ENCHANTED

It is not an artist's job to please anyone, but to bravely do the work that they are most compelled to do. It is the public's job to bravely seek out and appreciate the work that resonates with them.

MORNING ROUTINE

My routine every morning, after I have finished my coffee and read the scripture, is to post inspirational quote that speaks a hundredfold to me on my instagram. These inspirational phrases may be simple but it can turn my whole day around, inspire me to succeed, galvanize my dreams, and embolden me to take action. That’s why today, I decided to post 10 of my favorite inspiring words that have been useful in getting new perspective. Enjoy!

We make the world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers. 

Beauty is the harmony of purpose and form. 

Be who you are not who the world wants you to be. 

Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It is your masterpiece after all. 

There is no elevator to SUCCESS. You have to take the STAIRS. 

Keep some room in your heart for the UNIMAGINABLE.

 Never miss an opportunity to see something beautiful.

God has the perfect timing: never early, never late. It takes a little patience and faith 

But it is worth the wait.

Logic will get you from A to B. But imagination will take you anywhere. 

Keep calm and trust God. 

WRITING

♠♠♠

There is one thing you should know about writing. It will inevitably lead you to terrible places, as you cannot write about something if you have not lived it. Though the most important things to bear in mind is this: you are there as a tourist and must always remain one. There was a very specific reason why you were blessed with the ability to translate your sentiments into words- it is to bring voice to suffering and torment. But do not be too indulgent with your experience of these things- despite how addictive suffering can be- how easy it is to get lost down the twisted path of self-destruction. You must emerge from adversity, scathed but victorious- to tell your story and in turn, light the way for others.

 LANG LEAV

♠♠♠

30ish BUCKETLIST

I can’t believe it is June and that we are half way through the year 2015. 

I remember when I was a kid there was this feeling of excitement and anticipation when the month of June comes in simply because it means going back to school; like a chance to start fresh again and learn (Yeah, I am one of those geeky students way back then). As I get older (ehem), the month of June still brings a renewed vigor and a sense of purpose and new perspectives.

Because the year is not over yet, the sixth month of the year is the perfect time to look over my goals; like seeing what is attainable or picking some small changes or additional challenges that I might want to accomplish. So today, I have made myself a 30ish or month bucket list to motivate and inspire me to move forward and follow my dreams. These are the lucky 10 that made the cut.

Keep a life in tune with God’s will 

 

Start each project with clean slate

 

Walk the walk. Talk the talk. 

 

Pay debts. Tithed every month

 

 Run to be fit not to be skinny 

 

Wake up early, meditate and watch the sunrise

 
Invest in something besides retirement 

 

Read the Bible and 3 more books 

Travel and write stories 

 

 
 Learn new skill

My list falls into five major themes: Spirituality, Health, Life/Organization, Work and Finances and I am hoping that I will be able to cross them all out by the end of June. 

 

So what is your 30ish bucket list? 

XOXO - GIADRE

ARE WE THERE YET?

I am not really fond of kids but my five year old nephew is an exception to the rule. 

His name is Banjoe and we often call him ‘Jab’. He is not an average kid because he has a very beautiful mind. His advanced intellectual prowess, language development, extensive vocabulary, strong memory and unusual reasoning power never fail to amaze me. He can also talk about such complex issues as ethics, morality and religion. 

The other day while we were heading to get to the church, Jab asked about why is there traffic? This question was apparently followed by probably one of the most irritating questions “are we there yet?” Though I am not yet a mom, parents of small children will agree with me that sometimes the incessant ‘why?’ questions kids ask drive us nuts. So I decided to ask him and see what drives Jab to ask these questions time after time when going to the church or somewhere else? 

Me: Jab, why do you keep on asking questions, “why is there traffic” and “are we there yet”?

Jab: Are you angry at me?

Me: No, just asking.

Jab: I asked because … ummm… we are always taking this way. There must be other way around… ummm… I just don’t want to miss my Sunday school because my teacher said that we would have fun today.

Me: so what way are we going to take then?

Jab: The small road near the cemetery. We took that road last Sunday. It is less crowded there. 

Appalled and humbled by his reasoning, his way of thinking, his passion; curiosity and desire to take different route to accomplish something completely blown me away. 

I learned a great deal from this situation. As irritating as it may seem, sometimes we need to ask this question to ourselves every once in a while. The question ‘are we there yet?’ could be a metaphor for evaluating and assessing our progress on the project we wanted to get done or goals we wanted to reach, the passion we wanted to pursue or the dream we wanted to fulfill. We all have desires and dreams but how exactly are we going to get there is the question that you and I need to probe deeper. We need a plan. This may involve getting out our comfort zone, taking a different route or a different approach and making it work with the right choices.  Just like what an old proverb says, ‘A dream without action is just a wish”.

So, are we there yet? 

DEAR FUTURE LOVER

Dear Future Lover,

I hope our love is the kind that I don’t even have to think about. I hope I never have to convince myself to love any certain part of you because I hope it all comes naturally. I hope our love is the kind that is quiet on the outside but loud on the inside. I want to love you like the space between lightning and thunder- electrified and alive but silent and knowing. And I want you to love me like the clouds love the rain. You’re going to have to let me go on my own sometimes, but I will always come back and we will always be two parts of the same thing.

M.P

Her Words

Love a girl who writes,

and live her many lives;
you have yet to find her,
beneath her words of guise.

Kiss her blue inked fingers, 

forgive the pens they marked.
The stain of your lips upon her -
the one she can't discard

Forget her tattered memories, 

or the pages others took;
you are her ever after-
the hero of her book.

- Lang Leav -  

IF BEING IN LOVE WITH JOE IS WRONG, I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT

I’ll tell you a little secret. I am in a committed relationship with Joe. A lot of people would not understand or agree with the choice I made. But I am head over heels in love with him. I don’t know when and how it started but all I could remember is the indecent proposal that when he kissed my sleepy lips, it awaken every cold and bitter morning I have had. 10 years and still counting our love affair gets better every year. 

Why have I fallen for Joe is still a question that lingers in my mind. Perhaps it was the way he romantically wooed me with strategic spontaneity or how he engaged me into deep conversation and thinking. It could be his taste, his aroma and the sense of excitement and exhilaration each time we meet up. What I am certain is that this love will last. It makes me feel all warm on the inside. It increases my heart rate, filling me with gladness and joy. Let me define to you my love for Joe. 

1.      Joe orchestrate my mornings

Mornings are not just the same without Joe because I am not a morning person. Getting up early is such an ordeal but waking up with Joe and his rich aroma makes me want to watch the sunrise and the softness of the morning. The scent of a freshly brewed Joe is invigorating that in between sips the world stand still. I notice the rising sunlight filtering through the tree branches and how the blades of grass sparkle with the suns’ beam. I hear the birds chirping beautiful melodies as they usher in a new day. Mornings do not seem bad at all. Waking up with Joe is the best part of the morning. 

2.      Undeniable connection

My relationship with Joe is characterized by our deep connection that I don’t need to utter a word for him to understand what I am feeling at the moment. He doesn’t ask silly questions, he understands.  He exactly knows when to be hot and when to be cold; when I wanted deep conversations and when I wanted silence. He knows the perfect blend that will quiet my busy mind, giving me a moment of time and space to recharge while pondering the thoughts I have in mind. 

3.      We are together

Together we conquered tests, thesis defense, awkward dates, early morning dilemma, and afternoon pick-me-ups. We go together like peanut butter and jelly, shove and pail, nuts and bolts as well as cup and saucer. I also realize that being together makes me a better and more pleasant person. 

4.      He allows me to be me

It doesn’t bother him when I am all grumpy and grouchy because he is fully aware when I haven’t had it yet. 

5.      His place

His abode’s signature quiet ambience, smooth jazz music and cozy couches is definitely the place I love to hang out, see friends, find conversation, get some work done or simply watch the world go by. His place is also conducive for writing and squeezing out the creative juices in me. 

As I continue my attempt to understand my feelings for Joe. I have concluded that he is the basic, fundamental requirement of my existence.  No wonder, I love coffee every day, and twice as much on weekdays. Yup, I have heard of the bad sides of drinking too much caffeine. Yet for some reasons coffee has made itself indispensible in my daily routine. I am utterly and completely in love with coffee and if being in love with Joe is wrong, I don’t want to be right. 

Well, writing this post over the last hour has made me crave for another cup of coffee today. I cannot wait to enjoy another cup of Joe in caramel macchiato. 

Joe is definitely the love of my life.