freedom

Retrospective

July 19, 2025July 19, 2025 RalphLeave a comment

I have done my best to control what I could,

and did what I believed was the right thing to do.

in spite of what you think was happening.

I’d ask you to ponder what has actually happened,

and what remained only as an impression.

To honor my own emotions,

and respect others’ needs at the same time

required a great deal of restraint

than I felt comfortable sharing publicly.

So will you please

at least give me a breathing space

to save my own skin for a bit?

Now that the chapter is over,

I would love to retain at least that bit of a right.

7.19.2025

Untrammeled

June 20, 2025 Ralph2 Comments

Recognize the damage done by your pride.

If you can forgive yourself,

let it go.

You didn’t know.

Even if you are all by yourself,

even if you have taken a few steps backwards,

let’s keep going.

It might take awhile.

It might not be much.

But at least let’s keep it going.

There’s so much yet we have to see.

And who knows, someone may be waiting for you.

6.19.2025

July 3, 2020 RalphLeave a comment

no longer tethered are the arms and the legs
of a Phoenix who forgot its immortality

life of a longing is no more,but
life of a suffering may be a must;
I will continue to dance in fire
while my voice may turns hoarse in roar

for even if I fall again,
in remembrance of my
beloved one’s memory
I will stand up again.

7.2.2020

Trip to Iceland – the Land of Vikings

February 3, 2018January 2, 2023 RalphLeave a comment

Trapped.

What would an animal in a cage feel like? You see world outside, yet you can’t go there. The world is not an illusion. It’s real. And it prevents you to go out and explore.

That’s how I felt living in Boston.

Once, it had been a wonderful place. I was in a relationship, I was slowly building experience towards high education, and slowly, yet steadily earning money.

Then, I crashed my entrance exam, broke up with girlfriend, and lost my job. Now, I did not know where I was headed with my pre-health degree.

I’ve worked in cafe as a barista for a year, receiving minimum wage. I spent months wrestling with exam prep questions day and night while others went on hiking, partying, and sharing joyous moments together. It felt like a burning hell, but I wasn’t going to stop. I kept on walking.

Then, I got fired from a health clinic, where I’ve poured in all of my energy to support its mission to help those who are both poor and sick. Everything seemed meaningless. I’ve worked so hard to become a physician to help those in need of help, yet I questioned whether the effort was worth the cause.

Then, I happened to talk to one of my good friends.

Straight away, he told me to go to Iceland.

I’ve been always wanting to go to Iceland. Just because it is Iceland. Also, I’ve watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty before (if you have watched it, you’ll see what I mean). A post-doc researcher from a lab I worked in recommended to me strongly “when you have money, you don’t have time to travel. When you time, you don’t have money. Just go, it’s a great place”.

I’ve long forgotten about it, but thanks to my friend, I decided to go.

That night, I purchased ticket to go to Iceland two days later.

That’s how I went to Iceland, my first oversea trip on my own.

I illustrate my experience in Iceland day by day.

I can tell you this for now:

it’s been truly magical.

KRK 2.3.2018