. . . learnings . . .

my gratitude to the author and to the creation, which provided the spark and the kindling for these learnings. _huggin_ And If I Did Not Make Mistakes Written by Katie Paton And if I did not make mistakes And give too brief a thought to heavy questions And too much time to little matter; Or if I always knew which road to travel Where every step would lead me into daylight And if each face that turned to watch me pass Was broken by a smile; Or if whenever I should choose to lay my heart Bare upon the sun-warmed grass, It always was returned with tender touches And carried by a song; And if my heaviest burden were only to be A breeze upon my back, and blossom in my hair, And my brow was never crossed with lines of pain; If all this endless summer were my lot And winter's fury never beat me back, Then I never would have seen the stormy nights Through which I've struggled, fought and won; I never would have known the joy of needed comfort given, Or the essence of a friend.

~('o')~

a blessed gift, learning is. to ignite it is to risk failing or succeeding. to nurture it is to plant the seeds of growth, to be reaped and harvested by time and circumstance. to embrace it daily means changing from moment to moment.

along life’s convoluted ways, along its many facets and its vicissitudes, we find that there is in all of us the primordial element to go through the tempests, the trials and tribulations. evolving and enduring, we survive these and carry with us the moments, memories, mistakes, mementos and miracles which we append to learning, loving and living.

may we always find the reason to keep pace with a reality that teaches, torments, troubles and tests our soul, for in the end, the triumph will be our own. may we always look forward to a plethora of todays, yesterdays and tomorrows to count and recall as we move through life like the destined travellers that we are. may we always have hope that amidst the conflict, confusion and conflagration, there is an Almighty who guides, protects, provides, understands, and creates in us a craftmanship with His very own brand. may we always have faith that the sun warms, the skies enfold, the rain blesses, the tears washes, the laughter imparts, the beauty holds, the mind sharpens, the heart loves and the hands nourishes.

~('o')~

[ choices ]

~('o')~ every day is a moment of choices . . . a choice to live or die; a choice to hurt or heal; a choice to stay or go; a choice to heed or ignore; a choice to inhale or exhale; a choice to fly or fight; a choice to bend or stand; a choice to take or refuse; a choice to agree or argue; a choice to begin or end; a choice to love or hate; a choice to leave or wait; a choice to move or remain; a choice to care or uncare; a choice to break or unbreak; a choice to cry or laugh; a choice to walk or run; a choice to eat or starve; a choice to save or consume; a choice to quit or endure; a choice to do right or do wrong; a choice to be early or late; a choice to be good or be bad; a choice for sun or rain; a choice to bless or curse; a choice to listen or judge; a choice to frown or smile; a choice to kill or sustain; a choice to throw or keep; a choice to hold or unhold; a choice to build or bind; a choice to please or possess; a choice to spit or kiss; a choice to sleep or wake; a choice to sing or dance; a choice to grow or rot; a choice to quench or ignite; a choice to give or deny; a choice to dream or not; these moments of choices are the same for you and me. it's our attitude that can affirm or deny ourselves the time and chance to make or break . . . my friend, you are not the only one who has a cross to bear. God gave us our own so that He can test and refine us according to His will and wisdom. ~('o')~ "God isn't far away. He's in every smile; in every thought that gives us hope; in every tear that waters our soul and in every moment we can't face alone. " (anonymous)

3 days 1 Sunday

two caterpillar friends had a misunderstanding. both were rushing, anticipating to turn into butterflies once the time is set. they dreamed to fly together, find the flower of their dreams, enjoy the sweetest nectar and have adventures together. but, like all silly creatures they realized that they are rushing to be “together”. they fell silent for quite sometime and caterpillar one decided to go a bit separately while thinking things through. this caterpillar almost fell off the sturdy branch that was already familiar, having tread its limbs and path with caterpillar two. finding a semblance of courage, caterpillar one decided to find caterpillar two so that they could talk things through and this is their conversation : one: hey, old friend, can we talk for a while? (offering a juicy leaf to caterpillar two) two: i think we could. what’s on your mind? (seeming sullen and distant) one: i was just thinking that things didn’t turn out well between us the past three days. two: well, what could i do? you seem to have decided to go your own way. one: i was wrong to have been silent and didn’t voice out what i was feeling. i was thinking you need some time to think too. two: you know what? while feeling sorry for myself, i was thinking during the past three days that i don’t want to care anymore. i was telling myself, “what’s the point?” “what for?” one: i am sorry to hear that i made you feel that way. that’s why you’re behaving indifferently. two: i am just sick and tired of going around in circles. what’s the point of dreaming together when we’re going to go our separate ways? one: i admit my mistake and i shouldn’t have done what i did. it was difficult for me as i feel that it was difficult for you, too. but, hey, we are friends. been friends. still friends. two: yeah, i know. you’re not just my friend. but, you’re my best friend. and that means so much to both of us. one: you were asking what’s the point? what’s the point in trying? what’s the point in caring? two: i don’t really know what to think. i don’t know. i really don’t know. (shrugging, exhausted) one: please let me help you in that. i asked myself the same question. the point is that i care, i try, you care, you try because we’re growing. we’re learning. we’re starting something. and this is already part of our adventure together. it may not be much, but it’s a start. two: i don’t want to give up and i don’t want to let our friendship go. it would be a waste if we do. all i know is that we still got things to know about each other. there’s more you want to know about me and there’s more i want to know about you, too. so, let’s just take things slow and start from the beginning. one: i agree with you. whatever it takes to keep our friendship, we’ll work it out. (smiles and grins) two: (takes hold of the juicy leaf offered by caterpillar one, grins). ok then, we’ll share. a simple talk. a simple start. and the beginning of a metamorphosis. a new leaf. a new smile. and renewed hope. as all things come and go, all things starts and ends. but, a friendship that is pure and true, lasts and lasts a whole life through . . .

once in a lifetime

it only happens once not twice, the moments vanishing like mice, scurrying past, life much too fast and only for the very brave the strong, the true and when the moment comes for you don't let it pass you by for in the twinkling of an eye the love is gone the moment dead, an empty ringing in your head your heart will know when fate has whisphered in your ear . . . oh, never fear, beloved friend for in the end, it's worth the price the fee, the cost when all is lost but love is won when true love comes, there is but one.

- danielle steel -

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/steel/profile.html

~('o')~ my mother reads danielle steel, and though not as often, i do, too. this poem she penned in one of her novels (sorry, i forgot which), has been with me for the longest time. in retrospect, i placed it here to share, and to also remind myself that my once in a lifetime has come and it is my own making for it to last even beyond the ad infinitum... _huggin_

have you asked yourself this?

"each path is only one of a million paths. therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. if you feel that you must now follow it, you need not stay with it under any circumstances. any path is only a path. there is no affront to yourself or others in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. but your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear and ambition. i warn you: look at every path closely and deliberately. try it as many times as you think necessary. then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. it is this: does this path have a heart? all paths are the same. they lead nowhere. they are paths going through the brush or into the brush or under the brush. does this path have a heart is the only question. if it does, then the path is good. if it doesn't, it is of no use." from the book teachings according to don juan written by anthropologist carlos castaneda. "if your path is love, the goal is unimportant, the process will have heart." - leo buscaglia on the book he penned, entitled "Love" ( http://www.buscaglia.com )

~('o')~

i found buscaglia's book quite unexpectedly among many volumes at a booksale, at such time that i was yearning to find meaning, if not eloquence to a moment of "becoming", quite funny at such time that i have just changed my personal circumstances. it was that book, all in bright red, with its white letterings saying "buy me! buy me! take me with you!". and i did. i have not yet read on any further than where the "path" was discussed but, i keep coming back to it. i know there are lots more to read on... and i'm just as excited continuing as i am discovering...

in my own small way, thank you to your legacy leo f. buscaglia (1924-1998) and for echoing some of my thoughts, exactly!!! _huggin_

dare to be happy

~('o')~ dare to be happy - don't shy away, reach out and capture the joy of today! life is for living! give it a try; open your heart to that sun in the sky. dare to be loving, and trusting, and true; treasure the hours with those dear to you. dare to be kind - it's more fun than know; give joy to others, and watch your own grow. dare to admit all your blessings, and then every day count them all over again. dare to be happy, don't be afraid this is the day which the Lord hath made! helen lowrie marshall ~('o')~

things may not always go rightly or brightly, but, it takes motivating oneself, sparking up an innate enthusiam, holding on to hopes shared, staying on, giving and loving unconditionally, keeping faith with the giver of dreams . . . our lives may be afflicted with despair, sorrow, anxiety, turmoil and turbulence, but, we can look inside us and find the spark - the kindling of renewal and beginning again . . . and again . . . and again . . . ad infinitum. * _huggin_ *

when You speak

dear Lord, when was the last time we talked? when was it that i came to you like an affectionate child demanding attention? you have not forgotten. each day you hold my hand and remind me of work that needs to be done in me. this morning, you watered the earth with your tears, falling as rain. while it does not carry the violence of a raging storm, i noticed that it was just a calm, collected rain fall. like a gentle pleading, a solemn summons. while on my way out, i noticed your smile, brightly lit by the glow of the mighty sun. your wind gathers like a caress expecting the mortal to reciprocate. is it always thus that you are expressive? how wonderful it would be to gaze and marvel at your countenance?! ever expressing, continually evolving. i have not forgotten. i will look forward to another talk with you. and tonight, i will look up in awe at your big blanket of sky, hugging my soul, warming me over... i anticipate your smile in the twinkle of the stars... ~('o')~ ~('o')~ ~('o')~ let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew like showers on new grass like abundant rain on tender plants deuteronomy 32:2 ~('o')~ ~('o')~ ~('o')~