Sunday, December 31, 2006
Lesson # 3: The Choice
One particular life-altering moment for me this year was when Richard Bowles gave a talk on Spiritual Quotient here in Finland. During the course of his speech, he made the audience think about what makes the usually-mentioned most admired people (i.e. Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Ghandi) happy and peaceful. We came up with loads of ideas of course, ranging from faith to conviction to love. However, to Bowles the answer was simple -- all these three people made a choice and they stood by their choice no matter how hard it was. In the process, they have also come to accept the difficulties as a part of the choice and they don't feel so beaten down by them.
For example, Mother Teresa chose to help the poor and the needy. She believed that to be her calling. No matter how difficult her struggle was she maintained her faith and her happiness. She merely saw all the struggles as necessary events that has a purpose in strengthening herself, her purpose and her choice.
Same goes for me. I have made my choice. I have chosen to be an entrepreneur. I know it is not going to be an easy life but I also know this is what would make me happy and would make me contribute to this world. I have made my choice and I am sticking to it.
So, peaceful living is not so hard after all. All you need to do is make that choice, stick by it and love it. I know some will say that you don't know what it is that makes you tick. I also THOUGHT I did not. But actually, I did. I was just afraid to fail, to be poor, to "waste time." But living a life in fear is not fun at all. Living a life believing things are possible is better. :)
My 25th year has indeed been a turning point for me. Three of the biggest learnings were gained during this weirdly ironic year. And if you look at the three learnings: (1) You can only rely on yourself for happiness, (2) To attract the best, you have to believe you are the best, (3) Everything is a choice -- the main link is ME. The power of the human spirit far outweighs the deceit of this world. :) Think about it.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Lesson # 2: Like Attracts Like
During the whole of fall 2006, I spent most of the time being confused. I was always introspecting, mulling and, well, complicating relatively simple things. :) Then, I raised my hands up and said, "Screw it! I will handle life as it comes." But in the process, I also affirmed myself that I am a good person that deserves good things. After that, things started on a positive roll.
First, I met really good people who provide me with the positive energy I need. Second, I finally figured out what I am going to do not just next year but the years to come. Third, I generally have received simple yet very much great blessings.
What I concluded from this is that in order to have the best, you have to believe you are the best. Of course, I do not mean arrogance. Having a high sense of self-esteem often means that you are also aware of your weaknesses and are able to deal with them up front. It also means being aware of what causes these weaknesses and insecurities. This year for instance, I allowed my brains to surface some of my repressed memories. It was a scary thing to do but little by little it has helped me deal with situations and myself head on. It has also allowed to see the good in me -- to realize that I am the best person I can be. :)
Every now and then my whole I am the best attitude is challenged. However, because of the help of loving people, I have been able to push through them. Plus, I have come to realize how important it is to have faith that my God, whom I consider a part of me, loves me and only wants the best for me. :)
So summa summarum - in order to attract the best, you have to believe you are the best. :)
So this is my second learning for the year that was. I will try to write something about the third one very soon. :)
In the meantime, hugs to everyone and happy new year!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
One Year Wiser
Yesterday, I celebrated my 26th birthday. For the first time in ages, I felt very at peace during my birthday. Maybe it was because I did not expect much or maybe because I have come to realize that even if it were my birthday, the world does not revolve around me. Either way, I felt grateful and thankful for the sincere greetings of friends and family and for the fact that I felt hopeful for the year to come.
Anyway, to cap off the year that was I wanted to share with you my top three learning points last year. I will only post one at a time so I can wet your appetite for more. :)
- You can only rely on yourself for happiness - During the last year, I realized that no matter how people care for you or how much things you acquire, at the end of the day, you cannot really rely on anyone else but yourself to make you happy. When you cannot find ways to make yourself happy, grateful and at peace, you will always find something wrong with the way things are! Anyway, there are so many great things about living and being that it is quite stupid to always focus on the negative. The world is a much sunnier place if we choose to believe it as such. :)
Here is Erica's learning #1. :) Tomorrow I will post the second one. And oh, btw, I promise to update the blog more often. I had to retreat from doing so the past month because I questioned why I was actually writing here. But now I know. I am doing it for the few souls who enjoy my writing. :)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Kim!
Kim will be coming back to Finland on the 15th! One of the best news so far! Yey!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Family Friends
During my college years, I had a group of friends which was aptly called "Family Friends." We coined the term after realizing that we still wanted to be part of each other's lives inspite of jobs, marriages, kids and what-have-you.
Four years later, we have kept our promise. Though, we have not really spoken or seen each other, there is this certain assurance that our friendship is defintely alive. I cannot really explain it but it's just one of those relationships that will always be sincere and loving.
Maybe, the countless days I have spent in their company is enough to make me believe that it does not really require constant conversations to keep our friendship alive. Sometimes, all it takes is the belief that halfway across the world, there will always be people who will love you.
I really miss John, Paul, Den, Pat, Pia and Moe. Our friendship was formed during our student council years. I don't think we would have met otherwise, actually. We all came from different courses, from different year levels, and had different sets of friends. Somehow though, we clicked. We loved spending our Friday nights together. Often, after our long Friday council meetings, we would rush to the movie theaters and watch the stupidest movies ever made. :) Other times, we would just go try out nice food in the newest restaurants. :) Whatever the case may be, we just enjoyed a lot together!
Nowadays, all of us are dispersed all over the world, doing different things. However, my love for these six people will forever remain true. I miss them so much! They were constant sources of laughter, political debates, stupid facts and beautiful stories. They just filled my life with so much warmth. Everytime I think of them, I cannot help but smile and recall how good life has been to me. :)
To the family friends, thank you for that one year where our friendship was sealed. I miss all of you and I will write to you soon. :)
