A Life-Lover's Writings

Don't be sad anymore. Neh?

2010-11-08T23:24:00.002+08:00

Hi there, Josh. :)

Oh yes I was irked by what you said. And it is because I can't stand being treated that way. Not after all that I've said that could help you.

"I hardly give reasons for people to slight me, so don't give me a reason to.", so as a motto says, hahaha. But anyways, stop being sad. It's gonna be alright.

I hope you like this poem, though. :D

"No matter the rainy morning today,

It can't cloud the heart that's happy, that I say,

Come the chill and come the splatter,

That's just how it is with the changing weather,

But it is we who decide how everything goes,

It'll be sunny again, so begone the woes."

You need to see a lot of people care.

Proof: It's in your profile(and I'm sure you've seen it when you're reading this). ^_^

An Optimistic Look Forward

2010-11-08T22:17:00.002+08:00

Tomorrow is the beginning of classes. I'm psyched.

Are You?

I could honestly say I wasn't in my best last semester, but I'm proud to say I've survived. :)

Now the second semester is beginning, and my bag and myself is ready to dive in for new lessons and piles of homework. Obviously others aren't too thrilled to go back to school. Some didn't even feel the 'break' part of the sembreak. How sad.

But classes is classes, and there's no other way around it. Refresh your mind and keep a happy face. Meet new teachers and meet new classmates. Another semester is a chance to make up for what we've lacked or lost in the past sem. No matter the hard lessons. Diligence is the prime key to getting good grades.

Remember:

-Don't pile up your works. Do homeworks ASAP. (I try to. xp)

-Study in advance

-Have a study schedule

-Discipline

These are a few rules I apply. You should too.

Good Luck.

Beginning Anew

2010-11-08T01:30:00.002+08:00

I haven't written for a long time.

But I am really going to start writing, with my inspiration and all. I've revamped my blog and my pen, er, keyboard is ready to get some blogging input.

Planning to start a good topic.

Hello, Blogging(and Bloggers alike). *wink*

The Unusual Tale of How I Tamed my Cat

2010-03-27T23:44:00.004+08:00

I have a new pet. I didn't buy him nor did I obtain him from a specific source. He's just there, wild and untamed, until I managed to get him used to me.

I don't even have a name for him. I guess I still need to find a name that would fit him right. But for now, he's my little tiger, my new pet cat.

I don't know whether it was difficult or easy to tame the cat. Well, kitten really, if we start at the beginning. But I did have a fun time doing it.

You see, when he was just newly born, about the time he started walking around, I chased after him. Yes, that I did. Since he was still little, I could easily catch him, unlike the older cats who could easily run away from me.

The cats we have here at home are what we call 'laaw' types of cats, meaning they are usually stray cats who run away from a nearing person. One of the female cats gave birth to two kittens, but the other one died. The one who lived became the object of my goal.

I do love animals. I love dogs, rabbits and cats. I'd like to have a pet, but my mom and dad didn't think it wise for me to have one right now. I thought that if I couldn't have a normal pet, why not turn one of our home cats into one?

So, going on, I'd chase after the kitten and pick him up. I don't try torturing the poor little kitten, if that's what you're thinking, as I know some people would for the fun of it. Instead I'd pet the little critter, scratching his ears and ruffle his hair. Of course, as a stray cat, his normal reaction would be to try to get away from me. But I held him in place, not too strong, but firm and gentle. I wouldn't let go of him until I thought he was pampered enough.

I did that just about as often as I could. Hey, I'm no pushover here, I'm not even trying to harm the little one. All I want was to try to tame him.

So, I kept on petting him, ruffling his hair and scratching his ears. Oddly enough, he soon ceased resisting me. He doesn't really respond, he just usually stays very still. I felt a flicker of hope and excitement. There was a huge positive thought in my mind that I could make him my pet.

Weeks after that odd change, he started responding. He seemed to like me petting him. He would give a little purr and tilt his head sideways whenever I started scratching his neck. And that, by the way(scratching the neck), is effective way of petting the cat. I've discovered that most of the cats like it when you do that.

That response, for me, was a very big progress. Who knew that after having those cats in our home for more than 25 years, I'd actually tame one of them? I really had fun with what I was doing and I was starting to have a very pet of my own.

Soon enough, what I really hoped for happened. The time arrived that it had gotten used to me. Whenever I was out in the yard, and the kitten saw me, it would rush to me and rub against my feet! It would meow and look up to me with those honey gold eyes of his. Though I don't know if that gesture would be counted as affectionate, for a cat, but I still considered it to be. I couldn't believe it, but I tamed a cat! I was definitely happy.

Now, whenever I'm out, I'd call out a 'meow' and it would come rushing to me. And then I'd pat his head, pick him up and give him a treat. How I loved my new pet. His fuzzy hair would tickled my toes and he would be content just going around my feet. I really like petting him, since cat hair is pretty much soft, and, well, hairy. I'd play with him sometimes, and he just follows me around.

One proof that I really have tamed him is that he never goes near another person except me. He wouldn't run if it was me, but if there was another person nearing him, he'd scoot off.

I was really proud of myself of what I was able to do. I have a new pet and I'd take care of it. I especially love feeding him biscuits and he'd usually want to bite the biscuit entirely off my hand. Whatever I was doing outside, washing clothes or sweeping the yard, he'd just be there, near to me, sitting on the grass and watching or circling my feet. I love my new pet.

I've yet to name him, as I said at the beginning. I'm going to find a fitting one soon, for my little tigress. Future projects would be to teach him some tricks, which I know will be difficult to do. Advice anyone? :D

A Gift Rare and True

2010-02-12T22:39:00.003+08:00

For pre-Valentines Day, I'd like to share this for those who may be waiting for their special someones. :D

You came to my life in my darkest day.
No longer had I strength to carry on.
The mask I showed the world had slipped
And I had lost my will to be strong.
Searching my soul brought me nothing.
I wanted no more from the world
Than to be alone, an uninvolved stranger.
But, by not seeking, I found you.

A ray of sunshine entered my life.
A glimmer of dawn and days to come.
I discovered meaning, true meaning,
As I had never before found in myself.
I found hope, joy, love and laughter.
But also tears, self-doubt and longing.
I yearned to let my thoughts be revealed,
Yet I feared the loss of your light.

My joy in you flew high, but yet,
Revealing that joy brought sadness.
Would I lose that which I love by loving
or lose it by not loving enough?
Questions, never answers, filled my heart.
I doubt not my love, only the showing of it.
Yet it is a risk I gladly take
For I would rather lose by loving than by not.

To love and not give it freely
Is a crime I refuse to commit.
To love and not speak of it
Is a waste of beautiful words.
To love and not show it openly
Is to deny a precious gift.
Love is never given easily
So should not be lightly dismissed.

Love is a special emotion.
Found rarely and not often returned.
Blessed are those who love without question,
Without demanding love in return.
Loving while still unloved
Is the proof of profound depth.
This is the ultimate sacrifice,
To give of yourself with no demands.

To you, dear heart, I give my love.
Freely, for it is not meant to bind you.
Fully, for it is deeply felt.
Faithfully, to be your anchor
Through all storms.
Eternally, for it will never die.
I give to you of myself willingly.
Accept as you wish, light or serious.
I have spoken, the choice is yours.

Take time to consider fully
The meaning of these few lines.
They are only a part of all I have to give.
Yet I understand your reluctance.
Time is one thing I give you gladly,
For I took time I needed too.
Come to me when you are ready.
My heart will always be waiting.
This is my gift to you.

-Angi Eads-

2010-01-30T19:38:00.003+08:00

"What to do when you've had such a bad day? Easy. Make a poem. What about after? That's up to you."

Nobody likes having bad days. You can't help but remember your stupidity in the situation. But I go through this a lot. And again, it takes an effort to get over it. It might dampen my spirits for a while, but hey, this isn't forever! ^___^ gotta stay positive(though its difficult).

When skies turn gray,

And pillows are punched,

I've nothing more to say,

I'm just simply crunched.

Have a little fit or two,

But still not okay,

I'd ball my fists too,

My feelings in quiet disarray.

Time for a break,

Take a slow, deep breath,

Control isn't a piece of cake,

Mind over matter, bury it all in depth.

I'd try finding my strength,

To stand up and do things right,

Dust off discouragement, walk farther at a length,

Leaving it all behind, so far out of sight.

I'd grasp a helping hand,

Two to divide the pain.

Life is simply grand,

With friends to throw troubles down the drain.

Frustrations come but it will pass,

It's all in the matter of handling it,

Take it in, learn the lessons it has,

Just get out of that sandy pit.

“In Dreams I Meet You There”

2010-01-13T20:30:00.014+08:00

photo: http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens2349037_1230185131dream_a_z.jpg

-=I dedicate this to someone who has known so much of me, and is very close to my heart. She is my best friend, my bestie bud, whose friendship I've shared for 6 years. I miss you, Joanna. This one's for you.=-

In dreams I see you,

Your form so real and true,

Reality evades me in this world of dreams,

Where nothing is as real as it seems.

My soul feels light and blissfully happy,

As I walk beside you, absolutely carefree.

I chatter away, enjoying your company,

Time seemed endless, it was just you and me.

In dreams your presence is assuring and comforting,

It comes with your reminder, a message to stop despairing,

I must go on and live as I should,

You smile at me and I know somehow, I could.

Now I look back and remember those rare times.

I remember your laughter, your presence, your poetic rhymes.

We're endlessly distant, a whole life apart,

But you're here I know, in the depths of my heart.

In silence, in despair, my thoughts turn to you,

I'd lie down and I'd wonder, so unknowing of what to do.

Please watch over and guide me true,

From darkness keep, to the light I go through.

I miss you, dear friend, wherever you are,

I wish you eternal happiness, as bright as a laughing star,

Our friendship has always been amazing and one-of-a kind,

And always it will be cherished, both in heart and mind.

A Major Essential in a Relationship: TRUST

2010-01-08T21:06:00.006+08:00

"No, I am not an expert in relationships. I've never even entered a serious relationship before. I'll reserve that for my future. But nevertheless, I've seen enough that if trust isn't established properly in a relationship, it could take a turn headed for disaster."

Trust is a must in any form of relationships, whether in family, friendship and love. There is trust in a family when there is understanding and responsibility. We trust our best friends because our secrets with them are kept safe. But trust becomes delicate when incorporated into a boy-girl relationship. It's definitely different.

Trust, in its basic form, means confidence, moral responsibility and faith. Two keywords here are moral responsibility and faith(confidence is closely related to this). Having faith is strongly believing, and that is important for a relationship to work. Trust becomes a moral responsibility when it is given to someone. It's wonderful when you can become a person to be trusted. It means that you value what they give you and that they in turn, know that they could count on you. Trust is delicate, and sometimes heavy. Therefore, it should never be taken for granted. It's one of the hardest things to get back once you have lost them. It takes so much more to earn it back than to lose it in the blink of an eye. At extreme cases, it may prove impossible to do so. We have to be careful.

It's sad a lot of relationships fall apart because of gossips(what I'm trying to say by this is that when one side listens to gossips more rather than hearing the truth from its source, your partner), third parties and jealousy. And no doubt you'd sometimes ask yourself: was there real trust between both sides?

Gossips can be very damaging. Either you believe them or you don't. At some point in a relationship, gossips arise that may test the faith of one side. Instead of immediately jumping to conclusions, its best to get to the bottom of the matter. And there is no one better to answer that than its very source and subject, your partner. Having a heart-to-heart talk in times like these proves the existence of trust in relationship. You trust your partner to tell you the truth of the gossips. If it turns out that the gossips are untrue, then your partner will be relieved to know that you trusted in him/her enough to ask the truth from her instead of immediately believing gossips and create a misunderstanding. It seems impractical too to listen to gossips rather than hearing the truth from your partner whom you have known so well for a long time. If the gossips are true, well, that is another situation. This is where understanding should come in. Both sides should talk it out and listen to what each other has to say before judging. They should try to understand what went wrong and then come up with the best possible solution. A fight may be unavoidable, and that is natural. In the end, we have to make decisions as to whether we continue the relationship or end it. If another chance is given, accept it wholeheartedly and strive to do better in the future. If not, then it simply had to end.

What I'm really trying to point out here is that in situations like these, they should really talk, I mean, really talk. Communication is the key. Constant communication is even better. I doubt relationships stand a chance without this.

When there is communication, its letting the other side know what you do and how you feel, effectively bringing the relationship closer. A relationship at the beginning takes a lot of adjustments. And most of it involves getting to know the person better and getting used to him/her. We must know what both sides want, and work out solutions to settle that together. Talking often is igniting that special spark all over again, and trust becomes stronger each time we do. We can also overcome little quibbles if both sides are open to each other. If anything's wrong, then speak it out instead of putting unnecessary strain on yourself and the relationship. It's best that you do. Sometimes silence, thought it may not seemingly hurt anyone, can create problems. Since the other side doesn't have a clue of what's going on, there appears a gap between the relationship. If the other side suddenly becomes silent and is starting to withdraw from you, wouldn't you want to know what's happening? If silence continues, then you will simply drift apart. I've seen this happen. And most often, it is the girls who is left so confused and hurt. It's like the heart wants to ask that silent person, "Did you not trust me enough to tell me what's wrong?". It seems so wrong for a relationship to end like that. There is no other way to deal with it then to talk openly. And make sure that after the communication, there will be little room for ill feelings. Accept whatever comes. The truth may hurt for quite a while, but its not impossible to get over it with the right help.

That's why its important to communicate often. It's an essential key for trust to keep the relationship intact. It hardly leaves any holes for misunderstanding.

As perfection decrees, no one is perfect. Committing mistakes is unavoidable, and it takes patience and acceptance from both sides. This is also where you will see if your partner is able to accept you for who you are and what you are not. If he/she truly loves you, he/she knows how to overlook your mistakes and see the beautiful side of you. That is looking with your heart and not your eyes alone. If there was ever trust in the beginning, then this will eventually hold true.

Trust in relationships should have a strong ground. Keeping these things in mind might help strengthen whatever relationships there may be, despite obstacles that come to test its connection. It's important to keep the relationship alive, more so to keep that special spark going. You got together for a reason and there is love to keep both of you there, and there should definitely be trust to keep it strong.

It all starts here, when you say it and when you accept it from someone;

"I trust you."

~I'm not speaking from experience here. This is merely my opinion based on what I observe around me. I learn from these situations and I develop an idea of what should and should not be done. It's helpful to observe of what's going around you. It might even guide you.~

Top 10 Realizations of 2009

2010-01-06T18:48:00.002+08:00

It's the new year! I take a step back for a moment and ponder on the things that I realized and come to accept in the year 2009. So much has happened, but here's my Top 10 list:

10.) I choose how my life goes, I allow things to happen but some may be out of control. But to the extent of those I can influence, I choose to live my life with responsibility, good sense and moral and with meaning.

9.) I've written more poems this year than any other year.

8.) A lot of things that I wistfully wished for came true. I didn't really ask for them, but it's a wish uttered at passing times. Nevertheless, they came true.

7.) I used to worry about being on the skinny side. But not so much now, since a close friend pointed out to me, "You can eat as much as you want. " :D

6.) Find time to vent your feelings. The feeling doesn't leave you till you do.

5.) I'm convinced that choosing ComSci as my course is one of the best choices I made. I realize that I prefer it so much over other possible course choices. Hopefully I'll see this through the end.

4.) If you're not sure that you love that person, then you probably didn't love him at all.

3.) I could write more than a thousand reasons why I'm very much thankful to the Good Lord of all that I have today. They're priceless.

2.) There's just no escaping some things, no matter how hard you've tried preparing yourself to avoid them.

1.) 2009 is a year I'll never, ever, ever forget. I felt that the year 2009 has given me a mountain of amazing surprises that came tumbling down on me. It's been a truly beautiful year for me.

-the treasures of the past should be kept safe and cherished, they will become priceless for the future. -

The Fruits of my Thoughts

2009-12-23T21:56:00.001+08:00

Sentimental? I guess so. Confused? Likely. Down? Maybe. I like to do a lot of thinking and perhaps a bit of brooding. But anyway, these are some things I happened to write in times like these. They're written during different days and in different moods. Some of these are quotes I happened to like or are in line with how I feel that day. Here are bits of thoughts that spring from my ever-bizarre mind.

"If a book was all it took to remember you, I'd carry one everyday." - me.

(It was taken from another quote, originally having flowers as its subject, but I like books and I guess that would be more effective for me to remember people. ^__^)

"I'd like to be alone,

But sometimes I don't

I rarely have mood swings

But now's an exception

As I curl around my bed

My thoughts confused and unread

I wondered if someone cared

Enough to take me out of the dark."

-me-

(Surely you can tell that my mind was quite boggled when I wrote this. I don't remember much, as this was written about two years back, but I knew that I was upset over something during this time.)

"To think about the end will feel like a hundred years has passed but to not think about it at all is like reaching that point in the blink of an eye."

(I got this quote from my best friend, Nikki. This quote comes to my mind whenever I think that I dwell too much on the end rather than journey it takes to get there. We sometimes wish for time to go fast, but sometimes it is what makes the wait even longer.)

"Believe in your dreams, not in your depressing thoughts. Feed your faith. Starve your doubts. Always remember tough times never last. But tough people do."

(This is one of the many quotes that I receive in my cellphone. But I do find it inspiring. Depression can bring us down, but the solution or some form of comfort may not be too far away. Better if you know exactly where to look. ^_^ Faith is powerful, if you find it in your heart to truly believe that things will work its way right eventually. And it's a relief to oneself to know that your trust isn't wasted when it works.~ Finally, strength. It is what is usually tested in us during difficult times. It measures how long we last, and how easily we break during pressure. I believe that strength is in all of us, if we just have the courage to use it wisely. In this world full of challenges that come our way, we have to have the strength to face it all and last. It will always be a great relief to have passed a raging storm.)

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These are four of my thoughts. I might post more later on. If I get more sentimental, that is.~

The Simplest Thing to Remember during Christmas: Jesus

2009-12-23T21:14:00.005+08:00

Before I begin to elaborate on the point of my article, I'd like to share this text message that I've received recently:

---------------------------------------

Jesus and Santa Claus talking...

Jesus: alam mo, naiinggit ako sa iyo..

Santa: bakit naman?

Jesus: kasi ikaw ang inaabangan nila sa birthday ko.

--------------------------------------

Sad reality, is it not? Somehow when we try to evaluate ourselves, this sometimes becomes the case. We come to expect the wrong person when Christmas comes, and we might forget that Christmas isn't all about getting the most gifts. That's why we must always keep in mind the core reason why we do celebrate Christmas. The point is not in feasts, not in Santa Claus giving us gifts through our chimneys nor in artfully decorating our homes for the season, they are merely part of the celebration, or I'd prefer to call it the 'decorations' for the occasion.

Looking at our present time, there are so many distractions that tend to sidetrack us from our intended purpose. Such is the modern world in which we live in. Things are becoming less simpler than they were before. There are so many things that require a lot of procedures before they are accomplished. And we are often caught in the complexity of it all. Christmas trees, decorations, Santa Claus, caroling, exchange-gifts and others are part of our yearly Christmas tradition. And because Christmas is understood to be a joyous and festive event, we go around putting up and preparing all these things. Indeed, they brighten up the occasion and add so much life to it. Then again, that's not the point entirely. Remember to focus on the source of the light, not its glow.

We celebrate Christmas for a very very important reason, and that is the Birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is the One who died for our sins, the One whom we call on when we are troubled, and it is He who must be kept alive in our hearts, most especially during the Christmas season. His birth signifies the salvation of mankind, our cleansing from earthly sins. He is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

And that's the bottom line. It all comes down in remembering the birth of a little child who was to become our Saviour, born in simplicity, laid in a manger. It was this moment when the angels sang choirs in the skies, and Three Wise Men came to find Jesus to give him gifts and acknowledge him as King and as the Son of God. Jesus is the core reason why we all celebrate Christmas. The one whom the banquet must be prepared for.

I do enjoy all the festivities of Christmas; the bright and colorful lights, the Christmas trees, the decorations, the carolers, the Noche Buena, Nine Mornings, Santa Claus and the reindeers too. I guess everyone does. A pat on the back, cheering up a sad friend, greetings of 'Merry Christmas', simple exchange of gifts, completing the Nine Mornings and family time surely gives the Christmas season its 'magic'. In the midst of it all, we should remember that we do these things because we share the love that God gave us, we share our happiness with others, and most of all because we celebrate the birth of that little child who is Jesus, our Saviour.

It doesn't matter what amount money we spend during this season, because as everyone knows, true happiness is intangible but heartfelt. The simple joys we give each other out of love, with money spent or not, is our way of preparing ourselves for His coming. It is what should be remembered and treasured in our hearts, and that's when the happiness and magic of Christmas is truly seen and felt.

Song of the Day

2009-12-09T17:55:00.000+08:00

My Song of the Day:

You and Me by Lifehouse.

It's been a very tiring day. And the past days as well. I really just wanted to go home and rest, grab a pillow or two, and not wake up till the next morning.

So when I finally got home, I went to my room and flopped down on the bed, wondering what I should do first. I wanted to sleep, but I still had work to do. Schoolwork, of course. But before I bother myself with a bunch of academic-related stuff, I decided to listen to music. Scrolling down on my playlist, I chose 'You and Me' by Lifehouse, just because i felt like it. ^___^

I think the headphones had something to do it(I love the quality of it, how the music comes out from it), but I felt that the song felt so much more alive. Every tone, rhythm, the vocals, well, everything. I already love the song and played it a lot of times, but somehow I felt as if I heard it for the first time and liked it immediately.

So there I was, just listening, and I felt great and relieved somehow. It took me out of my tiredness as of the moment. Now, I feel like I'm ready for the work ahead of me tonight.

Music does work miracles. =)

The Book of Salamat(A story originated from Philippines))

2009-11-26T18:28:00.000+08:00

Our story begins with two neighbors. Although they were poor, they took pride in their gardens. Their yards bloomed with different kinds of vegetables all year round.

(photo:http://dancurtis.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pen-and-book.jpg)

The first gardener would sell his harvest and keep the money all to himself, while his next-door neighbor would give away most of his vegetables and was happy when his friends would say, "Salamat." "Fool!" his selfish neighbor told him one day, "You work so hard under the sun to grow your vegetables. If I were you, I'd sell then and build and keep the money. Look at me, I will be able to build a big house next year with my money." The generous gardener just smiled and continued working on his yard. He was actually having difficulty saving money for repairing his home for the rainy season, but, he found this word of thanks more precious than money. Salamat, salamat, salamat... he noted each line of thanks in a book every night.

The greedy man soon earned enough money to build a large house made of stone and wood. He looked from his window his neighbor's tiny nipa hut. He heard about the good man's book and laughed. "Let's see that crazy old fool eat his book of salamat," he said to himself. He then called out to his neighbor... "Hey there, friend, don't you wish you had a house as beautiful as mine?" he asked, "I've even hired a gardener to care for my plants!" "You have quite a big house," his humble neighbor answered, "but I'm happy enough here." Months passed and the rains came. It was then the good man realized he truly needed money to fix his hut. He spotted his book of salamat and had a bright idea. The next morning...

"Salamat for sale! Who wants to buy my book of salamat?" The townsfolk saw the gardener selling his book and thought he had gone crazy. Yet, he went all around the village offering his book of salamat to any buyer. Word spread and reached the sultan's palace. "What's that man selling?" the Sultan asked his guards. He had never heard of anyone selling such and thought that he must have heard wrong; that the gardener was selling salabat -- ginger tea, or samat -- betel leaf. "Bring him to me, " His Majesty commanded. And the gardener was summoned. "I'm selling a book of salamat, Your Majesty," the man explained. He opened his book and the Sultan saw the word salamat written all over. The words were written in clear, fine and honest handwriting. "This man is no fool!" the Sultan said to himself.

"How much do you want for this book, my good man?" the Sultan finally asked. "I shall sell my book for whatever it will weigh in gold," the gardener answered humbly. His Majesty then told his court attendants to bring forth his weighing scale. The Sultan placed the bool on one scale and a piece of gold on the other. The book was heavier. He placed another piece of gold, but, the book was still heavier. No matter how much gold the Sultan placed upon the scale, the book still weighed heavier! Until the Sultan brought out a bag of gold and said, "There, old man, take your money and leave me in peace!"

And the gardener happily left and was able to build himself a bigger house than his neighbor's in several days' time. His neighbor got so jealous! He thought of a plan to get richer.

After learning about his neighbor's good fortune, he immediately bought a thicker and heavier book and hurriedly filled it with the word salamat. Following what his good neighbor did, the greedy man asked to be paid as much as the book will weigh in gold. The Sultan placed a bag of gold on the scale but, the bag was heavier. He then removed half of the gold. The bag was still heavier. Finally, some gold dust was left on the bag. Alas! it was still heavier. "How can that be?" the gardener said, "My book is gigantic! And I labored for two weeks writing that word salamat over and over again!" "Aha!" exclaimed His Majesty, "Poor man, you may spend a lifetime writing down the word, but if it doesn't come straight from the hearts of grateful men, it is meaningless." And to the dismay of the selfish man, the wise Sultan ordered his guards to take him outside to be punished in front of the people.
------------------------------- END -------------------------------------------------

----> It's a short story but so full of meaning. I happened to chance upon this story, since it's a little book that belongs to my sister. This became one of my favorite stories because it so describes how I look at life in gratefulness and simplicity. :D All of us, no matter how little we have, should be able to find things to be grateful about. Perhaps, everything that exists is a grace and a blessing. I do believe that the challenges that we encounter are blessings; because they bear a good fruit if we receive it wholeheartedly and allow it to mold us into better persons. The smallest of things, can be a great blessing, we may not know. ~

to be given one :)

2009-11-19T19:25:00.001+08:00

(photo from Photobucket)

I chose to call you Night,

For the reasons I thought of,

So I'll shed you some light,

Of why I called you the name above.

I'd compare you to the night,

The time of the day when people can rest.

It's not the morning but nevertheless provides light,

It's the time I look forward to, when the sky for me is at its best.

You're like the moon up above the sky,

That silver ball that's glowing,

So far is it's distance but seems as if it hovered close by,

It's like how you're far away, but your presence I'm constantly feeling.

The brightly stars remind me of you,

The stars that fill the sky and twinkle away.

You light me up when my days go blue,

You make me smile and see the beauty, of every single day.

You maybe the meteor shower,

Amazing to behold and may grant a wish to come true,

You're that amazing, and I won't ask for anything better,

You're a wish come true, like you told me, too.

You're the winds that are around,

Cold but refreshing to the senses,

You're a relief to my troubles that bound,

You sweep them away in the comfort of your presence.

All this I reason,

Of why I chose that name especially for you,

A meaningful name, fresh as the summer season.

This I reveal to you, for all that I know of you.

5 Hours of Sitting----- Just solving two math problems.

2009-11-12T11:07:00.000+08:00

Yes, you guessed it.

I sat for five hours yesterday, trying to solve two math problems(my homework) that needed to be solved carefully, lest you commit an error and the entire problem becomes wrong.

Hmmph. I can imagine what a torture it must be(especially those who do not like math) to have a 3-hour lesson in mathematics; just sitting, listening to the professor, solving problems with long solutions, quizzes and all the while your head is in the clouds, just wishing you could go home and sleep, and escape the boring-ness of it all. That'd probably be torture for me too. It's not that that I don't like math, it just gets frustrating when you don't understand a problem(which is exactly the point of my article).

So, you ask, how I could I have possibly spent five hours on two math problems?

Believe me, I don't know either. But I just did. I had no notion of time, I just really wanted to get those problems over with and read a book.

*sigh* Knowing me, I don't like not being able to pass a homework. I'll sit and deal with it 'til it's done(and until I understand it).

What happened was this: I sat, opened my notebook and went through my homework. I did understand most of what my professor discussed during class, but when I tried to apply it to the problems in my homework---- I ended up getting confused.

So I read, read and read. All over again. I reviewed examples from my notes. Still confused. I grabbed my dad's math books and looked for specific solutions. I still didn't understand. I looked through my past and tried to get some ideas. And I think that worked.

With all that searching, finding, solving, thinking and writing, I didn't notice the time. Sure, I went downstairs to eat and drink when I felt like it, but I didn't mind looking at the time. I didn't realize that it was already 11:30 and I was still at problem 1(I started around 8:30pm). "Oh well," I shrugged and said to myself, "I gotta finish this."

But of course, being stuck at a problem for a long gets very frustrating. After 2 hours since starting, I was ready to throw my pillow to the floor. :D But don't worry, I don't do that. It simply attacks your nerves, wanting so much to solve the problem but you just can't understand. Still on I go; review, search, think and write. I'm struggling and frustrated, but I go on.

The time ticks on, and I think I'm beginning to get it. I make progress, solved more equations and I was almost at the last part: graphing. *whew*

My pen continues sliding back and forth across the paper, writing and graphing. After such a time, I finished the first problem. Yay! It was a great relief to have finished even half of what you're supposed to do. Feeling enlightened, I was inspired to write. *scribble*

By 1 am, I was done with my draft. I transferred all of my solutions to a bond paper(just like what our professor told us), along with my graph.

And pretty soon, I was finished.

When I finally put down my blue-ink-pen, it was when I felt all the energy being drained out from me. But at least I was finished. And I learned. *sleeps after*

At some points in our life, we do need to sit back and learn things. We don't expect the answers to come so easily. We sit, stay glued to that seat until we've learned. Just like what I did.

It's such a relief to be able to pass an outcome of all that you've worked hard for. It may have some errors, but I'll learn from those, since I understand most of the picture.

I learned. And that's what matters.

(We find that some of the most difficult things we encounter become worth it at the end. Our struggles and efforts don't go to the wastebasket. Believe me, you've definitely gained something from it whether you felt it or not. :D)