Q&A Friday

Today’s question: What is the most meaningful Love Note you ever wrote to or received from your family members so far?

    I remember very clearly how disappointed I was when I failed my job interviews in the US. I was a very confident person when I worked in China. But here, I am alone. I am far away from home. I began to doubt my abilities and my choices. Why did I come here? I had a great job and family in China. Why I was here? I felt lost. And I was not happy! 

    I called my father and told him I might go back to China next year, because I was getting tired of my life in the US. He did not say anything but listened while I complained. 

    The next day I received an e-mail from him. The email said: “I respect the choices you have made. I can understand why you were so emotional. And I stand by you. But I remember someone reading me a very great quote, and now I want to share it with you.

    ‘It usually is not what you have, where you are, or what you’ve been through that makes you happy or unhappy, it’s how you think about it all.’ It starts on the inside. You control your thoughts. The only person who can hurt your happiness in the long run is you.”

    I looked at his e-mail for a long time. I was moved. I started to think about my experiences, my happiness, my sadness, my successes, my failures, my smiles, and my tears. Actually, as an emerging adult, every thing I had experienced was a gift. I needed to learn to be grateful. My life had been and still is a wonderful journey. 

    My father is a typical Chinese father. He usually does not say too much, but he is a person with a big heart and has aways supported me unconditionally. I very much appreciate him. We still keep sending e-mails to each other that demonstrate our appreciation and affection, even though as a super traditional Chinese father, he is still a little shy to say “ I love you” to me directly.  And I’m okay with that. :) His words are still Love Notes to me.