been reading the book "Tibetan's book on the living and dying", it's a book that keeps me engaged far longer than other books (less than Harry Potter I admit haha), but it is a book that requires slow reading, slow thinking, then slowly absorbing all the wisdom bestowed upon the readers by the writer, Sogyal Rinpoche a great Master himself. I feel this book should be a must read for people from all walks of life, because it really isn't about any particular religion, but about faith in yourself and in knowing that one can be better, as a human being in this lifetime and as a living being, on earth in general. One of the chapters in the book mentions about living masters that we are surrounded by, and how their role is there to help us recognize our inner master and inner abilities, to become "enlightened". They are there to guide to teach to remind us of the rights and wrongs we have done, and the things we plan to do. Of our actions and inactions and their consequences. They are here to show us how great we could be, and that greatness could be limitless and real, even if we have never been able to imagine it ourselves.

I think of all the people that I admire and have deep respect for, most my immediate family. I feel very appreciative and lucky to be born in the Yen family and most important, to be born as the daughter of my dad, whom I continue to aspire to and hopefully one day I could be as wise and successful as he is. Another person that I have come to develop great respect for recently is my husband's grandma. She is probably the most amazing person I know in terms of her optimism, her strength, her will to live, and her ability to crack jokes even when she's suffering from cancer at an old age. From her you don't see pain, you don't see misery, you don't see suffering, you don't see resentment or anger or anything negative. You only see love, imagination, warmth, happiness, and power. She's lived a very eventful and exciting life and she's still living now, even though the doctors have said that she wouldn't have make it through December. It's now April, and though she may not last as long as we'd like (to 100!), but she's going to hang on for a while. I have faith in her and I think she's just not ready to leave those who love her. She's such a strong woman, she has so many admirable qualities and only if I can share 1/8 of her optimism and strength, that would already make me a 1000% better person. She's quite something, she's truly amazing, and I think she one of the great masters that I've been lucky enough to meet in my life. To meet her, get to know her, and be apart of her family in this time means that I have been a lucky person, too.

I really really hope miracles will happen and that she will prove all the doctors wrong once again. And that she will somehow fight her cancer, get back to normal, and continue to be a great source of warmth and happiness for all that loves her and surround her.

And as one last note-- happiness are usually derived from simple things in life, it's not the big memorable events, but the small day to day things. It's in the simple details, it require not much more than appreciation and a smile. And I don't know if I finally get it, like truly get it now, but I do believe I will only grow to be happier and happier, wiser, as I grow older.