Stories In The Parallel Universe 10:07 AM In the parallel universe, we ended up together. In the parallel universe, you never gave up on me. In the parallel universe, you truly, honestly, sincerely loved me. In the parallel universe, you knew better than let me go. In the parallel universe, you're not weak, you're not a fool. In the parallel universe, you chose me over her. In the parallel universe, you fought back harder for me than I did for you. In the parallel universe, I am still me but you are not you. And so we lived happily ever after. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Dating Finding The Right Shoes And The Right Partner 1:44 AM Finding The Right Shoes And The Right Partner Finding love is like finding shoes. People go after the good-looking ones, but they end up choosing the one they feel comfortable with. -Unknown Finding the Right Shoes and the Right PartnerJournal entryOctober 13, 20108:21 PMScouting the stores to find the perfect pair of shoes is like searching the world for a life partner. Giphy You search far and wide, seeking with anticipation and a heart full of hope. You even try your luck online.You don't want to settle for the cute affordable pair though it's your perfect fit. Maybe because it hurts your toes. The materials used aren't comfortable and durable enough.It's not compatible.You realize you can't endure the pain in exchange for its cheap price. You won't let the perfect physical look deceive you. If it hurts, you let it go. No matter how good it looks. If it won't let you go places and enjoy your freedom, it has no place in your closet. In your life.If it's too expensive and comfy, you scrutinize every inch. Is it really worth it? What if it will leave you with nothing in the end? What if it just looks good, you grit your teeth and pay the price but later on find out it's not the perfect fit?You've been taken advantage of. So you search, and search, and continue searching for the right pair---or the right partner. You never get tired. You don't listen to those telling you to give up and just settle for what's there.Even though they mock your standards. Every day your belief that finding the one that suits you best is almost within reach. You continue to look for the one believing that you will find. You hold on to your vision. You realize that there is joy in waiting, and there is so much to learn in the process. You get to know yourself more; what you really want and what you will not compromise. So you carry on. The world is so big, and the choices seem endless. In your heart, you know you will find the one that's specially made for you. Maybe it's in the next corner waiting for you to claim it at the right time.You keep on keeping on. GiphyBecause you know in the end, finding the right shoes...and the right partner is worth the long quest.This post contains affiliate links so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you.
Books Life After Eleanor & Park (Book Review And Raving) 8:47 AM Life After Eleanor & Park (Book Review And Raving) He just didn't recognize all those other girls. The way a computer drive will spit out a disk if it doesn't recognize the formatting. When he touched Eleanor's hand, he recognized her. He knew. -Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park Ahhh, Eleanor & Park.Where do I start? You know that feeling when you meet people who gives you a daily dose of happy hormones? Meeting the flawed adorable characters Eleanor & Park feels like that.Life is never the same after reading a book, especially a book as good as Eleanor & Park. More than just giving a review, this is me raving. This post contains affiliate links so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. Life After Eleanor & Park (Book Review and Raving)Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1. Not your typical charactersI like Eleanor & Park because they are not your typical drop dead gorgeous fictional character. They're two awkward adolescent kids whose lives aren't perfect. But everything feels perfect whenever they're together. 2. Slow and naturalI like it because Eleanor & Park did not start in the common boy-meets-girl plot. It was slow and organic. They eventually became aware of each others presence until such time that they can't seem to live without the other. I feel like I was there every step of their journey. 3. Eleanor & Park are relatableEverything is normal. Their story is not all bliss, not too messy. Just the normal relatable things people their age go through. Whatever situation they're in, they just chose to be together. 4. Not too muchEven in all the cheesiness, it is not an awkward and boring story. It doesn't exaggerate. How Eleanor & Park were feeling, what they were thinking, they're all real and honest. We've all been there. 5. Characters with depthEleanor & Park may be pubescents, but they're deep. They're discovering and experiencing life and love, and learning their lessons. You know they'll grow into wise adults. 6. A beautiful endingI love the way it ended. It's one of those open-ended stories that does not piss you off or keeps you guessing. You know. You just know in your heart that they will be together in the end. Giphy You'll never underestimate and look at young love the same way again. Like other book characters I came to know and cherish, Eleanor & Park will always occupy a special space in my heart, and they will keep on living (and driving each other crazy) in my head. Life after Eleanor & Park? It goes on yes, but it's never the same again. Sigh. See also: Book Review: Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell) Giphy
Life Lessons Best Practical Advice (Wear Sunscreen) 10:35 AM Don't waster your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. -Baz Luhrmann Mark Anthony "Baz" Luhrmann is an Australian film director, screenwriter and producer. On 1997, he gave a speech to a graduating class. It is not a speech full of highfalutin words. The words are pretty simple and the advice very practical. It will remind you that it is the small things in life that matter most. It is from the basic that the magnificent is born. We seldom take for granted the simple because it's boring, but we need boring to get to success.
Life Lessons Our Deepest Needs 1:31 AM What are our deepest needs? We know we need food, water and shelter. More than the basic though, we have this deep need. An emptiness that we so often try to fill with shallow things. The emptiness is so painful we grab on to things that can help us numb the pain until such time that we believe we've found what we're looking for. But have we really? I've realized that the unusually excessive desire to have more, to always have the best and the newest gadget, to possess the most expensive accessories, to want to be seen in the coolest place hanging out with people you don't like as long as they make you look cool are nothing but a desire to be accepted, to be wanted, to be loved. Best selling author Bo Sanchez says, "Addiction is nothing but a hunger for love." We grow up with empty love tanks and when the people around us; our family, our friends, our community, fail to fill us with love, we look somewhere else to feed this hunger for love. We look for attention, affirmation, assurance. We long for something that material things can never satisfy. Everyone, no matter how tough they pretend to be, needs love. Unless we realize this, unless we start filling ourselves up with the right things, throw away the garbage that we accumulated in the hopes of covering our scars of rejection and emptiness; unless we search and chase genuine love, we will be like zombies. Walking aimlessly, looking for something that can satiate our longing, not knowing what it is for as long as we don't feel hungry and in pain. We will continue to be miserable unless we scrape away the layers of our shallowness and dig deeper for what we truly need. Cliche maybe, but all we really need is love. Go back to About Life and Love Homepage
Lux Thinking Aloud 2014 Is A Year Of More 12:19 AM 2014 Is A Year Of More My 2014 is going to be a year of "more". Yes, I am pressuring myself to do more and be more. I'm not gonna be sadistic though. I will be lenient on the details. This 2014, I will read more books. This 2014, I will try more things. In the list: bake (cupcake), target shooting, travel alone. This 2014, I will visit more places. This 2014, I will try more food. This is a bit of a challenge for me because I'm a picky eater. This 2014, I will invest more time on exercise. Diet I can handle but getting physical is another story. So yes, more movements for me. This 2014, I will invest more in the stock market. This 2014, I will say "no" more often to trivial things so I can say "yes" more to important things. Needless to say, this 2014, I will love myself more. More abundance in all areas of my life. More fun and happiness. More adventures. Not to forget, more sleep. So goodnight! Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Quotes Money Doesn't Change You, It Only Magnifies Who You Really Are 7:51 PM Money doesn't change you, it only magnifies who you really are. It's not true that money changes people. Money has no control over your emotions. How you react to what is happening around you is your choice. Money problem is a psychological problem. Money will only reveal your true color. The selfish becomes more selfish and the generous becomes more generous with money. The kind becomes kinder and the cruel becomes more cruel. The happy becomes happier and the miserable becomes more miserable. Money can be your friend or your foe. Money is a tool. If used wisely, it can help you live a better life. If you don't know how to utilize it, money can destroy you. Money can be a good servant or a sadistic master. The choice really is in your hands. Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything. -George Bernard Shaw Want more quotes? Follow About Life and Love on Instagram
Listicle 13 Reasons Why It's Cool To Be Single At 30 12:22 AM 13 Reasons Why It's Cool to be Single at 30But the thirties are a specially dangerous time for women. They have outlived the shyness and restraints of girlhood, and not attained to the caution and discretion of middle age. They are reckless, and consciously or unconsciously on the lookout for adventure. They see ahead of them the end of youth, and that quickens their pace. -Rose Macaulay People get depressed when they turn a year older, and they're still single because they feel they're doomed to be lonely. But, let me tell you---you're cool! I really do think so. Here are 13 reasons why:1. Financial freedom You earn your own money, and you can spend it anyway you want without having someone to answer to. No parents to interrogate you, no spouse or children yet to consider. 2. Own your time No curfew. No one to tell you what time you need to be home, or what time you should be waking up. You sleep whenever you wish. 3. You decide for yourself. You make your own decisions, no matter how big or trivial it may be. Your parents can give you advice and you may ask your friends' opinion, but it's still your call. 4. More comfortable You're more comfortable now in your own skin. No more "Ugh, I feel so awkward" trying to figure out what you want phase. You can change hairstyles and don't give a damn what people might say as long as you feel good about it. You can choose clothes that are comfortable (and stylish) to wear, not the clothes your parents chose for you or what your peers are wearing. You're more confident now with who you are. 5. Boldness You can speak your mind, and you're not scared to be misjudged. You no longer worry about what people might think about your opinions or if they will take it against you. 6. You've had enough You don’t put up with other people’s crap anymore. If it doesn’t make you happyearn more moneygrowyou can simply leave it. Your time is more valuable to spend on meaningless things or people who don’t nourish you. 7. Free to "adult" The freedom to watch adult films, go to places exclusive for adults and not faking your age, feeling guilty or mortified about it. 8. You know better.You met almost all kinds of people. You’ve heard a lot of crazy crap. You’ve been through hell and back that you feel as though you can take anything life will throw at you.You are learned and enlightened. You may not have figured everything yet (who does anyway?) but wiser than you were back when you were at your 20’s. 9. Richer You’re definitely richer now than you were before. Wealthier in terms of money (that is if you have saved and invested well enough years before), healthier (if you’ve been taking care of your body) and wealthier in experience and friends. 10. Smarter You understand and appreciate the essence of compounding interest. You used to hear Greek whenever you come across that word and when someone tries to explain it to you. Now, you feel a natural connection with that phrase, and you know that it’s a friend not a foe.You may make the wrong choices from time to time but you're (hopefully) making better decisions than you used to. 11. 2nd chances It’s never too late to be what you want to be because now you have the resources and the time in the world to pursue your long overdue dream. You are your own priority now. 12. Choosing your own battle You know which battles to pick; which ones you need to continue fighting, surrender or ignore. 13. Paint anything! You have a blank canvass of life. Though you’re in your mid-life now, you still can have a brand new start. 30 and still single? Hey, you're cool! Shared on Thought CatalogGifs from Giphy
Listicle The Housemates From Hell 8:00 AM If you're sharing a space with other people, you'll meet some who will become your friends---BFFs even. Chances are, you'll also meet those who will push you over the edge. Meet... The Housemates from Hell The Freeloader They presume that because you share things, everything's free. So your toiletry, food, and whatnot are not exclusively yours. Solution: keep all your things in a closet and lock it. The Inconsiderate They don't understand that sleeping is an essential part of your life. So they talk as loud as the next door neighbor could hear, they watch T.V. or turn the radio on max volume, they turn on the lights, and they proceed with their lives oblivious of your need for rest. Since I'm very mature and patient, I suggest you give them a dose of their own medicine. *wink* When it's their turn to sleep, turn the lights on, turn the T.V.'s volume up, and move as noisily as you can. Of course in the end, they'd accuse you of being inconsiderate. How could you not let them rest? The inconsiderate housemates are also one-sided...and oftentimes, they can't be taught. Because things like common courtesy should come as naturally as common sense. Solution: Leave. You can never beat them, and you should never join them. The Always Broke They tell you they don't have enough money to pay the rent but you see them buy and hoard useless things. They will even have the gall to borrow money from you despite you knowing how they manage their finances. Solution: Don't lend. The Kleptomaniac This is probably the worst and somehow the most common kind of housemate you will encounter. There's always one in every 3 housemate horror stories. They will take not only your money or valuables, but your other personal belongings. A Freeloader who went seriously overboard and is actually committing a crime. The Sex God/Goddess The housemate who brings different random partners basically turning your house into a brothel. The annoying part is that you split the bills equally, but they act as though they own the place; bringing anyone anytime without your consent and doing whatever they want. An obnoxious variation of the Inconsiderate. Someone you cannot teach respect to, because it's just not their thing. The Gossip Girls or Friends Turned Foes Most of the time, these are the housemates you are friends with. That is, before you notice the conversation either abruptly stops or is redirected to other topics when you arrive, before the whispering starts, and the hostility becomes obvious. Could be triggered by your solution in #2. Also, you make plans together (as friends) and they proceed with the plan without you...with no explanation. You just have to figure out if you missed anything in the details. Or stop trying to salvage your friendship and leave. The Bipolar Sometimes you get along, sometimes they hate the world, sometimes you don't exist. Everyday is an adventure. I have had housemates since college until recently. I've met different kinds of individuals. Some interesting, others downright annoying. Most of them possess traits and quirks unimaginable. You'll meet the extremes, but along the way, you'll also form lasting friendship with some really good ones. Living with strangers under one roof is the fastest way to learn how diverse and crazy the world is. You'll also discover your own craziness. They'll test your patience, leave you with fun memories and like it or not, change your life forever (Click image to view in full size) Photos and gifs: Google images Other kinds of housemates: Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Music Music: Brave (Sara Bareilles) 6:04 PM Brave by Sara Bareilles is on top of my favorite pick-me-up songs. Enjoy this video and have a braver year, everyone! Brave (Sara Bareilles) You can be amazing You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug You can be the outcast Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love Or you can start speaking up Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do When they settle ‘neath your skin Kept on the inside and no sunlight Sometimes a shadow wins But I wonder what would happen if you Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave Everybody’s been there, Everybody’s been stared down by the enemy Fallen for the fear And done some disappearing, Bow down to the mighty Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live Maybe one of these days you can let the light in Show me how big your brave is Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave And since your history of silence Won’t do you any good, Did you think it would? Let your words be anything but empty Why don’t you tell them the truth? Say what you wanna say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave With what you want to say And let the words fall out Honestly I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I wanna see you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you See you be brave I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you I just wanna see you
