What you think, you are.

Depression is one of the leading causes of failure among students nowadays. Oftentimes, this starts from misconceptions, erroneous beliefs, and expectations in life—negativism. Psychologist Aaron Beck sorted out these thoughts into following:

All-or-nothing thinking.  There are no grays; everything is either black or white, as, for instance, a student who thinks that 3.00 in a list of 1.00 makes him a failure.

Overgeneralization.  Because of one bad experience, you expect nothing good to happen.  Because you failed in one quiz, you thought you’d flunk the whole course.

Automatic discounting.  Everything good is treated as due to chance, as in Filipino way of saying tsamba lang when congratulated.

Magnification and minimization.  You magnify your weakness and minimize your strengths, as teenagers dwelling on one small pimple and letting it ruin their whole day.

Should statement.  Rather than doing something spontaneously, you focus on the should’s, as in “I should study because I do not want to fail,” rather than focusing on the joys of learning itself.

Personalization.  When something bad happens, you feel it is your entire fault, as in the student who wails, “It’s all my fault!” when it rains during outdoor programs.

Mind-reading.  You assume that others look down on you even without checking it thoroughly, as in “I will not try out for singing contest, since the judges will never like my voice anyway.”

The most effective way to prevent these paradigms is to engage in cognitive thinking—to change these beliefs in order to prevent irrational thoughts that can cause depression.

Adapted

Smiles

A priest shared a lesson in one of his lectures. He said that there are three kinds of smiles in each one of us. The first is the smile of gratitude. It is the smile representing our thankfulness to God and to the persons who brought us to who we are. The second is the smile of dreams. It is the foundation of our aspirations—this smile tells us to dream high. The third and last smile is the smile of hope. It is the smile that makes our dreams come true—the smile that aims to fulfill the smile of dreams.

We ought to bear these smiles every day. However, not everyone notices them—not everyone understands. Some people are not aware that these smiles just rest inside them because they are very busy worrying over irrational things. The best and only way to nurture these smiles is to seek peace with God, to endeavor to be happy, and to love endlessly.

Spread the smiles. :)

Binukot

Maxim Since

A man once said, “There are two options you can choose when you wake up; to sleep and dream again or to rise and change your dream.” People may think of several ways how to decide on these two alternatives but wisdom would tell you to take the latter—nonetheless of course, it always depends on the person bearing his life how he manages it.  Here are some maxims a person may have to rise up every waking moment of his life.

Faith in God. First thing every morning before rising, pray and say out loud “I believe!” three times.  God grants us the courage not to part from our aspirations even in the middle of hardships.

Faith in oneself. Great things happen only if one believes that he can exhaust his maximum capacity.

Determination. Persons who find ways for themselves will always attain endless opportunities. If they cannot find opportunities, they make them.  The ones who keep trying achieve most of the important things in the world.

Focus. A man of focus is never discouraged by difficulties.  He redoubles his diligence and perseverance until infallibility prevails.

Discipline. It is not just about finishing your job on time—it is also about leading proper life.  People create their own success by ascertaining what they need to learn.

Inspiration. “Dance like nobody’s watching. Love as if you have never been hurt. Sing as if no one hears you. Live like it is heaven on earth.”

Whatever path a person may take, he may have these maxims to be his guide as he faces life.

What’re yours?

Questions One Should Try to Answer

1. If you could go back in time -- and never come back, what point would it be, and why?

2. Should the prophecies be right and you’re the last one standing, what will you do, and why?

3. Should you be given an opportunity to cast a final and executory rule to all nations, what would it be, and why?

4. Should the day come that you lose your voice -- and never have it back, who would you talk to for the last time, and why?

5. If you were given the sole power to change something, what would you change, and why?

6. If you could take the place of somebody famous for a day, who would it be, and why?

7. Why do some people love more than one person at a time?

8. How do mysteries arise and what should be done to solve them? 

9. How could people overcome worry and what should they do to alleviate them?

10. If you could speak to someone you’ve never spoken to -- and never again, who would it be, and why?

11. What distinguishes talent from skill?

12. What makes a person successful?

13. When is being unconventional mostly admirable?

14. What constitutes the privacy of somebody famous?

15. What makes sunset beautiful?

July 2, 2012 Adapted

Harassed

I did not expect our topic last night would make me worry for her this much—also made me angry for a person I do not even know personally (and if I do, heavens forbid what I could do).

I called my friend out of boredom and we first talked about wattpad, songs, icebreakers, and job seeking.  After a while, the subject got serious when I opened something about what she told me last time—I said I was curious what happened to her and to her friend-slash-lover-slash-assumer, why she decided not to entertain him anymore, and why she’s already keeping distance to him. She hesitated at first but then she confessed something I have not thought for once.

*****

One night, the latest incident, she attended a slumber party with friends in one of their friend’s boarding house.  It wasn’t really a party at all, just a gathering with some old colleagues inside one of the rooms. There, also, was her “friend” [let us call him her “friend”, with (“ ”)].  While all of them were just talking, enjoying the matters, suddenly her pervert “friend” leaned forward toward her and attempted to kiss her lips, but she covered them before they hit his.  This maniac made his way to her cheeks down to her neck instead even though she was already edging movements to avoid him.  This man did not stop his attempts and made his hands maliciously caress around her sensitive parts.  She startled but abled to push the guy away. She slapped him then cried as she hurriedly left the room.

I squeezed information further.  I have discovered that it was not the first time she was harassed by this erotic guy.  There was one time when she was taking a bath, the lights went out (she knew someone turned it off) and she was late to realize that she forgot to lock the door. Someone entered—her “friend”.  This maniac said something like, “Kita lang diri. Ano, gusto mo himuon ta?” (It’s just the two of us here.  You want to do it?).  She cried aloud and her board-mates ran toward the room.  Immediately, the maniac went out of the bathroom leaving her still startling.  Her other male board-mates scolded her “friend”.  He said he was just making fun of her… and the fuss just ended there (I could not believe how it just ended there!).

Once, while she was studying, she heard someone sniffing.  She glanced under the table and found out that it was her itchy “friend” smelling in between her legs almost touching his nose to her thing. He just laughed and said it smelled like citrus.

There was a time that her roommates asked her “wala ka may nabatyagan?” (haven’t you felt anything?).  They said that there were times that the guy was touching her parts while she was sleeping.  My friend left the issue undisclosed hoping that a change on him would somehow happen.

One day, she was on her bed.  His “friend”, who had just finished bathing, walked near her.  He almost flashed his part in front of her but my friend managed to close her eyes.  Her lewd “friend” forcedly held her hand wanting it to touch his part, but she vigorously compelled—then he stopped, without any traces of shame on his face.

These mentioned are just some of what this lewd ill-mannered person did to her but these are more than enough for an elaboration to make me disgust for this guy.

*****

Know that this debauched pervert was always saying apologies after doing those things [or better say, after failing to do his malicious intents] and his only excuse was that he was just making fun of her (talk to the marines, man!).  Know also that she was always [very] angry every time he was doing those to her, BUT she was always forgiving him for the grounds that they are friends and she loves him.  Yes, she loves him—I never believed that love could make a person stupid, not until I heard all these.  How unfortunate she is to fall for a libidinous person who knows nothing but carnally molest and take advantage over her knowing that she fancies him.  What I hate most is that, all this time, he pretends to be a gay (what the… for once, I wish I had an extensive vocab of bad words!).

One miserable part is, their board-mates hadn’t said anything to rebuke the guy because they supported their tandem.  Maybe it is just normal for her board-mates to see those malicious gestures. I bet they all have experiences, but still they should be sensitive enough not to tolerate the guy’s lasciviousness.  This is not about open-mindedness—this is about respect.

In their case, the guy doesn’t have the right to touch her—they’re not even in a relationship.  This pervert just assumed carnal affection and as I said earlier, he was just taking advantage—such a douchebag!  My friend is admittedly still not ready for any intimate relationship and of course, also not for make-outs.

*****

Best thing I admire about her is that she never gave in to the lure of the situations.  It somehow eased my worries when she said that the guy never got her all the way.

Before we almost ended our talk, she asked me one thing; what if he comes back, asks forgiveness, and offers friendship again, should she accept it?

My answer is very simple: NO! She may forgive, yes, but must never forget. She must learn instead and ignore accepting friendship again.  I know this will be hard for her, but then she must remember the entire trauma she had.  If that man could do such things [such erotic, wanton, and lewd things], even time can never change his malignity—and may God hinder what worse could happen.  Take my words for that!

*****

Dear friend,

If you read this, know that it hurts me to write all these.  I just could not contain my worries and rage that even my tears could not alleviate them—so came the writing.   It hurts me to imagine what you had been through all this months, years, and I didn’t even know all about these until just last night.  The one I care for was being abused then what do you expect me to react huh? Does he know you?! Does he feel what you feel?! Does he love you the way I [we] do?! NO!  Of all the trust you gave to him, he just reciprocated you indecency.  Believe me, he doesn’t understand you.  I don’t care if he’s your first love—if it never dies, bury it alive as some say. He doesn’t appreciate your feelings—for most, he doesn’t even know how to respect you as a friend, as a lady, as a sister, as a human. You are not a toy… you are not a pig!  So many other persons love you unconditionally.  YOU DON’T NEED HIM!

Take care, please—at least not for me or for other people, but for yourself.

May 12, 2014

Deletes and Keeps

After all, deleting texts messages, which I kept for years, was not that dramatic.

Last night, I suddenly lost my sentiments over the messages in my inbox.  For many years, I saved them still with blurred intention; hoarding texts perhaps, or possibly, I was afraid that their texts would be the last they would send me (ridiculous isn’t it?), or for practical reasons I once liked their quotes and trivias—in fact, most of the messages were just GMs (group messages).

Some texts though were not read most especially if they came from a person who sends quotes regularly almost every day and if the messages were all of the same genre.  Sometimes, messages teaching morals irritate me when I know the one who sends those doesn’t even have the guts to be morally conscious at all—it just doesn’t make sense.

Of course, I saved some that are worth the keep.  These are the messages that took part in my strength through the years, like the text from one of my professors “Di ka pumasa”, a text from a friend “good night pangga”, a text from a lady saying sorry for her being insensitive, etc.  The “di ka pumasa” (you did not pass) text made me bitter at first but I realized then that my efforts in my studies were not on its peak yet, from the moment I grasped the significance of that text, I started pushing myself more—also made me appreciate my capacity as an individual.  The “good night pangga” made me aware that I wasn’t alone at times I thought I was.  The message is from a friend far from my place but we still keep being connected through texts and calls.  I remember, that time, we were talking about our love problems and we shared each other’s opinions about relationships and more.  By the way, “pangga” means the one I care for.  The text apologizing for being insensitive was from a woman I once loved.  Actually, we both were insensitive and I, in addition, was being childish.  The text was a big slap that opened my eyes to the reality that I became too assuming for the affection I did not even deserve… well, sentiment’s over.  I just like to keep it to make sure I will not make the same stupidity again.

I felt relief afterwards.  I could not tell that it was as if nothing just happened, of course, something happened!  I deleted many, I kept some and I was happy. Maybe, something new will be sent to me for the next school year, I mean, more meaningful texts than the ones I deleted… or the contrary.  Whatever those will be, I will always be ready for it… either to delete or to keep.

No Ordinary Problem

(A story of love, hopes, and tragedy)

HerRamel Hidden Pinefields Inc. was established long ago in the kingdom by the sea.  This company is a well-known trading company owned by Admiral Restitutu who fought with Vicomte de Chagny in Islandshire on June 18, 1815.  This corporation engages in distribution of hardware, software, melaware, and Tupperware anywhere.

Now, imagine that you (yes you!) were given the chance to audit the books of this well-known corporation in the kingdom by the sea.  You were excited to take this challenge.

Once upon a midnight dreary, a wind that blew out from the sea coveted some parts of the books (hard copy without any back-ups) and scattered some into bits of unfathomable restless hopes.

“You are the only hope of the Company”, said the manager.

“Indeed, I know right?  I will do my best to fix this”, you replied.

So on and so forth!

Day 1

Stopping by the woods in a windy evening, you noticed that the woods were lovely, dark and deep…  Then suddenly there came a tapping as of someone gently rapping, rapping at your couch’s door.  You did not mind.  Distinctly, you found a piece of paper outside blab blab bla so and so…

	Debit	Credit
Accounts receivable	2,563,700
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts		10,200
Sales		4,820,000

Because you were so smart, you knew that the paper was one of the fragments. Your review of the accounts receivable schedule disclosed that various collections totaling P28,460 were not recorded in the books. But, it has been reflected in the subsidiary ledgers said the manager when he passionately replied to your telegraph.  You noted some information:

----Bad debts are provided based on 2% of outstanding accounts receivable at the end of the year.

----Collection of P26,386 on October 31, 2012 from High Run Traders was credited to account of High Rain Traders.

----A cash advance to an officer of P86,000 was included as part of accounts receivable.

----A customer’s deposit of P49,000 for goods to be delivered in January 2013 was deducted from accounts receivable.

----Goods sold on account and delivered on December 21, 2012 amounting to P42,920 were not recorded.

----A promissory note was issued by a customer to HerRamel Hidden Pinefields Inc. for goods purchased worth P279,000.  The promissory note carries an interest of 12% per annum with a term of 60 days, value dated November 15, 2012.  This was reflected as part of accounts receivable.  No interest was accrued as of year-end.

You spent your time in a cabin near Chateau d’If.

Day 2

Strolling along country roads, it started to rain- it began to pour.  Without an umbrella you’re soaked to the skin.  You felt the shiver run down your spine.  After a while you ran under the tree.  Then you noticed a crumpled paper tucked between the branches like a leaf that leaned to the bow.  It says:

Value Dated	Due Date	Principal	Interest	Maturity value
July 1, 2012	Feb. 1, 2013	500,000	13 1/8%	539,193
Sept. 15, 2012	Mar. 16, 2013	2,300,000	14 3/8%	2,467,149
Dec. 5, 2012	April 4, 2013	1,800,000	15 ½%	1,893,000
		4,600,000		4,899,342

Interests are paid on schedule maturity dates.  Now accrual was made as of year-end.

The company issued P2,300,000 face value 12% bonds at par on July 1, 2012 maturing on July 1, 2017 and paying interest semi-annually on January 1 and July 1.

Day 3

Two roads diverge in a yellow wood, and you were so sorry you could not travel both.  And be one accountant long you stood and looked down one as far as you could.  After 12 hours you took the road less traveled by, well, for a change…. You arrived at a chocolate house.  To make the story short, here you found a paper …

Including in the company’s unadjusted trial balance on December 31, 2012 are accounts payable and Accrued expenses of P634,200 and P74,200, respectively.  Upon verification, the following information was discovered:

1. Your review of subsequent payments from January 2-15, 2011 revealed that no accrual was made on December 31, 2012 for the following:

Neon Light and mineral water for Nov and Dec 2012	P32,300
Cellphone bills for Dec 2012	29,260
Representation expenses for Dec 2012	23,100
Minor repairs for major injuries on Dec 26, 2012	4,290
Teleportation expenses for 2013	3,670
Total	P92,620

2. The following items were erroneously included in accounts payable:

---------a. A debit balance of P98,360 representing advance payment for goods ordered to be supplied by the supplier on January 12, 2013

---------b. Accrued expense totaling P48,560

---------c. A cash advance from the President of HerRamel Hidden Pinefields Inc. amounting to P460,000 to be used as working capital.  This will be repaid within 6 months without interest.

3. On December 26, 2012, the company purchased on account goods worth P326,000, but no entry was made in the books.  The goods were already included in the year-end physical count.

Day 4

You were almost done…

The company books purchased office supplies as inventory.  The expense is normally taken up after the physical count is made at year-end.  On July 9, 2012, a total of P49,560 worth of supplies was bought and included in the inventory.  As of year-end, unused supplies inventory per physical count amounted to P64,300.  No entry to set up expense was recorded.

HerRamel Hidden Pinefields Inc. renewed its 5-year lease contract on the office building which expired on October 31, 2012.  Total advance rental for 3 months was made amounting to P276,000 was booked as prepaid rent.

Prepayments consist of:
Prepaid advertising	255,000
Prepaid rent	276,000
Unused office and store supplies	240,000
Total	771,000

Prepaid advertising consists of payment to an advertising agency for the design of newspaper ad which will run for a period of one year from July 31, 2012.

Day 5

The company maintains its bank account with Julie Bank.  Your review of the bank reconciliation statement disclosed the following information:

-----------The cash in bank balance per book on December 31, 2012 is P792,300.

-----------Deposits in transit and outstanding checks at December 31, 2012 amounted to P100,300 and P243,000, respectively.

-----------Transfer of fund of P70,400 to Julie Bank current account of DBS Securities was not recorded.  This pertains to purchase of P6,000 shares of J-nine Lines to be held as trading securities.  Based on quoted price as of December 31, 2012, the market value per share is P9.30

-----------A check for P5,860 in payment of minor repair of office equipment was not recorded on the company books.

-----------A check dated December 12, 2012 in payment of accounts payable was recorded as P23,000.  Upon examination of the checks returned by the bank, the actual amount was P32,000

-----------On December 20, 2012, the company issued checks to creditors totaling P226,000.  These checks were released on January 2, 2013.

-----------Postdated checks totaling P49,000 were included in the deposits in transit.  These represent collections of accounts receivable from customers.  The check was actually deposited on January 5,2013.

-----------On December 22, 2012, the bank erroneously credited the account of HerRamel Hidden Pinefields Inc. for P306,000 representing deposit for the account of another company.

Petty cash fund of P46,000 maintained on an imprest basis was counted on January 2, 2013.  Unreplenished expense include petty cash vouchers for various expenses totaling P30,400 and employees’ advances for P6,900 all dated December 2012.

At last you found all the pieces.  Now it’s time to take a harder challenge…  Should  you give up, or should you just keep chasing pavements?

Requirements:

1. What went wrong?

2. What are the correct balances of all the accounts indicated therein?

3. What are the titles of the artistic oeuvres(övrǝs) inserted therein?

4. Which do you prefer: An easy long fancy problem or a short but complicated problem? Why? Explain in not less than 500 words not including the nouns and connectors.

5. React: “A problem well stated is a problem half answered”. Explain in not less than 600 words not including the nouns and connectors.

6. Do you believe answering numerical accounting problems will make you a better student? If yes, explain in not less than 300 words not including the nouns and connectors.  If no, state 10 points (with 3 sentences each) why no.

(Adapted)

Ang Dakilang Puting Mangangaso

Noong taong dalawanlibo labing-isa, dalawang mautak na inbersor ang bumili ng mga reserba sa magkatulad na halaga at dahilan.  Kinabukasan, ang isang inbersor any tumulak patungong India upang manghuli ng mga tigre.  Habang ang dakilang puting mangangaso ay abala sa kanyang ginagawa sa India, ang reserba niya ay bumaba ng tatlompung bahagdan.  Walang nakikitang mainam na dahilan sa pagbaba nito, ngunit wari ng mga pantas ay dahil raw ito sa mali at negatibong ulat tungkol sa reserba.

Ang naiwang inbersor ay hindi napakali at agad ibinenta ang kanyang reserba kahit sa luging tatlompung bahagdan.  At siyempre, naibenta niya ito ng napakababa.

Samantala, ang dakilang puting mangangaso ay walang kaalamalam ukol dito; siya ay abala sa pagpatay at pagbabalat ng mga tigre.  Gumagamit siya ng ametralladora.  Ang mga bayarang mangangaso ay kumikita ng higit kung gumagamit  sila ng ametralladora.

Mahigit tatlong buwan ding nakalipas bago nakabalik ang dakilang puting mangangaso dala ang mga balat ng tigre, at kanyang natuklasan na ang kanyang reserba ay tumaas ng kalahating bahagdan.

”Patawarin nawa ang aking pananagalog!”

“Ibahagi mo ang iyong palagay tungkol sa kwento…”

Simple Politeness

“To ask when you already know is politeness. To ask when you don't know is the rule.” (Samurai maxim)

Because of media nowadays, there are easy adaptation of new norms, new beliefs, and new expression—may be verbal of nonverbal.  One of the spreading diseases hindering a good human communication is the philosophy of this famous Filipino comedian.  He taught everybody to be impolite, he taught everyone to be that stupid about what benign conversation is all about.

When someone clarifies, isn’t that someone worthy of a good response?  When someone gave his concerns, doesn’t that someone deserve to have a civilized reply?

December 22, 2012

OJT Presentation Guide

1. Group according to industries... never mind the number of persons per group, as long as the vast is divided into at least but not limited to general industrial sectors (e.g. Finance/Insurance, Partnership, Auditing Firms, Cooperatives, Banks, Gov't agencies, Corporation). If the persons per group are substantially many, you may still divide it according to specific entities (e.g. Banks: LandBank group and BDO group; Insurance: PhilAm Life group and Prudential Life group).

2. Present the report in any nontrivial way as possible as you can; show pictures, videos, role plays, interviews of the bosses, pseudo intermissions/commercials. The format is simple; render as follows: 1. Brief company profile 2. Work/technical experiences including some errands if there's any 3. Moral experiences 4. Reflection 5. If there's much time, add at your will.

3. Time is indispensable. Don't waste your time, thus, time limit for every group is a must.

4. The adjudicators/administering professors should be pampered so that flat one is at hand.

5. Be honest in your reports: if you just slacked and slept during your 250 hours, then so be it. Don't be so darn shy to share that the only things you did were the things unworthy to be mentioned here. Do not make the report boring by enumerating each specific steps you did in a single job (e.g. Filling up the form: I put the name, I filled the date then I filled again, and then I wrote the remarks, then I opened the computer by switching the "on" button then waited for 5 minutes and then I searched and searched... bottom line, I enjoyed my job). [you kiddin' me, idiot? Better version would be: I arrived early at the office and no one bothered to lend me some tasks so I waited. Upon waiting, an existential thought came upon me and an urge to ponder it succumbed me badly. At the end, I realized that it was time for me to go home. I already went home but the fundamental questions still burdened me so I just slept away my dissatisfaction. Clap clap...]

Disclaimer: The following suggestions do not reflect the host, the show, it's management, and the network.

PS:

6. Put your computerized daily journal in clean sheets of bond paper [preferably].

The Night before the Travel

I could not sleep.  I felt butterflies in my stomach as I rolled and rolled around my bed thinking of having a rest but I could not even stop moving.  Perhaps I was too excited to travel after many years of not going out of town.

An hour later, I decided not to sleep for that night and have a coffee instead.  I saw my mother in the kitchen preparing for the stuffs to bring.  I said I could not sleep and she said, neither she could.

December 26, 2012 11:00 pm

The EMOnster by Precious U

Love, they say is the best feeling in the world. Loving and being loved is what we always wanted. I have fallen in love many times in my life. However, this one’s different.

I was, as they say an emo kid: black stuff, always in the corner, listening to music. I was in the moving on process with my past love when I first met M. I never thought I would fall in love with M. M always bullies me and I really hate him. We were the best enemies. However, things went the opposite as time goes by... we got close to each other. 

We became regular text-mates. I got other crush though, but I also like M. I never noticed M though I’m always with him until such time when I got sick and had my operation. I don’t know but when I found out that I have an acute appendicitis and needed an immediate operation, I was shocked and the only word that was coming out from my mouth was M’s name. He visited me that time. I was overwhelmed. That time, I was really in love.

Summer came. Our texts became calls… from dusk to dawn. Until such time we confessed that we liked each other. We fell in love. Things were very happy between us. Sometimes, we had our misunderstandings but we surpassed it. Until such time that someone came and ruined everything. For my fear of losing M, I turned myself into a monster. I was always insecure, angry, super possessive until I finally lost M. That time, I have realized how stupid I was to hurt him that much.

Songs from Bollywood Movies

I’ll be right by your side

Joy will last longer than grief.  Don’t lose hope.
If we are together, why to feel afraid during the journey?
With wings beneath our feet, you and I will fly away.
Walk along with joy
If the path is open, regardless of where we meet, the destination will begin from there
Don’t worry about the thing now, because I will be right by your side, I will be right by your side
Don’t worry about the thing now, because I will be holding you tight, I will be holding you tight

Criminal

Look out look out, the siren’s blaring
You drop it down, I can’t stop staring
Your smile is so criminal
Your eyes are deceiving yet I fell for you
Just like a criminal
She’s burning like a fever and I’m a believer
She’s enchanting
Not just these eyes but the attitude’s full of mischief
Each day your love torments the heart
Your sight steals my heart
Your attitude steals my slumber
And your hair does the rest
So you tell us how do we save ourselves


Stand by me

My guiding light, you’re my world
You’re all I want now and forever
Nothing compares with your name
A thousand books told me so
My sweet love
The world is nothing without you
Your generosity melts hearts
I won world but lost my heart to you
My prayers are answered
You’re all I want

Guzaarish

I wonder whose dreams are these that the night has tucked under my pillow
And yet, I can’t find the sweet release of sleep
Someone’s asleep even while awake
Someone’s there even while no one’s there
I think of someone and the night stands still
Is the mention of your name like some ethereal perfume?
Every time I utter it, I feel fragrant; intoxicated; alive
I go up in flames and the scent of you makes me fragrant

Freedom

Freedom is never absolute

Freedom is for those people who know no freedom

Being free means knowing the meaning of slavery

With chains bonded

Rules unwanted

All in silence…

But that is not the way freedom wants to show us

Freedom also means doing right, conscience’s light,

A challenge accepted

A change of destiny, away from bitterness

Not hard but brave,

With honest mind, with honest soul,

To will, to dream, to hope,

To wait for the right moment, anticipates,

Patient, understands,

Learning, loving, laughing, living

With true friends,

Being happy for one’s success

Being humble when others boast

Being kind when everyone’s not

Being still… and being contented.

Which freedom would you like to believe?