It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default. Failure gave me an inner security. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected; I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies.   —   JK Rowling the author of Harry Potter  

“This I Believe” is one of the books I read this year. The book is based on a 1950s radio program where Americans from all walks of life share the personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives. In my own life, I continue searching for good role models—people who can inspire and motivate me to be a better person, someone who can touch the hearts of others. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that through the mistakes I’ve made, the failures I’ve encountered, and the lessons I’ve learned, I’ve actually grown stronger. This echoes the message from J.K. Rowling’s speech at the Harvard commencement in 2008 (see above).

The year 2011 marked a significant milestone in our family. Yong and I celebrated our “Tender, Rough, Bitter, and Sweet” 13,149 days of marriage. We hosted a “Moonlight Dazzling” party in our backyard with family and loving friends. Thirty-six years is a long time, and the journey has been filled with abundant memories. The lyrics of Louis Armstrong’s song “What a Wonderful World” perfectly express my feelings: “I see trees of green, red roses too… I see them bloom for me and for you, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” I remember the first Christmas letter I sent out, announcing the birth of our baby girl. I’ve continued writing these letters for the past 33 years. The letter has become my year-end journal, a way to share our lives with friends. I recall one year when I was going through a difficult time. A friend read my letter, cried, and sent me a tea bag with a card that said, “A cup of tea always makes me feel better.” She reminded me of the value of true friendship, which is worth more than rubies.

Yong is now partially retired and volunteers as a web designer for a non-profit organization. I continue working at Semiconductor company, surrounded by many young colleagues who keep me refreshed and constantly learning. May and Tom have moved back to the Bay Area, and we are fortunate to have more time to babysit our granddaughters, Wei and Ro. They fill our lives with joy and energy. Chi lives in San Francisco and comes home every week. We pray for our children often. They are grown now, and we realize that what we can offer them is more limited than before. How grateful we are to have enjoyed so many wonderful years with them, to be a part of their lives, and to be honored as their parents. We thank God for that.

But if every day is a brand-new day that God has made—like the “new morning” that has broken, the “new life” that has just begun—then it’s like the first day of school, your first romance, your first job, the first time you hold your newborn baby—full of strength, curiosity, excitement, and dreams. Growing older has brought many lessons, often shared with me by others.

May God bless you all.