Encryption

Recently watched a movie called Imitation Game. In it talks about encryption. They defined encryption as everyone can see it, but not everyone understands what it means. One of the characters then challenged to say how is that any different than people talking. People say certain things but mean another.

I have become more and more of an introvert over the years, possibly for this reason - shy to meet new people, only wishing to keep close knit group of friends, rather not venture out of my social circle, and also reluctant to let anyone into my bubble. Even amongst my friends and family, I find often times I say things like "well why didn't you just say so". I have never been good at picking up cues or hints, nor am I one to nudge and wink to express my thoughts - maybe that's why I come across blunt and short with people. Me not knowing how to frame my thoughts or cushion my opinion certainly has gotten me into trouble over the years. I sometimes wonder if that's also damaged my relationship with Allen. I also wonder if this is why I find it easier to get along with guy friends, because there tends to be less drama and and guessing involved. I also can't stand people that knit-pick and study every word I use.

I think it scares me how often people don't mean what they say. "It's beautiful" when it really isn't; "that's hilarious" when it really isn't; "yes I want to do that" when they don't, "I love you" when he doesn't, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" when he won't, "I will love you now and for who you are yet to become" but doesn't mean it. It scares me how quickly people change as well. Even my own parents, I find out now that they watched me get married expecting me to walk down this road one day. That was also one of my heart breaking in the last few months. It's one thing to be indifferent, but they were so supportive and encouraging during the time I had prepared the wedding, only for me to find out now that they had secretly wished for the wedding to fall through the whole time. "I was hoping you two would get married" when they secretly meant completely opposite. What hope can I have in people when even my parents are like that? Maybe I am suppose to get accustomed to this culture, maybe this is how people are suppose to interact with each other.

Yet how genuine can any relationship be if I can't just speak my mind or if I have to spend more effort framing my words than actually communication? I certainly wish all my friends to mean what they say and speak their thoughts. The world needs people that aren't afraid to speak their minds. But where's the line? Where's the gray area to do that without offending people? Maybe even I am autistic in some ways.

Time of Self-Discovery

While painful, the last few months have also been a time of self-discovery. People say we discover things about ourselves through relationships with others. It is also only through multiple relationships that we really learn what we want in our life partner. I wish the latter wasn't true. I had asked Allen at one point that I wasn't sure if it was so much easier for him to walk away and give this all up cause he had been through break ups before. His response was that it was because he had been through relationships in the past that he knew what he was looking for. Isn't it ironic though that he knew what he was looking for, yet walked into a marriage with me only to end up walking out. 

Regardless, I say it has been a time of self discovery because I have learned more about myself in the last year than ever before. Amongst many things that Allen said, one thing is true, that I place my parents at a very high pedestal. It makes it impossible for anyone to interfere with our relationship, and my relationship with anyone else would subsequently seem inferior to that. I still am not sure if that is a good or bad thing. In my relationship with Allen, it surely has proven my parents' love for me is more enduring and long lasting than anyone else's. However, I am not sure how healthy this is. For awhile, I just wanted to focus on pulling my life back together and simply did not care about anything else. I barely talked to my parents, stayed in my room most of the time, and just kept quiet to myself. My goal every day was to just get through the day. My mom eventually had a meltdown over I have become this unhappy person. Well duh! I felt it was selfish of her that while I was mentally and emotionally exhausted trying so hard to pull myself back together and just trying to get through life, there she was having a mental breakdown. Not only did I have to deal with my emotions, I had to deal with hers also. 

But I couldn't stand seeing her that way. So I could only pretend to be happier. Not like I want to live life sulking and mopping around, and I could not be more thankful that growing up with my parents, I have learned amazing coping skills. However, since the last few months, I feel more introverted than ever. Often times I just want to hide and be quiet. But I don't feel like I can be who I want to be without my parents being super worried. So day by day, I am tracking along like nothing's wrong. I'm not sure if it's healthy, but life goes on, and this makes them less worried? Allen was upset with how I placed my parents before him. But truth is, I placed all three of them even before myself. 

Why hello, Blog!

Came across this blog in my rare down time. This blog is so old and nobody follows this anymore, a nice little emotional hide out spot perhaps.  


2014 marks a painful year. I learned for the first time what heartbreak feels like, a hopeless feeling like I am forever broken. I've taken what seems like forever to try to work through it, but it's become a process of learning to live with it. If I wake up and you aren't the first thing on my mind, it's already progress. Not the 20-hour work days, not the 7-day work weeks, nothing keeps my mind occupied enough. 



After being with someone, whether a mere friend or someone closer, for a significant amount of time, we influence each other and our lives integrate into each others'. It's difficult to live day-to-day and not feel pain because every part of my life had some of you in it. Maybe it's easier to be a forgetful person like you are.  


Friends are quick to support and parents are quick to protect. But nobody really understands the pain and dilemma. Nor can anyone really help. All I can do for them is to be strong, hold back the tears, and live life like before. While both of us had done our equal share to break this marriage, the worst is to feel like I will never have closure. There are so many unanswered questions in my mind.  


I also stumbled upon someone's blog where she had never healed from her break up, at the time she had already started dating someone else. And not a year later, she was engaged and then married. It makes me wonder how people view relationships and marriages. Time heals all wounds, but really, does it? Is it possible to truly recover from a heart break? What about the scars that get left behind? How can one truly commit to the next relationship or even future spouse not having completely moved on from their past... or do people just don't care? 


I genuinely hope you find your happiness. And I hope that one day, our paths will cross again. Maybe one day, we can be friends again.  


"After seeing so many failed relationships, and more than a good handful of broken engagements and divorces, there’s that risk of disillusionment. But one thing I believe with all my heart is that anything that’s worth gaining comes with great risk. And in this life, what is more worthwhile, what is more fulfilling, what is more beautiful, than risking it all for the sake of love?" - Junshien Lau. 


"人只要心跳仍在，過著的每一天，都是獨一無二的課堂，我們學習，我們反思，我們感受，這是人生吧。" - Joey Yung

Dear Austin

Dear Austin,

Now that I think about it, I remember a lot of you. I don't remember how we ever came to deciding to get a dog, but somehow we did.

I remember seeing you for the first time at the kennel. You ran up to us with all your friends and cousins, and we picked you. On second look, you actually looked asymmetrical, but we took you home.

We started off as clumsy owners, and I wasn't so allergic to you yet. We had to put you into a cage when we all went to work, because we didn't know any better. Before I went to school, I peeked at you. I remember how you looked at me with your sad puppy eyes, just wanting me to let you out of the cage, those eyes made me cry. I got home as quickly as I could to set you free... into our backyard. Come to think about it, you were such a cute puppy.

A few days later, we felt bad, so we kept you in the garage, but not locked. You had a lot more room to run around in, just without the sun and grass. I came home to find the biggest mess in our garage. You pulled everything out of where they belonged and chewed on many things. We got mad, then laughed.

Eventually, we learned we can just leave you in the backyard while we were away. You never caused too much trouble. Well, you dug up holes after holes after holes. We tried not filling the holes hoping it would eventually get too deep for you to keep digging, but you dug until the tree fell down. We tried pouring vinegar, watered down bleach, hot sauce... into the holes, but you were never afraid. You just kept digging, and digging, and digging, until you got bored of doing that.

I remember taking training lessons with you. Well, that never really worked out, you were such an untrained puppy. I remember you coming with dad to watch our cadet practices and annual inspections, you always got a lot of attention. I remember walking you, and you trying to slip away numerous times. You made me fall once! I remember you bringing us rabbits and rats and squirrels. I remember eating frozen yogurt with you at Steveston. I remember a lot of you.

And then I got deathly allergic to you. We couldn't even be in the same car together, we couldn't even go for walks together. We just stopped hanging out together. Honestly, I didn't care too much when we decided to give you away. I knew you would be better off at another family. I hope you were, I hope you were happy the last few years. Thank you for giving me such great memories through my high school years. You were such a cute puppy. You were the only dog I wasn't afraid of. I will never have another pet again.

Goodbye!

Love, Joanas

Thank You, Life.

Dot Desserts. This is my favourite dessert place of all times. The yummy ice cream parfaits, the original drinks... they never fail me :) 

This modest little dessert cafe has a special place in my heart. During the time that Allen was asking me out, he eventually convinced me to try going on a date with him. He had a wonderful day planned out, and this cafe place was part of his day planned. We didn't end up going on that date. I had to help a family friend out, and bailed out on Allen (it never ceases to impress me how Allen never just gave up on me). 

Allen eventually brought me to Dot Desserts last year for my birthday, and I had fallen in love with this place ever since. We don't go very often, but it is my favourite :)

I'm so thankful. I can't even begin listing all the things and people that I'm thankful for, but I'm humbly thankful. Life is amazing.