Sydney Cranes For Hope

The world stopped and held its breath in horror on March 11, when a 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Japan, starting a 10m high tsunami which cost the lives of over 10,000 people up to date. There are some over 17,500 people missing, and police are estimating that 15,000 people in the Miyagi province alone have died as a result of the disaster.(Huffington Post).

Something that really brought the point home to Lindy and I was when we discovered Japanese crematoriums could not keep up with burning the overwhelming number of dead, and mass graves are being dug in some cases - nearly unthinkable in a country that religiously respects its traditional burial conditions. School gyms have been converted into morgues, with buses carrying grieving people to each morgue, anxious to discover the whereabouts of their loved ones. It sounds utterly horrifying.

But even worse than the people dying are the people still alive, and having to undergo so many hardships I can't even begin to imagine. Coming to terms with a new life without family, friends or basic necessities .... there are so many stories out there of pain and loss.

And perhaps the most terrible thing yet, was the comment of one tortured man who had lost his family. "I have no hope left."

As soon as we heard about the earthquake, Lindy and I knew we had to contribute in some way. Living safe and warm a few hundred kms away, it is easier, so much easier, to drop a gold coin into a bucket with a smile. It is easy, so very easy to skip past evening news on Japan's radiation problems and focus on that night's episode of HIMYM instead.

After all, we're just teenagers. We don't have enough money. We can't do anything, right?

Wrong. We found a way. After some great idea suggestions from friends, we know exactly what we have to do.

So I bring you - Cranes For Hope, a crazy, creative collaboration of James Ruse's SRC, Happiness Equals Bracket, and other high schools and primary schools all over Sydney.

This time, the youth of Sydney will show their support in the worldly arena! Because we want to tell Japan a very simple message:

We are young, but we care. We are here, and we're thinking of you.

So what's the 411? (I've always wanted to use that in a sentence! Excuse me.) Heres the goal:

To make 10,000 cranes symbolic of all the people lost, missing or now with God, alongside with a heartfelt message from every individual youth that wants to express their concern.

There will be fundraisers running towards the hope of sending $10,000 to aid relief efforts. Different hands in different schools and communities will all be folding for the same aim! Can you imagine it?

And although we have no idea if we will reach that goal, in the end, we'll be sending all our messages over to the Red Cross, who will ship it over to Japan for us. And this is something meaningful we can do that's within our abilities for sure.

Join us and show the world just how much young people in Sydney care! Some things you can do in the next few weeks to be a part of this initiative:

=) James Ruse is holding a fundraiser day in the last week of term, so please buy the delicious food and goods available! Not that you need any convincing, puh-lease. It's food.

=) Are you a part of the community in any way? Enthusiastic Taekwondo-er? Act in an acting troupe? Recently I asked my church to contribute, and next week we're planning to have a mass crane-folding day! It's not very difficult, but you have no idea how much a little can add up. If you want to get your community involved, email Happiness Equals Bracket at happinessequalsbracket@gmail.com immediately! Do not hesitate!

=) As this is such high priority, we will be replacing our March AND April project with Cranes For Hope, and are planning a day in the holidays where we'll appeal to the public to put in their best efforts, use those fingers and fold for support! If you'd like to be involved, comment or email us!

Keep reading for more updates :) I do apologise for Lindy and I being MIA the last two weeks, but we were involved in a dangerous mission in Brazil, fighting criminals and seeking justice for- Oh alright. We were pretending to study. But we're back and ready to roll :)

WHO DO YOU CALL?
FROWN BUSTERS!

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

Pressing Pause

An empty swing – a rare sight when you were a kid and the swings were all the rage.

Today I was walking home and – lo and behold! – the park was empty and the swing set was beckoning me forward. ‘How can I say no to that?’ I told myself, ignoring the fact that I’m 17 and that there would probably be many witnesses to my childish antics.

As it turned out, there was indeed many witnesses. Many, many witnesses who walked through the park and will attest to the “high school girl who was wildly swinging back and forth like some sort of crazed lunatic.” There may have been some soulful renditions of ‘I’m A Believer’ and ‘The Rose’ as well.

Some of them gave me odd looks. Some of them walked by without even noticing. However, some people laughed and smiled at me as they walked by and I waved back at them. One friendly lady stopped on her way home and we began talking about our common love for Friday, only the best day of the week. Another 20-year-old guy joked as he walked by, “My turn’s next!”

It was so nice to just relax and appreciate the sun on my skin as I wildly flew though the air, belting “It's a love stor-y, baby just say ye-essss!” with no care in the world. 

It was like pressing pause on all the exams and pressure and busy-ness and savouring just that one moment I was on top of the world.

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

The Power to Change the World

Is it ironic that we post the most (poet and I didn't even know it! :P) when it's almost our exam week haha?

Anyway, props to Raymond/Bryan for telling me about this video and teaching me something that a textbook never could. (Warning: May make you may smile. A few times. Or ten.)

(NB: This video is only a remake of the original video by The Jubilee Project)

Well, after watching this video, the next course of action was to find out who The Jubilee Project was, naturally. :P If you would like to see some of their videos (their editing skills far surpass both Bella and mine's combined), then click here.

The Jubilee Project is three, young guys who make inspirational videos for a variety of good causes. After reading about how they've helped people world-wide, I was really inspired by how even young people (especially young people) can change the world.

It's only dawned on me recently that we do have the power to help the world.

You may think you're only one individual who's just good at video editing? Or at art? Or at writing? At music? At making people laugh? At sports? Cooking? Fashion? Smiling? At fitting your whole fist in your mouth? Or maybe you think you don't have any talents at all?

What I think is that every one of us have so, so many unique talents - and we shouldn't let anything hold us back from being proud of them! If you think about it, there's no one, super-talented super-human person who is good at all these things. Can you imagine that? Okay, don't really imagine that because that would actually be kinda scary haha.

But it just makes you realise that we don't have to be some super talented person who's good at everything to help the world - if we just join together, we truly can make a difference. =)

I think this is especially relevant after the recent earthquakes, tsunami and radiation threats that have devastated thousands and thousands of people in Japan. They need our help.

And I really, really believe that us, as young people, can be the ones to help them. =)

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

A Young Man's Dreams

Once there was a young man in the world who lived an extremely unhappy life.

Orphaned before the age of three, he was adopted by strangers. He lived a life of poverty, was expelled from school, and had extremely weak health due to serious heart trouble in his teen years.

He eventually proposed to the woman of his dreams, but the wife he loved so dearly died young, early into his marriage. Alone in the world, his health problems caused him to live handi-capped and unable to experience life to the fullest. And then at the young age of forty, he died.

From outer appearances, it was clear this man had suffered the extremes of life, experienced the kind of grief most of us will never know about.

And yet, over the course of his life, he manged to write some of the most perceptive, brilliant essays and articles ever written in history. His poems and short stories achieved world-wide fame and are still read voraciously today.

In fact most students in high school have read some of his works. There is a poem of his displayed at the Huntington Library in California, that has been estimated to be worth over fifty thousand dollars - more money than the man ever saw in his lifetime.

The man's name was Edgar Allan Poe.

*
I don't know about you, but I find this incredible life story so, so inspiring. When I read it, I felt a sense of such admiration and awe. Edgar Allan Poe has taught me not to be afraid anymore, give up or let life get me down when things are tough.

Because success doesn't depend on your circumstances, but your determination, effort and passion!

I know it's a short post, but exams are coming up, so I just wanted to remind everybody to keep working hard, and don't get stressed even if it seems like things aren't going your way. As long as you keep your spirits up, it will work out :)

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

Stand By Me

Hey there, stranger. It's been a while, I know, and I'm really really sorry!

My nights have been filled with study and essays and homework so, to demonstrate how busy I've been, I shall describe to you a typical scene of me studying:

Mid-day. Center screen, papers litter a messy desk. Light illuminates a solitary figure, hunched over a laptop, fingers blurring across the keyboard.

Lindy (with gusto): Finally! Introduction is finito! Time to analyse the movie. Aw mann, I forget what happened in it. Oh well, guess this means I'll have to re-watch it.. (goes on Facebook whilst waiting for video to load)

Enter Mum. Lindy quickly alt-tabs.

Mum: I heard you getting into bed at 4am last night. Doing homework so late?

--- Flashback to 3am that morning ---

Close-up of a discarded textbook, forgotten on the table. A guffaw is heard off-screen.

Camera zooms out to Lindy as she doubles over her laptop in laughter. The sound of beatboxing begins to emanate from the laptop speakers.

Barney Stinson (rapping to 'Stand by Me'): Won't you stand by me? Oh the remix, yeah! Never look upon, never fall upon. Yeah. Fall, call, ya'll.

--- End flashback ---

Lindy (furtively): Abso-gabi-tivi-lutely!

Mum (confused): Does that mean yes? You young kids and your "b-r-b" and "l-o-l". Alright then, l-o-l - lots of love! Work hard. See you tonight!

Mum exits. Black screen. Finito.

So that was a typical day in the exciting, studious life of Lindy. :)

I actually meant to post about my amazing experience canyoning the other week (a typical day in the life of adventurous Lindy). But then I realised something that we tend to forget about in the midst of our studious, adventurous lives.

Now-a-days, we're so busy with work or the internet or even writing up scenes about studying (guilty as charged) that we can lose sight of the most important part of our life...

Family. Friends. Loved ones.

These are probably the most important people in your life - there for you when you need a good laugh or a big, bear hug, there for you when you need advice or just there to listen and tell you when you're being ridiculous.

These are the people who will love you no matter what. They know your flaws. They've seen you at your worse possible moments e.g. lounging around with your dorkiest clothes on and your pants tucked into your socks (try it, it's super warm!).

Even in your darkest of hours, they will love you anyways and always.

Yet, sometimes, I know it's so, so easy to take them for granted. They'll always be there, right? They already know that we love them to bits, right?

So I just wanted to ask you guys: how often do you tell your Mum you love her? (Okay, I will admit I do this one quite often. Yes, I'm a Momma's Girl - and proud of it!) When was the last time you told your friends how amazing they are? How often do you think of the people who've selflessly supported you and truly thanked them?

I'm not saying you have to start spouting declarations of love and amazing-ness left, right and center. But, consider this:

What if the next time you say "bye" might be the last chance you will ever get?

You would take it, wouldn't you? You would jump up from the couch, run towards them in slow-motion and hug them for as long as possible, whispering "I love you" and "thank you thank you thank you" the whole time.

So this is to all the people who've stood by me - through all my ramblings, my flaws, my pants being tucked into my socks or even who just read this post:

To my Mummy - I love you so so unbelievably much. You do so much for me and have always been there for me. I know sometimes I may seem like I'm too busy but I want you to know that you are one of the people I care about so much that I would die for.

To my friends (both past and present) - You guys are probably the people who know me the best in this entire world. You know my flaws, yet you still love me for who I am and, for that, I am enormously thankful. I hope you know how important you all are to me, even if we barely talk now or if we've both been busy recently. Know that you guys are the reason I am able to look back on my life and say that I'm am truly lucky.

To anyone who reads this blog - I just want you to know how much you readers have taught and changed me. Bella and I started our blog as something small but it's turned into something so much more - it's shown us how amazing and encouraging people (that's you!) can be. So thank you all for helping us realise just how beautiful this world really is.

So, if you only read one thing in this entire post, read this:

There's someone out there who loves you
Who I'm sure you love very much too
So take the chance to say
"I love you, hooray!"
And happiness is sure to ensue. =)




Never forget, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

Volunteer Opportunity!

Exciting news everybody! Cue the trumpets! Raise the flags! Huzzah!
Alright, there's a volunteering opportunity available which I think netball fans will absolutely LOVE :)

Now I've posted about Beyondblue before, but I'll just tell you a little about them. You all know that this blog, is something Lindy and I started because after seeing so many people around us believe in the worst, we wanted them to believe in the best. It didn't matter if they were close friends or strangers, we wanted to raise self-esteem, raise hopes and raise some smiles! I don't know if we've achieved that yet, but Beyondblue definitely has. It is a charity group that is involved with helping people overcome depression, but they also prepare friends of those suffering from this illness on what to do.

Maybe we overlook depression sometimes in favour of more serious illnesses like cancer, but the truth is depression hurts just as many people - and like cancer, depression can kill. Even worse, it's so easy to hide that you never know who is in pain and who isn't. It could be affecting one of your close friends right at this moment - how scary is that?

Although this isn't a superhero, lifesaving event, if anything, Lindy and I have learnt that it's the little things that eventually count! So here's the lowdown from Sam Walker, event coordinator for Beyondblue:

"Through our partnership with Netball Australia beyondblue is lucky enough to be involved with the 2011 Netball Festival of the Stars & Round 6 match between NSW Swifts & Queensland Firebirds in Sydney on Sunday 20th March 2011.

Netball’s Festival of Stars is a fun and exciting family event that features a celebrity charity match. The event is a joint venture by Network Ten and ANZ Championship and will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on Sunday 20 March 2011. Netball’s Festival of Stars will again raise funds and awareness for beyondblue and National Breast Cancer Foundation. Network Ten Commentator Luke Darcy will captain the beyondblue team and the game will be broadcast on ONE. This will be followed by the state versus state battle as the NSW Swifts take on the Queensland Firebirds.
 
beyondblue will be utilising this association to hand out resources to the large crowds expected to attend the event and further promote our message and awareness to this key audience.

We are currently looking for 6 volunteers to help for a 4hr shift. Each volunteer will be given a ticket to watch this expected sold out event after they finish their role."

So if you have a love for netball, want to help out and spread Beyondblue's message and are free on the 20th of March (Year 12's you are FORBIDDEN TO GO as it is the day before exams start!) , email us at happinessequalsbracket@gmail.com  before Sunday and I'll forward you all the details you need!

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)

Ve Vant Your Bluurd!

You know, I was once proud of my name. Quite happy with it, actually. Somehow the Italian name suited me, despite my Chinese roots. See, my dad had a thing for exotic names back in day - which is how he ended up with Ricardo, my brother ended up with Geoffrey (how pompous!) and I ended up with Isabella.

Unfortunately, due to an impulsive publishing choice and a few million crazy, teenage fans, a certain author has doomed my name forever to bring to mind images of sparkling vampires and six-packed werewolves. 

I think you know what I mean. 

So one day, I decided I was sick of introductions always starting with 'Bella? As in the angsty girl in Twilight?" and decided to break out, fly to the sky if you will. And last Monday, I woke up at an ridiculously early time to donate blood to the Red Cross with Gusta. 

That's right Edward, I'm giving away the sweet, sweet blood attracted you so much. How do you like me now!?

Due to miscalculations to time (and an inability to run for buses), we ended up missing the bus and walking from Parramatta station to the Red Cross at Rosehill. Luckily, it was a lovely day for walking with some clouds and a light breeze blowing.

Unluckily, both Gusta and I are not actually the fittest of people, so we huffed and sweated and struggled through the 1.5km journey until we collapsed, heaving, at the sliding doors of the Red Cross.

Please don't judge us.

Once we arrived, opting to take the 10 second elevator ride instead of climbing another flight of steps, a kind lady greeted us, and gave us questionaires to fill out. If you ever think of giving blood, make sure you are healthy and not carrying any diseases, because your blood can save three lives - even those of newborn babies!

Three lives. Now I don't know if that's true, but doesn't that chill you? Make you realise, that you have the potential within you to change lives?

It's a very humbling thing to know that simply because you were willing sacrifice something you'll barely miss, somewhere in the world, a part of you will live on in somebody else.

As soon as the interview was over, and I had signed all that there was to sign, I was led to a rather comfortable recliner. I must have looked slightly panicked, because a soothing vampire (well he WAS about to take my blood) began talking to me in a soft voice.

"Now this is going to hurt a little when the needle goes in.. and it looks gross so don't look at it!"

What he meant really, was that watching your blood flow into a plastic bag is not exactly the most appetising of things. But still, of course, very macho and cool. If you're looking for date ideas boys, consider taking your girlfriends along to the Red Cross!

Afterwards, we were forced to sit for 10 minutes, and then forced to drink strawberry milkshakes, eat chocolate muffins and scoff pies. "Oh well, if you insist." we said, and devoured their delicious food unashamedly.

As we ate, Gusta and I thought forlornly to the long walk ahead of us, but then the lady at Red Cross surprised us entirely by agreeing to drive us to school! 

She talked in the car, and we found out she was only twenty, lived in the Blue Mountains, had a millionaire boyfriend at one point, and got her L's at 16. All in all, it was a nice end to a life-saving morning, and though we rushed into class with crumbs on our faces, I really felt a sense of peace.

Or was that just lightheaded bloodloss symptoms? Either way, if you haven't already, please consider donating blood. It only takes less than an hour, but its a process that can add a million more hours to somebody's life. If I can do it, you certainly you can :)

Ve Vant Your Bluurd! 

Always remember, Happiness Equals Bracket =)