SAY YES TO LIFE

There was this guy who told me before, “Get a life!”

I actually got choked and didn’t reply.

His words opened my heart and mind into a reality if I’m having a good life or not. To think that this guy came from the same faith community where I belonged before.

In retrospection, I was convinced that I was having a good kind of life. I had a supportive family, intelligent friends, humorous and faithful faith community friends, building houses for the poor, showcasing our talent, getting good grades, having a sort of an influence, had a colorful past and experiences which made me who I am right now. Maybe during that time he was pertaining to me about getting in or diving in a sort of like adventure. Maybe for him, living a comfortable life isn’t enough to say that you’re living a life to the fullest. I think he was being subjective in telling that to me. Anyway, his comment was thought provoking.

So here’s the list to say YES TO A BEAUTIFUL LIFE GOD HAS GIVEN US. A YES TO EVERY SEASON. A RESOUNDING YES TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. Some maybe applicable and some may not to you and me. It really depends where we are right now. Say yes:

1.       To be a hero or heroine for someone or a group of people.

2.      To accept someone’s invitation for lunch or dinner.

3.      To sit down, relax, pray, and reflect upon God’s goodness in your life.

4.      To study and deepen your relationship with God.

5.      To sing in a videoke whole heartedly with friends and laugh like you’ve never laughed before.

6.      To write a thank you note to your loved ones.

7.      To hold a hand of your grandparents and whisper to them that they’re still beautiful and handsome despite of their age. (I hope I can return to this time while I can do this to my grannies.)

8.      To do scuba diving, mountain climbing, snorkeling, bunjee jumping and shout at the top of your lungs.

9.      To serve in your faith community or even do some mercy missions.

10.   To listen to someone’s story of defeat, victory, joy, upset, dreams and vision.

11.    To build true, deep, and awesome friendship.

12.   To kiss your mom or your dad on their cheek or forehead. (believe me, they’d melt when you do that.)

13.   To invite someone for a cup of coffee or just a chitchat.

14.   To show your care and on being a credible, efficient, and effective employee to your boss.

15.   To promotion and salary increase! J

16.   To be brave enough to stand up for your right and dignity as a person.

17.   To jog, exercise, and do some warm up stretching.

18.   To give a smile to a sad and down-trodden friend or officemate.

19.   To have an awesome photoshoot with friends.

20.  To the man of your dreams.

21.   To motherhood and fatherhood.

22.  To join a band, literary, dance, singing, art or any competition where you can enhance and challenge to the limit your talent.

23.  To open a business and to embrace financial literacy.

24.  To shout to the world you’re the awesomest person in the world. J

25.  To love yourself in the depths of your being.

26.  To believe in the power of your dreams and visions.

27.  To drive a car.

28.  To clean your house, cook a meal, and serve your family.

29.  To joke and play around, make silly face and tap your inner child again. J

30.  To read a novel, self-help book, or even comics. Be well-informed.

31.   To bounce back after reaching your breaking point.

32.  To improve your social skills, and on being charismatic.

33.  To clean as you go.

34.  To develop your good habits. Dress up. Work on your posture.

35.  To paint your future with different color hues.

36.  To never underestimate and downgrade the lowly people.

37.  To return to your old-fashioned values and restore them now.

38.  To confess your weaknesses.

39.  To ride a bike alone or with someone.

40. To fly a kite.

I believe that when we say yes to life, we say yes to Jesus. For that let’s encourage one another to create an awesome life now and as he said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

I think what’s more helpful is to take the time to reflect on our seasons and be deliberately aware of how God is moving in this time of our life. For only then do the seasons become more beautiful, purposeful, fruitful, meaningful, in our eyes.

Oh, lastly, when I see that guy again, and he'll tell me that same comment. I’ll reply in confidence, “I just didn’t get a life. I’m actually embracing it and loving it to the fullest. So I wish you do the same.” Then, I'll put a smile on my face.

Note: That guy I’m pertaining to was just an acquaintance. J

Mind to add some of your yes moments… J You may leave a comment below. Thanks.

Unaccomplished

Crash! blag! rolling wheels, flashes of random memories, broken windows, screams outside, blood splurging, worst thing- death.

I died in a car crash, my driver's speed was 180kph. The moment I remember was I was outside my body. I saw my parents and friends screaming and coming to me as my body lied down on the ground. They embraced me, but I was embracing them and telling them, "I'm still here! Can you hear and feel me?" But they continued wailing. They said, "Why did you leave us? Hold on, please!" Those words smacked me down- how dare them say those words-when I can still see them? Their movement became blurred. I can sense myself losing control. Am I dreaming? I felt again, the pain especially when the broken window hit my head and my face- but now it's vanishing, I'm lost. I can see the tunnel, is this where the souls taken, especially when they die. Oh, I'm dead now. I don't want to enter it yet- still unaccomplished. I'll stay here. I'll stay until I'm ready to let go. Until, they're ready to let me go.

What the souls need are prayers. Prayers that can lead them into a peaceful paradise. Prayers that can unbind their chains into their earthly attachments. Let's pause for a moment and say a prayer or light a candle for the souls of our departed loved ones.

Uniqueness

I was looking at her from afar, as her mind works again for another story to write on. She was unmoved and just paying attention on the big billboard. Rest assured, she was describing every details embossed there- nonetheless from small to big one. She’s used to be like that even during her younger years. She had an inquisitive mind, and sometimes she’d bore herself in retrospecting. One time, I asked her why she was living herself like that? She answered that’s how she is-no one can change her. So I just let her do what she’s doing, as long as she’s not hurting anybody else. I allowed her to escape from her painful past and create something new on it. I didn’t hold her close for she might counter react. I just allow her- because that’s how she communicates her inner world into the vast Universe.

There are days...

Happy Birthday, Ma!

Last June 12, Sunday was my mom’s 48^th birthday. Supposedly, I would write for her prior to her birthday, but I’ve been busy and pre-occupied with so many things. So I postpone in doing so. Now, I have to do this. Not out of pressure but out of outpouring love for her.

My mom is not a super mushy mom, she’s actually a little bit stubborn and sometimes strict mom. She was used to shout to us when things aren’t done immediately. She wakes up very early in the morning because her body clock works that way. When she’s already awake, she’d do her best not to make us awake, because we normally wake up late-there may be times when she’d wanted us to wake up early so she’ll make annoying sounds in doing so.

There are so many funny things about her: She can be very, very cool especially when I’ll seek her attention and we’ll sing together. Eventhough she doesn’t know the song that I’m singing, she’ll still listen and sing with me(mind you her lyrics are most of the time wrong.haha)

Next, when I’m going to share about my day to her. She’ll sometimes listen and along the way she’ll make gossip about special people of her life and sometimes even the non-sense things. She’s also thoughtful because she’d rather let us eat first before her.

She ‘s also reminding us to still use ‘po’ and ‘opo’ once we talk to old people.

She prompt us to pray to the Lord earnestly especially when problem strikes and when blessings rain in our family.

She taught us to love old singers, vintage things and old-fashion way of living.

When we’re having a problem and we’re confuse about the world we live in. we seek her advise and she will always tell us to not to follow the wrong things she’d done with her life.

I saw her eyes light up still when I talk about how beautiful she is, she’d just slightly upward her shoulder and looks at me amazingly and she’’ll say” ‘Of course!’

I love her curly short hair like a flower and her light brown eyes deep like an ocean.

She also loves poor people. She’s actually a giver to them. She’s a good listener and she knows how to connect with people around her. She loves my friends and she sometimes love them more than me..haha

There maybe times of misunderstanding and I’ll show her my stubborn side but in the end of the day. We forgive and forget. We let go and move on, because she loves me more than I love her.

Those are the small things that I appreciate more about her. And last Sunday, everything worked on perfectly for her birthday. It was a simple celebration among us (me, Pao and close friends). After attending The Feast, she got a free ride, treat and movie ticket. She received love, hugs, kisses and smiles. She’s the most special woman on that day, and for almost 12 hours she kept quiet and accepting the gifts of the world to her. I won’t forget that very simple day.:)

She was very happy and seeing her happy multiplies my happiness too.:)))

Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mama Mariela! You’re simply the best.:)

 Pao and Mama

Pao, Yani and me

 

Pao, mama, Yani, Mean and me

Pao, mama, Yani, Mean and Anthony

Happy 100th year bday also, NESTLE!

You completed the celebration.=)

Gazing upon the cross

One lady seriously listened to her preacher’s teaching. She was amazed by the power of his words. It touched her heart and consciousness as her eyes and ears were set on the preacher. One man beside her noticed the glow in her eyes. He was wondering how focus this lady was. Though he already knew and saw how this lady grew up on her faith. As her faith grew-she also learned to outgrew her special feelings for this man beside her. What remained between the two of them were three important things that they both held in their hearts: Friendship, acceptance and respect-that made both of them shine and outstand in front of the cross.

Freedom

Alas’ she’s free-free from her cluttered emotions, begrudged attitude, corrupted mind, black silhouettes and mischievous voices of her troubled past.

She’s now more on sailing on a smooth ocean, appreciating the blue skies, feeling the warmth of sunlight, playing guitar combining her melodious voice and running swiftly with her flying kite.

There were times when she’d look back on her past-memories flashed back randomly. For kindness’ sake the midnight trembles she once had from her black crows and snakes nightmares vanished in the light. That light opened one memorable day-when she finally and firmly said, “It’s over!”

An exchange

“Pearls are the only jewelry that I have, so I need to take care of this and keep them safe.” said the girl to herself. Then one day her dad asked her, “Daughter, do you love me?” The daughter replied, “Yes, dad!” He smiled and said, “Hence, give me your pearls and I won’t return it to you anymore!” The little girl got mad at her dad and said, “No, I can’t. This is the only treasure that I have. Please don’t take this away from me.”

While the girl was sleeping, her dad got into her room and took the pearls, then kept it into his drawer. When the girl woke up, she kept on searching for her pearls and because of her keenness; she saw it on her dad’s drawer. Since, she had an idea that her dad might get it again and she avoided conflict. She decided to get it everytime her father was sleeping or off the house and then return it to the drawer when he was already awake or staying there. As she was holding the pearls, admiring its beauty and taking good care of it, she didn’t feel any guilt on what she was doing. She was very happy.

Then, one day her dad caught and reprimanded. She got hurt. As the time went by her heart became soft when her dad asked for forgiveness for his valid anger. She understood fin’lly his reasons and let go her pearls with peace in her heart. After few weeks, she celebrated her 12th birthday. Alas’ her dad gave her a diamond earrings, true expensive and beautiful treasure that she could keep forever.

She hugged and thanked her dad for his generosity and patience in waiting for her to let go her cheap and fake pearls.. And accept the genuine beauty of diamond.