do you know …

“do you know … …” or “you do not know …” or “你(知)不知道 … …?”

these are epistemological questions. but such philosophical question often appears in our day-to-day encounter. if i/we use the above question in attempt to tell someone that s/he is in the wrong, and the problem and/or consequence that leads on from there, i/we should first ask ourselves:

“did i/we do anything to enable this person to know (what i assumed s/he should know)? 我们做了什么让他知道了呢?”

often, what we know is limited by the access to (privileged) information. if i have not maintained high level of transparency, nor have frequent open conversations, i cannot expect others to know (what i assumed s/he should know).

in short, the lessons here are:

1. conversation/dialogues (cf. 1-way monologue) are important to attain transparency
2. don’t ask the 1st question if i have not done the 2nd.

encyclopedia photo

a new meaning to 天時地利人和

always thought that 天時、地利、人和 is used when it refers to success not easily achievable, but many factors have to be aligned, many at times by chance. and the lack of one will result in non-success.

based on an incident that took place these two days, it seems that 天時、地利、人和 can cause a total failure, breakdown, or downfall. the lack of one, the failure/breakdown/downfall just wouldnt be complete or happen at all :O

must also credit 安琪 as the indirect source of inspiration (:

double rainbows (one barely visible) & lightning bolt after a thunder storm/shower

a little life lesson a little reminder

after the conversations with all eight student teachers i supervised for the recent practicum, this is my little takeaway from the morning, and it’s definitely good reminder for me as a teacher, as a learner, as a parent, as a friend, and as a human person (:

many at times we make assumptions and use busy as an excuse to not find out more about things that we observed. open communication and the effort to do so helps one to clarify observations and the misunderstandings within. and it reminds one of empathy, for the same thing may very well happen to you and be misunderstood by an observer too.

或许这就是命; 天时、地利、人和,三者的聚集才能成就一件好事,不易啊!

2013-05-17 12.11.51

this is water

yet another video that illustrates “it’s a matter of perspective”, “change your perspective and you may change your life” (:

人生无常, Wallace, who gave this speech in 2005, is not around us anymore; only his voice is still with us to remind us of life’s lesson.