Sunday with Mitch Albom and the Thousands of People you meet in Glorietta

Eight long hours.

These hours took me to wait patiently, hopefully and positively in long lines of overcrowded people. A line that connects avid readers of Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People you meet in heaven and The first phone call from heaven, (among other best selling books) from one of the best international authors in the world, Mr. Mitch Albom.

Far from what I’ve expected, thousands of fans gathered inside Glorietta Activity Center. I’ve come at the said place at 11:00 not knowing that the line will brought me outside (tired, hungry, sweat pouring, irritable, leg aching) until 2:15 in the afternoon.

Time recapped.

By 11:00 a.m., I bought another copy of The first phone call from heaven. I’ve asked my co-readers for the last line and they pointed me outside. I was greeted by hundreds of other hopeful fans and finding the last line readily made my head ached. The line was moving very slowly.

Waiting in line.

By 12:00, we took our lunch while standing. Imagine the hard scenario.

At 12:30 p.m., we were advised by a n event coordinator of National Bookstore that the last person (right before an assistant of NBS who held a placard) will be the last one to be permitted inside to have a book signed.

Seeing a bad news

What to expect? Of course, an angry mob do not let it happen and we totally freaked out. Why? We almost stood there for hours, waiting in vain just to have our book signed. I was disappointed of how unorganized NBS was.

Despite of the bad news we got, we do not give up. I was thankful because our efforts do have a positive result. At 2:15 p.m., we were allowed to go inside the activity center and there he was… OMG! Mitch Albom. 🙂

Meet Mr. Albom 🙂

There were really a huge number of people inside. Still, we have our lines but we’ve got to take pictures of Mr. Albom while he was at the backstage. And I can’t keep myself from screaming after I heard his voice. Wow! All our hardships subside. Maybe my screaming was just my way of proving that despite all difficulties of waiting in line, I really love Mr. Mitch. This is my first time attending a book signing event and I think it was an unforgettable experience.

Backstage. Albom smiles to fans.

Time passed easily. It was getting really late. We still do not have a signing pass. Were just another bunch of hopefuls.

By 7:30 in the evening, an event coordinator  approached us and explaining the “stub” thing. So we were told that we can still have our books signed by filling up a stub form but the consequences are: (1) we need to left our books with the stub and to claim it on February 27 onwards and (2) we will not able to go near Mr. Mitch and have pictures with him, anymore.

Meeting Mr. Mitch is one of my biggest dreams. I am not a person who gives up easily. But this one thing, well, I have to decide and weigh situations properly.  There were still a huge number of people waiting and we do not know if we will still be entertained, and so, I’ve decided to do the stub thing.

Hopeful

I may not able to meet Mr. Mitch face to face and have a picture taken together, but I think I have achieved a remarkable thing in my life. My efforts have shown how I tried so hard to reach for a star that I can only meet once in a lifetime. Having their book signed by their favorite authors is one of the best feeling a book lover could get.

I am now waiting for next week to have my book signed by Mr. Mitch. Yesterday was really an amazing experience for me. I have exerted too much effort and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I love Mr. Mitch Albom. I will still be one of his supportive fans, waiting to meet him personally one day, and silently praying for his success, even from a distance. 🙂

Hello, Mr. Mitch Albom! 🙂

A taste of better life

As the Chinese people welcomes the Year of the Wooden Horse, Filipinos gracefully join the colorful celebration.

Filipinos, in one way or another, often based their fortunes on the forecast of feng shui experts. For most part, they used it as a guide on how to live their life (avoiding negative vibes, as possible).

I was born in 1991. In Chinese calendar, I fall on the year of the sheep. Like most Filipinos, every new year, I read forecast relating the year I was born. So here, let me share to you the fortune of the “Sheep” people, according to Travel China Guide .

The sheep (or ram) is among the animals that people like most. It is gentle and calm. Since ancient times, people have learned to use its fleece to make writing brushes and skin to keep warm. As it is white, people describe delicate and precious white jade to be ‘suet jade’. Thus it is close to the meaning of good things.

Strengths
People under the sign of the sheep are tender, polite, filial, clever, and kind-hearted. They have special sensitivity to art and beauty, faith in a certain religion and a special fondness for quiet living. They are wise, gentle and compassionate and can cope with business cautiously and circumspectly. In their daily life, they try to be economical. Women born in this year are willing to take good care of others, but they should avoid pessimism and hesitation. They are kind in heart and commonly have symmetrical figures and features.

Weaknesses
Sheep year people are often worriers who are shy, pessimistic, moody, indecisive, over-sensitive, week-willed and puzzled about life. They are easily inclined to be deeply religious. They are timid in nature and like to be looked after by others. They like flattery, compliment and suggestions from friends. They do not dare to express their love openly and usually have interests in strange theories.

Horoscope and Numerology Elements

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: wei
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): tu (earth)
Yin Yang: yin
Auspicious Directions: east, southeast, south
Lucky Colors: green, red, purple; Avoid: golden, coffee
Lucky Numbers:3, 9, 4; Avoid: 7, 6, 8
Lucky Flowers: carnation, primrose, alice flower
Zodiac Sign Compatibility – Best match: rabbit, horse, pig; Avoid: ox, dog

Fortune Foretelling in 2014

Overview: Sheep people have very good fortune in all aspects: they will have good opportunities to show their talents in career; relationships with leaders, colleagues and friends will be harmonious and income may climb up. They will have a chance to be promoted by the boss or be helped by seniors. Though, they should never be arrogant, but make constant progress step by step.

Career

They enjoy good fortune in career. Although there will be stress from competition, they will be strong enough to get through that at last. At the same time, they gain more experience. If there are targets in mind, 2014 is a good year to achieve them all. In the very beginning of the year, if they work hard and make constant progress, they may be promoted within the year. Business people will be supported by their Lucky Star (a person bringing them good fortune), so every amount of investment will be smooth. However, for influential case, they’d better deal with themselves in case of being cheated to have a loss.

Wealth

Generally, their financial fortune will go well. Working class people may gain more than usual from part-time job, but they should not spend too much time on part-time job. Otherwise, they will take risk of losing the present job. Business people will gain great profits if making a proper investment according to the changes of market. Besides, all sheep people are advised not to be greedy! No speculation will ever bring profits in 2014!
Relationships

Singles are expected to meet their love in the year. If the seniors and friends are willing to be their matchmaker, they will settle down sooner. Once the loving one appears, they are suggested to be active to speak your feelings out. Husband and wife will lead a happy life and their relationship will be full of rapport and harmony. In spite of this, they should be concerned for each other in case of extramarital affair.

Health

For those who suffer certain diseases, they are expected to recover this year. As sheep people may attend frequent banquets, they should have a balance diet and drinking should be controlled in case of the diseases in liver and gall. They will easily feel lonely. Accordingly, the negative emotion will bring bad effect on their health. Thus they are suggested to adjust all emotions. Besides, stomach disease may occur as well.

—–

Let me repeat: these are just predictions (some collective advice given by those who knows better about Chinese traditions and habits) . Still, it is in our hands if we will allow ourselves to use it as a guide. Because at the end of the day, what we do is what happens. We choose the path we take. What is important is to let God guide our life. A better life is something we do with both eyes open, something that makes us happy, and something that honors Him above all. 🙂

KUNG HEI FAT CHOI! 🙂

The meaning of my life is… She

I opened my eyes looking at the most beautiful creature in the world, twenty-two years ago. My first cry was your first-ever smile amidst the pain you’ve experienced. As soon as you safely carry me in your loving arms, that was the first time I ever felt true love. Still, all those wonderful experiences continue until now: sweet, protecting, understanding and loving you ever are. 

It has been too long since I say hello to this world. Nothing’s change. You are still the one who I keep running to, whenever odds or ends met my way. You are the reason for my determination, the one to say, “Go ahead!.”

My childhood memories always features you. Why? Because I always remember how you protected us from the harsh world. You teach us to be friendly; playing along with others. Though we ran to you crying because we got wounded, your advice and smile were our magical medicine. Healing with love, that’s what you do best! 🙂

As I discover my hidden talent, you are the one who push me forward. The one who believes that I can. You are my silent supporter, the one whose happiness I always found superb. Most of all, you are my number one fan, the one who becomes happy for all the success I achieved in this life.

We experience hardships along the way. But your strength is the one I admired most. You never show us that you’re weak because your strength, you say, comes from us. I met different people in this phase of life, but you are the bravest person I ever know! 

Your job is 24/7. But you have showered us 101% and more of everything you have. Your love is the best weapon you have given us that’s why we grew up like this. You raised us well. Though we made mistakes from time to time, you accepted our imperfections by loving us unconditionally.

You are our hero! The superwoman of our life. Without you, we are nothing. We owe our life to you! We thank God for giving us a loving woman like you, the best mother we have! 🙂

Thank you, Mama for everything you sacrificed for us. You are great! The very reason for our life! Thank you for taking care of us and for loving us wholeheartedly. Happy 59th birthday, Mama! No one will ever replace you in our hearts because for us, you are the  best mom in the world! 

I love you so much, Mama! Forever and ever and ever! Mwahhhhh. 🙂

Love,

Aki 🙂

SHE (Elvis Costello)

She may be the face I can’t forget
The trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song the summer sings
May be the chill the autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day

She may be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell
She may be the mirror of my dreams
The smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem inside her shell

She who always seems so happy in a crowd
Whose eyes can be so private and so proud
No one’s allowed to see them when they cry
She may be the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows of the past
But I’ll remember till the day I die

She may be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I’m alive
The one I’ll care for through the rough in many years
Me, I’ll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I’ve got to be
The meaning of my life is she

2014: Year of Positive thinking and fighting

It has been two weeks since we welcome the Year of the Horse. For me, 2014 marks a new beginning: new hope. This year, I am more enthusiast to embrace what life has to offer me. More importantly, I am looking forward for more blessings God will grace me.

It is not my habit to have a list of my New Year’s Resolution/s (I am not a promise-maker person). As far as I’m concern, I am more of do-it-actually person. I would love to fulfill a mission by just working on it face to face than waiting for the right moment to act. 🙂

Yesterday, as I am scanning Yahoo! Philippines page, I came across this article entitled, “8 New Year’s Solution for 2014,” written by Larry Leviste. I found it amusing as I scroll down the article because it has illustrations that attracted me. So here, let me use the illustrations while I give my point of view for each one. I am acknowledging here Lady Santelices’ for her illustrations. As what I read, she had crafted the following illustration, and I quote, “to honor the incredible spirit and faith of the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.” 

But let me reiterate, this article though it employs New Year’s Resolution, it was for me a wake up call. I love the idea, it is more of looking life as beautiful as it is. 🙂

• Have no regrets.

We missed things along the road. But looking life backward is never healthy at all. We cannot undo what we have done in the past. Start looking forward. Have no regrets of what we missed. At the end of it, we can still do things better than we thought we should have.

• Choose to be positive.

Whatever lies ahead, just enjoy it. Be enthusiastic. Choose to be positive. Because I believe that positive mind attracts positive results. 🙂

• Never expect anything.

Expectation hurts. I am a victim of this, I confessed. I learned my lesson now. Never expect anything from anyone because the more you expect, the more you will be disappointed at the end.

• Listen, observe and embrace.

The power of listening comes from the power to keep silent in the most subtle time. As life opens up for us, we should learn to observe things and embrace what it entails us. 🙂

• Be brave, imaginative and decent.

Life is hard. But we should always be brave enough to face it and be imaginative enough to solve the problems that will lie ahead. Accept people and be decent so they will also be kind to you, at all cost.

• Follow your instincts.

They say woman’s instincts are always right. For most part, I believe that, too. Follow your instincts and see to yourself what it will do to you. Trust yourself and judge things accordingly.

• Pray with gratitude.

Prayer is a powerful weapon. Prayer moves mountain. I believe that a simple “thank You, Lord,” for everything He had done, can make Him happy. With that, let us pray with gratitude. Thank everything He has give us, even those small stuffs we get in life. 🙂 God loves us, that’s why. 🙂

GOD BLESS 2014! GOD BLESS US! 🙂

100 Positive thoughts to live by

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

Life has its ups and downs. 🙂 But if I will sum up my 2013, I will only used one word: BLESSED. Because year 2013 has been very good to me. 🙂

2014 has just started. And as I say goodbye to 2013, let me share today, one hundred positive thoughts I learned from 2013. 🙂

1. God has better plans for us.

2. Think big.

3. Decide for your happiness.

4. Put God first and you will find a joy that lasts.

5. A faith worth having is a faith worth sharing.

6. Be too noble for anger.

7. Always think the best of others.

8. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. -Collossians 3:2

9. Nothing is more costly than loving, except not loving.

10. Take time to be alone.

11. It is never too late to have a fresh start with God.

12.Be fair.

13. Be gentle.

14. One day at a time.

15. When God’s answer is negative, His reason is affirmative.

16. God gives His best to those who leave Him the choice.

17. Do not let your possession possess you.

18. Strive for excellence not perfection.

19. Give people a second chance.

20. A fulfilled life is a life full of love for God and others.

21. God hears our prayer.

22. Yesterday is gone.

23. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.

24. Be a blessing to others.

25. Make somene feel extra special.

26. For great is God’s love, higher than the heavens, His faithfulness reaches to the skies. -Psalm 108:4

27. Be kinder than necessary.

28. Love builds a happy home.

29. Joy is a by-product of friendship, faith and focus.

30. Stop to think about today’s blessing.

31. God’s promises are like stars, the darker it gets, the brighter they shine.

32. Look at the sunny side of life.

33. Have no fear of tomorrow.

34. Delight in simple things.

35. Happiness adds and multiplies when you divide it with others.

36. Everything is within your reach.

37. In God’s will is our peace.

38. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

39. We have to toil awhile, endure awhile, believe awhile and never give up.

40. Live, laugh and love your whole life long.

41. Joy is a daily choice not a future hope.

42. Forgiveness is a gift that also benefits the giver.

43. Your presence is a present to the world.

44. Your life can be what you want it to be.

45. Know when to keep silent.

46. Live a life of serenity not regrets.

47. Accept that life isn’t always fair.

48. Take time to pray for someone in need.

49. You can. If you think you can.

50. Life is 10% of what happens to us, and 90% of how we react to it.

51. Most life lessons are learned through pain.

52. Smile, it increases your face value.

53. Life is a series of positive and negative vibes.

54. Imagine a life without Him.

55. To God, all things are possible.

56. A day praying is a day worth spending.

57. Choose to be be happy.

58. Happiness without sacrifice is not happiness.

59. Fall seven times, stand up eight.

60. Do it now, not later.

61. Laugh at your own follies.

62. Life is about being contented.

63. Love and make it real.

64. Today, be grateful for everything you have.

65. Find solace even in unlikely times.

66. Learn to detach.

67. Laugh with God today.

68. Speak your mind.

69. Fill your mind with positive thoughts.

70. Say goodbye and let go.

71. Break away. Fly!

72. Fight and love.

73. Things will get better in time.

74. Keep your faith alive.

75. You can do so much with little faith.

76. Look for better things and pray.

77. Love means preparing yourself to be hurt.

78. Life is about moving on.

79. Let God write your love story.

80.People come and go. Let them.

81. There are people who never stay. Let them go.

82. Letting go is necessary.

83.Cheer up. Fight!

84. Brighten up your day.

85. Two choices: Leave or stay.

86. For You laid your plans on me.

87. Walk in faith.

88. Faith is the ability to not panic.

89.Wear His word.

90. Real love stories never end.

91. Respect life.

92. Extend some help.

93. We have more blessings than we expect.

94. Wildest dream is the first step to reality.

95. Be the reason for someone else’s smile.

96. God’s instructions are important.

97. God will always provide.

98. There are several ways to avoid loving God, one is to deny that we are sinners.

99. Choose to be good even if you’re in the worst day of your life.

100. Seize the day!

Christmas List

Early October, my mom had already put some Christmas decorations in our window. Yeah, something like Christmas lights hanging outside our door and a circled lantern hanging in the window.

Mid-October, I had my vacation leave and then decided to built our small Christmas tree (because seeing so, with make me feel like its Christmas really), and decorated some garlands shaped like Christmas tree also in front of our door (I don’t mean to be redundant though). 🙂

Seventeen days before Christmas. It’s really Christmas now! Though I haven’t heard any caroling session in our neighborhood these days, I am expecting it some other day. I think that will signify how the day will be nearer to feel. 🙂

I was never used in listing my Christmas wish/wishes. I don’t remember having such a list in my life, nor telling it to someone I knew. But to make a difference this year, here, I would want to list my Christmas wishes for the first time (so let me do the honor). 🙂

• Have a new solid bookshelf

I have only one bookshelf. This bookshelf is the only visible proof that I love books. All my precious books are comfortable staying there but I always need to check it for time to time because some mouse always tries to invade it and sadly, those pest destroys my precious books. So I really want another one. Another valid reason would be because my books now comes in large numbers so I don’t have any idea where to put them. 🙂

• Have a copy of “The First Phone Call in Heaven” by Mitch Albom

The new book of Mr. Albom excites me since its release. But because I am born “kuripot, ” even though I want it so badly, I think I can’t buy it just like that because its too expensive (its a hardbound ) (laugh out loud). 🙂 So I guess, I need to wait for its pocket size or softbound version. 🙂 I really hope I can wait before his book signing on February next year. 🙂

• Or maybe a copy of “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green

Well, I really want to read this book before the year ends. 🙂 And I think I can manage this one. But if there’s someone good enough to buy it for me, then why not? 🙂

• Most of all, I wish or it would be proper to say, I pray that…

More than any personal or material wish, I pray for my family’s good health, safety and our firm bonding. Though we haven’t seen each other often (because some have their own families now), I pray that we will maintain the harmonious relationship we have from each other and may we have a bountiful 2014.

And of course, I will never forget to ask for the speedy recovery of the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Though it will really take time for them to overcome what they’ve been through, I pray that they will still find peace in their heart. I pray for them to be stronger than ever, keep their hope alive and to have faith above.

As a radio station said, “This is the season to SHARE MORE, LOVE MORE and HAVE MORE FAITH. 🙂 Advance Merry Christmas everyone! Below is the song that inspired me to write this one.

GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I’m all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I’m not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
and wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree

Well heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
(there’d be)

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list

This is my grown up christmas list

Untold “Yolanda” story

Note: Below is the eyewitness account of my brother regarding his journey to the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban, Leyte. I find it so heartwarming that’s why I asked his permission to write here the experiences he have encountered during his two-day visitation. Here, I will be using the first person point of view so it will feel like my brother is the one narrating.

Its been 17 days after super typhoon Yolanda devastated Visayas region. I remember how my friends and I booked a flight days before the tragedy. It would really be a heart wrecking event for Filipinos especially for the victims, lost loved ones and survivors of the said typhoon.

Two weeks after the tragic fate, I decided to continue my flight not for pleasurable purposes but for one noble mission: to become a volunteer for Red Cross (though I haven’t registered yet to the agency to become such).

I decided to fly alone in Tacloban, Leyte (after my friends refused to go because of some unexpected personal matters), November 28. The night before, I let myself buy the things I thought will be important to the victims (those things that they really need). I packed my bag with some biscuits, sweets (for kids), candles, mini flashlights and some cash.

On Thursday morning, except for the belongings I brought along with me, I really don’t know what lies ahead of me as I stepped down the city. I don’t have any idea as to where I will sleep or walk, in short I really don’t even know where will I start because I am not that sure if I will be permitted to be a Red Cross volunteer.

As I took the airplane, there was this woman who mistakenly sat on the chair I supposed to be (right beside the window). So I told her that it was my seat and then she humbly asked me if we can exchanged seats and I nodded. That was the beginning of my long, sad journey.

It was really fate that brought me here. I was blessed to know someone who resides to the place that I am going and it was in the persona of the woman I sat beside with.

Mrs. Marla, a 60-year old retired DILG employee offered me to live with her for sometime as I told her that I am finding my luck to be a volunteer of Red Cross. On the other hand,  she will be just taking some belongings which can still be used so it can be transported to Manila; the place they decided to live now.

Together, we traversed the devastated city, she led me the way towards her wealthy house ( I thought she only lives in a small house). There, I saw how rich she was. She lives in a big bungalow house with different set of rooms, a garden, two golden retriever and two cars. She lives with her 80-year old husband (a retired nurse) and a graduating  HRM daughter (studying in Leyte State University).  Luckily, they survived the killer Yolanda after they hide in their rooftop. She left both of them in Manila and traveled back alone for the last time.

She narrated how gruesome and fearful they felt  as the typhoon hit the city. It was a total disaster. This is the very reason they decided to live far away now. I saw the destruction the typhoon affected her house. The typhoon left her house like a bald person (a house without a roof). Even though it is not raining anymore, the water keeps falling in the house, that’s why I slept with a big umbrella. All parts of the house has a big umbrella (so maybe I can call it “Umbrella House”). She let me slept with two kids she also helped. She, on the other hand decided to sleep in her neighbor. Why? Because she can’t stand the fact that all the efforts she invested to build the said house was now put to waste. She can’t stand to live now to the house she once dreamt.

In the morning, we traversed the sad city using her wrecked car. She let me see the devastation they experience. I was able to give the relief goods I brought to the people I encountered. I saw kids without clothes and slippers roaming around. Once, I encountered a family and there I gave some of the candles and the man asked me, “Libre ba yan? (Is it free?). I affirmed. Right there, he accepted the candles with teary-eyes. He repeatedly thanked me and that’s the time I really feel the sad realization of a needy Visayan citizen.

I was able to live in Tacloban for only two days. I saw the tragedy left by Yolanda right in front of me. Buildings have been collapsed, churches too. House wrecked. The most of which is that the town smelled of dead people. Goosebumps it would be, but I can feel the weight of emotion the victims feel. I was able to see it right in their eyes.

I was bitten by mosquitoes. I bought softdrinks which costs three times more than its original price. I ate only the relief goods I just bought myself. These are my personal dilemma on the said place. But I think I am more fortunate that these were the only thing I have experience compared to the big loss Tacloban has suffered. The night before I left Tacloban, I had a nightmare. It says there that the flight back to Manila was cancelled. Good thing, I woke up.

I may not be able to help all the victims during my two-day stay in Leyte, but I think I’ve done a personal satisfaction with my courageous act even in my small deed. I was alone but that does not hinder me to give the aid I could offer. I was able to go back to Manila with hope. Hope for the thousands or may be millions of the people who suffered from Yolanda.

I am now living the normal life with my family. But what I have experienced in Leyte will be forever etched in my mind and heart. They will always be in my prayer.

Once there was a booklover

October knew, of course, that the actions of turning a page, of ending a chapter or of shutting a book, did not end a tale.

Having admitted that, he was also avow that happy endings were never difficult to find: “It is simply a matter,” he explained to April, “of finding a sunning place in a garden, where the light is golden and the grass is soft, somewhere to rest, stop reading, and be content.”–G.K. Chesterton (The Man who was October)

Inspired by the above excerpt from Mr. G.K. Chesterton’s The Man who was October, here I was able to come up with a poem for me and for all the booklovers out there.

I.

Once there was a girl

Amazed by the beauty of letters

She liked to put those letters together

By those letters she created beautiful words.

II.

She was introduced far too much

By words became her life

Not knowing that words when combined

Becomes meaningful sentences  at hand.

III.

Freedom is what sentences gave her

She was able to connect to people

She used sentences freely

Alas! came idealistic paragraphs.

IV.

And so her story goes,

She discovered a magical world

Where letters, words, sentences and paragraphs lived

And there unveiled the thing called book.

V.

Books became her life

For every words she repeated by heart

She was never alone from then on

For books became her wonderful companion.

VI.

Laugh, cry, happy or sad,

All emotions she had already experienced

For books gave her the ticket to unknown feelings

A random set of emotions she used to hide before.

VII.

Now, she had visited hilarious places

For books gave her free rides to it.

With it, she have became a princess

Falling deeply in love with her prince.

VII.

This is a story about a girl

Who loved magnificent words

But now committing the promise she made

To read and love books until her last breathe.

Between life, pain and suffering

A worthwhile read.

This, I can summarized Looking for Alaska written by John Green.

I bought the said book in exchange for the unavailable book of Mr. Green, which is The Fault in our stars. Honestly speaking, it was a total confusion between Let it Snow and it. Anyway, I thought I had bought the book for a purpose. 🙂

And it never failed me.

I am approaching the ending now but I guess the discoveries I will get later on will surely leave me with so much lessons in life. 🙂 I am excited about that. Here, I will want to share the powerful lines that struck me while reading it.

————–

Miles: “So I walked back to my room and collapsed on the bottom bunk, thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.” 

Life is really complicated. No matter how you want life to be simple, it never will. We deal with everyday events which test our  capabilities to handle it. We just need to make an effort to leave something remarkable in everything we do. Be courageous enough. Believe in yourself. Laugh. Life is about doing what makes you happy.

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Miles: “What is an “instant” death anyway? How long is an instant? Is it one second? Ten? The pain of those seconds must have been awful as her heart burst and her lungs collapsed and there was no air and no blood to her brain and only raw panic. What the hell is instant? Nothing is instant. Instant rice takes five minutes, instant pudding an hour. I doubt that an instant of blinding pain feels particularly instantaneous.” 

We feel pain. Without pain, they said there is no gain. But how do you deal with pain anyway? I always believe that pain is necessary in falling in love. Love begets pain in some points. Sometimes no matter how hard you try to make things perfect, it really doesn’t. People often underestimate pain. But we must remember that pain makes a person stronger.

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Alaska: “Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (…) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you’ll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the present.” 

And comes the suffering. I believe suffering is just an option. People needs to choose if you want to suffer or not. Nut the best choice often comes in believing that we don’t need to suffer amicably, if we decide to make things simple. To suffer is to make things hard. Suffering is an option. Just make the wise choice.

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Life, pain and suffering intertwined sometimes. But I always believe that life, pain and suffering has its same ground point: it is forgiveness. Forgive yourself and forgive people. Live a life worth remembering. Live life out of the labyrinth of suffering and pain. :))

 

The Power of Believing

“You can believe something really hard, and still be wrong.”

I have finished reading Keeping Faith written by Ms. Jodi Picoult, yesterday.

Well, as far as I am concern, no matter what kind of topic Ms. Picoult creates, she will still be the same kind of author that kept my breathe away. Really, Ms Jodi is exemplary when it comes to this kind of stuffs. Thumbs up for her! 🙂

Anyways, I do not find it odd why after a month of tireless activities I am into (usually involves late at night readings and reviewing), falls to the same date that I finished reading this book. I think there’s this inner persona that wants me to finished this book before my “judgment day” come (and I am talking about today’s activity).

Who would believe something happens for a reason? Well,  count me in! 🙂

Faith. Let’s talk about faith.

I am a firm believer of God. I will not lift myself here and tell you how religious I am, because honestly speaking, I am not. My family were all raised Catholics. I remember how, as a child, my mom and I, only attended Sunday mass whenever there are special occasions (birthdays, christmas, new year).

As we grew up, my parents left us the decision regarding religiousness. We’ve got to decide whether we’re going into  church every Sunday or not. See, I’m not that religious at all, but as far as I know, there are certain things that faith teaches us, and that, depends largely on what and how we believe in.

More than  anything else, I believe in the power of prayer. Prayer reaches God ahead than anything. He listens to every words we utter, the things our heart beats and the struggles our mind keeps. Prayer–it is a powerful weapon we all possess. And I believe in the power of praying the rosary.

We’ve attended an anticipated mass last night. What catches my heart during the preach was how moving the priest challenged each one of us to look for God more than look for miracles. Yeah, I believe miracle happens. But as the priest said, miracles happen, once we recognized that there is God. God above all.

Respect each others beliefs because we believe what we want to believe. As we look for God, let us remind ourselves to also give thanks to the blessings He has given us. Be grateful. Trust him. Because miracles work, the least we expect it. 🙂