Friendship Gratitude - Michael

Romeo, Michael, Me and Jonet. MOA, December 2010

I don’t like the feeling of being in a cross-road. I mean, who would? It’s like your torn, helpless and you don’t feel like striding on the road. My initial choice is to go immobile and just anticipate for something that I don’t know either. It’s a faith thing, but then again for growth to emancipate, one should learn how to move forward and make choices, that some are not easy.

This time around, I’d like to write about the people in my life that have been a constant well of energy for yours truly. They are the people who have never left my side. They are the ones that relentlessly believed in me. They never left me whatever condition I’m in. They are the people I call my soul mates. The people that gives you that energy to move on. 

I want to give tribute for their undying attention, concern, love and care. I’d like to keep a journal of how they made me experience when I’m downhill and when I’m on the prime of my life. They provide immensely different perspectives and valuable advices. 

I want this activity to serve as a reminder to myself that I'm blessed and I have people that rallies me up. 

The first on my list is my best friend Michael.

My BFF Michael

Michael and I were classmates from second year high school. I know right then and there that he’s a PLU. In spite of being one, he was the shy-type which I mistakenly took as a snob. Instinct told me that he’s going to be a friend so I never tried hard to strike a conversation.

Before graduating high school, Michael has been a great confidant. He knows most of my secrets and he has been the ever loyal and faithful ally.

During college, despite the lack of means of communication, Michael never failed to visit me at home. We just talk about things and how he’s coping up with his relationships and other shitty things about his exes.

Oh boy, we laughed at almost anything! No one can deny that we're jologs by heart. He’s such a joy to be with. 

It’s been more than 16 years and this fellow of mine never changed. We see each other from time to time and he’s the same loyal, understanding and faithful friend. 

Michael, I seldom say this to you, but I’d like to thank you for keeping me company during the times I’m so down and low. You are also there in my successes and you’ve always cheered me. If there’s someone that epitomizes the word friendship, it’s you. You help me realize things and you always keep my feet on the ground. I can say everything to you without editing. You just listen to me and give me sound advice.

Should the time come that I need to return the favor, just ask. I’m here for you my friend, no matter what. My deepest gratitude for the inspiration, love, concern, understanding and care. 

God indeed blessed me with your friendship! 

On Heart's Blessedness

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia, 2011

When I think about love, I think about two persons who stares at each other. Theirs is a complete conversation, don't ask why. 

When I think about love, I think about two people walking in the same direction. 

They move together in unison. One may stop to rest, but the other will halt too, to cheer up and provide encouragement. 

When I think about love, I think about two people laughing together. They share humor. Their tummies hurt from laughing hard, they will perspire, and will smile at each other. 

When I think about love, I think about the moment when two argues - but one surrenders not by reason, but because of respect.  

When I think about love, I think about happiness. I think about small achievements together, those little things. 

When I think about love, I think about two hearts that talk, that converse in love's rhythm. 

When I think about love, I think about two people eating together, helping each other to show some extra affection.

When I think about love, I think about heart's blessedness. I can go on and on but ultimately...

When I think about you, I think about love, how it changed my life, forever. 

I love you mahal. 

Self-Help Bookfest

In a span of three days, I’ve been consumed in closing out pages from my old self-help books. Some of them I have not finished reading particularly those I’ve started almost a month ago. I just left few chapters of it, as I get caught up with some professional stuff I need to put a start with, say, interviews and Six Sigma review.

I’m really a fan of self-help books. This type of books actually serves as a mentoring device for yours truly. Experiences and insights of the authors truly make them effective as a personal mentor. Stories about failures, successes and breakthroughs are really inspiring and empowering which makes you want to start living them. In other words, it triggers hope and faith that you can achieve whatever you want to be.

For some, self-help books are rather but useless in the real life. I admit that I have the same propensity in the outset. But series of events lead me to seeking wisdom from well-known authors. If pragmatism is of the issue here, I think it really depends on the receiver. Bottomline is we should think that we are cherry-pickers. Meaning, we could choose to learn from the different generous tenets of it and apply it on our personal lives, or we could choose to dampen them with doubt and pessimism – or simply walk away.

Thank You Power

-Deborah Norville

We all know Deborah from the show Inside Edition. The author narrates different stories (her own and other people) and proved that practicing this very positive gesture of appreciation and gratitude can really help. Only last month, I started a gratitude entries in this blog which made me appreciate my current life beyond rejections and failure. It was a very painful chapter in my life and believe me; my mind was really clouded with despair until I bumped into this book. You see, the problem with yours truly is that I’m a person who seldom asks help from others, I realized that. This book didn’t help me in that aspect but it did help me in one aspect of life – expressing gratitude. Yes, it’s indeed true that when you see things in different light and putting it in a pedestal where you can see the bigger picture, your life starts to make sense. It gives you purpose and makes you want to go on.

Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!

-Robert H. Schuller

This book took me eight months to finish. By stroke of some sloth or laziness, I never get to finish at least two chapters in one sitting. The problem back then is that I was so tied up with work and things were going smoothly. Until some unfortunate events happened. I think destiny really would want me to experience failure until I get to appreciate Mr. Schuller here.

The book was really a straightforward guide to coping up with stressful events. Like any other self-help book authors, Mr. Schuller did an amazing job narrating anecdotes and breakthrough stories of ordinary and extraordinary human. I was really compelled to reading this book after the disastrous event in my career life. However, I believe Mr. Schuller will not agree to naming it disastrous but just some pivotal ingredient in my life. Whatever we go through right now is just a phase preparing us for better things ahead. I was given a very workable approach in handling problems and road-blocks in life.  Then I’m really geared up, refreshed and ready to take on the next challenges of my life after reading this.

How to Conquer Your Goliaths

-Bo Sanchez

Humor is part and parcel to Bo Sanchez’ writing. Early 2010, I’ve attended one of his seminars, “How to be Truly Rich” and that was during the time I bought this book. He really can inject humor, and oh boy, how I enjoy and learn from it. I can’t help but smile and occasionally laugh on how he presented ideas and concepts in this book. My take away from this book is discernment and having the courage to fulfill dreams in God’s guidance. Hence, it is easy to surmise that through that concept we go back to where we should start from the beginning of all things, and that is love.

The Gift of Leadership

-John C. Maxwell

I’ve always been a Maxwell fan and have read three books he authored including this. This book talks about different steps for self-improvement and handling changes in organization. If you want to reinvigorate your career life and motivate yourself whether you’re in leadership position or not, I suggest you read this.

***

I still have some books to finish, but I intend to finish them before the year ends. Majority of it were gifts and some I bought years ago.

The Heart of a Leader

-Ken Blanchard

The Way of the Sheperd

-Dr. Kevin Leman and William Pentak

How to Delegate, A Guide to Getting Things Done

-Herbert M. Engel

Good Advice for a Bad Economy

-John Ventura and Mary Reed

The Complete Job-Search Handbook

-Howard Figler

Mongkok