Updates (Dec 2, 2025)
When I went to the hospital with my mom a week ago here in Oshawa … there was a hardworking older man out front.
I tried to get an understanding of him.
He was coloured like me.
Maybe 15-20+++ years older …
Working hard for decades.
He projected to me … life is about ‘the work’.
You escape all problems with people and society if you just keep up with the work you like and do.
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You can actually do that here in a first world country like Canada. Don’t think otherwise …
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That is the old classic way of life for hundreds of years in the West I think for coloured folk like me.
There is nothing more to it.
You work for decades doing your thing avoiding the problems with people and society. You do what you like and work in silence passively
The people that say otherwise don’t understand the ‘old coloured man’ dimensions.
They are just too young or live in another area usually …
Out here in Oshawa it is the quiet, passive hard working type that makes you pass through the day and years enjoying the scenery with a nice coffee and pastries.
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That is what happens out in east GTA???
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Funny thing about life …
I went out to the West city to study and work in 2019 …
Get slammed in the face by the folks there saying life in the West city is all external value …
2020 to present I work on developing external value.
Then realize most people have no idea what happens when you go work on yourself for years and years like that.
… All it was were children of Vietnamese refugees finding a voice 50 years after the war … just like every other refugee and immigrant for the last 600+ years coming into the New World … ???
Immigration, settlement and developing a sense of identity not defined by others???
This is old news???
The New World is an experiment right?
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There is a refurbisher here in Ontario that sells returned stuff from a Big Box electronics retailer.
It seems it works.
I never really understood how refurbishers work and make money to live day-by-day.
Then I realize at crunch time like Black Friday and Cyber Monday … people will buy up almost everything.
Money is tight and something used or refurbished with 90 days warranty is perfect.
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What is it with the 1990s?
I remember shopping at Sears and Canadian Tire back then.
Some of the brand names sold there were ‘Craftsman’ and ‘Mastercraft’.
Now I understand the meaning behind these brand names.
As a North American back in the 90s and before, people were mostly defined by their line of work.
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The old classic way works well for most people. Just focus on your craft and you will be 10,000% OK I think.
There is room for trial and error … but when you get to your mid 30s, set your goal to be a craftsman.
That is what I learned socializing and learning through others for the past 5-6 years after 35 years old.
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What makes it worthwhile?
As the 3rd child in the family of Vietnamese Boat People born in Canada … my parents stayed around to teach me this:
- Life is striving
- Life is all about education
- Life goes to the dumps if you stop
I did not realize point 2 until now. Life is all about education when you are born in Canada regardless of whether it is a immigrant or native criticizing you. If you don’t educate yourself then there is nothing. Nothing here or there.
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I guess after learning the before point … you realize your parents have to be there to teach you that life is 1000% learning and going.
Most North Americans finally smarten up in the mid 30s.
Some quicker than others … and some slower than others.
I guess it depends on you, God and your social networks. But mostly God.
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You also realize now that to have parents who stick around until you realize this is so important.
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You also then understand the weird dynamics of different locations and different groups.
At the end the solid truthful advice is to follow your cousins who are just older than you. You need each other at the end when both of you turn 78 and are unable to walk and feed yourself.
Having your cousin bathe and feed you when you are 79 years old is all that matters at the end.
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The duality of life …
Most North American children want to be in the services … There are several reasons for that. Mostly because of location.
What do 2nd generation kids do? They stir things up and try to establish themselves in the New World.
That is all it is. If you try to criticize this more then you end up lost.
Nothing new or nothing less.
Then the cycle goes on.
More immigrants come and have their children. Repeat.
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What makes life good?
When you created something with logic and structure. And when that turns out to have a life of its own. The project might have an identity. Then the project becomes something to look forward to and live for.
Life beyond the everyday of emotions and daily life is to build something that is pretty high in structure. Then you caretake it, update it, refactor it, experiment with it.
You then have a mission. You then have something to do.
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Pretty sure this is all through circumstance … and location.