Adventure

to go outside or to stay inside?
this is one of my most frequent questions.
Should I stay and try to read or write,
cultivating my inner world,
or should I venture outside,
and live in the moment?
both have plausible arguments.

today, I chose to venture outside.
The sky was clear pastel blue,
the white foam of clouds here and there,
the wind blew once in a while.
I glided through roads on my bike,
eventually arriving at a corner of a tourist spot.

I got off my bike and locked it on a bike stand.
a neon-blue van parked next to a cafe,
and the sound of a generator rumbling filled the street.
I walked up to the window and ordered:
a shaved ice with deathly bright colors of syrups.
I thought of four years ago in Hawaii,
slurping it, reminiscing my childhood years.

when all the ice melted away,
only the artificial sweetener is left
As I rode back, I wondered,
“was it truly worth $7?”
for having made myself live for this moment,
Yes, I believe it was worth every penny.

7.23.2023

Step

gradually, I am making the climb
towards the apex veiled in clouds.
I have tumbled and fell,
and I know I will make the same mistakes,
but at least I know where I am headed to.
it’s a climb that matters,
not that “being at a small spot at the top”
learning to drink water in between
and look after fellow colleagues
is part of the journey
to the end.

7.13.2023

Change

I want to actively change.
I want to start more conversations.
who knows, we are all caged in silence,
yearning for a magical breakthrough
to touch each other’s deepest thoughts.

In all I do, I want to build towards my values.
I want to protect the weak,
respect each person’s dignity,
and discover the beauty of both old and new.

I may have constraints,
but with my will, wit, and wisdom,
and with help of like-minded people,
I will pave my way to these virtues.
If I successfully do these,
I will have lived an awesome life.

7.12.2023