started in September 2007.
To celebrate the beginning of the new semester (Feb. 2) and the Chinese New Year (Feb. 9), to provide an opportunity for teachers, students and their families to get together and to raise some money for student activities, the school decided to have a celebration and fundraising event on Saturday, Feb. 2.
Atlantic Buffet owner David was very kind and generous in offering us a convenient place and a great price to hold the party in his restaurant.
To encourage students and their families’ participation in this event, I, as a member of the Chinese school’s board, took it upon myself to contact local businesses and ask for their support in forms of gift certificates or gift baskets.
I have never done fundraising before. So this was a learning experience. Thanks to the generosity of businesses I contacted, it was a great experience, too.
The first business I called was Shanghai Market in St. Paul, because it is a Chinese grocery store I have shopped in the past and is well known in the Chinese community. After my brief explanation, the manager quickly promised to give us gift certificates to support our event.
As my first fundraising effort resulted in success with only one phone call and in only a few minutes, my confidence and ambition were greatly increased. Maybe I could do more than just gift certificates from one store. I started contacting businesses in the Woodbury area.
I thought Asian businesses in Woodbury might be more willing to support our Chinese New Year celebration. My first call went to Pei Wei Asian Diner. The manager promised some gift certificates on the spot. I got more encouragement after this second successful try.
I made more phone calls.
I quickly found out it’s easier to do fundraising with smaller or independent businesses or stores than big or chain stores. It’s understandable. With smaller stores, the owners can make decisions on the spot.
On the other hand, big store or chain stores managers often have to follow certain procedures or go through the headquarters before making decisions.
They receive donation requests a lot more so they have to have some rules and procedures in their decision making process. Mostly I was asked to submit a written request for their review. Big stores need two to six weeks of lag time.
Among the 18 businesses I called, almost half of them responded with positive results. Some businesses didn’t return my calls or e-mails. But that’s fine. I didn’t expect a positive response every time.
I had a pleasant experience contacting the businesses, even in cases where I didn’t get any support.
The only frustrating thing that happened to me was I was transferred twice and put on hold twice which ended up in disconnection. I was not interested in calling back again. And, personally, I am not interested in visiting that business again either.
I am thankful to all who did respond to my requests. I was especially impressed with Olive Garden’s manager Tom. He was a quick decision-maker. And he also won my most generous award.
I spent a lot of time in making phone calls, writing and dropping off requests, and picking up gift certificates. But it’s worth the effort. I got better than expected results out of my efforts for the school.
I would like to say thank you to all the businesses that supported our celebration event. They are Shanghai Market, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Acupuncture Woodbury, Olive Garden, Trader Joe's, Applebee's (Valley Creek location), Kowalski’s Market and Noodles & Company.
My biggest thank you goes to Atlantic Buffet for allowing us to host this event. Without their generous support in the first place, I wouldn’t have thought about and done any fundraising for the event.
Thank you all for making our first celebration and fundraising event a fun and successful one. The prize drawing was definitely the most fun part. Kids and adults alike all enjoyed it.
I really appreciate your willingness to help and give back to the community. I am sure your support to the local community will be rewarded with more and loyal customers.
My first fundraising experience will certainly affect where I personally shop and do business in the future.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 2/20/2007]
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
There is no place like the library
My favorite place in Woodbury, as well as in any other communities I have lived in the US, is the local public library. There is just no other place that means so much to me as the library. There is just no other place that can be as magic as the library.
My love affair with library and books didn't start until I was in my twenties. I was definitely a late bloomer.
Growing up in China in the sixties and seventies during the Cultural Revolution, reading and libraries were not an important part of my life. My parents were just doing their best to survive every day. They didn't have extra money to buy books. I didn't have children's books at home. They didn't read stories to me as a child.
As far as I can remember, I never even used a public library in China. I think at that time the municipal library in my hometown Suzhou was open to only a limited number of adults who had special permissions to use it. I didn't read as a child and had not experienced the joy of reading and visiting a library.
I was a hard working student in school and had the good fortune to go to college in China.
When I came to the United States in 1991 after 9 years of studying German, I couldn't understand and speak English. I felt totally lost in this new world. I didn't know what to do with my life at that time.
Fortunately I lived within the walking distance to the public library in Madison, Wisconsin. I went to the library several times a week and checked out one or two bags full of books every time. I started with books at the preschool level. I would read a few dozens of children's books a day.
The more I read, the more I hungered for books and knowledge. The more I read, the better I became in the language.
Gradually I could read more difficult books. I remember reading all the books in the "From Sea to Shining Sea" and "America the Beautiful" series and learning everything about all the 50 states in the country. I still have my reading notes today. My reading served two purposes, to learn the English language and to learn about this new country.
After reading and learning for over a year, my English was improved and I could communicate in an understandable way.
I found a library page position at the Madison Public Library to check in books. I looked forward to my work. As books passed through my hands, I felt a sense of excitement again and again. "Wow, here is another interesting book I want to read!"
I found more and more interesting books to read that I wouldn't find on my own. In fact I didn't know what I wanted to read. My way of finding books to read was just to browse the book shelves. Now I had a better way to get to the interesting books.
Other library users served as my reader advisors. Every workday I took a bag of finished books to work and at the end of the day my empty bag was again filled with books to take home.
As a library user and a part-time library worker, I grew to love library and reading. I dreamed of becoming a professional librarian and working full-time in the library.
I went to the library school and got my master's in library science at the university of Wisconsin-Madison. My dream became a reality.
Library was my heaven during the difficult times in my life when I didn't know what to do and who I was. Library provided me books and knowledge, and nurtured my hungry and lonely soul.
Now library is where I work for a living, and library is where I visit frequently with my two children for adventures and enjoyment. Both of my kids got their own library card before they could read.
I am glad my kids visit library more often than McDonald's and they read more books than eat French fries. I am so grateful they can grow up with lots of books and view library as an essential part of their life.
As an immigrant, I have come to love my adopted country. For me, one of the best things of living in the US is the easy and free access to the public library and the wonderful services it provides to everyone regardless of age, background and social status. In the library, we are all equal and knowledge is freely available to everyone who desires it.
Having been a library user and librarian for over 10 years, now my life doesn't feel complete and fulfilled without reading and library. I believe passionately in the library and what it can do for people. I love my profession as a librarian.
Library can change life. It has definitely changed my life. It still helps me to learn, to grow and to live every day.
I can't imagine what my life would be and what I would be doing today if there wasn't a public library.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 4/18/2007]
My love affair with library and books didn't start until I was in my twenties. I was definitely a late bloomer.
Growing up in China in the sixties and seventies during the Cultural Revolution, reading and libraries were not an important part of my life. My parents were just doing their best to survive every day. They didn't have extra money to buy books. I didn't have children's books at home. They didn't read stories to me as a child.
As far as I can remember, I never even used a public library in China. I think at that time the municipal library in my hometown Suzhou was open to only a limited number of adults who had special permissions to use it. I didn't read as a child and had not experienced the joy of reading and visiting a library.
I was a hard working student in school and had the good fortune to go to college in China.
When I came to the United States in 1991 after 9 years of studying German, I couldn't understand and speak English. I felt totally lost in this new world. I didn't know what to do with my life at that time.
Fortunately I lived within the walking distance to the public library in Madison, Wisconsin. I went to the library several times a week and checked out one or two bags full of books every time. I started with books at the preschool level. I would read a few dozens of children's books a day.
The more I read, the more I hungered for books and knowledge. The more I read, the better I became in the language.
Gradually I could read more difficult books. I remember reading all the books in the "From Sea to Shining Sea" and "America the Beautiful" series and learning everything about all the 50 states in the country. I still have my reading notes today. My reading served two purposes, to learn the English language and to learn about this new country.
After reading and learning for over a year, my English was improved and I could communicate in an understandable way.
I found a library page position at the Madison Public Library to check in books. I looked forward to my work. As books passed through my hands, I felt a sense of excitement again and again. "Wow, here is another interesting book I want to read!"
I found more and more interesting books to read that I wouldn't find on my own. In fact I didn't know what I wanted to read. My way of finding books to read was just to browse the book shelves. Now I had a better way to get to the interesting books.
Other library users served as my reader advisors. Every workday I took a bag of finished books to work and at the end of the day my empty bag was again filled with books to take home.
As a library user and a part-time library worker, I grew to love library and reading. I dreamed of becoming a professional librarian and working full-time in the library.
I went to the library school and got my master's in library science at the university of Wisconsin-Madison. My dream became a reality.
Library was my heaven during the difficult times in my life when I didn't know what to do and who I was. Library provided me books and knowledge, and nurtured my hungry and lonely soul.
Now library is where I work for a living, and library is where I visit frequently with my two children for adventures and enjoyment. Both of my kids got their own library card before they could read.
I am glad my kids visit library more often than McDonald's and they read more books than eat French fries. I am so grateful they can grow up with lots of books and view library as an essential part of their life.
As an immigrant, I have come to love my adopted country. For me, one of the best things of living in the US is the easy and free access to the public library and the wonderful services it provides to everyone regardless of age, background and social status. In the library, we are all equal and knowledge is freely available to everyone who desires it.
Having been a library user and librarian for over 10 years, now my life doesn't feel complete and fulfilled without reading and library. I believe passionately in the library and what it can do for people. I love my profession as a librarian.
Library can change life. It has definitely changed my life. It still helps me to learn, to grow and to live every day.
I can't imagine what my life would be and what I would be doing today if there wasn't a public library.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 4/18/2007]
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Music, No pain, no gain
My son Andy started piano lesson in September 2004 when he was six years old. Less than a year later, my five year old daughter Amy began her lesson as well. Our family life has not been the same since then.
As any parent whose child takes music lessons knows, learning an instrument requires every day practice. Making the child practice can be a real challenge.
Every evening my kids have to practice piano. This is not something they are eager to do and willing to do on their own.
I always have to remind them, or to be more accurate, nag at them. Most times they comply. But there were days they didn’t cooperate and refused to play, especially at the beginning.
Andy said many times, he hated piano and didn’t want to practice. He begged me he wanted to quit. Besides complaints, many tears were shed.
As for my strong willed daughter, she didn’t like to be corrected. As soon as I corrected her mistakes, she refused to play.
I have to admit I am not someone with much patience. I can easily get frustrated and raise my voice when things don’t go smoothly.
During those difficult times, I was so frustrated, I wanted to quit too.
“Why do I spend so much money, time and energy in something that requires so much hard work and brings so much frustration into our life?” I questioned many times.
Then I have to remind myself again and again the reasons why I wanted them to learn piano in the first place. My hopes and goals for them are:
- Learn to play at least one instrument.
I grew up in poverty and didn't have an opportunity to learn any instrument. I wanted to give my children this opportunity when I can.
- Develop a love and understanding for music to enrich their life.
- Develop good study and work habits early on and learn that any success in life comes from hard work.
- Be able to delay gratification in pursuit of a greater goal and learn that there is no easy success and instant gratification in something truly great and wonderful.
- Learn patience and discipline through daily practice.
- Build confidence and self-esteem by doing something well.
- Learn that self worth comes from who they are and what they do, not from what they have. Giving them more experience is better than giving them more stuff in life.
- Use their free time to play music instead of playing computer games and watching TV.
- Do something creative to fill their time and life so they don't get bored and get into trouble when in their teenage years.
Although I still have to nag at them every day, Amy likes piano now. As for Andy, he doesn’t like it as much as Amy does. But over the last two years, we have established the daily routine that they have to play every day. They don’t question it any more. Often they just argue who plays first.
I told Andy he has to play until he graduates from high school. Then he will be old enough to make his own decision and he can quit if he wants to.
I found a good relationship between teacher and student is very important in a child’s attitude toward the music lesson. A loving and patient teacher can make a big difference in changing a child’s attitude and getting him interested and motivated in music lessons.
I am glad both of my kids have found wonderful teachers, Dr. Jo Anne Link and Dr. Joseph Zins from St. Paul. Since starting lessons with these two teachers a year ago, both Andy and Amy have a better attitude. There is less complaint and frustration. Life is getting easier during practice time.
One day last December, Andy came home from school and showed me proudly a certificate he got from his music teacher after playing piano in the class talent show. He said: “Mom, I kind of like piano now.”
That was music to my ear. It was something I had been waiting to hear.
“Hooray, let’s celebrate!” I was so happy.
I was glad I didn’t quit and I didn’t let him quit despite his many complaints and tears.
No short-term pain, no long-term gain. This is a truth in life.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 6/6/2007]
As any parent whose child takes music lessons knows, learning an instrument requires every day practice. Making the child practice can be a real challenge.
Every evening my kids have to practice piano. This is not something they are eager to do and willing to do on their own.
I always have to remind them, or to be more accurate, nag at them. Most times they comply. But there were days they didn’t cooperate and refused to play, especially at the beginning.
Andy said many times, he hated piano and didn’t want to practice. He begged me he wanted to quit. Besides complaints, many tears were shed.
As for my strong willed daughter, she didn’t like to be corrected. As soon as I corrected her mistakes, she refused to play.
I have to admit I am not someone with much patience. I can easily get frustrated and raise my voice when things don’t go smoothly.
During those difficult times, I was so frustrated, I wanted to quit too.
“Why do I spend so much money, time and energy in something that requires so much hard work and brings so much frustration into our life?” I questioned many times.
Then I have to remind myself again and again the reasons why I wanted them to learn piano in the first place. My hopes and goals for them are:
- Learn to play at least one instrument.
I grew up in poverty and didn't have an opportunity to learn any instrument. I wanted to give my children this opportunity when I can.
- Develop a love and understanding for music to enrich their life.
- Develop good study and work habits early on and learn that any success in life comes from hard work.
- Be able to delay gratification in pursuit of a greater goal and learn that there is no easy success and instant gratification in something truly great and wonderful.
- Learn patience and discipline through daily practice.
- Build confidence and self-esteem by doing something well.
- Learn that self worth comes from who they are and what they do, not from what they have. Giving them more experience is better than giving them more stuff in life.
- Use their free time to play music instead of playing computer games and watching TV.
- Do something creative to fill their time and life so they don't get bored and get into trouble when in their teenage years.
Although I still have to nag at them every day, Amy likes piano now. As for Andy, he doesn’t like it as much as Amy does. But over the last two years, we have established the daily routine that they have to play every day. They don’t question it any more. Often they just argue who plays first.
I told Andy he has to play until he graduates from high school. Then he will be old enough to make his own decision and he can quit if he wants to.
I found a good relationship between teacher and student is very important in a child’s attitude toward the music lesson. A loving and patient teacher can make a big difference in changing a child’s attitude and getting him interested and motivated in music lessons.
I am glad both of my kids have found wonderful teachers, Dr. Jo Anne Link and Dr. Joseph Zins from St. Paul. Since starting lessons with these two teachers a year ago, both Andy and Amy have a better attitude. There is less complaint and frustration. Life is getting easier during practice time.
One day last December, Andy came home from school and showed me proudly a certificate he got from his music teacher after playing piano in the class talent show. He said: “Mom, I kind of like piano now.”
That was music to my ear. It was something I had been waiting to hear.
“Hooray, let’s celebrate!” I was so happy.
I was glad I didn’t quit and I didn’t let him quit despite his many complaints and tears.
No short-term pain, no long-term gain. This is a truth in life.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 6/6/2007]
Friday, December 25, 2009
A family holiday tradition
The holiday season has arrived sooner than I expected. Christmas is just around the corner.
Where ever I look, the ads, the signs and the displays, everything reminds me, it’s time to buy and buy more.
I like holidays and special days, whether they are Christmas or New Year, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, but I don’t like the over commercialization of these special days. I am not a person who likes to go shopping. Besides I think most of us already have more than we need. My kids get enough toys and stuff that I don’t feel like to buy more for them. Do I need to buy more just because everyone else is doing so?
My love language is definitely not gifts, but words.
My son was born in 1998. For his first Christmas eight years ago, I wrote the following to him:
Dear Andy:
You very first Christmas is just around the corner. In the holiday spirit of sharing and giving, gifts are shared and given. But instead giving you toys and clothes which you will outgrow in a blink of eyes and certainly will not remember anything at all, Mom is writing you this letter as your first holiday gift.
Mom hopes this letter as well as the ones to follow will become your treasured possession in the years to come. I promise you that every year until you are 18 years old I’ll write at least one letter documenting important events that happen to you during that year.
Another promise I want to make here is to contribute $500.00 or whatever the maximum amount allowed every year from your birth until you are 18 years old to your College Savings Account. The money will be used for your education in the future. It’s a long term investment.
Mom hopes you will become a well educated person who values education and life long learning.
When my daughter Amy came to the world one year later, I promised her the same things.
Two years ago, I did a Christmas treasure hunt for my kids. I hid little presents in different rooms for them to find. They loved it so much, they asked me to do it again last year, which I did.
For each of my two kids, I wrote 10 reasons why I love them on 10 cards in 10 different colors. On the other side of the cards I wrote the clue to find the next treasure. I used 10 different kinds of treats to go along with the cards. The number of treats corresponded to the number of reasons on the card.
So the card with reason number 1 was accompanied by 1 treat, the card with reason number 2 was accompanied by 2 treats, etc. The treats were edible things, like candies, chocolate and cookies, or money or books.
I spent many hours cutting the papers, writing two sets of cards with different love notes and clues so both kids could do the treasure hunt at the same time, but not together, finding treats, figuring out where to hide the treasures according to the clues so each of them could find only the treasures intended for them individually. I didn’t sleep much the night before Christmas Eve.
Andy and Amy had so much fun. And I took a lot of pictures.
Two months ago, Andy and Amy asked me, “Mommy, can we do the Christmas treasure hunt again this year?” I said “Sure.”
I haven’t figured out what to do yet. Just this year, I have done treasure hunt for them on birthday, on Easter and on Halloween. I have run out of ideas. I am afraid I wouldn’t be as creative as last Christmas.
Doing a treasure hunt is not as easy as buying a gift, wrapping it and putting it under the tree. But I would rather spend more time and efforts than spending more money. I know my kids probably will not remember what presents they get, but I am sure they will remember the fun they had on their treasure hunting.
I will try my best to keep the promises I made in my first letter to them and make the treasure hunt our holiday tradition.
Doing things with my children instead of buying excessive or expensive gifts for them is more important and meaningful to me. Letters and wonderful memories are much more precious to me than anything else.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 12/13/2006]
Where ever I look, the ads, the signs and the displays, everything reminds me, it’s time to buy and buy more.
I like holidays and special days, whether they are Christmas or New Year, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, but I don’t like the over commercialization of these special days. I am not a person who likes to go shopping. Besides I think most of us already have more than we need. My kids get enough toys and stuff that I don’t feel like to buy more for them. Do I need to buy more just because everyone else is doing so?
My love language is definitely not gifts, but words.
My son was born in 1998. For his first Christmas eight years ago, I wrote the following to him:
Dear Andy:
You very first Christmas is just around the corner. In the holiday spirit of sharing and giving, gifts are shared and given. But instead giving you toys and clothes which you will outgrow in a blink of eyes and certainly will not remember anything at all, Mom is writing you this letter as your first holiday gift.
Mom hopes this letter as well as the ones to follow will become your treasured possession in the years to come. I promise you that every year until you are 18 years old I’ll write at least one letter documenting important events that happen to you during that year.
Another promise I want to make here is to contribute $500.00 or whatever the maximum amount allowed every year from your birth until you are 18 years old to your College Savings Account. The money will be used for your education in the future. It’s a long term investment.
Mom hopes you will become a well educated person who values education and life long learning.
When my daughter Amy came to the world one year later, I promised her the same things.
Two years ago, I did a Christmas treasure hunt for my kids. I hid little presents in different rooms for them to find. They loved it so much, they asked me to do it again last year, which I did.
For each of my two kids, I wrote 10 reasons why I love them on 10 cards in 10 different colors. On the other side of the cards I wrote the clue to find the next treasure. I used 10 different kinds of treats to go along with the cards. The number of treats corresponded to the number of reasons on the card.
So the card with reason number 1 was accompanied by 1 treat, the card with reason number 2 was accompanied by 2 treats, etc. The treats were edible things, like candies, chocolate and cookies, or money or books.
I spent many hours cutting the papers, writing two sets of cards with different love notes and clues so both kids could do the treasure hunt at the same time, but not together, finding treats, figuring out where to hide the treasures according to the clues so each of them could find only the treasures intended for them individually. I didn’t sleep much the night before Christmas Eve.
Andy and Amy had so much fun. And I took a lot of pictures.
Two months ago, Andy and Amy asked me, “Mommy, can we do the Christmas treasure hunt again this year?” I said “Sure.”
I haven’t figured out what to do yet. Just this year, I have done treasure hunt for them on birthday, on Easter and on Halloween. I have run out of ideas. I am afraid I wouldn’t be as creative as last Christmas.
Doing a treasure hunt is not as easy as buying a gift, wrapping it and putting it under the tree. But I would rather spend more time and efforts than spending more money. I know my kids probably will not remember what presents they get, but I am sure they will remember the fun they had on their treasure hunting.
I will try my best to keep the promises I made in my first letter to them and make the treasure hunt our holiday tradition.
Doing things with my children instead of buying excessive or expensive gifts for them is more important and meaningful to me. Letters and wonderful memories are much more precious to me than anything else.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 12/13/2006]
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Being thankful
One year ago, on Nov. 8, 2006, my first column appeared in this newspaper. I consider that an important milestone in my life.
It has been a wonderful year for me. When I think about and reflect on this past year, my heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.
It has been said, and I really believe it, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” When I am ready to ask, believe and receive, opportunities will come my way.
I am thankful that God gives me the gift and passion to write. Each one of us is born with a certain gift. Some people are good performers, some are good athletes, some are good leaders, and some are good writers. It is our personal responsibility to discover what our God given gift is and what our passion is and then to use it for good.
I am thankful that even though English is not my native language, I have mastered it well enough to write and express myself and, more importantly, I have mustered up enough confidence to share my writing with people I don’t even know.
I know there are people out there who like to write or do something, but are afraid to do it and show it, because they think they are not good enough.
The truth is we can only be good enough and get better if we just do it and practice more every day. Please don’t let self-doubt and fear get in the way of doing what you love to do.
Sometimes I do wonder about whether people read my columns and what they think about them. It feels like I am sending out letters, but have no idea whether they are received and read or lost somewhere and end up in the trash.
Three weeks ago, while I was helping at the annual library book sale, two women recognized me through my name tag and asked me if I was a columnist for the Woodbury Bulletin. One of them said she read my columns every week.
I wished I had asked her some questions and get some face to face feedback.
I regretted that I missed the opportunity. But just that one casual question and the short comment meant a great deal to me. Thank you for letting me know that you do read my columns.
I am also thankful to all the readers of this newspaper, especially those who enjoy reading my columns so much or are so passionate about a topic I write that they take the time to write to me and give me feedback. Your comments and encouragement are very much appreciated.
I read every e-mail I receive and respond to every single message.
I am especially thankful to the individuals who write to me more than once. I can’t tell you how much your appreciation and encouragement have meant to me.
Recently, I received an e-mail from a reader who told me that she enjoyed reading my column topics regarding Chinese cultures.
She thanked me especially for writing the column about Weili Shen and her Acupuncture Woodbury clinic. She had been going to Shen for a few weeks for severe menopause symptoms and the treatment with acupuncture was working wonderfully.
“I wouldn’t have known about her except through your column. I’m recommending her to everyone I know. Thank you so much,” she wrote.
It is very gratifying for me to know that I have helped someone through my writing.
Writing this column in the past year has really been very energizing and rewarding for me. I am thankful in knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life and be an inspiration to someone.
I am very thankful for the Woodbury Bulletin’s managing editor, Bob Eighmy, for his trust in me and giving me the opportunity to write as a columnist for the newspaper. When I approached Bob over a year ago with a brief introduction about myself and asked him if I could write for Woodbury Bulletin on a regular basis, I only had two articles published in the newspaper at that time. He said yes without questioning my background and experience as a writer. I am thankful that he believed in me. Without his trust, I wouldn’t be here today.
I am looking forward to my second year writing for Woodbury Bulletin. I will keep writing what’s on my mind and from my heart to inform you and to inspire you.
May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and may your heart also be filled with gratitude.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 11/21/2007]
It has been a wonderful year for me. When I think about and reflect on this past year, my heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving.
It has been said, and I really believe it, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” When I am ready to ask, believe and receive, opportunities will come my way.
I am thankful that God gives me the gift and passion to write. Each one of us is born with a certain gift. Some people are good performers, some are good athletes, some are good leaders, and some are good writers. It is our personal responsibility to discover what our God given gift is and what our passion is and then to use it for good.
I am thankful that even though English is not my native language, I have mastered it well enough to write and express myself and, more importantly, I have mustered up enough confidence to share my writing with people I don’t even know.
I know there are people out there who like to write or do something, but are afraid to do it and show it, because they think they are not good enough.
The truth is we can only be good enough and get better if we just do it and practice more every day. Please don’t let self-doubt and fear get in the way of doing what you love to do.
Sometimes I do wonder about whether people read my columns and what they think about them. It feels like I am sending out letters, but have no idea whether they are received and read or lost somewhere and end up in the trash.
Three weeks ago, while I was helping at the annual library book sale, two women recognized me through my name tag and asked me if I was a columnist for the Woodbury Bulletin. One of them said she read my columns every week.
I wished I had asked her some questions and get some face to face feedback.
I regretted that I missed the opportunity. But just that one casual question and the short comment meant a great deal to me. Thank you for letting me know that you do read my columns.
I am also thankful to all the readers of this newspaper, especially those who enjoy reading my columns so much or are so passionate about a topic I write that they take the time to write to me and give me feedback. Your comments and encouragement are very much appreciated.
I read every e-mail I receive and respond to every single message.
I am especially thankful to the individuals who write to me more than once. I can’t tell you how much your appreciation and encouragement have meant to me.
Recently, I received an e-mail from a reader who told me that she enjoyed reading my column topics regarding Chinese cultures.
She thanked me especially for writing the column about Weili Shen and her Acupuncture Woodbury clinic. She had been going to Shen for a few weeks for severe menopause symptoms and the treatment with acupuncture was working wonderfully.
“I wouldn’t have known about her except through your column. I’m recommending her to everyone I know. Thank you so much,” she wrote.
It is very gratifying for me to know that I have helped someone through my writing.
Writing this column in the past year has really been very energizing and rewarding for me. I am thankful in knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life and be an inspiration to someone.
I am very thankful for the Woodbury Bulletin’s managing editor, Bob Eighmy, for his trust in me and giving me the opportunity to write as a columnist for the newspaper. When I approached Bob over a year ago with a brief introduction about myself and asked him if I could write for Woodbury Bulletin on a regular basis, I only had two articles published in the newspaper at that time. He said yes without questioning my background and experience as a writer. I am thankful that he believed in me. Without his trust, I wouldn’t be here today.
I am looking forward to my second year writing for Woodbury Bulletin. I will keep writing what’s on my mind and from my heart to inform you and to inspire you.
May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and may your heart also be filled with gratitude.
[Originally published in Woodbury Bulletin on 11/21/2007]
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Amy's winning poems
My daughter Amy caught the poetry bug when she just turned 9 in December 2008. She wrote her first poem as a Christmas present for me. Since then she has written 400 poems.
Amy's poem collection titled "Love, Laugh, Life : 100 Seleted Poems" won the first place in her age group at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair.
Amy’s dream is to be a writer and a poet.
Here are a few seleted poems by Amy.
Brother
I like my brother Andy
Because he is very handy
And he gives me candy
That’s why he’s so dandy.
Mother
You are the best Mother
To me and my brother
Above any other
So I would never trade you for
another.
Mother’s Day
I hope this is the best
Mother’s Day you’ve ever had.
And I hope you still love me
When I make you mad.
I know I sometimes can be bad,
But today I want to make you glad.
Dad
My Dad is very special to me
He loves me very much you see
He helps me with a lot of things
From business trip toys he bring
He always wants me to play
Look there he is on Christmas Day
Hooray!
Grandma
I know my grandma adores me
And my grandpa too
As you can see
They always take me to the zoo.
My baby doll
My baby doll is nice to hold
The one I have is getting old.
One eye came out and now instead
She has a dress made out of thread.
I take her everywhere I go
And tell her all the things I know.
I like the way she feels at night,
All snuggled up against me tight.
Walk
I went on a walk
All I did was talk.
On the walk I rode my bike
It’s one of the things I like.
Only my mom and I went on the walk
And all we did was talk talk talk.
After the walk we went to dine
It was my first walk in 2009.
Fire drill
At school we have a fire drill
So we go out on a little hill.
When we go out we get a chill
Even if we don't stay still.
Art
Whenever I do art
I do it from my heart
Since I am so smart
I got a head start.
Wish
The sky is getting gray
I wish it was a different day
My mom made me lay
I pray I get to play
Winning at Minnesota State Fair
August 27, 2009 was a very exciting day for me. It seems I have never felt so excited like that in my life, at least not in a long time. I found out that my 9-year-old daughter Amy won big at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair competition.
This was the very first time she participated in the competition. I did expect Amy to win something, especially for her poems. To my surprise, she not only won the 1st place for her poem collection, but she also won the 1st place for her colored pencil drawing (Fruit), the 3rd place for her acrylic painting (Lions) and the 4th place for her water color painting (Parrot).
I have to say, I am most proud of her 1st place for the poem collection. She is really good at writing rhyming poems and wrote 400 poems since last December. I hope we can get her poems published some day.
My daughter made this one of the proudest mements and one of the best days in my life. It was a great day to celebrate and remember.
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