the blind (and bright) side

An awesome day if there ever was :)

Was going to do my usual “in bed, warm PJs, laptop movies” routine but decided to instead enjoy some time with my sister and go shopping. Oh and what a wonderful day it turned out to be :)

Two-minute splurges, cute ambushes and divine fruitocinnos were just some of the highlights of the day. I can feel this is all just the start of something amazing. :)

Here’s yet another profound dialogue from a movie I watched:

"“Tho’ the soldiers knew. Someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death. Rode the six hundred.” ~Alfred, Lord Tennyson 

Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or mistake, but you're not supposed to question adults, or your coach or your teacher, because they make the rules. Maybe they know best, but maybe they don't. It all depends on who you are, where you come from. Didn't at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up, and joining with the other side? I mean, valley of death that's pretty salty stuff. That's why courage it's tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you're doing something. I mean any fool can have courage. But honour, that's the real reason for you to either do something or don't. It's who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important, then you have both honour and courage, and that's pretty good. I think that's what the writer was saying, that you should hope for courage and try for honour. And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some, too."

Love yous :)

toxic bond

There are some people in this world that I’ll never understand. They’re selfish and self absorbed and inconsiderate. Liars, users, deceivers. They will keep you around as long as they need something and then drop you like a hotcake. They make empty promises, never appreciate and constantly mistreat you. Oh! The list is endless. And I guess at the end of the day, you're the stupid one if you still keep them around.

These kinds of people feed off your happiness like leeches and should be eliminated without a second thought.

Nevermind how wonderful you got along before, or how much you think you're gona miss them. If the situation is harming you, get out! It all goes back to the post about making a decision and not looking back. We’ll never see long-term gains when we’re blinded by short-term pains.

And so what if we cut them out and they don’t even notice? Why would you want to be around someone who doesn’t acknowledge your awesomeness? I can almost guarantee that they will remember and regret their conduct one day. Your fingerprints don’t ever fade from the lives that you have touched. And those people can never be truly happy unless they amend their ways.

But don’t worry about all that. Just look out for number one. All you have in this life is yourself. And don’t let anyone devalue or undermine you or make you think that you’re anything less than amazing.

Oh and: Hey, asshole! Karma is a bitch.

Aah :) that felt good! :P

unforeseen elation

What a wonderfully extraordinary exciting day :) 

It started off rock bottom but got better very quickly.

There’s this old man who insists that I should take part in an upcoming pageant. He got my details via via and even though I refused, he called this morning to invite me to one of their rehearsals. Something to think about I guess.

Went to one of my favourite places- the airport!!!! There’s just something about the place that makes me so happy. Its like when you're there, you have the world at your fingertips. Love it!!!

And the perfect end to my tiring but awesome day was a night out with some guests. My sister seems to think the pageant is a great idea but I’m not sure. It could be something frowned upon because of religion and culture. Mother certainly had a fat lot to say about it. 

I asked some friends what they think of it all and some love the idea whilst others are too self-involved to bother taking an interest in a situation that doesn’t solely revolve around them. Sorry. That’s me venting. More on this tomorrow.

Had so much fun at the airport!!! Yay :)

plow new ground or let the weeds grow

"There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision." William James

Why is it so difficult to stand by certain decisions? It’s like: this is it, this is what has to be done and I’m all pumped and ready to go but then as the time passes, the weakness settles in and before I know it, all my efforts have gone to waste and I’m back to square one. Vicious cycle. It’s like I have no backbone!!!

I’m very disappointed in myself especially because the decision is one that’s purely for my benefit, but I keep second guessing myself.

The thing about decisions is that you have to follow a simple set of rules and if you don’t stray from them, you’ll do just fine.

Firstly it’s all about listing the pros and cons and making sure the decision you’ve made is the correct one. Look at every aspect and try to stay neutral.

You can ask people for advice but never for an answer. The choice has to be yours and you have to believe it’s the best one. After all, there is no one more qualified to make a decision about your life than you.

Then once it’s made, don’t look back! Wondering if you made the right decision is maddening. Do the best with what you have at that moment. And don’t think about whether or not you’ll regret it later. Don't try to reverse it. Learn to trust yourself and live with your decisions.

Don’t back down on a decision because of discontent from other people. Be strong and courageous. You cant please everybody. And don’t compromise for those who never spare a thought for you or who are the problem in the first place.

Make like a rock :)

cut or keep?

So if you know me, you know I’m the kinda person who hates conflict. Fighting for others isn’t an issue. But standing up for myself is. I don’t really know why. Maybe its cuz I don’t want to see other people being taken advantage of but when it comes to myself I’d rather bottle it in and keep the peace. Confrontation makes me uncomfortable. But if something bothers me, it eats away at me and I have to speak my mind. And as soon as I get it out, I feel better and want it all to go away.

But ofcourse it doesn’t work that way. If you say your piece, expect a rebuttal. And then it’s just a whole lotta blows back and forth or if you're lucky, understanding, compromise and reconciliation. And since I hate clashes and the tension that comes along with it, I’m usually the one who apologizes. Whether I’m in the wrong or right, if I care enough about the person it doesn’t matter.

Some might ask why bring up the issues in the first place then, but its all done in the hope that it’ll be resolved quickly and the problem will go away. Sometimes it does- that's good. Other times it escalates the problem and then there are times when it does nothing. The problems are still there and you begin to realize some people are not worth it. If your most sincere efforts are rewarded with hostility, then it only validates your sense that this is not working for you any longer. As I say time and time again, cut your losses where your returns are low.

Don’t worry about anyone who wont worry about you. At the same time, know when to let go of things, especially if fighting feels like you're cutting your nose to spite your face. Not all faults have to be pointed out.  Always be objective. 

Basically it's just about thinking if being without a person will be beneficial (in the long term) to you or will it make you unhappy. And go from there. 

dear liar

You suck. You said you could fix anything.

Instead I'm f*ed. You made things even worse for me.

If I had balls I'd tell you get away from me.
Guess I'm not smart. I let you unnerve me. I let you control me.

Afraid the truth would hurt me. When it's you that hurts me more.

You're dumb.

You think you've got the best of me.

You think you won.

Misread my vulnerability. Now get the hell away from me.

I've learned your art. Won't let you unnerve me. Won't let you control me. The truth will only free me. And your lies won't hurt no more.

Get outa my head. Get outa my mind.You're nothing but trouble. Get outa my life.

silent treatment

There are times when silence has the loudest voice. The most powerful scream. A source of extreme strength and immense pain. 

Did you hear how much she said, by saying nothing at all?

"In human communication the tragedy begins, not when there is misunderstanding about words, but when silence is not understood." ~Henry David Thoreau

Can you really forgive if you can't forget?

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free. Because to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Sincere forgiveness isn't coloured with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time.

A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain. He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass. 

Forgiving is life's toughest work. Forgiving seems almost unnatural. Our sense of fairness tells us people should pay for the wrong they do. But remember, it is only the weak that can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

Why is it easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend?

your pants are on fire

The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted. If we were all given by magic the power to read each other's thoughts, I suppose the first effect would be to dissolve all friendships. 

Some people will not tolerate honesty in communication.  They would rather defend their dishonesty on the grounds that it might hurt others.  Therefore, having rationalized their phoniness into nobility, they settle for superficial relationships. It’s these people who think it permissible to tell white lies and will soon grow colour-blind. They begin with making falsehood appear like truth, and end with making truth itself appear like falsehood.

It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief that lying has produced in society.  When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind as to subscribe his belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. 

Remember, a lie may take care of the present, but it has no future.  And when you stretch the truth… watch out for the snapback.

topsy-turvydom

What a chaotic crazy mad Thurs!

Day before a long weekend, bad weather and abysmal drivers make for a frustrating combination!!! Had no chance to even delve into my new mobile.

But there’s something about days like these that despite the exhaustion are very satisfying. Probably cuz they’re so productive. I’m probably the most superlative procrastinator in town but I always feel guilty about it. So yes… hectic days make me feel less shamefaced. Haha. I doubt anyone can relate to that…

Am so glad it’s holiday time. Bring on the lazy :)

welcome relief...

Aah today was a good day. I definitely wouldn’t mind more like these. I guess it's like coming up from under a pool of misery for a breath of fresh air. 

The thing about "not appreciating all the good you have before it’s gone" is, that after that, small things tend to bring you so much joy. And you definitely wont be taking any of it for granted. Simple things can make your day a great one :)

Finally got my new phone (second in 2 weeks) but have to endure the outdated routine of charging it before use. Fun drive to go fetch it though- thank you monkeys.

What’s lamebook?

bittersweet

Pleasure alloyed with pain. It’s the weirdest feeling to experience. To be sad and happy at the exact same time. To literally be wiping away a constant flow of tears but smiling because you know everything is going to be okay. Or somehow you’ve convinced yourself that it will be. You don’t really know where the strength comes from but you’re glad it’s there. Because if it wasn’t, there would be nothing stopping you from completely falling apart. 

Sometimes we need to be hurt in order to grow. We must fail in order to know.  We must lose in order to gain. Some lessons are learned best through pain.

Because without the bitter, baby, the sweet ain't as sweet.

anger...

I hate liars.

I hate liars.

I hate liars.

I don’t know how many more times I can stress that point. If I ask a question I expect an honest answer. But instead I get to hear the truth from other people.

“It is better to be told a hurtful truth than to be told a comforting lie. In the end, the truth will make its way out and will hurt much more than it ever had to.”

It just upsets me beyond comprehension. Why must people twist situations and bend the truth? Just be straight forward and honest!!!! Grrrr. The truth ALWAYS comes out. Always always always always. Don't people get that????

"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you”

Actually I don't know who or what to believe anymore. It's so frustrating. Do I really need to go around like a paranoid freak, doubting and questioning everything people say so as not to be duped like this again? That's not right. People have no morality!!!!! My faith in the virtue of humanity is dissipating fast.

tough lessons...

My broken heart doesn’t make me bitter. It makes me realize that if I wanted so much to be with the wrong person, how beautiful it will be when the right one comes along…

strength...

You have to forgive to forget, and forget, to feel again.

 And even if it kills me - I’m going to smile

choice...

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

dealing...

It is foolish to tear one's hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness. What is broken is broken, and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best, than mend it and see the broken pieces as long as I live.

i put it out there...

You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

sine vino veritas...

That’s it. I’ve just about had it. I’m tired of faffing around, pretending everything’s hunky-dory. It’s time to stop beating around the bush and come clean. I haven’t been myself lately. Some of you have been perceptive enough to already notice. I’m tired of putting it all out there in a round about way when I don’t think my point has come across at all. There shall be no subterfuges or masquerading in this post.

My health is declining and my heart is quickly following suit. Consequently my “will to fight and live” has jumped on the deadly bandwagon too. I’m appalled at my behaviour! Who have I become? I am strong-minded and able bodied and this type of conduct is beneath me. Why have I let go of my fierce and independent self and dissipated into a weak and needy person?

There have been a lot of WHYS racing through my mind lately. All conflicting and emotional.

I don’t know how to be a part of something, know the ins and outs, be needed, be included, get attached and then abruptly be shut out. Can anything make one feel more worthless?

That is fine. I accept everything that comes my way. I will fight the world to be in a person’s life but I will not fight the person I'm fighting for.

And if we truly want someone to be happy and if we consider how much of our time we spend praying for them, then why don’t we step back and let them be when that’s what they ask for? If it’s our bruised egos holding on, then we should be ashamed. Because if you say you care about someone then it doesn’t matter how you feel- as long as they are okay.

That’s a true and selfless sacrifice.

And I’m all about sacrifices.

Keep reading.

Liars are the cause of all the sins in the world.

Quite possibly the worst weekend of my life. Near death experiences are really not my thing. More on that later. Pretty peeved at the moment. It seems people throw around words and see no value in promises made and no harm in finger pointing fallaciously. 

You cannot go around saying things in the spur of the moment and then when the situation no longer suits you, go back on your word. Life doesn’t work that way. Learn to take responsibility for your actions. And stand by what you say. Don’t make promises if you know there’s a chance you won’t be able to keep them. Don’t false accuse if you know there’s a chance you may be wrong.

A man’s word is his honour. Unless there’s a gun pointed at your head there is no reason for you to say anything unless you’re a hundred percent sincere. Saying things like: “Oh it was wrong of me to say that to you. I’m sorry if I hurt you” or “You shouldn’t take everything so seriously” afterwards doesn’t make what you did okay. It just makes you a spineless, gutless, heartless, imp. Because there was no reason for you to say those things in the first place. So why create that situation only to cower away later?

Often these people shrug or laugh it off, making us feel like idiots, doubt ourselves and even feel ashamed for “making it an issue”.  Never thinking how the other person may be feeling- as long as they’re okay. It’s selfish and inhuman. I say just leave them with their Satan-like qualities and watch as they eventually self-destruct.

Don’t be discouraged. You might feel like you don’t know who or what to believe anymore but trust your instincts, follow your gut, don’t be too skeptical and perhaps run a CBC?  Haha.

Don’t be gullible my loves. Your heart may be pure but the world isn’t. If you’re broken because someone has disappointed you, shake it off, learn from their mistakes, don’t do unto others what has been done to you and remember they have to live with themselves forever but you can still get away from them scot-free.

Keep reading.

mind boggling...

Why do we promise ourselves to learn from our previous errors, yet fall prey to the same mistakes again again?

Why are we willing to make sacrifices so readily to make others happy? Is it because in everything; we do to others what we would have them do unto us? What is it that makes us think something will change and our efforts will suddenly be appreciated? What makes us think that this time it’ll be worth it, this time it’ll be different?

Why do we point fingers and call someone selfish for not considering how we feel? Are we, in fact, the selfish ones for not looking past our personal wants and thinking about their needs instead?

Why do we say we agree and understand when we don’t?

Why do we wish for things that we’re told can never be? How can we still want it so badly anyway?

Why can’t we forget promises and forego feelings when we have been appealed to do so?

Why are we willing to make all sacrifices but not the ones that are asked of us?

Why are all the things that were once ours and made us smile, are now the things we cry and yearn for?

Why do the memories of the good times keep us going even though we’ve been requested to give up?

Why can’t we just forget the good times instead of allowing it to feed us false hope?

Why is it okay for one party to chop and change things and the other expected to just deal with it?

Why is it that someone can mean the world to us but to them we don’t matter?

Why do we care so much when they forget about us?

Why is it so easy for them to carry on without us whilst we lag behind, missing them more every second?

Why do we try to appease their fear of loss by showing how much we care and by always being there, when our own fears are disregarded and overlooked?

Why did we never ask for anything in return? In doing so, have we made ourselves objects to be used when a need arises and chucked aside when it’s fulfilled?

Why do we believe the best in people and naively trust them to never disappoint us?

Why do we think we are deserving when all the signs say we are not?

Why did we forget that when something is too good to be true, it probably is?

Why are things brought into our lives only to be ripped away?

Why can’t things just be easy and uncomplicated?

Why haven’t we learnt that expectations lead to disappointment?

Why do people let their fears stop them from doing what they want?

Why can’t we exercise patience, stop overthinking, stop questioning and take things as they come?

breakeven....

Thanks to repetitive local radio station advertising, this one has been stuck in my head for a while.

I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing
'Cause I got time while he got freedom
'Cause when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven

His best days will be some of my worst
While I'm wide awake he has no trouble sleeping
'Cause when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven, even, no

What am I suppose to do
When the best part of me was always you and
What am I suppose to say
When I'm all choked up and you're okay

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
'Cause he's moved on while I'm still grieving
And when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven, even, no

You got her heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I'm tryna make sense of what little remains, oh
'Cause you left me with no love and no love to my name

I'm falling to pieces
(One's still in love while the other one's leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
('Cause when a heart breaks, no it don't breakeven)

Oh, it don't breakeven, no

practice what you preach...

So last night all this hoohaa was playing on my mind causing me to question everything. There were lots of why me’s. I’m not one to get enveloped in negativity and so I can literally feel this stuff eating away at me. I’ve had bricks thrown at me all my life and I’ve built strong foundations with them. But being a passionate and very sensitive person, sometimes I stumble in my quest for world peace and contentment.

I told someone a little of what I was thinking and was made to feel like an ungrateful spoiled brat. Ok well not that I was accused of it directly but you could tell it was heading in that direction. And I take offence to that because I am always appreciative. I may not be as attached to certain things as others are but that doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for them. To a certain extent I mask my emotions so as not upset others but that doesn’t mean I can keep everything bottled up inside and delude myself into thinking its normal and healthy. Eh erm.

We’re all allowed a day (or two) down in the dumps.

You can’t be happy just because other people look at your life and expect you to be. A person may seem to have everything in life but how would you know what they are feeling within. 

“…oh in all her splendor she is but merely an empty vessel floating on a bright blue and sometimes tumultuous sea…”

So no, I’m not going to feel bad for being human. And I will also add that someone needs to take heed to their own advice. Especially about how “everything always works out in the end. And if it doesn’t we had no control in it. So why worry and stress so much about things that are not in our control . . .!”

Yes, why worry and stress and give up and write things off before you have even given them a chance to happen? I’m jus saying.

But I will admit, the chat did help me realize I need to get my act together. Time’s running out and I need to get my novel published. Just overflowing with inspiration and ideas. I’m so excited :)

Keep reading.

living in pandora's box

Thinking about yesterday’s blog, I’ve realized that perhaps books and movies have these fairytale endings to keep reminding us that no matter what happens, everything is going to work out. Maybe not in the way we desire, but always in the way it should and the way it’s meant to be and the way that’s best for us. 

So on to today’s post…

You can have all the riches in the world, good health, the greatest friends and the best family, but when it comes to inner happiness, sometimes none of this matters. Not even your F&Fs.

Because the heart wants what the heart wants and the mind will always be muted in this internal battle. Why is the world offering you a bouquet of lilies when all you need and want is a single rose?

At the risk of sounding ungrateful, you’d go as far as to say nothing else matters but this heavy weight on your heart. It seems to have put a damper on the rest of the world. The television doesn’t interest you, the food doesn’t taste like it should, and socializing is a torturous pretence.

Is it merely the fact that you want what you can’t have? Has it consumed you so much that you’ve deceived yourself into thinking that this is the only thing that’ll bring you happiness? Is it the thrill of the chase? I can tell you now that there’s nothing exciting about waking up in tears, aching from an emptiness that is peppered by the feeling of patheticness and stupidity and disappointment in yourself because you know you’re above this desperation.

Maybe it’s just that you're tired of always having happiness dangled in your face and then snatched away as soon as you begin to enjoy it. Unlike wanting something you never had, the feeling of wanting back what you did have is far worse. It’s not that you didn’t appreciate it while you had it so why was it taken away? What’s the point? Is it to teach you that you were happy before and you can still be happy without? How many thousands of times have you taken that class? So why whenever you’re strong and content, must all this happen again to make you feel worthless and cause you to question whether you deserve to be happy at all?

Perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to realize that all this sadness and pining ain’t worth it and that it’s boring pursuing something that’s out of your reach. This can only happen if you stop amidst your tears and start listing all the wonderful things in life that you’re grateful for.

“You can't always get what you want.
But if you try sometimes
You just might find
You get what you need.” ~The Rolling Stones

I know it’s difficult to see the positive when you’re under a blanket of self-pity or self-loathing and despair. Maybe now would be a good time to watch or read something with a happily ever after. There’s a likelihood that it’ll leave you with some hope. It’s the one thing we have left at the bottom of Pandora’s box.

Keep reading.

unrequited love

"And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you."

(Eponine tries to smile again, and dies.)

Ah! One of the most profound lines of soppy literature. And it’s not even by Shakespeare! It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I happen to be partial to stories like these. I hate fairytale endings. I understand that it’s sweet escape from the harsh realities of life and what not but that’s about the only good you’ll get from it. Idealistic and dreamy tales only serve to deceive the reader into thinking that is how life is and how love should be. Easy and Happy-go-lucky. That’s unrealistic. I’m not suggesting that in life we don’t get fairytale endings. I’m just advising you not to set yourself up for disappointment. We all have to struggle and make sacrifices and hurt till it aches in our bones. There are the rare few who never go through any of this but for the rest of us it’s all fighting back tears with patience. So yeah, now and again, it’s most satisfying to read something that perhaps we can genuinely relate to.

I apologize for any hostility exuding out of my post. It’s just that sometimes when someone tells you “Don’t worry it’ll be okay” you just want to punch them in the face.

Yet… one has to have faith.

When are they going to invent the memory eraser?????

Keep reading.

règles de la misère....

“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.  It’s what you think about.”

People spend all of their time and money adding positive externals to their lives when their internals are still in the negatives.

So with that in mind, here are some ways to stay unhappy forever.

Dwell on things that happened in the past.

Obsess yourself with all the things that might happen in the future.

Complain about problems instead of taking the necessary steps to resolve them.

Fear change and resist it.

Belittle yourself.

Hang out with other people who belittle you.

Try to control everything and then worry about the things you can’t control.

Lie to yourself and those around you.

Keep doing the same thing over and over again.

Be lazy and follow the path of least resistance.

Hold onto anger.  Never forgive anyone.

Always be right.  Never let anyone else be more right than you.

Compare yourself unfavorably to those who you feel are more successful.

Let small issues snowball into big problems.

Never learn anything new.

Never take responsibility for your own actions.

Blame everyone around you.

Don’t ask for directions and don’t ask questions.

Don’t let anyone help you.

Quit when the going gets tough.

Be suspicious.  Trust no one..

Never spend any time alone.

Don’t help others unless you have to.  Do only the things that benefit you directly.

Hang out with people who complain about everything.

Focus on what you don’t want to happen.

Fear the things you don’t fully understand.

Focus on the problems.

Think about all the things you don’t have.

Read or watch lots of depressing news from broadcast media.

Never exercise.

Never check-up on your health.

Setup your lifestyle so it revolves around money.

Don’t say what you mean.  Don’t mean what you say.

Frown.

Never tell anyone how you feel or what you’re thinking.

Always put your own needs on the back burner.

Make others feel bad about themselves/ disregard their feelings.

Don’t play, just work.

Let your hobbies go.

Let your close relationships go.

Never finish what you start.

Take everything personally.

Never say, “I’m sorry.”  Never say, “I love you.”

Remember the insults.  Forget the compliments.

Let it all bottle up inside.

Fail to plan.

Don’t dream.

Don’t think about the future at all.

Always disregard other people’s opinions and suggestions.

Make promises you can’t keep.

Don’t decide on anything, ever.

Just keep going and going and going.  And never ever stop.

If you're doing the above and misery is what you're aiming for, congratulations you're on the right track.

free the mind...

      How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

 

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?

Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?

What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

If not now, then when?

Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?

The Tree and the Reed

Aesop's Fables

"Well, little one," said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, "why do you not plant your feet deeply in the ground, and raise your head boldly in the air as I do?"

"I am contented with my lot," said the Reed. "I may not be so grand, but I think I am safer."

"Safe!" sneered the Tree. "Who shall pluck me up by the roots or bow my head to the ground?" 

But it soon had to repent of its boasting, for a hurricane arose which tore it up from its roots, and cast it a useless log on the ground, while the little Reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over. 

Obscurity often brings safety.

for jokes...

Read this somewhere. Haha:)

A married couple went to he hospital to have their baby delivered. Upon their arrival, the doctor said he had invented a new machine that would transfer a portion of the mother’s labor pain to the father.

He asked if they were willing to try it out. They were both very much in favour of it. The doctor set the pain transfer dial to 10% for starters, explaining that even 10% was probably more pain than the father had ever experienced before.

But as the labor progressed, the husband felt fine and asked the doctor to go ahead and bump it up a notch. The doctor then adjusted the machine to 20% pain transfer. The husband was still feeling fine.

The doctor checked the husband’s blood pressure and was amazed at how well he was doing. At this point they decided to try for 50%.

The husband continued to feel quite well. Since it was obviously helping out his wife considerably, the husband encouraged the doctor to transfer ALL the pain to him.

The wife delivered a healthy baby with virtually no pain.

She and her husband were ecstatic.

When they got home, the mailman was lying dead on their porch.

thunderstorm to the heart...

Disappointment is the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations to manifest. The best way to deal with it is by accepting it. We must accept disappointment as inevitable but never lose hope.

No matter how careful or positive we are, we are bound to experience grief, suffering, pain, fear, and anxiety. It’s part of life. Sort of like the price we pay for happiness. I always say: the space between the tears we cry is the laughter that keeps us alive.

Also, don't look inward when you should be looking outward, and don't look outward when you should be looking inward.

Meaning, don’t blame yourself for things that are out of your control. No matter how bad your situation is, just because you feel like you’ve been through the worst of everything, doesn’t necessarily make it true. You don’t know what the next person is going through. Some things are out of our hands. Appreciate your blessings.

And the reverse also applies. Don’t blame others for something you should be taking responsibility for. When you see your own weaknesses, you'll be able to accept the weaknesses of others. Communicate. Forgive. Forget.

Relish in your battles. Whether you win or lose. If you lose, learn from your errors. Life is a maze, but it’s also amazing. You will not enjoy or win at cards if all you do is complain about the hand you're dealt.

Abandon the search for “perfect”. Don’t be foolish. Only God is perfect. If this is what you are waiting for, you’ll never be satisfied.

Keep your expectations real people. And stay optimistic.

Keep reading.