My last post was about my mom, so I think it's only fair that I also bring in my dad too. Thank you for reading.

1. Savings is a big deal

I was 23 when I got my first car. I had saved up maybe $3k by then. I was so excited to basically give the whole $3k for my down payment because I read that it's better to pay more toward that or as much as you can so you'll pay it off sooner. However, my dad said that I didn't need to and it didn't make much difference. If anything, it was a loss. My dad told me that it is so hard to save or to get the ball rolling and when you are on it, keep what you have.

I live for the girl who got mocked and picked on
I live for the girl who didn't graduate high school
I live for the girl who didn't graduate college
I live for the girl who no one thought would make it

I live for my mom who lives in a traditional marriage where she doesn't have a voice
I live for my mom who works hard all her life and doesn't get compensated properly
I live for my mom who had to forget her dreams and raise a family
I live for my mom who didn't have the advantage to get an education

I speak, ask, and fight for equality because my mom was told to be quiet.
I work a job with flexible hours because she had to have perfect attendance.
I am putting a family on hold because my mom couldn't live her dreams.
I am going to live my life because she couldn't.

As I got older, I realized how my mom was just a girl who made a conscious decision to put her family first, by working extremely hard, beyond what her tiny body is made for, so she can provide for her family. Inside of my mother is just another girl. She wants things. She doesn't know much about makeup. She wants to travel the world. She wants to see new things. She wants a raise at work. She wants to have a nice car. My mom had to be a mom since 16. She never had time to herself. She never got a break. She never got to be a girl.

I'm not saying my mom regrets being a mother, but I just feel like the universe hasn't rewarded her. She is the one person who is truly an honest and selfless person, devotes her heart, the world, and soul to her family, and never hesitate be kind.

All that I have today is from her. She made sure to be a good person so good karma will go to her children. It's just not fair that she works so hard and I got rewarded. I have a better life today because of her.

(My cropped and exaggerated version of the story) A photographer was invited to eat dinner and take photos of food with top of the line chefs of all time. She got ready for the day and attended the event. She sat at the dinner table and the chefs go, "You don't really take great photos. It's just your lens that does the work." Offended, the photographer felt. She wanted to blast them, but she just sat there and listened. When the food came out, she ate it and said, "You don't really cook good food. It's just your oven." She left the dinner feeling victorious. 

You decide what the moral of the story is.

I have always underestimated my photographer skills (because I'm just gifted to be naturally talented :D teehee, jk!) until this weekend's photo session with my family. When all the photos uploaded, you could tell who took which photos. I'm not putting down anyone, but it was just a really funny observation. I can say I took some good ones, and some of them admit to taking bad ones too, lol (life rule: don't be good at something you don't wanna do :D). Unfortunately, the one who didn't have the best results was the photographer, Pang Khang.

"Before you can start something, you have to have an idea of what you want."