March 2017 Photo-A-Day Challenge Day 15 - Sharp

I can survive physical pain over emotional pain. Your words can have more power over someone... more than you will ever know.

Inked

She wrote letters to stamp her words in ink.

She froze a moment, a kind word, encouragement.

She made herself available in paper.

A part of her one can always go back to.

A conversation forever replayed in pages.

She will be remembered by the words she left.

'Smell the flowers' 🌸

They say time flies when you’re having fun. I couldn’t agree more. But here’s the catch. Time flies when I’m with you whether we’re having fun, doing nothing or even if we’re not in good terms. *cough LQ * cough

It’s kind of difficult that we have different views on time. You pursue your goals to the point that you sometimes forget to live in the present. To “stop and smell the flowers” as they say. No matter how much I try to explain that concept, you don’t get it. You’re whole being rebels at the thought of pausing. Perhaps it’s because you haven’t seen what time sweeps away when you least notice its passing. Perhaps it’s because you’re the eldest kid and you lead the way that you don’t see the pitfalls of rushing towards that goal too fast, sacrificing precious moments that will never return.

I, on the other hand, have seen countless moments go to waste because proper attention wasn’t given to them. When the person wished to go back to that time, relive it... it’s gone forever. It’s not gonna happen the way one envisions it; slipped from one’s fingers completely. A sad mimicry to that moment to make up for lost time is mostly the remedy but the essence of that moment is lost forever.

I want to avoid such occurrence so I do my best to grab that moment, hold on to it, chase it, crystallize it so I can always go back to it when I need to. I have this great need to document all the important phases of my life because I don’t want to miss anything. I don’t want history to repeat itself. I don’t want to make the same mistake of taking things for granted, of always thinking I have more time with this person because one can never know the changes that might come. Better be safe than sorry. You may be irritated at how zealous I am at being IN THE MOMENT but I don’t care. You can get mad all you like but I’m not taking chances. Never again.

I hope one day you will be able to fully grasp my perspective and learn to slow down and smell the flowers. That you will come to appreciate the moment without suddenly jumping because you remember the rat race towards your goal.

I’m not asking you to stop chasing those goals, just slow down enough that you balance that fiery passion with cool leisure.

Simple pleasures in a box

I’ve seen this picture on the internet of a jar filled with little rolled papers labeled, “Grateful Jar.” It’s a jar filled with everyday little blessings, circumstances or anything to be thankful for everyday. I saw this last year and thought it a great idea! I vowed to make my own “grateful jar” come 2016.

Before the New Year came knocking on our door, I made grateful jars for my partner and a grateful box for me. I just recycled the containers for the little slips of everyday blessings. The two tiny jars I got from my sister before she left for Australia more than a year ago. Back then I didn’t know what to do with them. I want to put something special inside and I couldn’t find anything special enough until last year when I decided to convert the jars into containers of simple pleasures. I decided to make labels for the jars and gave them to my partner. I left instructions in the letter I gave him for our monthsary on what must he do with the jars. I hope he fills them up everyday.

As for me, I used an old pink “jewelry box” that I got from someone that I used to know. It was actually a “freebie” from a chocolate bar? I think it was Cadbury. The bar of chocolate came with a pink box with a mirror inside and two cute keys. I never once used it and just let it gather dust under my garments bag until now. I never wanted to use something that reeks of the past but I don’t like things going to waste so I decided to label it my “Simple Pleasures” box, the same label as I tied around the jars. Everyday I make it a habit to write a simple thing, circumstance, situation or person that I consider a blessing.

There were days that I forgot to write something for the box and I feel guilty the next day. Sometimes, if I remember something that I’m really grateful for the day before, I hastily write it down the next day. However, there are times when I really forget about it or I can’t think of anything happy or pleasurable for the day and I wonder if I should stop.

Later on I realized I should continue writing for the days ahead. It made me think that there may be days when I think there’s no good in it but there will always be better days ahead. I should continue to write because there will always be good in every day and you never know what good tidings the future will bring. At the end of the year I would have fun reading the simple pleasures that made up my year. I guess it’s not yet too late to start yours?

Valentine's Day craze

Today, many people are conscious of celebrating Valentine’s Day like everybody else. I have nothing against celebrating V-Day. In fact, I like the idea of allocating a certain day to do something extra special with your loved one especially if both of you have tight and conflicting schedules. A planned date is good but that’s not an excuse to only show love on that specific day. We must continually show our partners that we love them and make them feel loved. Anyway, back on the topic of V-Day, what I’m saying is don’t be pressured because you didn’t receive what most people got on the day of hearts. Believe me, I know it feels exhilarating to receive flowers and chocolates and all those cheesy stuff especially on valentine’s season. There came a time when I no longer received any and my mood plummeted to the depths of the abyss. Expectations and the feeling of being “in” turned my mood sour. I even went as far as making comparisons which is very nasty of me. I really feel sorry for being immature then.

However, I came to learn that extra effort and little celebrations don’t have to fall on a single day. You can always have those cheesy moments and little surprises any time of the year. If you really want it, you can discuss it with your partner (although that kinda kills the surprise factor but some people really need a hint).

If you didn’t get any chocolate or flowers on Valentine’s Day then don’t be bitter towards people who do. If you receive any, be thankful, if you didn’t, don’t let it make you unhappy. If you received something from someone unexpected then be very thankful because that person thought of giving you something no matter how small or insignificant it is to you. Don’t let one day dictate your relationship. Take control and if you want something then ask without getting needy or angry.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.

Let us show our love for the people we care about everyday of our lives.

Chocolate pop from a lady co-worker. Thank you, ma'am! :)

Pen and paper

        The happy part about writing is that sometimes you have lots of inspiration. You are just flowing with them. You can see something to write about in almost anything you laid eyes upon. The possibilities feel endless and you can’t wait to articulate them properly on pen and paper or get back to your computer so you can type it down before it goes away. You feel creative and you can find words to give life to anything.

        However, the sad part about writing is that sometimes there’s nothing. Literally nothing comes into your head no matter how hard you try to write about something. Even the most art inspiring subject can be so difficult to write about. I guess this is what they call writer’s block? It makes you frustrated, thinking where did all those creative juices go? Where is that artistic side in me that can write about almost anything?

        The remedy? Wait it out. Wait for that moment again when you feel inclined to write again. When the mood takes you. I mean that’s my remedy. Maybe yours is different. That’s why when I am hit with inspiration, I do my best to take note of it because most of the time, I forget it at the end of the day when I’m less busy. I try to remember it again and do my best to express it in writing. That way, I can have a collection of my thoughts. Something to look back on and see the me from a different time.