The Start of Something New

"Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly."

Robert Franklin Kennedy wants us to know only one important thing in his quotation above and it is to allow ourselves to commit mistakes. Isn't it true that almost everybody feels like it's the end of the world when it comes to committing mistakes? That's what I feel too when I receive a failing mark in my report card. The world crumbles in front of me. It's hard to accept. However, we should erase this idea in our minds, because, if we did not, we'll be really sad, and that's for sure. Not only it will affect yourself, but it will also affect the people around you.

I heard and watched reports of people, who hurt themselves or killed themselves, just because of a little mistake. At times, the reason could be, "I was reprimanded by my parents. I failed them and I cannot accept it." At times, the reason could be, "I was fired." At times, the reason could be, "I thought he loved me, but now, he left me!" Or perhaps, the reason could be, "I have a failing mark in my report card." There are still many more, of course and these are only examples.

I understand the situation of these people and it is really depressing. Yet, there is no need for them to do such things that either could hurt them or kill them. What if you're the only child of your parents, then you ended your life? Is this what you'll repay them, after all that they've done? What if you are the bread winner of your family? How could they survive without you? What future is in store for them? Let us not include them, if we really care for them.

When you commit a mistake, it's okay. You'll not lose everything. Don't be ashamed to stand again. Mistakes are not the only thing that keeps you alive. There are other things worth crying for. Be sure that you will never commit it again. We're lucky that God made us like pencils. We could erase our mistakes and make it right. Only we could make it right. In our mistakes, we could learn a lot from them and eventually, we could succeed because of them. Let us not think of negative things, for it could happen in reality. As they say, "As you think, so it is."

Our life is too short. God gave life to us and we should not waste it, but be thankful for it. Let us always think that our mistakes are the start of something new.

Like a comet

Time flies fleetingly. One day, you were born and the next thing you know you are a grown-up adult with a job. Then, the next thing you know, you’re celebrating your 100th birthday with your grandchildren. I can feel all the things that happened to me and they all passed with the blink of an eye. It feels so surreal.

I can vividly remember my dad saying, “I got promoted and we are all moving to Iloilo! Aren’t you happy, girls?” Oh, if you just saw my jaw dropped, at least touching my toes. My eyes were not even blinking, to see if what was happening at that time was real or not. Eventually, I found out that it was real and it was final.

As the days passed, I cannot sleep, think, or even eat. My usual energy was not within me. My dad’s words were stuck in my head and I can’t get them off. It was killing me. Of course, I was happy for my dad, for getting promoted, but I can’t stand the idea of moving somewhere else. I just can’t leave all my friends here. It would be really sad, if I cannot see them for years. Plus, my school is my alma matter. Why won’t they let us stay here?

When summer time came, my family and I fixed everything in order to move to Iloilo. Saying goodbye was hard, but, yes, I need to accept it. I need to understand it. My dad says that being away from our ‘comfort zone’ would be a big help to us. Nevertheless, at that moment, I would not believe him. Every day and every night was a torture for me. This is really the first time that I will experience moving to a different zone.

As I stepped on Iloilo soil, a big knot was forming inside me. My mind was inhaling all the negative things around me. I was so paranoid. As the first day of school came, it was like dreaming a nightmare. I want to wake up and promise myself never to dream this again. As I entered our classroom, the noisy 'buzzing' of my classmates turned off and every head turned to look at me. Every step I took, they looked intently at me. I wondered, “What could they be thinking of me?” In addition, I was the only new student there in our sixth year of elementary. It was like entering a world of aliens. I could feel myself go red in the face. Oh, this was hard. They speak a different language. Perhaps, the thing I could only do is to complain and complain. Time passed, days vanished and slowly I was adjusting and adjusting.

Now, as I reflect on that first day, I was surprised that two years has already gone by. Eventually, I became open to the changes that I encountered, and they help me to grow. My dad was right. It is not that bad to make a change or to feel a change. However, it was hard to be away from the people or the things that I have cared and loved most. At this time, I am glad to be experiencing such changes and I have to cherish these. Time is really fast, and I have to make the best of it, because maybe, tomorrow is my 100th birthday.

Wickedly Delicious

In our world today, vampire books are so in. Especially, the Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer. Each time I enter a bookstore, they would welcome me in. They’re exotic, interesting, mysterious, and glamorous. On the contrary, why not try something different?
No need to worry because this book is quite the same with the vampire books, except for the fact that we’re talking about faeries.

The first time, I saw this book, was in a bookstore. At first, I kind of like the story, but then, there was another book that I was supposed to buy. But, my eldest sister kept bugging me. So, I bought it and I read it. And you know what, I was in love. Truly, madly, deeply. It was different from any books I’ve read.

It’s about Aislinn, a girl who sees faeries. In faery tales, they are lovely, delightful and good. But, here, you see their darkness. They are powerful and dangerous. Wicked. They hide in the mortal world. Aislinn is taught all her life to pretend not to see them. But, a faery king changes her life forever, asking her to defeat his mother, the ruthless, unsympathetic Winter Queen. Not only her life is at stake, but also her freedom, her best friend, Seth and everything. Whatever she chooses, it’s up to her. Faery intrigue, and mortal love, Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely is a brilliant twenty-first century faery tale.

So, come on, give it a chance, for I’m sure, you’ll never regret it. Try something different and maybe you’ll love it. Remember, there’s no harm in trying.

To my heart's content

All day, I was just pretending to be at school. Of course, I was there, physically. But, not mentally. Through the motions of classes, my mind was somewhere else. A place I haven’t been to before. Places where peculiar things happen, places unvisited by many, and places with magic. They are places unimaginable.

At school, my friends would sometimes nudge me from daydreaming. Then, I would be surprise that a lot of time has passed. At times, I would be staring at anything that is interesting, and would be curious about it. In that case, I always wonder if it is astounding as the dreams I’ve been dreaming. The dreams are the places that I’ve been mentioning awhile ago. And they are inside a book. It would seem awkward, if it really wasn’t a place you’ve been expecting me to say. It would seem uncoordinated that it’s not quite real. Of course, books are real, but what I am saying, are the contents of a book.

Since the day that I knew how to read, I didn’t care about books. I do not care to read a book. All I think about, is to eat, play, watch the television, and sleep. I think that’s my routine everyday. Talk about being idle. Even so, my mom bought me this book with forty-nine chapters in it. It is entitled as Magyk, by Angie Sage. At first, I was bored, but I gave it a chance and I found it to be really far-fetching. When I was bored, I would curl on the sofa and read. It all started with that book. Days, months and even years had passed by and I still love books. Fiction, non-fiction, encyclopedias or any kind of reading material were the love of my life. Even though, the Internet is there for my assignments, sometimes I prefer to search facts inside the encyclopedia. It’s long, detailed, and has correct grammar. Which is what I really liked about it. Though, it’s not updated.

Anywhere I go, I do not leave the house with a book. The reason? I can’t live without it. The stories are unforgettable. It makes my imagination spread farther and farther. At times, I imagined myself as the protagonist of the story. I could feel it. Sometimes, I thought it was real. I thought it exists. But I will never say it’s wrong. It is the one that makes me believe in my dreams. It is the one that makes me see the possibilities of things I’ve never imagined. It makes me jump off my bed in the wee hours of the morning. It makes my heart beat slow and fast at the same time. Books are never boring. It makes my heart and mind contented.

Each time, I open any book, it invites me to enhance my vocabulary words, my grammar and pronunciation. It invites me to learn more of the world through reading. So, now, I do not hesitate to read a book. For as Gertrude Stein quoted, "Writing and reading is to me synonymous with existing."