Getting some things off my chest

Once again, my website is unavailable in China. I can upload these files to my website for people in other parts of the world to see, but I have not been able to load up my website and see it in over two weeks here in Beijing. I contacted my host provider (Yahoo! Hosting) and they said that is because China's Internet Firewall collaterally blocks its servers. So hundreds or thousands of websites can get blocked if there is any content on the server the Chinese government doesn't like.

I have some options, I could change host providers. I could change to a local host in China, or another host overseas. I have read the Great Chinese Internet Firewall effects other hosting providers as well, so jumping from one host to another may not really change things. I hear that local Chinese providers are unreliable. Also, I think it goes against my principles that I should have to change hosts because some government is blocking access to my website in their country. Why do I have to change? Shouldn't it be them who has to change their policy on information censorship? How can I work with a policy and system I can't understand and don't agree with?

Anyway, I think there might be a silver lining to this anyway. I can move away from using my website as a platform for Chinese related things and change it into a philosophy/health and wellness website for everyone on earth. If the Chinese still want to block it, I just won't worry about it anymore, because my website will still be accessable to the rest of the world for the rest of the world to enjoy.

Actually, there are many things that make me angry and frustrated in China. I was angry and frustrated about things in the US and Japan too though. It seems like all countries have their own unique and special problems that are frustrating and annoying. For example, I don't worry about being carjacked or having to deal with road rage in China. I don't worry about guys walking in to malls with shotguns killing everyone in sight.

But I have to always be on guard against being ripped off when I go shopping, petty crime and a filthy environment here in Beijing.

It seems no place is perfect. Well, haha you laugh, didn't you know that already?

Abraham Lincoln said "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be". I think that means happiness comes from within, rather than from something externally. Its based on your state of mind rather than your environment.

But that doesn't mean that environment doesn't have any effect on your state of mind. I always feel a little down on cloudy and rainy days for example. On the other hand I know some people who like rainy days. That makes me think that it would be better to find a place that has the greatest number of conditions that you like and be there.

On the other hand, is it a waste of time to always be in search of something, some kind of conditions that will give you happiness, especially when I just wrote that happiness comes from within?

Anyway, the Chinese New Year is around the corner. I have no teaching work for about two weeks. I did get some small proof-reading jobs. I went to Fragrant Hills yesterday and climbed to the top again.

It seems that everything of value, that is worth getting, requires a certain amount of pain. No pain, no gain. From being healthy to learning new skills to relationships, everything requires some hard work, struggle and sacrifice.

Rather than always seeking pleasure, maybe it would be better to seek opportunities that force us to endure pain (hard work, struggle, sacrifice) that have bigger rewards. We have to decide, what is worth fighting for?

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Remember to buy gas wherever you see the sign!