Wednesday, March 25, 2009

YOU MATTER


I hear of a lot of angst and woes from my friends, up close and from young struggling folks online. Heartrending stories which tug at my heartstrings -- It’s in not getting what they want no matter how hard they try. It’s giving up the ship even when it’s still got some fight in it. Oh I can surely understand that. But is it enough to make you want to beat your chest or bonk your head in utter exasperation just because you didn’t make it? Just because you think that you made a mistake, a big one.. that you are a mistake too? Just because your options have disappeared with the last failure, that there’s none left to pursue?

I don’t buy that, sorry. You know why? Because I know that all through my years there were many dreams that I didn’t get too, didn’t even get close, just like you. But I have learned this -- it’s not always that a person gets his dreams. Sometimes in an odd and crazy way one gets waylaid.. or asked to make a detour.. or simply put - made to stop dead in his tracks. And yes, coming to a dead-end does seem like the end of the world to most of us.

But it’s not.

The end of the world is when you and the world cease to exist. That’s the end. And until that day comes -- we got work to do. That means making something of ourselves in whatever way we can, giving life our best shot, and using the gifts God blessed us with – for ourselves and for others too. (Remember the world isn’t all about you, there are others here with us too and we all stand connected by God’s design). Go ahead and dream, that’s what and where things begin – from a dream. Even if some of it may fizzle out, that’s okay… just as long as you are still in there strong and determined to work it out. Same dreams or new dreams it doesn’t matter. It’s YOU that matters. Make that count.
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I'd rather be a 'could-be’
if I cannot be an ‘are’;
because a ‘could-be’ is a maybe
who is reaching for a star.

I'd rather be a ‘has-been‘
than a ‘might-have-been’, by far;
for a ‘might-have-been’ has never ‘been’,
but a ‘has’ was once an ‘are’.

-- Milton Berle


(The picture above of my daughter was taken by photographer-friend Larry Concepcion.)

8 comments:

  1. yes! yes!! yes!!!
    one should always try hard n let the result b any... move on...
    lovely inspiring post...Ellen...
    best wishes to u n ur daughter...

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  2. Lovely picture and an awesome post. Thnx :)

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  3. Joel, how lovely to see you again!! Thank you so much for the kind inspiring words.

    My best regards to Michele.
    God bless you both a hundredfold.

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  4. Amit, always on time for a new post Lols!! :-) Thanks for the lovely message. My daughter says 'thank you' too. Blessings to you and your family!!

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  5. as always i loved reading this!!..
    ur words were so true so practical!!!

    :):):)

    Btw ur daughter is really beautiful!!

    May god bless you!!

    sur!

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  6. Hi Ellen, I came to Blogger after quite some time and here is this very positive welcome post.....I truly agree...yes, the present day youth is too impatient at times. And they need to understand this that nothing comes for always!!

    Anyways....I liked your strict tone in the beginning of the post....its Unlike Ellen though. And your daughter is looking lovely!!

    Keep Smiling. Keep Writing!!

    Love & Regards :-)

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  7. Hi Sur! :-)

    Lovely to see you! Gee, how long ago was it since we last connected? Lols! You must be pretty busy, young lady. :-) Yet .. you remembered and now you're here. Lovely!

    Thank you for liking the piece. And thank you for the nice words for my daughter. :-)

    Take care pls.
    Blessings to you and your family.

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  8. Hi Jigyasa, great to see you again! :-) Oh so you haven't been here for some time? Busy? Now you take care of yourself okay? Don't work yourself to exhaustion or burn yourself out before your time. Lols :-)

    Oh gee, did I come off as 'strict'-- so "unlike ellen'"? Lols :-) Well, yeah.. sometimes one has to do some tough loving if just to get the message through with someone. You and I know that it's an age-old lesson passed down by generations before us -- "to value our todays more - appreciate it better and best". Doing so will reap us more blessings than we could ever imagine.

    Thank you for your lovely and kind words.
    May God pour out tons of blessings upon you and your family.

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:-) Here's where I warmly welcome you and where you leave your footprints behind with fond memories attached to it of wonderful chats and friendships. Thank you for your comments. Or send your comments to ellen622@gmail.com. Will be seeing you in your blog too. God bless you!