Thanks for letting me in on your big decision. It gave me a lot of food for thought, too. I must have had a few restless nights just thinking about it … the ifs, the what ifs, the if only, etc …
There really isn’t a contradiction in “pursuing HappYness” and “Happiness cannot be planned”. It is true, happiness cannot be planned. No amount of planning can determine if you shall be happy in the future, yet to be happy, you can only pursue what you deem as happYness. Of course, this is not an advocate for to be in a state of constant unhappiness that happYness is always somewhere ahead and which has to be pursued. Rather, it means that if you want something, most often you would have to go and get it and it could mean going out of your way to get it.
When you remembered the 5 pursued HappYness in your life and listed them in your post, I’m sure you felt very happy and satisfied for each one of them. It is always a wonderful feeling when something you wanted, pursued and gotten came out to be a happy ending. Yet, no one has the power to read the future. Every pursuit brings with it it’s own risk. No matter what decision you make, be it staying in Shanghai or going to Beijing, won’t you say that both have their risk, won’t you also say that both have their kind of HappYness?
The truth is that I would much prefer it if you continued in Shanghai, cos’ it seemed that like a higher possibility that I can get a job there. Getting a job in China is tough and I honestly doubt my reach can extend all the way to Beijing. In any case, if you do go BJ, then all I can say is: see how.
Which leads me to the other truth, I want you to be happy and therefore hope that you really give the MD’s offer serious consideration. If it’s important to you and in line with your pursuit for HappYness, go for it! I will still give you my full support.
Perhaps, it is a good thing that I am still in Spore. You don’t have to feel obligated that I want to go over for you, or there isn’t anyone there to add pressure to you. Anyway, just thought about the 1st time u were planning to go Beijing to work with your colleague also. At that time I also thought to myself: Cham!, how do I land myself in Beijing? HaHa!
Finally, I would say leave it to God to decide, but God can be awfully silent at times for reason I cannot comprehend. HappIness has an “I” in it, because it’s about a state of being happy. Not at the expense of others, and also not in the state of only others are happy. It’s about you, yourself, being happy.