Relationships Matter!

In the month of Septmeber, I have been to two Weddings, a Baptism and have seen a premature baby girl come into this world!

April & Joey exchange their wedding vowels.

Everytime I go to a wedding, I get so overwhelmed with emotions. The raw emotions you experience at a wedding is so real and intense. The people getting married have been waiting for this moment and have been planning for this day for months or even years! They've planned the venue, their bride & groom party, the guest list, their suit & dress, the menu, the playlist and have even their lines for the exchanging of their vowels. As a guest to a wedding, you witness magical moments with the couple - as the groom first sees his bride walking down the aisle, when they exchange vowels and when the couple take their first dance together. You and you really feel what they are feeling. Its real, it's raw and it's intense emotions that you don't get to experience every day. I was invited to two weddings this month. I feel like it's my friend's way of saying, 'we've hand picked you to witness one of the most special moments in our lives..' that I did!


Daniel & Ilana have their first dance.

My nephew got Baptised this month as well, and for me, it was a new and intriguing religious experience. Growing up in a family who heavily practices Buddhism. Every detail of the Baptism had me intrigued. I walked into the church, turned to my sister's partner and said, "Angelo, is that God or Jesus?" I was so excited to be in a church! I was amazed at the stained-glass ceiling, in awe of the pews (long row of benches), stumbled upon the verses that we had to repeat after the priest and did not know which way to put the sign of the cross on my nephew's head. "Do start the sign of the cross on left or right side of my nephew's forehead?" I didn't get to learn about the practice of Catholicism this day, but it has inspired me to do research. I just finished watching 'Passion of the Christ' directed by Mel Gibson. Next, I want to watch a movie on how Jesus actually lived..



Luis Jay's with his father, Angelo, getting Baptised by the Priest.

My family - Lisa, Me, Phuong, Luis Jay, Mum, Thanh, Miguel and Sang.

Stephanie, one of my best girlfriends just gave birth to a premature baby girl. Stephanie's baby girl stayed in her womb for 7 months and just ventured into this world last month. She is truly the most beautiful baby girl I have ever laid my eyes on. Her skin tone has already set and is beige, her eyelashes are long and brown, she has a pointy nose, long hands and feet! I very much admire Stephanie's strength and to me, Stephanie is the most courageous, stong-willed and determined woman I have ever met!

Ella Maree Hayes - thank you, Stephanie, for allowing me upload this.

September has been the month for major life events that has taken place. Reflecting on all of these events, I've learnt that relationships matter. I don't know if I will ever go on the same journey as my friends but I do know that I always want to be surrounded by loved ones forever. They say that your friends and family are like a business, 'When you invest the time and effort in them, they pay you back in dividends!' This is true. It's wise to choose your friends and invest in the ones that are worth it. When you invest in the right relationships the dividends are immense and come in the form of: advice, support, love as well as being there in sharing life's greatest moments with you..

The girls on the dance floor at April & Joey's wedding

Brian Dyson, Former CEO of Coca Cola once said: "Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will irrevocably be scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life".

Balance is something that I will strive for!













So I just turned 23 years old - what life lessons have I learned?

My 23rd birthday marked the start of a new beginning for me. It's the start of a new me as I change the way I see the world and take life for what it is.. I'm still very young and I know that I still have a lot to learn in life but I am mature enough to make my own decisions in my life for myself to move forward in this world.. For me right now, life is about 'balance', it's about knowing when to be spontaneous and have fun at the right times and it's also about moving forward and being the creator of my own destiny.

So how did I celebrate my 23rd birthday? I celebrated my 23rd birthday with a big bang!! I spent my actual birthday (August 20) with my family in the Western Sydney suburbs. My mum made me my favourite dish - Salt & Pepper Squid, I had a Strawberry Gateau birthday cake and my family sang 'Happy Birthday!' to me as I blew out my birthday candles. I felt so special and so loved from my family. Sometimes love is all you need.

Me and my Strawberry Gateau birthday cake!

My beautiful family from left to right - Sang, Lisa (Sang's gf), Phuong, LJ, Miguel, Me, Thanh and Mum.

The next day, Saturday 21st August, I celebrated my birthday with my best friends - 13 girls and 2 guys. I booked out a karaoke room at Mizuya Karaoke on George Street. After a few birthday drinks and a few shots later, I was singing and dancing on the tables! All of my friends were getting into it - singing Madonna's 'Like a Virgin, Jay Z's 'Empire State of Mind' and Rhianna's 'Rude Boy'! It was crazy, wild and fun! Before our time was up at the Karaoke Bar, my housemate Sophie, one of my best friends, took the microphone and had a little speech prepared for me. She said, in front of everyone, that I meant a lot to her and that she was grateful to have me in her life! Then the microphone was passed around the room and each one of my best friends said that I had helped them through so much in life and that they wish that I achieve everything in life that I set out to achieve. I almost cried, it was so unexpected, I was so overwhelemd and it was the icing on the cake for a perfect birthday!

Me and April dancing at Mizuya Karaoke

Thi and me dancing on table tops, plus Julia's hand! Haha

Kimberly, Lucy, Thi, Me, Sophie and Julia

I'm so grateful for all the love that I have in my life, but I know that luck didn't just bring me good friends and a good relationship with my family. I had to pay great attention to my friends and family, put their needs first sometimes and be with them for their every success or mishap, because at the end of the day, they are 'worth it!' You may lose a job or money but you will bounce back from this. If you make a dent in your relationships with your family and friends, it is very hard to bounce back from this. This is just one of the life lessons I have learnt at 23 years old.

What other life lessons have I learnt?

Success is different for everyone
Only you know what success looks like for you. Don't compare or compete with others but achieve success on your own terms, for yourself and remain focused!

Hold your cards close to you
There are some secrets you should keep to yourself. You can only be open and honest 90% of the time. Keep your dirty little secrets to yourself. There's a reason why they are called, 'dirty little secrets!'

Variety is the spice of life
As the saying goes, 'You can't have chicken everyday!'. Life can get mundane and routine sometimes so try to do something spontaneous once in a while. Keep yourself challenged and stimulated. It keeps you happy, thinking and will make you feel 'alive'.

Be like water in the Ocean - just go with the flow!
There are some things in life you can't plan for and that are out of your control. While it is important to plan ahead for major events and milestones in your life, most of the time the best things in life come unexpectedly. It's best to be like water in the Ocean and just go with the flow and take things as they come rather than live life in constant anxiety, worrying about things that has not happened yet.

There is only one moment and that moment is right now.. be present and live it!

My first blog post

This blog will be a chronicle of my life to date..

I grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney and did not come from wealth or from what you would call a 'normal' family. My parents were refugees of the Vietnam war and migrated to Australia for a new life and start. Growing up I've seen it all - violence, abuse, hardships and a tough upbringing.

Now I work for the top Professional Services firm in Australia in IT Communications and live with my two friends in North Sydney. You could say I made it, I say I've grown up and am now taking on a whole new life experience.

I also speak at corporate events as the Ambassador for a charity that I am a part of, The Smith Family. My family consists of my mother, sister, two younger brothers and three nephews. They are quite the eccentric bunch.

My friends are a crazy bunch of girls who (apparently look like me) and know how to have fun but have also grown up in a tough environment - so we never take anything for granted. We also never let boys get their way with us, because 'we are worth it!'.

I am grateful for the life I have now and will be sharing my moments through this blog with you.