Does one really know what love is?

We often mistake it for a crush, an infatuation or sometimes, even for the sheer joy in companionship. Sometimes, we think it's a feeling that we have when our hearts continue throbbing hard when we see that special person. Or when our knees start to shake and begin to weaken. But can anyone really define love? I don't think so, not even the ones who think they have felt it, or those who are feeling it, or those who hope they will feel it. Not even my philosophy teacher. Because love is not something that you define... it's a decision.

When you feel that you love one person, how can you tell that he or she won't feel the same way for the next person who comes along? Love is not a feeling, it's a decision. 'Coz, when it's a feeling, it is something that floats in the air, something you cannot touch or dare to comprehend. Love, when it's a decision, makes it solid, makes it a commitment, makes it more lasting and more real. You can feel that you can be in love 20 million times in a day, but when you decide to be in love, you can only decide to be in love with one person once in your lifetime. You commit and you hold on to that decision. And when you turn your back on that decision, it means you were never in love in the first place.

Love should never fade. Because when it does, it means it's just an emotion. Love will never fade because a decision, once done, is something you stand up for and fight for-no matter what. What does "I love you" mean? Some people find it easy to say the words but what really matter is being ready to stand up for it when you say those words. Are you ready to face all the consequences after saying those magical words?

If you can say "I love you" long after all the tough times, all the good times and after all the words that come hurting you, then the meaning of those words becomes real. Believe in those words... others are afraid to say them, but there will come a time when one won't be afraid of those wordscoming out of one's mouth. It's just a matter of when will you be strong enough to fight for love. And you can say the words "no matter what". Saying "I love you" is a major decision in one's life.

Those words should be sacred, should be kept in your heart until you are ready to commit, to fight for that feeling and to stand by those words. Is love a product of destiny? No, I believe there's no such thing as destiny. Thus, if love is a product of destiny, then you choose to love, you decide to love. Your destiny is the path that you choose to take. <<adopted>>

Learning Love

"Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task.
It runs counter to our self-centered nature.
That is why we are given a lifetime to learn it...
Nevertheless, we need to learn it..."

Natural Highs

1. Falling in love.

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3. A hot shower.

4. No lines at the supermarket.

5. A special glance.

6. Getting mail.

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).

12. A bubble bath.

13. Giggling.

14. A good conversation.

15. The beach

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

17. Laughing at yourself.

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they love you.

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

20. Running through sprinklers.

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

22. Having someone tell you that you look good.

23. Laughing at an inside joke.

24. Friends.

25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

29. Playing with a new puppy.

30. Having someone play with your hair.

31. Sweet dreams.

32. Hot chocolate.

33. Road trips with friends.

34. Swinging on swings.

35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

36. Making chocolate chip cookies.

37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

38 Holding hands with someone you care about.

39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

40. Watching the blank expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.

41. Watching the sunrise.

42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

43. Knowing that somebody misses you.

44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

When you love...

When you love, never stick only to what your heart feels...

Remember that sometimes, using your brain is a necessity...

Next, never use your eyes to cry for a guy who fooled you.

Instead, use it to search for the right one...

Lastly, don’t be scared of breaking up....

Keeping a relationship with an evil guy is much scary...

Take note:

Love the one who will fight for you and bravely face each and every consequence...

Someone whom you can call a MAN rather than a BOY!

You need not tell him that, though...

<< a repost >>

Real Love Means Patience

"... In God's time, we'll fall in love for the right reasons and to the right person. When that time comes, love will be worth the tears and the long wait. Then we will forget we cried and be thankful we waited..."

Sail On!

You cannot discover new oceans,
unless you have the courage
to lose sight of the shore...

Because only those who risk
can tell how far they can go.

As we sail through life,
don't avoid storms and rough waters.

Just let them pass.

Sail on.

Because calm seas,
never make skillful sailors.

Enjoy sailing life!

Life with No Regrets

Never regret the choices you make. Just believe in yourself and have faith. Life is not perfect; it's a blend of joy and sorrow.

Wherever life leads you, it always has a purpose.

Do what makes you happy. Life is not based on the money you earn and the success you achieved. It's all about being happy with who you are, who you're with, who you've got, who you love and who makes your life worth living!

So cheer up and get a life!

Why Friends are More Important

A friend's love is more than a lover.
A lover may leave, but a friend will stay.
A lover could demand, but a friend would help.
A friend could love you more than a lover could do.

You can search for a lover here and there, but you can't find an instant friend.
So treasure the friends you have coz they are more important.

Perspective Reborn

After a while you learn the subtle difference between
holding a hand and chaining a soul...
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning and company doesn't mean security...
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises...


And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open,
with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrows ground
is too uncertain for plans.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So plant your garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers...

And you learn that you really are strong and you really do have worth.

~~ a repost ~~

Making and Keeping Friends

Without friends, you are lost. With friends, you can easily laugh and enjoy each other’s company. You feel safer and supported. You can share your ideas and feelings. And of course, there is respect for each other.

A real friend is a twin soul. With friends, you can laugh your heart out, say crazy things, make funny faces, and curse without limits. You feel comfortable, free and jovial around them.

With friends, you can also cry your soul out, lament on your failures, mend your broken heart and grieve forever. Real friends cannot afford to see you sulking alone.

Making new friends is not hard, keeping them is harder. The longer you preserve friendship, the more genuine and real it becomes. Collect friends without giving up on the old ones. Value those who say “Hi and see you later!” than those who say “Hello and goodbye.” Start building a lasting friendship – one that can stand the test of time.

Make new friends now… and be one.

How to Stay Young (George Carlin)

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

All About Smiles

Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.


A smile confuses an approaching frown. ~Author Unknown


People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. ~Lee Mildon


A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~Phyllis Diller


Smile. Have you ever noticed how easily puppies make human friends? Yet all they do is wag their tails and fall over. ~Walter Anderson, The Confidence Course, 1997


The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author Unknown


Start every day with a smile and get it over with. ~W.C. Fields


Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available. ~Jim Beggs


A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. ~Charles Gordy


Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator


The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. ~William Shakespeare, Othello


A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home. ~Author Unknown


If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. ~Andy Rooney


If you smile at someone, they might smile back. ~Author Unknown


Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile. ~Author Unknown


Everyone smiles in the same language. ~Author Unknown


If you don't have a smile, I'll give you one of mine. ~Author Unknown


I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown


Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. ~George Eliot


She gave me a smile I could feel in my hip pocket. ~Raymond Chandler


A smile appeared upon her face as if she'd taken it directly from her handbag and pinned it there. ~Loma Chandler


A laugh is a smile that bursts. ~Mary H. Waldrip


If you don't start out the day with a smile, it's not too late to start practicing for tomorrow. ~Author Unknown


Smiling is my favorite exercise. ~Author Unknown


Wear a smile - one size fits all. ~Author Unknown


No matter how grouchy you're feeling,
You'll find the smile more or less healing.
It grows in a wreath
All around the front teeth -
Thus preserving the face from congealing.
~Anthony Euwer


Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day. ~Author Unknown


Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa


A friendly look, a kindly smile, one good act, and life's worthwhile. ~Author Unknown


A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. ~Washington Irving


Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. ~Charles Reade


A smile is the universal welcome. ~Max Eastman


Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to. ~Author Unknown


You're never fully dressed without a smile. ~Martin Charnin


It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown. ~Author Unknown


Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~Janet Lane


All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile. ~Chris Hart


If you would like to spoil the day for a grouch, give him a smile. ~Author Unknown


Peace begins with a smile. ~Mother Teresa


A smile is a powerful weapon; you can even break ice with it. ~Author Unknown


A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown


It takes a lot of work from the face to let out a smile, but just think what good smiling can bring to the most important muscle of the body... the heart. ~Author Unknown

Tired of Being Tough?

Are you bored? Are you tired of being the tough guy? Have you taken many things in your life for granted? By looking at the world a little differently, you just might realize how much you have to be thankful for. Here's how to stop and smell the roses.

#1. Look around and pay attention to the people around you. You will find that everybody has something to worry or complain about, not just you. It's easy to focus on those who seem to have it all, but you never know what's going on inside. They might look happy, but they might be miserable as well. Don't look at others and think "I should have it like they do." Look at those who aren't as fortunate as you are and count your blessings.


#2. Practice acceptance. Stop dwelling on how things should be, what could've been, and what you don't have. Recognize what you do have--whether you like it or not, it's yours to keep or to change. Accepting your lot in life is not about resigning yourself to unhappiness. It's about not wasting time lamenting or denying your problems. Take them for what they are and...


#3. Become a problem solver. Use your lemons to make lemonade. Get in the habit of asking yourself how you can turn the negative into a positive. The most successful people in life, and those who have the most to be grateful for, are also those who've endured tremendous trials and managed to persevere and turn it all around.


#4. Learn to see hardship as a chance to develop character. Imagine yourself looking back ten years from now and recounting your difficult circumstances, and being proud of how you handled it and worked through it.


#5. Focus on what you can control. Stop concentrating on your situation, and on conditions and incidents that happened to you and that you have no control over. Instead, shift your focus on what you can control: your response, and your behavior.


#6. Take joy in the small things. Blow bubbles with your kids. Play with a puppy. Get lost in the park. Goof off and have a good laugh. Life's treasures are the small pleasures. Give thanks for each small gift you receive!


I hope this will inspire you too...

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Thankful

15 Things You Probably Never Knew or Thought About

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

15. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.

Life is too short

Life is too short.

Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness.

Laugh when you can... Apologize when you should... And let go of what you can't change.

Love deeply and forgive quickly.

Take chances, give everything and have no regrets.. Life's too short to be unhappy. You have to take good with the bad...

Smile when you're sad...

Love what you got.. and always remember what you had...

Always forgive, never forget..

Learn from your mistakes... but never regret...

Understanding Love

Love isn't just about the words, but the meaning behind it...

It's not just "you can trust me" but "I'll never make you doubt"...

Not just "don't do this" but "let me do it for you"

Not just "take care" but "let me hold your hand"

Not just "don't go there" but "let me go with you"

Not just "I'm sorry" but "I'l never hurt you again"

Not just "I'm here" but "I'll never leave"

Not just "don't worry" but "I'l never give you a reason to worry"



Not just "I'll try my best" but "I'll do whatever it takes"

Not just "I Love You..." but "Life has no meaning without you"...

What Makes the Heart Sing?

By Anita S. Meily, Philippine Panorama Vol. 34, No. 13

Everyone wants to be happy. However, happiness can be very elusive because sometimes we look for it in the wrong places. Some people get married to be happy and when they’re not, they blame their mate. One who is not a happy person to begin with cannot find it in marriage either.

Wealth? Some people think: If only I can be rich, I surely be happy. Little do they know that sometimes wealth only causes more problems: envy, family squabbles, or less time with the family.

Youth? Researches claim that older people are more consistently satisfied with their lives than the young. Perhaps, there is less confusion about life and less pressure to achieve.

So what makes the heart sing? Here are some pointers:

Rutt Veenhoven, professor of happiness studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, claims that people between the ages of 30 to 50 are less happy than other groups perhaps because in midlife, they have “less freedom and more responsibilities” in terms of kids, jobs and mortgages. People are most happiest when their job allows them a certain amount of freedom and decision-making power.

Veenhoven concludes: “Happiness is how much you like the life you are living.” Happiness is not a static stage. Researchers claim that the cheeriest people feel blue at times, and even the bluest ones have their moments of joy.

What are the things that make one happy? First of all, religious faith lifts the spirit. How can one not feel happy when one knows there is a God who loves you even more than you love yourself? Another factor is friends. Studies conducted at the University of Illinois showed that “the most salient characteristics shared by the 10 percent of students with the highest levels of happiness and the fewest signs of depression were their strong ties to friends and family.

Sonja Lynbomirsky, psychologist from the University of California has the following suggestions on how to lift your level of happiness:

• Count your blessings. Too often we take all the good things in life for granted until we lose them: our health, our spouse, our children, etc. A researcher suggests jotting down in a “gratitude journal” once a week, three to five things you are thankful for.
• Practice acts of kindness. Being kind to people gives you positive vibes, especially when you get smiles and “thank you.”
• Savor life’s joys. Sometimes, we are so busy making money or even doing apostolic work that we don’t take time to smell the roses or watch the sunset.
• Thank a mentor. Take time to express your gratitude to someone who guided or is still guiding you through life’s crossroads: a parent, grandparent, teacher, friend, spiritual director, etc.
• Learn to forgive. Inability to forgive is pride, and hurts one more than the one who wronged you.
• Invest time and energy in family and friends. As is often said, at your deathbed, you will not regret the loss of a deal, or less time spent at the office. What you will regret is the time you might have spent with your family and friends.
• Take care of your body. Get enough sleep, exercise and take care of your diet. Smile and laugh your way through life. They say 20 seconds of hearty laughter is equivalent to 15 minutes of aerobics.
• Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardships. A good relationship with the Lord will help you cope with whatever life deals you. Another way is to go out and help the less fortunate. “An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves,” according to Lydia M. Child.

In the Time Magazine issue, Alan Robles writes that it doesn’t take much to make Filipinos happy. Despite poverty, corruption, inequality, and everything else, Filipinos are happy because for us, “happiness isn’t material – it’s social.” We are happiest when we are in a group. Above all else, it is our strong faith in God that keeps us happy. Therein lies our salvation as a people.

--end--

Mending a Broken Heart

Feeling broken hearted is just about the worst pain in the world. It can also seem endless - luckily it isn't.

So, you're nursing a broken heart? What you have to remember is that you can get through it. Ask around and you'll find that loads of people you know have had their hearts broken. Most of them are OK now. And one day you'll be OK too. Better than that you'll be fine. But right now, it's hard to believe that.

First love

Getting over your first love is incredibly difficult. This is because we all think our first, real, wonderful, romantic love will last forever. Funnily enough, we don't look at our friends and their early relationships and think that they will last forever. And we know statistically that most people do not fall in love at 17 or thereabouts and stay with that person for life. But knowing these things does not seem to stop us from feeling that our particular first love is golden and timeless and unlike any other. So when it ends it's shattering.

The only comfort is that this romance has shown you how much love you have to give. And people with love to give are attractive individuals that others are drawn to. One day, you'll look back at your first love and realise that it was a great dress rehearsal for subsequent relationships. But you're unlikely to feel that right now.

Treat yourself gently

You can feel so 'knocked' after your heart is broken that you feel seriously ill, or as if you've been in a car crash. So, treat yourself as if you are recovering from a bad illness or a road traffic accident. Let other people care for you, too. Get as much sleep as possible. Eat lovely foods. Convalesce. And allow yourself to cry - even if you're a bloke. It's horrible at the time, but you'll feel better afterwards. All in all, take life gently - you've had a shock, and your mind and body need time to get over it.

Pep up your social life

Your friends will help you get over it. Soon, they'll be asking you to come out in a group to the cinema or the pub or whatever. At first you won't be in the mood, but soon you'll realize that there are some bonuses to being single again. In fact, you'll find that this is a good time to do stuff that you didn't do with your ex. So now you can go to the sorts of films that you like, or you can listen to your type of music, or go on your type of holiday.

Look back to look forwards

Once you're over the stage of feeling shocked and ill, try to look back at your relationship as it really was, not through the rose-tinted spectacles you've worn for so long.

Write a list of the things that you don't miss about your ex. At first you'll be thinking that you loved everything about this person, but you didn't. What about those awful jokes, the rows, how you always had to make the arrangements if anything was to get done, the times when your ex put you down or made you feel stupid or how they didn't like your best mate? There are always elements to our past loves that weren't right, and this is a good time to focus on them.

Starting again

Sometimes when our hearts are broken we want to find someone new to love us as soon as possible. This is natural - but unwise. Your best bet is to embrace your single life wholeheartedly for six months or so. Obviously you may end up having sex with other people - but do make sure it's safe sex. However, your emotions are not going to settle for quite a while, so have fun, but don't go looking for anything else serious until you're happy without your ex. You'll know you're getting over your heartache when you can get through a whole day without thinking about them.

Christine Webber is a relationships advisor and the author of How To Mend A Broken Heart (Hodder and Stoughton, £7.99).

On Being Single

BEING WITH SOMEBODY is GOOD but BEING SINGLE...

just might be BETTER!

SINGLE means you have the time to grow and be the person you want to be. Sometimes, it is harder to grow when you are too close to someone. Trees are planted far apart so they can spread their branches and become strong as they mature.



SINGLE means learning to live by yourself. However, that is no more difficult than learning to live with somebody else.



Single means freedom. You are free to spend time with your friends, meet new exciting people or work late on an interesting project,to spend the day in beach with a good book or simply with a person who has read one.



SINGLE means learning not to need that "someone" to make your life meaningful but learning to live with that someone because you want to be with him/her.



SINGLE means that sometimes you will wonder why you will bite your lip and feel wistful and wonder if being in a relationship is better. Ironically, yet quite happily single is feeling good about being in control of your life. It is liking and respecting who you are and why you are.



SINGLE is realizing that being in a relationship is not necessarily better, it is merely different.



SINGLE means that there could be something wonderful around the corner and you can take advantage of it.



SINGLE means you are free to love again.

<a repost>

Take Time to Count Your Blessings

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness..........you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation.......you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace....... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy people.

If your parents are still alive and still married........you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful.....you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you prayed yesterday and today........you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

If you can read now, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

< a repost >

Dance Like No One's Watching

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

Here is a quote that comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin real life."

But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there no way to happiness, happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have.

And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time ... and remember that time waits for no one. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you get married, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, summer, fall, or winter, until your song comes on, to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy... Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Thought for the day:

"Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching."

... and from the sermon of Worshipping Warrior...

"Happiness is based on happenings...
JOY is a fruit of the SPIRIT."


~ a repost ~