#Habits

The bible study group that I am participating in is called International Coffee Hour and we meet once a week on Sunday before the 11 am worship service to learn and discuss about various topics.

The series that we are in right now is called "Habits for Spiritual Growth" and so far we have covered 9 habits that are helpful for Christians to grow deeper and stronger with God and the community. Some of the habits that I can recall are: (not in particular order) bible study, worship, social justice, guidance, church and prayer. Some of these habits are familiar to me while some are new and worth pondering.

Over the years, I have started (or at least tried) to maintain some positive habits that I think helpful to discipline myself and to regulate my stress as a student. Most of the habits have morphed one way or the other as time passes to fit my needs and schedules at different semester or stage. 

But for the past few months, I have been trying to keep up with some of these habits and I could say that a big part of my effort were in vain. As a result, my stress and tension built up and I gave up easily. I gave up trying new possibilities or trying harder; plus I gave in to the temptation of binge eating, youtubing and jealousy.

I have had these lack of discipline moments before, but they were never as destructive as it is now. Realizing how serious my lack of discipline will impact every aspects of my life, tonight I decided to rededicate my daily life back to honoring God by obeying these good habits:

Sleeping habits:

1. Sleep before 12 am (latest at 2 am).

2. Wake up when the alarm rings (snooze at most once).

Time management:

3. Start my day with prayer and bible study.

4. Be responsible and diligent to work on assignment, reading and other work assigned.

5. When I face a difficult question, stand up, stretch and drink some water to relieve stress instead of go for snacks or nap.

6. Fill my gap time with reading useful materials or resting instead of surfing Facebook or youtubing.

Diet:

7. Drink more water.

8. Eat regularly : lunch at 12pm to 2pm and dinner at 5pm to 8pm. 

9. Refrain from eating after 8 pm.

10. Take fruits, vegetables or hot drinks as snacks instead when necessary.

These 10 habits covered the most important aspects of my daily life and I believe I will be more prepared for challenges everyday by maintaining these habits.

Lastly, let me end this "statement of re-dedication" with one of the verses that speaks dearly to my heart:

"Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others." - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)

  

美国南方自驾游：为回味记忆中的那座城市

春假来了！今年的春风和暖流非常守时，却也来得相当突然。大雪才刚铺了一地，春雨就匆匆来袭。前一天大家还在穿绒毛大衣，后一天大家就都换上短袖短裤了。感谢主这个学期过得相当充实！我之前承诺会在夏天前尽可能多写一些关于我寒假时到南部旅游的见闻，可是这个学期都过了一半了，我啥也没写出来，所以现在赶紧给大家补上一篇。

有没有一座城市让你一见钟情？在遇到这座城市之前，你懂得欣赏别的城市，却老是觉得各个地方都缺了些什么。直到你遇见了这座城市，你才惊觉内心一块重要的拼图归位了。对我而言，路易士安娜州的首府新奥尔良就是这么一个暧昧的存在。

这次的南方游非常随性。除了事前决定好德州为最后一站，队长、T和我三人边游边编排接下来的旅程。而当我们抵达路易士安娜州时，我们已没剩下很多时间，所以我们只在新奥尔良呆了一天一夜。

两位十全车夫轮流开车赶了约六个小时的路，我们在晚上九点风风火火地抵达新奥尔良的闹区。队长心血来潮要去驻唱酒廊边听歌边吃晚餐，所以我们就随便走进了一间看起来挺斯文的酒廊坐下来用餐。我觉得队长一定是在田州音乐之城呆久了，体内深藏许久的音乐细胞经酝酿后强势爆发，科技男瞬间变身爵士，所以才会突然要去听爵士乐。吃饱之后，我们三人就立刻去酒店睡饱觉。在此和大家分享一下，吃饱就睡绝对是养肉增肥的重要秘诀。

在来新奥尔良之前，我对这座城市的认识仅限于它是狂欢节（Mardi Gras）在美国的第一个据点。每次看到狂欢节的照片，都是花车游行、美女化彩妆等华丽丽的盛大场面，所以我对新奥尔良的迷思，就是这城市是一个醉生梦死、糜烂的地方。来了以后发现这地方烟酒确实很多，可是更多可爱怀旧之处。新奥尔良以前是法国的殖民地，所幸保存下来的文化不仅仅是狂欢节，更多是法国的古老建筑。

法国人当权的时候，在新奥尔良建的第一个行政和住宅区，现名法国街区。法国街区涵括13条通向密西西比河的直街和5条和密西西比河平行的横街。区内密密麻麻地都是排屋店面，排屋格式在马来西亚比比皆是，在美国却属稀有品种。法国街区里的店屋为了在众多同款的建筑物中脱颖而出吸引顾客，每间都漆上不同颜色、装上各色霓虹灯、门上窗上也挂着很多或有趣或诡异的吊饰。

此街区的另一个建筑特色就是铁篱笆。每间店屋的窗上或阳台上都围着铁篱笆。每道篱笆的粗细、高矮、纹路、雕花和颜色均不同。绝大部分的铁篱笆都设计精细，雕花繁琐。有的阳台篱笆上还缠生着长青植物，绿植从阳台垂到楼下，形成一道自然的幕帘为走廊上和店里的人遮太阳。我边走边举头欣赏沿途的铁篱笆， 一刹那我有股错觉，仿佛置身于17世纪的法国宫廷派对。我鉴赏的不再是篱笆，而是一个个贵妇人的繁华头饰。我便是那有幸的人，触目所见，无不是琳琅美玉。

中午时分，店主们三三两两地聚在屋檐下乘凉，或坐在板凳上抽烟闲聊。此时的法国街区弥漫着一股慵懒的气息。整座城市宛如被这股懒意同化，放慢了脚步。连那不冷不热、微风的天气也像是在慢吞吞地轻叹：追不上冬天也没关系吧，反正夏天也不远了不是吗？

分不清究竟是新奥尔良容纳了我的浪子之心，还是我的心里住了一座新奥尔良？法国街区在太阳下的影子，伴着那天的风和日丽，成为我心中一道长存的倩影。