Disney Tag

I've been to three Disneylands (California, Florida and Hong Kong) so I think it will be fun to do this Disney Tag!

California Adventure - Source: www.chipandco.com

1. A scene in any Disney movie you wish you could experience?
I think I would want to experience the scene in Enchanted where Giselle falls through the hole and transitions from the cartoon world to the real one. Changing from 2D to 3D must feel pretty cool and all the confusion of entering a completely different world should be nervewracking but adventurous!

2. An unforgettable experience or moment you've had at the parks?
My most vivid memory at Disney's California Adventure was riding the big roller coaster. It was my first time on a roller coaster that looped upside down and I still remember how exciting and exhilarating it felt.

3. What non-Disney song(s) reminds you or brings back memories of Disney?
Britney Spear's Oops I Did It Again because that was the song we sang during the roadtrip to Disney. It was probably also the first Britney song I learned back when she was the pop princess.

4. When was the first time you went to a Disney Park?
My first time was when I was 8 years old and we went to California's Disneyland. It was spring break and I got to enjoy the park with new friends I made on the roadtrip. Everything made me go "wow."

5. If you could choose any of the characters to be your best friend, who would you choose?
Technically this isn't a Disney character but Disney produced the English version of the movie so I would choose Totoro because I can't choose any other character! I'd also love to know the entire crew of Toy Story too because I grew up with those movies.

6. Who are your favourite Disney princesses?
When I was younger I really liked Cinderella because of her dress.

7. Name a scene or moment in any Disney movie that never fails to make you cry?
I wouldn't say that it makes me cry but the scene where Simba's dad dies in Lion King is pretty sad.

8. What is the first Disney movie you remember seeing?
I had a Mickey Mouse version of Jack and the Beanstalk on videotape and I would watch it over and over. I still remember that the videotape was purple instead of the usual black.

9. What is your favourite Disney movie?
This is hard to choose but probably Toy Story.

Those are all the questions for today and hopefully I can keep up with weekly blogging.

Take care,

Childhood Friendships

Last week, family friends from Oregon came to visit. I've known the older sister since we were both babies and I watched their mom pregnant with the younger sister all the way through her birth and growth. In other words, I've known them for a long time. Although we live in different places, our families have been able to keep in touch all these years which I hope to do with the new friends I meet all over the world.

Caramel macaron, hazelnut macaron, lemon tart

It is weird growing up with friends from the early years of childhood. When you're young, you become best friends with someone almost instantly and you can be entertained for hours with imaginary games or secret handshakes.

Yet as you grow older, if you don't get to spend much time together, that instant bond as a child will start to take longer and longer. You do not pick up instantly from where you left off the last time you saw each other because you are leading different lives and have different interests. I find myself having to use more effort to think of common topics that we can all talk about because I realize that I don't actually know that much about them despite the years of friendship. This isn't just with my Oregon friends but with other childhood friends as well.

Anywho, as I grow older I appreciate each friendship more and so I want to give in more effort to keep in touch because you never know when you will see them again. As grim as it sounds, my parents have childhood friends who have passed away well before they reached old age. Life is unexpected, so make the most of it.

L to R: Jacquie, Me, Joycie

Take care,

Overthinking

I admit it, I do this a lot. I overthink.

The are two main components to my overthinking: seeing something simple as complicated and fear of consequences.

Something Simple as Complicated
This component is usually associated with my interactions with people. Sometimes I can be oblivious when my attention is not directed, like walking onto the street before the pedestrian light flashes. Most of the time I am a fairly observant person, especially towards peoples' behaviours and gestures. I find it pretty fascinating how people act in different environments and social situations.

That easily leads to overthinking because I might see a small gesture you make as meaning more. For example, if you smile but I intuitively feel that it's not genuine then I will see it as a sad smile which leads me to wonder what has happened in your day that made you sad.

Of course I don't extrapolate this much for every person around me but when my mind is focused in conversation with a person, I tend to notice these details.

Other times when I'm trying to learn new knowledge and connecting ideas so I understand it, I often take a more complicated route to sew my ideas together. Somehow if it's a concept that I don't understand on the spot, I feel that it must be complicated so I have to match a difficult connection of ideas with it when the simple answer can be right in front of my eyes but I overlook it by overthinking.

Fear of Consequences
As an overthinker, sometimes I can be critical of those who make rash decisions. How can they just do such an action without thinking about the consequences? Another part of me would like some of that bravery to not think and just act. I ponder about "ifs" and "supposes" often.

Thought process: "Suppose I do this thing, then this could happen or that could happen. I'd love for this to happen but if it goes wrong, will I be able to face the consequences of that happening?"

With this lack of uncertainty, I make plans and lists so I can increase the chances of favourable outcomes but even after careful planning I might not execute a plan in the end. My overthinking can stunt my willpower to do things out of my comfort zone. And I don't like that.

So at the beginning of 2013 I made a small commitment to myself that I will not let myself stop myself any more because I don't want to have any regrets. There's a difference between making wise choices and not making choices at all. I will just have to take the risk of encountering poor choices in order to be able to appreciate the wise choices I do make.

Take care,