{ We're all in this together }

"Life makes more sense when we don’t make it about ourselves.”

--- Judah Smith ---

{ "Royals" - Lorde }

{ I Choo-Choo-Choose You }

"You are my choice among the sea of options..."

--- LP ---

{ Ignore the head, Follow your heart }

"There is a battle between your heart and head.

I say, chop off your head and there will be clarity."

--- Ps. B ---

{ Servanthood* }

"Even when Jesus was busy doing ministry,

He was still looking for the one."

--- Ps. Joel Purcell ---

{ Repost: "It's time to get lost" - Amanda Bast }

I’m the worst with directions. I’m not exaggerating for effect. I’m just that directionally challenged. Ask my friend Tyler about the time we tried to drive 20 minutes into the country and two hours later ended up somewhere near Toronto. It was an adventure to say the least, but our friendship survived (barely). Fortunately, there is a wonderful invention called a GPS that is perfect for people like me.

You’ve used a GPS before. You know how irritating they can be. You can be sitting at a red light, waiting to turn, and the British woman is saying, “Turn right. TURN right. Turn RIGHT. TURN RIGHT!” And you’re yelling, “THE LIGHT IS STILL RED YOU IMPATIENT WOMAN!” Not that I’ve ever yelled at my GPS or anything. I’m speaking hypothetically, of course. Ahem.

When you take the wrong turn or when you miss it entirely, she starts yelling, “Recalculating! Recalculating! Do a U-turn! Recalculating! You’re terrible at this! Recalculating! I hate my job!” It’s quite the experience. But I’ve got to give the machine lady credit — despite her condescending tone, she does get me to where I need to go.

Recently, my friends and I have been having conversations about waiting on God. Praying constantly, asking for his direction, looking for the next step, waiting for the green light or the go-ahead. What should I do, God? Where should I go? Is this your will for me? Is this where you want me to be? These questions are all well and good, and I understand our desire to ask them. We want our lives to reflect Christ and the plans he has in store for us. But I’m wondering something.

Put on your seatbelts, friends, this is a big one. What if waiting on God is completely unnecessary?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I know. Hear me out.

What if, in all our questioning and pleading with God, we’re already freely able to move forward? Could our questions about where to go actually be stopping us from moving forward? What if the light is already green? I have an inkling this perspective shift could be a game-changer.

When you learned how to ride a bike as a kid, you quickly discovered that in order to succeed, you needed to pedal. If you stop, you’ll coast for a short time but eventually topple over and skin your knees. You have a better chance at balance and success if you’re pedalling.

Similarly, we don’t need a lamp shining on our path if our feet are stationary. You can’t see further down the road, no matter how hard you squint. If you take those first few hesitant steps, the next part of the path will be revealed to you. The light won’t suddenly get ten times brighter if you just wait a little longer in the same spot. The only way you can see what’s up ahead is if you move.

Maybe God’s plan for us isn’t always to wait for him to tell us what to do. Maybe it’s for us to DO something with the talents, gifts and circumstances he’s already given us. Yes, we ask God for guidance. But we don’t need a GPS if we’re sitting in the driveway. Maps are for people on the move, for people on a journey. They don’t tell us where we should end up. We choose where we want to go, they show us the route to get there.

Instead of waiting around, let’s DO something. Move forward in any way possible, even if it’s just the tiniest bit. He can’t guide you if you’re not moving. Maybe you’ll need to pull over and ask for directions once in a while, but don’t hang out at that convenience store that only sells stale gum and firecrackers. GO! Move! Your destination is waiting for you to arrive. Who cares if you take a wrong turn along the way? Recalculate! Do a U-turn! Take another route! You’ll get there eventually.

If you’re sitting at a green light, go. If you’re sitting at a red light, turn right (unless you’re in Quebec). If you’re lost, ask for directions. But above all else, keep going. Move forward. Don’t wait.

May God be our strength and our GPS.

{ Worth* Fighting For }

"She deserves a man who will fight for her, 

and until a boyfriend proves his worth, 

that job belongs to her father." 

--- Sam McLouglin ---

{ Freedom says "Hello." }

"some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go." (hermann hesse)

as M encouraged me today with not striving in our own humans solutions and relishing the beauty of letting go, it does slightly reduces the temptation of handling it my own way... and yet it still itches. seems that is the common enlightenment i have been encountering and should be applying to all the cross junctions i am currently experiencing, but the flesh is indeed weak to follow through. i am definitely aware of self solving equating to self maintenance, and that does not help what is already battling internally.

"we thought we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong." (bono)

perhaps the comfort of knowing what to do and where to go is usually the case for such situations has pushed for another period of stretching. i honestly think the statement of "holding it with a loose hand" is absolute bullsh*t, especially for us females no matter how strong our character may be. am going to do what is best for me despite dwelling in my unwillingness. here's to taking a deep breath, shaking whatever battles consuming my heart's vacancy, and loosening the grip on my own quick fixes. freedom says hello.

{ Repost: 10 Secrets You Should Know About Marriage - Debra Katherine Fileta }

There are few people that really know what they’re getting into when it comes to getting married. I was one of those people. I mean, we all have an idea of what marriage is all about. We have hopes, dreams, and expectations of what it will look like. We watch movies, idolize TV shows, and even observe marriages in the world around us to try and get a glimpse of this thing we call holy matrimony. But we don’t really know until we’re there, do we?

There are some things about marriage that I understood going into it, but there are so many things that I could have never imagined. And to this day, there is still so much that I’m learning. I write about this concept in my new book, True Love Dates, specifically regarding the things marriage can’t do. But marriage can also do a lot. Here are some of the things I’m learning about it.

1. Marriage is more intimate than sex.

I think one of the first things singles think about when it comes to marriage is sex. In our society, sex is portrayed as the mark of intimacy within a relationship. While there is so much value and closeness within the sexual relationship, a good marriage is what makes for good sex, not the other way around. Before marriage, I don’t think I grasped the real intimacy that comes with committing to this one person for the rest of my life. Within marriage, is the amazing opportunity to allow another person a look inside your life, your mind, your heart, and your very soul. Now that, is true intimacy.

2. Marriage reveals selfishness, but can cultivate selflessness.

I knew I had the ability to be selfish, but I didn’t know I actually was selfish, until I got oh…about 6 months into my marriage (probably more like 6 hours, but I’m being generous). From the silly moments of choosing where to eat and who get’s the remote, to the more significant things like apologizing and putting his needs before mine – you learn that true selflessness is something that has to be lived out. It’s a hard lesson that has stretched my spiritual life more than anything else ever could- and through that, a beautiful reminder of a God who selflessly gave His all for me. I’m learning to be more like Him through this part of my marriage.

3. Oneness literally means…one. 

We all think of the deep spiritual and physical benefits of oneness, but do we ever consider these things: One house. One bed. One bathroom. One mirror above the bathroom sink. One bank account. One budget. In marriage, you relearn the preschool lesson of “sharing,” but you learn it in a very non-preschool kind of way. You learn to let go of the mine and yours mentality, because in marriage, everything is truly ours. There’s something really hard, but something really beautiful about that. It’s a reminder that at the end of the day what’s mine is yours…but everything we have, is actually His.

4. At some point, you will be disappointed.

I know, this one was a hard reality. I’m not sure why I didn’t really believe it would happen. I am fully aware of my and my husband’s humanity. But for some reason this truth doesn’t really hit home- until it actually hits home. My husband and I have loved each other deeply, but we’ve also hurt each other deeply. When you allow someone to bury their heart in yours, there’s no doubt that one day, you will feel an ache. Whether In the form of an unkind word, a thoughtless action, or a selfish moment, marriage will hurt. But by God’s grace, each wound paves the way for grace, forgiveness, and restoration. Each wound is a reminder of our need to love better and to love deeper.

5. Like it or not, you will learn the meaning of forgiveness.

With the certainty of being wounded, comes the reality that you will need to learn forgiveness. But the biggest lesson to learn, is that true forgiveness comes not because the person standing before you is deserving, rather, it comes out of a heart that understands how much we’ve been forgiven though we, too, were undeserving.

6. Marriage will cost you.

I’m not even talking about the cost of the wedding. That’s nothing in comparison to the emotional costs that come with becoming one. The truth is, you lose a part of yourself within the glory of marriage. You exchange a little bit of who you are, for a little bit of who they are. You learn to give and take, and then you learn to let go of the things that don’t really matter. And in the end, you realize that what you’ve given is far, far less than what you’ve ultimately received. Love is good like that.

7. Love isn’t a feeling, it’s a series of decisions.

Talk about a reality check. Before marriage you can never comprehend the strong feelings going anywhere but higher. Then one day you realize that feelings can’t really be trusted, because some days you feel you may not even like each other. Feelings come, but feelings also go. They are a compass, and sometimes a guide, but they are never to be followed. Loving is easy when you feel like it, but when you don’t, that’s the test of real love. It’s choosing to love, to give, and to serve because of the commitment you have made. It’s choosing the other instead of choosing yourself. That’s the very definition of love in it’s truest form.

8. Marriage will require you to learn how to communicate.

Like to talk? Don’t like to talk? Well, it doesn’t really matter. No matter what your communication bent, marriage will force you to bring your insides out. It will require you to take a good hard look at your opinions, beliefs, ideas, and feelings and share them with another. It will cause you to answer the hard questions, and speak the difficult truths, because communication is the lifeline between two people. There’s no way around it. It will cause you to take responsibility for not just what you say, but how you say it - tone, body language, sarcasm and all.

9. Marriage is not the end of your destination.

Before you’re married it’s easy to see marriage as the grande finale. It’s the thing we dream of and live for. It’s the force propelling us forward into this destination we call life. And then it finally comes! Now what? There’s this strange moment when you realize that this relationship that God has blessed you with is a fraction of the grand scheme He has for your life. Your purpose and passions will extend far beyond the reach of your relationship with your spouse. Even more exciting, is seeing God at work because of this relationship that He’s given you as the love between you and your spouse is reflected to the world around. Marriage is not the end, it’s only the beginning. God’s got so much more up His sleeve.

10. Marriage gives you a glimpse of so much more. 

On that same note, man do you learn a lot about God when you are rubbing up against someone day in and day out. There’s a reason that God uses the analogy of marriage to describe His love for His church, because no relationship will ever compare to the intimacy that is exchanged within this earthly connection. Not only is God’s love for us magnified through the lens of a healthy marriage, but He uses this marriage to shape us, refine us, and put us through the fire - making us more and more like Him along the way. Reflecting Jesus is the greatest honor that we can partake in when it comes to marriage, but more so, it’s the one and only thing that will keep our marriage alive.

{ "How to Find Meaning in Your Mess" - Steven Furtick }

{ I am Second Story }

{ "Sinking Deep" - HIllsong Young + Free }

am back into the secret place,
and leaning into Your love so deep.

#foundonceagain xo

{ Graced & Loved to Serve*, now? }

am at a cross road where the platform of servant hood is interjecting with my personal life and dreams. not saying it is a bad thing, but would i be ready to lay down my passion and run full force for such a cause and responsibility? or rather, for such precious lives that i graciously get to witness and commune with every week? 

as my eyes meet their faces, it just pulls my heart right in, and my mountain of questions starts tumbling down, and i begin to embrace their presence once again -- how i envy their carefree spirits and genuine conversations. they never fail to light up the atmosphere with their joy and randomness that is ultra contagious.

now the journey is getting a tad more serious, and the question of commitment pops up, likewise in any relationship. the reality hits and now i am left with a question, should i go further, or is this where it ends despite my compassion for the souls in front me? surely the peace that i am seeking would come sooner than expected. and same goes... for everything else.

{ Reevaluating }

after a break from the usual routine that i am normally accustomed to, i find myself slowly creeping back into it. but, with a different perspective. think i have been sitting in the comfort zone a tad too long, being numb to everything that has been readily provided in my life. and now the dependency on it has been a habit that needs breaking.

even though being in the scene and in the know are now foreign to me, would want to dive further away from the social structure that i have always felt out of place in. was never into the hype and facade of life pertaining to your social status. funny how people can stand wasting their time with pretentious conversations and connections among the meaningless amusement of events.

thankfully, i am in an environment that holds no label, motives or need to impress. being four years in such a home has taught and mould me to be the lady i am today. am constantly inspired by the many lives around me whom has never failed to appreciate me just as i am. but as i recently got exposed yet to another world, i find myself strangely reevaluating every area of my life.

perhaps it is time to follow what has always been a deep and unfading passion of mine without hesitation, procrastination and distraction. as this shift of mindset takes place, will see where it leads after taking the first step. going to focus my heart and mind on things ahead. with everything taking time, surely things will eventually fall into place without any force, strive and second guesses.

there shall no longer be any half past six commitments or hot and cold situations that i have found myself in before. have always known what i want, and instead of holding back and sacrificing for others, it is time to give that a good breaking like mentioned. settling is never in the equation and it will not be for the future ahead. if it is not the best of the best, than it is simply not it for me.

october has been quite an adventure which i never expected nor intended. and now dealing with the aftermath of the experiences, it has truthfully taught me a lot about issues of the heart and the value of life itself. like B said, there is a season for everything, even the ones short lived. as i battle with this reality, somehow or other, answers that could affect everything will soon arise in just a moment.

{ On To The Next One }

go where you are wanted, appreciated and celebrated.

{ A Special Kind of A** }

"Never argue with an idiot, because they will only bring you down to their level and beat you by experience."

--- John Guerrero ---

{ The Ellen Show: "Andy and Amy's Haunted House" }

{ Anew Pt. 2 }

 "Don't be more loyal to a past that no longer exists,
than to a future waiting to be discovered." 

--- Christine Caine ---

{ Hang on, We're almost there }

 "When you’re closest to the miracle, 
obstacles become the most difficult."

--- TD. Jakes ---

{ Repost: "No Scrubs: Gen-Y Needs To Stop Settling In The Name Of Love" - Elite Daily }

I enjoy surrounding myself with older friends. I have always been a borderline, undercover groupie. Why the anxiousness to be older? Well, my role models are out of the self-discovery phase, are confident whole beings, independent thinkers, and have amazing style.

They are the mature women I admire and aspire to be. Hence, I frequently seek advice from my 30-something female friends. It’s fun hearing them share their life experiences and learning from their adventures.

I have always felt like an old soul at heart, but my actual age hindered my acceptance into the cool, calm, and collected 30-something social circles. Yet, since my 25th birthday has just passed, I suddenly feel like I am part of the crew. Crossing that quarter of a century benchmark has left me slightly wiser.

Nevertheless, there is one piece of advice I have been told by my mentors repeatedly that I still struggle to understand: never settle for a man in the name of love.

Biological Clock

A friend of mine said, “Women have surpassed the men in this generation, and because of it, we have lowered the bar and are accepting what is available. It has to stop!” For the purpose of this article, let us sway away from the “women have surpassed men” debate.

Let’s instead focus on the concept of settling. It’s not a new or unheard of idea, but is it true? Are successful Generation-Y women, who should be worshiped on pedestals, settling for mediocrity? Yikes.

The underlying reason for women who settle is almost always that they feel time is ticking away, and this is their last chance to get married, have kids, buy that suburban house, the whole nine yards; although, no one will ever admit that fact. They all unanimously and wholeheartedly use the excuse of blind love. Fine, I am an optimistic believer of romance and true love, but c’mon, is that the only requirement for a relationship to work?

Time Portal

Back in the day, people were matched up based on nationality, religion, education, income, and values, precisely in that order. For the most part, they lived a happily married life, since clearly, humanity has continued to procreate. Nowadays, there’s only one requirement for pairing off into couples: love.

Yet, when two people have different nationalities, religions, educations, incomes, and values, what do they really have in common and how could they possibly fall and stay in love?

I Don’t Want No Scrub

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for interracial and interreligious marriages. I went to a Hindu-Jewish wedding last year (or Hin-Jew, as Russell Peters would call it) and seeing Indian men with Kippahs was by far the cutest and most uniting moment ever. Still, I have more difficulty understanding couples on completely opposite brain waves.

They have acquired substantially different levels of education, are from paradoxical tax brackets, and do not even share core morals. These three aspects are what make your lifestyle. Race and religion only add that extra spice, but they don’t sculpt the person that you are. However, isn’t a mental, financial, and emotional connection essential for love?

I am not saying that people should be robotically paired up based on IQ. Of course there needs to be that animalistic attraction: those butterflies in your stomach, and that metaphoric spark that ignites love. A physical bond cannot be the sole reason to settle for a scrub.

Mental Compatibility

Knowledge is the purest form of power. For me, it defines passion. A man who can eloquently use big words in full sentences is beyond sexy! Gen-Y women need a life partner who can analyze novels, debate political views, and constantly expand their horizons. It’s important to be mentally in sync because, otherwise, you will always feel superior to him and that would be a slippery slope. If you do not feel like equals, you do not respect him. If you do not respect him, your commitment level is weak.

Financial Equivalence

I don’t think your bank balances and incomes need to be similar in order to fall in love but your ambition, drive, and value of money definitely need to be on the same page. You will essentially be creating a life together, thus, your spending habits and saving regimes need to be matched. If you are a couponing queen and your boy toy likes to gamble, you are basically brewing up a storm.

It’s a tale as old as time. You cannot live on love alone, so eventually, if he has maxed out your credit cards and doesn’t get paid his minimum wage salary for another week, you will quickly fall out of love.

Emotional Connection

A concept Carrie Bradshaw practically wrote a thesis on was how in this world we have both relationships without love and love without relationships. So then what is love and what’s the value of it? How do you measure love?

Some poor souls might say love is measured by the amount of text messages exchanged. Ladies, that is not considered an emotional connection and neither is any social media interaction. An emotional understanding is not quantitative. It’s the ability to share core values and morals.

Are family and friends important to you? Are charity events a part of your routine? Well ask yourself, does he take an interest in being a part of your family life, or is he constantly distant? Are you routinely making excuses for him to accept his flaws because you think he might eventually change? If you are not comfortable enough to share an honest sentiment, you aren’t even in love in the first place.

{ Repost: "No Pain, No Gain: Why You Need To Exit Your Comfort Zone To Realize Your Potential" - Elite Daily }

So the third season of “Suits” is getting good, and on top of that, the Champions league is underway – you’re comfortable. You’re lying there on your couch with your hand down your pants, watching Harvey kick the shit out of Stephen Huntley – you’re comfortable. Yet somewhere within your subconscious, something is telling you to get your ass up and finish that job application you were supposed to finish last night. Sadly, you’re not in touch with that inner consciousness, because you’re comfortable.

Whether we like it or not, time and change will be two constants that will forever remain in our lives, a kind of alternation that will always be drifting towards us. Things will always change, develop, and adjust – so imagine being disassociated from change, living life with a naïve sense of disillusion. Imagine that you’re actually choosing to live your life from a much less optimum point than what you’re capable of because of comfort.

It’s crazy. I mean, why would you constantly allow yourself to inactively accept change, instead of actively seeking it? Why put yourself in situations and circumstances dictated and set by others? Why the hell would you just lay back and let others use you as they please because you were too lazy to stand up for your own dreams? In life, you either pursue your dreams, or somebody else will hire you to achieve theirs.

I say screw comfort, before it screws you. Getting out of the so-called comfort zone is easier than you think; you just need something to snap you out of it. But understand something first: I won’t pity you, your rival won’t pity you, and the world sure as hell won’t feel sorry for you. There is no one out there who is going to make life easier for you, and why should they? Once you realize that you’re not a victim of circumstances, you’ll start your journey out of the comfort zone.

Comfort is a b*tch cloaked in seducing, sexy lingerie, a delusional beauty that blinds us from the absolute changes that are heading our way. So how do we grow a pair to resist this seduction? Well, let’s first get acquainted with the term “change.” There are sudden changes, and there are subtle changes. Most of us see sudden changes as something uncontrollable and ruthless, in contrast to subtle changes, which you might see as good because we’re able to adjust and prepare for them due to their gradual forthcoming.

We’re human; we respond to what we see. The less abrupt the change is, the better our chances are of responding and coping with it. But then again, I don’t picture you seeing the bad in you winning the lottery, which, by the way, is a sudden change. So then why are sudden changes seen as a negative alternation while subtle changes are seen as a positive alternation? It’s simple. In most circumstances, sudden changes happen to us, while subtle changes happen forus.

You see, every sudden occasion in our life, whether good or bad, can only hurt us or help us, depending on how well equipped we are to deal with it. On the other hand, subtle changes are alternations we know are going to occur, the gradual changes, which are easier to tackle due to our sense of awareness. It’s crazy. We’ve embraced our comfort zone to an extent where “good old habits” like walking have been replaced by consumerism and spending all day watching TV, devouring junk…and we wonder why 70 percent of the US population is obese…

So how do we fight the sudden changes, or even better, remove them from our lives? How do we become better individuals tomorrow than we were today? We get our sh*t together, and we equip ourselves with the necessary skills and get it touch with our consciousness to strategically face change, before it faces us. It’s like preparing for a test: unless you know what questions and requirements are going to be asked, you’re screwed.

No pain, no gain. You grow when you feel the burn, when you know you are going through pain, and that’s what getting your sh*t together feels like. Getting out of a routine, breaking out of a bad habit or forcing yourself to adopt a new lifestyle ain’t easy, so expect a tough time when you are transitioning form the lazy, complacent and unproductive snob you were into a productive and fast moving machine.

Pain is temporary, it may last a minute, an hour, a month, or a year, but it will ultimately fade away as a result of your success. The pain of quitting and never trying lasts a lifetime. So stop whining about how hard it is, and get cracking on it because nothing ever worth doing has been acquired easily.

You want it? Fight for it! We’ve all heard the hipster’s liberal and spiritual bullshit: “We live in the moment, we see it as it comes.” You might not want to take on that second degree just yet, or see yourself through to that potential promotion, but ask yourself this: what kind of moment are you really living for if you’re not ready for what’s coming to you? Because change is coming, and it is either sneaking up on you, or blitzing its way towards you. Either way, it is coming.

So if it means working long hours and missing that champions league game to alter your current financial circumstances, do it! If hitting the gym five times a week will give you that crazy body you desire, then five times a week you will be in the gym. If that’s not doing the trick, remember, the need for change is always motivated by the perceptual vision of better circumstances. There will always be another optimum point. There will always be better opportunities out there, and they’re waiting for you to take them. So never float through the present. Take an aggressive stance towards the future and embrace your potential.

{ All In }

{ Life is Short, Have an Affair? }

"a coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave." (mahatma gandhi)

interesting how people can go through life without committing to anything or anyone, and deem it as life experiences and freedom where there are clearly deeper issues than their consequential actions. what happened to the foundations of relationship, family, love, forgiveness and working things out?

"to love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before." (rollo may)

in every bond there is a give and take. once one starts calculating such sacrifices, it would not be a willing compromise in the first place. came to realize that in personal decisions, it does only affect your life but those close around you. only a limited and selfish mind and heart is unaware of that.

"marriage is not a noun; it's a verb. it isn't something you get. it's something you do. it's the way you love your partner everyday." (barbara de angelis)

unsure the intentions of having a multitude of "lovers" despite the fact that you are already in covenant to one. this uncontrollable lust destroys the integrity of one to love. it is indeed a daily affair of laying your own desires down for another. love does not need a reason or have any hidden motives.

"a great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. it is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences." (dave meurer)

think the world's attempt to change the core definition of what life is really all about has birthed out warped values and behaviors. everything boils down to character which no money and education cannot obtain. am continually learning to accept people for who they are, and not what they're not.

"some people will not tolerate such emotional honesty in communication. they would rather defend their dishonesty on the grounds that it might hurt others. therefore, having rationalized their phoniness into nobility, they settle for superficial relationships." (anonymous)

at the end of the day, living in truth makes things lighter than burdensome. life is short which encourages us to indulge in a daily affair of loving one another greater than ourselves. how i am embraced by family and close mates has made me a better woman today. love transforms everything.

{ Free* to Love }

Free people are going to tell you the truth and they are going to make mistakes, this will not only test the relationship, but it will test the state of your heart. 

A sign that you really have love in your relationships is that you and the people you are around are free to be themselves and no one in the relationship is motivated by fear. 

--- Danny Lee Silk ---

{ G > Any Other }

Being positive does not mean we deny the existence of difficulty; 

it means we believe God is greater than our difficulties. 

--- Joyce Meyer ---

{ Have the courage* to follow your heart }

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinion drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

--- Steve Jobs ---

{ For the feelin' fat, fugly & bad hair days }

as delicate beings, feeling and knowing we are beautiful is rather important. not for our esteem, but for the value that has been innate in us. has come to realize that our actions and behavior does direct us to how we treasure ourselves on the inside. instead of physical alterations and temptations, a heart surgery never hurts.

{ With great love* }

{ How blessed I am, to have known someone who is so hard to say goodbye* to }

"true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to appellation." (george washington)

goodbyes are never easy but inevitable. seems like my inner circle whom i treasure as family is slowly depleting. as opportunities and opened doors have stolen their valued presence to another promise land to reside and conquer, i am left with only photographic memories of the good times and years we were blessed to journey together.

"a day spent with friends is always a day well spent." (unknown)

to the beautiful souls whom i hold so dear, i only wish the best of the very best for each one of you precious gems. your lives has been a life changing experience and inspiration to mine. there could only be brighter and greater days ahead. now we just await for the miraculous and abundance of praise reports around the corner.

"acting is a sense of wonder and magic and mystery for me and when life takes me on a new journey, i simply remember the smile my first ballet recital put on my face and i move forward." (andrea thomson)

now with a new perspective on life which i thought did not ever exist is brewing, it is just a matter of moments this awakening comes to full birth. it is time to venture into a new season and freedom. let our passion and dreams never die, but to be liven out to the fullest with endless possibilities holding no limits.

{ "Make You Feel My Love" - Glee }

{ "We Can't Stop" - Jimmy Fallon, Miley Cyrus & The Roots (A Capella) }

{ You never know what is around the corner }

"Never give up on what you really want to do. 

The person with the big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts." 

--- Albert Einstein ---

{ Anew* }

Don`t let what you think, keep you from what you don`t know.

Don`t let what you were, keep you from what you could be.

Don`t let what you`ve done, keep you from He says you can be.

--- Matt Strelecki ---

{ Repost: Rapper Ja Rule talks about how Hillsong changed his life }

{ Getting Up* }

#notwaitinganylonger x

{ A brand new kind of free* }

after encountering two great cities... my mind and heart has been opened up to a whole new perspective of what is really out there beyond a guarded and cotton wooled society i usually gravitate in.

the tales from close ones and the media does not amount to the reality of a city jungle i have been dreaming since young... it's momentum and beautiful concrete is definitely one to experience.

to embrace the glory of another culture and lifestyle is a grace gift my soul is enriched and constantly blown away by... everyday was truly a heart opener, holding little surprises along the way.

the rawness of the streets and sights of the people has left me pondering how much the world screams of a genuine love and hope in their everyday situations... could anyone really hear them?

one's social standing and status does not always determine a high level of joy and a quality life. the glitz and glamour is a make up or should i say cover up, for what truly lies beneath the false layers.

no words can describe what is pounding in my heart right now about the great apple and it's beauty... till a possible journey and open door takes place, i have finally found... a brand new kind of free.