renjie's posterous

too long for a tweet, too short for a blog post...

Humbled to have received Waterloo Region Record Top 40 Under 40 2011

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Humbled to have been selected as Top 40 Under 40 for 2011 by the Waterloo Region Record. Certainly overwhelmed by the response and all the kinds words from friends and family, really appreciate it. Thank you.

Loren, this one is for you. I hope you're proud. 
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The weather in Los Angeles this week. YES.

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The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel #kwawesome

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John Steinbeck on Love

Received this in my inbox from a really good friend this morning, well worth the read. Thank you.

Make sure to tell the people you care about that you love them, for tomorrow is a promise that may not always be kept. 

As much as I hate commercialized holidays of this kind, I still wish a Happy Valentine's Day to all of you beautiful people. 

Be good,

Renjie
John_steinbeck
In November of 1958, John Steinbeck — the renowned author of, most notably, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, and Of Mice and Men — received a letter from his eldest son, Thom, who was attending boarding school. In it, the teenager spoke of Susan, a young girl with whom he believed he had fallen in love.
Steinbeck replied the same day. His beautiful letter of advice can be enjoyed below.
(Source: Steinbeck: A Life in Letters; Image: Thom and John Steinbeck with their father in 1954, courtesy of UC Berkeley.)

New York
November 10, 1958

Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second—There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply—of course it isn’t puppy love.

But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it—and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone—there is no possible harm in saying so—only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa

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Totally jumping on the #Linsanity bandwagon

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Arrived in the mail from #TED. So looking forward to #TEDActive later this month!

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Now writing to: Alternate Reality by @JRAquino

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Learning to let go... 10 years later and I still love you with all of me

January 21, 2012

Dear Loren,

It's been 10 years to the day since you were taken away from us and not a day goes by where I don't think of you.

It's been 10 years and what a ride it has been. And yet, this year feels different. 

This year, I know deep down in my heart that I have finally learned to let you go. Though I still miss you with each passing day, I know to the very core of my being that you're in a better place, watching over all of us from up above. 

I never thought that I'd get to where I am today, and yet, here I am standing strong with my head held high. 

This is the letter that I wish 16 year-old Renjie had read when he was going through unimaginable pain, confusion and anger at the world when his little sister was taken away from him. The little sister that he swore to protect ever since he became a 'kuya' soon after you were born. 

Kuya. Big brother. Always protective. 

And yet, somehow he thought he had failed you when you got hit by that car on that fateful day on January 8, 2002. 

He wasn't there to protect you when you fell into a coma and passed away 2 weeks later. 

When his whole world collapsed around him, it has taken him 10 years to pick up all the pieces and make it whole again. And yet, the pieces that make up you are still missing. For some reason, he has finally come to terms with this and is at peace, with both himself and the world around him.

I would tell 16 year-old Renjie that even though he may find himself in the throes of emotional despair every now and then, there is only one way to go when you hit rock bottom. And that is up. With the help of a strong network of friends, mentors, family and loved ones of course.

No matter how angry he got with God for taking you away – bypassing the entire debate on religion – he has to believe that God exists because if God exists then heaven must exist. 

In my heart, I have to believe that heaven is where you are my beautiful sister.  

I would tell 16 year-old Renjie that everything turns out just fine. 

That Mom and Dad continue to be blessed in everything that they do, and that Loubelle and Lorel turn out beautifully. As for 26 year-old Renjie, well, he is still awkward around women and has to clearly step his game. That will never change, haha... 

Loren, I still miss you. I still remember everything about you. The way you smiled and the sound of your voice. 

Years ago, I was afraid that I would lose these memories and that I would forget all of those details. 

But no, I still remember. I know now that you will always be a part of me and this is something that I can't easily forget. In many ways, you have helped to shape my character and my perspective on life, and I would like to thank you for that.  

See you in heaven dear sister, but certainly not too soon. There are still many, many things that I need to accomplish first and I know that I am just getting started. 

Watch me and I will make you proud.

Love you forever and always, 

Kuya

F1030115

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PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet

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Pitch Night Social at #uWaterloo presented by @UWI2E - January 24, 2012 #socent #kwawesome

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More information on Ideas2Entrepreneurship (@UWI2E) can be found at: www.tinyurl.com/i2epitchnightsocial

Pitch Night Social is an opportunity to pitch your game-changing idea for a potential $250 of start up cash and to receive critical feedback from an experienced panel of entrepreneurs. The Night is also for you to network with entrepreneurial students and a select number of local entrepreneurs and community change leaders.

Follow I2E on Facebook and Twitter.
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