Radical Changes

The past month has bred radical changes. Not just that one month, I guess. It's the summation of everything that has happened preceding it too--isn't it always like that in life? Every small thing we do always sums up to something greater.

My faith has changed--or its strength, ferocity, to be exact. My goals, my own perception of life, my mind-set--these have all been altered. Seriously altered--forever altered? As of now, I'm not yet sure.

But let's get down to it. OR them.

First, my faith. AHH! Bo Sanchez is now one of my idols too, together with the Jabbawockeez. :)

He's just a model of everything I can become. He's a great speaker, he's a great leader, he's a great Catholic. He is just GREAT. He writes, he preaches, he leads--he does everything for God. He's such a busy man and in spite of that, find time for his own family.

Actually, just knowing everything that he does makes me exhausted. He writed at least 3 books a year, he makes daily videos for his site, preacherinbluejeans.com, he writes in various magazines AND is the founder of one. He's a founder of a lot of things. I'm sure I can learn a lot from him.

I'm supposed to say here that I hope my faith becomes as strong as his one day--BUT I'm almost afraid to become just like him. I mean, I can't give up everything for God just yet. And that's the bare truth. I can't sacrifice all thing material for all things immaterial--or maybe I just don't want to.

Weird thing is, it's not hard to admit that to myself. I'm not even afraid to say it. Maybe because it is the truth--and it sets you free, right?

Second, ahh. I am officially a Jabbawockeez fan. HAHAHA. and that's a big deal.

Thrid, I am finally sure what I want to be when I grow up--to be a preacher slash dancer. :D Different, I know.

And being a dancer changes a lot of things for me. I get sky high grades, have a lot of things going for me--just your typical overachiever and being that, people expect a lot from me. When they think about my future, the words, Scientist, Doctor, Lawyer, President, ETCETERA, ETCETERA, pop out. But never ever a dancer.

But I fully realized just recently that what I really want to be in life is just supposed to be what I, I, I and GOD wants for me. I think this is it. I'm almost sure it is.

The major, and probably the most superficial, hindrance to my realizing this was my desire to be rich in the future. But I realized, it didn't really matter if I become rich, only if I am helping others in the way God had planned for me--doing what I love most. :)

And if it's to dance. THEN IT IS. And no one else can stop me from doing so.

Thank the Lord, for my ability, for his blessings, for his love. :D

Humility

PT week just finished. Glad the exams are done. :D

This thought has been pervading my mind ever since it first stumbled its way into my head.

Studying is a proof of humility. You bow down your head, admitting that what you are reading, you do not know yet--or at least do not master yet.

It requires enough courage
to embark on a seemingly impossible quest.
(50 pages worth of studying for each day
for five consecutive days.)

It needs perseverance
to continue trekking trough the thick mud full of words.
(50 pages worth of studying for each day
for five consecutive days.)

It demands concentration
to keep all those information inside the mind,
And self-mastery to shy away from any distractions.

Nevertheless, above all that,
it seems to never be without its twin sister, Humility,
For the cause of studying is admitting ineptness.

HHAHAHAHAHAHA. Please understand that this is just a little half baked poem. :D

Who are we? We are One.

Why is it that so much importance is placed on just a fortunate arrangement of bones? On some fortunate amount and location of hair?

Why is it that people let themselves be defined by their reflection on some piece of fancy metal? How is it that they never realize that a person’s worth--a person’s life--a person--can never ever be defined by what their eyes’ receptors interpret from the light reflected from such a thing as a polished surface?

Humans—me—you—are so much more than what the light shows of us. But how is it that so few people ever see(realize, truly realize)that. How can they see and not see?

How can they not see their auras, themselves expanding, filling all the spaces—the gaps, leaving nothing untouched—How can they not see themselves in the beauty of the first drop of water that falls from the skies portending rain? How can they not see themselves in the violence of people spewing forth from their mouths lances of hatred which leaves deep cuts on another’s soul? How can they not see themselves in the pain of a mother bringing forth another living creature into this wonderful world? How can they not see themselves in the tragedy of loving and not being loved in return?

How can they not see themselves—and not see fully?

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

“The world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.” – The 5 People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom

The physical world is not our only reality.

God will never judge us because of how we look, how we smell, or how we sound like. He will not close the doors of heaven for us just because we are not slim, thin, or "beautiful" by the material world's standards.

"What is essential is invisible to the eye." -- The Little Prince

A Concert For A Friend. :)

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Please help, guys. Neither I nor you may know this person, but that should not stop any one of us from helping another person in need. :) Spread the word.

"When a person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed." - Mo. Theresa

"It is in giving that we recieve." - Prayer of Saint Francis

"The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention." - Jon Burroughs

"If I can stop one heart from braking, I shall not live in vain." - Emily Dickinson


"It is the things we always hold
That we will lose some day;
The only thing we ever keep
Are what we give away." - excerpt from the poem "Song" by Harold C. Sandall

Dividing Line

I was just thinking of something while I've been reading our CLE(Christian Life Edu.) book. And I've decided to name thoughts like these seemingly-random-but-not-really thoughts I run into while I'm studying and having one of my AHA! moments. I now call them as my own personal...

RaT(s)

Ra = Random
T(s) = Thought(s)

My RaT(s) for today:

What truly is the dividing line of right from wrong? How do we just so intrinsically know which one is which without really having to agonize about it? Is it really just because we grew up learning about the Ten Commandments and such? Is it truly just because of exposure? But how is it that we can still do what is right even without having to believe in something--anything? It's just a WOAH thought for me. Was there an internal device built inside each one of us to make us so very capable of knowing and differentiating right from wrong?

And truly, if there is no difference from right and wrong or if there is NO right or wrong, then isn't it another intriguing wonder to just think that the people who are fighting, dying for what is right are just dying for NOTHING really? It's just something they themselves believe is right. Or does the reality that they BELIEVE it is right make all the difference?

What wonders. :) I love thinking.

Sick is in VOGUE

Having your pharynx and tonsils swelling like inflated balloons really sucks. They hurt like heck, and every time I swallow feels like sandpaper is being rubbed against them. :(

But I've definitely realized that health really is one of the things you don't realize is so important until you lose it. I want my health back and the good things is, it seems as if it is finally returning. I don't want to be absent in school! Might miss too much.

Anyhow, here's to health.


My Youngest SISTER

Thank God It's Friday. :)

YEY! Another update. It's been quite long. A lot has happened to me this summer. :) Though, I believe my favorite change is my change of attitude towards life in general. I've just become more cheerful, easygoing, and more down to earth. I'm not taking things so seriously anymore, which is a good thing for me. I am hoping, though, that this change isn't just a temporary one. I hope it isn't just the result of not being very stressed yet. But, I'm living and I'm loving it. :)

"The Secret" is this video/book or idea says you can control your life if you can control the way you think. The secret is just that. Think positive so you attract positive. It's generally what they call the law of attraction. And you attract things, whatever they may be, whenever you think of them. This idea have really changed my mindset about things. I know it may be BS, but believing that you can do something before doing it really does help in finally achieving it in the end. I have read this quote and I've never really realized deeply what it means, until recently..."Whether you think you can or cannot, you're right." (Forgot who said it. :( I'm sorry.)

And this one quote have really influenced my perspective in life too. "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have." --Eckhart Tolle

There was also this e-mail which my aunt sent to our family Yahoo!Groups. It contains real good advice, in my opinion. It just generally boils down to this main idea: Follow your dreams; do what you want and love or what makes you happy; life is good. Love life. :)

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

So that's that. My viewpoint has changed and with that change my life has too. Never say never. :) (I used to hate that cliche but it's really true.) Stop think about hate, cannot, do not, or whatnot. Start living your life with the mindset "I can".

Love life. Embrace it. Laugh, Smile, just LIVE.
God Bless,
Kristina



Me and My Best Friend, Denise :)