BEHAVIOR OR SPEECH TELL LITTLE OF WHICH THE EYES CAN TELL MORE

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Standing by the window to make sure that Bk the cat won't get into his usual early morning feline mischief was futile effort as it proved to be because as soon as he was let out the door off he ran, jumped up to the ledge of the fence and jumped again up to the roof - agile indeed with his usual brand of bravado. Well, that goes to say that I won't be seeing him until feeding time..... That's BK!

Bravado - audacity – boldness - daring. Humans do that, too, and for a diversity of reasons. Even mischief, as BK the black cat was predictable in his own.

For whatever the reason, humans meaning you and me and the rest of mankind, are indeed brave, audacious, bold, daring. It’s what we know best how to live this life. We do it in different measure or degree of intensity, purpose, and will. Some of us may be transparent in our efforts and then some just quietly struggling behind masks which admittedly we also put on our selves sometimes. But the effort is the same.... brave.

Here in my place and out on the main road one could easily be eaten up by the busyness of life carried out by every two-legged creature moving from one place to the other and back. And then back again. On one side of the street stands the Jeep terminal where a Jeep barker reigns supreme with his voice calling out to would-be passengers to take this ride down to wherever it’s heading for. Mang Amboy stands tall in spite of his thin wrinkled aged frame and always with a friendly smile every time my family and I pass by or take that ride. Just like every friendly face you see in the neighborhood.

Does my story stop there? No.

I like looking into people’s eyes. Be they near me or far, and why I love the malls. It’s the perfect landscape for studying eyes. Nope, it’s not for or on a scientific or medical point of view. I’m neither of that. It’s from the standpoint of the eyes being the windows of the soul.

Behavior or speech tell little of things which truly matter or would make serious sense. When I want to better know a person I look into his or her eyes -- the so-called windows of the soul. Because truly behavior or speech tell little of which the eyes can tell more ... so much more. The eyes can never mask what is felt in the depths of one's heart. Eyes do not lie. The eyes tell the truth.

Mang Amboy’s eyes belie the smile on his face.

But brave definitely he is. His future may be dim, his problems plenty and challenges mountain-high, his family perhaps dysfunctional, and maybe he has health issues, too, on the side. Yet he carries on day after day after day. Because that is what he knows best --- to carry on even with these burdens on his frail back. 

Does that remind you of somebody you know or.....maybe yourself?

If that isn’t brave, what is??
Life is tough but people tougher.
God bless you!

DONE EXTRAORDINARILY WELL

A quote I have always loved and I am sure that you will, too, to quote.......

 "My mother knew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that -- "Achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best in you.  

Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying.  

Always aim for achievement and forget about success."   

---- Helen Hayes

Unquote.

And yet success is what we aim for. Success by what the world teaches us. That one which is accompanied by applause, trophies, title and recognition; that one which brings you to the center of the stage with the spotlight on you and you feeling so pleased with yourself. But that's nice too. I don't mind seeing myself up there on that stage..... being there in that fantastic moment savoring the sweet smell of success!

But wait......

I remember mom tell me before that success for the most part is a feeling within rather than it is without. It's what you experience or feel within in your core and does not necessarily depend on what transpires externally on a grand or grander scale. I think what she meant was it does not matter if the task be minute or colossal but if you gave it your best shot, did your best with it, you are just as successful as the person who invented the light bulb. That would be, by the best standards in point of value, a huge success. Quite an achievement!

Well, all that considered, we can call ourselves achievers everyday! Because everyday as we get on with our respective lives we give it everything we've got. Giving everything to life with what we are and with what we are allowed to have. We study hard, work hard, think hard, honest in our hearts, tumble and fall with bad breaks and yet rise up again even much stronger.

I have achieved much in my life, too. Just like everybody else. Maybe it won't hug the headlines but in my tiny world the spotlight's on me. And the applause I think I hear is the applause of a happy God who I believe is mighty pleased for what I have done or do. After all as I understand it, God does not require extraordinary things from extraordinary people but that we do ordinary things extraordinarily well. But don't we do that everyday!?? And that's fantastic!

Blessings, everyone. Give the day and life and God your best shot.