GYPSY

For most of my life, I have been a gypsy. I have been on a journey of self-discovery, seeking answers to the burgeoning questions of my existence. I have befriended many interesting people in the crossroads of life, hoping that they will help me find my answers. I had a vague inclination of what I wanted to do, but that vision was an oasis that eluded me in an arid desert. It was only when I made a full circle back home that I discovered where my life’s destiny lies. Now I realize that this elusive dream is within my grasp, and all I have to do is to take a leap of faith- and do it.

Every human being has a great destiny to fulfill, and each one is different. Often times, I have been called a dreamer, a romantic and an idealist. If there's anything I am grateful for, it is my ability to see the world sunny, sparkly and bright. I know that in every defeat I have encountered, there is a priceless lesson to be learned, which will reap even greater rewards in the future to come. We are not creatures that are destined to fail. We despair and we stumble because we are meant to improve where we are weak, to be stronger than we were the first time around.

Fortunately, the word “CAN'T” has never been in my vocabulary. I have never allowed myself to think that there was something I couldn't do- and I have never tolerated people who told me otherwise. I believe that everything is achievable and attainable, but only if you put your heart and soul into it. So find what it is that you love to do. Unearth your heart’s desires and your soul’s longings. And once you do find it, seize the day and create every opportunity to bring it to fruition.

I am a starving artist. I am a writer. I write to inspire, to motivate and to change the world. I write with passion and conviction, reflecting the myriad of life experiences, personal triumphs and disappointments I have faced. I may not end up making millions for it, but if my words have translated the scorching intensity that I felt when it was written, then I already consider myself a success.

BELIEVE. That one word kindles hope, like sweet music from a caravan traveling through the Sahara desert. If you believe in yourself, in your passion, and in your dream, then there is nothing you cannot achieve. Open yourself to new ideas, to new people, to new adventures. Be a gypsy.

“EXPLORE, DREAM, DISCOVER.” – Mark Twain

A Graceful Landing

I have never been a conventional female. I consider myself to be a free-spirited wanderer, who values independence and liberal thought. I enjoy heated debates and tend to frown on social convention and its rigors. Thus, it was my natural inclination to live a life “different” from the rest of the world.

For the last 5 years, I have traveled and lived an unconventional lifestyle as a Flight Attendant a.k.a "Stewardess.” As a flight attendant, each day was a different adventure. There were days I would wake up at 3pm to start my day, and then stumble into my hotel room in the opposite coast, just as dawn broke. One winter day, I woke up to the sound of the Pacific Ocean waves hitting the beaches of Zihuatanejo, Mexico and fell asleep that evening as snow fell in the quaint city of Calgary in Canada. Many times, I would wake up in the middle of the night and forget where I was! For the most part, my life was a whirlwind. I was on vacation for half the year... traveling 1-2 months around Southeast Asia, taking long weekend trips around the East Coast, bouncing up and down the West Coast.

Finally after 5 or so years of living this nomadic, carefree life, the novelty had worn off and I felt a burgeoning desire to stay at home and have a stable life. I was exhausted from this erratic, jet-lagged, crazy lifestyle and I was ready to stop living on the road. As luck would have it, a great job opportunity fell into my lap.

The serendipitous moment arrived when my sister mentioned a job opening at a social networking website company where she worked: hi5, Networks Inc. I consider myself a social networking power user, fueled by having many close friends scattered throughout the world.

Although still unsure of my desire to join the “Corporate World,” I decided to give it a chance and, thanks to my good luck, they gave me an opportunity to join their team. hi5 is currently ranked as a top 20 website and is the #1 social network in 26 countries across the world. As the Executive Assistant at hi5, I have the privilege of working with incredibly smart, talented individuals. My coworkers inspire and motivate me to give 200% to my job and produce the best work that I can. I believe in the hi5 team, our product, and the future of this company.

Nowadays, I walk around with Joie de Vivre. Each day is an exciting opportunity for me to learn, to enhance my personal growth, and to get my creative juices flowing. Living in the "real" world and getting a "real" job has done wonders for me. I’m actually excited to wake up in the morning and I’m eager to go to work! Time flies when you're having fun, and my hi5 coworkers make our offices in SOMA a really fun place to be at!

Although I have many fond memories from my previous career, I do not look back longingly, on the roller coaster life I once had. Instead, I am eager to move forward and see what the lovely future, with my new career, has in store for me. After flying freely as a bird (or an airplane?) for many years, I am happy to have landed gracefully in the most beautiful city in the world: San Francisco. After a long journey around the world, I have finally landed... I have come home.