Technically, Lunar New Year was about 6 days ago on January 31st, but the point is…I’m wishing everyone a happy Lunar New Year now. It’s better late than never, right? Right? AMIRIGHHHH? Since I didn’t make a post about my New Year’s Resolution, I thought I might as well make one for the Lunar New Year. Anyone notice the background change? Probably not, but I made a new background for the blog & I like it much better than the previous grey floral pattern. Hope someone else agrees or else this was all for naught & it definitely didn’t take 5 minutes like YouTube said it would. You lie, YouTube, you lie – or I’m just Illustrator handicapped.
2014 is the year of the horse, which is my Chinese zodiac, so if you’re superstitious, you’d predict that this would be a good year for the all the horsies out there, right? You’d be wrong, my superstitious friend. My friends & I are brokenhearted because we lost someone dear to a bunch of monsters. I had known her for nearly a decade of my life & although we had our differences, what happened to her was horrific & undeserved. It wasn’t her time to leave this Earth, so here’s hoping that her assailants serve their time in prison. She deserves more than this small paragraph, so I plan on writing an entire post in her honor. It probably would’ve embarrassed her, but I think she would’ve also appreciated it. Her loss is the reason my last post ended sentimentally. If you took the time to read about her story & are outraged, moved, & want to do something about it, “Like” the Facebook page, Justice for Kim Pham. You can donate to her family &/or send your condolences.
My father always told me that life is too short, but I’d always retort back, “then why is it the longest thing we’ll ever live & experience?” Only until Kim’s passing did I truly understand that life truly is too short. These recent events have really had many of us reflecting & vigilant. My parents are paranoid & don’t approve of my brother & me going out to bars because they fear they may lose us too. Although it’s understandable, we’ve tried to tell them not to take Coach Carr’s “don’t have sex because you’ll get pregnant & die” approach literally. We are all more likely to die in a car accident than in a bar fight, but anything could happen. It’s important to be cautious, but it’s also important not to let our fears hinder our passions, goals, spontaneity, & our ability to live life to the fullest.
Lunar New Year’s Resolutions/To-Do List
- Finish 30 books
- Procrastinate less.
- Study harder.
- Procrastinate less.
- Be happy with my accomplishments.
- Convert website into a responsive layout.
- Be happy with my website.
- Less crying, more happiness. No more stressing myself out.
- Make others around me happy.
- Write more “Thank You” cards
- Travel more.
- More food adventures.
- Be less fat.
- Be vegetarian 4 out of 7 days of the week.
- Be more patient.
- Get closer to family & friends.
I have a bunch of new posts lined up for the next 2 weeks, evenly spaced out by a few days so that I can focus more on my studies & less on my hobby. Recipes, albums, & a giveaway soon!
Yak Man
aight she was your friend ;o. I only have seen an reaction video of justkiddingnews about it, it’s really horrible. Seriously I don’t understand those girls..
And also happy lunar new year! As Chinese it’s not late yet, Chinese people always celebrate it 15 days, hahaha. And you have got a nice to-do list especially the more food adventures part.
Tiff
There’s a reaction video…? I just looked up JustKiddingNews & couldn’t find what you were talking about. It wasn’t just 3 girls though, it was also 2 men, but the police are saying that the men were not involved with Kim’s beating, but with her friends. Hopefully all of this will be cleared up when they go to court.
Yak Man
the link is in the website box! yes I know, they said it in the video
Tiff
Hmm I shouldn’t bother with the video because I’ve got to focus, but thanks for letting me know. I guess it’s no big deal really. Do you get emails when I reply to you? I’m asking to make sure my system works haha!
Yak Man
Okie, and yes your system works! 🙂
Ciara
I’m sorry for your loss. Losing someone you care about is never easy. Great list!
Tiff
Thank you, I appreciate your condolences.
Cassie
Life is ‘too short’ but I feel I have yet to feel as though I live with that mental note in my head all the time. Like you said, your friend’s passing let you really see what it truly meant to you. People say it’s short and I do feel time passing by quickly, but at the same time I still feel like I’m itching to get to the good parts all the time!!!!
Tiff
I don’t think it really hits you until someone close to you dies & it took my friend’s death for me to realize that. Now I often fear that the last words I say to people will be the very last or that I’ll regret it. It’s no way to live, so you just have to make sure people know how much you care about them.
Carrie
We have a few things in common!!! First off, I totally live under a rock because I’ve never heard of Lunar year but happy Lunar year to you!!! 🙂
I want to be less fat.. I’m overweight, big time. I gave up meat but now I think I eat more junk to sub for it. 🙁 I just need to give up food completely. Can humans survive off of smoothies or healthy drinks? Ugh!
I want to be happy with my website as well… but your website looks great so don’t worry!
I LOVEEE to travel! I wanna go to California, Texas, ATL, etc. I’m tired of being stuck in Ohio w/ all this snow and ice. *Thumbs Down*
Tiff
I did discuss what Lunar New Year’s is in the first & second paragraph. It’s commonly known as Chinese New Year’s, but I’m not Chinese & many other Asian ethnicities observe it. It’s just such a shame that my friend lost her life before she got to celebrate it. Hopefully justice is served soon. It is her year after all.
Michelle
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sending positive thoughts to everyone.
Tiff
Thank you, Michelle. 🙂
Agent Q
A belated Happy Lunar New Year to you, too. I’m sorry that it was off to a bad start due to the loss of your friend. The shock can be very overwhelming, considering your familiarity with the said individual. :/ I know that feeling all too well. It’s weird to say, but I lost several friends from both sides of the confrontation. I think I’ll end with that without going further. Life is short and also cruel. It’s a question of how to circumvent the system, so that we can live to our fullest…
Your list is great! Good luck, and I hope you find this year to be an accomplished one! I like how you mentioned procrastinate less twice. I would probably fill up 50% of my list with that resolution. xD
Tiff
Well Agent Q, I too, am sorry for your loss in a confrontation that had two parties involved. I am interested in that story though. I think much of the problem these days is that people are so numb that they don’t think to act when they see a fight break out. Call the police. Yell at them to stop. Just. Anything. Kim’s life wouldn’t have been extinguished if more people tried to stop what had happened & if the 3 women didn’t pounce on her.
Procrastination is my worst enemy hahaha had to put it on the list twice.
Emily
I am so, so sorry for your loss. I lost my cousin on January 1st – he had a little too much to drink, and in a freak accident, fell off a bridge. It goes to show that anything can happen, but living in fear isn’t going to get us anywhere.
There really isn’t anything I can say or do to make it better, but the best thing we can do is celebrate the memory of those we’ve lost and keep moving forward. I hope justice is served, and I hope you had a happy new year!
Tiff
Emily, we’ve just “met” each other & it means a lot to me that you continually take the time to read my posts & write thoughtful comments on them. Thank you for your condolences, they’re thoroughly appreciated. Kim’s life went on to save 5 other people via her organ donations, so it helps soften the blow.
I too, am sorry for your loss. Losing a family member due to a freak accident is tragic. My condolences to you & your family. May his memory live on with you & his loved ones. 🙂
Cat
Oh no, I’m so sorry for your loss 🙁 That’s terrible what happened to your friend. I really hope the people responsible will serve their time in prison too. Events like this really do remind us of how short life is and how anything can happen.
Happy Lunar New Year though! I hope the rest of the year will bring better news. Good luck on your resolutions!
Tiff
Cat, thank you for always thoroughly reading my posts. It means a lot to me that you’re not here to promote your blog, but to interact with someone in your blogosphere. I appreciate your condolences & hope you have a happy lunar new year. 🙂
Alice
Augh, I’ve been so left out from reading your entries >____< sorry for your loss. The article made me go wtf at those women though… and then I got myself sighing and shaking my head, wondering again with such wtf reaction
p.s: oh a fellow goodreads user 🙂 /adds
Tiff
It’s okay, Alice. I appreciate your presence whether or not you choose to leave me a comment. 🙂 I think all of your comments are getting cut off though. It seems that when you use that smiley face or rather the argh face, the comment gets cut off somehow.
Tiff
Also, thank you for your condolences & for taking the time to read some of my old posts. It means a lot, Alice. You’re a sweetie. 🙂 I stalk your blog a lot so we’re all good in the hood haha! In fact, you’ve inspired me to get back into film!