Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Ticket


One-way, two-way, I don't care
As long as you take me there .
Freedom Avenue, here we go
Let's live like there's no tomorrow.

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman




A Good Life


The definition of a good life is subjective. I base my happiness on my own criteria of a good life, not the standards of other people. ;-)

The 5 Regrets of the Dying


I came across the synopsis of this article in Paulo Coelho's blog. Come to think of it, our ultimate goal in life is to be happy. Let's live our lives the way we've always wanted it to be. Let's not commit the mistake of living someone else's life, as dictated by society or the people who matter to us. It is our life. It is our own happiness. It's never too late to do this.

REGRETS OF THE DYING BY BRONNIE WARE

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:


1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.


2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.


3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.


4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.


5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.


Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol




"Chasing Cars"

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

The Ride


Whizzing past trees, the world becomes a blur
Felt the cool air on my back, adrenaline rush
My thoughts gently danced with the wind
I smelled the rain that kissed the earth
Nature and I ... are finally one.

Thursday, May 24, 2012


Bring it on! ;-)



Source: Quotes and Sayings

Colors


The colors are back
Monotones, brights
Pastels
Red, green, black
You spilled the paint on my path again
Welcome to the real world.

Sunday, May 20, 2012


View the world through a child's eyes ...
Love the world through a woman's heart.

"When angry, count ten before you speak; when very angry, count a hundred."

--- Thomas Jefferson

I've often learned the hard way that we shouldn't speak when we're angry. Words hurt. Hurtful words are seldom forgotten. This is a very useful tip. :-)

Numbers


One, two, three ...
Does it really count?
Life's numbers.

Friday, May 18, 2012

American Idol 2012


Watched American Idol. Boy did these guys deliver! :-)







At The Crossroads


Left or right?
Forward or backward?
Calculating my steps
Deep breath
I smile
I do not fear for He's with me
I walk by faith, not by sight.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Where I Got the Title of My Blog From


I REALLY love this movie! The kids are so adorable! :-)


My Favorite Books


1) If your library was burning, name the 3 books you'd save first.



PRESENCE - Prayers for Busy People
Eat, Pray, Love
3,299 mantras, tips, quotes, and koans for peace and serenity


2) Which books influenced you most about who you are and what you do?


same as above


3) What's your favorite book series?


Harry Potter

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Don't Quit


Don't Quit

by: Unknown Author

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.



Friday, May 11, 2012

Avengers Assemble




If you wanna be immensely entertained and a have a lot of good laughs, watch Avengers Assemble. Chris Evans !!!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Silence and Noise


If silence can speak, it will say ...
I am more deafening than sound ...
More maddening than chaos ...
I want to be heard but I'd rather not ...
I want to say a thousand things but I'd rather not ...
I don't want to disturb your peace ...
I cannot hear my own voice ...
But I have the power of a million words ...
I am silence ...
I am louder than noise ...

Wednesday, May 09, 2012



I miss writing and receiving this stuff ... Sometimes, it's nice to go old-fashioned. :-)

Words


searching in the spaces
between our words,
speaking words
that have meaning
only in silence

Source: Shekhar Kapur's Blog

True Love


"True love is neither physical nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be…… "

Source: Shekhar Kapur's blog

Better Than I


I feel like I'm in a rat race, exploring my options and working towards achieving all these. Sometimes, I stop and take deep breaths. Sometimes, I push myself some more. Whenever I start to doubt why I'm doing all of this, I look at my daughter's face. The answer lies right there. We cannot find the solutions to all our problems in one go. We cannot answer all questions in one eureka moment. To wait patiently for the answer, to wait patiently for what is to come ... It can be extremely difficult. I have realized that sometimes, you just have to accept things the way they are. Do not regret anything. Everything has a purpose. I have realized that everything is fleeting. So, enjoy every happy moment. Do not dwell on things that make you sad. It will pass. Everything will pass ... Lord, you know better than I. I trust in you.




Better Than I

I thought I did what’s right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here

So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear

You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
For you know better than I

If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing I don’t know
Is part of getting through

I try to do what’s best
And faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do
Is put my trust in you

For You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
For you know better than I

I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was you who taught that bird to fly
If I let you reach me will you teach me

For You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
I’ll take what answers you supply
You know better than I


Sunday, May 06, 2012


A great number of my tweets is about my daughter, Mishka. She's my earthly angel, my eternal sunshine and my armor of strength. She chases away those cloudy days, breaks the ice when I'm feeling cold and blue and paints brilliant hues on dull moments. Taken from my past tweets ...

May 5, 2012

Busy morning at home. When asked why she mopped an area of the floor with soap and water, Mishka innocently remarked, "I was helping you to slow down." ☺

May 4, 2012

Mishka just called me her best friend. Aint she sweet? ☺

April 20, 2012

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book works. While reading page 7 aloud, my daughter interrupted me with "How about let's sleep now?" Two thumbs up!

April 17, 2012

Mishka calls everyone "your highness" these days. Cute.

April 7, 2012

Mishka exclaimed, "Octagon!" while looking at the tiles on the road. Thank God for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. ☺

April 6, 2012

I was in the middle of a severe attack of foot cramps when my daughter asked, "Mom, what color is this?" I momentarily forgot the pain. HAHA!

March 30, 2012

Mishka (playing Lego): Lola, this is your house. Please make a castle for me. Make it big. HAHA! Kay Lola, house lang pero sa kanya castle.

March 16, 2012

Told my baby,"I'm not feeling well." She replied,"I'm going to help you feel better. You eat now. I'll go to your office." Haha!

March 10, 2012

Mishka's watching Mister Maker in Arabic and enjoying it. I asked her,"Do you understand a single word?" She said "No." A very patient kid.

March 9, 2012

I was singing in the kitchen. Mishka asked, "Lola, what's that beautiful noise?" Haha!

March 3, 2012

My daughter told me over the phone, "I think I miss you." Haha. Hindi pa sure?!

February 24, 2012

Mishka played "doctor-doctor." She checked my heart's status and told me that it "sounds good." Haha.


 

Friday, May 04, 2012


YUP! FUN!


Well-said Bob Marley. Thanks for sharing this with me Petrocelli (Pet). :-)

“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you.”
― Bob Marley

Whenever confusion sets in ...
Whenever something takes you by surprise ...
For every unaswered question ...
And every unfinished business ...
Accept everything ...
Wait ...
And see what happens ...
Let the circumstances lead you.

It may take days ...
It may take years ...
But no matter what transpires ...
You'll end up in a place ...
Where you are meant to be.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Yellow - Coldplay


OMG! Chris Martin looked SO different back then. Guess this was taken around 13 years ago ...



"The head learns new things, but the heart forevermore practices old experiences."

--- Henry Ward Beecher
Take care of your heart. You only have one life to live and you only have one heart to make it happen.