Dear Jo (in the future),
Here's a letter from your younger self. I'm writing this on the 21st of March 2009. I'm feeling slightly tipsy right now - which is a pretty good feeling because I feel free from any inhibitions. I think I'm pretty fun when I'm tipsy because I talk more, laugh more and I'm definitely very honest. Ask me any question and I'll tell you no lies! Hopefully, you are like this too. Are you?
Anyway, the reason I'm writing this is to serve as a reminder. A reminder for what, you ask? A reminder that in your life, you've been pretty blessed. Remember the time, you prayed to God with all your heart that He will surround you with true, inspiring and genuine friends. Guess what, He did. He couldn't have done better because right now, I have pretty amazing friends in my life.
I've gone through many rough patches. I've done things I wished I didn't do. Things have happened that I wished didn't happen. But I know with all my heart that God from above is watching over me. I've met all these amazing people. Sometimes, I forget who they really are. Sometimes, we rub shoulders a little too often and I get irritated. But when I stand back, I realise that these people are so amazing. I've so much to learn from many of these individuals. They inspire me in so many ways. Through some, I've learnt the meaning of unconditional love. Through some, I've learnt how to forgive. I've learnt how to be more patient. I've learnt what it means to sacrifice. I've learnt what it means to think outside the box. I've learnt how to be less judgemental. In short, I've met so many amazing people.
Sometimes, I feel alone. Sometimes, I think no one cares or no one understands. How irrational can I get sometimes. So dear you, every time you feel this way, please refer to this letter that I'm writing to you now. Chances are, you'll feel this way sometimes. Hopefully, not very often. But when you do, know that God have answered your prayers once upon a time and He has placed wonderful people in your life. Sometimes, you have to look beyond the superficial differences and focus on their positive points. When I was 14, someone who was dear to me told me something important. He said, "Do not disregard anyone because there's always something to learn from someone.' I still battle with that but I'm trying. I realised that it's easier for me to be cynical now than when I was younger. So I figure that, it will probably be even easier for you to be cynical as you are older than I am. I'm hoping that didn't happen, did it? Well, remember to take care of your heart. Keep it soft. Remember, how blessed you are and life will seem a little easier.
Kind regards,
Joanne (21 March 2009)
Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspirational. Show all posts
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Goal #19: Valuable lessons from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Part II)
On the viscous cycles in life and dying among the living
“I’m drinking,” said the drinker, with a mournful air.
“Why are you drinking?” said the little prince.
“To forget,” replied the drinker.
“To forget what?” enquired the little prince, who was already starting to feel sorry for him.
“To forget that I’m ashamed,” confessed the drinker, hanging his head.
“Ashamed of what?” persisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.
“Ashamed of drinking!” concluded the drinker, retreating into permanent silence.
And the little prince went away, perplexed.
On life's purpose and storing riches
“And of what use is it to you to own the stars?”
“Its use is to make me rich.”
“And of what use is it to you to be rich?”
“To buy more stars, if there are any more to be discovered.”
…
“If I own a scarf,” [the little prince] said, “I can put it around my neck and take it with me. If I own a flower, I can gather my flower and take it with me. But you cannot gather the stars!”
“No, but I can deposit them in the bank.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I write down the number of stars I own on a piece of paper. Then I lock this paper up in a drawer.”
“And is that all?”
“That is enough!”
“It is amusing,” thought the little prince. “It is even rather poetic. But it’s not terribly serious.”
…
“I myself own a flower,” he persisted, “which I water everyday. I own three volcanoes, which I sweep out every week. It is of use to my volcanoes, and it is of use to my flower, that I own them. But you are of no use to the stars.”
The businessman opened his mouth, but found nothing to say in answer, and the little prince went away.
“Grown-ups are decidedly altogether extraordinary,” he merely said to himself, as he continued on his voyage.
On selflessness and the perplexity of selfishness
‘This fellow,’ said the little prince to himself, as he continued on his travels, “would be laughed at by all others: by the king, by the conceited man, by the drinker, by the businessman. However, he is the only one who does not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is preoccupied with something rather than himself.”
On seeking pleasure in the smallest things
You see the fields of corn? Well, I don’t eat bread. Corn is of no use to me. Corn fields remind me of nothing. Which is sad. On the other hand, your hair is the colour of gold. So think how wonderful it will be when you have tamed me. The corn, which is golden, will remind me of you. And I shall come to love the sound of the wind in the field of corn…
On loving because she/he is yours to love
The little prince went of to look at the [5000] roses again.
“You are nothing like my rose,” he told them. “As yet you are nothing at all. Nobody has tamed you, and you have tamed nobody. You are as my fox used to be. He was just a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I made him my friend, and now he is unique in the world.”
And the roses felt uncomfortable.
“You are beautiful, but you are empty,” he went on.
“One could not die for you. Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But in herself she matters more than all of you together, since it is she that I watered; since it is she that I placed under the glass dome; since it is she that I sheltered with the screen; since it is she whose caterpillars I killed. Since it is she that I listened to, when she complained, or boasted, or when she was simply being silent. Since it is she who is my rose.”
On internal beauty
“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it is hiding a well.”
To my surprise, I suddenly understood for the first time this mysterious radiation of the sands. When I was a little boy I lived in a very old house where, according to hearsay, a treasure was buried. Of course, nobody ever discovered it, nor perhaps did they even look for it. But it cast a spell over that whole house. My home was hiding a secret in the depths of its heart.
“Yes,” I said to the little prince. “Whether it is a house, or stars, or the desert, what makes their beauty is invisible!”
On the most important lesson: Of heart matters
“Goodbye,” said the fox. “Now here is my secret, very simply: you can only see things clearly with your heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“It is the time you have wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“People have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget. You become responsible, for ever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose.”
“I’m drinking,” said the drinker, with a mournful air.
“Why are you drinking?” said the little prince.
“To forget,” replied the drinker.
“To forget what?” enquired the little prince, who was already starting to feel sorry for him.
“To forget that I’m ashamed,” confessed the drinker, hanging his head.
“Ashamed of what?” persisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.
“Ashamed of drinking!” concluded the drinker, retreating into permanent silence.
And the little prince went away, perplexed.
On life's purpose and storing riches
“And of what use is it to you to own the stars?”
“Its use is to make me rich.”
“And of what use is it to you to be rich?”
“To buy more stars, if there are any more to be discovered.”
…
“If I own a scarf,” [the little prince] said, “I can put it around my neck and take it with me. If I own a flower, I can gather my flower and take it with me. But you cannot gather the stars!”
“No, but I can deposit them in the bank.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I write down the number of stars I own on a piece of paper. Then I lock this paper up in a drawer.”
“And is that all?”
“That is enough!”
“It is amusing,” thought the little prince. “It is even rather poetic. But it’s not terribly serious.”
…
“I myself own a flower,” he persisted, “which I water everyday. I own three volcanoes, which I sweep out every week. It is of use to my volcanoes, and it is of use to my flower, that I own them. But you are of no use to the stars.”
The businessman opened his mouth, but found nothing to say in answer, and the little prince went away.
“Grown-ups are decidedly altogether extraordinary,” he merely said to himself, as he continued on his voyage.
On selflessness and the perplexity of selfishness
‘This fellow,’ said the little prince to himself, as he continued on his travels, “would be laughed at by all others: by the king, by the conceited man, by the drinker, by the businessman. However, he is the only one who does not seem to me ridiculous. Perhaps that is because he is preoccupied with something rather than himself.”
On seeking pleasure in the smallest things
You see the fields of corn? Well, I don’t eat bread. Corn is of no use to me. Corn fields remind me of nothing. Which is sad. On the other hand, your hair is the colour of gold. So think how wonderful it will be when you have tamed me. The corn, which is golden, will remind me of you. And I shall come to love the sound of the wind in the field of corn…
On loving because she/he is yours to love
The little prince went of to look at the [5000] roses again.
“You are nothing like my rose,” he told them. “As yet you are nothing at all. Nobody has tamed you, and you have tamed nobody. You are as my fox used to be. He was just a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I made him my friend, and now he is unique in the world.”
And the roses felt uncomfortable.
“You are beautiful, but you are empty,” he went on.
“One could not die for you. Of course, an ordinary passerby would think my rose looked just like you. But in herself she matters more than all of you together, since it is she that I watered; since it is she that I placed under the glass dome; since it is she that I sheltered with the screen; since it is she whose caterpillars I killed. Since it is she that I listened to, when she complained, or boasted, or when she was simply being silent. Since it is she who is my rose.”
On internal beauty
“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it is hiding a well.”
To my surprise, I suddenly understood for the first time this mysterious radiation of the sands. When I was a little boy I lived in a very old house where, according to hearsay, a treasure was buried. Of course, nobody ever discovered it, nor perhaps did they even look for it. But it cast a spell over that whole house. My home was hiding a secret in the depths of its heart.
“Yes,” I said to the little prince. “Whether it is a house, or stars, or the desert, what makes their beauty is invisible!”
On the most important lesson: Of heart matters
“Goodbye,” said the fox. “Now here is my secret, very simply: you can only see things clearly with your heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.”
“It is the time you have wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important.”
“People have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget. You become responsible, for ever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose.”
Monday, February 16, 2009
Conversations
“Do you know how I know I loved him? I knew I loved him because I couldn’t pinpoint reasons why I loved him. I loved him simply because I loved him. It’s as simple as that.”
“And now I know how love feels like again. For a moment, I thought I forgot.”
“And now I know how love feels like again. For a moment, I thought I forgot.”
Goal #19: Valuable lessons from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
On pure love
If someone loves a flower of which there is only one example among all the millions and millions of stars, that is enough to make him happy when he looks up at the night sky. He says to himself: “Somewhere out there is my flower.” But if a sheep eats the flower, it’s as though all the stars have suddenly gone out!
On wisdom
“In that case, you shall judge yourself,” replied the king. “That is the most difficult thing of all. It is far more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself correctly, then you are truly a man of wisdom.”
On grown-ups necessity for validation
“But you are all alone on this planet!”
“Do me the kindness: admire me all the same!”
“I admire you,” said the prince, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, “but can that be of any interest to you?”
And the little prince went away.
“Grown-ups are decidedly very odd,” he merely observed to himself, as he continued on his voyage.
If someone loves a flower of which there is only one example among all the millions and millions of stars, that is enough to make him happy when he looks up at the night sky. He says to himself: “Somewhere out there is my flower.” But if a sheep eats the flower, it’s as though all the stars have suddenly gone out!
On wisdom
“In that case, you shall judge yourself,” replied the king. “That is the most difficult thing of all. It is far more difficult to judge oneself than to judge others. If you succeed in judging yourself correctly, then you are truly a man of wisdom.”
On grown-ups necessity for validation
“But you are all alone on this planet!”
“Do me the kindness: admire me all the same!”
“I admire you,” said the prince, with a slight shrug of his shoulders, “but can that be of any interest to you?”
And the little prince went away.
“Grown-ups are decidedly very odd,” he merely observed to himself, as he continued on his voyage.
Friday, February 13, 2009
My first and last letter to you
Dear you,
Remember the first time we spoke that fateful morning? We were both waiting for the library doors to open and I stood next to you. The foyer was dead quiet. The few people there were just sleepily waiting for the doors to open. But you turned to me and asked me aloud whether we have done any classes together before. I told you that I didn't think so. You said that we did. We took the EPM subject together the semester before and had classes on Wednesdays at 2.15 pm. I was surprised that you remembered such detailed information. You asked me whether I studied law. I said yes and asked you the same question in return. You said no.
So I asked you why were you carrying so many law books. You told me that you were helping this girl with her 5 000 word essay. Subsequently, you asked me for my phone number so that we could study together. Before I could mutter a word, you quickly told me not to worry as the girl you were doing the essay for was not your girlfriend, even though you slogged away helping her with it. I was stunned and did not mutter a word for a few seconds. You see my dear friend, I was not used to such brutal honesty. Normally conversations were covered with layers of pure flattery, lies and bush-beating to what conventional society call social etiquette. And that was our first conversation. An honest one.
Dear friend, it's exactly 24 days to your birthday. When you announced that you were going to have a big celebration for your birthday this year and seemed so hyped up about it, I was amused. Simply because, Ive never seen someone so excited about one's 23rd birthday 7 months in advanced. You see, seeking pleasure in the simplest things is rare these days, to the point that one might be deemed a fool. The world taught us that. But you saw it differently. I also remember how excited you were telling me that you were going to join this karaoke competition. Or how you cooked up a storm for your friends. How can one be so excited to give, I thought.
Your quirkiness, honesty and optimism are akin to finding diamonds in one own's backyard. You are definitely one in a million.
So today I heard news about your passing. I was deeply shocked. I know about the Victorian bush fires and feel saddened when I see pictures or read the papers. I even donated a meager amount of $8 at the post office for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal the other day. But it only struck a deep trembling chord in me when I knew you had unfortunately perished in the fire too. Posts on your Facebook wall confirmed your passing. I'm still in disbelief. Just the other day, I deleted a voicemail from you . I'm sorry I didn't pick up your call. I wasn't in Melbourne then. If I knew how fate would spin out, I would have kept that voicemail and play that voicemail just once more. And perhaps, over and over again.
God gives life and takes it away. But you're merely 22 going on 23. Dear God, wasn't he a little too young to move on from this world? He had his whole life ahead of him. But alas, life's a journey and then you die. So quit worrying. Just do the best you can and that's all one can ask for. I took that off your Facebook page. Well said.
My dear friend, I am signing off now as I need to move on to other stuff. I've been typing this for a while. Like you said, we need to make the best of what we can. And that is what I'm going to try to do. But when I'm standing outside the library, singing karaoke or birthday songs, I'll remember you and whisper a prayer for you and your family.
Rest in peace Jaeson Castillo Hermocilla.
Yours sincerely,
Joanne
Remember the first time we spoke that fateful morning? We were both waiting for the library doors to open and I stood next to you. The foyer was dead quiet. The few people there were just sleepily waiting for the doors to open. But you turned to me and asked me aloud whether we have done any classes together before. I told you that I didn't think so. You said that we did. We took the EPM subject together the semester before and had classes on Wednesdays at 2.15 pm. I was surprised that you remembered such detailed information. You asked me whether I studied law. I said yes and asked you the same question in return. You said no.
So I asked you why were you carrying so many law books. You told me that you were helping this girl with her 5 000 word essay. Subsequently, you asked me for my phone number so that we could study together. Before I could mutter a word, you quickly told me not to worry as the girl you were doing the essay for was not your girlfriend, even though you slogged away helping her with it. I was stunned and did not mutter a word for a few seconds. You see my dear friend, I was not used to such brutal honesty. Normally conversations were covered with layers of pure flattery, lies and bush-beating to what conventional society call social etiquette. And that was our first conversation. An honest one.
Dear friend, it's exactly 24 days to your birthday. When you announced that you were going to have a big celebration for your birthday this year and seemed so hyped up about it, I was amused. Simply because, Ive never seen someone so excited about one's 23rd birthday 7 months in advanced. You see, seeking pleasure in the simplest things is rare these days, to the point that one might be deemed a fool. The world taught us that. But you saw it differently. I also remember how excited you were telling me that you were going to join this karaoke competition. Or how you cooked up a storm for your friends. How can one be so excited to give, I thought.
Your quirkiness, honesty and optimism are akin to finding diamonds in one own's backyard. You are definitely one in a million.
So today I heard news about your passing. I was deeply shocked. I know about the Victorian bush fires and feel saddened when I see pictures or read the papers. I even donated a meager amount of $8 at the post office for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal the other day. But it only struck a deep trembling chord in me when I knew you had unfortunately perished in the fire too. Posts on your Facebook wall confirmed your passing. I'm still in disbelief. Just the other day, I deleted a voicemail from you . I'm sorry I didn't pick up your call. I wasn't in Melbourne then. If I knew how fate would spin out, I would have kept that voicemail and play that voicemail just once more. And perhaps, over and over again.
God gives life and takes it away. But you're merely 22 going on 23. Dear God, wasn't he a little too young to move on from this world? He had his whole life ahead of him. But alas, life's a journey and then you die. So quit worrying. Just do the best you can and that's all one can ask for. I took that off your Facebook page. Well said.
My dear friend, I am signing off now as I need to move on to other stuff. I've been typing this for a while. Like you said, we need to make the best of what we can. And that is what I'm going to try to do. But when I'm standing outside the library, singing karaoke or birthday songs, I'll remember you and whisper a prayer for you and your family.
Rest in peace Jaeson Castillo Hermocilla.
Yours sincerely,
Joanne
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Forgiveness: Lessons learnt
by http://allthebestdreams.deviantart.com/
The past two weeks have been pretty trying for me. One incident led to another, it snowballed and it became a time bomb waiting to explode. It was definitely an accumulation of events over the past many years and a built up of emotions and grudges. I know that I should forgive another as God has forgiven me. How about forgiving 77 times? I can do that. How about forgiving everyday of my life? Some days I feel that I can. But there are days, I look in the mirror and I see a person who has been flawed by the past. There are days, I'm afraid of inevitably becoming that person I hate to be. And then, I'll wish that I wasn't created in the first place because life isn't worth living.
However, over the past few years, I have learnt that forgiveness is about yourself and not the other person. You are only hurting yourself when you do not let go.
Forgiveness is a commitment. Sometimes, you need to forgive everyday of your life. When you think you are over that phase, it may come back to haunt you. Take the poison darts shot at you, turn it around and send it back to the devil who wants to tear you down. Sometimes, I think I will never heal from this experience or that I am permanently flawed by this experience. But when I have the strength, I'll tell myself that it's not the truth. Learn to discern the truth from the lies.
Even if you don't feel like forgiving because emotionally you are still hurting, still do it. Just commit to doing it. Sometimes, it may require you to tell the person, 'I forgive you for that act you have done.' Or, you may just write those words down, 'I forgive X for that act he/she has done'. To your surprise, you may find that your burden will be lightened the next day. Soon, you'll find it a little easier to forgive than before. Remember, forgiveness is about healing yourself.
Thank God I've seen better days...
And I saw it coming
I saw emptiness and tragedy
And I felt like running
So far away
But knew I had to stay
And I know when I'm older
I look back and I still feel the pain
I know I'll be stronger and I know I'll be fine
For the rest of my days
I've seen better days
Put my face in my hands
Get down on my knees and I pray to God
Hope he sees me through till the end
I noticed most things
But I didn't notice the change
It was hot in the morning
Then it turned so cold, toward the end of the day
There was no conversation I just felt like I was in space
I needed my friends there I just turned around
They were gone without a trace
I've seen better days
Put my face in my hands
Get down on my knees and I pray to God
Hope he sees me through till the end
Now I have just started
and I won't be done till the end
There's nothing I have lost
That was once placed in the palm of my hands
And all of these hard times
Have faded round the bend
Now that I'm wiser I cannot wait
Till I can help my friends
I've seen better days
Put my face in my hands
Get down on my knees and I pray to God
Hope he sees me through till the end
Seen better days
Put my face in my hands
Get down on my knees and I pray to God
Hope he sees me through till the end
Seen better
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na(x4)
Better Days by Pete Murray
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Blogs
I read quite a few blogs. Some of personal friends and some non-personal ones. I read them because I'm intrigued by their lives. Other people's lives always fascinate me, particularly if their way of life and culture is very different from mine. In turn, I find myself drawing inspiration from some of these blogs.
PostSecret Mini-Movie
This is a mini-video on one of my favourite blogs - postsecret.blogspot.com. The guy behind it is a genius. I think of it as a huge worldwide community project. Being able to share your deepest darkest secret is liberating.
PostSecret Mini-Movie
This is a mini-video on one of my favourite blogs - postsecret.blogspot.com. The guy behind it is a genius. I think of it as a huge worldwide community project. Being able to share your deepest darkest secret is liberating.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Time is Opportunity
I've been nothing but a sloth the entire last week. Initially, I blamed it on the jet-lag, the travelling and the cold. Later during the week, I couldn't come up with any other excuses. It's time to buckle up.
Make the most of time by Joyce Meyer
We are to buy every opportunity we can to fulfill our purposes on earth, which is to love God and others. Verse 17 says, "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is." Get alone with God to make sure you know how to use your time today.
Make the most of time by Joyce Meyer
We are to buy every opportunity we can to fulfill our purposes on earth, which is to love God and others. Verse 17 says, "Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is." Get alone with God to make sure you know how to use your time today.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Hope
Proverbs 3:5-6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path"
Everyone needs compassion
A love thats never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of the Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquer the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Everyone needs compassion
A love thats never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of the Saviour
The hope of nations
Saviour
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquer the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly
Nor stands in the path of sinners
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful
But his delight is in the law of the Lord
And in His law he meditates day and night
He shall be ike a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
THat brings forth its fruit in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither
And whatever he does shall prosper
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly
Nor stands in the path of sinners
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful
But his delight is in the law of the Lord
And in His law he meditates day and night
He shall be ike a tree
Planted by the rivers of water
THat brings forth its fruit in its season
Whose leaf also shall not wither
And whatever he does shall prosper
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