Black & White

"One fine day, it will be your turn. You will leave homes, cities, and countries to pursue grander ambitions. You will leave friends, lovers, and possibilities for the chance to roam the world and make deeper connections. You will defy your fear of change, hold your head high and do what you once thought was unthinkable:walk away. And it will be scary. At first. 

But what I hope you'll find in the end is that in leaving, 

you don't just find love, adventure or freedom. 

More than anything, you find you".

P.S.: May you also find peace in reading my blog x

--

Last September 19, 2015, I, together with some of my block mates went to visit the National Arts Gallery in Manila. At first sight of the façade of the building, I was astonished. Besides the fact that it is my first time seeing the place up close—because I only normally see the venue in pictures online or just in history books—the National Museum was so much more than what I had anticipated. As we entered the building, the ambiance that I first thought of is that it was classy and similar to that of a mansion. There were chandeliers and the reception crew was very welcoming. We left our bags upfront, paid for the entrance fee and went on with the tour. For the reason that most of us were first timers, we didn’t know where to start. It was overwhelming to see numerous rooms and having that excitement made us amped up to explore. Of course, we had to stick with the objective, which was to complete the requirement. We approached the receptionist and asked for help in order for us to know the specific rooms or floors we were required to visit. Once we got what we needed, we began the tour ourselves, most of our block mates split up into groups. The first room that we visited was of course the one near the lobby, although it wasn’t part of the required rooms to visit. It had a sculpture of this enchanting angel that caught our eyes. Behind it were two paintings, the remarkable ‘Spoliarium’ by Juan Luna and ‘El Asesinato Del Gobernador Bustamante’ by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. Proceeding to the upper floor, we continued to the Pillars of Philippine Modernism. We saw artworks made by Manuel Rodriguez Sr., Juvenal Sanso and Galo Ocampo, Jose Alcantara and the well-known national artist Napoleon Abueva. But the one painting that caught my attention was the masterpiece made by Diosdado M. Lorenzo entitled “Landscape” (1966). Medium used was oil on board and its dimensions are approximately 18 inches in height.

            This painting brought me hedonistic pleasure. The first time I saw it I was captivated by how the colors were so inviting and it was pleasing to the eyes. Honestly I was tempted to touch the artwork, my block mates only prevented me from doing it because it was prohibited. The thing that sent me that temptation was because the painting looked 3-dimensional because of the thickness of the overlapping paint. You can see the strokes of the paint brush and how heavy or light it was damped on the board.  The colors were bright and dark at the same time and it created harmony within the masterpiece. One thing I loved the most and probably the reason why it brought me hedonistic pleasure was because it was so realistic, it made me agree through the way it depicted its message. The feeling I get whenever I stare at nature was the same feeling I felt when I looked at this painting. You can imagine the simplicity of the artist and the art itself.  It was positively relaxing. Even my block mates were attracted to this painting.

            As we proceeded with the tour, we went through this hallway that had a special gallery exhibition. Although still it wasn’t part of the required rooms to be visited, I was intrigued with one special artwork. It was by Arturo Rogelio Cruz and was entitled “Departure” and “Arrival”. It was honestly one of the most unique artworks I’ve seen in the museum because it did not resemble that of a painting. The material used was acrylic on burlap. There was also a story behind it which made the art more interesting. We then visited the GSIS collections in the northwest hall, which showcased most of the artworks made by Vicente S. Manansala. Other artworks were also featured in that collection but the one I loved the most was entitled “Sunset in Intramuros” (1979).

            This art piece was made by Federico Aguilar-Alcuaz, with oil on board used as a material, however, its dimensions weren’t provided. This masterpiece gave me an aesthetic feeling. Although I did not grew up being familiar with the sights of Intramuros, it made me feel one thing, reminiscence. This painting was made a long time ago, if I were given the chance to go back in time and see if Intramuros really did looked that breathtaking, I’d take it. It was beautiful because it was inviting to the audience. The way the sky was painted over the city made it warm. The lights coming from the lamp posts really did made me feel like I wanted to go there and see it for myself. From a distance, the way the colors were shaded at the bottom part of the painting made it look like it had a vignette effect. It was beautiful because the elements were blended really well, it had no purpose or any objective to deliver, it was just there. The view of Intramuros was present and it made me want to appreciate it.

            As we continued on with the tour, it was already around lunchtime, and frankly all I could think of was food. But as we approached the Social and Political Commentary After the 1970s section, I thought this tour will make the wait more worth it. This particular painting literally captured of what I thought was the most emotional message anyone could relate to. This painting called “Bondage” (1993) was made by Papo de Asis who used oil on canvas as material. It’s dimensions also weren’t provided.

            This painting to me kind of features a man, being locked up or enslaved by something much more powerful than him, and to me that was the society and its limitless control over anybody who belongs in it. There’s somehow a death persona who is riding a horse in the left part of the image and a woman on the other. Based on how I understood the image, the woman was the significant other of the man, and death took him away and locked him into this sculpture. Just like what society does to every human being, being limited by rules and powerless over the people who run the system. This gave me an emotive perspective on how I should look at the painting. The artist had the ability to make the audience feel what the man was feeling in the picture, and that is the feeling of being trapped. Maybe the artist was feeling this way when he was making the artwork. Or maybe he was able to imagine how the artwork would influence the audience and make them feel what was expressed in his art. The painting was expressive of the feeling of being locked up, without having the capacity to escape and your only fate was death. That was what I felt in appreciating the painting. Just by looking at the art itself, you forget about anything else and just tend to focus on what was inside the image.

            Near the conclusion of the tour, there’s this one artwork left that truly captivated my attention. It was made by one of the artists who I heard was known for capturing the harshest realities in our country today. It was entitled “Piping Tagulaylay” (1983) by Antipas Delotavo.

            The material used in this painting was oil on canvas as well, unfortunately, the dimensions weren’t also provided. At first I was intrigued of the title because I wasn’t aware of the meaning of the word “Tagulaylay”, so I googled it. It meant monotonous singing. I came upon the conclusion that Piping Tagulaylay meant the silent monotonous singing of the Filipino society. The colors, which were mostly toned down in in terms of hue showed the dullness and how plain living was. To me it meant that the singing meant here was how the lifestyle of the Filipinos, especially those who experience poverty and mediocrity, had no color or excitement. There was no happiness, no sadness, just the neutrality of the image. It made me open my eyes and understand the reality of this image and every day I see it with my own eyes. I was able to formulate my own opinion because of the reality depicted in this artwork. It was cognitive in a helpful way because it made me open my eyes to the real state and situation of the Filipino society.

            As we were leaving the venue, even though most of us were starving already, the thought of missing just one room of the museum made me think of coming back soon. Sure it wasn’t as exciting and as fun as going to the mall or going to the amusement part with my friends, but going to the museum taught me one thing. Being at peace with the silence and just getting the chance and time to explore every artwork in the museum made me appreciate more the simple things in life. Most of the images captured in the paintings were the minimalist scenes depicted in reality, like the traditional bahay kubo or even just the scenery of a big city. These simplest things in life inspired the artists to create and express their feelings and get their imagination to work.

            Hedonistic, emotive, cognitive or even aesthetic, those paintings were able to capture the audience in their own ways. You tend to forget the chaos outside the museum, and just focus on what were in there. We may have different preferences, but any art has a value of its own. I salute the artists who lived through their passion regardless of what the society thought about them. They inspire me to do the same as well.

            All in all the tour was much more than what I was expecting. I thought it was just going to be a plain old field trip but it wasn’t. I learned a lot and was able to apply the lessons I’ve learned in this course. One thing I learned and thought that it would be worth sharing in this narrative is that, different artists have different styles in creating different artworks. Although some artworks still belonged in the same category, they were still diverse and beautiful in their own ways. The ability of the painting to just hang on the walls and capture the attention of the audience is unbelievable, no words, no music, just the painting itself. A single image, along with elements combined in a creative way, can truly tell a thousand words. Most of the artists featured in the museum already passed away, but their legacy lives on through their masterpieces, and that is something you cannot take away from the power of art. 

*this was only a draft of the travelogue I made for my Philosophy class, still pretty raw but I guess it was still worth sharing

Tired

I've been busy with a lot of things the past few months. I hate how school has the power to literally take over my life. I hate how it effortlessly takes away the time I am supposed to be spending with my family, my friends and the things I love the most. I hate that when it comes to school, I have no other choice but to deal with it, BECAUSE IT IS FOR MY FUTURE. The tiring days and sleepless nights seem to have no end.

The anxiety of me not fulfilling my hopes and dreams is what keeps me up at night. The thought of me not becoming a CPA on a well-established firm, pursuing my blogging career by getting featured at concert magazines, and travelling the world doing volunteer missions is just devastating. I need to do everything I wrote on my bucket list and I do not know if school will take me there. I know it is part of the system and I know that I need a degree to do what I love, but come to think of it, is it really necessary to give projects and useless requirements just to learn? I mean I came to school to learn, not to be an emotionless robot that does things whenever and whatever it is told to do. School is not a prison where everyone is thought to think the same and feel the same and to do this and to do that, and you shouldn't do this and you shouldn't do that--but sometimes I feel like I am in one. School shouldn't make me feel this way, school should be the first thing to inspire me when it comes to my education, instead, it just depresses me. Making me think, "AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH"?

Someday all these will pay off. I know they will. Someday I'll graduate and be out of the system as soon as possible. I don't want to be gray, I want to be all the colors I've imagined myself in when I was six. I want to be the person I want to meet. A goal-oriented, well-driven, adventurous yet compassionate successful woman. Funny that after typing that sentence the first image that popped into my head was my mom, I want to be like my mom.

I won't let school put me down. It's hard, but it's not impossible to accomplish. All those exams, the retention grade and the deadlines are just illusions. The real world would be probably way worse than this, or so I was told. But I just need to drop everything for a while. I need some rest from all the chaos.

I'll be fine, I can do this. I just need to take a break. I'll be okay.

RDM
12:05 PM
9 12 15

These walls weren't meant to keep people out

Did you ever experience something that made you feel less worthy? Something that made you cry at 3 in the morning questioning yourself why are you the way that you are? Or even blaming that one thing you did 3 years ago on a Monday afternoon and wishing that if you could just turn back time you would do the exact opposite? You ever meet that person, that time bomb, that completely and tremendously turned your world upside down? I did.

The last time I let my guard down for something was out of love, out of the rational thing, out of my league. He came to me so fast that he crashed into me like waves. He was uncontrollable, yet pleasing to the eyes. His words were sweet, like any other teenage girl would describe them. His actions made me melt, and I gave in so quickly I had no other choice but to go with it. I was in love, or at least I thought I was.

3 years later I look at that moment as a scar. Like something that I would never do, ever again. It was intensely traumatic that it changed the way I see the world. I built up these walls not to keep people out, but to keep me safe. Everything was at peace, and the thought of bringing those walls down, never came into my mind, not even once. I was in control of everything. I was above everything, & I liked the view from the top.

Little did I know that these walls that were supposed to keep me safe, isolated me from the wonders that I have yet to experience. I thought I had it all. Gambling with affection and the lies that came with it. The sense of dominance I had when I was leading people on. Those nights of endless numbness, that I thought was strength. I was insane to think that that was the way I was supposed to see the world. Wrong was an understatement.

This guy came, no, this knight came, destroying my walls down. It was petrifying, but it somehow soothed the crying girl inside me. The first time the light touched the ground I was terrified. "Fuck, you ruined everything." But as soon as the light scattered on those shattered pieces, I realized how beautiful it was. He made me realize my self-worth. I fell in love, not with him, but with the way I see the world whenever he's around. 

He was another time bomb. But this time, I was willing to take the risk of him exploding in my arms. And when you find that certain person, whether it be a knight or a king, never let him go. 

RDM

12:04 AM

4 24 15

Let's run away and never look back

You ever wonder why teenagers love doing stupid things? Why they always get caught doing something "bad" and not show any remorse for it? Let me tell you why.

Artists never stopped doing what they love. They didn't die for nothing. They didn't want to be part of something so ordinary. No, fuck that. They wanted to do things that lived up to their passion, to their dreams and goals. Hell, they wanted to live.

So why stop now? Why go with the crowd? Why waste your life waking up at 7 in the morning, knowing that every single day is going to make you feel like complete shit. This is the norm everybody thinks is right for them. "Right" is the thing society invented in order for those teenagers to stop painting too much colors in their world, and start acting like them. And for what? You call having a crappy job that pays the bills living? You call kissing other people's ass just to get money out of it 'living your life'? Fuck your philosophy.

I'm gonna travel, & not only travel by places but by heart and mind and soul. I want to discover myself, see what the world has to offer, and what I can offer back. I want to rotate the same way this planet does, 24 hours a day. I don't want to settle and go to bed in my room smelling like cigarettes and alcohol full of regrets. Shit, I don't even want to go to sleep, or I might miss those things so euphoric it'll change my perception in life.

The way the 10 year old me saw the world full of surprises and mysteries, I want to feel that again. I don't want to let society morph myself into something acceptable for them. Fuck that. The way my mom told me that I can change the world, I want to bring that back, & prove to anyone who laughed at me wrong.

I don't want labels, or numbers, or groups to define me. I am my own person, my own artist. My world, my colors. What I say about myself is how I want to be perceived and nobody has the right to tell me otherwise.

RDM
12:01 AM
4 23 15

Five Day Challenge: Young Blood

Searching for 'The One'

Cez Verzosa

Looking for a job isn’t easy, let alone that dream job. And neither is keeping one.

I’ve been out of college for more than a year now and at 21, I’ve applied for and gotten accepted in quite a number of writing-related jobs that I, for some reason, eventually deserted.

This is not something to be proud of, especially for someone who was raised in a society where work experience is defined by the number of years rendered in a company. Needless to say, I’m not a fan of status quo.

I stayed for only seven months at my first job in a PR agency. After that, I tried my luck in direct selling, which didn’t work out, so I ditched it and got into my college best friend’s company where I worked as a research assistant for more than a month. Soon after, I had an online reporter job at a New-York-based online science news site for another month. And after that, I got a project-based writing stint at a local real estate company, which I think ran for three weeks.

Fortunately, after a rickety ride on a yet undefined career path—a ride that I unwittingly enjoyed—I finally found a full-time job in a local TV network. It’s another dream fulfilled. It’s actually quite a feat to be able to stay a while in this job (more than half a year now), considering its infamous reputation of a high turnover rate. However, as the months drag on (and as of this writing), I am somewhat reconsidering my stay.

“WHAT?! You’re leaving UH-GAIN?” I can hear my parents and friends shrieking in chorus. “When will you learn to stay? You will never have a good resumé with what you’re doing!” I know they mean well, but at the end of the day I will still go for what my heart longs for.

Some 20th-century prodigies may find it easy to pronounce this risky affair as career suicide, and effortlessly label me a wishy-washy person in the workforce who can never promise constancy to a company. I understand that. Who in their right mind would accept someone who has been jumping from one job to another?

But, as someone who’s been in an industry where deadlines are a norm, I cannot easily ward off this unexplained urge to accomplish my goals before an undetermined deadline. I just have to do it, to look for that one thing that would make me feel satisfied, because at the back of my mind, there’s a loud ticking of the clock that’s reverberating throughout my soul.

Hold on a little longer, they say, there is not one job that promises a trouble-free journey. Everyone must start at the bottom rung of the ladder and everyone must learn how to survive the landscape of the real world.

I agree with that, and we all have to endure things at some point in our lives. However, we don’t have the luxury to keep holding on to almost everything. In the same way that life is not a buffet, we only have enough time and energy to do a number of draining sacrifices. That’s why I think I must choose pretty carefully: What is it that I really want to do that deserves all the effort?

I’m not generalizing; it’s more of a personal thing, perhaps another matter concerning passion versus paycheck or

getting torn between prestige and realism. And in the course of over a year of searching, I haven’t found that one job that can make me feel that it is what I’m meant to be doing.

And so I quit.

I used to get disappointed with people who easily throw in the towel. I find it difficult to understand their decision to just give up in spite of the hundreds of applicants who would have killed for the job they decided to leave.

But then I realized that quitting isn’t all about being weak. It’s about having the strength to acknowledge one’s worth and to know what one deserves.

Don’t get me wrong, though. Sometimes I feel a little

envious of my friends who are able to stick with their jobs. Some of them have managed to reach one year already. I do admire them, as well as my colleagues in my current job, because they’re still there, regardless of the obvious downsides of their work. Had I convinced my restless self to stay, I might have reveled in the same sweet satisfaction today. Maybe they have found their niche or may have been comfortable with what they already have. And here I am, still unsatisfied and searching for “The One.”

But just because I found a job that was not able to meet my personal criteria of happiness with work does not mean I did not perform well. Each step I took, I was pushed to give my best in terms of not only the craft I want to hone but also my attitude toward work. Each job drove me out of my comfort zone; each of them taught me how to deal with bouts I am not acquainted with. Sometimes I go an extra mile, insisting on putting myself in a situation that I could not control. Thankfully, I have managed, and I have learned a lot. So I don’t think it has been wasted time; I don’t think it is “not work experience.”

I think it’s normal for young adults of this generation to experience this kind of eagerness and restlessness to pursue dreams the soonest we can. We refuse to settle for less, and we fear having to regret that we have stayed for so long in a job we aren’t happy with just because we have to conform. It’s not a bad thing—but sometimes it’s not the ideal option either.

Each one of us has personal reasons and dreams that lead us to where we plan to go. Some may beg to differ and some may share the same thoughts. But there is one unnerving thing that we cannot deny at all: that Life has an indefinite deadline. No one knows if we are meeting that “deadline” in 20 years, 10 months, or perhaps even less than a week.

As for me, I shall continue to search for that one job that would make me say, “Oh, there you are. I have been looking for you this whole time.” I cannot settle just yet. I just know it has to be somewhere. I may just have to keep going for a bit, hopefully finding it before my ultimate deadline.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Five day challenge: Young blood

Young and Passionate

Terence Thomas M. Cosare

I graduated at 21 in March 2014. I received an overwhelming number of phone calls and e-mails from companies inviting me for an interview. I perceived myself as a special fresh graduate going to job fairs with my three-page resumé which I felt would impress those companies: Holder of a degree from a top university, leader of school and community organizations, recipient of a special award from my school.

Thoughts of a promising career (and salary) swam in my head. I felt I was Jordan Belfort walking the streets of Makati and heading to my interviews, dressed in my business shirt, my favorite necktie, dress pants and socks, well-shined shoes. I looked at the tall buildings around me and told myself: “I will be the Wolf of Ayala Avenue.”

Fresh, passionate and excited. I landed a job as a relationship manager in an IT company that sells financial solutions to banks. My job required me to attend meetings and travel around the country to meet bank presidents and CEOs. At times they were in doubt about and occasionally fascinated by the idea that a 21-year-old fresh out of university was speaking to them about their business and educating them on core banking. I felt privileged because I was learning from the people I was meeting and, at the same time, doing a lot of traveling.

After a few months, another company called to express interest in having me. I gave it a try and passed the required interviews. I was promised better compensation, and I saw the product as more appealing to the market—thus, more opportunities for me to close deals and get commissions. I moved to the company and it is where I am today.

I am still excited and burning with passion. In starting my venture with the companies with which I engaged, I learned that the world after school is not as good as I expected it to be. As I started paying bills and giving my monthly share of the household expenses, I realized it could happen that I’d be living from paycheck to paycheck. Before I began working, I thought I could have my dream car within months; seeing the deductions from my salary depressed me.

Also, the corporate world is not as considerate as school. Every report day at work feels like thrice the pressure in math-class recitations and exams. Most of the time I get scolded during pipeline reports. I tend to see my youth and my being a fresh graduate as an excuse for not performing as well as my elder colleagues, but never is it accepted as valid. I perceive myself as a kid in a gentleman’s game or a

blue-chip rookie underperforming.

There are days when I literally have heartache and I feel dumb. The swagger that I had a la Jordan Belfort has been mostly replaced by frustrations and tears.

Still, I am fortunate to have supportive colleagues and friends who help me get through work every day. Also, although there are mostly rough times at work, I still push myself for the sake of my family. My mom has invested so much in me, and I know my father is always confident in and proud of me. I can’t afford to let them down.

Now I am no longer considered a fresh graduate. I am writing this piece to motivate those graduating after me. It is possible for us to land our dream job. But on the other side of this reward is a lot of yelling from your boss and intense pressure. The world after college is a world of wolves, fast and aggressive, wanting to stay ahead and reach their goals. Being young and fresh out of school should never be a reason for us to not perform. We must learn quickly and start working to excel.

As young professionals, we have the advantage of being fresh, excited and passionate. Always take to heart these three essentials; these will move us to continue searching, learning and working. Then we will have no choice but to achieve greatness.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

To the guy who made me feel good again

Timing really is a funny thing, isn't it? Good things always happen when you least expect them. Sometimes, you don't realize something good even when it's right in front of you.

You helped me remember that I deserve to be treated right, and that's exactly what you did for me. 

You are a perfect gentleman--a breed I didn't know existed anymore because of how badly I was treated in the past. 

So I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for respecting me. Thank you for helping me realize my worth. 

References:

Essay: Gianna Banzon // Cosmo.ph

Photo: Berlin art-parasites

Something someone should have told me when i was eighteen

Wanna know the fucking truth? Nobody is fucking happy. Nobody has skin made from oil plant and sunlight. Nobody fucking understands this world. Fuck, nobody probably understands math as much as they claim. You're here one day and the next you're not. 

God? Religion? I've learned a lot more from the world by eating acid and swallowing pills. Tell me what your church has done for you? Tell me if you have holes in your mouth from speaking lies? Wanna know the fucking truth? Pity is just another word for pathetic. Drink beer and watch the sunrise from ever rooftop. Take photographs naked. Take photographs kissing. Take photographs having sex. Stop making everything about sexuality. Wanna know the fucking truth? Nobody really gives a damn if you lost your virginity at fourteen or if you were president in high school. Wanna know the fucking truth? There is no such thing as the right person. People leave. They change like ocean currents, they leave you with bruises in your calves.

And you wanna know the fucking truth? You get better. You learn to love. You find God in between the cracks of a wall when you're puking your limbs out. You wanna know the fucking truth? 

Go find it. 

References: 

Essay: Iryna Klishch

Photo: Bryant Lee

On Love and Loving

Essay by Jonathan V. Gochuico

Love always comes unexpectedly. It is never planned. It just happens. It just unfolds. It just drives on to see how life would become with the beloved. As such, the very reason why it's challenging remains undetermined: the wait, the unpredictability, or the probability of living one's pathetic life alone.

As much as I want to be philosophical about it, the fact remains that I could not because love is a reality that defies logic. It is just consistently inconsistent. You'd never know what you'd gonna get. Loving is just like an invitation to a buffet--everything is there, enticing you to take a bite.

You get some, bite some, eat some, and spit some. That's life, that's love, and that's loving.

There's actually nothing that can define love as everything just depends on taste and subjectivity. It's like getting the horror of your life upon discovering that behind an almost Edward Cullen or a Jacob Black-like description of someone is a frog.

It can never be argued that love is something felt; thus, it requires no explanation. Faithfulness and honesty are sometimes not reciprocated.

Loving does not mean being loved back.

Love is either blind or sees more.

You're either happy because you're loving, or you're loving that's why you're happy.

                 

References:
Essay: Walking you through reading and writing; Pilot edition
Photo: Brooke DiDonato

Inspired & Blessed

Women of Inspiration

-Drew Barrymore

-Barbra Streisand

-Angelina Jolie at the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards

The Feast: Rock Bottom

"If Christ is all I have, then I have everything I need" -- if there is one thing I learned from The Feast today is that every suffering you encounter in life, every problem you face, and every struggle that kept you from believing in yourself are not meant to be taken as things that make you weaker, instead, you should be thankful of all the battlescars you had from those challenges. Why? God has an incredible and unique way of showing your greater purpose in life. Through your wounds, God will use you to heal many other souls that are undergoing the same experience as yours. 

There are three things you should remember when you are at your rock bottom:

1. The people that can help you the most are the people that had the same suffering as yours.

2. The key to happiness is to KEEP DOING GOOD.

3. No matter how rough the road gets, never forget to talk to Jesus.

Your suffering can be both your comfort and your slavery. Do not settle for safe; Do not settle for less. Because God has something in store for you. He knows what's best for you.

So rise up, because Jesus believes you can. When you are healed, those sufferings become your ministry and message to others. 

"Though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me"

-Psalm 23:4 

Good night Talks

-Angelina Jolie

-Paulo Coehlo

Growing Up

Source: @PoemsPorn

Source: @YourInspiration 

1 down, 4 to go

Source: Spirit Science

God gave me bountiful blessings throughout the academic year. As it approaches the finish line, I'd like to stop and appreciate every bit of love, protection, and guidance He provided not only me but also my family and friends. I'm eternally grateful because despite the mistakes and hindrances I had, the blessings never stopped. 

Let me end this chapter of my life by saying that I have no regrets on letting Him lead my path. He knows what's best for me in the perfect place and perfect time. All I ask is for enough patience and understanding everytime I struggle with my problems. I ask for Him to remind me that I must take those as challenges for them to make me stronger, not to give up. 

As I turn to the next page, I'll never stop believing and having faith to You, Lord.  There's a reason for everything and that reason is God Himself. Thank you Lord! All this is all for You. 

Life Mantra

Source: berlin-artparasites

Source: poems porn

Three Day Challenge: F I N A L S

-What keeps me going

Three Day Challenge: F I N A L S

"Don't settle. Don't finish crappy books. If you don't like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you're not on the right path, get off it."

-Chris Brogan

-On knowing my true purpose 

Three Day Challenge: F I N A L S

"And you looked at me up and down and told me that I was not the same person as I was last year. And instead of feeling bad about that like I was supposed to, I smiled. Because damn right, I am not the same person I am today. Because people change, people grow; people are not concrete objects that stay the same as cracks get deeper and more numerous. 

IF YOU WANT TO BE SOMETHING, YOU GO BE IT. 

Do not let anyone hold you back, especially the person you were yesterday."

-Things that keep me up at night