Life: How to make your wishes come true in 2018 and beyond

I'm enjoying my Winter break. Working on projects, exercising, relaxing,...I am doing whatever I enjoy, intentionally taking my mind off from daily work. That is the idea of "vacation". Like a painter steps back from his painting and looks at it with a different perspective, such a time is needed.


As a part of my Winter break routine, I was writing up plans for 2018 and beyond. While doing so, I read my journals for past 10 years.

I was surprised by the fact that many of the resolutions, dreams, and wishes did come true.


I also noticed that there was a clear distinction between wishes that came true and that did not. 

The difference was whether I wrote it down, whether I did something about it, and whether I believe it strong enough in taking actions.


In other words, if I write it down, and take actions with conviction, it comes true, although it may take longer time than originally anticipated. 


"Thoughts and prayers" are good for clarifying your wishes at the initial stage. But you need actions with conviction to make them come true. Otherwise, "thoughts and prayers" are as good as "just saying".



In 2017 in my scientific research, we discovered something interesting with high disease relevance in the lab. One of my wishes for 2018 is to extend the research to the point that actual translational research begins while building a team of collaborators. In 3-5 years I want current concept to be tested in clinic. I've written my plans down in detail, and have started working on them. I anticipate the wishes to come true.

Work as a scientist is unique. The outcomes of medical research can impact millions if translated to clinic. It is exciting.



Note: As a scientist, I need to distinguish laws of nature and cultural rules/promises/wishes among humans. Here I am only talking about personal wishes within my own circle of influence, and not about bending laws of nature or single-handedly solving big issues like peace in middle east or fixing corruption in politics. Also, probably it is not a good idea to mess with someone else's free will or his/her pursuit of happiness, unless the will or pursuit is harmful to others.

Dance: Tango workshop and performance move lesson w Hugo Patyn (12/16-12/17/2017)

Last weekend in OKC, we had an Argentine Tango workshop with Hugo Patyn. He was traveling the US for performance and workshops for a while, but recently came back to his US-base, Dallas.

Past 2-3 months I was focusing on my research project and proposals, and was a little "out of shape" in dancing. Just having fun with social dancing once a week, with or without some wine,....which is fine. But to dance seriously, things like balance and posture were off.  Your body is honest. It is the instrument for dancing. It shows either way, if you worked on it or not.

Still, Hugo was here. So I requested a performance class using a private lesson slot. It should be more interesting.

He gave me choices; lifts, figures, or gancho/boleo. I picked lifts. 

We cannot use lifts in milonga. But social Tango in milonga and Stage Tango are different games. To me, it is a limiting belief to reject moves simply because we cannot use them in milonga.

I'll see these new moves as a "seed". In many cases I need to sleep on a new move for me to be able to use it. Might as well plant the seed now. It would make a difference after some time.


The lesson started with basic warm up. Then proceeded to practice basic moves that are used for lifts, like twist-pivot, cross-legged positions, and rotation around axis.

In these lifts, follower's weight is supported by the lead. We need to be good at supporting, balancing, timing, preparing,...and all these come down to how good we can do these "basic moves".

Then we took a partner. After the hour, we took video for demo. We also took video of me for learning purpose. It was not difficult to feel which part I was weak at. It was showing, too. Hmm.

Comparing videos of Hugo's demo and my shaky practice, there has been many points noticed to work on. It was good.


I got to practice the basics, if I want to "grow the seed" and also if not want to waste the lesson fee.

To some extent, it's like practicing a "set play" in sports, like practicing free throw for basketball or serving for tennis. Once we get what to practice and have a good form in mind, then, quantity yields quality.


A friend of mine once said, "Tango is, like, ballet or something". Actually, it is true, especially for Stage tango. Tango is a traditional art with 100+ years of history.



The lesson was Sunday and now is Monday. Both my flanks sore. See, body is honest. I should start exercising in upcoming winter break.

Life: two axes of judgement; Merit and Moral

There are a few weeks remaining for 2017. This year, there have been so much theatricality in American politics (and it is still ongoing).

In many cases, I thought "it's messed up".


To ensure my sanity, sometimes I needed to check my basis of judgement. For the judgement purpose on politics, I usually use two axes; (i) Merit and (ii) Moral.


(i) is simple; "Will it benefit me and people around me, or not." Benefit can be time, money, labor, relations, products, etc. Now or in the future.

(ii) is also simple. "That is acceptable or unacceptable (or, right or wrong), based on my value system".


Unless (i) and (ii) conflict, the process is easy. I'll take "merit-acceptable", and run from "demerit-unacceptable".


They say, thinking and judging takes mental power, just like hard physical activity makes you tired. Too much thinking and judging drains energy; probably it is true. So I want to keep my process of judgement simple.

This year, it was brought to my attention that there are people with blatantly different value system from mine. That was why I started to pay more attention to people around. What kind of value system he/she has, how he/she acts, on what principle, and what's in it for him/her.


In my judgement, I predict some people would remain successful or unsuccessful. Others may deserve better life.  .....But it's their life. I'd say nothing.


Unless the person change his/her way of thinking and acting from within, the universe is going to stay the same for him/her. That is for certain.




Oh, and I almost forgot to say one important thing. 

I don't have to judge everything. 

There are many things that I don't know well about, I have no relations to, or that don't concern me. Just leave them be. It's good for sanity, too. 

Only when the particular issue would get involved in my life a few steps ahead, I'd think about it. I can ignore Fox news and some tweets entirely and live just fine (or probably it's better than just fine).

Dance: What makes your dance look "good" or "less good"?

Look at these Tango dancers, number 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Which one do you think most advanced? Or, which one looks like beginners?

You have no idea who they are. You may not even dance Tango. But you can group them in "more advanced" and "less advanced", correct?

As you saw it in the photo, it does not matter how long they have danced or how much they've spent. Dancers can be judged by just a glance.

When we look at dancers, postures and lines are most critical. 

It's a pattern recognition. Even with photos with blurry artistic effect, you can see it.


Dancers 1 and 2 show straighter, longer, and more defined lines. "Tilt" in the lines means that they have more interdependent balance, which makes them look more advanced.


There are social Tango dancers who proclaim how it looks does not matter.

Well, it does. There is an art in the dance. It's not all about how you feel.

Go beyond such a limiting belief and start working on your posture and lines, if you want to look good quickly.






After seeing that "looting in the chaos" tax vote, I feel like posting something pithy.