How often do we “settle” for a job, relationship, or situation that doesn’t utilize our full potential because we are comfortable instead of challenging ourselves with something or someone new that does?

Good Will Hunting was on free HBO weekend the other night. The 1997 movie is about a math genius who, while working as a janitor at MIT, finished a difficult equation & was discovered by a professor and his subsequent journey to fulfilling his potential. The movie put Matt Damon & Ben Affleck on the map with Best Original Screenplay & Robin Williams won an Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his performance.

This is a conversation between Will Hunting (genius) & his best friend Chuckie eating lunch at a construction site where they were working after Will was fired from his janitor job.

Chuckie: Look, you’re my best friend, so don’t take this the wrong way. But in 20 years, if you’re still living here, coming over my house to watch the Patriots games, still working construction… I’ll f*ckin’ kill ya. That’s not a threat. That’s a fact. I’ll f*ckin’ kill ya.

No, no, no. F*ck you. You don’t owe it to yourself. You owe it to me. Cause tomorrow, I’m gonna wake up, and I’ll be 50, and I’ll still be doing this sh*t. That’s alright. That’s fine. I mean, you’re sitting on a winning lottery ticket, and you’re too much of a f*ckin’ pussy to cash it in, and that’s bullsh*t. Cause I’d do f*ckin’ anything to have what you got. So would any of these f*ckin’ guys. Be an insult to us if you’re still here in 20 years. Hanging around here is a f*ckin’ waste of your time.

Let me tell you what I do know. Everyday, I come by your house, and I pick you up. We go out and we have a few drinks and a few laughs, and it’s great. You know what the best part of my day is? About 10 seconds before I pull up to your curb, and when I go to your door. Cause I think maybe I’ll get up there, and I’ll knock on the door, and you won’t be there. No “good-bye.” No “see ya later.” No nothing. You just left. I don’t know much, but I know that.

If you have not seen the movie, I highly recommend it. If you have, but not recently, I would recommend seeing it again. It is packed with food for thought.

Nine Dragon Cypress
Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China

Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf.
Albert Schweitzer

Sunset in Beidaihe, China

Some people love the sunrise. I, on the other hand prefer sunsets… not exactly as the sun is setting but the glow that sometimes immediately follows. We were walking on another part of the beach when I saw a golden glow in the trees off in the distance. Following that glow, we found this little bay bathed in glorious golds, pinks, and blues. About a dozen photographers, some with tripods in the bay, also agreed that this was a breathtaking sunset.

Have you ever looked up at the sky as you are driving to or from work and noticed glorious rich colors? Have you ever noticed that the clouds make the sunset much more interesting?

Jasmine tea smoked duck, Jardin de Jade, Shanghai

Having tried smoked duck in a previous year in Beijing that was dried & quite forgettable, we ordered only half a duck. This duck was delicately smoked with delicious crispy skin and meat so tender and moist that it made us regret not ordering the other half.

Have you recently tried a food or activity that you tried before but did not have a positive response to the first time? Maybe the second experience will be better than the first.