Letter for my 18 year old sister

cartoon by Lalaine Navarro

Dearest Laine,

I'm nearly double your age today.  Since I obviously have more years ahead of you, I've gone through more things- sometimes I succeed and often I fail.  Like any Ate (older sister), I want to spare you from all the pains and give you the best kept secrets I learned along the way.  So here it goes...

Never ever worry about how thin or fat you are.  It doesn't matter.  What matters is how big you're heart is and how level-headed you are.

Never ever chase anything or anyone other than your heart.  As long as you remain true to it, it will point you to the right direction.

Love whatever it is you are doing and it will love you back.

But, before anything else, love yourself first.  And always think, no BELIEVE that you're great.  It makes a whole world of difference- whatever it is you choose to do.

However, even if you choose to simply bum around, I hope that you find The One, The One Who Knows Your Heart or that He finds You.

He'll teach you to simply be who you are.  Then, the doing part will be a lot easier.

Then again, know that sometimes it's ok not to care about what other people think.  What's more important is what you think, what you feel and how everything sits with you.

So, feel free to take this advice, dump it in the dumpster or just choose which ones work for you.  You have the free hand.  Know that in life you always have a choice, dearest sister.
          

                                                                                                                         Yours 'til the sun shines,

Ate Karen 

I met Professor X

"The plum blossom is a common subject in Chinese painting because it symbolizes resilience.  In China, this tree blooms even in the coldest of winters.", explains 63 year old Professor Esguerra.

I feel that he has a close affinity to it because it is very symbolic of his life.

"I was abandoned at the hospital (PGH) when I was 4 days old," he opens up.

"Fortunately, a kind couple adopted me.  However, I was barely out of highschool when my mother contacted epilepsy which lead to brain damage.  My father, on the other hand, was a simple government employee.  To help him make both ends meet, I chose to be a working student".

"I pursued college in UP Los Banos.  I was almost in my last year of veterinary medicine when my father got Alzheimers.  I had to take a full time job and study at night.  However, the only UP school which offered night classes at that time was UP Manila.  So, I shifted."

He details the difficulty of juggling work and study but he finally graduated, sent all his other siblings to school and got married.  

Still, life continues to test him.

His wife died before they even get a chance to build a family (a former student related this).  Many years later, the family's ancestral home was forcibly taken away from him. 

Other challenges came up but he remains optimistic, "Everything is just a matter of perspective".

In fact, he says that he's more productive when he has problems.  "I don't face it squarely initially because at that point I'm emotional and vulnerable.  Instead, I focus my attention to art and study.  That's my coping mechanism.  I only look at my problems when I'm stable."

"In life, no one is exempted from pain. You know, it's that thing which builds character", he advises.

He concludes, "Venus Raj's answer to the Miss Universe question should have been, The major problem doesn't matter, what matters is my reaction to the major problem."


P.S.  In case you still couldn't figure out why I call him Professor X,  it's because he simply keeps on flying over the many Xs (a.k.a. obstacles) in his life. 

                                          meditation from youtube

Being with One

cartoon from http://one.brahmakumaris.org

"I've touched the face of God", said choreographer Douglas Nierras.  

That one sentence encapsulates my experience of The Love Of One event I recently attended.  

The ballroom was full and I came in with a friend but I felt that I was in a one-on-one meeting with my CEO.  "Chief Encouragement Officer", as described by Jonathan Batangan, a corporate executive.  Then I had a chit-chat with my friend, a bonding moment with my mother thereafter, then time with my beloved and consultation with my guide afterwards.  

It was like peering into the many faces of God through the experiences of different people.  The meditation which punctuated each sharing allowed me to experiment with the relationship discussed.
  
There were more time for introspection than time to listen to talks.  In fact, the eight speakers shared for only 2 minutes but their monologues were very  honest and personal.  University Professor Rina Corpus said she has been exposed to brilliant minds but in front of God, she's a perennial student.  Newspaper editor Emmie Velarde admitted it is so easy to get swamped by work but when she feels like drowning God is only a thought away. TOWNS awardee Deannie Ocampo marvelled at how precious God sees her that He calls her a diamond in His hand.  NGO head Belle Manapat enjoyed charging with The Source while Senior Meditation Teacher Becky Ortega called Him The Benevolent One.  Former Senator Leticia Shahani disclosed that for her God is both a father and a mother.

Each one of them call Him in different names and relate to Him differently but I feel that they're talking about the same God.  More than ever, I am convinced that there's just The One. 

                                           video from www.youtube.com

Have you found The One?

It was lunch time and the conversation turned a little serious.

"I am an atheist", admitted a young colleague.

"But I'm not one of the staunch ones who thinks there is no God.  I just couldn't find Him."

No one said a word, allowing him to speak his mind.  "I've been reading books, searching the net and talking to gurus..."

I responded, "I was like you when I was in my 20's.  I was devouring books on spirituality and studying all sorts scriptures.  I didn't find God there, either."

"You have to experience God.  It's like swimming, you see.  You can read all the literature in the world about it but unless you go into the water, you'll never learn."

I advised  him to not simply talk to the imams and the buddhists but to enter the mosque or try meditating.

As for me, I found God in silence.

P.S.  You are warmly invited to be extremely quiet while powerfully connected to The Source on September 21 wherever you are in the globe.  This event will be celebrated in 135 countries, look for a center near you at http://one.brahmakumaris.org/time-with-one/