There's SOMEONE Bigger Than You and Me

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When you think nothing is happening, think again. You might be in for a big surprise. The Big Guy upstairs loves dishing out surprises. Though sometimes it may not be what you want. But definitely it's what you need. You can't know any better. HE DOES!!👼

CHALLENGES AREN'T SENT TO HURT US

 

 

 

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This is for a friend. Why am I putting it down here? Because she wants to see it here. Saying that her challenges are everybody's challenge.... that basically we are all the same. That if she was learning from life, we should be learning it, too.

So.... this is for you, dear friend.
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DON'T CRY, IT'S JUST HARD

You have your share of life's worries, concerns, adversities, problems. But I'd rather call them challenges. Because that's what it is. 

Those things when they come are the least bit pretty (to put it mildly)... quite inconvenient.... messy sometimes.... confusing.... aggravating.... and takes the mind and heart off the track in crazy unforgiving ways. It often takes you up a wall ... a frustrating blank hard stubborn wall. And as much as you would desire it, there is no magic word that would make that wall come crumbling down for you. There is no magic word or potion that would make your worries go away.

But I do know this.

Life is a leveler of people. It gives everyone problems big and small, hard and not always easy. It covers about everything there is in life or about life and living. The rich and the poor both struggle with it in a vast assortment of ways. Visible and invisible.
It affects people in diverse ways and people react to it in also a diversity of means and manner. Some succeed and then some don't. 

Life through the years have shown me how people live with it in their own respective turfs. I have my own share to learn from, too.

I guess that is the key ----- learn.

Mom would always remind me that ..... 'there is no life without its share of challenges'. She calls them challenges, too, not problems.

But we have to be strong, she says. Stand our ground. Rev up our store of faith. Challenges come in different sizes.... color.... mode.... degree or intensity (akin to the typhoons Ondoy and Yolanda which buffeted our country way back.. or ..that of Hurricane 5 which hit Florida recently). Through it all we are asked to be courageous, defiant, flexible, undefeated, persistent in prayer, and hopeful. Yes, it can hurt us but it can't hurt our spirit. We will be and should be ready to bounce back up again!

Challenges aren't sent us to hurt us (although we often perceive it to be). Sometimes it does look like it did. But we should open our eyes... mind... heart to see the bigger intent for it. Because there certainly is a reason for everything that happens to us or to this crazy planet. 

In human terms, what I understand is that we are being nudged even though painfully (sometimes) that there are some things that we should be learning. If we pay close attention, we will get to see that lesson, understand it and learn.

Mom would also remind me.... 'do not react but rather respond to your challenge'. Explaining further that 'reacting' involves feelings... while 'responding' requires some thinking. Reacting is often impulsive. Responding is more thought out.

Oh yeah, but not to react is more often hard. Because it's the first impulse of a heart that is hurt or hurting. Tears follow it in torrents filling up buckets and buckets more while the pain lasts.

I know... but ....don't cry, it's just hard. Look your challenge straight in the eye and say..... 'You won't get me. I will lick you yet!!'

And you will!

Besides..... Somebody up there will enable you. That's for sure!

MOTHERS/PARENTS AND CHILDREN

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It's been days since my last post, right? Been busy with day to day stuff. Would have gone on that way indefinitely if a friend and former colleague at work hadn't called up. It was a simple Hi-and-Hello sort of thing. We talked about the good ole' days at work; shared memories on that. Then the chat moved to the present time and she talked about family and children. Without meaning to, the chat changed tone a bit. She seemed sad talking about her children now all grown-up. I didn't pry but just let her talk her heart out. It seemed like she needed to vent out things; maybe just wanted a listening ear. 

To cut a long story short, I'm bringing back an interesting article shared here a few years ago. It was written by Nicky Hamid. Maybe this will shed light into a particular concern which parents, particularly mothers, commonly have difficulty dealing with. Well, maybe not all perhaps but many. 

Here's the piece.....
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To quote:

YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT YOUR CHILDREN

Your children’s path is their own to walk, not yours. And no matter how hard you try you cannot go there. If you choose to tie your happiness to your children's behavior you are destined for continuous disappointment. It has not been easy for any of us to really get it, that loving unconditionally means giving up emotional attachment to another. Giving up completely the idea that in any way your own happiness is dependent on anyone else. 

This does not mean you cut yourself off. It actually means you become more connected because you are far more in tune with yourself and the needs of the moment. 

Your children are not your children. They belong to life and are their own sovereign beings. And when you stop playing the painful game of "Rescue" they might have less to contend with, one thing of which is their resentment of your interference. 

Hold your vision and knowing of who they truly are (remember they came from God and you saw that clearly in their eyes when they were very young) and let them go in your own mind and emotions. Love them as totally as you have always done but set them free. 

This is not being uncaring for you know that you are not. Make peace with your own childhood and nurture more the childlike qualities that reside within yourself, eg. Play more. 

And who is the expert? There is no “perfect” parent. Each of us does our best ..... and our children are our best teachers. They are actually, perhaps unknowingly, confronting you with reflections about how you can take your own freedom and joy further. 

Happiness is a choice. If you can choose your own happiness first then you lay the best foundation for your children, because you will be presenting an “open door” that they will remember always and where they can step into their own happiness when they so choose. 

Shine On
I So Love You
~ Nicky Hamid

Unquote
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Here's what Mom would always tell me...... "Parents are simply the stewards .. (one who manages or looks after another) .. of their children. They belong to God. Don't forget that." - 

Here's something we also should remember.... "Love your parents. We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are also growing old." Right?

Blessings to you, your parents, and your children. In Christ.

WE ARE CREATORS

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Have read this somewhere and it's a good line to remember too, especially good to tell a friend who now is feeling quite down in the dumps with her bland boring day... thinking that life is just one heavy stack of tough luck. And believes that there’s nothing else one can do about the situation. 

Well, I hope that she's reading this now because that line tells us that we need not look far and wide because we can indeed hope to turn things around. 

How? With our innate and inherent -- creativity. 

If you’ll ask Mr. Webster, he’ll tell you that the word is about – ingenuity, cunning, intelligence, inventiveness, cleverness, resourcefulness, and imagination.

Wow! We’re all that!? And it’s right here in our hands to work out something better for ourselves!? That's Wow!! 

So who’s been telling us all this time that it’s out there whatever-it-is that we need to be or have to make good in life? Doesn't he understand that 'out there' is nothing compared to what's 'in here' --- in us, in you, in every breathing living person on this perceived 'supposedly cursed' planet?! 

So why do we persistently think or behave otherwise? Why instead do we spend so much time bewailing the difficulty of our days and times when it isn’t really so hopeless and dire as we perceive it to be? Who’s been pulling the wool over our eyes now?! 

We can actually do something about bad days and bad lives; change alter or transform it -----from poverty to immense wealth of-and-in experiences, or challenges, opportunities, riches, learning, and wisdom. And this is not just all about the material. Sure it does not happen overnight (I struggled with it, I know - 'been there-done that' .. besides good doesn't come easy), but when you decide to get on that road decisively.... you will sooner or later certainly get where you want to go.

Why not give that a thought, my good friend? And while you’re at it, think about this --- 

We are indeed ‘creators’ as we are created in the image of God – THE CREATOR of all things then and now, visible and invisible! Yup, heard that before, right? But it's true. Remember our catechism? Yup, they started us early on that. It's His Will that we should and do something for ourselves, too. He knows it'll be good for us. And if you know your God, you'll know this to be true. 

So why not give life our best shot? Besides, don't you think that life is short to waste it with buckets of tears? 

And in spite of this you still think you can't ... I might as well bonk you on the head with a block of ice. The hot weather must be affecting your brain, dear friend! C'mon, shake yourself (harder please) and get back into the groove again.  

EVERYTHING MAN-MADE STARTED WITH GOD-MADE

Here’s a little story….

At the center of admiring friends all applauding his achievement, the man glowed with pride and satisfaction even more so as he gazed at his work and creation and spoke… ‘I did this all by myself!’

My old friend and teacher stood next to me watching the proceedings at the side lines. I noticed his amused smile when he said in a small voice… 

“Well, if your focus is on the I-Me-My-Mine of things it would certainly look like you did it all by yourself indeed.” 

Then he looked at me and said…. ‘But you know, we know, that it’s a narrow way of looking at it because there is something greater than you. Much greater!” 

I looked back at him with tweaked interest for what he was going to say next. He smiled knowingly and continued….

“This something which many may not see or understand (or choose to ignore) has packed-in all the things needed or might be needed for this life journey. If you can understand this, know that one’s brilliance, power, resources, prowess or maneuvers, or genius is no match to it. Human effort, strength, and energy would fail dismally even if it tried. In fact, your very existence may be reduced to dust if it so decides.

You see, you didn’t get to where you are right now or will be if God didn’t start you there or won’t start you on that road first.  Everything that you see, touch, hear, and feel first started with God’s creation, with the work of His hands and His all-knowing wisdom. And then man learned to harness raw matter, recreate it, explore it, build it, expand upon talent -- and finally everything became all these inventions and man-made things which make our lives easier and comfortable. 

All that man created began with God-created first. 

GOD made you. 

So how can you say that -- I did this all by myself?”

Then he quietly walked away, without turning his head said --- “I’ll see you in class Monday.”

He left me with my thoughts.

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(Thanks to the internet for this amazing quote and image.)

THE WAR IN MARAWI CITY

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Good morning, friends!
I found myself thinking these thoughts this morning ... re MARAWI

We are in big trouble. Marawi City (in Mindanao) seems to be far from us here in Luzon but it can get to us. The trouble in Marawi can pose a huge threat to the rest of the country and essentially to our freedom. That is the truth and the uneasy reality of the whole thing.

So the government is trying to contain it but the goal is to eliminate it. And why martial law in Mindanao was declared and why our soldiers are there fighting the visible and invisible enemy.

Their job, sure, but we have our jobs too as citizens of this country. We cannot just sit on the fence and watch the action akin to our sitting inside a theater watching an action movie while munching on popcorn with a cola on one hand.

This is serious business.

So what can the rest of us do? What can ordinary Filipino citizens do? Let's think about it.

Maybe we can..................

-- Raise up notches higher awareness of patriotic and nationalistic pride. - This is our country and the only one we've got. We belong here. This is our land and our culture. God's gift to us.

------ Be pro-active towards problems and issues assailing our country and our people. - The country's problem is the problem of every citizen who live, breathe the air, swim the seas, walk the meadows and mountains, and fly the skies. Whatever happens to it concerns us all. We can help; we can if we put our minds to it. No to 'kibit-balikat lang' ..... Yes to 'may magagawa ako para tumulong; sa maliit o malaking paraan may magaggawa ako'.

------ Cast aside our political views in times of national strife. - No matter our geographical divisions as a group of islands comprising the whole... no matter the diversity of the many peoples inhabiting the many regions... no matter the differences of insights and opinions... no matter the differences of religions and beliefs... no matter the division of the rich and the poor..... we must act as a whole to address the common good. (To quote Malen: 'Hey guys! Let's set aside our political views muna 😊' )

------ Be supportive of one another in good times and in bad whenever the country needs it.

And our country needs it NOW!!
Our president needs it NOW!!
Our soldiers need it NOW!!
Our future depends on what we do... TODAY!!

God blesses and watches over you..... everybody. In Christ. 

THOUGHTS SPOKE -- THE HEART RESPONDED

 

 

  

 

 

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Thoughts Slid Into My Mind
And My Heart Responded

I may have wanted things moving faster today to get to the point I wanted to get to pronto. I wanted things to happen fast.... progress quicker..... and move along without delay.

But no, it would not do that. At least not today.

Instead today I was made to be still and watch the clouds go by..... listen to a gentle breeze blowing..... catch a yellow butterfly flit quickly by my window..... hear the chatter of humans going about the clutter of their day..... listen to a beautiful melody on the radio..... share smiles with friendly neighbors walking by my house..... and listen to my heartbeat saying "Be still."

So I did.

It took much effort because I was weary, exasperated, and drained by the slowness of the day..... of life.

And I met God. He asked me this question.....
"Why do you fret and worry?"

I replied, "There is so much to worry about. Life is not funny. I respond to it in the only way I know how. How else can I not be?"

He smiled and softly said, "Try responding with a little bit more of faith."

And added with a noticeable tiny yet gentle reproach.....
"Be still, my child, and know that I am God."

Indeed God is there even in the slowness of the day or hour. You will find Him when you seek Him with your heart.

 

 

 

DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE ALONE. IT'S A PRECIOUS GIFT, TOO.

 

 

This is an old post but I'm resurrecting it here for a dear old friend who I think needs to see this. Hey girl, I know how you feel. I'm no stranger to loneliness, too. Read and let your heart see what I mean.
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DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE ALONE. IT'S A PRECIOUS GIFT, TOO.

It’s not all the time that I want company, or listen to the noise of endless banter, or watch the chaotic human parade of other people’s lives. It’s vexing to the mind, is wearying to the heart, and tires the soul down. It leads to confusion and troubling vibrations in the air turning my world upside down. It’s startling how all these can touch your own sphere of life and leave you so drained by it all.

Sometimes … I simply want to be alone. To be there in the my-own-moment just being - To feel the soft breeze on my face – To feel the warmth of the sun on my skin – To hear birds chirping on the trees – To feel the waters under my feet walking by the seashore – To touch the petal of a flower – To watch the sun go down on the horizon – To let the rain touch my skin – To write my dreams on clouds of flight – To be still - To hear my heartbeat.

I remember being that little child in prayer on God’s lap long long ago telling Him -------- 'bout Pete and Jana being mean to me in school -------- asked Him to make Bobby the bully a good boy na so that he won’t bother me again when I walk by his house -------- tell mom and dad to stay home and not leave for the office because it makes me cry -------- tell Santa how bad I felt when he didn’t give me a puppy for Christmas -------- asked Him to make grandpa well again so that we could play -------- thanked Him for letting Mom cook my favorite spaghetti with huge meatballs every Saturday (and getting an extra meatball everytime!!).

And now that I'm older I ask Him to stop sending me problems because it makes me lose sleep many nights. But of course you can't tell Him what to do. We know that. But I have learned this well enough that talking with Him honestly sincerely humbly takes me easier to that feel-good-moment I so seek.  

Also being alone is simply wanting to BE – with my flaws, mistakes, imperfections – seeing how fragile and vulnerable I truly am – looking at my limitations, my borders, my walls – and yet understanding that I too have my own strengths, potential, and the power to dream. That everything there, good or bad, has shaped who I am. That all that I was, is, and will be is the story of my life.

I simply want to be with my thoughts sometimes – thinking of the past and the things it has left me with – thinking of the present and how it’s forming my tomorrows – wondering what my tomorrows will be like or when I will be finally gone.

Sometimes all I ever want is to be simply here – with nothing – doing nothing – yet loving everything.

Here's a quote that's closest to my heart......

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s where you renew your springs that never dry up.” ----- Pearl Buck (1892 – 1973)
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Learn to treasure your alone moments. Be a friend to yourself. Do not be afraid to be alone. It's a precious gift, too!

COUNT THE YEARS NOT BY WHAT YOU HAVE LOST BUT BY WHAT YOU HAVE GAINED

 

 

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It's always a relaxing moment seated in a quiet corner of my favorite coffee bar which my daughter and I often frequent.. and just simply 'watch the world go by', so to speak. Nobody knows me except of course for the friendly baristas who consider me and my daughter as regulars to their store. With my favorite green tea frappe paired with a delicious slice of chocolate cake time simply slips by unnoticed quite peacefully. And I love it…

Until something catches my attention and shakes up my thinking cap.

Just a table away from me sat four middle-aged ladies. Apparently long-time friends and still at it through the changes of life and time. Have gathered that much from their conversation which trickled down in my direction. Quite obviously, no doubt. Alam nyo naman din ang Pinoy.. maingay yan kapag nagkikita-kita. Ang lalakas pa ng boses, akala mo sila lang ang tao sa kwarto o sa mundo. But you can tell they were having such great fun! So then it was difficult not to hear or ignore them sounding like that. Was quite amused by it all, in fact.

They were at it for some minutes until their mood turned serious; no more banter or laughter seen or heard from them. The talk turned different. So then I turned back to my drink and cake, too, while waiting for my daughter who had to run errands inside the mall now seen teeming with people chasing after promo sales.

A few minutes went by then I suddenly heard this lady from the group speak up loud and clear:

"Eto yun at tandaan mo: Don't look at how far you have to go, look at how far you have come!"


That made me smile. I've heard that line before, spoken by someone... and read it somewhere, too.

I think sometimes such familiar lines come to us at some point in our lives when confusion and frustration assail us. Although meant to inspire or encourage us yet it does not always work that way. Because when you’re hurting you cannot understand anything else but your hurt or pain. And all that you can see is that long tough journey still stretching out ahead of you and which makes you wonder just when or where it will ever stop or end. Because it’s truly tough --- you’re hurting and crumbling under its burden, and it feels like you have reached the end of your rope.

But here’s what…..

Breathe deep. Deeply. Just breathe. Tune in on your senses. Pay attention to what it’s telling you. What does it say? It says you’re alive! With eyes that see, ears that hear and listen, nose that smells fragrance and otherwise, hands that touch and feel, legs that can walk many distances, and your sense of taste that leads you to scrumptious food which ends up having heavier numbers on the weighing scale! (Geeez I agree!)

And being alive means......…

That you have new tomorrows waiting for you... that you can try again... that you can pursue your fond dream another way... that you can build and rebuild... that you can pick yourself up each time you fall – over and over – again and again... that you can find and meet new people who will be kinder to your dreams... that you can choose what to do next... that you can learn new things and grow with it... that you can create or recreate new opportunities for yourself to work on.

Being alive means that you don’t and won’t give up. Being alive means that you are darn so good but you can also be so much better or the best. And that is the goal!

Count the years not by what you have lost but by what you have gained. Big or small. They’re all significant. No matter what people may say, you deserve your glory. And keep counting because more is yet to come. God bless you!

WORK IS NOT ALL OF LIFE. NEITHER IS LIFE JUST WORK.

Here’s a thought……..

Work is good, whatever work you do. (We need it.) But truthfully it does not need you. Because if you can't do the job, it will find somebody else who can and will. There always is a long queu... a very long one... outside the company door waiting and wanting your job. Harsh but true.

So...

Work with your very best, give it your best shot but do not let life pass you by stuck at your desk or something. -- Work is not all of life. Neither is life just work.-- There's more out there in this big wide magnificent world... there's more you can do with who you are and with your God-given talents. There are people waiting to be part of your time -- of you (your family is one). Time becomes precious in good precious friendships, communities, etc.. Enjoy it.

Most of all God didn't say that life should be spent exhausting or slaving yourself over one thing alone. He intended you to enjoy life to the fullest (there is a verse in the bible about that). And that means to experience and relish life's vast potential for beauty and good. Bask in the glory of nature, such beautiful and amazing diversity. Connect and interact with good hearts and kind souls. And remember that living those wonderful moments with your family can give you a delicious taste of heaven here on earth. That’s a most precious gift.

Grow as you should but not only with charts, statistics, reports, data, or picks and shovels, etc. Grow as God intended you to grow --- in your fullest human potential…. being a delight to the people around you…… and most of all --- a bigger delight to His heart.

So what’s keeping you? Time waits for no one. You decide. :-)

May the good Lord bless you with the choicest of blessings, friends.

 

 

PRAY TELL ME WHAT MAKES A MOMENT FOREVER

 

 

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A friend asked another "What is forever?" The other friend replied "It means for always." 

Experiences which delight the heart -- or expectations met -- or struggles rewarded -- and many more which take you up to cloud 9 in utter happiness, making you want to stay in that moment without end.

'Forever' has been carelessly thrown around and about in telenobelas, movies, celebrity interviews, chats, reminiscences, expectations, and is contained in young hopes and dreams and longing.

But life, in spite of its nuggets of wisdom and feel-good-lessons, won't always agree with you as you will discover soon enough. 

Because.......

Marriages and relationships crumble. Couples separate or divorce. Fortunes are lost. Financial charts perform dismally. Homes are broken. Families become dysfunctional. Health falters. Plans go awry at that point when you begin to think everything is going well. Good becomes bad. Laughter turns to tears.

Pray tell me then, what makes a moment 'forever?

Perhaps this ..... ? .....

--- When couples work hard to keep the relationship going,   when the team knock their brains out in solving problems at the workplace,  when a husband or wife work together to preserve family,  when options are created even if doors have closed,  when courage and strength is renewed again and again... and again!
And not because they have to or should, but because of what is felt in the heart. LOVE. Pure plain simple... love.

The love to help... to share... to succeed... to survive... to foster peace... to care and protect... to be faithful, truthful and honest... to rise with every fall... to pray unceasingly... to understand and act accordingly... to build and not to destroy. Love makes the doing special. Love makes it worthy. Love makes you want to do it over and over, again and again . And happily at that.

But, I think, still that does not assure forever in the external meaning of things or in the general expectations of many or most.

Rather it does this ------ it keeps the moment alive and strong for the longest possible time. The special and treasured moment lives on longer in the heart where it is nurtured and fed with love each time. Every minute, every hour, every day, every year of your life. Wonderfully enduring moments to last you possibly a lifetime if you strive to work at it.

Moments endure where love is.

May God bless you with His love, peace, and the grace to endure through life's journey. In Christ.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY -- BE IN IT WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART, WITH ALL OF YOU

 

 

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Do we really need to get so worked up? ..... ??

Know that life is a journey. A time put there for all the stages of our life. Whatever stage you are in now, be in it with all of your heart. Live it with all of you.

Don't be serious; BE SINCERE.  Be sincerely happy, hopeful, content, positive, helpful, considerate, compassionate, supportive, understanding, funny, interested, loving, appreciative, kind, thoughtful, and prayerful. Put your heart into it. When the day is done, then you can say to yourself --- "I gave life my best shot!"

Blessings, everybody! :-) .May God bless you bountifully with His promises. Remember.... ask, and you shall receive.

May the good Lord bless you with His grace, love, peace, and balance in life. Blessings to you all, in Christ.

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT BEING KIND AND BEING OF GOOD COURAGE

 

 

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I got an early morning call from a good friend asking me what would I be doing today. Well, I wasn't expecting such an early morning friendly chat but I thought to spend a few minutes with her. So I replied... to start with, I'm going to sweep and polish the floor, dust the furniture, then take a bath and get myself a nice healthy breakfast. 

"Aren't you going out?" she retorted apparently not impressed with my litany of morning activities. 

"Oh yeah, later for a visit and a nice hair trim at my suki parlor." I replied ignoring her persistence. I was beginning to sense a quiet unease in her voice though. 

"Yeah, when I feel worn and weary I hie off to the mall. The shop windows can effectively shove your troubles to the bin. Even if only for awhile." she spoke.

"Okay, what's up?" I asked her straightforwardly. That's what friends do.... no masks, no pretenses, just simple good ole attention and heart. Mom taught me that.

"It's a lonely life. Nobody has time for me anymore. The children have all grown with lives of their own and husband is so dumb a___ insensitive that he makes me feel invisible. I feel invisible!" she moaned.

Whoah there! That's a lot heaped on my morning tray! (I thought)
"Get dressed. I'll meet you in an hour. Usual place." I retorted.

We did meet. We talked. A lot! We stayed for a wee bit longer than usual. Later, we hied off to the mall and window-shopped and ... yes, allowed it to shove her problems to the bin even if just for awhile. She'll probably take it up again when she comes home but this time apparently recharged, energized to face her battle once more.

But it made me think.........

"The children have all grown" --- So what does a mother do when her children have all grown and are living their own lives away from her? She copes with what she knows how. She gets busy or tries to get busy. She walks the long-winding-teeming-with-people halls of the mall. She takes up a new interest, hobby, activity, or tries her darn best to fill up the void left by her children. But she gets lonely.  In her heart she knows there will always be lonely days ahead without her children.

Do you know what would mean much to her now?

A phone call, a visit, spending time together, and shared expressions of love and affection. Make time for her. Share your life. You can.. if you darn try. It takes only so little but that little means the world to her.

"...he makes me feel invisible!" --- You might as well hit yourself with a rock on the head! Because nothing you'll ever do will make him "see" you. Until some deep issues are resolved. Every couple, every marriage has it in some small or large measure. Deal with it; how is all up to you.. or to both of you. But please be kind to each other. Be kind sana. It makes life easier for everybody. Be kind.

Take care, friends. Remember, life is all about being kind and being of good courage. God bless you!

A MIGHT HAVE-BEEN HAS NEVER BEEN, BUT A HAS WAS ONCE AN ARE

 

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I was sitting by myself with green tea frappe (but of course!) just watching people walk in and out of Starbucks (again but of course!). Why alone? Well, my daughter was running errands inside the mall. Now as I have told you before when in the midst of people I always turn-on my radar. The reason? People make for an interesting subject anytime anyplace. Perfect feed for the writing.

Not far from my table near the wall sat two friends engaged in serious conversation. Looking like in their early thirties and holding corporate jobs (their clothes tell me that). Of course accompanied by the usual laptop and cellphone. Funny thing is they spoke in voices loud enough for everybody to hear. I looked around but good thing though that the coffee bar wasn't that full yet with just four tables occupied. 

So couldn't be helped if snippets of their conversation trailed to my table and which immediately my dependable radar picked up (as expected heheh...).
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Friend #1:    Ginawa ko na ang lahat pero mukhang walang nangyayari. (I did everything I could but nothing seems to be happening)

Friend #2:    Cool ka lang! Mararating mo din ang mga pangarap mo balang araw. Tiyaga lang, pards. (Cool it! You'll get your dreams yet one day. Patience.)

Friend #1:    Kelan pa!? Inip na 'ko! (But when? I'm getting impatient)
.....

I turned off my radar at that point. No sense in leaving it on. That seemed to be the gist of their conversation anyway.

That person is just like anybody else anywhere in the world aiming for a dream or reaching for a star. Putting in blood-sweat-and=tears into the effort, into each day, into the fight.. A cliche would be apt for this....... 'crossing the highest mountains, sailing the seven seas, braving the fiercest storms' and what other hurdles or obstacles may face him at every corner or bend. The going gets tough and long and tedious but then sometimes it would seem like getting nowhere with it at all; like time drags. Just like friend#1 must have felt.

I can understand that. My younger brother had a dream but the dream died with him. At some point I think he too got frustrated by the slowness of things. I have mine and I don't know where the journey is taking me or what roads I would be traveling but its beautiful flame persists to glimmer. I am glad that it does. But of course I too sometimes wonder.

I know there are many others out there like me. Yup, been there-done that.
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Here's something to say to yourself when the temptation to give up creeps in............... keep punching, keep hammering, keep moving, keep believing, keep dreaming. Image the dream in your mind, feel the thrill and excitement in your heart, and look up to the heavens and say...... "Thank you for this dream!" And you know what else ----- HE just might say "Hmmm... I think I'm going to let her (him) have it!" with a hugely divine smile. That's awesome!!
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God loves you more than you'll ever know. God bless you.
Have a wonderfully blessed day, friends.