A Message from JC

Troubles are opportunities that would test your faith,

When your faith is tested, your endurance will grow,

For when your endurance has been developed, you're geared with confidence.

-Jesus Christ

Hitler No More

Adolf Hitler. 

I have a colleague named Hitler.  Weird name isn't it?  This would let you assume that he is somewhat alike with the famous Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of Nazi Party.  Some said that this prominent person is ruthless, bigot, egotistical, opportunist, etc.  Well, this colleague which became a good friend of mine is far opposite from these characteristics. 

Hitler is an Accounting Manager in my current employer--young indeed in his position but a mature person in his job.   People respect and admire him with his efficient work (good performance), contagious attitude (cheerful), and inspiring stories (family background).  Anyhow, there's something magical about this person that can magnetize people and love him more.

I will no longer see Hitler in our office starting on Monday.  It would truly be a huge adjustment.  I will surely miss our talks, his advices, his stories, his DANCE, his smile, his laughter, among others.

Adolf Hitler is totally different with this Hitler beside me--a good leader, who is loved by his followers; a good son/brother, who is well-loved by his family;  a good companion, who is cherished by his friends. 

Whatever path he will be taking now, I know God has great purposes.   I really am glad that, in my journey, I've met someone like him.    I know it was a short stint.  Even so, whatever he had built with us would never be forgotten.

Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass

-21 Guns.

How Depth His Thinking Is

No one can measure the depths of His understanding - Isaiah 40:28

So here I am, sitting in a shopping mall food court.  My body is tense and my stomach knotted.  My to-do list is long and my progress this particular day is disappointing.  Unexpected complications have brought delays and I'm fretting over the deadlines ahead:  a radio show to plan, an article to write, the myriad details of a national project I'm coordinating.

I unwrap my burger, take a bite, and for a few minutes, I am forced to pause.  Busy people rush around me, fretting over their own deadlines.  And I am struck by humanity's infinitude.  We are limited beings--limited in time, energy, ability, and capacity.

And while everything in me wants to write a new to do list--prioritize it in order of importance, asterisk the urgent tasks, and underline those to be done together--another thought enters my mind:

       

       A thought of One who is infinite (Isaiah 40:25)

       A Being who is unlimited

       A Person who effortlessly melds the desire to do and the ability to  accomplish.

Stress, rush, and strain are never good for one's health, but on this day they deliver a powerful lesson.  The unlimited God is not like me.  He accomplishes everything He wishes.  I finish my burger, pause once more.  And silently worship.

 - Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Journey

Forgiving

just sharing this worthy-to-be-read article :)

How Do I Forgive Him? How Do I Forgive Her?

by Jim Butcher

We all understand the general concept of forgiveness, but most of us are not especially proficient on the specifics on how to do it. So, this morning, we’re going to answer the questions: How do I forgive him? How do I forgive her? (As I said that you thought of who that ‘him’ or ‘her’ is in your life).

As we begin our study this morning, let me acknowledge my debt to the various writings of Lewis Smedes for many of the concepts that undergird this sermon.

How Do I Forgive Him? How Do I Forgive Her?

1. Acknowledge that you have been seriously hurt.

- The starting point for being pursuing forgiveness is to admit that you’ve really been hurt. We like to pretend like what he said didn’t really bother us or what she did didn’t even phase us, but until we are willing to admit that we were hurt by them, we’re not in a place where we can begin to pursue forgiveness.

- There are many incidents in life that are not candidates for forgiveness - things like minor disappointments or passing slights. Situations that require forgiveness are ones where the pain inflicted is personal, unfair, and deep. Things like betrayal and brutality (physical or emotional) come to mind.

- At this point, as we hurt, we are likely to find some hatred in our heart. Hatred, of course, is never a good thing, but we must be careful that we don’t try to get rid of it by covering it up. When we find that hate in our heart, that’s simply a sign we’re going to need to forgive.

2. Surrender your right to get even.

- The mother ran into the bedroom when she heard her seven-year-old son scream. She found his two-year-old sister pulling his hair. She gently released the little girl’s grip and said comfortingly to the boy, "There, there. She didn’t mean it. She doesn’t know that hurts." He nodded his acknowledgement, and she left the room.

As she started down the hall the little girl screamed. Rushing back in, she asked, "What happened?"

The little boy replied, "She knows now."

[source: www.preachingtoday.com]

- Few would dispute our right to get even. The rule of the world is ‘do unto others as they’ve done unto you.’

- When we choose to forgive, though, we choose to lay aside our right to extract our revenge. In the moment of making that decision, we are doing a couple of things: 1. We are leaving ultimate justice and vengeance to God, and 2. We are deliberately choosing for ourselves the path of forgiveness.

This is the first step down a different path.

Acknowledging that we have been hurt gets in the right place to begin, but surrendering our right to get even is the first step down the path.

- Some would argue that choosing such a path is inevitably going to make us a patsy - we’re yielding all our power and are going to end up as a doormat. I believe, though, that there is a power that is unleashed in this decision that cannot come from any other source. What does this power look like? Consider the following story:

- Albert Tomei is a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. A young defendant was convicted in Judge Tomei’s court of gunning down another person execution style. The murderer had a bad record, was no stranger to the system, and only stared in anger as the jury returned its guilty verdict.

The victim’s family had attended every day of the two-week trial. On the day of sentencing, the victim’s mother and grandmother addressed the court. When they spoke, neither addressed the jury. Both spoke directly to the murderer. They both forgave him.

"You broke the Golden Rule——loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. You broke the law——loving your neighbor as yourself. I am your neighbor," the older of the two women told him, "so you have my address. If you want to write, I’ll write you back. I sat in this trial for two weeks, and for the last sixteen months I tried to hate you. But you know what? I could not hate you. I feel sorry for you because you made a wrong choice."

Judge Tomei writes: "For the first time since the trial began, the defendant’s eyes lost their laser force and appeared to surrender to a life force that only a mother can generate: nurturing, unconditional love. After the grandmother finished, I looked at the defendant. His head was hanging low. There was no more swagger, no more stare. The destructive and evil forces within him collapsed helplessly before this remarkable display of humaneness."

[source: www.preachingtoday.com]

In choosing the path of forgiveness, that grandmother unleashed a power that could not be tapped in any other way. And that power was what caused the defendant to hang his head for the first time.

3. Search for the real person beneath the evil mask.

- When we have been wronged, we like to caricature our wrongdoer. We emphasize all the bad things about them, we twist anything that looks remotely good, we are quick to impugn their every motive, we see them only and always in one way.

- The process of forgiveness requires that we begin to look for the real person behind the caricature we’ve created in our minds. We begin to see that they have not only hurt, they have been hurt. We begin to see that they are weak, needy, and fallible. We begin to find reasons for our hearts to turn toward mercy instead of malice.

- This doesn’t mean we grant them victim status and excuse all their wrong - we’re forgiving, not excusing. It does mean that we begin to try to treat them as another participant in this messy thing called life.

- What is our motivation for doing this? As our passage points out, we are doing for them what God did for us. God could have simply seen our sin and said, “I’ve seen enough, that’s all I need to know about them.” But God looked beyond our sin and saw something worth loving. And that’s what we’ve been called to do as well.

4. Desire that good things would happen to your wrongdoer.

- I know that sounds impossible when you first hear it, but stay with me for a minute.

- In the process of forgiveness, we move from dreaming of bad things befalling them toward hoping for good things in their life.

- At this point, it might be helpful to address a related question: does forgiving mean there’s no

punishment?

The answer to that is, No, forgiving does not necessarily mean there should not be punishment.

If they are unrepentant, punishment that leads to sorrow may be the loving thing to want for them because it will bring them toward where they need to be. The key in this is your motive. Whereas before you prayed for them to be punished because of your anger and hatred toward them, when you’re pursuing forgiveness you might pray for them to be punished because you want to see their heart changed and that is the most likely route for that to happen. Your motive has changed from wanting something bad to happen to praying for something good to happen.

- What are some examples of this?

a. A thief breaks into my house and steals most of my stuff. He is caught and put on trial, but is completely lacking remorse. If I go to the court and plead for his release, he will immediately return to stealing. In that situation, the good things I want for his life are a change of heart and a change of lifestyle. Because this is most likely to happen with punishment, forgiveness does not keep me from supporting punishment, although I might well want to write or visit him while he’s in there to try to share the love of God with him.

b. My spouse says some things in an argument that hurt me. Forgiving her and wanting good things for her life doesn’t mean I pray, “God, I hope you’ll bless her by giving her the ability to win all the arguments we have from now on.” Rather, wanting good things might mean praying that God would open her heart (and mine) to where each of us could be a better spouse.

- When Chris Carrier was ten, he was abducted, stabbed, shot through the head, and left for dead. Surprisingly, he survived, but the emotional and physical scars were very difficult to heal. Eventually, though, his commitment to Christ helped him to move on with his life. The perpetrator was never found.

Over twenty years later, on September 3, 1996, Chris received a phone call from a detective in the Coral Gables, FL police department. The detective said that an elderly man in a local nursing home had confessed to being his abductor. The man’s name was David McCallister.

Chris visited David the following day. Here are his words: “It was an awkward moment, walking into his room, but as soon as I saw him I was overwhelmed with compassion. The man I found was not an intimidating kidnapper, but a frail seventy-seven-year-old who had been blind for the last half-dozen years. David’s body was ruined by alcoholism and smoking - he weighed little more than sixty pounds. He had no family, or if he did, they wanted nothing to do with him, and no friends. A friend who had accompanied me wisely asked him a few simple questions that led to him admitting that he had abducted me. He then asked, ‘Did you ever wish you could tell that young boy that you were sorry for what you did?’ David answered emphatically, ‘I wish I could.’ That was when I introduced myself to him.

Unable to see, David clasped my hand and told me he was sorry for what he had done to me. As he did, I looked down at him, and it came over me like a wave: Why should anyone have to face death without family, friends, the joy of life - without hope? I couldn’t do anything but offer him my forgiveness and friendship.”

In the days that followed, Chris was able to share the love of Christ with David.

[Source: J. Arnold, ‘Why Forgive?’]

- What is our motivation for doing such a difficult thing? Again, as our text points out, we are doing for them what God did for us.

5. If possible, enjoy the healed relationship.

- Sometimes the other person can’t join you in moving toward reconciliation (for example, in forgiving a parent now passed on) and sometimes the other person won’t join you (for example, someone who won’t acknowledge that they’ve hurt you).

- For reconciliation to happen, they must understand the pain that they’ve caused you and must be sorrowful over it.

- But when they are, make sure you enjoy the healing and the renewed relationship that can only come through forgiveness.

a convenient truth

A relationship with Him causes us to be concerned with our thoughts, decisions, attitudes, and actions--all to make our life joy-filled for us and pleasing to God.

-Anne Cetas

moving on...

dalawang salita na binubuo ng maraming kahulugan...

Anong moving-on ang tinutukoy ko dito?
a. moving on after break-up,
b. moving on after failing,
c. moving on from routinary task,
d. moving on after something you have planned has not happened...
e. none of the above

(hulaan mo kung anong tamang sagot??:)


yep! letter d. na moving on ang aking tinutukoy...galing ah! (hehe, kung anong pinakamahaba, yun kadalasan ang tamang kasagutan--pero mali yun, bias daw ang tawag don)

hehe going back,
maraming nangyari nitong nagdaang mga araw (linggo, buwan, taon, century:)),
hindi ko na nga lang namamalayan na ang bawat nagdaan ay may malaking impact sa aking susunod na patutunguhan.
ayun, tuloy, pakiramdam ko bigla akong nauntog! nauntog nang pagkalakas-lakas! na tila nag-iwan ng bukol at bigla kong naramdaman kung gaano pala iyon kasakit matapos ang ilang araw na dumaan...

ganoon pala iyon...

pero malipas ang ilang araw, naging okay na ang lahat.
hindi ko na muli napansin yung sakit ng pagkakauntog ko.
ang aking muling pagmulat ay puno ng ngiti at liwanag muli (yup, blade meron ka?!).
salamat na lamang sa mga taong nariyan sa akin upang magpaalala ng mga bagay-bagay,
na hindi mahalaga kung ano man yuon--kundi kung anong gagawin mo sa susunod na pagkakataon...

i'll be taking my exam next year:) i want to regain my friendship with one of my closest friends:) and continue accepting some realities:)

yes, ill be moving on together with HIM:)
whom ill be entrusting everything,
and looking forward for the day of harvesting what He has promised:)

Matapos ito isulat, si leowniey ay __________.
a. humahalakhak
b. tumatawa
c. nakangisi
d. nakangiti
e. wala sa nabanggit

Three 1st!

My 1st Day in My 1st Job in My 1st Company--THEOREM ^__^

April 16, 2009.
It has been a very enjoyable and memorable day for me:)

• I have experienced the buddy system whereby the HR Department provided me someone so called buddy to be with me all throughout. Well, that's been definitely effective to lessen my culture shock! :p and I love the treat during lunch!
  
• My new workmates were all nice and let me feel so welcome:)
• I was able to attend their meeting and got so motivated to do more good! Thanks to our very diligent directors:) they are very blessed with such leadership skills:)
• It's been a day also for me to realize how important my part is in structuring the new system they've got--DMS:) I'll be solely handling this with collaboration with sir eumir in the innovation dept. Help me Lord to handle this successfully:)
  
• Been with the kainan celebration for few reasons like sir ross and sir marc had their BIRTHday, ate tin-tin leveled-up for accomplishing her probationary period, and grand welcome to the newcomers, sir third and me:)

To wrap it up, it's been an overwhelming day for me. Thank God for letting me experience these things more than what I have expected. For now, I'm starting to love Theorem and the people behind it--to be a help in accomplishing their goals and objectives. I really am anticipating to be a part of its history:)

Thank you so much Lord for all the graces:) I owe these things from you:) May you be glorified as I will do my best to serve you:)

Leonie:)

panibagong HAGDAN ^__^

Isa nanamang kabanata ang malapit nang matapos daanan
at darating naman ang isang panibagong hagdan
hagdan na kinakailangang tahakin ng buong lakas at talino
na magpapatibay at magpapatatag sa akin sa pagharap sa isang panibagong yugto...

Ating balikan ang mga nagdaang nakaraan,
doon sa aking kinalagakang unibersidad na tunay ngang tumatak sa aking puso't isipan
kung saan inilaan ang aking buhay estudyante na pinuno ng pagtitiyaga at pagsasakripisyo
at unti-unting hinubog ang aking buong pagkatao.

Napakasarap muling alalahanin ang mga taong noo'y nagsipadating
na nagpalamas ng kanilang talino at galing at nagsilbing malaking impluwesiya sa amin
sila ang aming mga propesor na ginawang instrumento ng Maykapal upang kami ay turuan
at ihandog ng walang pasubali't alinlangan ang kanilang gintong karunungan.

Naroon din ang mga taong nagsilbing krayola at nagbigay kulay at saya
mga taong hindi ko rin malilimutan dahil sa haba ng aming mga pinagsamahan
sila ang aking mga kamag-aral na akin ding naging katuwang sa pagngiti at pagtawa
at sa palaging pagpapaalala na sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap at sakit ay mayroong oras upang ngumiti at magpasalamat.

Sa kabilang dako, hindi mawawala ang isang aspeto na naging parte ng aking buhay estudyante
ito ay ang mga karanasan na hinding hindi ko malilimutan...
mga karanasang nakapagpabago ng aking payak na kaisipan...
samo't saring karanasan na aking dadalhin sa susunod na tatahaking baitang.

Ang lahat ng ito ay lubos na aking ipinagpapasalamat sa Kanya...
Siya na nagplano, bumuo, at ginawang posible ang lahat para sa isang tulad kong minsa'y naghangad at nangarap.
Na sa kabila ng ambon, ulan, at bagyo ay palaging may nakalaang isang bagong umaga kung saan ang haring araw ay nakangiting nag-aabang at nagsasabing "dumilat ka at magmasid sa buhay na puno ng ganda at pag-asa".

Happy:D

Earlier I was able to finish my commitment as one of the contestants at the search for outstanding student teacher in our college. I've demonstrated already:)
so glad I was done:)

this past few weeks, I joined competitions in our dear university, I feel I was lucky enough to be one of the candidates, not because of the contest itself, but the experiences I've had:)
during our panel interview for OSYA of KATAGA, I was so happy because I was able to meet students other than my classmates and college-mates and had time to chit chat and bond with them:) then, during my demonstration a while ago, though apparently I had flaws during that time, I don't know but I'm still smiling amidst. hhhmmm... perhaps it's because of another learning opportunity for me as an education student. Likewise, another factor perhaps is the support that I have felt with my critic teachers, classmates, friends, loved ones that I can do it. Thank God I was blessed and surrounded by these people who undoubtedly helped me and encouraged me. Of course, HE's been there too. There were times I've felt weaken, but He let me realize to entrust everything to Him.

Thank you dear Lord for everything:)
For giving such experiences that would make me feel how much you love me:)
For letting me realize to do things not in surface but to offer all the glory to my dear Creator:)
Lord God, whatever the result would be, I will still be glad and happy:)
I love you so much Lord:D

Ang Pagtuturo Nga Naman

Just had my classes earlier. And had chit chats with my co-student teachers.
For the past days that I've been teaching in PUPLHS, I felt tiredness and stress but hearing good news from Cristy a while ago, everything have changed.

To give you a brief background, I have a class in Computer and had some difficulty in terms of classroom management because of the excessive noise that they were having. Because of such reason, my critic teacher's comments since then revolve around with such scenario. I was really at loss on how to make a remedy for such dilemma. There was a time that I have felt that teaching would not really meant for me. Doing my best yet not enough (really). Tried so many methods (di lang pala math ang may trial and error, pati sa pagtuturo)--but God helped me still, the comments of my CT turned good:) so glad for that--worthy efforts. However, had a very strict approach with my students. Such way made me feel guilty. That was not an image that I want to portray, but I don't have any choice. The situation forced me (wala ng ibang way, yun ang advice ni ma'am eh).

Then I've heard from Cristy during our break, the talk abouts happened during the homeroom of the section that I am teaching for (which is also the advisory class of my CT). I was the main topic of their homeroom. The students had still a good feedback to me amidst such approach I've executed. Thank God. They were able to understand me. One reason I've heard then, was that I was okay after class (sa room lang daw ako masungit, but sa labas okay naman daw ako). What made me smile more was that my CT appreciated it and made me as an example to my other co-student teachers (kwento rin sakin).

Nakakawala ng pagod ang mga ganong instances. I've fixed my mind before that I want to be a teacher by heart not only such an ideal one.

Kanina sa byahe, sumagi sa isip ko rin ang bookkeeping class ko. Ang subject na sobrang challenging sa'kin. In which I am teaching a topic which I have not taken before and the students are so active, and generally bright. Such a great opportunity to learn again and practice more my skills in teaching. Then, everything went well. My critic teacher was happy with the way I taught them, as well as the students. I really want them to learn from me. hhhmmm...quite seen from the evaluation:)

Another good thing of meeting and having bookkeeping class is that I was given a chance to meet such students, meet more people whom you'll be inspired with. Wala lang, natutuwa lang talaga ako sa resulta--which I have not expected before.

Hope I could be able to do more for my student's sake.
A teacher who's not only a dispenser of knowledge, but also a person who can be with while enjoying the lesson through different activities and experiences that would bind us more.

Young Leaders' Academy (Graduation)

Just have finished yesterday the 1st Young Leaders' Academy. This is a new program of our Agency's Youth Council and replaced the annual Advance Leadership Training of previous years. It was totally fulfilling to see the positive outcome of the three-day session, October 19, 25, and 26, 2008, seminar for (approximately) 190 area representatives of different communities. Days of fun, enjoyment, friendship, and learning experiences.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the faculty members whereby I have discussed the topic about decision making during the third day. Have facilitated the activities that would enrich the lesson--and voila, ansaya. They were able to assimilate what has been tackled and were able to achieve the goals for the day.

Yesterday we had our graduation, at nakatutuwang isipin that they were all thankful for what the academy has done for them. Isang di matutuwarang karanasan na nakapagdulot sa akin ng lubos na kaligayahan na masilayan ang ngiti at labis na pasasalamat sa kanilang natutunan.

It was a delightful experience to witness the effectiveness of the program,
the sacrifices and hardwork of the people behind were paid already by their gratefulness. Tunay ngang isang napakagandang karanasan na matunghayan ang pagbabago para sa mga kabataang naghahangad ng ikauunlad ng kanilang komunidad. And personally, a great experience for me, for I was able to develop camaraderie with my co-faculty members and the participants (another batch of friends), was also given a chance to share my knowledge and experiences with these youths, and, of course, was able to have an opportunity to be a part of the pioneer YLA of Children International.


Thank you Lord for guiding us all throughout ^__^

I was so Touched :D

I was very happy to witness such birthday surprise for Sir Dennis, my critic teacher in bookkeeping. Upon watching the presentations of the students for him, I can't help but to smile all throughout as if I am the one who was celebrating my birthday. Perhaps because I am anticipating the same way with my future students--not the surprise directly but the sweetness and love that comes from the students which could be considered as irreplaceable and incomparable feat for an educator. A notable experience indeed.

I miss...

This semester is definitely one of the most busiest sem i have ever had.

Because of this, I think, I slipped lots of things...

I miss AKI, youth leaders, reading lots of inspiring books, reflecting, etc.

this day, I'm preparing my presentation in edtech for tom, and also im preparing for my demonstration in Practical Arts for the next day...

but now, something made me stop doing what I suppose to do at this moment.
hhhmmm:(

i can't really figure it out...

a force that makes me feel bore... makes me weak... seemingly I want to sleep, though I know I do need to finish these stuffs.

Lord, I miss you. I miss to be with you.
I miss reflecting on things.
I miss everything.
But I know I just need to be patient.

I'm excited to finish this semester:)
hhhhmmm....
I promise, I'll do my best regardless:)

Thank you dear Lord:)

Be my guide. Be my strength.

A Scene That Struck Me

Just earlier I've seen a dramatic scene.

After ng Sunday service namin ng ate ko, kami'y sumakay sa mrt, taft avenue station.
ng biglang...

<*drumroll*>

sa loob ng mrt...
habang kami'y nakaupo at nag-uusap ng ate ko...

lights, camera, action!
(pasigaw ang lahat ng eksena)
girl: Basa nga eh! Basa! (while holding a mountain dew bottle and having an argue with the guard).
guard: Ma'am hindi po pwede ang in can dito sa mrt lalo pa't bukas na.
girl: can?! Is this a can?! It's a bottle! Bottle!
guard: hindi nga po pwede ma'am.
girl: (nilapag ang mountain dew bottle sa labas ng mrt at pumasok uli sa loob)
happy?! Masaya ka na?!
guard: <*speechless*> (at sya'y umalis).
matapos no'n kinuha muli ni girl ang mountain dew sa labas, pumasok uli at umupo.--just imagine.

ahaha. grabe nagulat kami ng ate ko on that scene. parang may mag-boyfriend na nag-away sa aming harapan... lalo na nung binanggit ang mga katagang "happy?! Masaya ka na?!" parang gusto kong sundan ng salitang 'break na tau' un..
nung inact ulit ni ate tawa-tawa kami ng tawa.:))

but, seriously speaking, I've just realized afterwards that why is it so hard to follow on the rules and regulations of that certain place? Why do like her, whom already made a mistake, still has the guts to scold and argue so much? hhhmm... Is pride part of it? Or perhaps something wrong has happened to her before that scenario (the reason why her acts afterwards were affected)?

But no matter what the answer, it's still necessary to live by the word humbleness. Whatsoever the circumstances are, even if you're the right one or not, just hang on that word. Yes, I know. It's too ideal. But trying to do this would yield to a peaceful mind.

Kanina kasi, right after she argued and scolded too much, she seated and her face still looked angry...as in galit. Naisip ko lang, if she just give way and let guard's request be made, she will not have a bad day...result--wrinkles.. ganda pa naman nya. sayang lang.

There are a lot of things that do happen in our everyday life akin with that. I know, I really am guilty with that. Small or big issue. Important or unimportant thing. Whatever it is... They're all the same. We let these affect us and even our whole day.

(ahehe, wait, antok na ko, need to end this now)

Just need a proper approach and the right attitude on things.

Another thing:)

Humbleness means greatness

like HIM ^_^

gudnyt:)

Quotable Quotes from "The Alchemist"

I got these quotes from the book of Paulo Coelho entitle "The Alchemist", one of his best selling books. I first read this book when I was in 4th year high school when our English Teacher obliged us to read it and make a book analysis.

Recently, I had a chance to reread it again. Well, worth it. :) Had some additional insights.

It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.

--yes, if people just knew how to appreciate even the simplest things they do have and not being hoodwinked by envies and jealousies. Some, perhaps, are unquenchable nor insatiable in their tastes.

When someone sees the same people everyday, they wind up becoming a part of that person's life. And they want the person to change. If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

--hhhmmm, just like loving ourselves first before loving others, know ourselves first before knowing others... including the flaws that we have and had.. and changes will eventually be stumbled upon.

The world's greatest lie: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.

--It is being controlled by someone named Jesus Christ. It is a simple way of letting us feel that He is in control of everything and we should leave all the things upon Him.

The Soul of the World is nourished by people's happiness... To realize one's Personal Legend is a person's only obligation.

--nourished by people's happiness--indeed, that's a blessing, outrageous joy while taking the risks.
Personal Legend, I think, would be the mission and the reason why we were been created by the Creator. In the author's point of view, it's what we have always wanted to accomplish.

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

--famous line in this book. Implied explanation.

Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents.

--It is definitely depends on how we decipher the codes of the enigmatic things that happens on our lives. Whether positively or negatively.


The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

Like everyone else--I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does.

There must be a language that doesn't depend on words. It is the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired.

If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world.

You must always know what it is that you want.

Never stop dreaming.

Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.

People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.

... Fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.

You have to think only about the best way of moving forward... The rest is up to Him.