What do you do, when you’ve had a really bad day?
Archive for June, 2008
So people have been nagging me lately to do more physical activity (which should not be too hard because currently i’m not doing ANY, other than running after the subway trains or busses). Some options I am considering include…
1) Cardio high/low - $49/10wks
2) Pilates - 76$/10wks
3) Yoga - 78$/10wks
4) Self-defense - 59$/9 wks (hahah)
5) Swimming (Yes, I don’t know how to swim) - 83$/9days
I would love to play volleyball or something, but most of the activities are for teenagers and children. Drats. P.S. This is from the “fun guide”, and part of the reason for this list is because they are located close to my house (walking distance).
So today I saw the guy again on the subway. Unfortunately I chickened out from talking to him… I also got interrupted by another asian guy.
AG: Hi do you go to UT?
Me: No, I work.
AG: Oh, where?
Me: MSH..I’m a research assistant. Well, I’m a student. I go to UW. [ Note to self, keep sentences more short next time]
AG: Oh cool. I work at UT…I’m a research technician *blah blah blah*
Me: Oh that’s nice.
*pause*
*Subway doors open*
AG: Yeah..
*Walking towards exit*
AG: Which way are you headed?
Me: This way (points left)
AG: Oh okay.
Me: [thinking] Shouldn’t he be going the other way? UT is definitely the other exit.
AG: Yeah I’d love to tell you more about it. Maybe over lunch sometime?
Me: *laughs*. Silence.
AG: Would you like my email? Or can I have yours?
Me: Uh…you can give me yours. [Dammit, how can I be more subtle?]
AG: *rummages through bag*…*scribbles email and cell phone*
Me: Oh okay. *tries to run away*.
AG: What’s your name?
Me: Um…jacqueline.
Aiyah. What if I run into him again? Maybe I’ll start talking to the other guy.
Last week I went with my parents to a dinner at the home of a couple from our church. I hadn’t really talked to the couple much, but I knew their names and their faces. Usually, I get pretty bored at these types of things, but this time it was different. I was truly touched by the couple’s generosity, and most of all, by the wife’s testimony of how they came to Christ.
Along the same lines as my previous post, the couple went through a period of great difficulty in many aspects that I won’t go through here. Through the tremendously difficult time, they came to know Christ at Jaffray, and found peace in knowing God was in control. They also were greatly encouraged by the support of brothers and sisters at Jaffray. The wife now, is the head of the “Caring Ministry” - where (from what I know) she visits people from our church and well, “cares” for them. 
Something that spoke out to me through our conversation around the idea of “caring for others” has continued to echo in my heart. Lately, I have felt like people have “wronged” me. That my time and efforts in befriending people over the years has been a waste, and that I have given more than I have received. I have been quite frustrated and have been caught up in thinking I deserve “better” and have become quite bitter because of this.
Anyways, the wife told me that as hard as it is to show that you care, for some people, it’s even harder to open up and receive that care. So yeah…I guess I can’t blame people for not reciprocating and “receiving” my care.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10
I’m quite enjoying my co-op term so far. The people I work with are very pleasant and helpful, for the most part. I feel as if I’m actually really learning something and contributing to a “cause”. I get to interact with doctors and patients on a weekly basis, but most of the time I’m at my desk doing work. A lot of it is admin type work, but it’s okay.
Working at this job has made me think a lot about life and death. The patients I am interviewing are all terminally ill, and yet the ones I’ve interviewed with thus far have an amazingly positive outlook on life. They’re not really going through Elisabeth Kübler-Ross stages of grieving. My dad has also been reminding me of how short life is…how each day is really a “bonus”, and a blessing. It’s funny how the things you care about change when you think about how insignificant they are in the “big picture” of things.
Anyways, back to work.
