Don't Tell...

But when someone asks, you must not lie.

This usually applies for petty stuff.

However, when it comes to a magnitude where something you would reveal destroys lives if not entire nations (and its people with it), you might need to re-assess your intentions.

I believe in the truth. I believe in freedom of expression. I also believe in cruel intentions (no pun intended).

You can lie all you want and shout to the world that you were just helping, just exposing evil.

But you know yourself better than anyone. You know what drives your actions.

You are.

If your conscience is truthfully calm, then you can rest your case.

You did the right thing.

The Middle Ground...

Sometimes we fall into a vicious cycle of repetitive argumentative and/or annoying discussion with someone who seems to misunderstand or don't get at all what you're trying to say.

If that's the case, I'd say I'm pretty sure that the other doesn't really understand what you're trying to say even if you so believe that you've done extra miles to try to explain your side.

When you notice that you're becoming victim or perpetrator of this wasteful endeavor. Stop. Breath. Think. Breath again.

Chances are you are talking about something under some unspoken assumptions.

Like trying to describe a duck to someone who's thinking you're talking about a pig.

Don't assume. Ask, elaborate... and do so calmly.

Reading Wisely...

In this age where ideas can cross the world many times over in seconds, we are constantly flooded with data from thoughtless even useless banter to golden information.

So beware, we might be getting so used to reading tweets and skimming through friends' feeds we're somehow neglecting to catch on more important things our lives could have depended on.

There's nothing bad about keeping up with your social network, but also it's good to read practicable stuff.

Read and read and read, but wisely.

The Sad Truth...

There's almost always sadness to chance upon something you're not supposed to know.

That they aren't your real parents, that she/he cheated on you, that people around you are using you, the list goes on.

It can really wreck a day or two if not your entire life. And you can always choose to dwell on it OR you can choose to move on.

In any case, however you carry yourself, the fact remains that it is the truth and it won't be changed.

No matter what.

Who am I?

I am Jean Valjean.

Want and Need...

There's a big difference.

And it will always dictate how much you will have left in your wallet ('cept of course if you're filthy rich).

Easy = identify which is which.

Clincher = keep out of the expensive option

A way out = Think "Then I'll just have a better one next time."

Always say next time.

There's another spot where procrastination shines.

Blame...

It's part of human instinct to point fingers when eveything falls down.

Note - human instict.

Note - instinct.

Humans were never slaves to instinct. Instead of finding the culprit, do something now - and fast - to curb the repercussions.

Then investigate how it happened and plan how to prevent it from happening again (and hopefully, no one gets fired).

C'mon, do we really have time to blame people?

Some have - I guess - aplenty.

The Final Stretch...

Is never final.

You could do,
you could be,
you could give...

something more.

Everything in Moderation...

We all need constant guidance to change our ways. We all need credible references to tell us when enough is enough.

I've heard of this one anchor 3 years ago and it stuck:

Everything in moderation.

When you feel that you want more, think moderation.

I am not saying that you waddle through mediocrity - that is a confusingly lazy interpretation.

Everything in moderation is just a constant reminder - to those who might have needed it - to stop saying "Ok last bite, last bite.." then saying it again and again every ten bites later.

Time Dilation

In modern times, a second is defined as the specific number of oscillations of a cesium-133 atom in its ground state - magenetic, thermodynamic, relativistic factors aside.

Just recently I've pondered why some moments in our lives seem slower (or faster) than usual. A year would seem like a second, some minutes an eternity.

Consider this: we have observed time as an absolute measurement and as a shared perception among sane individuals. Does this make our experiences of "slowness" illusions? I dare say not.

On the contrary, I believe those were very real indeed. During those moments, the cesium atom's oscillations were ignored. It was our pscyhe in control and subconsciously, we have prolonged our lives if only for a moment.

What if humans evolved and learned to hold this "state" subconsciously?

Immortality.

Complacence...

...can be a dangerous state of mind.

It nurtures laziness.
It harbors inaction.
It dulls the mind.

It's not so bad to question your beliefs and your principles every now and then.

It wouldn't hurt to see things from a different perspective.

Now, start with your religion.

Questions...

Are you truly happily?

Do you feel that you still want to have more?

Have you done anything about it?

Did you just ignore it (whatever it was)?

Then, why do you still think about it?

Why don't you do something?

Not enough time?

Don't know?

(Or too lazy?)

Really?

How many more years have you left to live?

Are you sure?

So what to do?

And when?

And how?

And what for?

Change

Are you someone who waits for change?

I can only say this to you: better luck next life.

You can't expect someone to pull you off of your safety net and send you up Utopia.

If you want change, start it.

I mean, now.

Go!

Mastering One's Emotions

One's emotions - feelings - are reflections of one's thoughts.

Recall those times when you snapped out of it; those times you felt down, or useless. Try to remember what you were saying to yourself then?

Right. Most likely, you were thinking negative thoughts. Whatever it was you were saying to yourself (which nobody heard or knew by the way), it was making you feel ugly, that you were "the victim".

Believe me when I say your own thoughts draw your emotions, your face, your body language; and ugly ones aren't very good painters.

You are totally in control of your heart so you just have to be aware of it, always. The key? It's in your mind. Hone it.

When you start thinking bad thoughts, STOP! Look around. Breathe. It takes a moment to break yourself, and may take a lifetime to recover.

Don't let yourself become a slave to your emotions. You are the master of your own.

One for Two

My later grandpa had this bizarre way of making coffee.

One teaspoon of instant coffee for two of sugar.

However big the cup is, however much hot water he had, whatever type of coffee he used, he always made his coffee this way. One teaspoon for two of sugar.

Of course I was only a child then and it was only when I reached my teen years when I realized the strangeness of this "mantra".

I vaguely remember asking him, "Wouldn't it taste bad likes this?", especially when he used a bigger cup, and he will always say, "It's always been best this way."

I always wondered why.

Just lately I talked to my mom about the coffee method and she told me about my grandma, who left us a good 20 years earlier than old pops.

While she was still living, she would make coffee for my pops every morning, 7 am sharp. Every time she got too sick to do this, my grandpa would have to do it on his own, but he will always forget the recipe, so he would ask and always get the same response,

"One teaspoon of coffee for two of sugar."

The Danger of Knowing

Once a mind has started thinking it has fully understood, it becomes conceited.

That is the danger of knowing.

When a mind is conceited...

...it refuses to accept new things

...it rejects learning and opinions

...it might even become oppressive

...it dies

How many times have you blurted out at somebody for not knowing how to do things? Simple things, as you thought back then.

Have you ever thought of this: "That you do not know enough of what you thought you knew, even if you invented or created it?"

Has it occurred to you that you've been imposing your "knowledge" to someone who doesn't agree with your point of view?

Reflect.

Think.

Re-learn your ways.

You might just be an inch away from killing your mind.