Ithaca by Cavafy

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

Lessons from the irreparable laptop

This coming June, if my laptop is still working it would be 2 years old. However, last December 25, a fatal accident occurred to my first ever "expensive" possession. (I operationally define expensive in quotes here as not easily purchasable within a month of payroll.) My beloved mother accidentally stepped on it, because I "carelessly" put the laptop onto my bed.

The screen was broken. But i did not automatically have it checked. I tried if it still works. Oh, great it was still working! Disregarding the "lines", you can still view from it. So I kept on using it. Then, vacation time ended, I haven't had it checked it yet. I was too busy that it has been on the bottom of my priorities, since I was using my sister's laptop. (Thanks to her, I survived second sem!).

And last week, I had it checked. Finally! But it was toooooo effin laaaaaaaaate! The damaged severed and irreparable. The motherboard was burned so it shut downed permanently.

With that heartbreaking news, the hope that I can still use my very first laptop, my own hardwork sweat and blood reward to self was gone... gone with the wind. Not only that. Now, I cannot retrieve my files!!!!! the pictures i had years agooooo!!! I recovered the harddrive but I could not access the users in my computer :((

Lesson: LEARN TO BACK UP FILES!!!!!!

But really, the main lesson here is that, I should have been more careful in discerning that one "broken" scenario is already an ALARM, a wake-up call to do something-that is to have it fixed. But, i disregarded that. Now, not only the screen is broken, but the WHOLE unit is irreparable.

Life lesson: Don't treat a simple mistake as simple. Treat it as something worth attending to. We never know its real worth unless, the damaged has been totally irreparable. :(

3 points to ponder...three points to score

There are three things i realized over the 1st quarter of the year 2013.

1. There are only three days to live life: YESTERDAY, TODAY, and TOMORROW. 

A balanced of being in the "now", small ounce of looking forward to a better future, and looking back at the past in a positive way are enough to survive life, enjoy it and live it to the fullest. It is easier said than done, but it is always worth trying.

When we live in the "moment", it is hard to notice that "missing" thing or that "problem in the past"... because now is not scary, or now is not stressful. NOW is enjoying the company of people around you, finishing THAT thing that creates passion in you OR that HOPE that everything will fall into place is in the NOW.

2. The values we uphold sets out priorities. 

If we value relationships, then we'll always make time for our family and friends and significant other.

If we value loyalty and respect, then we will always act as if whatever we do to someone will have the possibility of happening to us as well. 

If we value excellence, then we will not be satisfied with a mediocre's output.

If we value free will, then we will not impose or demand. A little assertiveness is alright.

If we value love, then we know that we do't have to long for it anymore. It is always there. From our family, friends, colleagues, even from strangers. They show care. They show love. And God is love. He is there.

If we value peace of mind and faith, then we know that no matter what, we will always come to Him.

I wanted to share this story i heard from a friend. 

God knocks on my house. I let Him in, but I kept him in my guestroom. He stayed there. The devil knocks in. I don't want him inside my house, but he is powerful. He destroys my life. I long for help and I know one who can reverse it and sustain balance--God. But He is inside the guest room. And being the 'guest', He didn't have any right to mingle in that life. 

Let us make Him part of our life, not only the guest.

3. Lastly, a balanced life is not a balanced life, even if you claim it to be if you don't live it. Be women and men of integrity and serenity.