Learning and Loving

In every minute of the concluding 525,600 minutes, there’s always an element of learning and loving. These are two great things about existing.

• Not everyone thinks the same way as you do. You always have to adjust, not necessarily accept, in order to understand where the person is coming from (again not necessarily accept) or at least be patient enough to listen. It matters to listen (it’s all about respect).

• We make wrong choices. If it happens most of the time (in different aspects of life), maybe we should rethink the manner by which we decide. Then again, no matter how weighed and analyzed our decisions are, they don’t necessarily translate to something good; which leads to the next item.

• Shit REALLY happens. It’s either because you’ve made a wrong choice or it’s caused by other people’s action (wrong decision maybe). You can’t really have absolute control on everything. But you’ve the power to troubleshoot. That’s the game of life.

• You do things because you’ve reasons in doing so. Saying “wala lang” implies that there’s something beyond these words. It’s either your idea is too sketchy that it’s hard to express or you're simply hiding your reasons to yourself (which isn’t bad, btw).

• When you pursue your passion (let’s qualify: passion that is feasible), nothing and no one can stop you (except maybe for sickness or death).

• Traveling (out of town or country) is more than just a cathartic activity. It’s a great form of learning about culture & history. It’s not just about the shopping. Oh, once you've started to out of the country, there’s always a thirst for it (But it’s better to tour around the country first).

• There is such a thing as compromise. The question that must be answered however is, “in what situation do we allow ourselves to get into a compromise?”

• Age does matter. It matters in fulfilling what you want in life. The younger you are, the more energy and opportunity for you to do what you want. There are things you can’t do anymore when you reach a certain age – either you’re too weak or it’s simply not apt to be doing these things at that age. Only the heart can be forever young.

• You can never really know if the juice is worth the squeeze unless you try. Risking is part of life. What is important is that when you risk you always have a fall back (in case it doesn’t turn out a good fight). Oh and that before you risk, you have analyzed things well.
  

• If you didn’t get what you want, it takes time for you to find an answer to the big question, “WHY?” But along the way, you’ll get answers (even if you don’t try to seek for it).

• People change. Period.

• Waiting is fine. Really fine. Even if it's hard and it makes us antsy, it's still fine.
  

• There will always be people who’ll get mad at us for wrong reasons (nonsense even). For as long as we don’t get angry at them (for wrong reasons, too) that’s fine.

• A friend once told me, “You have to fall in love with love.” The idea was premised on how one can start learning to fall in love romantically. Then again, falling in love with love is something we all have to learn (not just for romantic intentions). It’s a basic thing we’ve to learn to live a worthy life – again, measuring life in love.

• Of course, we also hate other people. That’s normal. Hate is a normal thing to feel. Haha. Just like love. The only difference is, hate should vanish eventually while love should continue to grow deep (parang linya sa kanta).

• Each person we encounter plays a role in our life. They all have a certain level of significance in our existence. Loved ones (family and good friends) simply have the higher level of relevance.

To gauge life’s worthiness, measure the learning and of course measure the love (idea borrowed from “Rent”). For me, there isn’t really such a thing as complete contentment (if such exists, you’ll stop dreaming and struggling, you’ll stop living). Of course, there’s a point in your life that you feel content but there’s always that part of you that longs for something. What matters is that there are things that make you happy and people who make you feel loved. There are things that make you feel that you’re living a worthy life.

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Before, "maybe" is the only thing I’m sure of. But now, "maybe" and "I'm happy" are the things I’m pretty sure of.

Sorry for being a bit preachy. I’m probably talking out loud to myself.

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May the concluding 525,600 minutes provided you with lots of love and realizations. Measure the love :)