Category: Enlightenment

How many times did you allow spontaneity to take place in your ordinary days?  For me, quite rarely but those instances have created the best days of my life!

I’m very good at planning – that is, if I want to.  I can run an event, activity, devise strategies to approach an issue, a problem. I have a keen eye on looking at the larger picture, I know how to delegate, assess progress, mark milestones, and carry everything out to till it’s done.  That’s not really the case though in my personal life. I don’t have a detailed plan mapped out in front of me. I keep a broad version of it.  My focus? Goals.

I met with a few friends last night- all gifted writers (soon you’ll see them here), and we brushed on this topic.  Most of us at one time had our future perfectly laid out-  age to marry, year to have kids, the amount of wealth we’re gonna have, employed in a company of our choice, be in a profession we’ve dreamed of since we were kids, and more.

As you would have guessed- well, we got some, we missed some. As kids, nobody told us that the world can be cruel sometimes, that people can be unkind, challenges can come, weather can change, and we too can fail. Indeed nobody’s been perfectly prepared for this university we call Life.  All those who graduated with flying colors must have been bruised and broken but certainly, they kept fighting the good fight.

My friends and I have our share of frustrations- plans failed, jobs sucked, people left, we left-  we had high expectations from the external world and from ourselves. The first time we encountered failure- we hated it. But now, we take it differently. Failure is a great teacher. It took time for us to accept and understand this.  Yes, we should allow ourselves to fail- and by that, I mean- to fail forward.

Mistakes can be a waste until you turn them into lessons. Setbacks are meant to propel us farther and higher.  So when you feel like being pulled back, by all means, bend, but don’t break.

Success too at one point will lose it’s shine until you refuse to settle and make one more step.  You can’t be in your 50s or 70s and relive your glory days when you were half those age- or you can, it’s still your choice. But at every age, you have an opportunity to do something great. The chances never really run out. So don’t sit on your laurels – at least- not just yet.

So how did most of us cope with failure and frustration? We scrapped the detailed plans and focused on our goals. We allowed life’s surprises to hit us.  It doesn’t matter if it’s bad or good. we take it and turn it to work in our favor.

Eventually, each one of us will discover his or her own path. We’ll discover our own voice, our own destiny. you’ll realize in the end it really doesn’t matter what the world say. What would mean most is that we loved much, we cared much and we gave much.  And one day should our hearts find yours,  I guess that just means, we’re treading the same path.

I had this morbid thought at midday on my way to lunch. It felt weird and uncomfortable but the thought lingered for quite a while.

So there was this young man in his polished suit, I imagined him dead. The old man taking the stairs with a cup in his hand, the young girl outside the building donned in her summer dress, the old lady sitting on a bench having her meal under the sun-I imagined each one of them, lying in a coffin.

I don’t’ mean to sound scary, rude, demeaning or any of that.  Instead, I want you to take this in a positive light.

This absurd thought actually shifts a person’s perspective. When you begin to look at everyone you meet as capable of fading and vanishing, like they’re going to be gone anytime soon, it gives you a combined feeling of detachment and attachment.

Imagine the people who’ve hurt you, disappointed you, or caused you so much anger and pain.  Suddenly you’ll realize it’s pointless to hold a grudge against them.  It’s worthless to carry a lifelong hurt, coz’ for some, a lifetime is not even long enough.

Then you carry your thoughts toward the people who matter to you, to those you surround yourself with every day and fail to even appreciate.  Do you really see them and treat them the way you should? Have you said your “Thank You’s” enough number of times, comforted them or took more effort to make them smile, or make their day even better?

Pause for a while and notice the world and time passing you by.  The people in it, all things living, breathing- all signs of life, including yourself.  You too are not going to be here forever. So start living your life with a real sense of time- connected to it, and making it count.

There is no necessity to always be in a hurry or in a rush, to always be preoccupied or insanely busy.  There are times and seasons for everything.  Even God rested on the seventh day in the great story of Creation.  Miracle after miracle, God took the time to admire everything. He allowed Himself to notice, to feel. He was pleased. He felt satisfied.

On to us, our main job is to celebrate each day. To hope, to love and be grateful for all things. To be deliberate and intentional in how we use the greatest resource we ever have.

Deliberate, because we need to be thoughtful.

Intentional, because we need to be purposeful.

Like how?   In our choices, our actions, our thoughts, our words, and our plans, that we may always desire to affect the lives of others and the entire world in ways that are good.  To leave a legacy and a fine one at that.

Of course, we are allowed to feel the bad even the worst- but dwelling on these is entirely up to us.  Hearts can break but that’s why we were given a sense of reason. Our brains literally placed above our hearts so we know that we have the power to choose. Whatever is genuinely good for us doesn’t harm anyone.  At the end of the day, all things should be in sync.  All should harmonize.

Life is fragile, like a holding a newborn baby in your hands. And people- – yes, they slip away. You’ll realize that yesterday isn’t a long time ago, and getting old can hardly be noticed till body aches, blurred vision and gray hair catch up with you.  It’s true what they say, no one gets out of this life, alive.

So make the most of what you have. Embrace your greatest gifts.  Embrace life.  Embrace time.  Embrace people.  Embrace yourself.

The meaning of one’s life is not to be discovered.  It is to be defined.  It’s up to you to determine yours.

What’s your attitude towards life?  The way I see myself, I always act like a compass and occasionally like a rubber band. Let me explain.

It normally starts with a strong desire for something and then I would resolve to make it happen. At times I’m not so particular about the timeline but most times I am. And if it doesn’t happen the way I’d expect it to, I’d succumb to feelings of failure and frustration. I’d be demotivated, would normally feel resigned, and eventually would quit, only to pick myself up again some time later, resume what I’ve been doing and head towards my set goal.

Most strong-minded people would always be like that. They work hard and accomplish goal after goal, chasing success- whether it meant getting more wealth or a promotion at work, improving one’s health, knowledge, proficiency, or even relationships- all to be better than their selves two or three years ago.

Prominent traits of these people are:

1)    they normally have plans, and strategies in place,

2)    will most of the time be passionate in what they do,

3)    will sometimes be stubborn

4)    will rarely be a quitter

5)    seems unstoppable

6)    seen as invincible

7)    they’d feel pretty much devastated when failure hits them, they’d start sinking until they learn and develop the willingness to adjust the sails.

People who are good at adjusting sails are those that I liken to a rubber band.  Mostly:

1)    they are resilient

2)    they can easily adapt to changing times

3)    they can readily change strategies

4)    they can cope with failure with ease and calm

5)    they can be distracted

6)    they can be surprisingly relaxed, meaning they don’t panic at all

7)    but sometimes coolness in handling difficult situations meant just letting go- easily.

You can be one of these two extremes, or you can lean closely to one than the other.  The happiest spot, however, is right there in the middle.

Surely you have to find the balance.  Both types have their own merits and there are also inherent disadvantages.  It’s all about how much control you take and how much you are willing to let go.

If you want to accomplish a goal or get something done, you need to plan on how to do it. You need to visualize yourself of the future you want to hold and develop strategies (make sure you have plans B & C in case A doesn’t’ work).  You need:

-discipline

-determination

-focus

-drive

-passion, but you also need to

-develop flexibility

-have a strong heart to accept defeat

-a strong mind to stay positive

-be forgiving of yourself

-and have the humility to ask for help when you need to.

More importantly, we have to keep in mind that life is not just a sum of accomplishments and rewards, it’s also about experiences, relationships, second chances, and definitely not just about you.

When you’re out there tomorrow, maybe you can slow down and take a genuine interest in people around you.  You can start giving a warm hello to the trees, the birds, the sun, walk barefoot on grass or just sit and be mindful of your breath and your thoughts.  There’s a lot of happenings in the world, and surely a lot going in your life, but you know you can always choose to stay connected with anyone and anything that breathes life.

Compass or rubber band. Just find the balance, and you will find peace and harmony, inside and out. Isn’t that what we always hope for?

I’ve read a story about a traveler who met a monk on his journey and decided to come by his place. When they arrived, the traveler was surprised to see the monk’s house barely having anything apart from a bed, a chair, a table, a cup and a book. Curious, he asked the monk, “Why do you only own a few stuff?”. To this, the monk replied, “I can see you carried a few stuff yourself”. Baffled, the man explained, “Well Mr. Monk, that’s because I’m a traveler!”. With a twinkle in his eyes, the monk smiled and said , “So am I son, so am I.”

Have you thought about how simple life was when we were kids? We play, we eat, we sleep, then hit the repeat button. Or more profoundly, have you thought of how your life once was:

– when you were young and innocent
– when your heart was full of big dreams and hope
– when you were unafraid or maybe, less scared
– when you didn’t know what “worrying” meant, because you had so much faith,
– when you can’t be bothered by petty things and can’t afford to hold grudges ‘coz you desire peace & harmony & friendship
– when you knew forgiveness, the gift of it
– when you had so much love?

How wonderful it was. “If I could only go back”- the wish we whisper secretly in our hearts hoping the universe would hear and answer back.

So what’s the deal with us? Baggages. We carry too much. These days we are crippled by fear, weighed down by hurt, consumed with regrets, paralyzed by indecision, suspended by thoughts of “what-ifs” and “maybes”. Why? Because we chose to. It’s not pleasant to hear, but It is our fault. Our life doesn’t just unfold by itself. We steer its course. We have to learn, to grow, to take courage, to take responsibility for our choices, and let go already. Release, and let go.

What else? The consuming desire for fame, for power and fortune, that it becomes an obsession! The moment it takes hold of your life, the noble man inside of you dies. Like the characters in the story, we are all travelers in this world. Let’s not get too comfortable in it. Be extraordinary but learn to live simply. Good works and good deeds define a man. He’s measured by the attitude of his heart. Stay away from the trappings of this world. Guard your thoughts, guard your heart, pack your life’s suitcase. Go, and travel light!

That day when you receive a bad news.

At 3am, my cousin was on his way home from a birthday party driving his motorcycle. He was maneuvering his way through the intersection when he slammed into the rear end of a passing truck.  That second marked the last moment of his life.  At 20 years old, he’s gone too soon.

Moments- how fleeting they are.  Life- how fragile it becomes when we come face to face with death.  A day comes when your time runs out. A day comes when your heart stops beating and you breathe your last breath. Will the world around you stop ‘cause it suddenly lost you? Will your passing cause a sting in its core, or will it go about uninterrupted in its course, not realizing for a second that you actually existed? The answer right there would define the meaning of the life you lived.

We know that our time in this world is not infinite but most of us are not living our lives like we know this. Otherwise:

– we would have been more gentle with our words, and kind with our thoughts

– we would have walked away from pointless arguments and endless dramas

– we would have been more thoughtful of our loved-ones and careful with their hearts

– we would have admired the rain and the sun just the same

– we would have appreciated work, art, beauty and our capacity to build, to create, to

contribute

– we would have taken just enough for ourselves and shared the rest with the world

– we would have been more aware of the things around us even those we can’t see, but only             feel and touch and hear

– we would have loved more and worried less

– we would have valued people knowing that someday soon we may lose them too

So many things to cherish, to experience, to learn, to share, to give. If we only open ourselves to the endless possibilities around us and open our hearts to every good thing it can do and accomplish, the world would be very blessed.

Every fiber of your being is magic. Every cell in your body has been created wonderfully and with a purpose. You matter. You were made to. So celebrate life every chance you get. Time waits for no one, not even for the best of us,  so make every moment count.

A couple of days ago I found myself pondering on things I’ve learned the hard way in the past few months.  My brief introspection revealed these:

1. You have to choose your own battles. You don’t have to be in every single one, and you don’t have to win every fight to prove a point, or to prove that you are right.  Sometimes walking away is the bravest thing that you can do. It may in fact be the wisest move.  You don’t have to fight every issue there is or be noisy or loud about many things.  You just have to stand up for and defend the things that really matter to you. Fight battles that are worth every fiber in your body, every beat of your heart, and every neuron in your brain. You may not always win, but at the very least you’ve showed how much you cared.
2. Learn to say No to most things so you can say YES to a few and give it your best.  Success doesn’t have room for middle ground. It’s either in or out, yes or no, no “maybes’”or “yes-buts’”.  This philosophy won’t be easy if you don’t know what you want, or you haven’t thought of what’s really important to you.  Making a choice eventually boils down to what you value the most, and the priorities you have at a particular time.  It would be an injustice to yourself and to the people involved to only give 50% of what you can and ought to give. So do your self including the people around you a favor.  Say Yes only when you really mean it. Don’t stretch yourself too thin so you can give a 100% to your YESes and leave the “NO” avenues to people who can pick it up and do it better.
3. Peoples’ opinion of you and how they treat you speaks of them, and not you.  Let’s face it, hurt people, hurt people.  When a person’s heart is filled with rage, insecurity, malice, arrogance, it’ll show in his manners and in his speech.  Same would be true if a person’s  heart is filled with peace, contentment, respect and humility (you definitely would want to hangout with this type :-)).  All the words we speak, the thoughts we entertain, and all our ways are projections of the contents of our heart.  It’s not about the other person. It’s about us.  So the next time somebody treats you badly realize that the person may be in deep, dark, hurtful place.  This doesn’t justify the act, but it’ll give you a sense of perspective and broader understanding of what’s taking place. Then, you can act accordingly guided by the wisdom this thought gives you.

I wanted to share these hoping it may give you light as you’re walking down your own path.  You may liken it to a flower or a firewood you’d stumble upon on your journey— you can pick whatever inspires you or what you’d find useful enough to keep.  Who knows, we might see each other round the next bend and get to swap pebbles, cookies and stuff.  Until then, light your own path and enjoy the journey, after all, there’s only one.