Reflections

It's been a while since I have added anything to this blog.  I would have to say since 2009 by the looks of my last posting.  Nonetheless, I haven't forgotten that this site exists, and I felt that it was high time I contribute.

A lot has happened in the past 3 years.  In fact, a lot more has happened just within the past several months, but this post isn't for a recap of my life's events.  It's more or less to put down some reflections that I was re-introduced to today.  Quick flashback:  back in 1996, I would sit down to a dimly lit desk and start to write.  I really didn't pay attention to what I was putting down on paper, I just knew that I wanted to write something.  I've done that a few times since then...either writing original pieces of my own, or taking down words of wisdom that I've encountered over the years and tried to live by.  I say "tried" because...well...nobody is perfect, but we'd all like to think that we're making improvements upon ourselves and doing well towards others. 

In either case, what follows is from something I scribbled in 2000.  Simple reflections that meant enough to me to make me write them in my little log book.  I'm sure they're probably older than when I noted them, but I feel that they hold true today.  Who knows, you might even find yourself reflecting on them and trying to make a change for yourself after reading.

1.  Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

2.  Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, and the romance in a relationship and find that you still care for that person.

3.  When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often time we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

4.  The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with...never saying a word...and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

5.  It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it.  But it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

6.  There are things you'd love to hear that you would never hear from the person who you would like to hear from.  But don't be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their heart.

7.  Don't go for looks; they can deceive.  Don't go for wealth; in the end it fades away.  Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

8.  Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

9.  A careless word may kindle strife; a cruel word my wreck a life; a timely word may level stress; a loving word may heal and bless.

10.  The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

11.  Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried.  For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

12.  The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go on well in life until you let go of all your past failure and heartaches.

Not to be Taken Lightly

Throughout the day I had moments where my mind would drift...pondering over different ideas of what to blog on. To be quite honest, I actually logged in a couple of times and began typing my introductory paragraph, but I could never quite finish my overall thought as to what I really wanted to say. I had a few topics, but even those began to escape me or would fall by the waist-side as that internal voice within me would ask "Do you really want to write about that?" So after starting and stopping for about 4 times, I decided that I'd step outside and put my mind on to other matters of creativeness - addressing my failed attempts to write to a later point. It was at that moment that I actually began, unknowingly, formulating what it was I wanted to put here.

This past week has - for the most part - been a good week with the exception of the passing of one of my cousins. She put up a battle against cancer and was finally called "home" this past Tuesday. This lead me to think about another member of my family who had a battle with cancer and won. Somewhere after that I got to thinking about other issues that I've witnessed, heard about, read about or saw...and then it hit me.

I realized that I had a lot to be thankful for - that there are a lot of positive things surrounding me that need not be taken for granted nor ignored. And I sat there, taking a minute or four and absorbing this epiphany. Mind you, I wasn't just thinking this in regards to me, but in regards to people...us...in general. I realized that I've never had to battle cancer, shield myself from a barrage of bullets, wear casts to repair broken bones, lay in the hospital from car wrecks, or go through life not knowing what it is to be loved. I thought of these things...and I became more thankful. I noticed that I was actually having my work day from the comfort of my home and for the first time in a long time, working with the view of my yard right outside where a sense of peace was awaiting me once I was through with my work. It was something to look forward to, but at the same time, the mere fact that "that" something to look forward to existed was a blessing within it self.

Back in school I would get up in the morning, open my blinds and see the day before me. It was always a good day when you could open those blinds, see the sun illuminating the room, the clouds were way up, and a shallow breeze completed the day. What I hated was that I normally had class during those days...class in a building where there wasn't much of the day getting in. I came up with a theory, and that theory was simply this: God gave us an abundance of those perfect days (perfect, of course, being defined differently by different individuals). These days are plentiful in number, but there is a certain allotment in our lifetime. And although we have many of these days designed for us, we are limited to partake in them because of school, work, responsibilities, etc. So on various occasions I opted to take my days and not leave them for granted. I know I skipped a couple of classes (okay, more like an entire day) so that I could get out in it, but something in me felt as though I would be wrong to let it go without stepping outside. I would get in my car and just ride around...no particular destination...no set goal in mind. I would just ride...windows down, music playing and a smile on my face. I knew that I should have gone to class, but somewhere inside I figured God wouldn't be upset for me taking advantage of something He made just for me. In fact, I felt He was happy that I'd made the choice I made!

So what am I really trying to say? I guess I'm saying a lot: pay attention to those little things around you because they're bigger than they appear, take advantage of things when you can, because before you know it they'll be gone, live for the day as best you can (but still try to plan ahead for the future), because tomorrow isn't definitely promised. I'm saying a lot of things but they all ultimately tie back to the same idea (well, at least they do in my head). You're the reader here...the meaning will be interpreted differently for your eye than mine. As it should...

...I dunno, man.