The World Youth Day.

I'm not a Catholic, but I have respect for "most things" that have to do with Christainity even when I don´t agree with them.
My first mistake was not knowing that the Pope was visiting till a few weeks to the event. I really don't have anything against the Pope, at least I can´t think of any right now, but somehow... I just didn't pay attention. I blame it on exams just like I blame my 3times a year exams for a lot of other things.
Ok, now the Pope´s finally here, and I haven't gone to see the dear man. Even worse, I've no plans whatsoever of going anywhere near Cibeles... well, the National Library is close enough ... You know, I've got exams coming up (sorry, I couldn't help it). But definitely not Cibeles and most definitely not the Pope.
Today I ventured out of the library to the city centre and I came this close to disliking the pope. I mean, with the thousands of people on the street, in the underground, in the shops, they were everywhere, and they wouldn't stop singing and shouting and screaming. Supposedly, they are good for the country's tourism sector, but  seriously, the whole business is bad for my health. To make matters worse, the weather sucks, it was too gaddamn hot!
I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think and my head began to ache... more than enough reasons to harbour some not-deserved negative sentiments towards this Pope.
There are a lot of implications, effects and defects of the popular or unpopular visit, politically, socially and otherwise, and you might wonder why I choose not to bother my head about them ... the answer is very simple. I don't see why I have to, a lot of other people are already on that job full time. Also, remember that I just said that I couldn't think... Besides, things are bad enough as they are, without me adding to the number of groaners and whinners who continually bemoan and decry the world's situation with its economic, political, religious and social ills.
So, I'd rather limit myself to decrying the fact that my city, the streets and the metro has suddenly been taken over by "aliens" from the world over and that my head has been aching for the past 2 day + I can't study. I'd limit myself to blaming it on the Pope's visit, and I'll limit myself to enumerating all the reasons why I should momentarily dislike the Pointiff.
Unfortunately for me, I couldn't bring myself to do it... dislike the Pope, I mean. Afterall, he's Christain and he stands for "most" things Christain, something I still identify with.
I might still have some virtues left.

For the love of me.

Over the years, one of the best compliments I've received is
being described as a strong lady, and by that I don't mean
physical strength (I've got just enough of that to take me
around and about, but no more).
I'm talking about a strength of character that is being
progressively defined and refined as I get older.
I set no limits for myself and I don't allow anyone to put a
tag on me,
I face my responsibilities with the crystal understanding
that I can do all things.
I handle my challenges knowing that they make me stronger
and wiser.
I laugh my laughs and cry my tears knowing that nothing is
permanent and that every phase of life is full of beautiful
things.
I cherish my memories, for though yesterday is in the past,
the lessons learnt and the joys shared are always sacred.
I wholeheartedly love my family and my friends, for they
are a vital part of who I am.
Above all, I love myself completely and unconditionally for
that's the way you can see me for who I really am.

Really, when you see good in you, it'll be easier for other
people to see it.
My roots run deep and that's the essence of my strenght and
the beauty of who I am.
If you love yourself, it'll be easier for others to love you.
And for those who might choose not to love you or see the
good in you, seriously, it's their loss.

Lost Virtues

Some weeks ago, I took a decision. At first, it seemed like it was just one of those things you decide to do out of curiosity, but now, I´ve discovered a lot more things about myself... I´m actually quite surprised.

I wish I could claim to be forty, that way, I could say it´s something like "midlife crisis", but no, I´m not that lucky... So, I take full responsibility and my conclusion is that I´m losing my vitrues...
 I´m not a better or worse person, I´m just losing some of the conventional inhibitions that have been a part of my life for so long.
I´m different. I miss them sometimes, those conventions, when I remember, the point being that I hardly remember.

I´m exploring, going beyond borders, taking risks.
I´m laughing and sometimes my heartbeat skips.
I´m observing, learning to let go of certain tabues.
I´m redefining a lot of things,
I´m rewriting my priorities.
I´m still me... still a believer... with less virtues, but a believer all the same.

My wings have been cliped.

Today, I´ve got questions.

Questions that have no answers.

I ask why I met you...

Why I feel the things that I feel...

It´s been so long, and I think of you still.

I no longer have the liberty to fly.

Now, with my wings cliped,

I ask if you feel the things that I still feel.

Intense, beautiful and intoxicating,

But it´s all wrong.

Or at least, I was raised to believe that.

Yes, to believe that loving you is wrong.

Identify his/her place and yours.

When a lovely friend of mine started complaning about feeling distanced from me, it didn´t make sense to me because it´s a relationship which I treasure but after pondering over the entire episode, (I still don´t agree that someone can intentionally withdraw from a wonderful and exceptional relationship just for the heck of it...but) I could understand the feeling.

After pondering the whole situation, I came to the conclusion that there are always two major people in our lives at any one given period:

People who come into our lives to teach us, to help bring us insights into different lives´ lessons thus making us better people.

And people who come into our lives to learn from and of us, to be blessed of God by us and to become better people because of us.

I discovered that if we do not identify each set of people and their places in our lives, the aim can never be achieved and we end up hurt, dissappointed and full of complaints about other people.

How do you teach a man and how do you learn of another? The first and most important thing is to have a meek spirit, a teachable heart and a generous and giving spirit.

The one sent to teach you could be anyone; it could be a 2years old kid, your boss, your childhood friend, the tattered and unkempt looking young man you met on your way home from the mall, it could be that next door neighbour who is soooo nosy and such a gossip, it could the old lady sitting next to you in the bus, it could the drunk who just hit your car ... it could be anyone and they can walk into or out of your life anytime, they may as well have been in your life and then suddenly, it´s their turn to teach you. Sometimes, roles might suddendly be reversed and it will be you doing the teaching, giving the lessons and the blessings.

How prepared are you to identify these people, identify their different roles at different times and do what you ought to do?

We ought to be ready to give as much as to recieve.

I´ve learnt that teaching and giving others makes us wiser, stronger and did I mention that it cuases our tents to grow even wider, but recieving from others makes us more humble as well as teaching us to be more giving. So you see, these two people are completely and entirely entwined, one cannot exist without the other, there wont be a giver unless there´s a reciever and without the learner, the teacher will never be heard of.

There should never be any idle person in our lives at any time nor should we allow ourselves to be just another empty vessel in the lives of anyone.

Let us therefore wisely identify the places of different people in our lives as well as identify what we´ve been sent to do in the lives of others around us. Let us ensure that our lives are surrounded by worthy and productive people and that we continually enrich the lives of others.

This way, you take a whole load of unreal and unrealistic expectations off your relationships and enjoy the gift of family and warm friendships.

This way, you won´t overburden the people in your life with demands that they be or do things they weren´t meant to be or do.

This way you leave out complaining and whinning out of your relationships.

This way you understand that people come into your life for different reasons.

This way you appreaciate everyone that walks into your life.

This way you learn to let the people whose jobs are done move on to someone and someplace else, and you learn to hold on to those who still haven´t fulfilled their jobs.

This way you love and value every single person whom, you´ve ever had the honour and the previliedge of knowing.

This way, you leave a great mark in the lives of everyone who come in contact with you and your life will be blessed and enriched by the impact of others.

That way your life is made fuller and more beautiful.

Along the line, I recieved this wonderful massage from another wonderful friend...

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that

person..

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,

to provide you with guidance and support,

To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

What more can I say?

Let us love one another unconditionally.

Let us give of ourself and of all that we have been so graciously given.

Let us humbly learn to recieve of Him who wants and provides only the best for us at all times.

Let us be vessels unto honour and blessings in the lives of everyone that come into contact with us.

Let our lives be testimonies that goodwill, kindness and tenderness is still possible and that it is completely free and available.

Missing Mum.

Another year,

on that day, all I thought of was how terribly I miss you.

I was told that time heals all wounds,

what I´m living is that there´re scars that never heal,

and when I begin to think that they´re just scars,
I'm griped and shaken,

by a pain so intense

so terribly deep that

I'm knocked out by the sheer force of it.

I´ve grown stronger and wiser,

I´ve come to understand a lot,

I´ve been given a lot, and

I´m more like you in most of the things that made you who you were.
But, I still miss you terribly, Mum.

BE.

Be someone who listens, and you will be heard.

Be someone who cares, and you will be loved.

Be someone who gives, and you will be blessed.

Be someone who comforts, and you will know peace.

Be someone who genuinely seeks to understand, and you will be wise.

Be someone kind, someone considerate, and you will be admired.

Be someone who values truth, and you will be respected.

Be someone who takes action, and you will move life forward.

Be someone who lifts others higher, and your life will be rich.

Be someone filled with gratitude, and there will be no end to the things for which you'll be thankful.

Be someone who lives with joy, with purpose, as your own light brightly shines.

Be, in every moment, the special someone you are truly meant to be.
- Ralph Marston

Breathe, live and love.

Why do you think you´ve got to prove yourself...?
What makes you think that you´ve got a point to make...?
Who said that you are not enough...?

Really, the more you try, the harder it becomes. 

Being yourself is the key word. 
Be authentic.
Be real.
Being open helps, but above all manifesting love in all its ramification is the only way that you get and hold the attention of the world.

Really, your life will definitely be better when you understand that there´re two sides to every coin,
Your world will definitely be better when you understand that it´s not always about you,
Your work will bear more fruit when you comprehend that a seed until it is sown can not bear fruit.
Your people will most definitely be better if you stop and think before you open your big mouth, before you let that first angry thought rush out to erode everything that has been put in place to make you better and to help you make your world better.

So, today and every day for the rest of our lives,
Let us remember the foundations that stay.
Let us build on the things which will bear fruits.
Let us manifest love, in thoughts, in words and in deeds.

Love and loving makes it brighter. 

Let your heart and your words breathe, 
Let your heart and your words live.
And let them love.

That´s Faith.

Someone suddenly tells you, “Your naivete is what I love the most about you”, it makes you stop and think. Especially when you’ve been, of late, also described as strong, brave and daring, thus a world-wise thirty-something sophisticated, right at home in a generation that thinks cynicism is chic.
So I’m naïve.
I know that everyone I meet is superior in some way, and in that I can learn from them.
I believe in daring to reach for a heaven far beyond your grasp; doing your part to assuage wounds wrought by many lifetimes of strife and knowing that it will take double that number of lifetimes to completely heal.
I believe that life is absolutely beautiful, no matter what one has to go through, and that the beauty of life is not measured by how happy I am, but on how happy others can be because of me.
Very few things threaten me. I can look every bully in the eye and I know I will not flinch. Probably more the result of the brashness of youth than the wisdom of years. I think when I get to claim the wisdom of years, no bully can come close to me or my own.
I think the best kind of job is not the job that gets you a fat paycheck or gives you generous car plan. It’s the job that makes you sleep well at night and eager to get up the next day, but if it comes with a fat paycheck and the car plan -, well, don´t expect me to say no.
I believe that the fire in my belly can quell the butterflies in my tummy, and that my phantoms are no match for my passions.
I believe in love, purely and utterly: keeping it when you find it, allowing yourself to be swept off your feet by the violence of its current but at the same time rocked to gentle sleep in the constancy of its embrace.
I believe in the certainty and constancy of my friendships.
I believe I’m fabulous and beautiful, and if you don’t agree with me, that’s because you’re wrong.
I certainly believe in a Higher Being that holds everything together, and lovingly allows us to find that glint of light amidst wars and hunger and cancer and injustice and oppression —- But then, that’s not naivete anymore. That’s faith.

My medals.

a gold medal,
for being naive,
for being childish,
for smiling,
for laughing,

in another age,
another life,
medals,
for being brave,
for being strong,
for defending,
for giving,

for being me,
with no effort,
I get gold medals.

tomorrow,
when I´m old,
and withered,
bent,
and toothless,
with no strenght left,
grumpy,
spent,
and demanding...

what will be mine
when all my medals
find another.