Books Bo Sanchez's The Abundance Formula 5:15 AM You must get good at one of two things: Planting in the spring or begging in the fall. -Jim Rohn You'd think there's a magic formula behind abundance. Or a complex scheme. Turns out, it's really simple. I learned this from the book The Abundance Formula by Bo Sanchez. Just remember these 4 numbers: 100, 10, 20, 70. Earn 100% Give back 10% Invest 20% Spend 70% Understanding Your Spending HabitMoney is also about psychology and emotions. It’s hard to restrain from buying when you keep on justifying it, right? "It’s on sale.""I deserve this."You will never run out of excuses when you purchase something. And that's what usually stops you from living an abundant life.How Can I Be Abundant in Life? Financial abundance, as suggested in the book The Abundance Formula, is simple. 1. Earn 100%. Give your all in what you do because the universe will always pay you back for what you give. 2. Tithe 10%. Ask any successful businessmen - who are not religious, and they will tell you that giving back to the universe is a huge part of success. It’s the law of attraction, the law of reciprocity, the law of the harvest. When you give, you create a vacuum that the universe will fill up again. That’s just the way the universe works. Giphy 3. Invest 20%. There are many kinds of investments: paper assets, properties, and businesses. If you're no expert like me (math and I have a complicated relationship), do your research and see which investment suits your lifestyle best. Or join the Truly Rich Club. They give you financial - and spiritual advice. They tell you what companies to invest in, when to buy, or what to sell. (This post contains affiliate links, so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. Thank you!)VSGIF 4. Spend 70%. Spend what’s left after tithing and investing. Live only within or below your means, and you’ll never run out of cash again. Giphy What does it mean to live life abundantly? The meaning of abundant life is not confined to having more material things. Abundant life isn't about living in excess, it's about: Fulfilling your potential. Growing, learning, and using your gifts. Meaningful connections. Building deep, loving relationships. Gratitude and joy. Savoring the good, big and small. Purpose and contribution. Giving back, making a difference.The Secret to Living AbundantlyAbundance is a feeling, not a material possession. It's about richness of spirit, depth of connection, and the joy of living a life true to yourself. So, tune into your own symphony, play your unique notes, and create a life overflowing with abundance.What are the characteristics of abundant life?An abundant life isn't easily defined, as it has different meanings for different people. However, there are some common characteristics that tend to paint a picture of richness and fullness:Inner QualitiesPurpose and Meaning: A sense of direction and a guiding force that fuels passion and motivation. Joy and Gratitude: An appreciation for the good, big and small, leading to a deep sense of happiness and contentment. Resilience and Growth: The ability to bounce back from challenges and continuously learn and evolve. Peace and Calmness: An inner serenity allowing clear thinking and emotional stability. Love and Connection: Deep and meaningful relationships that provide support, belonging, and shared joy.External ManifestationsContribution and Impact: Making a positive difference in the world, however big or small. Health and Well-being: Physically and mentally thriving, feeling energized and able to pursue your passions. Creativity and Expression: Utilizing your talents and abilities to bring something unique to the world. Financial Security: Having enough resources to meet your needs and pursue your goals without undue stress. Adventure and Exploration: Stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing new experiences to broaden your horizons. What constitutes an abundant life will vary greatly from person to person, so focus on identifying what truly matters to you and cultivating those qualities and experiences that bring you meaning and joy.Remember, the characteristics of an abundant life are a guide, not a rulebook. Embrace the journey and create your own definition of a life lived to the fullest.Bo Sanchez's The Abundance Formula TakeawayAfter reading books on money management, attending seminars, and applying what I learned, I realized that the road to abundance may be long, meandering, and even lonely (not everyone is determined to get out of the rat race), but seeing your money grow is fulfilling.Because it's not about accumulating material things. It's being able to do what you like, give to those in need, and have a sense of freedom.Can you say you're living abundantly at the moment? What's your secret?
Faith Why People Turn Their Backs From Faith 1:59 AM Don't try to change people; Love them so that they will learn to love themselves---and desire to change. -Bo Sanchez I thought about why people turn their backs not only from religion but from faith altogether. I don’t have to look far. I too went hiatus from the church for a while. After going to Catholic schools from kindergarten to college, I started questioning my faith. Why pray the rosary? Why ask for the saints’ intercessions? Why adore Mary? Why confess my sins to a priest? A lot of things happened, and fast forward to today, I have recovered my faith. I can understand the doubters. Why People Turn Their Backs From Faith 1. They’ve tried and tried searching for answers but, they didn’t get any. 2. They’ve tried and tried searching for answers, and they met people who have already given up, making it easier for them to relate with. 3. They’ve tried and tried searching for answers but, the answers they found confused them all the more. 4. They are the “to see is to believe” kind of people. Often, they want scientific proof, solid evidence and facts. 5. They grew up in an environment where faith is not that important. 6. They admire people, who are incidentally non-believers. 7. They’ve been through enough pain and suffering that made it hard for them to believe the existence of a merciful God. 8. They only see suffering and chaos. They can’t see the blessing anymore. 9. They don’t know enough good people that will restore their faith in humanity. 10. The world has been cruel to them (like it’s not cruel to all of us). 11. They think it’s pointless to put your faith on something that’s not proven. 12. They hear stories, experience and meet religious folks who show them the exact opposite of what’s being taught/preached. 13. They’re too proud to admit that someone is bigger than them. 14. They know too much they rely on themselves alone. We can’t change them. We can only show them the light or confuse them even more by the way we live. As one priest often say after celebrating the mass, “You may be the only Gospel that someone will read today. Be Good News.” 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
Lux Thinking Aloud Cast The First Stone 11:52 PM You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. -To Kill A Mockingbird Cast The First Stone Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone (John 8:7). I love that verse. The video of a priest reprimanding a single mom before baptizing her illegitimate child went viral. Of course, the ravenous critics feasted on it. “The church has no system.” “Religious leaders don’t act accordingly.” “Shame on them.” “What a hypocrite.” Insults. Hand-washing like Pontius Pilate. Stones thrown again. If I may say: You can’t judge the whole Catholic community or any community for that matter, just because one priest or leader failed to show compassion. It’s like saying Harvard or Stanford has a rotten system just because one student or teacher messed up. You can’t say a Forbes Fortune 500 company has a lousy service just because an employee got involved in a scandal. You certainly can’t say that a family is good for nothing just because of one black sheep. You can’t judge the whole nation just because their government officials are corrupt. What about the citizens who are doing their share in making the country a better place? You don’t want people to judge you just because at one point, you lose your temper and said and did irrational things Yes, the priest should have shown mercy, compassion, and understanding---things expected of someone who embodies Christ. I guess that’s human error. Even Jesus got angry when He was very human. For all we know, maybe the priest is also an illegitimate child, and grew up being bullied because of it. Or someone got his girlfriend pregnant. (Sorry, my mind's a little creative). Or he’s having a really rough week. I know it's no excuse for shaming someone who just wanted to receive the sacrament. I think what he did was uncalled for. Not condoning it at all. But nobody’s perfect. The woman who only loved too much. The priest who wanted to impose doing the right thing (who went overboard trying). The people who claim this is unacceptable. We all have our own stories. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. The problem I see is that we accept our imperfections, but we rejoice when we see others fail. Like it makes us superior, or less sinful when others' sins are magnified. When we point out others’ faults, it doesn’t make us any better or lift us higher. It only reveals who we truly are. I’m not saying that the priest is right. I’m not saying that the critics are wrong. All I’m saying is that before you judge, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. If all you see is nothing but immaculate perfection, then by all means be the first to cast the first stone. What Susie says of Sally says more of Susie than of Sally. Remember that. -Anonymous Know the story behind the story. -Bo Sanchez via Google images 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
Life Lessons Don't Be Like The Dead Sea 10:45 PM If you don’t share your blessings, it will rot. Don’t be like the Dead Sea. No living creature is in it because it’s 8.6 times saltier than any ocean in the world. Why so? In Israel, the Sea of Galilee gives water to Jordan River. The Jordan River gives water to the Dead Sea…and the water gets stuck there. The only way the water escapes The Dead Sea is through evaporation. The Dead Sea is teaching us valuable life lessons: Greed kills. Selfishness will leave you lifeless. Everyone shuns the avaricious. When you don’t know how to give, you die. Sometimes I store food and forget about it. So, it gets spoiled. Naturally, I have to throw it away. What a waste. If you don’t share your blessings, it will rot. No one will benefit. It’s not just about the money. It’s about your gifts; your knowledge, your talent, your time. I used to love dancing. Then I stopped. Now, dancing makes me feel awkward. When I stopped writing for a while, it took me a long time to get started again. When you don’t share what you know, or keep your gifts to yourself, you will eventually lose it. When you share what you have, no matter how small you think it is, the world benefits. When I decided to share my experiences and lessons learned, I didn’t expect that it will impact my readers so much until I started receiving emails and comments from random people. People from across the globe thanking me, cheering me on, and asking for more stories. I realized playing small is not humility...it's selfishness. A lot of people need you, need what you have, need what you can offer. Play big by simply sharing what you have. Don’t be like the Dead Sea. Give...and stay alive. 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
Listicle 21 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger 9:08 AM Youth is wasted on the young. -George Bernard Shaw Originally written for and shared on The Praying Woman There are many things I wish knew when I was younger. I used to say that 21 was my favorite age. It was when I became a full-fledged professional, it was when I first moved out of our house, it was when I met someone I thought I'd end up with, and it was when I became an integral part of the real world. That was when I felt like a real adult; when I thought I had everything figured out. Boy, was I so wrong. No matter how much we try to live each day to the fullest, there's always something we wish we should have done differently or known earlier, right? 21 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Younger You need to travel more Traveling makes you appreciate life more; the more you see new places and experience new things, the more you appreciate being alive. Traveling makes you see the beauty of nature up close, and appreciate the works of your Creator. You get to release stress, you worry less, you become a happier person eventually. You see things from a different perspective. Although in my defense, I had to put off traveling because I was helping in the house expenses and my siblings' education, I still could have allotted a budget for mini-vacations. Oh, well. I think the long wait made my traveling more exciting now that I get to do it. Start investing early. I've only learned about investing in the stock market when I was 27. And I didn't start investing then! Now, when I look at my portfolio and see how my investment has grown in only a few years, I think about the years I've wasted not investing. You live, you learn. Time is an illusion. When I was younger, it always felt like I had my whole life ahead of me. So, I kept on procrastinating; putting off reading that book I've always wanted to read, not dropping a message to a friend I haven't seen or talked to for a long time, not exercising daily, not saving and investing, not going out. Now, I look back and I realized I've wasted so much time planning and not acting. Friends come and go. You may feel a certain connection with some people and think you could be friends forever. Truth is, if you're not losing friends you're not growing up. When you feel like the friendship is not helping you grow anymore, you're not learning anything new, or it's holding you back, know that it's normal. Also, you'll find out some people also change, and feel like you don't belong in their world anymore. It's either you've outgrown them, or they've outgrown you. Either way, it's time to let go. It's okay to be the odd one out. When you're young, people your age call partying cool and not partying boring. In my head though, it's the other way around. Still, majority wins so you go out and hang out as you're expected. But, it's okay to be the odd one out. Don't be afraid to be different. Celebrate your uniqueness. Why fit in when you were born to stand out? -Dr. Seuss You'll get your heart broken. You'll be hurt and broken. Maybe once, maybe twice. It's all part of the package. Only a very few are lucky enough to end up with their first love. Most mortals will have to meet a few wrong people before they meet the right one for them. It's never too late to pursue a passion or change career path. If you're not happy with what you do anymore, it's never too late to shift. If you're itching to pursue something you've always wanted, don't delay it. There's a reason why that dream or passion has been planted in your heart. Use it to bless the world. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. -Les Brown Take more risks. When you're young, you have more opportunities to fail. More opportunities to fail means more opportunities to learn. More opportunities to learn is more opportunities to succeed. Plus, you become wiser and stronger in the process. You can't change a person or save the whole world. It's God's job to change a person, not yours. Your job is to accept and love them for who they are. The change will follow. If they're sucking out your energy, learn to love them from a distance. You'll go crazy trying to save the world. It's frustrating! What you can do is try to save one person at a time. How? Be a friend. Listen. Empathize. Share your time. Let them feel they matter. Never underestimate the power of kindness. If it is peace you want, seek to change yourself, not other people. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to carpet the whole of the earth. -Anthony de Mello Dance, run, hike. Dare to try something new. Go out of your comfort zone while you still can. While you still have the stamina, the energy and the time, do something that you think you'll never be able to do. People you know and care about will eventually die. That's the hard truth. We can't live forever. Cherish the people around you, show them you care, and never miss an opportunity to affirm. Words are powerful, and it's impact can resonate forever. Haters gonna hate. It's not what you do, it's not what you say, it's how you affect them. And how you affect them is not your call. How you treat others is a direct extension of how you feel about yourself, and when you try to make someone else feel bad or embarrassed of who they are, it’s deplorable. A happy, secure person wants to share their light. -Maddison Jensen What do you wish you knew when you were younger? 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
Faith Today, I Choose 6:37 AM Our life is the sum total of the choices we make. Today, I Choose Today, I choose to be happy, with what I have, wherever I am. Today, I choose to be productive. Today is not the day I set aside the things I need to do. Today, I choose to forgive the people who hurt me. But more than that, I choose to forgive myself for giving them the power to do so. Today, I choose to move on, to look forward to tomorrow, to remember the past but not be affected by it. Today, I choose to dream again, to build new dreams, and to believe that anything is possible. Today, I choose to look at the goodness in me, and see the good in others, too. Today, I choose to embrace my imperfections, and see beyond my faults. Today, I choose to believe in miracles. Today, I choose to open myself to endless possibilities, and shower of blessings from above. Today, I choose to dance in the rain. Today, I choose to be a victor, and refuse to be a victim. Today, I choose to love, even the most difficult person in my life. Today, I choose to look at things from a new perspective and believe that I will see something I've missed before. Today, I choose to face the unknown with boldness. What's there to be afraid of anyway? Today, I choose to be in control. Today, I choose to live. 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
Stories A Story In 25 Words: The Wedding Guest 2:58 AM A Story In 25 Words The Wedding Guest "You're always late." She teased fondly as he approached. "I know. Congratulations." He said. He hurriedly left...before she could see the first tear fall. 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
Faith 16 Reasons Why The Feast Is The Coolest Place To Recover Your Faith 12:55 AM Are you a doubter? Agnostic? Atheist? An addict? Do you consider yourself immoral? A hypocrite? A failure?Are you lost? Angry? Broke? Rejected? Do you feel worthless? Irrelevant? Are you living a directionless life? The Feast is the place for you. What is The Feast?The Feast is a weekly gathering of the Light of Jesus Family founded by best-selling author, entrepreneur, Catholic lay preacher, and minister Bo Sanchez.The Feast is making waves worldwide because it has radically changed how people recover their faith. What religion is The Feast?The Feast practices the Catholic faith but welcomes everyone from all religious backgrounds. They usually have a Catholic mass before the worship and talk begin.What is the Feast Light?The Feast Light is a light group or caring group where friends gather to receive spiritual nourishment from the series of talks recorded by a live audience at The Feast. 16 Reasons Why The Feast is the Coolest Placeto Recover Your Faith 1. The Feast doesn't require you to register. There's no strict dress code to follow. You're welcome to come as you are, flaws and all. 2. The Feast is a place for sinners, cynics, hypocrites, and the broken who seeks healing. 3. The Feast does not condone sin and does not judge the sinner. "Hate the sin, love the sinner" is very evident here. 4. The Feast teaches that God does not call the qualified. He qualifies for the call. Everyone is called to serve, no matter how inadequate you feel. 5. The Feast is about receiving and giving love, not imposing rules. 6. The Feast believes in your dreams and gives you the gumption to believe in them too. Thus helping you make your dreams come true.Getyarn 7. The Feast is not about a stern, judgmental sadistic God who sits on His throne all day and waits for you to make a mistake so he can punish you.The Feast introduces you to a loving, merciful Father who looks at you with adoring eyes. Laughs at your boo-boos. Beams with pride in your victories. Cries with you in your grief. Holds your hands in your loneliest. And loves you unconditionally. 8. The Feast is not about memorizing the Scriptures or doctrines but about living out The Word. It is about applying what The Word says into our practical lives; handling money, caring for our health, cherishing and building relationships, and valuable everyday tips for living a better life. 9. The Feast teaches you to find God in the secular and to bring your faith outside the church. Because The Feast believes in bringing Christ to people and not in waiting for the people to come to Christ. 10. The Feast teaches you to love and enjoy where you are right now while striving to become the better version of yourself. 11. The Feast gives you rest from the stressful world by making you laugh and feeding you with nothing but positive energy, delivered by world-class motivational speakers who provide powerful and inspirational talks. You'll hear music from bands that rock. You'll feel welcome and get quality service from the servants. Worth your time!Gfycat 12. The Feast is a place for people who are continuously learning and growing. 13. The Feast gives you hope and allows you to discover and rediscover yourself. You can build new dreams and revive your old and dead dreams without criticism and judgment. 14. The Feast is a beam of light for those in the dark, a compass for the lost, and water for the parched soul. The Feast is not the way, but it paves the path that leads you to The Only Way. 15. The Feast is like a hospital where the sick and the dying receive healing and alleviation because it centers on The Eternal Healer and The Doctor of All. 16. The Feast is a service center where you bring your broken and damaged self so your Manufacturer and Creator can fix you and make you brand new. See you there! Photo credit: Google images
Stories A Story In 25 Words: Daddy's Girl 8:42 AM A Story In 25 Words Daddy's Girl She came home, crying: "He broke my heart, Daddy." I hugged her, and wished I could fix it... Like I used to fix her toys. 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
Stories A Story In 25 Words: 'Til Death Do Us Part 12:09 AM A Story In 25 Words 'Til Death Do Us Part "Forever?" she asked again. "Forever," he promised for the umpteenth time. She smiled, and closed her eyes. He kissed her, as she breathed her last. 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
Lux Thinking Aloud Mid-Year Review 2:53 AM Allow me to share my mid-year review. Time flies so fast! One moment we were all welcoming 2014, the next thing you know it's already July! Mid-year. So many things have happened in the past 6 months. Mid-Year Review I have visited five new different places; from the mesmerizing beaches to simple yet relaxing resorts. I went to see these new places and experienced new things with old friends, acquaintances and colleagues. It was a summer worth remembering...and repeating. I para-sailed! I know it's not much for some daredevils, but for an introvert and once-a-very timid girl, that is an achievement. I surfed! Something I never thought I would do in this lifetime. I went snorkeling. What's the big deal? I'm scared of the open water and I'm not a good swimmer. I decided to live on my own. Sure I was living away from home since college, but I always have roommates and housemates. This time, I'm living alone. The bills are a far cry from what I've been paying when I was sharing, but the privacy and the freedom I'm enjoying now is priceless. I get to do what I want whenever I want to without considering another person's feelings or opinion. I have been actively serving in our ministry. Something my soul direly needs. Speaking of serving, I have started volunteering my time for the Cancer Support Group that my oncologist friend organized. Although it's not a regular thing, it's something to look forward to and an opportunity to be grateful for being blessed enough to help. I've read a LOT of books. I'm quite apprehensive about the 100 books challenge I signed up with. I think the most I can read for the year is only 50. Then again, it's only July. I have reunited with some old friends, and said goodbye to a few. Time will come when you have to ditch some friends who have stopped acting as friends. Whoever makes the effort to keep you in their lives are those who matter most. So, every time a friend texts or calls to schedule a meeting, be it a brief dinner or a movie date, I readily go. My submissions on Thought Catalog and The Praying Woman have been published. I finally bid farewell to my Jurassic phone. Sad, but life goes on. Sad part: a close friend died. Consolation: I gained another guardian angel. I joined and survived the 100 Happy Days Challenge. Not as easy at is seems. How I Met Your Mother ended. It didn't make me happy. I've started my online business (books for sale). I'm still surviving the daily chaos at work. There's more, but this is already enough to make me grateful for what I have done so far. So many things left behind, so much more to look forward to. So thankful for where I am today. 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
Lux Thinking Aloud Dealing With Daily Vampires 2:03 AM Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. -Mark Twain We are all dealing with vampires daily. Our daily vampires are the people who suck out our every ounce of joy, energy, and patience. They are the toxic people we deal with everyday. You may consider them your daily cross. Here are ways on how to make dealing with daily vampires easier. Dealing With Daily Vampires Understand where they're coming from. Hurting people hurt people. The way you treat someone is an extension of how you treat yourself. So understand that the way vampires attack you is not because of who or what you are, but because of their issue with themselves. Those who love to criticize others are usually those who don't like themselves. They point to others' mistakes because they can't correct or accept their own. Those who talk about other people are bored with their own lives. Nothing great going on in their day to day. They want to make their existence more interesting by taking interest on other people's lives. More often than not, the reasons why haters hate you is because they want to be like you, but can't. They see their own fault in you and they wanted to correct it, but can't. Or they are just purely envious and competitive in nature. They can't accept defeat, and you are a big threat to them. Needless to say, vampires are frustrated people. You must understand that it's hard to deal with frustration if you see someone living a good life. Writer's note: It is different when abuse or demoralization is involved. For serious issues, it is best to seek help or report the attack.
Stories A Story In 25 Words: The Other Woman 12:48 AM A Story In 25 Words The Other Woman He got up. She lay still. Would she tell him what the doctor said? He put his ring back on and left. No. She won't. 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
Stories A Story In Less Than 25 Words: Coming Home 3:39 AM A Story In Less Than 25 Words: Coming Home You told me to follow my dreams. When I came back, you were gone. I was hurt. Then again, you never promised to wait. 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
Lux Thinking Aloud A Tribute To A Friend I Lost 1:04 AM Remember me and smile, for it's better to forget than to remember me and cry. -Dr. Seuss How do you say goodbye to a friend? Answer: You don’t. I lost a friend two months ago to cancer. Her name’s Donna. She was a breast cancer survivor. But, Big C came back and got hold of her liver. She was a fighter even before cancer. I know her struggles. She never hesitated to share her story. She’s more than ten years my senior but I never felt the generation gap. We both love cute, girly stuff, juvenile things; chick flicks, young adult themed stories (she’s not much of a reader, but she liked the movie versions), and she’s still crushing on celebrities. We're both cheesecake and tea lovers. The news left me numb at first. I was having dinner with some friends, and was going out of town the following day when a friend texted me the sad news. How do you say goodbye to a friend? I was thinking about bailing out of the summer outing with my other friends. Then I thought, Nang Donna, who was very outgoing, and one of those who always tried to push me out of my dungeon, will disapprove. No, she would have thrown my bag out of the door if I won't go. She’s always been supportive, pushy even. She wanted me to go out there, enjoy my youth as she would often tell me before, see places, meet people, experience new things. She was an extrovert and my personality used to bug her. I dedicated my first surfing experience to her. I was sure it made her happy, seeing me out there, as she always wanted me to. Sure I posted my goodbye to her page to grieve with the rest of the people she left behind. But, the people we love never really leave. They will always be alive in our hearts. When scary thoughts start creeping in, I ask her to shoo them away. She always defended me then. She was always on my side, and believed in me when other people didn’t. When I don't feel okay, tired, hurt, or simply feeling blah, in my mind, I tell her like I used to when she was still around. And, in my heart I feel like she’s telling me the things she used to say, “Oh, well, that’s life. That’s how it is. People will always be like that. There’s nothing you can do about them. Let them be. Just shake it off. Let’s eat! Let’s shop!” She always had a ready smile. Though she had her own personal fight, she always had something positive and nice to say when I needed a boost. I sure grieved, but not for long. Because, I know she doesn't want to dwell in sadness herself. Sure, like any women she was emotional. The funny thing about her is that she tells you her emo stories with laughter. Like she knew she was being silly, but she couldn't help it. So, you just laugh it off together, though you know it's a serious topic. I feel her absence when I see something that I know she would have liked, or hear a story she would have been interested with. The last time we talked, she told me she’s got a story for me. Sometimes, I tell her, “How dare you leave me hanging. You still owe me one juicy gossip.” I will always hear her high pitched voice criticizing me when I don't wear makeup, when my bag or shoes don't go with my dress, or when I'd rather stay in and read a book than go out on a weekend. I will always imagine her stern look when she disapproves of something, or when she thinks someone’s not treating me right (and she’ll threaten to slap them herself). Though I'd end up putting my legs up for hours at the end of the day after shopping with her (she’s the unbeatable tireless shopping and ukay queen), I’d always miss those trips. How do you say goodbye to a friend? You don’t. I won’t. We'll catch up over cheesecake and tea again, Nang Donna. I can't wait to hear your story. 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
