Did you notice the date of today and
the time the program was held? 12-12-12 at 12 pm!! I thought of it last night
yet failed to talk about it but Sherri did. She brought up the issue to welcome
the two newcomers who were Lily’s friends. Both of them came directly from a
church in which they are taking some conversation classes. Heard about the
reading club and the weekly meetings, they came to check us out. I do wish the
experience they took home after the program would invite more visits.
Dann is a “retired” mother of two
married daughters. Been in the country for more than thirty years, her English
and adjustment of the culture and environment are proficient and excellent;
they are present by the way she expresses herself: confident, comfortable, and
easy-going.
PayLing is also a stay home mother
with two boys aged 20 and 17 respectively. Speaking as if raining bullets, her
English is impressive. The reason she might not be a constant visitor of the
meetings is she has her plate too full at her current lifestyle. Translating
and volunteering at different places keep her occupied. In addition to the
lenient volunteering, PayLing is attending community college to acquire some
certificate for bookkeeping. Humbly she said it’s just her way to spend time on
things she has interest. Without strong will and certain degree of commitment,
one couldn’t do the things Ms. PayLing is engaged with. Bravo, PayLing.
After the hearty introductions, the
group moved to talk about the lyrics of the song, Move On, sung by ABBA. As
usual, each member took turn to read a short paragraph. Then, starting from the
librarian, members are welcome to bring up any issue talking about life,
sharing personal life experiences, mentioning lessons learned over the year.
The most impressive part Sherri got from the beautiful lyrics is the third
paragraph: I’ve travelled every country, I’ve travelled in my mind. To
emphasize her points, Sherri used her index finger to point to her own head.
“Here, the mind is the most important thing in the world.” From head and mind,
the group got into hot talks about mind sets and their influence upon a
person’s life.
Lily liked the part: How I treasure
every minute, Being part of it, being in it, With the urge to move on. It’s
only as one is getting old and counting the days one would last and breathe on
the earth one came to understand the precious asset one owns: everyday as one
is alive and one feel living. Ruby said had she given the lyrics to read at her
younger age she might not have understood or appreciated the meaning of the
words. They would just be words without further or deeper touch. The group
agreed that cumulative life experiences are the best teachers teaching a person
what life really means.
The librarian summed up the session
reinforcing the importance of keeping trying and not to give up too soon. Life
might be hard. Yet what will you feel with your eyes shut? YOU. It’s your mind
set and sense of existence telling you what life is. If you are positive and
willing to always try then life is not as hard as you imagine it is. There
might be unwanted changes and untimely challenges yet it’s your mind set and
attitude deciding the level of hardship. If you could tell yourself that “I’ve
always tried” then your life is something; something valuable that would make
you proud enough to tell your next generations your own stories and tell them
who you have been. You have stories to tell.
Are
you alive, living or both? If you ever ponder upon such questions and reflect
frequently on events taken place in your life then you are both.
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