Minneapolis-Reflections

This trip to Minneapolis sparked alot of internal debate within myself and made me reflect on the decisions that one has to make and how we actually come to that "life changing decision". Everytime when I come to Minneapolis, I ask myself and Jason, "how do you actually live here?". The question may be automatic once I touch down because I see the bleak, SUNLESS sky, or it could be the ultra cold weather, or it could even be the sombre and drab look of the buildings in Minneapolis.

When you were a kid or maybe some of you reading this post may still be.........making everday decisions were so simple such as "choosing what practise book to do for PMR or SPM" will probably be one of your toughest choices or what tuition classes to go to!!!!! As we grow older, I have come to realize especially the past few months, how many of my friends and even myself are at the juncture of making decisions, tough ones! For example, one common one I am hearing nowadays is "Do I stay in the USA/Australia/UK or go back to Asia/Malaysia?" or " I don't like my job now and really don't have interest in what I am doing, do I switch or just settle with this job, I mean it is after all a job right?"

You might be thinking, how does any of these questions even relate to being in Minneapolis? Well..........it has alot to do with it because if you were at a cross roads in your life as probably most of my friends are, how do you solve your endless questions on "where to live", "where to work", etc. To be honest with you, I am at that juncture right now and I believe you will probably come across these questions at multiple time points in your life.....

My answer to all of the above is:

Do what makes you HAPPY. Do NOT SETTLE for something because you think that thing is the best you can get right now.

In relations to Minneapolis, if I was about to graduate from there and I truly did not like to live in Minneapolis BUT I got a job there, the only company that hired me in the USA...... OR you have another option which is to go back to Malaysia because you also have a job there...... You know you feel happier in Malaysia but if you go back, you can never come back to look for a job.....what do you do?

Well...if you are reading this and you think this question somehow actually pertains to you, I feel that you need to prioritize what is important to you:

1. Why do you want to stay in the USA? Is it just because  "I THINK I will have a better life here" or " I may be able to get a green card" or "Although I don't like it here, it might get better, anyways, this is for my children's future"

I mean ARE YOU SERIOUS? If you actually think any of the statements I wrote above.....well....then maybe you need to RE-THINK your options. I did not pull these statements out from thin air but rather from my friend's mouths....If you are not happy and you are just SETTLING, I suggest you move back or to somewhere you know you will be happy and have a better quality of life(in terms of general well-being,i.e., emotional, mental). Think about it, do you really think you will be happier if you are not already happy now? And...if you are not happy, aren't you not having a good QUALITY of life already.....being unhappy leads to many mental health issues.

2. What is important to you right now? Is it your family, career, love life,etc?

Basically, once you prioritize what is important to you, somehow clarity prevails. For me, as I have mentioned before, my family is very important to me which already sealed my decision on where I would be after I graduate because I want to be closer to them, I don't think being 24 hours away or even 16 hours away helps. What's worse, only being able to see them once in 4-5 months. If it is your career, then you have to weigh the jobs that were offered to you in the USA and the one in Asia. Which will give you a better advancement? And at what expense are you willing to sacrifice your quality of life for career advancement?

3. Where are you happiest?

To me, this is the ultimate question. If you are not happy where you are especially where you are lonely, facing depression, but you are just staying because you think "this is the right thing to do"....well.....I say LEAVE! Do not think just by leaving a job, you can't get another one, or by leaving this horrible location,i.e., Minneapolis, Michigan, Iowa which provides me a job, you can't get another one. When there is a will, there is a way. Trust me, I have seen it happen many times with some of my closest friends. I am really happy to see some of my friends that are actually successful doing what they love doing when no one would even dare try to make it their careers, worst of all, some of themwere discouraged in the first place...

David Lai the magician is very successful!!! He perservered and manage to achieve his goals, and I know for a fact he loves what he does:)

Yee Ming! She is one superwoman ever since I knew her in high school but she is currently the captain of CHARM(Malaysian's cheerleading team), coaches and has made cheerleading a sport in Malaysia! This girl manage to make cheerleading her career!Amazing!

May Sze, my other half(she has the same name as me), she went after her interests rather than what was expected of her!! She had the guts and I know she will become a name to remember in the fashion industry soon!!!!

OF COURSE, MY MOM! She is an amazing lady!!! She studied for her real estate license which was really difficult, passed with flying colors, started her own real estate company AND after seven years, has a very successful and roaring business:) She truly is an inspiration! And you know what, she really likes what she does...

My trip to Minneapolis did not just spark my crazy writing spree and thoughts but I always look on the bright side of things. I got to spend time with Jason, visited a few places and had loads of rest. Below are some of the pictures I took while "sight seeing" in Minneapolis

The Normandal Japanese Garden

Once again, I was so excited when Jason took me to a Japanese Garden somewhere in Mineapolis and when I heard it was 2 acres, I was expecting it to be super huge and pretty, love Japanese styled houses and gardens:) Butttt....when we got there, everything was basically dead, hardly any greenery and the lake was still de-frosting....nevertheless, it was still picturesque?

                                            The Bentendo, hexagon shaped building

The lake and the three stone lantern at the corner(shipped directly from Japan)

Zig zag bridge. According to the Japanese, evil follows a straight line, and this bridge was designed as non-linear so evil spirits can't cross it....pretty interesting

Before heading to the flat bridge

Flat bridge, main focal point of the garden

Turtle and Crane island(look how cold it is, the water was still partly frozen!)

Jason in his contemplation post in front of a christmas tree.....kekeke

The Taiko-bashi(drum shaped bridge)

This tree WAS suppose to be the famous sakura tree...well...I guess now it is a yellow tree?

The square shelter which provides a retreat and an overview of the garden

Did you guys like it????I am sure it is prettier during summer...... Weird thing was that I doubt that was 2 acres of land....

OOOHHHH, I had to show you the cutest juices I found!!!! I was so excited, I bought the whole sesame street juices:) It tasted good too!

Next place I checked out was the Minneapolis sculpture gardem, apparently a tourist attraction. The only few things that caught my eye were these few sculptures I took a picture off for you:

This was the main attraction, a huge spoong with a cherry amidst a gloomy city backdrop

A mesh dome, with little ornaments inside the mesh, very artistic!

I loved this fish sculpture the most because it was sooo glittery but it was closed by the time we got there:( I manage to take a picture of it from the outside though...

Anyways, you can probably check these few places out if you happen to be in Minneapolis but I have to warn you first, remember to keep super warm!!!!! Once the wind blows, your face freezes over!!!!

For those out there who are making important decisions right now, I hope this post helped you in someway and remember this......being happy is a key to alot more great things to come! Good luck!

xoxo

Meiz