How are you? I do hope that you are well and have an easy and relaxed weekend.

It is near the end of a year, I am busier in the company. Almost every Saturday I worked in the company. Last Saturday, we had a fire fighting rehearsal. The first time I touched a fire extinguisher and learned how to use it. This Saturday, I attended a training, that every preparative listed company has to do by some lawyer office, accountant office and stock-jobber in a company that our company has invested.

In fact, since I became a manager in 1994, most of the time I have worked for 6 days each week without any overtime salary, as my underling had. But most of time, I worked with smiles, because I enjoyed my creative work in the industry. Even though, it was often very hard and sometimes I was burnt out. This Saturday, after the long time training and meeting in the company, I was so tired that I had a long sleep for 13 hours, even. I had no a power to have my dinner at all.

I often think that anything has its two sides -- a bad side and a sad side. The key is what we choose to see and to feel. For me, I had to work, when most of people were enjoying their weekends, it is a bad thing and it is a good thing. The good side is that I have learned something more than the others. The more knowledge and more skills have helped me to get more opportunities in the hot competitive times. Maybe it is just the reason that I have been invited 17 times by the other companies, when many people were worrying to be fired or to be unemployed.

With a thankful heart, I am working for the company in my free time. With a appreciated heart, I am living in the world.

Yes, I appreciate my parents have given me an alive life; I appreciate my son, brother and sisters have given me a kind family feeling; I appreciate the past hard life in my teenage times had brought me a strong will and rich spirit fortune; I appreciate my teachers have educated me to be a teacher, a manager, a learner of painting, music, language; I appreciate my bosses have offered me some opportunities to extend my talent and I appreciate my colleagues have supported me to work, I appreciate you and all of the friends have showed your friendship, care for and much help; I appreciate the great nature has created every mountain, river and the beautiful world for us. Even, I appreciate my little birds that have given me much beautiful enjoyment.

Can you imagine? This week, I have brought 4 baby birds as my painting models -- two parrots and two canary birds. Every day, I look after them in person, observe them and enjoy their lovely songs; they have really brought me so many joyous smiles

I do think that the God has given all of us a same happy opportunity. If we can see and choose the positive parts with a thankful heart, we will be happy and in a good emotion even though we are in a temporary hard time sometimes.

What are your opinions about this problem? Do you agree with me?

I am just a learner on that art of painting, music, calligraphy, languages and to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a little bit things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be An Electronic Bridge Of Culture Exchange, Friendship and Language Learning. To help the others while to improve myself.

I appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your friendly help...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Written and Edited on Sun, Dec 2, 2007