One essay composition topics that comes around all the time is: describe someone you admire and why. Even college essays and MBA or graduate school applications and interviews still ask that question. Answers might give a clue to the individuals values and principles. Ive always had trouble answering that question however. Sure, I admire Hilary Clinton and Angela Merkel, or Hitler for that matter, for creating an impact in the world and influencing many others. And then there was Dennis Rodman and Usain Bolt, Andreas Bocelli, Robert Frost, and William Blake etc. Yet, I dont have one person I admire the most to the extent that I want to be like them  until Kung-Fu Panda arrived…

The second Kung-Fu Panda that came out especially reminded me of me  Peacock Shen’s thirst for power, authority and status. I like things, pretty things, sparkly things, shiny things, comfort, fine food, and fine wine amongst others. To acquire these things I needed money. So I tried to make money via a career and slowly I started to possess the things I wanted: I bought shoes, handbags, diamonds, make up; I frequented Michelin restaurants and bought cases of wines from around. I desired new titles, more power, more authority, so I can get promoted and make even more money.

I bought .50 ct diamonds; then after a while I wanted 1 ct diamonds at Grade D. I bought bags at USD50 then eventually I started looking at USD500+ bags. I went from Manager to Vice President to Associate Director equivalent. More and more and more: 40 pairs of shoes are not enough so I bumped it up to 50, to 60  how many pairs do I actually wear? Well none these days really since Im not out so often. But I did not remember that when I walked through the streets, as I focused on those things I did not have and were still on display on store windows, rather than the abundance I already possessed.

So I kept chasing, and perpetually felt empty and lost for what I cannot buy.

The reason I suffer and feel pain is because I have desires. Because I knew what it was like to want and possess things, in relative terms; and not having them upset me.

So how do I rid myself of desires?

It is not at wrong to like things and want them, I believe, but more so the emphasis we place on them.

We cannot see clearly what is essential in life because material goods are like ripples that distort the real imagee. As Oogway would say your mind is like this water, my friend. When it gets agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear.

The pain in me came from my want of all things. I suffered only because I could not have what I wanted and my desires never ceased. The problem was within me.

Now that I realize what the problem is, I can make changes. What Po said to Lord Shen at his point of juncture made me shudder to the bone, for I have to admit I hold the key to my own well-being, and it is only I who can make the decision to change.

Profoundly, the chubby panda remarked: You go to let go of the stuff from past, because it just doesnt matter. The only thing that matters is what you choose to be now.

These decisions could set me back or move me forward; it could give me health or deteriorate my condition further. Finding calm and understanding that things cannot bring me happiness, could potentially be my path to inner peace and happiness.

Maybe there is something else that prevents you from achieving your inner peace, and and whatever you have done before does not matter.

The zen of Kung-Fu Panda is what I want. Po is who I admire the most and want to be like.

Inner peace just got to get this thing going