Onward and Upward!

Decide to improve. You are in charge of your life. Your life will only change inasmuch as you let it.

So much beauty in the world! So much things to be thankful for. So much things to enjoy.

Yet, not everybody sees them. Not all seize the good life. Let’s not cheat ourselves of the happiness we deserve!

Unlock the source of joy and blessings by being grateful.

Life is a series of choices. Some personally choose to be free and happy; others opt that other people and events dictate the kind of life they live.

Decide to improve. You are in charge of your life. Your life will only change inasmuch as you let it.

Choose to be happy; it takes a lot of energy to hold anger. Accept your situation at the moment and do something about it.

Living a passive life is a fate worse than dying the hard way. Don’t just sit down, keep silent, and refuse to risk. Own up the responsibility of making your life better and happier. Live, don’t just exist. Be grateful for the new day to live by!

When negativity peeps through, don’t mind it. Be indifferent. It will go away sooner than you think when you don’t give it attention. Plant seeds of positivity! Smile.

If people seem cruel… let them be. What matters is how you treat others and yourself. Getting even will only hurt you. Making others suffer will not make your pain go away. Fight evil with good! Understand and be compassionate.

Yes, good things are easier said than done. Nobody said worthwhile things are easy. But always remember, where there is hardship, there your growth is. So when your character is tested, keep on keeping on!

Building a good character is like building a house on a solid rock. When trials, pains, or calamities come, one will not be overwhelmed and falter; instead, one may maturely soar over these storm of difficulties and remain grateful for yet another blessing in disguise.

Take occasional breaks. Pause and breathe. Appreciate your journey… Your trials and triumphs, downs and ups are what give life texture and color. Take some time to re-introduce yourself to yourself.

Regularly check your parameters and boundaries so you know your pace and limit. Both freedom and improvement require setting limits.

It is also important that you ask life for the great desires of your heart… Ask for your dreams. Feel them. Believe you will receive them. Go get them!

Dreams don’t die. Sometimes we've just grown out of them. Then, we just need to make new ones, better ones. If we are faced with roadblocks along the way, just remember that trials are just like fire in the fiery furnace that polishes our ability and intentions so we may know clearly the good desires of our hearts.

Appreciate each day—the new days itself is a wonderful opportunity to become better.

Thank each trial—trivial things stretch you and teach you valuable lessons; they make you wiser.

Acknowledge each pain—uncomfortable feelings and situations allow you to explore your other emotions; they make you know yourself better.

Value each difficulty—hard people, things, or circumstances to deal with polish you and enable you to establish self-concept and appreciate self-worth.

Unlock your gifts, joy, and fountain of blessings by being grateful, hopeful, and by constantly utilizing the things you’ve just unlocked.

Life is a series of choices and decisions and a combination of moments—little ones that add up to big ones, and create who you are. You're not letting others make those choices for you and to dictate who you are, right?

Live. Enjoy. Improve. Keep moving onward, upward!

Keep on smiling and the world will smile with you. :-)

Flash Fiction: Wind Up

The scent of the crisp air brushing through my cheeks. The silhouette of the past that plays in my mind. The rhythm of the raindrops that outruns the beating of my heart. I let the weird yet familiar stimuli seep through me.

I take a sip of coffee. I taste the sweetness of beautiful lies. I recognize the piquancy of the bitter empty promises. Oh, the il dolce e l’amaro of the good things gone bad.

Images run faster than lightning in my head. Words play quicker than a bullet train in my ear.

 

I let all the emotions stir me up. I am like a bomb exploding anytime.

I breathe deeply. I pause… long pause, and I smile.

I realize I don’t know where exactly I am now… but I am sure I am no longer where I was.

I snap my fingers. Empty my cup of coffee. Stand up from the chair we used to sit on… and all the shadows of the past just fall like leaves in autumn.

All things wind up.

So I tell myself,

“Life, you are wonderful! Whatever flavors the season brings, bring it on!

Surprise my senses!

Provoke me.

Enthrall me.

Teach me.

So my senses may learn to dance with you.”

After SONA thoughts...

After President Benigno Aquino delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA), comments of all sorts flooded the twitter and so on TV. So here, putting in writing my two cents worth on the issue. Simple thought of another random Filipino citizen.

...SONA everywhere on the news. My two cents worth.

Nobody can please everybody.

It's good PNoy is serious with his anti-corruption, economic, and social welfare goals & campaigns, and that the people are active and vigilant. This can be healthy, given regulated.

Meanwhile, as we actively observe his performance, let us not forget to take time mull over balanced views, unblinded appreciation, active involvement, and self-initiated activities even just for our personal concerns.

The government is there to promote the welfare of the people...and we, the people, are here to help our gov't, regardless of what or whose administration, to make the government's mandate to happen--through our actions, no matter how small or big. Light starts with a spark.

Whoever sits on the presidency, citizens will always have a say--dismay or satisfaction. It's the people's right. The government has duties; the people have rights and privileges imbued with responsibilities.

The microcosm of a progressive and strong government is an informed and diligent Juan. A silent worker finishes more than the ranting duo or trio or group.

As Gandhi puts it, "Good government is no substitute for self-government" and "Be the change you want to see in the world."

To be fair, PNoy's 2 years in the lead is relatively better than the previous administration. One very good thing, he is serious with his anti-corruption drive--good start to tackle the vicious cycle of poverty. He still has 4 years to properly cook his goals.

Let's get involved.

Lord, bless all those who have less than I do and stir within me a spirit of sharing.
Let gratitude and giving be my banners and let all be Yours.
May justice and mercy have places of honor within my being
And may my hands work to relieve suffering wherever I find it.
Amen.
~Vera Salter

Simple Meaningful Prayer

I just want to share one of my favorite short prayers...

May this prayer give you confidence to face and enjoy each day knowing we have a God bigger than our worries :-)

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going,

I do not see the road ahead of me.

Nor do I really know myself,

And the fact that I think I am following Your will

Does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please You

Does in fact please You.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I will not fear, for You are ever with me,

And you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen.

By Thomas Merton

Punto de Vista

As I arrived home, the news on the proposal of the Kabataan (youth) Party List  greeted me... and so here's my two cents worth...

The news on Kabataan Partylist’s proposal to ban celebration of religious activities at public offices made me squint, drop my jaw, and grimace... Rep, please revisit articles 131, 132, and 133 of the Revised Penal Code—I think they’re clear enough to be understood by a law maker, and no need to spend the public’s money for amendment or passing of another bill prohibiting it.

As per news (on Bandila), your objective is to give equal opportunities to all religious affiliations to express their rights... but it think the bill you’re attempting to propose is doing the opposite—it would limit the rights of the people to express their religious rights and/or to peacefully assemble or conduct public meetings, if not religious worship.

This practice of holding religious activities have been long customarily done in the public offices… and these activities have not been proven to be injurious to the rights of the members of other religious affiliations… no need to exercise Police Power to regulate it then.

To provide equal opportunity and enjoyment among these religious groups, why not provide them prayer rooms like what our Muslim brothers and sisters in the public office are requesting for or rooms for other religious groups’ religious/spiritual/social activities.

Why abolish something helpful to the moral development and values formation of the citizens, especially the public officers, who are supposed to be the role models of the citizens and the youth?

These peaceful activities of the religious are helpful and healthful… Don’t deprive the people of their rights and privileges; nor regulate something beneficial to the general welfare of the people without even a sound legal ground.

I strongly believe the Kabataan Partylist can do better than this proposal. I strongly believe the youth can bring about a really wise revolution beneficial to the mental, emotional, and spiritual growth of our fellow youths…not to mention, our values formation, which has significant transcendence in shaping the next wave of responsible citizenry.

Education. Health. Sports development. Environmental awareness. Financial literacy. Volunteerism and service. These are the core areas that we, the youths, need to be involved in more and have an active participation and growth.

Let the fundamental law of the state be interpreted and applied in the light of the wisdom of the framers… so far, this set of laws is adaptive and it still keeps up with our times. Pass bills which our youths, your constituents, NEED more—not those you incumbent Rep think is appropriate now. Don’t be pressured by the nearing elections. There are more important matters concerning youth that need your attention and energy.  :-)

Sincerely and respectfully,

Your fellow youth