The Little Aura

The thoughts of an Australian-born Chinese living in Sydney.

[thelittleaura]

The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment.

Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 

[thelittleaura]

Everything will be alright in the end so if it is not alright it is not the end.

Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

[thelittleaura]

The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Poorer

10 June 2018

Just occurred to me how unfair the world can be.

Though we are led to believe we can all be who we want to be when we grow up, and we are the rulers of our own destiny, we are not. To some extent, our own internal drivers can make us successful, but the external circumstances is also part of the equation. 

If you were lucky enough to be born in a high-income household where money was not a point of discussion in the household, you were the few that had success served to you on a silver platter, and all you needed to do was accept the offering.

If you weren’t so lucky, and were born into a household where money was tight, and often meant you would go with the minimum food, warmth and clothing - this is where you are put at a significant disadvantage.

Not only must you work for the ‘bare necessities’, but you must also work for  enough of an income to keep afloat. For the rich, they are fine, they can afford to take risks, and make mistakes, and still come out on top. For the poor, they don’t get the luxury of risking a few dollars. Even more so, when it comes to getting a loan, the banks look fondly on the rich, and will give them money for days. But if you’re not that fortunate in wealth, you are looked harshly upon by the banks, and have to work extra hard just to justify why you should even have the loan.

It’s so easy, if not by default, that the rich just get richer and the poor get poorer.

A sad reality of life.

[thelittleaura]

Sister’s Graduation

From humble beginnings you once were

With a strong will, I must concur

To make something of yourself and rise to the top

At nothing- you would stop,

Taking jobs and travelling, to open your eyes

And prepare yourself for the realities of life

You were always five steps ahead and would not be told

By mum or bubs, or anyone old

Experiencing what life can hold

May the best part of this story be yet to be told

I am proud to call you my little sister

And still in disbelief we came from the same misses and mister

May the road ahead be filled with joy and love

For those are what matters from all the above.

Congrats woman.

You killed it.

[thelittleaura]

Making an impact is not about how many lives you touch, it’s about how much you touch their lives.

The Little Aura

[thelittleaura]

Impact

A friend and I got talking about making a difference. How we would leave our mark on the world. 

Thinking I knew better about this topic, I quickly said: Yep I love my job, because I know I am making a difference to people’s lives.

A bit of background, I design the layout of traffic signals for road intersections for a living. The red, amber and green lights... yeah, that’s me. We get vehicles moving across road networks in NSW.

So back to the story, I enjoy my job because I can make an impact to people’s lives. I allow people to get from A to B safely and efficiently. The fruits of my labour were not just for the rich, it was anyone and everyone- drivers, commuters, pedestrians, children, elderly, the blind, cyclists, tourists etc. I liked the idea of making an impact on my immediate community.

My friend’s answer, when asked about what difference she would like to make was different though. Her answer was: I want to be a youth worker. Talk to youths, listen to them and be there for them.

This answer was starkly different. She believed making a difference, was helping those on an individual level.

It quickly challenged all my pre-conceived notions of what I thought was the best way of making a difference.

I initially thought making a difference was impacting the lives of many. But in her case it was not about quantity, but quality. I was impacting the lives of many, with the traffic signal layouts I would design, but who’s lives would I profoundly impact?

Whereas my friend’s answer of being a youth worker, would be changing the course of the life of one person forever. Though she may only be able to reach a handful of people, the impact would be greater with the lives she would alter forever.

Making an impact is not about how many lives you touch, it’s about how much you touch their lives.

[thelittleaura]

And if I asked you to name all the things that you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself?

[thelittleaura]

Love Yourself

11 February 2018

“What do you love about yourself?”

This was a question asked to a friend of mine, and it made me consider what my answer would be.

I like certain things about myself, like my work ethic, and being organised, but it was tough to come up with a list of qualities I liked. There were so many things that I didn’t like about myself than did.

My friend’s answer was “Everything”. She loved everything about herself.

I loved this answer. It made me realise I should too. Why shouldn’t I like the imperfections of my personality or my pear-shaped legs. My friend said, yes there were things she would like to improve on, but she still loved everything.

We all need to learn to love ourselves. If we don’t, no-one else will.

Love yourself whole-heartedly, even the imperfections.

[thelittleaura]

I Don’t Care

Circa 2017

Sometimes the things that stop me from doing what we truly feel is right, is hindered by something that is all in the mind.

Public speaking. It scares me. So I would do my best to avoid impromptu speaking and any sort of speech. Digging deeper and finding the reasons why I don't like it led me to finding out that I seek the approval of others. I seek their acceptance. Why?

Is that worth more than doing what I think is right? Is seeking approval of people I don't know, more important than allowing myself to develop as a public speaker? We all know the answer, yet let our emotions think that we are making the right decision by avoiding public speaking.

Learn to do what you is right. Don't let your emotions play on what is rational. If you don't care you will set yourself free.

[thelittleaura]

1+1=3

[thelittleaura]

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

[thelittleaura]

The noblest art is that of making others happy.

P.T. Barnum

[thelittleaura]

The worst someone can say is no.

[thelittleaura]

Your struggles today, are your strengths tomorrow.

[thelittleaura]

Don't confuse having less with being less, having more with being more, or what you have with who you are.

Sierra Keaton

[thelittleaura]

How much time do you spend dying? It's a heck of a lot longer than living. So do something you actually love doing.

[thelittleaura]

Don't be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived life. You don't have to live forever, you just have to live.

Natalie Babbit, Tuck Everlasting