flash point

One more class until the final. Feeling a little stressed. Being tested, being challenged, being judged. It’s a feeling you don’t like, but at the same time, it’s a feeling that makes you stronger. This is a feeling that never gets old. I think everyone needs it. After you reach a point in your life, life becomes predictable. You have your job, your family, your house, your payments, your kids, your entertainment. You need a jolt once and a while, to shake you out of your regular surroundings, and to help you appreciate your leisure time. I am highly anticipating my December holidays.

Friday nights have become a rest night. It used to be a night to chill out with a bunch of friends, but now it’s more of a relax-at-home, catch-up-on-television, and play-video-games night. Are you experiencing the same type of Fridays?

On Saturday, I woke up at my regular time, and I was able to enjoy two bowls of cereal for breakfast. For some reason, I was wired. I couldn’t sit still at lunchtime. I watched House and Dave Chappelle’s last stand-up video. House was a good episode, but it’s definitely not the best of the season. Chappelle was funny, and I’m thankful because there seems to be a drought of good stand-up comedians. We went shopping at night and watched Flash Point starring Donnie Yen and Louis Koo. The fighting was interesting because it was primarily mixed martial arts. I think this was the best fighting movie I’ve seen in ten years. The fights had a gritty vibe, and the moves were realistic. I enjoyed these fight scenes more than all of the other Donnie Yen films combined (SPL, Dragon Tiger Gate, Wing Chun, Hero.)

The Sunday message taught that fearing God means that you do not fear anything else. If you fear things of this world, you do not fear God.

We had lunch at Pho Hong on Fraser Street. The soup and the noodles were great. The service is slow because they are so busy. I’d go back when I’m craving a warm bowl of noodles. 4*

I had coffee with Crystal and Adrian. Crystal’s back from Japan! And she’s glad that she’s not stuck in Japan as an English teacher for life. Once you are an English teacher for several years, it’s tough to return to your home country because of your lack of work experience. It’s tough because you’ve built a strong social network in Japan, with romantic relationships and possibly your own family. The spouse and kids aren’t accustomed to living in your home country, so you choose to live in Japan for your family. FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. It sounds like a conspiracy to increase the multicultural population in Japan, by trapping foreigners through marriage. Especially in the smaller towns, where they send the majority of teachers. Hmm… sending educated people into the towns, starting families, helping the local economy and community, trapping them by obligation. A strategic immigration policy.

Beware when they send you for a long term project to Northern Canada. They may want you to stay. FOREVER.

The flash point is the temperature at which liquids generate vapours that can ignite. The liquid changes states so that it can ignite. Taken in a human sense, this can be good or bad. Under heat and pressure, we change so that we can ignite and become something better. We may also change for the worst. All you know is that you can't be who you are now. The flash point is your opportunity to become who you were meant to be.

When is your next flash point?