A Lone Star

The 1st poem that kicked it off ... 

A 20yr journey seeking love 
Pieces of life stitched thru poetry 
A girl who believed God did not notice her....

Unravel her inspiring story of transformation:

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1504347617?pf_rd_r=G6PVRBVJ38ATHSAQHTFZ&pf_rd_p=6fc81c8c-2a38-41c6-a68a-f78c79e7253f

Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/then-true-love-comes-irriesse-chia/1123259143?ean=9781504347617

Book Depository
https://www.bookdepository.com/Then-True-Love-Comes-Irriesse-Chia/9781504347617?ref=grid-view&qid=1607779748342&sr=1-1

Balboa Press
https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/727495-Then-True-Love-Comes

I wrote this poem more than 20 years ago. I can't really remember when.

As with all my writings and music, they are more of instant downloads rather than inspiration. In the case of writing, usually the words just pour out onto the paper or typed onto the computer in one sitting. After that, I would do minor edits to the words and sentences.

I don't claim to have a large vocabulary of words. English was not supposed to be my first language. So, I don't squeeze my minimalist mind for words that rhyme or google for synonyms that sound more intelligent than I could handle.

But what's more important to me is the meaning contained in that poem, and in any other writing forms I do. It's got to hit you in your head and launch an arrow deep into your heart and soul. And sometimes, you'd have to read between the lines or wait upon it for a spiritual revelation. Poems are like that. Snapshots.

Well, anyway, when I had the urge to compile some of my poems, long hidden in my own secret place, and most dating back 20 years or more -- to be published for the world, it took some time to feel what this book was gonna be about.

And when the concept and structure started to form like a screenplay, I found that all my poems naturally found their homes to fill up all the six chapters.

And naturally, the only poem I had written that could start off the book was, "A Lone Star," because it also became clear that it WAS the beginning of the story.

Poet, Naked

Poet, naked, 

out of the closet,

baring my darkness

to Prejudice,

like sitting beside a river of

Alligators.

Then True Love Comes

Then True Love Comes

She believed God did not notice her...Look Inside!

This is the 1st poem in my book "Then True Love Comes."

She believed God did not notice her, & that started a long 20-yr journey of seeking to be loved...

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https://www.amazon.com/Then-True-Love-Comes-Irriesse/dp/1504347617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458847835&sr=8-1&keywords=9781504347617

An Artist From The Past

As I was in the final stages of preparing my book, I had thought it would be great to have some illustrations that could highlight the meaning of the poems, so that the story could be presented visually.

But somehow, for months, I couldn't seem to connect with any artist that could illustrate a poem's meaning, and furthermore, it had to be painted or illustrated in a style that suited me and the concept of the book.

I then wondered if I could paint them myself, as I really hadn't painted with a brush since taking Art Exam in secondary school (high school), which was way too long ago... 

While agonizing over this matter, I saw a Facebook post from Phillip Wong boldly announcing, "Everyone Can Paint!" So, it seems the moment had come for me to test myself, so I decided to call on Phillip to give me some professional feedback. 

So off I went proudly to an art gallery. The cool part was painting on canvas, which was a first for me, too! But, I didn't realize it was going to be that hard to imagine... a picture! Using acrylic for the first time, it was also hard to figure out the techniques in order to get the look I imagined.

But, all in all, I managed to finish 6 pictures which were inserted at the beginning of each of the 6 chapters of the book. Although I think I can do better, it was truly an emotional, even tiring, experience that helped me learn how to use my imagination better.

Also, I have to thank the very patient Phillip, who encouraged me to paint and accept that whatever I painted is distinctive of me, for there is no right or wrong in art, and that I am truly free to create any new world on that canvas. :) 

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#Power

Don't Tell Me The Ending!

Don't tell me the ending! 

That's what a lot of us would say to those who've watched the movie before us. 

"You better not tell me the ending!" No, we wanna be surprised! 

Have you heard that people have been beaten up for daring to shout out the ending to moviegoers lining up in the lobby for the next show?

THE END -- those iconic words that appear on the screen at the end of a movie. Two simple words that symbolize the end of an experience, etch either a satisfaction or distaste in our spirit whenever we get up to leave the theatre. It could be the decisive point of a star rating by any movie critic. 

Very often, a writer would start writing but have a problem ending. I know I did. For years, I would attempt to start a fictional story but I didn't know how to continue it till the end. So, as a result, I haven't become a novelist.

Moviemakers have often had to edit more than one version of a movie for the different world markets that they hope to screen in. Why? Because some endings are deemed unacceptable to certain cultures.

Well, for me, the strong message of how "the end" is so important in one's life started one night, after some beer, whisky and wine at a bar. Someone that I recently befriended, a successful and wise guy my age, took my palm and started looking at it for clues. In case you start guessing, nope, I can assure you that I am not his type. He merely wanted to see if I was a good prospect to be in business with. 

What he said to me got me confused. He told me that I had to trust in someone even if it's risky. "Then True Love Comes." 

At first, I started arguing with him over his statement, but after that, thinking, it slowly sank in. 

That was so hard for me to accept. But that signified the end to a search. 

We all desire, wish, chase and hope for something in our lives. Some people can see their goals very clearly. Some people are still wondering and truly become wandering spirits in this world. But there's no denying that everyone desires for something that could make us happy. Have you ever met someone who said "All I ever want is to be unhappy"? 

I then further discovered a spiritual teacher, Neville Goddard, and listened to an old audio recording of his on YouTube over and over again, "Live In The End." What in the world does that mean? 

Well, it basically reveals to us that our power or failure is to be able to picture what we want in the end -- the end of a week, the end of a forty-year hardship, the end of a desire, the end of a hoping, of a search, of a question. 

Yes, picture the end of that which you wish for -- without any wavering in your belief, without any doubts. Then, miraculously, an invisible, all-knowing energy will "work it backwards" ...then "fast it forward" to get you to that spot that you have pictured as "The End."

Try it and see if it works. If you could have whatever you want, tell yourself what that ending should be. 

The End.

      

A Lone Star -- Spoken Poetry

Sudden inspiration to read this poem "A Lone Star," which is the 1st poem in my very 1st book published, "Then True Love Comes."

So, using my basic home recording & editing skills, I set it to a piece of impromptu composition. Next, is to get inspired by visuals, so that I can turn it into a video clip! So, that's coming up soon...

Meanwhile, hope you can connect with this... :)

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To Doubts That Cage My Craze

How do I handle my heart when it comes to him?

How do I handle the break when I think of him?

Will he accept my age, my face,

The norms appropriated by my race?

Doubts that cage my craze,

You may dissolve with my energy jails,

For my fear has been overthrown by rage.


~ Irriesse Chia
copyright 2016

Do You Believe There's Something You're Meant To Do In This World?

Do you believe  there's something you're meant to do or achieve in this world?

Perhaps you've always felt that you were meant to marry and be the best mother to six kids. Or perhaps, you've always wanted to build a home for stray dogs and cats. Or perhaps, you knew you belonged to the sea and long to spend all your time sailing. Or perhaps, you've always wanted to be a man in uniform. Perhaps you knew you were meant to sing. 

Years ago, I would be embarassed to tell anyone that I've always felt that I was meant to leave my mark, my thoughts, my creative and written works ~ my books ~ as my legacy to this world. Who was I to do it? Wouldn't I be a laughing stock? What would I write about? 

Being in the entertainment industry, it would have seem easy enough to achieve that. I was already producing television shows. That would meant I had already achieved doing something for the world to see.

But alas, my works were mainly for local clients, domestic television stations. And to me, they did not qualify as that purposeful message from the core of me that I was to leave to the world, which would touch somebody's heart and influence somebody's life. 

And so, I dragged the time along with my doubtful wishes, year after year, year after year, trying to feel like a significant person before I could think of something to write. In short, I felt like I had to be perfect before I could be that perfect person that the world could look up to. 

Are you like me?

I hope not. 

But if you were, I can tell you, that when you make a decision, you become significant to your dreams, to that tug in your heart, to the message in your soul that you have for someone. Significance is not achieved by waiting for the world's approval. I took a long time to understand it. Because now I understand that nobody else's approval matters except my own. No, not even your boss'. I have fired many. 

We are not in this world to wait for someone to make it happen for us. If you do not believe me, try it. Try waiting for someone to make it happen for you.  

We are each responsible to be the best we can be, and what we truly want to be. The best that we can be stays undefined unless we truly ask ourselves. We are all capable of achieving our dreams, even with the cards we are born with. There are ways. And those are higher ways that may take some time for us to discover. Some of us never discover it. But perhaps, another lifetime is waiting for us to do it again. 

So, if we are born with something to do before this lifetime is over, then wouldn't it be true that we will find that support and the opportunities to make our dreams happen? Think of it as the mission that you came to earth with, for those of you who love sci-fi thrillers. And just like The Matrix' Neo, or  Superman, it just took a little bit longer before you discover your powers.

So think about it now, if you haven't done what you always felt you were meant to do. 

Get ready.

Coffee Truck, Restaurant Rebranding, and Publishing My Book

It's been awhile. A hectic few months of seeking and finding.

Finally,  was asked by a restaurant management to work on their marketing and rebranding, after asking my opinions for free for months.

So I decided to start a mobile business serving coffee on a truck, so I am not taken for any more free rides :D

But before the hecticness started, I was lucky to have two weeks to bravely paint a few illustrations for my book, which I am self-publishing with Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, under Louise Hay, international best-selling author and spiritual guru.

Finally, this came by DHL today -  the copy for checking.



Then True Love Comes.

The Making of "Then True Love Comes"

This poem, "Then True Love Comes" are the lyrics I put to a song I composed years ago. 

After going around for years asking if anyone could help me write lyrics in Chinese, I decided then that I would just write them myself in English. What the heck! The world is round. 

And now this would also serve as the title of the poetry book I am planning to publish. And while discussing about a title for the book, I told my friend, A, about an episode that happened to me the night before...

I had gone with an associate to meet other friends of his for drinks. So, while chatting and getting acquainted, talking about possible plans, the one opposite of me, someone who was interested in teaming up together for business, B, had asked to see my palm. Well, it was a joyful night, with drinks flowing and endless conversations. I did not hesitate to show my palm to him in carefree impromptuness, without expecting any thunder-or-lightning moments. 

B took a quick look at my palm and promptly declared to my associate that it was alright for him to "follow me." Wow! 

Then, he took my palm again and said this to me: "You must trust, even if trusting in that someone is risky. Then, true love comes." 

Friend A whom I told this story to, jumped at the phrase "then true love comes." He promptly told me, "this is the title of your book."

I also modified the lyrics to my song, which now bears the same title.

I remembered B had repeated it then. "You must trust, even if trusting in that someone is risky. Then, true love comes."  

At first, I questioned his words. What? Trust in someone even if it's risky to? Do you know how many heartbreaks I've had? That makes no sense. You know how fragile our hearts are. And that's even worse in business. 

But after a moment, I began to see the picture. His message meant I had to open my heart and not just close it even before I get involved. Don't just turn away. Trust. Let someone in. 

I knew I had never done that before wholeheartedly. And that meant, I had never let myself know and experience who I am wholeheartedly.

Then True Love Comes

Then True Love Comes, was a title that came unexpectedly. Someone that I had just met took my palm and told me "You must trust in someone even though it is risky to trust in this person, then true love comes." 

That shocked me. This message told me that it was not only about finding that true love in someone else who will come, but it was about not trusting my own heart. And this reveals the deepest truth -- that I did not even open up to my own heart to love myself, so how could anyone else truly love me?

(No, he was not trying to hit on me. That was a gay man who took my palm.)

I have been a student of spiritual and personal development for years. The book that most impacted me years ago, when I was fervently searching for answers after my fiance left me, was Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh. From there I was influenced by spiritual & motivational gurus and authors like Deepak Chopra, Paulo Coelho, Abraham Hicks, Bashar, Louise Hays, Pam Grout, Sonia Choquette, T. Harv Eker, Anthony Robbins, Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar to name a few.  

I graduated from Western Michigan University with a major in Production (Communication) and minor in Journalism. Trained in piano and ballet throughout childhood, I loved the performing arts and was a regular on stage.

For the past 20 years, I worked as a producer director of many entertainment and reality shows, from high-profile Wheel of Fortune to Fear Factor, to beauty pageants, talent competitions, reality shows, gameshows, dramas & tv movies in my home country. 

What Happened To Me

Recently, I suffered through a difficult project resulting not only in loss of money for my company but also in loss of self confidence, and found myself at one of the lowest points of my professional life, without monetary support.

It was then that I came clean with how I felt about my life. My career had not given me satisfaction for years. People know me as a Producer all my career. But I had lost my bliss. And I believe in the universal Law of Attraction which was so apparent in bringing me the negative situations that I kept facing.

I didn't only want to spend days and nights as a behind-the-scenes Producer, a stressful job managing big teams and big budgets, and being relevant only to providing services to the industry. I also wanted to touch the world through my personal experiences, beliefs and through my own creative work. This required me to go back to the rooms of past indulgence and search for bliss that has been shelved away  -- creative writing & music.

Now, with my background as a Producer, how was I going to produce my own life the way I successfully styled and branded my shows? And if our life were a movie, then each of us, surely, is the star of our life movie. How do I be the star of my own life, one who experiences True Love?