The Happiness Challenge

I control my own happiness, and no one can take that away from me.

Saturday, 02/06/2012: DIY Challenge

My mom and I are going to DIY remodel our entire house! It’s going to take, er, years, naturally, since I’m away at school most of the time, but we’re both super stoked. It’s something that we’ve always wanted to do and have been trying to do for a very long time, anyways. I guess I’m now old enough to both be able to DIY furniture and paint walls by myself and things like that as well as mentalise and come up with attractive but creative interior design plans. Agh, so excited! We’re going to start with my room first because that’ll take the least time. I want to make a kind of travel/movement/map theme in my room, to demonstrate my constant pace and inability to stay in one place. I’m fixing up my two drawers sets, redoing two lamps, and adding some wall decor. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish my room in the two and a half weeks left I have here before going abroad! I’m so excited for this. I won’t be able to do this all the time since I’m usually gone, but it will be awesome to have a kind of task and project to come home to, especially since I love being busy.

Friday, 01/06/2012: Inspiring People

Our waitress today at Denny’s was one of the most memorable people ever. She was super enthusiastic and energetic as soon as we sat down at our booth - so excited, in fact, that she scared me. It was the kind of enthusiasm level where you assume people are batshit. She was so happy to serve us and to help me figure out my order. My mom said that last time when she went to Denny’s, she didn’t know how to order and couldn’t understand the menu because it was all in English, but this same waitress helped figure out the difference between lunch and dinner items, between entrees and appetizers, et cetera. 

I wish I could be like our waitress today, so dedicated and glad about work. The lady works in food - the worst, most taxing, least appreciated job ever! - but was ever helpful and did her job amazingly and really benefitted everyone who ate at Denny’s. I want to be like that - to realize that everything is a privilege and be happy doing even the most mundane and unpleasant tasks, to smile and do your best and be cheerful even when you really don’t want to. Wow. What an inspiring woman. I want to be just like her.

Admittedly, it’s more difficult to fond particularly happy things to write about when I’m at home because of how there is not a constant stream of mental and sometimes emotional stimulation. But still, there are things: today Brian and I invented an awesome smoothie recipe:

  • 1 part frozen peaches
  • 1 part frozen strawberries and raspberries
  • 1/2 part sliced banana
  • 1/4 part lemon juice
  • 3 1/2 parts orange juice

Blend on high for one minute.

Also, I had some HILARIOUS text conversations today with Tiffany and with Matt. I miss them. Oh! James finished the Hilton Head spring break video… oh my God. It’s the kind of thing where I am afraid to watch, then watch and take 15 minutes to watch the 3 minute video because I’m dying of laughter, and then don’t want to ever watch it again due to the horrendous side effects as well as the overwhelming embarrassment… crazy. James is so talented; the video was so well-done and really captured the essence of the entire trip! 

Wednesday, 30/05/2012: Anesthesiology

I want to be an anesthesiologist so badly.

I love the field, and I - I can do this. I will do this. I’ve never wanted something so much before.

Tuesday, 29/05/2012: San Francisco

Where my heart will always be. It’s the most gorgeous city in the world, with so much culture and flair and sass. Walking up and down her ridiculous hills, literally stopping traffic because I will cross the street, dammit, and you will yield to pedestrians - I love everything about San Francisco and being in San Francisco. I go into every store and see everything there possibly is to see - I love it. I’m going to live there one day. I’m going to go to school there.

Monday, 28/05/2012: Palo Alto

Is a place full of extremely tall people. We went to the Stanford shopping center today because there’s an Urban Outfitters there. I didn’t get anything, but my brother got a graphic t-shirt and my mom got - get this - an indigo and purple sparkly front-cropped flannel.

My mom is the world’s biggest hipster.

Anyways, Brian was really happy to get a shirt and I just like to see him happy. Makes everything worth it.

Saturday, 26/05/2012: Champion Breakfast

This morning Brian and I made champion breakfast for the entire family because it was our parents’ wedding anniversary. We made bacon, hash browns, pancakes, and vegetable omelettes and also cut up a bunch of fresh fruit. It was awesome. Admittedly, Mom had to help us with some stuff because flipping omelettes is hard and highly precarious, at least when I do it. Still, it was awesome and it was so satisfying and happy to see the kitchen table crowded with plates of colorful food that we cooked. Happy anniversary, parents!!

 

Later for dinner Brian and I attempted to replicate that godly pasta salad I had a Spring Symposium. While it was nowhere as untouchably perfect as that pasta salad, our rendition was still delicious! It’s really nice and a huge relief and excitement to find an activity that Brian and I can do together.

Missed VC’s graduation this morning, but I’m so proud of Subi, my old running partner! She was this year’s graduating class’s valedictorian and is UPenn Wharton School of Business bound in the fall! I couldn’t be prouder. I always knew she was extremely intelligent and clever but Wharton, wow! That girl really is something! I really do feel like a proud older sister. She’s definitely going places.

Thusday, 24/05/2012: Home-cooked Meals

For dinner, my mom made this amazing beef soup with carrots, onions, and potatoes. We had it with noodles that she made herself - they weren’t store-bought! Clearly, my mother is amazing. It’s so good to be back! I keep saying this because it’s so true! It’s so good to be back at home!

Wedneday, 23/05/2012: Shopping

Today I went to a mall - an actual mall, with several different wings and loops and department stores - for the first time in forever. It felt so good, to just not have to think about anything and just look at shiny things and soft clothes and pretty makeup and enormous airbrushed ads featuring beautiful people.

I know it sounds madly vain, but it feels nice to not think about anything important. I got new shorts, too - they’re soft and flowy and blue and white and lovely. I’m just happy to be home. I like changing environments and breathing different kinds of air.