Hi there every one! Hope you are all having a Happy Christmas celebration regardless of your life circumstance. I was so busy with caroling duties and other tasks that I just feel tired afterwards. My schedule for blog posts is on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays but since it’s the holidays, my schedule just went ballistic that I’m having little sleep. So I decided to temporarily postpone blogging. Anyway, everything will go back to regular programming tomorrow as I make another post for Tuesday. Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!
What can we do to make 2018 a better year for us all? It’s a given that we can’t control the things that will happen to us in the future. However, I believe that no matter what happens, we can focus on things that we have control over. Here are some things that we need to accept so that 2018 is better for us all:
- You Have to Learn How to Receive
I have seen this when you give someone a gift and they say to, “You shouldn’t have bothered” , or in my native tongue of Tagalog, “Nag-abala ka pa“. Some people react negatively when they are being given something because they think they are being pitied upon.
Worse, some think that when you’re giving them something, it’s like a putdown for them and humiliating them. It’s like you’re bragging and telling them in your face that , “It’s something you can’t afford that why I am giving you this. ”
I beg to differ in this case because when a person gives you something, included in that gift are their good intentions and happy thoughts for you. We should not say negative statements when we’re being given a gift like, “I don’t deserve this. ” Only two words are needed, and that is “Thank You.” I’ll be doing another blog post about this in the near future.
- Your Talents, Flaws, Warts and All Your Imperfections
We have to love everything about ourselves. The freckles that line our faces. That port wine stain that covers one side of your face. That beautiful brown skin you were born with. Your knack for playing the trombone. Anything. I know it’s not easy especially when there are people who might not say good things about us. Yet, we should not be defeated and we must persist. People will always talk. Damn if you do, and damn if you don’t. We have to love ourselves: our perfections and imperfections.
Yet if there’s something you want to change about yourself, do it gradually or set realistic goals on how you can attain it.
- That there will be people who will like us and there are those who won’t
We find ourselves wanting to be in agreement with every person we meet: at work, school, or at establishments. However, there will be times that there will be people whom you meet who are “tough nuts to crack”. They will never be your friend no matter how hard you try even when you try to give them something.
Solution: Forgive that person or persons, and move on. Consider them as learning experiences so that you will know what to do next time. Instead, surround yourself with people who will love you unconditionally no matter what.
- You Need to Get out of your Comfort Zone Once in a While
Yes, it always feels safe to be in familiar places, but you grow more as an individual when you face adversity. Yes, when you do things beyond your comfort zone. The choices are endless. For example, if you’re someone shy, try to ask help someone to help you gain self-confidence. I have social anxiety and sometimes I get scared when meeting new people. Yet recently, I have been attending events that allow me to network with other people like this Blogapalooza event for bloggers and vloggers that was held at the City of Dreams casino.
I recently watched this video of a boy who stutters, yet he was able to give a speech with the help of his English teacher. I would love to be a teacher who helps a student accomplish their goals.
- You have to Forgive No Matter What
People will always make mistakes so it’s important that we learn to forgive. It’s always easy to have that revenge mentality. We want those people who have hurt us feel the same pain as we did. I recently finished watching Criminal Minds Season 11 and 12 over at iflix.com. My favorite character is Dr. Spencer Reid. The common thread I see in most cases is revenge for those people who have hurt them. Unfortunately, the criminals in the TV series usually end up hurting people who are not at fault. Revenge imprisons us and keeps us in the dark. This is what unforgiveness does to a person. Unforgiveness hurts those who are not directly involved in our anger. Anger that consumes them, all that plotting and planning that it disrupts work, and life, and relationships with people. A healthy way to deal with anger at someone is to confront the person involved and talk about it.
I know that it’s not easy, but believe, I recently had a hurtful experience that shook me. I got sick afterwards after having that altercation with that toxic person. This is the reason why I wrote my last blog post Project Kindness. I have forgiven this person who hurt me, and moved on with my life.
Some may have objections about this, but I believe in the power of forgiveness. People who forgive have the power because this frees you from bondage from the person who hurt. For those who may have experienced a deeper hurt, I am hoping that you can find someone you trust to tell, a support person. I want you to be healed from that hurt.
- You Don’t Shun Love Away
The love that we know of is romantic love, the kind that thrills and excites us when we see the person we want to be with for the rest of our lives like being in a roller coaster. But what happens when that romance is all gone? For example, when both of you become old and frail, teeth falling out, and having uncontrolled bladders, will you still love each other? What will you do when you realize that a family member suddenly becomes temperamental due to an illness, will you give up? I am talking about agape, a kind of love that is unconditional, a love that accepts, and forgives no matter what .
Another point I must make is for those who have experienced a heart-break in their lives. For example getting dumped or rejected. I have had that experience where I told a guy that I liked him, but he’d rather be friends. Well I got hurt at first, but I am glad I am still friends with him despite that. Why? It’s because we were friends from the start.
Another situation I had is from this guy who I really like so much, and it turns out that he’s gay. I wish he had told me that because I would have accepted what he said. I may get hurt, but yeah at least he should have told me. But that didn’t happen because the only thing he said to me was that he needed space. I am yet to have closure with this guy because I never got the chance to talk to him about it. Every time I go to this place, I see him there but you know it in your heart that he likes someone else because if he did really like me, he’d push for it and go after me. But he didn’t. End of the story.
What’s the point of these examples I have given? Choose love no matter what. If you have not experienced love at all from those who should give you love, then look for someone to love like those lonely people in the Nursing home near you, or your pet whom you consider family. I love my little bunny Earl Grey who is going to be three next year. I will go crazy without him. I find myself talking to him sometimes about things that happened to me. I call him Bunnyssissimus Dorsi and Floofster. Funny but true.
If there’s someone who may be hinting at you, and you like them too, please, don’t be afraid and give love a chance. You have to give fate a hand. For those who are lucky enough to find the love of your life, don’t be afraid to show them actions that express that love. I remember one of my teachers in school say that, ” Love must be felt. It must show in everything that you do towards others.” Let’s make things simple. After all, love is not a noun but a verb, as country singer Clint Black puts it in his song entitled Love is Something that We Do
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