LIFE AS WE NEVER KNOW IT

FRIENDSHIP IS A TWO-WAY STREET

highwaysandbyways — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:18:02 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://mar2dar2.blogspot.com/2009/06/emo-story.html)

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

When I read this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote, as I was leafing through the pages of an inspirational book, I begin to feel the excruciating pain of disconnection that has been running for days as I stop pulling and tightening the strings of our friendship. Memories flashed back on the day I had to face the music and simply be shameful of how pushy I was to this person that risks the good platonic relationship we had for almost two years.

My selfish side always pacifies me with the wrong feeling of approval that I did not do anyone harm, but a more humane aspect said that I just get the doze of the medicine and I have to continue careening the path without any hope of wanting for more. After all my honesty, I got the best consolation of friendship and that is more than enough to know where this mystery lies on.

Questions are really bothering me and I begin to ask myself if I have been a good friend to him or did I even exist in his world in the first place? Probably, I was just so tenacious that he can’t reject anything that I request or he was just guilty not to reply any of my useless and monotonous messages just to be noticed. At the back of my mind, he might be very busy or probably his silence or delayed replies are more subtle ways of rejecting me than slapping me right on my face. Since our friendship happened by accident or chance so the best thing is to end it as a tragedy. It just dawned on me that I was exerting too much effort to be seen but I might be a big sore in his eyes.

Lately, I have been hearing of people and old friends getting angry with me because I cannot spend time with them. It amuses me to hear someone say “You have not called me in almost a year; I’m so upset. You have changed and we are not friends anymore.” Phones, e-mail, text messages, Facebook, they are all two-way communication devices. If I have not called, and you haven’t called, who is to blame? There isn’t really a person to blame, unless we blame both equally. I hate to say this but it’s easy to put the blame of a lost friendship on the other person, but before you do, please examine your efforts, or lack thereof, in the friendship. It clearly means that friendship, like most other relationships, takes an effort from both people to work.

I got so many friends and people love because of my congenial and accommodating personality. However, there were also moments that I got tired of pleasing people and giving them more time than myself or family. I should not have expected anything so that I will not be hurt or probably I should just stop dealing with friends and have more quality “me” time. I did that for a day but I could not live the sullen and gloomy disposition of an introvert.

Indeed, some people are “takers” and others are “givers”. If one is always “taking” and rarely “giving” and the giver leaves, then there comes a conflict. The “taker” needs to stop being selfish and nurture the relationship by giving. I hope people will realize that friendship is like a two-way street. Sometimes you need to call on your friends for help and sometimes they will call on you. Very simply, take turns giving and receiving support.

For now, I will be greedy and just focus more on what truly matters. Well, I will just have to stick with the principle: “If you love someone, let him go. If he comes back, he’s yours.” I hope this applies for friends as well. I am sorry for making a mountain out of a molehill on this but I hope you start climbing that frontier that hinders our friendship. Just to let you know that I am just at the end of the road and it is now up to you if you still want to walk down the steep slopes of our friendship or just simply wait for me. For sure, I will not be coming back. I guess if you do the first move this time, it will be differently better.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

W.E.L.L. be right here waiting for you in his his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), and LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog).

Of Ropes and Relationships

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:16:59 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

When we met someone, we are instantly holding each other a long imaginary rope that links both ends of the partner. As you get to know the person, the close you pull each ends to be closer. Some ropes are thick and strong; others are thin and soft; others are tangled at the start or got even complicated in the process. There are important lessons that you should learn on how it can be helpful to carry another person or save someone from falling down or brutal to end one’s life figuratively speaking.

A ROPE IN A TUG OF WAR…

Just like the game, both ends could sometimes be the reason for disconnection or conflict. The mechanics of the game is to use your optimum strength to pull the other team towards your direction and steer towards winning. Unfortunately, in the game of tug of war, the more you pull, the more stressed it can get. More often than not, a side will always lose their tight grip on the rope and moving towards the other team’s side. On the other, the winning team would likely got injured or hurt in pulling too much without the others’ side resistant pull. This game usually ends up with no one completely enjoying the victory on it. However, relationship is not like pulling a tug of war. It is important that in relationships, both sides should recognize and admit to contributing to the challenges to help regain the connection. Realizing that if there is someone “pushing” and another “withdrawing,” there are probably some resentments and painful truths between both of sides. It is not only the other sides’ job to keep pulling while the other one just holds luxuriously in the rope. The role of holding and pulling should be both shared by parts. It is a game of friendship wherein both should agree on how they work on the rope. It is either they give in and give out their best or peacefully agreed to just stop pulling the rope that binds you.

A ROPE AS A LIFE SAVER…

Imagine that you are hanging from the edge of a cliff with a drop of twenty thousand feet. The only thing between you and a fall to your death is a rope with the person of your choice on the other end. Who do you know that has the strength and will to pull you to safety? Who will trust to hold the rope? Who do you know that is going to let that rope burn his hand and not let go? How many people you know are going to withstand the burning pain and watch the blood drip from their hands for you? Sometimes, people are just simply tired carrying you as a burden and they would like to loosen their grip. However, others are too determined to continue pulling you up to safety, unfortunately though, the one being saved just give up without seeing the effort of those who persevere. Relationships could be like hanging on the cliff and the burden is beyond bearable. People just give up without even trying or simply wait for the screams of help of the person before pulling up. The hardest part is that you are hanging there from the edge of the cliff without any sign of pulling or saving you.

A ROPE FOR KNOT TYING…

In scouting, we were taught the different types of knots and their uses. Some knots are used as stoppers, bends, loops, hitch, lashing, splices, and bends. Whatever problem you have, there is a corresponding knot to help you with it. In relationships, the rope is too long and the need to shorten the distance between the ropes can be done through a sheepshank to take the slack of any relationship. At times, when someone is on the brink of falling or a friend needs a good hold of something, we can always tie a bowline or alpine butterfly in the cord that binds us. When both ends are cut, you can always tie it both with a carrick or sheet bend. Knowledge in knot tying is definitely a life saving skill just like also handling relationship. Circumstances might test friendships, but knowing the right know to tie again both ends will always save the day.

A ROPE FOR SUICIDE…

Sometimes, relationships can be as deadly as the rope tangled and wrapped forcibly on one’s neck or heart. The harder part is that you are strangled to death by someone without your approval or probably with your idiocy. People are willing to tie ropes in their necks to be enslaved by other people while others enjoy the pain of dragging someone to suffering. Most of the time, we keep ourselves connecting in our necks the lethal rope of waiting and desperation while the other end was pulled unknowingly someone who never dare to care.

The truth is that ropes will always be a reminder for all of us those relationships that life can bring us. There are always two ends of the rope and no matter how hard you pulled, if the other person is not holding it tightly, then you will just end up hurting yourself even more. We just hope that the other person is not just losing that grip of friendship or perhaps will always care to pull their ends. After all, everything in life is pulling each other’s rope towards each other.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

W.E.L.L. is hanging by a thread (not rope) recently. Pull him up and give time for him as you read his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), and LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog).

2012: A Year of Taking Risks and Chances

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:48:00 -0500

By: Walter Evans Lasula

It was last 2010 when I started to add theme in my life and went for the “My Storyline” and in 2011, I had “The First Times” since I had tried so many new things and adventures during that time. This 2012, I took more exciting leaps of my pale life by adding more colorful strokes on it. I named my year 2012: “Taking Risks and Chances.”

I chose this as the theme for this year because I promised to myself last year that I will be making bold, bigger, and brighter moves for my usual boring and monotonous life. I know I will be gambling so many things and losing bets in the game of life might be a big possibility, but who can ever win without even playing in the first place? So, I snap out from the comfort zone and set my limits higher than the usual adding more tension and excitement in my 24 years of existence. 2012 was indeed one tough ride to be in. I never thought that I would take this seriously without any doubts and hesitations as I made through a lot of shifts, changes, and turns in my life to make it more focused and direct to where I want to course through my life.

How did I start taking this theme to its realization? I enjoyed a humorous contest in Toastmasters International. I have to admit that I am not really good in speaking and I am very insecure in public performance. One of the biggest things that holds me back is my of what people think. After all, you don’t want people to think you’re weird or rude or creepy or obnoxious or annoying, do you? I was able to join a more serious contest before like Table Topics and Speech Evaluation, but I was totally not ready to humiliate myself. It was actual an emotional blackmail when our Toastmasters president Nona beg for me since we will not have any contestants. I was hesitant at first because I cannot perform and make fun of myself in front of a condescending Toastmasters crowd. People may say I am a walking slapstick, but I cannot give a rehearsed joke in public. With barely 2 days to prepare, I created a piece close to my heart: “English: A Borrowed Language.” The video is available in Facebook, but trust me you will surely hate it for a lackluster portrayal. Luckily, I won the Area 22 contest with my very mediocre performance and got into the Division C contest. This time, I got more confidence in giving out punch lines and I won 2nd place for very tough speech contest. From that time on, I got to unleash my comedic potentials and I was able to see the hidden side of me. I was able to eradicate glossophobia in my list of fears and continue to harness on this craft.

One of the things that I made is to change my job into something that I have never tried and I wanted to try. Last May 2012, I left my job for almost three years, not with a heavy heart but an enthusiastic and happy spirit. The people in my job are actually fine, but I felt I got into the leash of boredom and monotony; I just wanted to break the chains that bind us and spread our wings to higher flights of our career. So, I grabbed the opportunity to be in a different angle of education which is not plainly teaching rather more on management. So from a simple and ordinary teacher, I went for a higher position as the Academic Supervisor in one of the largest Japanese-owned institutions in Cebu.

My main job is to supervise more or less 60 teachers and 60 students looking into their academic and pedagogical needs to further improve the quality of education provided by the institutions. I handle consultations and assessment of students’ level of proficiency, assign books and teachers to new students, conduct teachers’ training and students’ TOEIC group class, organize special classes like cooking and speech contest, and finalize graduation ceremony for them. I am not a superhuman, but I began to feel one while fulfilling the herculean tasks placed on my shoulders. At first, I was very adamant to take the challenge since I was very apprehensive and worried that I will be an epic failure in this big institution, but I was optimistic on one hand that I will spell a big difference.

For most of us, we avoid taking risks because of fears. We always got this anxiety to fear of getting hurt and getting close to creepy things that might put our lives in danger. This year, I tried a lot of things that stressed out the limits of my fears and crashed out some in my phobia list. Last January, I got into snorkeling with the “butanding” or whale sharks which I got so much fear in.

In April, I tried inflatable waterslide in Coco Palms Danao which I believed gravity made it hard for me with my excess fatty baggage and I got inside successfully a Zorb Ball in Samal Island, Davao with so much struggle and pain.

Last August, I had flip and turn 360 degrees like a professional gymnast in Bungee Fun in Mall of Asia. It was this time around that I got the courage to try it since I was scared to death to experience it last year with Hap when we went to MOA that time. My heart leaps faster every movement I made and I was jumping in joy when I flip not just once but countless times.

Also, I had a chance to try boat plank diving in Moalboal Island last October and Cliff Diving in November. Finally, I tried one of my bucket list: Trapeze.In Sentosa Singapore, I climbed a high ladder and tried doing the trapeze for the first time. Eventhough, there was a harness to support my life, but the thrill almost killed me to death.

With all the death defying stunts I tried this year, I could be a tough competitor in Amazing Race or Fear Factor. What’s next for me? Skydiving? Bungee Jumping? Take your pick!

Taking risks also involves taking innovation to another level. Making life interesting with something novel and exciting truly makes living totally worth it. This year is not a complete exception. The most conspicuous evidences of my ingenuity and transition are the clothes I wore. Before, I hold back on my fashion sense and garments because of what people think and what they will tag me on what I donned it. Since taking risks includes taking major change on the way you look to explore the artistic side of me, I got into a lot of eccentric costumes this year which I worn on purpose depending on the theme of the occasions I am into or the place I go. For the first time, I become a cosplayer portraying Vocaloid Kaito. I channeled Jack Sparrow in my Halloween costumes. I went wild and wacky with my geeky attire, child’s jumper, leis and flowers during our Hawaiian theme party, and got into my masks during our Christmas party. It was indeed a year full of exciting twists on how I celebrate life to the fullest.

Of course, the most important way to show that I have gone beyond the borders of my comfort zone is through travelling. I am happy that God gave me the chance to travel in myriads of places in the Philippines and in Asia this year. I got to be in Ormoc for several of times for my lecture for the Licensure Examination for Teachers and IELTS. I went to Samal Island, Davao for our Toastmasters International Convention. I got a chance to be in several provinces in Cebu like Oslob, Camotes Island, Moalboal, San Remigio, Medellin with the different trips and excursions.

Finally, to complete my adventurous year, I travelled in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia together with my sister. My itchy feet really got me into a lot of places which me my life even happier.

There were so many things to thank our Creator for giving me the chance to explore the infinity, cross the limit of impossibility, and defy the dictations of the society. It has been really a tough year and I realized that one should have the brave heart to take the challenge of the world and I am proud that 2012 passed so well with my strong will and determination to have a better and meaningful life. Truly, taking risks and chances is totally worth it.

Want to know more about W.E.L.L. 2012’s expedition? Read ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), and LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog).

The “L” Words to Living Life

highwaysandbyways — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 14:35:39 -0400

by: W.E.L.L.

Life is cruel: you get to take the test first before you have a chance to learn the lessons later. Sometimes, in our quest towards the heights of our maturity and satisfaction, we tend to forget the rudimentary lessons to having a more satiated and fulfilling life.

Julie Anne Ford reminded me once again the five basic “L” words to make my life meaningful, colorful, and successful. More often than not, we always see ourselves tangled in the web of complexities and complications of life and we forget that in the school of essentials, there has got to be “more” in “less.” We got so caught up with the intricacies of achieving our dreams, but the secret formula involves harmoniously combining only 5 simple solutions towards self-actualization.

Take for instance this psychiatric experience which I have read. During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director what the criteria is that defines whether a patient should be institutionalized or not. “Well,” said the Director, “We fill up a bathtub with water, and then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup, and a bucket to the patient and ask the patient to empty the water out of the tub.” Okay, here’s your test: “would you use the spoon, teacup, or bucket?” “Oh, I understand,” said the visitor. “A normal person would choose the bucket since it is larger than the teacup or spoon.” “No,” answered the Director. “A normal person would pull out the stopper.”

At times, we are like the doctor, making a life of other people even more complicated by piling a mountain of solutions out of a molehill of a problem. More often than not, we get to fill in the shoes of the visitor who gets distracted with the complicated quick fix and instant panacea to all distresses, but we miss the best way since we haphazardly rush into making decisions or we simply blinded ourselves to see and do the obvious.

Let me refresh you with these simply five valuable lessons to learn to live by as you follow your dreams. This will be the prologue to my five- blog entry saga tackling the nitty-gritty of the lessons on the succeeding days. I am encouraging everyone to follow the upcoming posts that I will make as we gradually learn the five lessons of life piece by piece. I am inviting all to help me brainstorm and suggest for some efficient, smarter, and effective ways to have these learning goals to be fully realized.

And what are these “L” words? We will get to know them on my next post. Let the learning begin!

Did W.E.L.L. live by these “L” words? Find out in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

【ラングリッチカレッジのスタッフを紹介】ウォルター Walter　フィリピン人講師達をたばねる教頭先生

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:47:43 -0400

【ラングリッチカレッジのスタッフを紹介】ウォルター Walter　フィリピン人講師達をたばねる教頭先生

LOVING YOU JUST LIKE A SCRABBLE GAME

highwaysandbyways — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:53:00 -0400

BY: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://flashyfiction.blogspot.com/2009/08/tuesday-prompt-scrabble-love.html)

The truth about love is that it is as exciting and unpredictable like a game of scrabble. It takes some wits, waiting, connecting, and giving to get the game right.

In scrabble, we get seven tiles to start. The board laced with squares of green, blue and red lies in front. The rules prop up the board, and our chest of vocabulary stands ready. What is it up for us all players in this game? We all aim to be the player with the highest score at the end of the game. As in challenges in love, everything stands in front of us. But the main question is: how do we confront them?

Reality tells us that we don’t get to choose our tiles but we randomly pick it from a bag of tiles, but getting seven tiles with one point does not mean we can get a maximum of mere seven points. Using the same set of tiles, we can get up to the seventies, or eighties with knowledge of the rules, the depth of our vocabulary and the clever use of the tiles lying on the board. Our achievement is not limited to what’s thrown at us, or within our reach. Similarly, love and circumstance give us chance to use our assets, resources, and time but without the wit and luck, you might end up wasting tiles receiving minimal points from its potentials.

However, if we keep hitting a brick wall matching our tiles to our arsenal of vocabularies, we can always opt for a tiles exchange. It is akin to changing jobs, moving house, migrating to a foreign country, or starting another relationship. We won’t know what we will get - we might jump with joy, or we might pinch ourselves and ask “Why bother?”, or we might even pull our hair and yell in regrets and frustration. But one thing is certain: we will miss a turn, and the opponents will be given a chance to increase their lead on us, or cut short our leads. The transition is always a risk, and it needs to be managed with the appropriate mentality and attitude.

But is it a risk worth taking? We can never be sure.

The option to exchange is always a comfort to have. At times when we do find ourselves facing dead ends, it’s a breather. And the path of life should never lead to a dead end. Take a step away from the dead ends, and a myriad of options are always available.

While tiles of single point might not go far in Scrabble, we shouldn’t be smug when we get the ten-pointers either for they are only valuable when they are placed on the board. If they remain in our rack when one of the opponents has emptied their rack, it’s a double blow to us. Similarly, we have a lot of assets similar to these ten-point tiles waiting to be utilized in the right moment and the right place. It is like a powerhouse waiting to be ignited so knowing when to play the high value tiles is important. We must seize the moment.

Life can be very much like this. Something can happen that we may not like and we put off taking the next step. We hope the situation will change without us having to do anything. That doesn’t usually work. We have to take a step and do something. Nothing can be gained by just sitting around. If we decide to let go of the opportunity that presents itself, the next one might never arrive. It’s not always easy and at times, for the sake of avoiding an eventual heart break, we might have to settle for second best, for the best might not exist - if that is the case, while we think we are settling for second best, we are actually choosing the best.

Just like this very competitive game, luck is a very vital power in playing Scrabble. We can have the widest vocabulary in the world, but if we don’t have the right tiles, and there is no place to put our tiles on the board, it is worthless. I have to make the move and put down a word before I can have any hope of better tiles. Similarly, we may read self-help books, magazines, inspirational articles, but do not test the waters if it work, then everything is futile. Hearing what friends, family members, and celebrities preach is not a guarantee that we have learned a thing or two in the tricky business of relationship. We always need a little bit of luck for life is sure full of uncertainties, but when the cards are stacked to our advantage, it would make our journey smoother and easier.

In the real game of life, we do not always play to win in Scrabble. Actually, winning is just the icing in the cake. We only tell ourselves that we play for the sake of learning and winning is just as important as sharing this wonderful moment with someone even though your opponent leads the score with more than 100 points and you still have “Q” and “X” tiles to disperse before the 3 remaining tiles will be drawn out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

W.E.L.L. loves to play scrabble but no one at home is interested in play with him. Find out more about him in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:58:00 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Pentateuch/Deuteronomy/_res/_Dt05/Looking%20back_movingforward.jpg)

There are times you wonder how life might turn out if only you had that one chance to turn back the clock. At some point, you begin to ask yourself if have you utilized your potential to its optimal purpose or have you grabbed all the opportunities and chances when it comes right into your face? Regardless of whatever state you are in at this time, there will be moments when the thought of going back in time crosses our minds.

After some minutes, hours, or even days of contemplation, you might end up with a list of regrets, a pile of “what ifs” and “what could have beens”, and tons of unanswered questions waiting for the right response to come into your hands. On the lighter side, the walk and revisit to your memory lane can lead you to a state of euphoria on how blissful life has been with the numerous achievements, double count of new friends and acquaintances, and deeper and stronger relationship with friends and families that years of living have brought you in. Sometimes you want to let the hands of clock be stopped every time you are happy. You want to turn back the hour glass just to make yourself believe that those moments would not end.

However, little did you realize that there were also those moments that you wanted the hands of clock to move quicker that it used to be for every strike of it would mean a little recovery from pains for those who had bad memories in the past and wishes that the hands of clock will tick faster. More often than not, the littlest thing in life changes something forever and there will be times when you wish you can go back to how things used to be but you just can’t because things have changed so much. You had always that wish that you could just have that control of time to take the sting away or to avoid the kicks and knocks of the consequences of our earlier actions.

Whether you were in the state of disgrace or dilemma while looking back into your painful or playful past , you could not help but realize that you could not always cling to the joys and pains of history, but embrace the infinite possibilities of the light of the future that could shed upon you. Again, you see yourself either facing the beautiful sunset as sad as you bid goodbye to a memorable day or happy as you welcome a wonderful night. Truly, you can never turn back the pages of time, though you may wish to relive a happy moment, or say goodbye just one last time. Simply, you never can because the sands of time will continue to fall and you can’t turn the hourglass over.

Now, you see yourself facing the horizon of limitless boundaries and chances to fail and succeed. You start out walking the journey of life with a clean slate you begin to make your mark. As you move through the mountain of success, you face decisions, make choices, keep moving forward, and enjoy the fruits of sheer effort and luck right into your hands. As you reluctantly start the long trudge towards the summit of your dreams, you begin to doubt if the path you are taking is right or are there any shortcut or upcoming detour to your ultimate destination. At some point, you find yourself lost, uncertain, and lost in the dark woods of failure, despair, and pessimism later on you ended up thinking that magic doesn’t last forever no matter how much you wish it would and you believe that destiny can turn on a dime and cut like a knife.

However, rather than getting stuck in the quicksand of futility and nothingness, you have to stick to the fight and move on for life is like riding a bicycle and in order to maintain balance you have to keep moving on. Indeed, life is all about taking risks, taking leaps, and jumping fears. You do not want to end up to be a person who has to look back and wonder what you would have or could have had. You are the sole writer of your own story and tomorrow is a blank page, just waiting to be filled with your dreams. All you have to do is be the character you wanted to be, defy worldly expectations, live the story of your own unique life, and weave your own happy ending to the beautiful tapestry of your existence.

Truly, we live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure and there is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open while happily look back and learn from our past and enthusiastically move forward to our glorious future.

Is W.E.L.L. still looking back or now moving forward? Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

DE-CLUTTERING MY LIFE

highwaysandbyways — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:06:00 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

(MY ROOM AFTER DE-CLUTTERING IT)

Unfortunately, my life now is like a junk closet or a makeshift storage area. It is so crammed with odds and ends that I no longer know what’s in there. This has to be blamed for all the sleepless nights and overwhelming predicaments that I got myself into these days. So, I came to a realization that it is the right time to “De-clutter my Life.”

It has been my long time clamor to simplify my life and just plainly focus on the things that truly matters, but I never thought that more I try organizing my priorities my life, the more elusive simplicity can be. However, I also came to believe that the more I hoard some unnecessary baggage in my life, the more difficult it can get to sort things out in the future. So, I launched an unprecedented crusade against my disarrayed and chaotic life.

To commence the onset of the first phase of de-cluttering, I look into the things in my room. If I did not slow down the pace of my usual life, I would not notice the topsy-turviness of desk jampacked with piles of papers, untouched books, and magazines. So, immediately I sorted them to filers and folders and throw those that I don’t need. In the end, I piled my books and at least put my obsessive-compulsive behavior into use this time. Now, that I got rid on one garbage bag of paper and documents out from my room, I opened my closed and there I realized what a real state of emergency was all about. I went to put some of the old ones into the box and probably give it to someone who can still use them and voila I ended up with more space for some new clothes to buy in the future and breathing space after I transform my dumping site of garments into a decent wardrobe. While busy making my room spic and span, I got to think that all these time I have been keeping to much burden in my room that denied me from tranquility and peace of mind. Now, I am still struggling to sort my files, songs, documents and applications in my laptop.

Of course, it is not only my room that needs a great overhaul, but also my mind. There is so much bothering my thinking cap at the moment which is pretty much the reason why I become insomniac lately. You see, I am a visionary person and I always outweigh and visualize the future which is helpful for me to come up with right decisions. On the flipside of the coin, too much thinking of the unknown can lead me to too much apprehensions and anxieties. So, when I was at the brink of my sanity, I decided to just stop looking forward and just continue to live my life day by day. Thinking ahead did not put me into something good so I decided to just focus on something that is urgent and timely. I am not saying to put my dreams in the back burner or just dilly-dally on things. I would just like to emphasize that I will just conquer my dreams step by step, milestone per milestone, and challenge by challenge. I made a short list instead and focus only on the things that I can accomplish for year or two. I got so amazed that it was shorter than the usual, but at least I can focus on things that truly matter.

Admittedly, I am not very blessed to be surrounded with all good-natured people so I immediately think of de-cluttering my friends as well. I am not saying to segregate the plastics from the biodegradable entities rather I would just like to make a list of people who I wanted to be near all the time and those I have be wary on how I deal with them. This exercise comes very handy since I got to reconnect with the people I treasure more and it is easier to me to be unperturbed with the contemptuous sneers, demeaning jeers, and degrading sarcasms and criticisms from faux-friends. In this easier world of social networking, it is best to be at peace with people who truly care and be cautious with frenemies who Prowl around like a roaring lion waiting to devour your reputation and confidence.

How about the demands of the heart? Did I even succumb to the temptation of canoodling a complete stranger just to satisfy the pleasures of the moment? This is the part where I got a hard time to de-clutter since the last time I got to clean the mess of my muddled heart. It took me a long time to scratch off using the sharp scalpel of discernment, peeling away the superficial desires layer by layer until I got into the core of what my heart dictates. It tells me that this is not the right time for me to be in this vulnerable position to be hurt and so waiting for the right person and the right moment is the best panacea for this bleeding heart. Admittedly, I am stuck on a page of my love story because I incessantly peek through the nostalgic previous chapters of my life. This reality just slaps me hardest, knocking me out from the illusion that places my life into its metaphorical shelf. Now, I have come to an epiphany that it’s time to continue flipping and leafing through the remaining formidable and exciting pages of my life and just wait for that special someone to create a new chapter in my life later on. That character might be dead or might not come back in the future episodes in the life but at least I am not stuck in just putting bookmarks to constantly remind me that I have to continue until the end or else I leave myself again hanging. At least, longing is not always synonymous to waiting.

At last, I am even happier now that I have a more balanced, organized, and de-cluttered life to start a new tortuous travel to a better self and a more satisfying life. Truly, Socrates is right when he mentioned that an unexamined life is really not worth living. Enjoy decluttering your life!

W.E.L.L. is still in the process of decluttering his career and lovelife now. Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

HAPPY ENDINGS, NEW BEGINNINGS

highwaysandbyways — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:28:00 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://www.rivercommunitychurch.org/assets/rivercommunitychurch/New%20Beginnings..jpg)

This day marks a profound and bittersweet milestone of my life as I bear witness to both an end and a beginning to another series of winding, convoluted, and exciting path as I careen down my chosen road of self-actualization.

Truly, my days of getting stuck in the crossroads of uncertainties and finally giving in to the joys of delayed gratification have made me realize that all this time I have been enveloping myself too much inside my protective shell away from blows of rejection, failure, and defeat. Now that I have gained enough strength, it is the right time to peck my way out from this inhibitions and apprehensions and continue to realize greater things in life.

At some point, haze of doubts and fear shroud my confidence to move on giving me this smidgen of hesitation and anxiety. Amidst these huge fears of falling into the pits of regrets and stumbling from the rashness and impetuosity, I only have this modicum of hope that I will one day ascend smoothly the lofty heights of my dreams and success. In the end, I just always say to much self that if there has been so much love and happiness for something, it is natural to be reluctant to close such a wonderful chapter in my life, for moving forward is rarely accomplished without considerable grief and sadness.

Now, I can ride and enjoy nonchalantly the twist and turns, zigs and zags, and bumps and jumps of the succeeding journey of my existence now that fear is out of the equation. I have never been this happy and excited putting my optimistic face high and proud of the coming of the tomorrow of exciting challenges and immeasurable and limitless possibilities, in which the horizon will stretch out before me, adorned in the glow of the sunrise of my bright future.

Truly, learning the alchemy of turning the burning flames of desire and passion to a fire that illuminates rather than destroy me encourages me to continue life with a big smile, open heart, and a strong will. Indeed, going with the flow, following my feelings and natural inclinations, and putting my heart and effort on what I do will surely put me into a pedestal in God’s time and moment.

Want to know where W.E.L.L. is continuing his exciting career after his previous job? Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

Delayed Gratification

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:01:00 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://dailybibleplan.com/2011/09/22/when-answers-are-delayed)

The race in life is not always to the swiftest, but to those who can endure the test of waiting. The finest of wines withstood times passing giving the flavor and strength it is distinct for. For how long are you willing to forego the rush of time and finish the race without dilly-dallying? Wouldn’t it be more victorious if success is achieved without any delay? Do you thinking prolonging pain and sacrifice is tantamount to satisfying triumph achieved in the end?

Admittedly, I am a self-confessed impulsive risk taker and decision maker. I want to finish always earlier in all my tasks without any room for procrastination even to the point of hurting myself and disregarding my health and relationships at any point. When it comes to love, I begin to ask myself, should I tarry for the right moment to come or should I seize the moment when it’s still young and early? Truly, the latter is a shortcut to let things come into perspective, but also the fastest lane towards the end of it. I begin to contemplate, why I always rush on love when I know that no feeling can be ripened by urgency, forced by happenstance, and changed by hurrying things up. This is where I learn things the hardest way that no love can be ignited by a spontaneous combustion, rather personally setting it into fire.

Truly, the way to reach the summit of love is not an easy elevator ride rather a long, winding, and multi-step stair walk. Sometimes, when we bolt towards the destination, we end up panting, exhausted, and tiresome making it not really a worthwhile experience. However, if we just take generously every step at a time, catch up with our breath, and enjoy every floor we reached, we would likely end the climb strong and willing to take more challenges in love and commitment.

Now, I am standing here again, in a familiar place feeling something I have felt before, wondering why I am still here, why I did not deal with it more fully before. I am now standing in two diverging equally promising road. A path that moves north to where I meet a new unfamiliar ground and a road facing south that leads again to a perfect place of wonderful love. All this time I have always been moving forward, just leaving trails behind in case I wanted to go back to where I have started, but I continually moved forward without even bothering to trace back emotions and nostalgic memories worth living again.

Somebody once asked, “Will you cherish your love if you have a second chance?” I begin to ask myself if I am willing to scratch scars of hurt and rejection, healed already by time, to make it bleed again. Is putting myself again to fight to a battle I have surrendered more than a coward’s fight? Can I even take back the gift that I have already given to somebody because I wanted it for myself? Questions drain me putting me once again into a very indecisive phase of my life. No one can give me a clear answer to these queries except myself. This journey if moving forward or retreat is propelled by one captain and it’s up to me which direction I move my sail. Should I just let the wind dictate me where to go or should I go beyond the impulse of my heart?

After all, I have come to an epiphany that I am willing to take the battle to where I left and this time fight for my love to the death. There is no more room for self preservation, fear of rejection, and longing. The odds may be stacked against me from the beginning of this race, but this is not a sprint rather a marathon so I am just taking every step slow until I reach the ultimate goal. In the end, the winner is not always those who finish the race to where the heart truly belongs early but those who enjoy the road along.

W.E.L.L. is now willing to go back and win the heart of who he really wanted. Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

CROSSROADS OF UNCERTAINTIES

highwaysandbyways — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:34:35 -0400

by: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://www.123rf.com/photo_8485095_a-man-stands-at-a-crossroads-and-chooses-the-golden-bricked-path-to-prosperity.html)

I have now come to the senses that my life is full of crossroads and I have to make decisions before I could take some more steps forward towards one destination that I wanted to lead myself into. However, with so much options at hand, I might succumb to always venture in to the easier way in or out from my current strains of distress. These shortcuts are too tempting to take and they might lead us easily to where our hearts will eternally stay, but the slope on it might be very steep or slippery that we may end up hurting ourselves without even the guarantee of recovery from the stumbles and falls that might happen to us. In the end, we find ourselves helpless from the pain we could not even bear putting us back to where we really started.

There is not much assurance of success served in a silver platter to whatever path we embark, but at least we are heading towards somewhere and in time we will reach the pinnacle of it if we just continue to pursue and persevere as how it should be. Taking into consideration the impulse of our recklessness and naivety, we might get caught stuck forever in the perils where we would never have a chance to redeem our self-esteem like a shattered glass that is beyond repair, a lost toy totally gone, and memories and experiences blown away by the winds of oblivion.

At some point, we begin to question if have we done what is really expected for us to do? Are we taking our feet to where it should be? Or are we continually searching for something that does not exist and ended up with only a sorry tale in the end? At the peak of our success, we might not really want to experience back the pains of defeats and the rigors of starting back from scratch. Simply because we felt that life should always be easier after the rain without even anticipating that the vicious cycle of sunshine and storms in life that will be recurring as how destiny had casted our fate upon us.

No one can really point out the best way to where the path of our happiness will be for the lamp that will shed light in our road towards the nirvana we are all been waiting for to reach is just in our hands. Whatever path we choose in the crossroads of uncertainty, it does not matter for the future is very bleak for us to see, the horizon is too far to reach, and our fate is too uncertain to foretell. What is more enticing is that we just snap out from the doubts of our emotions taking all the decision we make with too much pride and esteem. After all, he who conquers his fears and takes joy in what he does is better than taking the right direction without even making most of what he has decided on.

W.E.L.L. is once again caught in between a rock and a hard place. Find out more of his life quest in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

SCALDING TEARS AND MENDING HEART

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:49:00 -0400

by: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://www.lavazzaarticle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Moving-Out-5.jpg)

When we are wounded by betrayal, scarred by lofty promises, jaded by false hopes, and harassed by painful words, we might immediately succumb to casting too much blame to our self for not doing much to let unfixable things work denying the fact that the other end might be total empty already. After being fully beaten by circumstance, sometimes waving the white flag surrender is the penultimate step towards true happiness.

Enough is enough. Sometimes we are depriving ourselves from the comfort of a smooth sail toward the next destination of our life and relationship for always insisting and braving through the destructive winds of anger and denial taking wrong courses just to go back on a place not even worth remembering. Sometimes, when we are blinded by our own stupidity and martyrdom, we forget to value our own existence and pride of our own humanity.

More often than not, we continue ferreting on useless things just to find desperately the formula of letting magic work back to its natural state. When will a jay fully understand that putting peacock feather wouldn’t make it a fine bird? When can the moon stop chasing the sun and realize that it will never reach it ever? How can you take away a prized teddy bear from a child? Simply, moving on is not the easiest button to press to take away all the burdens in just a single snap. Truly, there are still some who continue to let their screams, wails, and cries hidden behind the obvious pain and anguish felt to someone who is not truly worth it.

More often than not, forgetting the pain is tantamount to putting into oblivion some nostalgic memories so that we will not end up scratching the scars to make it wound again. The blisters of love and failed relationship will be a good reminder how hurtful life has been to us and how much we have learned from the accident for falling for the wrong things and the wrong people. Simply, moving on is not the most exciting chapter of the book of love rather the denouement towards a happy resolution and ending. Saying goodbye to someone is one way of embracing and welcoming a brighter to meet another stranger to become a good friend and partner in the journey to lasting friendship and relationship.

In the end, no one was able to reach the destination of full recovery and acceptance by continually putting the right foot forward and leaving the left foot behind. No matter how much we love someone, we should never lose ourselves in the relationship. We should always retain our sense of self, so that no matter what happens, we are still intact. Now is the right time to pull out that part of us from the quick sands of despair and hate and start walking through the formidable and exciting trail of searching again the right person for our genuine love.

Is W.E.L.L. moving on or moving out? Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

CLANDESTINE LOVE AFFAIR

highwaysandbyways — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:11:00 -0500

by: W.E.L.L.

(photo courtesy: http://icarly.wikia.com/wiki/File:Couple,love,secret,kiss,tree,top,50-2b3d7e8c25966053fc9ad10cc50a65bc_h.jpg)

Some say love is felt, others insist that should be shown, but can all love be told? Truly, the irony of love teaches us that not everything in life is open for the public eyes. Even the most profound feeling that we are given freedom to express to others can sometimes be chained in the ill-fated word named secrecy.

In our desire to love unconditionally beyond the borders of limitless possibilities, we find ourselves tangled in this complicated web of relationship ending up like a battered protagonist or the secret lover hiding behind the bushes in a television series. Many could not still fully understand the genuine beauty of love expressed freely without the bounds of scrutiny and prejudices. Maybe not everyone is ready to see the essence of loving amidst restraints and living a satisfying life to the fullest. Even until now most of us could not comprehend the main reason why a lot of people wanted to just continually meet on their trysts, hiding messages from each other, and keeping a mum on their true feelings for each other. Is this plainly adding more elements of surprises and spices to a fiery and passionate love or is it hiding a big secret or getting away from someone like a truant getting away from the hands of authority? Sometimes, we make our emotions like a homeless vagabond denying it a permanent place in our heart.

I am now beginning to wonder on how love can be considered authentic and pure, if it is clouded with secrecy and shrouded with denial. I am not also saying that everyone should know that you are in a relationship now and you have to shout it to the world on the top of your lungs. Could we not at least share the good news to the people whom we are closed with so that we can enjoy the bliss of sharing joys, inspirations, and motivation with each other?

Truly, the world is not the most propitious place for love and faith to grow. We are living in this scheming and plotting jungle full of crocodile with fake tears, vultures with hooked claws and talons, and snakes with poisonous venoms. We never know when we can feel the fatal blow from the attacks of ridicule, rejection, and refusal. Sometimes, jealousy and insecurity work like a thief in the night leaving you helpless, hopeless and even dead in the end. Truly, openness can sound the death knell for some relationships. Many could not resist the gnawing fear and anxiety that exhilarates the detractors and villains waiting for your unbearable defeat.

However, not everyone is a risk taker to gamble a budding relationship in this game of love. Sometimes, with the right time and circumstance, waiting for the right moment and aces to come in, can make love sweeter and victory more rewarding. It made me realize that we cannot visually see our heart, but it does not mean it does not exist and it is not capable of pumping blood and loving. At this point, some stories of great love may be best untold, some magic be kept a secret, some treasure be left hidden from the world. For sometimes, true love like a kite waits for the right moment before it will be unleashed in the sky to let it fly in the right direction with the precise blows of the wind of time and right opportunity.

Is W.E.L.L in a secret love affair? Find out more in his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

DISCORDANT POLARITY

highwaysandbyways — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:58:00 -0500

By: W.E.L.L.

(Photo courtesy: http://www.123rf.com/photo_8875851_finger-holding-the-wrong-piece-for-the-last-missing-puzzle-piece.html)

Some relationships are like the grass; it thrives and lives perennially despite the test of time. Other love’s like that of a moth: fast, ephemeral, and fleeting. Sometimes, Most of us want things to work and in our desperation to put everything to perspective and in our control, we end up hurt, exhausted, and insanely longing.

When relationship is at the dusk of its eternal end, we wanted to continue to cling and drag the sun out again even though the unstoppable darkness has been already been foreshadowed by distrust, silence, and conflict. We wanted to be the ultimate savior for this conundrum between letting go and holding on. We even forgot that we become martyrs of insanity, saints of wrong cause, and heroes of unworthy battle. We are willing to open the doors of our calloused and bleeding heart even though we will end up with painful repercussions.

Most of us are willing to forego the pleasure of happily letting go just to continue dousing the fire of hatred even its prickly heat can tarnish the meager respect you owe to yourself. For a moment, you felt that twinge of sympathy and pang of guilt, but your stubborn refusal is stronger than your acceptance. In the end, you lost the battle not for loving him, but loving yourself.

Some people that come into our life are just makeshift shelters of our homeless heart; they can last for a moment, but they can never stay forever with you. In spite of knowing that time and circumstance can be a bad karma cutting the knot that binds you both together, we insist to reconnect irreconcilable ends of relationship creating more stoppers and unwanted twists in life than expected.

After years of contemplation, I have come to an epiphany that some things not because they are not worth to function for the rest of your life, but you are not simply just the right piece to let it work completely. Our emotions and commitments may be like inventions and prototypes that lack the quality of effectiveness at the moment, but with the right science of time and innovation of true love, it will definitely made possible to be useful and productive in the future.

To catch more of W.E.L.L., read his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog)

GOODBYE IS NOT FOREVER

highwaysandbyways — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:34:51 -0500

By: W.E.L.L.

Our life in this world is just a bivouac of something eternal. The transient nature of our existence makes life a fleeting experience, a wonderful transition, and a resting place towards the sweet road of eternity. We all embark in different journeys and different paths along the way. We are all meant for something and that is not to stay in the same place as where we are now. Some journeys are quicker and ephemeral while others might be long and dragging. We are all trudging to actualize the state of nirvana where true salvation awaits. When we reach the destination in our own pace and time and our journey of life finally ends, we are one step forward to the greatest reward of eternal peace.

Sorrow might fill the emptiness of our hearts as we cut through the final thread that binds us together. However, the wonderful tapestry of life, fully embroidered and sewn with colorful fibers of memories, relationship, and joys, is now hanging in the living room of God’s house. Let this exquisite masterpiece of existence bring forth more hope, aspiration, and love to continue spreading the beauty of life.

The doors of life may be closed and departure is the only hanging option. The feeling of loneliness and emptiness in the areas that brightened us before might go dim. Darkness and grief may be hovering above us casting shadows of sadness and longing, but life is not an unending turmoil of defeat rather an endless pursuit and possibilities of happiness. This world might not be the most propitious place to live in but we are thankful that for some significant milestones of our existence are shared with people who we truly care and love. Let us just let the winds of time blow away the sorrows, heal the wounds of a broken and fractured heart, tighten the grip of loosened hope, bring back the shattered pieces of memories like the sun of hope rising and the clouds of doubt going clear.

We all have to experience mortal death before we can embark the majestic flight of eternity like a phoenix rising from the ashes of nothingness. Let us continue to fan the dying embers from the smoldering coal of grief and let the passion of fire keep burning in our hearts to continue life with strong fervor and conviction.

If we leave the dark and dim home of our mother’s womb to discover a new home in a brighter, wider world, a new way to live, then we believe that there is a brighter and wider home beyond death - a new way and place to live after we die.

The beauty of saying goodbye is the promise that one day we will all reunite in the kingdom of eternity without the context of time, distance, absence, and circumstance. Let us not wave goodbye to our feelings with a heavy heart for the world we are living right now is just a wonderful respite from the long adventure of immortality. This is not the end of our continuous odyssey rather a commencement towards a brighter and wider home beyond death with our Creator - a new way and place to live after we die.

To catch more of W.E.L.L., read his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog)

REALITY TV INSIDE THE JEEPNEY

highwaysandbyways — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:37:00 -0500

BY: W.E.L.L.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://gegegegeo.blogspot.com/2011/05/pensieve-dont-judge-girl-by-her-handbag.html)

Our life here on this realm is one big television showcasing myriads of drama, comedy, tragedy, horrifying, suspense-filled, and boring portrayals of our experience. We are actors and actress in the big screen called “existence.” Being part in this one big act, I have come to notice some resemblance on a specific plot of our life to the reality television shows we are currently watching. Specifically, I would like to cite some hilarious daily Filipino encounters in a public vehicle we call “jeepney.”

THE AMAZING RACE

Your heart is pumping, your sweat is dripping, your feet are shaking, and your patience is running out. This is the common tension we get to experience daily why waiting for the next jeepney ride to come so that we will not get late in reaching the pit stop: school or work. Some may get a Yield towards their destination for untoward incidents such as getting caught in a flat tire, earning a ticket for reckless driving, or worst, in a vehicular accident. Some drivers may give you a detour making your route shorter or even longer as expected just to avoid the snail-paced heavy traffic. At some point, passengers get to feel the Speed Bump of some irresponsible drivers while Road Block may come unexpected in some ongoing construction. No wonder why this reality show bags the Oscars year after the other since you can even feel the tension rushing through your veins. In reality, you may not win a million dollar for being on time, but a raise or an escape from another early sermon is even worth it.

THE BIG BROTHER

With one small jeepney and multitude of complete stranger sitting next or facing each other, this is one small “Big Brother house” in an angular and boxy construction, gas-guzzling and weighty vehicle waiting for each other to get evicted for better space for sitting. With the driver as sometimes the freaky and bossy “Big Brother” voice, one cannot get away from following or ranting the orders of him letting more people coming in a very tight space. Inside the said public transport, you get a hodgepodge of people (students, teachers, employees, artist, businessmen, criminals). With very minimal amount of time, you have to decipher who can be trusted and who can be the one who will point his knife for your pieces of jewelry and bag. There might be no cameras around the vehicle despite its profusion with accessories, mirrors, grills and guards, but with the close-tight environment, it felt like someone is looking at you. Eyes that are very discerning, condescending, and even seductive can even rival the scene of an audience looking at you.

AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL AND PROJECT RUNWAY

When everyone is very busy and you do not have the luxury of even combing your hair, then the jeepney is the best place to have a makeover in an extreme condition. Armed with complete makeover ammunitions, females and metrosexuals find time to use this very small transport as an instant backstage where they can tease their hair, apply some shadow, blush, and gloss, and even pluck their eyebrows for longer travel. In some instance, we felt like we are instant seamstress and tailors as we fix some unexpected tear and damages in our wardrobe and remedy our wardrobe malfunction. Unintentionally, we also get to give fierce, awkward and modelesque poses as we maintain grace, poise, and couture image while squeezing our butt in the jeepney seats and placing our hands in the crow bar to maintain balance. More often than not, we get to do extreme poses while putting our feet on top of a spare tire or grocery bags and even sacks of goods and charcoals. Having not cared what the other people and critics might say, they continue to just “Make it work.”

THE JERSEY SHORES

Everyone wants to get so much attention and they believe that their personal life is one big stint in the reality show “Jersey Shores.” Most of the time, we get to have a good view of strangers’ dramatic break-up and catfight (missing our popcorns and 3d glasses). Some might get down and dirty by displaying amorous affection to the whole world. We would experience people holding hands, caressing and tickling each other, and even kissing as if they are the only passenger inside a taxi cab. Some might blurt a big dismay by reprimanding while most of us enjoy the view. What can be more scandalous than having a heated argument with the driver for not stopping you in your desired unloading spot since the traffic is still green or a traffic enforcer is waving its ticket pad? Sometimes, we feel lucky to have a wonderful action-filled scene like a passenger arguing an old woman for not sitting properly or smelling bad. These are snippets of reality we get to expose ourselves inside the jeepney.

PUNK’D

This might be similar to Ashton Kutcher’s way of pissing off celebrities in their normal silence. More often than not, they get even real than just a plain joke. Occasions like a kid or peculiar looking man snatching aways your cellphone, jewelry, or even bag are sights that will make your eyes wide open and jaws tight. In some instances, you get to be sitted next to a beggar or a lunatic who wanted to enjoy a free ride to his favorite spot of mendicancy. Sometimes a group of singing sensations and youth rappers belt out some raps and songs to earn some attention and income. Most of the time we get to despise them for not using their physical strength to have a decent job or finish study. Well, you are just a big part of a scene called modus operandi where gimmicks and novelty are essential ingredients to have a food to eat or a pot to sniff.

THE APPRENTICE

Challenges in Donald Trump’s award-winning series might be happening to you in some point and the wise in you will surely have to work. You have only 5 pesos in your pocket and you are already inside a jeepney. You have to work your smarts and wits to come up with a good strategic game plan or else you will end up in prison or in complete humiliation. It’s either you act that someone stole your wallet or you left it someone, do an instant fund raising by asking coins from other passengers, admitting the driver the truth, or escaping from a jeepney without paying at all. This is where your mind and charm have to work in a limited time before you reach your destination. The winner gets a free ride until the end while the rest gets fired out from the vehicle.

TOP CHEF

Let’s face it not everyone can wake up so early and have an instant breakfast served daily. Sometimes, we have no other choice but to bring some of our food and eat in front of people who are equally as hungry as you are. For some, they tend to get overboard by putting their packed meals in their lap and munch to their heart’s content. Others especially those who are good in concocting fruits, vegetables, and other edible food, they get to prepare their meals in the jeepney like staging their own cooking show. This is a good way to stage a debut career in cooking. Some get to eat like noisy pigs while talking with peers and busy letting people hear the crackling and crispy sounds of “chicharon”, green mango, or chips which makes the passengers a.k.a. cooking show audience drool on what they are eating. The mere thought of the crackling noise make you want to snatch the food they are having.

FEAR FACTOR

Inside a vehicle jampacked with strangers (who might have criminal minds), fear has always been a factor. We are playing one big psychogame of searching the killer and stalker inside. For some neat freak, they get to feel the fangs of the unknown destroyer like dirt, dust, sneeze, and germs lurking inside the infested jeepney. If you get lucky, you can experience a load of surprises such as pests and insects like rodents and cockroaches might be enjoying a free ride with you towards panic. This a good place for voyeur opportunities, eyeballs rolling and roving for beaver shots and cleavage gazing, while women desperately cover their necklines and tug down their hemlines. So much fear and hesitations double up the heat of this automobile which remains to be immutable, uncomfortable which is severely lacks safety features and inadaptable to universal safety and seat-belt regulations.

THE BACHELORETTE

Some might still the fever of soul searching similar to that of “Eat.Pray.Love.” You do not have to find meaning in life and love in exotic places like Indonesia, India, and Italy, but just a frequent ride in a jeepney. Who knows your lucky guy is just sitting beside you. So much budding love affair started with a single smile in the jeepney while patiently waiting to arrive and passing the transport fare of co-passenger. You might end up in a wedding with someone who started to be a complete stranger into your ultimate partner.

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?

No. There are no multiple choice questions asked inside the whole ride, but for some instances something or someone bothers you giving you a chance to give a puzzled look. You let your inferences work and figure out what the person is doing. Sometimes, we get to plainly play the game by guessing correctly the person he is with is A. his mother B. his wife C. his daughter D. his cougar. Getting busy while enjoying getting correct answers to questions is what has been busily crossing up your mind.

IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT

We always see ourselves in this big jeepney fight every now and then with the driver. With the fare hike of 50 centavos, most of the drivers and “conductors (driver’s assistant in collecting fare)” are too cunning to not give you a change at some time. Shrewd as they get, some passengers are even stingy as they can when they do not follow the correct fare. For students and senior citizens, paying the right price and receiving the right change is also a never ending story of haggling and fighting everyday making riding a jeepney one big game show hit for putting the right travel price.

With so little time inside this glimmering stainless undisputed King of the Road, we get to have a clear view of fun, exciting, formidable, and interesting life can be on and off the jeepney. In our quest towards the end a meaning and safe trip, we all have left is a memory to share and treasure. After all, it is not the ride that matters most; it is the journey.

(PHOTO COURTESY: http://renanimatronics.blogspot.com)

ABOUT THE COMMUTER

To catch more about W.E.L.L., read his ANIMAECIBUS (food blog) SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

NOTHING MEDIOCRE

highwaysandbyways — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:18:00 -0500

I am not saying I am getting finicky or simply doing something to please anyone. I just have the right to give some decency of choosing the right person with a higher standard. Well, some might say that I got so desperate to fall in love, but neither do I also advocate to compromise quality of relationship.

I may tarry in finding the correct person, but it does not mean that I am not pressured with this ticking time bomb chained in my heart. Simply, enjoying the bliss of being alone is a wonderful respite from the kicks of a broken heart. This hiatus of mending and waiting is just giving me more time to go back to the battle with more eagerness.

It is undeniably no rhyme nor reason will I take chances of scratching the healing wounds of my heart just to be in a more stable and socially accepted status. Just making sure that whoever is coming in my life is authentic for not all that glitters is gold. I am not also rejecting a platform or hiding behind a mask so I can wreak havoc on the lives of others. The logic of putting too much thought and discernment before tasting again the slice of hell is quite simple: “Never settle for anything less.”

To catch more about W.E.L.L., read his SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE (poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog).

Meaningful Distance

highwaysandbyways — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:42:00 -0400

By: W. E. L. L.

When should one give up on a friend? Should that happen by stealth so that time and distance simply allow it to fade away?

Appearing to be in a quandary about what to do with our friendship, I decided to abruptly cut the thread that binds and connects us together despite the pain I might inflict in both of us. Everything happens in an instant just like how a bad news can ruin our mood, plans not being pushed through, and words and empty promises coming to an end.

I know you will never talk to me again for such childish and unscrupulous way of getting your attention. You will never forgive me for causing so much hatred and drama. However, I never realized how fragile our friendship was. I know you won’t understand me now, but this is a personal sentiment and I know it is indecent not to let you know of my feelings behind my obvious need for detachment. Honestly, I am caught between a blossoming friendship and self preservation. Sadly, my only option for now is the latter. I was very reluctant to start the long trudge towards getting far from you. I know you will surely hate for me for this, but I don’t want to be the frontier that will impede you for your happiness and love with someone. So, I ended up waving my flag, surrendering my flimsy chance, without even starting a battle to fight for our love.

The truth is that never in ages did I realize I would find someone so completely perfect and humble, someone that would touch my life so profoundly and just give me a whole new reason to breathe. However, with so much fear of rejection, I just let total silence ensue and make friendship hide and blinded you further with the intentions of my heart. What is left for me to do is to fight back the scalding and agonizing tears, accepting the pain slicing through like a knife blade.

Here I am now getting a dose of my own medicine of denial and silence. Not wanting you more than what we have is such a hollow rhetoric. You see, the hardest part of loving you is when I can only view you from a distance, not being able to hold your hands, embrace you tightly, and to tell you how much I love you, because for I am just only your friend. All I have left is to just express in silence this inexplicable pain in my chest that seems to dominate every other feeling in my body.

The truth about life and relationship is that it isn’t always easy. Some things build us up and some tear us down. Holding our friendship can be a very slippery slope, regardless of any protective hold I place, it falls down and I do not want to see myself climbing on a steep cliff reaching the peak full of doubts and uncertainty. Honestly, I tried holding on to the rope that will bring me closer to you, but the more I tried to tie myself on it and grabbing it hard, the more I choke myself with the excruciating pain of rejection and longing. Simply, some love is unrequited and some feelings are also reciprocated. In the end, I lose the grip the strings that attached us just letting my emotions crushed and bludgeoned with me as I fall off the ground helpless. This time, I can no longer attempt to manufacture a substitute smile after leaving me hurt and wounded.

It is my stupidity that brought me to the idea that launching myself into locking our friendship with every intention of making it work and last. So much that when it does disintegrate, it is a challenge to accept that it is over, and that it didn’t work or that the person I trusted the most with my heart has let me down. Here I am now without a qualm, stoically shutting my emotions from more harm that you can bring from me.

The dawn of crying, longing, and regretting that shadows of my existence is definitely over and I am now ready to start picking up the shattered tiny million pieces of my heart, though no one heard the reverberating ear-piercing sound of it breaking but myself.

I will share to you one secret: the door and windows of my heart will never be locked for you because I am always keeping my fingers crossed that you will knock it this time with certainty and open it with the key of acceptance. I hope this time we will be sharing the same wavelength of emotions in the spectrum of relationship, the same ardor for each other. With a heavy heart, I have to temporarily close it for the memory will keep haunting me and I’ll never be able to continue my life since everything from favorite songs we share, nicknames we have, the umbrella of stars, the echoes of my heart, travel I make, your bright angelic face will appear and continue to be a spiteful reminder of how I was hurt by not telling you what I truly feel.

I wish you can learn to forgive me for being such a slave of my pride and self preservation. I would like to thank you for coming into my life, leaving footprints in my heart and making my existence to be never the same again. Promise me that you will never forget me because if I thought you would, I’d never leave. No matter how far apart we are, you will always be in my heart. Though at this time, the waves separated and drifted us apart from each other, let us just wait for the winds of time to blow and course us again towards each other’s direction naturally.

The beauty of life is that it is full of hopes and sunshine; you will just have to find the right direction to face towards the light. Life will let us pick up on our friendship at the right moment. I have no lifelong intention of burning our bridges for I will never be able to reach the destination without us mending the tattered fibers of the past, the guilt, the blame, the anger and the pain. I am bringing with me the beauty of moving on to the next chapter of my life that is waiting to be filled with infinite possibilities, bringing the hope that one day someone, who might be you, waiting for me at the end of this path after making such big step and after the facing another formidable yet worthwhile crossroad of my life. I am in no way waving goodbye to a friend who shared so much memories, interests, and aspirations with me, in fact, I am always watching from a distance. With just one call, I will always be right there.

W.E.L.L. wishes things won’t be very complicated not to end up very distant with someone. Know more if Waltz is recuperating or not in his SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE(poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog)

THE 90/10 PRINCIPLE

highwaysandbyways — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 11:12:48 -0400

By: Stephen Covey

Discover the 90/10 Principle: It will change your life. The 90/10 principle is incredible! Very few know and apply this principle. The Result? Millions of people are suffering undeserved stress, trials, problems, and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. Theirs is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger ruins friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life!

What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don’t let people fool you; You can control how you react!

Let’s use an example. You’re eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize them for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed zone.

After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to going home. When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the Policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, “It’s OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time.” Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase. You come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good of a day you are having. Notice the difference. Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you Reacted. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle. If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out, etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? Who Cares if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive. Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will work out. Use your “worrying” time and energy into finding another job.

The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger, etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.

TO BE RUDE OR TO BE FAKE?

highwaysandbyways — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:54:00 -0400

By: W.E.L.L.

“I would rather be fake than to be rude.“

This is generally what I feel after seeing the newly-opened flyover in our place being lambasted with so many graffiti advertising frat groups and expressing hatred for the government. After the sight of how rudeness can be harmful compared to inaction, I have decided to be the former than to outburst like the latter. This just clearly shows a very gory portrayal of how rudeness becomes the limitation of human’s strength.

It was already 9:40 a.m. in my watch and I have barely 20 minutes to travel towards the office so that I will not be reprimanded for being late to work. While I was tapping my worried feet and moving around waiting for an empty jeepney to arrive, I could not help but notice the scribbles etched in the freshly-opened Sergio Damazo Jr. Flyover (which was named after my iconic Scoutmaster in Highschool) . Rants from socially active groups and other scandalous slogans from both competing fraternities in our place have been pricking my eyes giving me a bad mood for the day. I could not stop thinking about what these people really wanted to convey to the public. Is this infrastructure the graffiti wall for all their grievances? Are they thinking that splashing some spray paint can increase their causes of luring more followers for their organization? Or is this simply stupidity? Whatever their reason, I still believe that they have no right to judge the government in a barbaric manner. Simply, two wrong deeds do not make things right.

The images and letterings on the sidewalk walls may seem nothing more than vandalism; filth and sabotage for most of us passengers and passersby, but our negligence to such act gives is tantamount to a tacit encouragement. While busy with so much anticipation not to get late, my eyes was able to notice vulgar, bold, and indecent statements that defaced the beauty of the existing structure in the artist’s desperation for self-expression. The painted words and graphics (which mostly are inappropriate) transformed these artists into bitter “scums.” Their graffiti not only destroys the visual appearance of the community but also its spirit.

I am not entirely saying that graffiti is really bad; after all since we have a group here in Cebu named “UBEC Crew” whose main intention is to really express and bring art closer to the Cebuano community. In fact, most of their masterpieces can even rival the international Mural Art which for me is the true expression of art. What I am bothered are the ruthless and degrading comments that might negative messages to the youth and world in general.

Now, what I have left is a skeletal reminder every morning that we see the world changing negatively but we do not even care. We continue to let our inaction pushing people to continue to be rude. Should we continue to be fake by not belting out our grievances or should we let our rudeness and inhumane action speak for our self? The choice is yours.

PHOTO COURTESY

http://thumbs.imagekind.com/member/284ac35d-d1c0-4518-b11a-816c57ddd362/uploadedartwork/650X650/cc0359da-b693-4fff-ac0f-3d334a950e45.jpg

WHEN INK SPILLS

W.E.L.L. is both FAKE (for not expressing what he feels for someone) and RUDE (to his self for depriving and suppressing). Catch more for his fake and rude writing acts in his SHUTTER SPEED AND LIGHT (photo blog), OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (travel blog), LITERARY JUNKIE(poetry blog), IELTS-TERACY(grammar blog)

LIFE AS WE NEVER KNOW IT

FRIENDSHIP IS A TWO-WAY STREET

Of Ropes and Relationships

2012: A Year of Taking Risks and Chances

The “L” Words to Living Life

【ラングリッチカレッジのスタッフを紹介】ウォルター Walter フィリピン人講師達をたばねる教頭先生

LOVING YOU JUST LIKE A SCRABBLE GAME

LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD

DE-CLUTTERING MY LIFE

HAPPY ENDINGS, NEW BEGINNINGS

Delayed Gratification

CROSSROADS OF UNCERTAINTIES

SCALDING TEARS AND MENDING HEART

CLANDESTINE LOVE AFFAIR

DISCORDANT POLARITY

GOODBYE IS NOT FOREVER

REALITY TV INSIDE THE JEEPNEY

NOTHING MEDIOCRE

Meaningful Distance

THE 90/10 PRINCIPLE

TO BE RUDE OR TO BE FAKE?

【ラングリッチカレッジのスタッフを紹介】ウォルター Walter　フィリピン人講師達をたばねる教頭先生