12/08/2012

PERSONALITY DISORDERS STILL HARD TO DEFINE 
by Benedict Carey 
from New York Times International Weekly,
a Saturday supplement of Manila Bulletin

[Curious of how mind works] It's interesting, despite how advance our technology and the knowledge in the field, particularly when it comes to personality, we still find it hard to comprehend. Because we think differently, which influenced primarily by our culture, makes it more hard to study. If a book will be published concretely or somehow gives answers, like the inquiries written in this article, it will surely be beneficial. I'll wait for it. 

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12/05/2012


"Fear," he used to say, "fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe." That blew me away. "Turn on the TV," he'd say. "What are you seeing? People selling their products? No. People selling the fear of you having to live without their products." Fuckin' A, was he right. Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, fear of failure. Fear is die most basic emotion we have. Fear is primal. Fear sells. That was my mantra. "Fear sells."

- Max Brooks, World War Z

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11/15/2012

CLIMATE CHANGE MAY HAVE DOOMED MAYA
from Business Mirror

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11/14/2012


SIGNS OF THE END OF GOOD TIMES 
by Roxy M. Valencerina 
of THE PHILIPPINE STAR

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10/30/2012


PURSUING HAPPINESS
(Essay)

I've been trying to find the meaning of happiness and what are the requirements to acquire it. I also wonder how would I make the feeling stay longer rather than sadness. But my pursuit of finding it seems to entail a lot of conflicts and misunderstandings, making it seemingly impossible to achieve.

Reasons vary for different kinds of people. For materialistic persons, possessing the most expensive gadget or clothing would be the reason for their happiness. Others might reason love or intangible things (emotions, etc.) to achieve it.

My emotion is always unstable. Bliss never stayed so long that I usually got stuck up in sadness. It seems that my wheel of fortune is always stuck up on a dark and muddy terrain.

I once read that the emergence of problems cannot be controlled, but how we react to it solely depends on us. I believe in it, but why can’t I tightly hold onto it? I tried several ways, even by trying to pattern my way of living in the philosophy of persons who value tangible and intangible things, successively, as a source of their happiness. However, it does not suffice my requirements to prolong the joy.

I realized that one’s happiness differs and won’t be exactly the same reasons as others. It is because our needs and reasons to feel joy and to prolong it vary. And the ways we view it solely depend on us.

Another reason is we can never be contented, influencing our view of happiness. Once we acquire the reason of feeling the joy, we long more of it that many of us became greedy. We are subject to jealousy and ambition. And there’s no escaping it.

What I simply understand is happiness is complex itself.  What more the ways and reasons to achieve it?

Happiness is a word so simple yet difficult to study or comprehend.


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THE RIGHT TIME COMES 
(Essay)

When a man realizes that there is no point of hoping, pain resides in his mind and heart until a new opportunity arises.

Unknowingly, we are confined with our own biases and selfishness. Although we are taught to be altruistic, we have the instinct of thinking first of ourselves than of others.

Now that the world itself became much more complicated and cruel, we have no choice but to think of ourselves (consciously or unconsciously), especially on how we could live in such a demanding era. This usually results to not achieving what we want or long, which in turn breaks our hearts and make us feel hopeless.

The idea and action of striving very hard, yet no fruit appears, turns our world upside down. It drains our hope and confidence to face the future. Yet some point in our life, we always find light. The light might come from someone or something dear to us.

The process, in which finding such light, is being selfish itself. We've been thinking of ourselves, not knowing that we also grab the chance of others to succeed. This is a competitive world: to win is to also think of ourselves, a must-part of our lives.

For example, working until late night or doing your best in your work, and achieving compliments gives you the chance to get promoted. When you look behind, there is also someone who’s striving hard but not as gifted as you. In this manner, I’m sure you won’t give him or her the position, because it is a chance for you to achieve your goal, and to have the comfortable life you always wanted.

We don’t always need to be altruistic. The point is we should learn when or not to be one. Life is cruel itself and it has no mercy.  You must first show mercy to yourself, so you could give mercy to others. We must learn to love yourself so you could give something to others.

We must learn to fight. Life is never fair that ‘s why we need to strive hard and face the future with positive and strength.

It is natural for us to feel down or think that there is no hope at all. However, we must remember that there is still light along the way. Brood but do not take so long that you already miss the opportunity in your life. There will come a time that you will have your chance and show what you got. Just wait. It might not be now. But it will surely be in the future.


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10/24/2012

WHAT EYES CANNOT SEE

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A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

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10/15/2012


A LETTER TO MR. ANONYMOUS 
(Piece)

Dear Mr. Anonymous,

They said that once you love a person, the feeling would never leave. Maybe, that’s my case. If you think I’m confessing, maybe I do, but for me, it is a way of filling my empty heart; my way to be able to love again.

I did have crushes during grade school, but the feeling was different. Not to mention most of them were acquaintances, and became my close friends. They became my source of inspiration, my driver to do my best. Of course, my family is part of them. They always see the best in me, expect a lot from me, and always show those kind words. They cheer me up, establish connection and make close. That’s who they are, and the persons that I love.

However, you’re case was different. When I realized I have a deep romantic feeling for you, my heart shook up. It beat fast that every time I saw you I can hardly breathe or concentrate. I can’t even look in your eyes. My drive and passion to do well in school left me. Those were the times I prayed I should’ve not got too close to you, and strongly believe that you’re just a friend who only passed by.

I even wished that I don’t want to see you again, hoping that I will eventually get over from your flirtatious words and smiles, making me, for the first time, barely sleep. You tormented me and let me suffer from stress. How could you be so mean and cold? You knew that I suddenly became indifferent, but you never confronted me even once.

Months have already passed. I assumed I already get over you.  I saw those messages of yours, telling your feelings for only few words. You might not know but I have read some of it. You might even think that I never cared. But you are wrong.

I want you to know that I could still remember the tightness of your embrace the very last time we met.  It was the first time someone hugged me so tightly. I blushed; I admit that I can’t forget it until now.

Please take note that the next words I’m going to write are what I meant most.  What I really felt for you. And who you really are to me.

Yes, you are different. Because you’re the first man who made my consciousness detached from my body; making me lose control aside from speaking in front of a crowd. However, unconsciously you became my strength. You’re the first person who never judged me, who did not wait for me to commit mistake. You may not be my source of inspiration, but you became the sunlight that gives me energy to go on and do my best.

I am a type of person who does not look in the person’s eyes when talking because of inferiority complex. But my reason for not looking into your eyes was different. I was afraid that I might eventually give up and tell you my feelings. I was afraid that I would get everything wrong and I was the only who felt that way. It is also pride and lack of self-confidence that kept me away from you.

It is also you who made me realize how weak I am in love, but how I am willing to sacrifice just for love. I did wish not to see you but I strongly prayed that you’re always there for me. I hated you because you’re the first person who let jealousy take me, wishing I am the one you’re embracing and spending time with.

Lastly, you always believe in me, and never thought of me as your competitor but a special friend whom you should cheer and support. You knew my weaknesses but you still believe in me and trusted me with your frustrations and problems. I miss those times.

And now you did it again. You unwillingly cheered my heart by making a special treatment on my simple message for you. Because of this weird, unusual feeling, I gave it a special meaning, which I should not. I know you thought me only as your friend, as someone you can bully and nothing else.

A friend of mine told me to express it. I hope I successfully did, and by doing so it will help me move on. Maybe, it’s time to let you go. Maybe.

Still, thank you for those painful memories, my sweet and cold Mr. Annoying (as I want to call you). I will never forget you. In the future, I’ll share those memories and let the persons, who will be part of my future, know that there is this one person who changed my life, and let me experienced an ecstasy a person could ever had.

Till we meet again…
Goodbye “my sweetest downfall.”
Sayonara my first love.

P.S. My love for you will always stay in my heart.

Sincerely,

The messenger of happiness


1 comment

Happiness, sometimes, can be found 
in small, beautiful creatures like them. 

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