Insights from The Secret by Rhonda Bryne

After I read ‘The Secret’, one thing that I keep repeating to myself everyday is ‘think positive, feel good and be happy!” I have to believe that my life will turn out the way I want it to be if and only if I believe with unwavering faith that I can have everything I desire. I know whatever I want in my life is coming my way. I may not know how things will happen exactly. In fact, I do not have to concern myself with the ‘how’, it’s the task of God (or as the book prefers to call it, ‘The Universe’). I just have to visualize the end result and what it feels like to have what I want, and trust in that feeling of joy. Magic and miracle will happen at the right time. When we focus often enough on the things we want without allowing any doubt or negative thinking to distract us, the whole world will move people, circumstances and events to bring into existence whatever we want.

The Secret is the Law of Attraction. It simply means we bring into existence whatever we think about. The Law of Attraction responds to our thoughts; it is like a genie who grants our every desire. If we choose to focus on negative things, we’ll see more of them in our lives. For instance， if we think of poverty, lack of resources, war, injustice, divorce, etc… we will see more of them manifesting in our lives and in the world. The reason why some people are still living in misery is because instead of focusing on positive things (abundance, prosperity, love, peace, happiness, etc), they think more of what they lack. The book emphasizes that the Law of Attraction is impartial. It only responds to the subject of our thought; it does not compute any word of negation (don’t, not, no, etc). This is one reason why some people do not get what they want because they focus more on what they don’t want instead of what they want. If we think “I don’t want to fail in the test,” we would most probably fail the test. If we think “We should fight against poverty,” we would probably see more people suffering from poverty, because the subject of our thought is still ‘poverty’. My life is a manifestation of this. In the past, I tend to think more of what I don’t want to happen in my life. I tend to focus on the things that I’m afraid of happening or on the negative side of everything In return, I attract more of them into my life. The only reason I could think of now why I always get hurt physically is because I always create scenes of accidents in my mind. The only reason why I’m still here is because I’m afraid of the unknown and of encountering problems I thought I can’t handle on my own. The only reason why I’m always pissed off at my mother is because I keep replaying in my mind the things I don’t like about her. As the book says, the solution to all these is to shift my thoughts. In short, THINK OF POSITIVE THINGS!

If we focus on positive things, we will see them happening in our lives like magic. We just need to deliberately and frequently think of what we want; and whenever doubt, fear or any negative thought enters our mind, replace it immediately with positive thinking. If we really want good things to happen, good thoughts must persist; don’t mix it with the negative. Now, I know why I get to see my articles getting published; it’s because I always think of the fulfillment I would experience if it comes true. Now, I know why I get the chance to travel to a new place last October; it’s because I keep on thinking that I want to achieve this goal before the year ends. Nothing happens by coincidence; it happens because we want it to happen.

Not only do we need to think of good things, we also need to feel good. In fact, these two come together. It’s impossible to feel good when we’re thinking of something negative because it’s our thoughts that cause our feelings. We feel happy because we’re thinking of something that cheers us up; we feel upset because we fill our mind with sad thoughts. So whenever we feel bad, we have to make the effort to change our thoughts to feel better, or else we will draw more bad things into our lives and we will feel worse. The book also tells us that we can feel happy and grateful in advance, which means even though the things we want haven’t come true yet, we can choose to imagine the joy of finally having what we want. That’s the power of visualization - visualizing ourselves living the life that we want; and if we can visualize it, it’s as if we’re saying we believe we can have it. Dare to tell the world what we want. Dare to feel happy and believe we deserve it. When we do that, we’re radiating out a signal to the world to give us what we want and the joy we want to experience.

More importantly, when we want to attract something into our lives, make sure our actions don’t contradict our desires. For instance, if we think of wanting to get good grades yet we’re not studying at all, then our wish would not be granted. If we want to be rich, but we’re not striving to work, then we would remain poor. Just like what I have mentioned previously, my constant thinking of wanting my articles to get published only came true because I didn’t just think about it day and night, I also work hard to achieve it. Hence, don’t misunderstand The Secret. Thinking is not enough; our actions should reflect what we want. We create our lives with our thoughts followed by concrete actions.

The same thing goes for wanting others to love and respect us. The first step is learning to love ourselves first. It’s only when we feel good about ourselves that we can become a joy to others too. Come to think about it, how can we spread love to others when we don’t fill ourselves up with it first, right? So, the next time we wonder why people are treating us badly, ask ourselves first, “Are we treating ourselves well? Are we treating ourselves the way we want to be treated?” We are only worthy of the love and respect of others only if we can love and respect ourselves first. If we focus on the things we don’t like about ourselves, they will also be the things others see in us. Instead, we must focus on all the things that are wonderful about us so that others will see the beauty in us too. My life is a manifestation of this, again. The reason why people think I’m clumsy, slow and naïve is because that’s the image I’m projecting to the world. If I want others to change the way they look at me, I have to change myself first. In fact, ‘I’ am the only thing I can change in this world; everything else is external to me so I’m powerless over them. I can’t change other people but I can inspire them to change by being an inspiration to them and be a good example by the way I live my life. I can’t change the world, but I can change the world by changing myself. If I want to save Mother Earth, I have to take actions too. If I want to minimize poverty, I have to do something. The action has to start from within. If I change, the rest will follow. If we change, the world will change with us.

One’s life is like a blank notebook waiting for him to fill each page with goals and dreams. Then after writing, he will have to do something to fulfill them. If you have already started writing, keep doing so. If not, now is the best time to start!:)

Tragedy seems to be an endless cycle here in the Philippines. Watching news seems to be a frustration. For the previous months, the TV screen and newspaper headlines were all about typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng that had taken away lives and left the majority without a place to live.

Currently, another bad news hit the country again. It’s about the gruesome political massacre incident that happened in Maguindanao this Monday. According to report, about a hundred gunmen abducted more than fifty victims who were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan town. Included in the victims were Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, lawyers, supporters and journalists. Those gunmen were identified as the private army of Maguindanao’s incumbent Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. The motive for the massacre was to prevent Esmael Mangudadatu from running next year.

I don’t really know much about political history and conflicts. I honestly don’t have much interest about such topic too. But big news such as this one put everyone in a state of shock and outrage. All my friends from China were asking me about it too since the news was broadcasted in their TV channels too. Their impression on the Philippines became even worse. Well, who wouldn’t?

The massacre incident is extremely inhuman and unforgivable. I can’t help but wonder where is the conscience of the killers? Don’t they have any loved ones in their lives? Can they imagine the pain of those who have lost loved ones? What have hatred and greed done to the human race? Do justice and humanity still exist?

I always believe that human beings are innately good. Even when bad things happen, I still want to hold on to my idealism. But how do you convince others that the world is still good regardless of what have happened? You can’t blame people from feeling pessimistic because the reality of cruelty and suffering is so apparent that no amount of comfort can seem to give them hope anymore.

I feel deeply sorry for the victims and their loved ones. I really hope that the government will give justice to what have happened. Nonetheless, when mishaps like this happen, I still thank God for keeping my loved ones safe. We get so affected when misfortunes happen to others, what more if it happened to our loved ones, right?

Death is so unpredictable; you never know when your life will be taken away. Life is so fragile; no matter how you try to protect it, it will still break into pieces someday. What else can we do but try to cherish each day that we are still alive?

Thank you for all friends and relatives who celebrated Yung Yung’s 18th birthday with her. Thank you for Yung's friends James and Nicole for being the emcee. Thank you for the band (Yung's talented friends). Thank you for my friends Ivan, Christian and Michelle for being the photographers. Thank you Lord for the success of the debut. It's truly enjoyable and memorable, a night to remember!:)

more pics at Multiply

“No matter what happens in the future, always remember that your family is always there for you!!! Love you my sis!”

            It’s been quite a while since I last updated my blog. I’m so preoccupied in updating my Chinese blog and submitting Chinese articles that I almost have no time for this. Well, I can translate my Chinese blogs into English but I’m too lazy.  Ever since I have started submitting Chinese articles last August, I realize I’m more capable of expressing my thoughts and writing creatively in Chinese. But of course, I’m not going to abandon this blog. Whether it’s in English or Chinese, it’s still writing.

            I have been in a state of helplessness and pain for a week because of my sprain. It has deprived me of so many things (like meeting my friend from Cebu, participating in the tree-planting activity at P&G…). If I still don’t get well soon, I won’t be able to attend the Kythe event this coming Saturday. At work, I have to sit almost all the time which deprive me of some responsibilities so my employees have to do them for me. Walking upstairs and downstairs is the most painful part; every step feels like torture to me.

            I can’t stand looking at my right foot especially when I compare it with my left foot and notice the big difference. My right foot looks so ugly, big, dirty and full of bruises. I know I will get well, but I really hope as soon as possible!!!

            Besides my own bedroom and the sea or beach, one place that can make me feel at peace is the church.

            I remembered back in school days, whenever I felt upset and troubled, I didn’t turn to my friends immediately. Instead, I went to the church or chapel to pour out my heart out to God. Sometimes, I actually didn’t need the comfort of others. I just want to be alone, to calm myself down and to reflect.

            Besides love, I guess the most mysterious thing in this world is the existence of God. We can’t see Him, but we still believe in him; we can’t see Him, but we can feel his presence. It’s something beyond logic and reason. I don’t know how to explain something as complicated as faith; I just know I believe in Him, no matter how impossible it might seem.

            It’s been a while since I last visited the church. Hence, I was grateful when I got to go to the church with my best friend last Sunday.

            Through the sing and praise, through the applauses and shouting, through the pastor’s preaching, looking through the hundreds of eyes filled with hunger and respect for God’s Word, I was moved to tears. Despite the chaotic condition of the world, despite economic crisis, despite the calamities that keep coming, despite personal problems, there are still people who choose to put their faith in God.

            After church, my best friend and I went to watch the movie Fame. It’s a movie about a group of talented students (singing, dancing, movie making, acting, playing instrument, etc) on how they got to maximize the hidden talents in them, how they encountered failure and deception along the way and how they become accomplished in the end. One scene that struck me was when a student, knowing that he couldn’t become an excellent ballet dancer, attempted to commit suicide. There’s a saying, “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” Another path was laid for him; he just needs to choose between living in misery and taking up a new opportunity.

            After the movie, I stayed at my best friend’s new house until almost twelve at night. It’s been a while since we last saw each other; there were so much to share.  We stayed in the bed and talked about anything under the sun, accompanying us were her two cute puppies. I particularly loved stroking their furs, so soft!!!

            One thing that I was grateful for in life is my best friend. We have known each other since Grade 3, and eventually became best friends. Being able to maintain a thirteen-year friendship is rare and precious.

            Friendship is the same as love. If a stable foundation and strong bond have been established, if BOTH parties exert effort, then the farthest distance and the longest time wouldn’t change that relationship.

            I always believe that in one’s life, we are going to encounter different new faces and become friends with a lot of people, but there are only a few who truly understand us and whom we can trust. I’m glad that I have found a true friend in her.

1. Develop the habit of going to bed at 10:30pm every night, unless I really have important things to do.
2. Don’t forget to take medicine.
3. No matter how late and how tired, don’t forget to wash face before going to sleep.
4. Doing house chores is abusive to the hands, so always apply hand lotion.
5. The weather is an evil, so remember to use sunblock.
6. Tolerate my mother.
7. Keep learning new Chinese words.
8. Listen to more good music.
9. Keep WRITING.
10. Read more informative, people-related and health-related magazines.
11. Watch more educated and meaningful movies.
12. Always smile at the customers. Don’t allow your mood to affect your work. Practice professionalism.
13. Save money. Use my own money to lessen my dad’s burden.
14. People can’t be judged by their appearance.
15. Think twice before acting.
16. Be true to one’s heart.
17. The people you want to see, the things you want to do, the places you want to go, the words you want to say… don’t think there’s always tomorrow.
18. Spend quality time with loved ones and close friends no matter how busy.
19. Live in reality; don’t be TOO naïve and idealistic.
20. Be happier.

             My two-week stay in China was a mixture of happiness and sadness. Happy because I was able to experience so many things for the first time (curled my hair, went to Sichuan, saw waterfalls, touched snow, body massage, face massage, manicure, pedicure, visited stone companies, cruise, speed boat). I was able to meet friends and cousins I hadn’t seen for a long time. Sad because I missed the freedom and comfort and… It’s like I had been dreaming a good dream for two weeks and suddenly I was back to reality again.

A glimpse of my trip:

I miss my sister Inchi, my cousin Ara, my friend Mei Qiang and…

Le Shan and Mt. Emei. There were many Buddha figures and temples in those two places. A lot of people went there just to pray and worship and offer food. Sorry, but I’m not a Buddhist hehe. But the views were beautiful, especially in Mt. Emei, you could almost touch the clouds haha.

Huang Long. -3 degree Celsius, 4000 meters high. First time to see snow mountains and touch snow! If it’s still snowing, that would be perfect! Walked for more than 3 hours, but after seeing the breathtaking views, I believed the walk was worthwhile. I wore 4 long sleeves, a thick jacket, a pair of gloves, two pairs of socks, two pants and I was still freezing!!!

Jiu Zhai Gou. Lakes, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, all so beautiful… I was so happy that we could rent outfits of the indigenous tribe! First time to wear something like that, made me feel I was really a Chinese haha! Went to the house of the indigenous tribe, they entertained us with songs, dance numbers and games. We also watched the cultural performance of the people there, I could feel their value and respect for their culture and customs.

Overall, it’s another  memorable trip! At least, I got to visit a new place before the year ends.

There are some people I didn’t get to see…

There are some things I didn’t get to do…

There are some words I didn’t get to say…

I realized one thing in this trip, and that’s what’s been bothering until now.

But I won’t give up.

I still hope God will answer my prayer.

        Highlight of the movie? John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano play a gay couple; that is enough to stir up the interest of the audience. But when you watch it, you would discover this is far from a gay movie. What’s the big fuss with the smack between John Lloyd and Luis when there’s more to the movie than the gay part? In fact, the main point of the movie centers on something else. I have to say that the plot is well developed and a few twists are added to surprise the audience.

        The movie revolves around three persons:  Shirley (played by Vilma Santos), a single mother working as a school librarian who decides to visit her gay son in New York; Mark (played by Luis Manzano) who is Shirley’s gay son and Noel (played by John Lloyd Cruz) who is Mark’s boyfriend. Besides presenting to us the many beautiful sites at New York, the movie shows us the struggles Filipinos have to go through to survive in a land of milk and honey. Just take Noel for example. He is an illegal immigrant in the states and one way to become a legal immigrant is to marry an American woman. Take Shirley for another example. Moving to New York means she has to adapt to the lifestyle of the people there, like she has to get used to eating pasta and burgers and she has to learn English so she can at least find a decent job. But the core of the movie emphasizes the interplay among Shirley, Mark and Noel. Being Shirley’s son, Mark would make her realize things she never knew about her son. But who would ultimately lead Shirley to painful truths and propel her to change is Noel, when the movie reaches its dramatic point.

        I thought the movie was fully dramatic, but it turned out that a big part of it was comedic. I was laughing my heart out from the beginning until the story became a little bit serious and sad in the latter part. I like the natural mix of drama and comedy being portrayed in the movie; there’s no trying hard at all. The part that made me laugh like there’s no one in the theater was when Shirley asked, “May mali ba sa akin? (referring to her look)”, then came the reply (by a gay), “Marami, buhok mo pang librarian, salamin mo pang guidance, damit mo pang principal, height mo pang estudyante…” Even in the movie, she was laughing too!

            The part that got me teary-eyed was the intense conversation between Shirley and Noel. The following lines spoken by Noel accompanied with an angry tone and a bitter expression stuck in my mind even after I left the theater, “Anak mo lang siya, di mo siya pag-aari! Hindi sayo umiikot ang mundo niya at hindi ito matatapos pagwala ka na…”           

            LOVE IS NOT POSSESSIVE. This is the important insight I have gained from the movie. When we love someone, we should be able to let him be who he wants to be and still accept him the way he is. In the movie, Shirley has to accept the fact that his son Mark is a gay whether she likes it or not. She has to accept the fact that all her three children are no longer the little kids she used to take care of and she couldn’t keep them at her side forever. They are all grown-ups already and have their own thinking and way of life. But just because her children are not with her doesn’t mean they don’t love her anymore. Everyone undergoes separation with their loved ones; it’s a reality we have to face.

Noel has also made her realized that she’s not generous enough to share her son with other people. She couldn’t accept the fact that Mark seems to be closer to Noel than her, when the truth is just because Mark is in love with someone else doesn’t lessen his love for his mother. Throughout our lives, we would encounter new faces and some of them would occupy a space in our heart. Yet the ones who are already important in our lives won’t’ be replaced just because. Our world doesn’t simply revolve around one person and our heart is big enough to love a lot of people.

I have always liked John Lloyd Cruz the most in ABS-CBN, especially after his role in the movie ‘A Very Special Love’, and he is always so funny in ASAP. After watching In My Life, I have no doubt that he is an extraordinary gem of the Philippine movie industry. He has proven once again that he can really act given any role. As for veteran actress Vilma Santos, she’s just as seamless as she always has been. Luis Manzano is also deserving of praises as he has the acting prowess too. Acting with his own mother, he couldn’t have gone wrong, right?

            I believe Filipinos should be proud of In My Life. Everyone is welcomed to watch, and I think it’s best to watch it with one’s family. I highly recommend the movie to all parents who would like to understand their children better, and to children who are detached from their parents.

I chanced upon this video again, and it didn’t fail to touch my heart like the first time I saw it. This is a Thailand Pantene shampoo commercial with a moving story. The girl inside is deaf-mute, but she has a passion for playing the violin since she’s a child. Always being taunted by the people around her, she questions why she’s different from others. An old man whom she has just met tells her, “Why do you have to be like others? Music…is a visual thing. Close your eyes and you will see music.” She then realizes that she should prove to herself and to others that she won’t be defeated just because of her incapability. Encouraged by the old man, she takes up the courage and effort to continue practice playing the violin. During the day of the competition, her excellent performance has amazed all the judges and audience. The emphasis is not her long straight black hair, but the talent and self-confidence she has shown.

The commercial only lasts for four minutes, but it has left a lasting impression on me. At the last few seconds of the commercial, the slogan of Pantene is being shown: YOU CAN SHINE! It’s like telling us that we shouldn’t feel bad about ourselves because of our flaws. Instead, we need to learn to look beyond our imperfections and explore the strengths in us, so that we can gain a higher level of self-confidence and self-worth.

The commercial also reminds me of a short story which shares the same message. The story goes like this: There is a water bearer who has two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carries across his neck. One of the two pots is perfect, always able to reach the master’s house with a full portion of water; the other pot has a crack in it which causes it to deliver the water only half full. The perfect pot is proud of its achievement while the cracked pot is ashamed of its imperfection since it’s only able to accomplish half of the task. One day, the cracked pot speaks to the water bearer, “I want to apologize to you. Because of my flaw, you do not get full credit for your work.” The water bearer replies, “Have you not notice the beautiful flowers growing on the side of your path while there’s none on the other side? That’s because I have long discovered your flaw, and I make use of it. I plant flower seeds on your side of the path and on our way home, I water them with the water that leaks out from you. I use those flowers to decorate the master’s table; she is very pleased with it! Without you, we won’t be able to witness such beauty, isn’t it?” This story reminds us that everyone has imperfections, but not everyone knows how to change them into strengths.

In this world, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect person’. It’s only in confronting our imperfections that we get to overcome them. At times, our imperfections propel us to see the potentials in us; just like the girl in the commercial, even though she’s deaf-mute, she learn to utilize her other senses to develop her talent. People with defects do not mean that they are useless; just like the cracked pot, what it considers to be a flaw turns out to have a use too. If only we try to see ourselves from a different point of view, we can turn all our imperfections into strengths.

I’m a person who lacks self-confidence and has low self-esteem. I always notice the bad things about me and fail to concentrate on my good points. I have tried to improve myself, though at times I’m still haunted by my cowardice and pessimism especially when I’m facing problems. But the only thing I’m sure of is that compare to before, I have definitely become more mature and conscious of the way I handle the happenings in my life. I always think that I have too much complaints and regrets in life. I know such mindset is wrong and unhealthy. Thus, everytime I feel overwhelmed by negative thoughts now, I write a letter to God. I pour my heart out to Him, hoping that while I’m writing and after I write, I will be enlightened. Though we can never become a ‘perfect person’, I still believe we should always move towards the goal of getting a hundred, only then can we propel ourselves to become a better person. Perhaps we’re not the brightest star in the sky, but we’re still one of the million stars that shine at night; and if we are willing to strive harder, we can all shine brighter, so we shouldn’t underestimate our own worth.

            I believe there lives a child inside each of us. Though time flies, but the child who once possessed a cheerful smiling face, an innocent mind and a pure soul still exists in us. Perhaps in growing up, we try so hard to become someone else that we have neglected this child living in us. But he is forever there, reminding us to not forget about his existence.

            I remembered two years ago I went to Hong Kong and stayed at my cousin’s place. She had a three-year-old son who was very cute and lively. I had to watch with him the same episode of Doraemon for at least five times everyday. I had to play puzzle with him everyday. Everytime we finished the puzzle, he would destroy it and we would have to arrange it again. We also went to the park everyday and he would play until he’s satisfied. As a kid-lover, I actually felt blessed that he liked to stick with me. Just looking at his smiling face cheered me up. At that time, I was thinking, why children never seem to grow tired of doing the same thing repeatedly?      

Now, I understand why children are always so fascinated by all sorts of things regardless of how many times they have encountered them. It’s because children are able to view every single experience in their life as a NEW EXPERIENCE. They are able to view each magic show, each field trip to the zoo, each meal at Jolibee… as a new experience, and not simply a replay of past events. Even if they have been to the same amusement park for a few times, they still get excited and always have new discoveries. The first time they go, they might only enjoy riding the merry-go-around. But the next time they go, they might find the other rides fun too. My little brother has watched the same episodes of Mr. Bean for a hundred times, but he can still laugh his heart out. It’s not that these kids don’t want to try new things; it’s because even if we throw the same thing at them, they would still accept it happily.

            Just by observing the children around us, we can see a slight resemblance of our younger version in them. I’m always in awe at how much we can learn from children and how they never cease to amaze us by just being themselves. They are not ashamed to laugh loudly inside a theater even when the rest is quiet, to tell you honestly just how bad your hair looks today, or to ask for what they want and won’t stop until they finally get it. They know how to have the best time of their lives by enjoying every little thing life throws at them – especially those which seem insignificant and boring in the eyes of grown-ups. As we grow older, we tend to hide our true feelings because we are always conscious of what other people think of us. We force a smile even when we’re upset. We say ‘It’s ok’ even when we’re hurting badly. We pretend we don’t need anyone even when we’re feeling lonely. However, children are unlike us. When they’re hurt, they would cry out loud. When they are angry or sad, they would screw up their face to a frown. Children are also the most honest, though I’m not saying they never lie. I remember there’s one time when my little brother wanted to go out and play. I was afraid my mother won’t allow, so I told my brother to just tell mother that we’re going to the bookstore to buy something. Then my brother asked me, “Why do we have to lie to mother?” I was shocked and speechless. Though white lies are harmless at times, what children know from the teaching of their parents is that telling lies is bad. Compare to indecisive adults, children are more capable of making decisions in a faster time. So often, it takes us hours to choose an outfit when going on a date or a restaurant to have dinner. But children seem to always know what they want. The kind of toy, movie, cake, and whatever it is that they want, they won’t hesitate to get it.

When a person grows old, it doesn’t mean he has to abandon his childlike image. If we suddenly have the urge to play Barbie dolls, so what? If we suddenly feel like building sand castles at the beach, so what? What matters is that we gain happiness from what we’re doing. When a person grows old, it doesn’t mean his heart is growing old too.

Take myself for example. Even if I’m already twenty-three, I still find enjoyment in watching fairy tale movies.  I also realize that there’s a difference when you watch it as a kid compare to when you watch it now. When you’re younger, you only grasp the shallow meaning of the story, wherein fairy tales always end with ‘the prince and the princess live happily together’. But when I’m watching it now, my realization is that even though things don’t always happen the way we want it to be, we are still capable of creating our own happy endings; and this happy ending doesn’t necessarily mean ending up with Prince Charming. Just like when I was still a kid, I would never leave an amusement park without riding the merry-go-around. I used to ride it for fun before, but now I feel that the ride always brings me sheer joy and sets me free. It’s like the whole world has stopped the moment the merry-go-round starts spinning and what only matters is that moment. Hence, the same experience when happens at a different time period can give us different feelings and insights. So, sometimes the things we enjoy doing as a kid can still give us joy now.

            Indeed, people mature as they age. They are more capable and sensible in handling the different aspects of life. They also understand that reality is often cruel, unlike the fairy tale world we used to believe in. But while we are busy becoming a ‘grown-up’ and are confronted with excessive pressures and responsibilities, happiness seems to get farther from us. At that moment, we often wish we could go back to being a child - so naïve and carefree. Of course, going back to one’s childhood is impossible, but reuniting with the child in us is a choice we can always make. Even if we’re already in our twenties, thirties or forties, we can still possess the happiness and curiosity of a child.

 “Being childlike is about being spontaneous, having a sense of awe and wonder, and enjoying simple things in life.” – from Chocolate for a Teen’s Soul