beauty
love
joy
peace
faithfulness
gentleness
patience
self-control
(1) The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Let it come in. We think we dont deserve love, we think
if we let it in we'll become too soft. But a wise man called Levine said it right. Love is the only rational act. (2) Sometimes, in the mornings, that's when i mourn. I feel around my body,
I move my fingers and my hands--whatever I can still move-- and I mourn for what I've lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I am dying. But then, i stop. I give myself a good cry if
i need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. YOU. (3) The culture doesnt encourage us to think about regrets until you're about to die. We're so wrapped up with
egotistical things, career, family, having enough money--trillions of little acts just to keep going. We dont have the habit to stand back and look at our lives "Is this all I want?" You need
someone to probe you in that direction. It doesnt happen automatically. I have found my teacher. Have you found yours? (4) Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live. Listen to that bird
on your shoulder, if you accept that you can die at any time, you might not be as ambitious as you are. (5) Love each other or perish. Family-- nothing else can give you spiritual security. Not
money, not fame. (6) Learn to detach. Dont cling to things, because everything is impermanent. Let the experience penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it. If you dont allow yourself
to go all the way through them, you can never get to being detached. You're too busy being afraid, afraid of pain, grief and vulnerability. Throw yourself into these emotions. Dive in, all the way.
Then, you will know what the emotions are, and detach. (7) You have to find what's good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And age, is not
competitive. How can I be envious of where you are--when I've been there myself? (8) Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community and people around you, create something
that gives you meaning. Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. When you do, you wont be dissatified, envious and longing for someone else's things. On the contrary, you'll be overwhelmed
with what comes back. (9) Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.Think of my voice and I will be there. (10) Respect, compromise and talk openly. Have a common set of values in life with
your partner. (11) The biggest defect we human beings have is our short-sightedness. Invest in the human family. Invest in those you love and who love you. In the beginning of life, when we were infants,
we need others to survive, right? At the end of life, you need others to survive right? (12) Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Tears are okay. Life is a tension of opposites. (13) As long as we can love
each other, and remember, the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. Death ends a life, not a rlnship. (14) I love you, Coach. He had finally made me cry.
Above-- excerpts fr Tuesdays with Morrie... (My entries, links and tagboard are in that order -> respectively.)
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Friday, August 12, 2005
OKAY. serious issue here. my MSN nick.
Define friends. Ask yourself if you fit the definition that you yourself have given. Look at my definition of friends. Now, ask yourself if you are qualified to be my friend. I dont want to give friendships so easily now.. especially after today.
Friends to me.. are people who are helpful enough to help me through my darkest days. Friends to me.. are those who stand by me and go through difficult periods i have TOGETHER with me, not dumping me in the cold, helpless. Friends are those who ask me, "Brena, you look pale. You ok?" or give me a pat on my back to comfort me.. to tell me that they're always there for me. Friends are those who give themselves to me unselfishly and in turn, i give my whole unreservedly and wholeheartedly n unselfishly to them. Friends are those.. who know that i will never want to take advantage of them and they dont take advantage of my kindness as well. Friends are simply those.. who tell me and comfort me that "Brena, dont worry. You'll be safe. In God's Hands and in our hands." Friends are those who MSN me after seeing my nick going "Sick." or "Sad.." or simply a ":(" Friends are those who will never deny my presence and existence.. and know that even when i am miles away from them.. they will be there for me.. Friends are those.. who do not go.. "You'll meet somebody new after we leave. I am sure." instead, they go.. "No matter the distance, my heart is with you and we'll support you!" Friends are simply those people... who love me for who i am, who helps me as much as i help others.. Friends are those that stick through me.. Like glue, and that i can never shake them away.. and they can never shake me away. They are selfless. They are sacrificial. They never ask for rewards.
Now, you claim that you're my friend. Now, look at what i mean by friends. Look if you've done all these for me. Look n reflect again. ARE YOU MY FRIEND? Or, shall i say, do you even have the qualities to be my friend? I am sick and tired of giving away friendships and yet, feeling lonely n helpless as though i am without friends.
-b-
*brena*; timed 7:09 PM