How do you eat an elephant?

How do you eat an elephant?

I've heard this question before. At first I was caught in surprise thinking it would be impossible no matter how big your appetite is. Wait, now some familiar faces are popping in my mind… The answer by the way is piece by piece.

Sometimes, upon facing a very big challenge, we are simply stumped. We realize how little we are and how big the problem is. Then doubts come pouring in, confidence erodes, and self-trust vanishes into thin air. Isn’t this our usual experience? The world seems to be filled with so many problems and too few people to solve it.
As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begin with a simple step, maybe we all just need to take that first step of faith. It may be far, it may be big, but the first step is the start of its conquest. I believe we are all called to face our daily challenges and do something about it rather than cry all day in our helplessness.
This is what I learned as I faced the mammoth Philosophy. Forgive me, but many times I'm a coward, and as I face my studies, I tremble at the thought of de Universa. I have heard stories of post-novices jittering and jokes of brothers who faint in front of the panel of professors. My first dive, my first step, into the waters of Philosophy may have brought shivers but once I was inside the water, I realize I know how to swim and I know I can reach the next shore.

Stupid me, there is no reason to rush things. De Universa is years away, there is ample time to prepare. I’m still at the bottom of the ladder, I’ll face things as they come.

Piece by piece, that's it. We don't have to take everything all at once. Take one piece of life a day, munch it, relish it, and gulp it in. After days of taking a small piece at a time, what looked like an elephant before has become a teeny-weeny mouse. An impossible task has become a delightful meal called life.

Study, study, study!

I took this short time to take a break from a studying. I might be experiencing shock. A few weeks ago, my mind was just floating in the air, now it's floating in the waters of Philosophy, frantically gasping for a breath. I think I need a strong impulse of charge to my brain to heat it up. The constant barrage of reading assignments, the prospect of having to undergo check-up tests every meeting, and the many other demands of this study is some bitter herb for my sweet-toothed brain.

Just like many other bitter medicines, I am sure this is about to unfold some good thing for me. Certainly, it has awakened a brain that is quite becoming lazy. I have an inkling of a feeling that I am getting dumb every time I use Facebook. If I need some powerful jump start, I need it fast and now.

I still hold on to the principle that my studies is an owning of Don Bosco's Pro Vobis Studeo. My mood these weeks have been down so this is really a test of will power. And to think, we all have to study the whole of our lifetime! Everyday, then, is a test of will power. That's all for now, my brain's getting fried. Cheers!

Reservoir of Talent

I am continually amazed by the richness of Filipino talent. I was utterly entertained when I stumbled upon two videos on Facebook.

First was the Official Music Video of Lady Gaga's Telephone. Lady Gaga has become an icon of pop culture. I am not a fan or an advocate but I entertain myself with how she and American Pop move together (and how it affects us Filipinos altogether). I have several comments on the music video but this post is not a review on Lady Gaga so I'll proceed on.

The second video that brought me laughing my heart out was the video by Lady Gagita and Haronce. They made a very good parody of the original music video. It was humorous and very entertaining. But what really amazed me was the latent talent in every Filipino that has exploded in these two very young and ordinary Filipino youth.

I couldn't help but admire the video editing that they did. They actually made a very good video flow that matched Telephone's multi-million dollar production. While watching the video, I was continually guessing what software could have been used in this parody. I was shocked to learn later on that they used what was readily available to them - Movie Maker!

One could think they were using expensive video cameras but looking at the shots, you can see they were using a point and shoot digicam. What made the shots really good was how they shot in angles and copied the artistic techniques used in the original video.

Their use of improvised props and costumes was really hands-down creative! The dancing was also good. I could not help but be proud of Filipino talent and ingenuity. I know I am all praises here but the video is really worth commendable.

On a more serious side, I realized that the youth that as educators we don't need to plant the seeds of talent in our young people because they already have it in them. What we need to do is to cultivate the germinating potential of each young Filipino. These two young people from Mindanao took media tools and made a fantastic video out of their own resources plus imagination. This made me promise myself that as a Salesian, I am to bring out the potential of every young person that I meet.

Yet I must also not forget the task of evangelization, one that raises natural talent to its divine fulfillment. Isn't it wonderful to know that God has richly endowed humanity with all his graces so that humanity could reflect the infinite beauty who is God? We need to remember that each person is a treasure of giftedness and talent, and whose potential awaits to be unleashed.

Just be Grateful, Live and Love Life!

It's so easy to forget the possibility that we are, we tend to think we are nothing when we are something! I was just amused this afternoon after meeting once more this wonderful guy who inspired me years ago. This was once man who changed my outlook on life, on myself, and on the wonder that I am.

Nick Vujicic was born without limbs but I bet he lives life better than any of us. It's inspiring to see a man who makes most of what he has, and doesn't moan about the things missing from his life. This man just lives life as it is. He loves it as it is. And he is just happy as he is.

I couldn't add more. You have to see for yourself and draw your own reflection and a stronger resolution to be more thankful, to be more inspired, and to be more loving to yourself, to others, and to God.

God has never left any of his children without the blessings that they need and more.

Watch this video.
Check out Nick's site here.

Complexity of being Complex

I am reading a book on mastering your emotions nowadays, actually there are two books I'm reading side by side, I am struck by the exposition that as babies our emotions flow naturally. We laugh when we are amused, we cry when we are hungry, and we cross our brows when something's fishy. I remember the many baby faces that I saw through the years, how each innocent face carries with it the unbridled expressions that I used to have.

Each one of us at some point can be a sad story. We tend to forget our childhood and our innocence. Take for example how we tend to hide our true feelings and sentiments all for the name of rationalization. Yet we are all emotional beings. We live with emotions and we die with emotions. Take a stroll outside and count the number of people who smile and frown against the number who keep poker faced. It's a more sad story when people are disconnected with their own feelings.

It is my personal belief and conviction that in each one of us is a child, the very same child that God brought forth on the day of our birth. Our physical bodies may age but the child within continues to live on despite the many layers of masks we place upon it. In my friendships, I try to connect with others as a child and I want to find the child in others. It's not child play or childishness but a search for the innocent and pure person that lies hidden within.

We all were born simple yet we grow up to become complex. How I wish the world could find once more the peace and joy of being young and innocent. Our fears could take the blame, how we hide our true selves to protect it, though I think it's digging your own grave, but wouldn't we be happier if we just act and move as we used to be when we were children? Deep inside adults miss the fun of being a child. So today, I resolve to smile more, live more, and love more.