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About hafong

Hello! My name is (Leung) Hafong alias Lily Leung. You always say the last name first….that is the Chinese way. That is my partner lurking behind me. Since this is my blog, I won’t mention his name. But this is a rather cool picture. You see me and yet you don’t…sort of the way I feel about myself most of my life. So this blog is a self-exploration, an archeology dig of some sort. My tools…..words of a thousand or so at a sitting. I will try for that.

ON NOT BEING A MOTHER

It is a cool grey Sunday morning in Saskatoon.  Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there.  Anne Lamott’s May 8 post on the occasion is giving me pause for thought about the day and motherhood.

IMG_2525I’m realizing that in all my years I have always been a daughter and never a mother – that is except to my fur baby, Sheba.  How does that making me feel deep inside?  In a sense I feel that I’m still a child, waiting to grow up, to have that family and become a mother.  I’m waiting to be authenticated so that I can truly start living.  But I realize that it is a false feeling, generated by false assumptions of how we should be.

In all honesty, I have never had vision of a white picket fence, children or being domestic and in the kitchen.  I confess that I have developed a love for cooking, baking and other domestic endeavours at this late date. I have to sew myself an apron so I can really feel and look the role.

I believe that we are here for different roles and purposes.  Motherhood was not meant for me.  I do not feel a loss or tragic about it.  Life and love flows through different avenues and streets.  Sometimes I encounter traffic jams and have to choose detours and roundabouts.  Often I opt for the road less travelled even though it is more difficult.

IMG_6822I admire and appreciate what my mother and all mothers do to raise their children to be authentic beings.  They are mothers every day.  I do my best to show my mother my appreciation every day.

Though I never saw the husband along with the white picket fence and motherhood, somehow there is a man on the premise. We have a white fence to keep our fur baby out of the garden patch.

 

 

RISE AND SHINE

IMG_2646It is Saturday.  The sun rises and shines through the windows.  The shadows dance on the wall.  I am summoned by the day to rise and shine my best, however much I can.  I have been tried and challenged this last while.  It is no drama, though dramatic.  The details are stowed away in the recesses of my mind – to be examined at a better time.

For now I bask in the warmth of a sunny May morning, happy to find my words and to feel the tap, tap of the keyboard.  Each click is soothing beneath my fingertips.  Each click is unlocking the fetters and releasing the angst from my body.  I am recovering the ME of me.  I am feeling the sweet melody of life in my body.  I can surely rise and shine with the sun.

I can feel the pull of sewing that sail cover for Rod.  The bedding plants are clamouring  to be out in the sun.  Life is calling.

THANKFUL

IMG_1761April has come and gone – almost in a blink of an eye.  Where has it gone?  I was not finished with Susannah Conway’s April Love.  Life gets in the way at the most inconvenient times, but hasn’t that always been the case?

But I am happy to see May.  It’s a new month, a new beginning.  April love brings May flowers.  It brings new hope, renewed strength, earned wisdom.  Love is a safety net for all that comes our way.  So let them come, whatever may. we are ready for the friendships, goodwill, and love.  They are all welcomed.

Life is also filled with shadows.  They follow the sun through the windows.  They dance on my walls.  They are welcomed, too.  Without them, there will be no dance show for me to watch.  They have something to say to me and it’s good to listen.  They are welcomed.  I am the gatekeeper.  I decide how far they are allowed in.

April Love is gone, but here comes May Hope.  I am thankful for this morning.  I am thankful for this day.  I am thankful I have found some words.  I am thankful I can breathe again.  I am thankful for this life.  I am thankful for God’s strength.

 

WISHING

IMG_2576It’s Saturday and the morning brings the sunshine.  I watch the light dance on the wall next to me.  I am happy and fortunate to have this space.  It is very healing.  I’m very proud for I have created it especially for me.

I remembered showing my mother the plans.  It looks like our garage! she exclaimed.  Bless mothers for seeing the practical.  While she saw a garage, I saw my sunroom.

IMG_6886When my body betrays me and my spirit is like spaghetti, the light through the windows, the warmth of the wood, the openness and yet coziness of the room wrap its arms around me, comforting and soothing me.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.  I could wish for no more.  I know that everything is within me.  I have it all.  I have it in me to make them come true.

 

I’m tapping with my magic wand for Kat McNally’s #AprilMoon.  Thank you for the space, Kat.

I wish

WHAT MAKES ME FEEL LUCKY

It is still April.  The morning is mighty fine. I love how the sun comes through the windows and dances on the walls of the sun room and dining room at this hour. Everything is bathed in soft buttery light. I bask in its glow, appreciating the moment, knowing it will be gone soon.  This is what makes me feel lucky, knowing and appreciating the now.

Yes, I am sitting and holding this space from Kat McNally’s #AprilMoon.  I’m tap, tapping out the words from my fingertips.  I feel lucky, too, that I am able to do this – to breathe through my nose all the way down to my fingertips. The words come out, one by one.  They march across the screen, forming words and sentences.  They give me life and sustenance.  They help me live in the moment.  They anchor me in the now.

Sometimes I drift away, carried off by my thoughts, of course.  They are devious and intrusive – full of trickery.  I am mindful of them.  They can deceive you with their false truths.  I try not to spend time in that space of wondering – ‘if I will ever’.  Thoughts cannot do the deed.  Thinking is just thinking but it sure can burn up the energy.

I try to stay in the here and now, not examining the past nor wondering about the future.  I like it here, tap, tapping and watching the sun dance on the walls.  It is peaceful.  It is healing.

#April Love, #April Moon

This is the best part of my day, sitting in my space, tap, tapping out my words for #April Love and #April Moon.  The letters and words fall from my fingertips.  I inhale and exhale, one breath after another – like the words across my screen. My body feels the relief, the shedding of tightly coiled emotions and tension.  I am saved for another day.

I am a very obsessive person.  This, I now know.  It has not been very healthy for me.  My obsessiveness have spiralled me into a vortex of anxieties and other related health issues.  So my current obsession is not to be obsessive (laughing out loud not so loudly).  I’m trying to remain soft and pliable and bend like the graceful willow.  I do not need to be the mighty oak.

How do I un-adrenaline myself?  How do I remain soft around the knees as they say in yoga?  Having this space here to tap, tap out my angst is wonderful.  To move my fingers across the keyboard is restful and reassuring.  I am encapsulated in the quiet and stillness of the Universe, letting go of everything except this moment.

 

NOTE TO SELF

I’m tap, tapping from prompts offered by Kat McNally’s #AprilMoon and Susannah Conway’s aprillove2015.  I’m careful of my words.  They can send powerful messages to the mind.  We know what tricks the mind can play on us.  So pay heed what you say and think.  I’m often guilty of not paying attention and let every wisp of smoke get in. That smoke smoulders and flares into flames.  Before you know it, there is a raging fire.

Let me take care and form my thoughts carefully.

#aprillove2015

#aprillove2015

Good morning, self.  It’s a beautiful morning.  See how the light dances on the wall.  Feel it kissing your sweet face.  It is blessing you with its healing warmth.  Bask and luxuriate in its arms.  The morning will pass fast enough.  In the meantime, enjoy the peace and quietness.

You are the child of the Universe.   You are loved and cherished.  Be happy for you are as you should be.  Feel blessed by the love and goodness in your life.  Be grateful for your riches.  Be strong in your faith.  Be forgiving in your heart.  Be generous of the spirit.  Above all else, love yourself – no matter what.

IMG_3619

 

Now I lay myself down to sleep.  Goodnight self.  Close your eyes.  Empty your thoughts and smooth your brow of care.  You have worked hard and done your best today.  Now it is time to rest.  Let the sandman sprinkle magical dust onto your eyes.  Sweet dreams, my dear.

WHEN GOD FARTS

I’m in a bit of a strange space lately – not really crazy, but not quite sane.  I have a bit of a rant, some anger in me.  I can’t quite let it out.  You see, I have succeeded in calming my mind through my 8 weeks of mindful training.  I’m the driver of my emotions now.  When I feel the first heat of a burn, the system takes over.  Do you need to feel that?  A voice reverberates within me.  HISSSSS! The extinguisher douses the flames.  No heat or anger burns in my chest.  I am saved again for another day.

Yes, I am in a bit of a strange bubble.  I am happy to have Kate McNally’s #AprilMoon to write in.  If you haven’t notice already, I’m not writing chronologically.  Today is Day 10 and I’m writing on Day 6’s Prompt. I’m being soft and flexible.

Whenever thunder grumbles overhead, I think God is angry and having a big fart over his children’s shenanigans.  Is that a disrespectful thing to say?  I do have a bit of a foul mouth and have been accused of voicing what others would only think.

I think God does have a lot to fart over right now.  I might as well say it than to have slow burning lump of coal in my chest or stomach.  And we are all in it – this world of us.  I feel the despair and hopelessness when I watch or listen to the news – another unarmed black man shot in the back by the police, hundreds of aboriginal women murdered and missing. There are still so much more bad stuff out there.

It is better for me to let out this sadness and despair than to let it simmer inside.  If we all fart crocodiles tears, have some dialogue and talk about our humanity, we would at least not feel we’re all alone in our sadness and hopelessness.

Just me talking again in my bubble without my space suit.  Have a good day.

 

INSPIRATIONS – FIVE YEARS AGO

Morning, my favourite time of day. Saturday, my favourite day of the week.  I’m sitting here this sunny Saturday morning in April, tapping out my words.  I’m tapping from this newly uncovered flexible spot.  I’m tapping in ease for Susannah Conway’s #Aprillove2015’s prompt: Five years ago. I’m tapping for Kat McNally’s #AprilMoon prompt on sources of inspiration.

#Aprillove’s prompt is: Five years ago.  Five years ago,  after being in a relationship with I, me and myself for many years, the three of us took a chance and became a WE with someone from the distant past.  I remembered that moment vividly.  My phone was ringing as I unlocked the back door.

Sheba lunged in, pulling me with her.  We skidded to a stop in front of the phone.  The call display said:  Sasktel Pay Phone.  My curiosity pushed me to pick it up.  “Lily, this is the voice from your past”.  An unfamiliar voice said. “I don’t know who you are.  Who the hell are you?” I queried. The rest is history as they say.

Being WE has been a challenging journey but I have no regrets.  Challenges has always been one of my greatest sources of inspiration.  They have taken me down untravelled roads.  I have taken many wrong turns and been lost many times but I always find myself again.  I consciously choose The Road Not Taken.  I don’t like regrets of I should-haves.

Had I not taken the chance of reconnecting with the past, I would not have experienced Ghana (where he was living at the time), the country, its people and culture.  Some people thought I was brave, but I had no doubts.  I felt it was meant to be.  I’m a believer in synchronicity.  Somehow the heart knows.

side by eachThat was five years ago.  We’re still together- now in Canada.  It is still challenging.  Our relationship is very complicated as they would say in Facebook.  But we talk a lot to each other and watch each other’s back.  Is that love?  #April Love and #April Moon.

 

MY SUPER POWER

IMG_0515Once upon a time, not so long ago,I aspired to be Wonder Woman with her golden tiara, bracelets and lasso.   I even doodled her on my iPhone app.  I was going to make a poster of it and hang it in my office.  It would inspire me to fly through the air, scale walls and rescue guys in distress.  Have no fear, Wonder Woman is here! would be my chant.

That enchantment has faded and I have come to my senses. There are better models for me to emulate and they don’t look like Linda Carter.  They’re more beautiful.  They’re strong and real.  They’re vulnerable with no protective suits.  I am speaking of Anne Lamott, who wrote the little book on writing and life, Bird by Bird. She speaks of life in all its rawness and beauty. Her language is real and offers no apologies.  I don’t know how many comments she received on her last post, but there was 53,000+ shares. She resonates with many besides me.

Am I gushing?  I do love her.  I learn to write in that one square inch of hers.  That’s how you make a start.  Write as far as you can see ahead of you.  That is all.  You will get there to the end.  Our stories are important.  My story is important – to me.  My super power is to tell it, starting within the one inch frame, going to the end.  This is for #aprillove2015. It’s not super but it is part of my story.