a chance...

At times, especially after going through something particularly tough, we find ourselves trying to bring a sense of purpose into our lives and renew our very beings. A perfect time that we can use as an excuse for doing this is at the new year. Every new year gives us a chance..

to restore hope and faith in ourselves and others
to gather all that we have learned from our experiences and set ourselves to move ahead, achieve and succeed
to make amends and end rivalries
to be open to new perspectives and approach our lives in a different manner
to face our whatever comes our way with belief that we can get through

Fortunately, we don’t need a new years to get the chance to do the most important thing: turn to the path of God; because when we do, everything else will fall into place. No new years needed =)

key to happiness

Imagine if you were suddenly told that you had only one more week to live and you couldn't tell anybody about it. How would you react? What would take priority and what would you value? Family would probably be the answer for most of you. Maybe to speak with a kinder voice to your parents, clean the house up a bit so when mom comes home she can be pleasantly surprised, and her already aching back can be saved from the extra work. Maybe have an actual conversation with dad? ask about his childhood, his fears, hopes and dreams. Give him a chance to think and talk about something other than work, money, etc. What about siblings? ask them how their lives are going. If they're keeping up with school and work..how they're doing emotionally? What are their plans for the near future? Visit or call up your grandparents, aunts, uncles. Ask how the kids are, how work is going. I bet that would put a smile on their face..who doesn't like being remembered?

Are those petty arguments with friends even such a big deal anymore? Wouldn't you want to forgive and forget and even ask them for forgiveness for the problems and hurt you might have caused them? I would. I also would pray to God because i wouldn't be able to ask things for the ones i love for much longer. Maybe pray for mom's worry to ease, dad's stress, siblings' success, cousin's marriage to work out, anything. Also, wouldn't you wanna pray to God? to the one who has given you all that you have including the time you have had so far in this world?

During that week, maybe you would wake up everyday with a smile, thanking God for that day, being grateful to wake up in a warm bed and look forward to a warm breakfast. Maybe you'll smile with every moment, appreciating, and being a positive presence for everyone around you. maybe you'll watch those movies and read those books you never had time for. Maybe you'll even do something crazy like jump on the couch for no reason at all, eat you're favorite dessert, sing that song. Once, maybe you'll find time to sit outside and just..breathe. breathe in the fresh air, watch the sky, and the beauty all around you which is solid proof of God's wonder.

Unfortunately, we don't always get a warning to if we have one more year, month, day, or hour. That's why, even though it can be difficult at times, we should try to live everyday like it could be our last. Do all the things you wish, keep strong relationships with loved ones, be grateful, smile, and be close to God. By doing all that, you're praising God. And we want to try to praise God every chance we get because in the end, He's the one all of us will eventually return to.

p.s - a quote i came across that might help us all. =)

Happiness keeps you Sweet
Trials keep you Strong
Sorrows keep you Human
Life keeps you Humble
Success keeps you Glowing
But Only
God keeps you Going

who are we

Are we the songs we listen to
Or the books we read
The movies we see
Or the people we talk to
the cars we drive
Or the jobs we work
With so many external forces
do we really find ourselves on this self searching journey?
Or just lose ourselves even more

so much..

Have you ever felt so strongly about so many things at once that you think you could write a book just to cover one topic? And then.. when you try to speak about them .. nothing comes out? It feels like you have nothing on your mind instead of having more than just about everything. You try to focus, get on one subject so it seems like you know what you’re talking about, and you try so hard to get it together, to shout out to people what you think they should know. what is too important to be kept inside. How can we pick? Global warming, poverty, rape, murder, psychopaths, war, genocide, religion; how to choose? We try to say what has never been thought..but do we try to think about what has already been said?

purpose

Is it really worth it? Feeling all that anger, jealousy, hurt, doubt. Worrying about all the little things? What will they think of me? what should I wear? Why can’t I be as pretty as her, why can’t I have that guy? Is all that really our purpose in life? What do we get in the end? We all end up under this earth at one point. All the wealth we’ve earned, the friends we have.. none of that is with us. Making a mountain out of sand..is it really worth it? Letting the essence of this world reach within us..being able to feel the satisfaction of personal success and completion. That’s what this life is really about. That’s what we’re meant to be doing in this small part of our existence. One human can’t control or change everything. But if a hundred..a thousand..a million people at once can work together ..anything is achievable. If we can all aim towards a main goal..a moral cause..anything is possible.

..

So many thoughts…and no words
So many steps…and no distance
How far do we get
By putting up the net?
How high do we go
By not letting someone know?

-awakening-

Waking up to the brightness and warmth of the sun
After long stormy years
Having gained strength and wisdom
Is an awakening anyone will welcome
Knowing that this joy won’t last
But always having the weapon to fight
Walking at your own pace
But remembering to fill the needs around you
Accepting all that is
But changing what might be
New storms will pass
But the memory of the sun
will always help to keep going
knowing that with enough strength
the light will soon shine again