Never Underestimate The Small Things.

It is in fact harder to decipher them. 

It's easy to understand the big things because they're noticeable, even obvious. But to discover and understand the meaning underneath the tiny bits of life, the daily, the mundane, now that takes real skill.

Be Someone Who You’re Not…

Every once in a while.

Surprise yourself. Do things you wouldn’t normally do. Put on different shoes.

And then discover new things outside of yourself. You don’t get any guarantee that you will like what you will see, that you will love that new self. Sometimes you will, and sometimes you won't.

Sometimes you will, and you'll be happy knowing your world just got bigger.

Sometimes you won't. But, at the end of it all, you bring with you the confidence knowing that you can, and you did.

On Self-Awareness.

It can be a blessing, and it can be a curse.

They say it's the first step towards success, towards improving one's self. But much as self awareness can bring one to the realization of his fullest potential, it also opens one to his own demons... Which is supposed to be a good thing, I think, because it's the only way to learn how to tame them. After all, no one can do that except one's self. In the process, however, one is also being constantly plagued by these demons. 

In every little act there is malice. From every little thought, even the most innocent one, can spring the darkest of desires - things that one can fail to control. One can suppress them, maybe, but suppression doesn't make them go away. In fact, suppression can even make them stronger - until one feels the only way to be free of them is to release them. But release can cause destruction, so one chooses to suppress them, contain them, tame them.

The act can make one lose his mind, now and then, and he gives in to despair. The only way out of this is to make peace with one's demons. Acceptance? No, that doesn't work, because it only strengthens the evil in one's self. Maybe the way is to turn to the light, to find a light bright enough to drive the demons away. Because one can't kill them by force - they have to go away on their own.

Respect Differences.

Remember that your standards apply to you, and you alone. 

Do not judge other people by your standards. Because like you, they have their own set of principles, and they are merely following them.

There are no sub standards, because each one lives according to his experiences. There are no low or high standards; there are only different standards.

On Personal Boundaries.

"When you say 'yes' to others, make sure you are not saying 'no' to yourself." - Paulo Coelho

Every Problem Has A Solution.

Trust that nothing is permanent, and that every trial has an end.

Do Not Get Lost.

Keep your anchor and your focus strong. Because in life, the waves of everyday survival can take you farther away from the path you should be leading.

If you shall look unto others, look for support and encouragement. Do not compare, because you only have yourself to compete with.

If you shall stop and take a rest, be sure that it is to recharge and to spring at the next opportunity with double the amount of enthusiasm and energy.

Stray if you must. But wherever you go, leave something worthwhile and meaningful in that place. Make sure that place is a better place when you leave it.

And most importantly, don't forget to go back to the path that will lead you to your correct destination.

Desiderata - Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, 

and remember what peace there may be in silence. 

As far as possible, without surrender, 

be on good terms with all persons. 

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; 

and listen to others, 

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story. 

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit. 

If you compare yourself with others, 

you may become vain or bitter, 

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; 

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, 

for the world is full of trickery. 

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals, 

and everywhere life is full of heroism. 

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love, 

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass. 

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. 

Beyond a wholesome discipline, 

be gentle with yourself. 

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here. 

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, 

whatever you conceive Him to be. 

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life, 

keep peace in your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world. 

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

I Love To Be There For You.

I love to be there for you during good times, to laugh with you until we get tears in our eyes.

I love to be there for you during bad times, to hold you in my arms and tell you everything is gonna be alright.

I love to be there for you in the morning as you wake up, to be the first to hear your voice and see you smile.

I love to be there for you before you sleep at night, to hold your hand until you close your eyes.

On Values And Principles.

In our fight for the values that we believe in,

Some instances will force us to take a solitary road,

A road that only a few take...

Some circumstances will force us to stand alone...

To doubt ourselves, and question whether the values that we believe in are worth fighting for...

Especially those times when others tell us otherwise...

But let's not be disheartened...

Let's take that solitary road...

Let's continue fighting...

For at the end of the road,

Our price awaits.

Slow Down.

I've just moved to a new apartment, and my internet connection has been unstable since then. I'd be online for a few minutes, then the connection would be disrupted and I'd spend the next few minutes trying to reconnect - sometimes I'd be successful, other times I'd simply give up out of frustration.

After the frustration, though, when I finally accepted that it would probably be that way for the next coming days, I realized that the situation wasn't so bad at all. I found extra time in my hands, and I was able to use that time to do the things I've long postponed doing. It's been a while since I last read a book. It's been a while since I last did some serious organizing and long-term planning. And it's been a while since I last wrote on my journal. Those things I'd not done in the past few weeks or months, I finally have time to do again.

I'm not yet sure what to do with my internet connection - whether to have it fixed or finally have it terminated. One thing, though... I'd discipline myself to free up some time for more important things this time around.

Within Us Is A Soul Always Clamoring For Meaning.

No matter where we go and no matter how far we've gone, the soul won't be satisfied until it finds what it is looking for. We can't satisfy its hunger with all the seemingly important things we do, with all the seemingly big achievements we've accomplished, and with all the seemingly valuable possessions we've acquired. The soul will always be searching for its purpose - it will always be searching for that thing that we hold dearest in our heart.

Everyone Deserves A New Beginning (Part 2).

It starts out with something physical - a physical move to a new place, perhaps. And then you feel something more. As you get yourself acquainted with your new environment, you also feel something strange in yourself. 

Picture it like a seed slowly growing into a small plant. The plant sees the world with fresh eyes. 

And then as you move about, you feel like in you, too, there is something new growing. A new awareness, perhaps... A resolve to do better, live a more meaningful life, pursue the dreams you have set aside and almost forgotten. And then you feel, you're ready to live again.

Goodbyes Come In Different Forms.

There are goodbyes that come with commas. There is temporary separation, and then the journey continues.

Then there are goodbyes punctuated by a period. There is no "I'll be back soon", no "see you again", no "until next time". 

There are goodbyes that, when uttered, you just know it's the end.

Everyone Deserves A New Beginning.

We Can Do So Much If We Are Not Afraid.

Sometimes, the only thing between where we are and where we want to be... is fear. We choose not to take that next step because we fear the outcome, and we know there's no turning back once we take that step. We refuse to deal with the issue because we are scared to get hurt. We postpone a big plan because we fear that we may fail when the plan is finally put to action.

But we wouldn't know the outcome without doing something, would we?

"If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will." - Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6 (TLB)(NLT)

Of Everything You Want To Do, Do A Little Every Single Day.

Because every great dream begins small.

We all have the tendency to want to hit the goal at once, to take a shot and succeed right away. But I guess that doesn't work. Achieving our dreams is not like winning the lottery, which is a product of mere luck. Every dream is a product of small efforts and small ideas, slowly growing bigger, piled on top of each other, until the dream is formed.

Many of us dream of big things (which is the ideal way to dream, by the way). But, sometimes, the dream remains just a dream because we keep focused on the big picture - we forget that this big picture won't be formed if we don't start with the little pieces.

So today I tell myself: begin with the small pieces - now. Do the small things. Keep on doing them, day after day after day. And soon, the big picture will be formed. 

You Get What You Believe.

So believe even in the impossible. Make your dreams enormous. Reach out for the stars.

Because the universe is always listening. And it obeys.

All We Need Is Resolve.

Even if things are difficult, even if we think there's no way out of a bad situation, and even if we feel real bad about a problem...

Sometimes, all we need is to tell ourself what we have to do to make things work. We should voice it out loud. Engrave the words in our mind. Repeat it to ourselves over and over again.

And then finally we see the universe tilting a little to our side. We see a little opening, and then we realize it's possible. No matter how difficult things can get, resolve can be the first step towards the solution to our problem.

Enjoy What You Have...

And stop looking somewhere else.

Because...

I know it's been said many times, but it still applies to this day - by being too busy looking for something else, you might lose what you already have.

Be Mad.

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!" - Jack Kerouac

Thou Shall Not Be Afraid.

Sometimes, the only dividing line between us and all the things we want to accomplish is our fear. 

If we are not afraid, what are we going to do? The answer is endless. 

Doing away with our fear will open the door towards all the things we've always dreamed of.

Kindness Doesn't Go Unanswered.

From God Wants You To Know:

Even though it seems like thanks and acknowledgments for good deeds are in short supply, God notices them. When you feel like giving up because gratitude eludes, remember that God is delighted in your efforts. Don't stop showing kindness because you feel unappreciated, the author of good things appreciates you very much.

... I shall press on. :)