THE Chinese New Year celebration has passed. Every year, we see more and more people performing rituals that are believed to bring more luck. Everyone would wish for luck in love, family, wealth, profession, and so on.
I am a prime believer that we can have a stronger say in our luck. It made me think, “How do I want to face my luck this year?” Do I start with warnings?
Do I start with wishes? This year, I choose to start with blessings, value pursuits, and maxmimize external context.
START WITH BLESSINGS
I BELIEVE we are born with luck. It is our choice to view our luck from our own lenses by recognizing the gifts granted to us. It can be our physical, mental and psychological attributes. It can be the family we were born in. It can be situations we are in, like a good job, and the like.
This allows us to set the primary mindset of gratitude. I have always internalized that luck multiplies with gratitude. I believe life sees our gratitude. It’s like us as parents—When we see our children grateful, we work even harder to provide them more.
For me, my best blessings are my relationships. I am lucky in this lifetime to have recognized my “true family.” They are people who have always been true and have always had my back. I also value the roles I have been given as a result of these relationships. I love being a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. Recently, one of my favorite role has been to be my kids’ supporter in fencing.
VALUE PURSUITS
WHAT is your success? What truly matters for you? Does your vision of success match what matters to you the most? Consequently, when you do something that matters to you the most, are you able to achieve the overall success you are seeking?
I know this is a lifelong question which one might never find a final answer for. And yet, I still believe it is worth the pursuit. Think of your quirkiest interest, or your deepest childhood dreams. Think of what makes you smile, no matter how impractical or nonsensical. I consider this digging process valuable more than the result. Why? Because the decision to dig means you value yourself enough to finally listen… to yourself. This self-honesty forced me to be at the center of my own life. It led me to finding the self I want to fight for.
As Marie Beynon Ray said, “Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snowflake.”
Today, I am lucky to have found my passion in child education. Last Sunday, January 26, I attended the oath-taking for teachers at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. I was so happy my husband and my daughter were able to accompany me.
Last Monday, I received an encouraging message from our former director, Sally Villavicencio: “Your columns ‘My Yellow Home,’ parts one and two, were very heartwarming. I’m grateful to you also. Your transfer to Poveda was not incidental but meant to be because you have a special mission—to be an educator. You already were a teacher even before you got a license to teach. You are blessed. Continue to share your blessings, and being a blessing.”
MAXIMIZE EXTERNAL CONTEXT
FENG shui played quite a role in our life when I was growing up. My Chinese name was chosen by my dad’s longtime friend who was a monk, as well as a feng shui master. Today, I see feng shui as a scientific and practical tool. I understand the context but overall, I find the resolve to continue being positive and good.
This is the Year of the Golden Rat. It was great to start the year with a lucky Chinese New Year welcome banquet at the New World Hotel on January 24. According to the Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony, “The year of the Yang Golden Rat provides everyone with the opportunity to harness new creative energy.” To help us with this endeavor, the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony reintroduces Patrick Lim Fernandez, the newest figure who will take the lead in welcoming the new year and continuing the legacy of the late Princess Lim Fernandez. He is an advocate of the classical schools of feng shui and Chinese metaphysics, such as Hsuan K’ung, Eight Mansion and Bazi.
Patrick combines his business, finance and real-estate background with classical feng shui traditions to create fundamentally sound and analytically driven recommendations. His readings guide clients in achieving success in money and business luck. Patrick holds degrees in Management Engineering and Economics (with honors) from the Ateneo de Manila University, and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, with advanced analytics courses from MIT and Stanford.
There are upcoming Tai Suey Blessings for protection on February 16; and a Quan Yin Ceremony for financial luck on February 19. For more inquiries, contact 8752-5882; 8811-6888, local 3066; 0917-9892294, or yinandyangshopofharmony@gmail.com.