Happy New Year!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 4:46PM Today is the day many Chinese people celebrate the New Year and one of my coworkers pointed out that it's the year of the Ox and sent along this piece about the Ox:
My purpose is to alleviate chaos
And perpetuate stability
To hold my ground against
Hardship, danger and adversity
Steadfast and above reproach
I am here to enforce honor and fair play
To set a moral code
By becoming one with nature,
Constantly working toward my goal
To bring about harmony and good fortune,
I AM THE OX
The year of the Ox is just what’s needed to clean up any mess and clutter left
by the Rat. The Ox is not as he appears and should not be underestimated or
considered slow or unaware.
The Ox is the quintessential hardworking, conventional cleaner-upper who will
put everything back in order and turn chaos back into reason.
There is no room for anyone looking for a free ride during an Ox year.
Hard work pays and laziness does not.
It’s a plain-and-simple, cut-and-dried, yes-and-no type year.
It’s a year to get papers in order and your life back on track, and
to do whatever it takes to budget and plan for your financial future, lessening
the stress and securing your position. Tradition will be important and keeping
order and making sure that everyone plays by the rules a must.
You must gain respect through your actions
if you want to fare well during the year of the Ox.
~~~
I think it's wonderfully fitting (even if it is a bit like astrology and everything always seems to fit to some degree). For me, it chimes with what I think was one of the more powerful moments in President Obama's speech yesterday:
"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."
I think the idea of being judged for what you build, not what you destroy, is incredibly useful. I spend a lot of time around students and see them spending so much time tearing down other people - making fun of their pictures on Facebook, talking about what someone did, said, or wore, and so on. It's such wasted energy and to do that kind of stuff around other people makes it even worse. I feel like it poisons the air. Sure, I have done (and do) my fair share of gossiping (although I try to keep it to a minimum now) but it never would dawn on me to do it around anyone other than the one person I was talking with. Just think how the energy would be if we spent more time honoring and helping one another instead of degrading and criticizing.
Reader Comments (5)
You wrote in this entry one of my favorite quotes from Obama's speech. I clapped aloud when he said that, even though I was at home by myself.
Another favorite was, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent...... that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
I too am very happy about this president, and hope he remains in office for 8 years. This, I hope, is the beginning of a whole new USA, and a whole new world.
Yes, the "unclench your fist" line was my other favorite as well. I don't think it was his personal best speech but it was an excellent speech, none the less. Hope abounds.
I believe that Chinese New Year is Monday...
Hm, you're right! I guess my coworker in International Studies should go back to school. LOL
haha...the only reason I know is because of my boss!
International Studies not knowing? Yes I think she needs to study a bit more!