One little act of kindness at a time, that’s all we need.
It really never hit me that hard until now. I realize that people, myself included, are far too busy on the wrong things. We seem to think that life is being unfair to us. We have infinite number of reasons to be distracted. We complain about every little thing that we have, or don’t have. We are so consumed by sharing everything that we are doing on the internet that we tend to forget to find life’s true meaning. We’re busy with how we see ourselves, and how we want others to perceive us. We rely on small talks for friendships, praises and likes for connections. Technology has deluded us into thinking that this is how life’s supposed to be. I would genuinely like to believe that it is not.
It is very humbling indeed, to witness reality unfold at the most unexpected time and place. I realize that I am in no place to complain, or to demand for more. Life has been, in fact, good to me. Today, I saw how it’s like to really be in need. And I only noticed it because I finally opened my heart. To be able to put a smile on someone’s face and to bring tears of joy to their eyes- there lies genuine happiness. I still think that it’s the kindness that sticks to us, the little acts of kindness which we tend to never forget. This week has been liberating. I’ve been trying to be a better version of myself little by little and it’s empowering to know that these little steps have already made a big impact in my perception of life.
I’ve always been a simple person and I almost forgot this because everyone keeps on telling me that I’m not. I thank that woman’s piercing eyes for seeing right through my heart . I am back to wanting nothing but happiness. I’ve finally come into terms with who I really am. Equanimity does feel good. Life is just more balanced when you have only what you need. The more you have things, the more you crave for the wrong stuff. With having just enough, you don’t take what you have for granted. Simply put, I’ve realized today how blessed I am to have my loved ones, security, and happiness. My life needs nothing more.
Source: iamcathie
If you reveal everything, bare every feeling, ask for understanding, you lose something crucial to your sense of yourself. You need to know things that others don’t know. It’s what no one knows about you that allows you to know yourself.
Source: iamcathie
I think the idea is that every person has to live for his or her own life and then make the choice to share it with other people. You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can’t. You have to do things. I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to be who I really am. And I’m going to figure out what that is. And we could all sit around and wonder and feel bad about each other and blame a lot of people for what they did or didn’t do or what they didn’t know. I don’t know. I guess there could always be someone to blame. It’s just different. Maybe it’s good to put things in perspective, but sometimes, I think that the only perspective is to really be there. Because it’s okay to feel things. I was really there. And that was enough to make me feel infinite. I feel infinite.
Source: bookmania
You should find a man who always sees you as the ultimate prize. In this day and age, men look for their equals and settle for the girl who fits the bill—which is fair—but as a man, it’s always better to find a girl who you feel you don’t deserve. If you choose someone who’s a notch higher than what you would expect for yourself, you’ll always fight to keep her. You wake up each morning feeling like you’re the luckiest guy in the world! That’s how it is for me and your mom.
Source: fatimahan
My Teddy Love
it’s byebye topknot time again, new haircut for summer :)
This is my 4-yr old shih tzu, my only furbaby, Teddy. When I was still in pre-dent, we used to go out a LOT! I used to put bows on his long hair and take loads and loads of photographs of him. He’s probably one of the reasons why I was into photography 4 years ago anyway haha. But now, since I’ve been very busy with my clinic and with all the trips that I’ve been doing, I sometimes forget that there’s a little furbaby waiting for me at home every single day. The love of a dog is truly unconditional and you won’t appreciate it unless you own and love one yourself.
While I was giving him a two-hour grooming session yesterday, I just realized that I’ve been so unfair to him lately. He shouldn’t be the one suffering from my busy schedule because it’s me who decided to have him in the first place. There’s no one who could take care of him better than me. Sooooo, I decided to make it up to him by cancelling my clinic schedule to spend an entire day with him. I brought him along on our date and we took him to my favorite groomer in Macapagal (near Mall of Asia) which is a good 50 minutes away from our new home. I also got him his favorite food, a bigger bowl to accommodate his bigger physique (he’s not fat, he’s voluptuous hehe), a new toy, a new shirt, and a big bag of doggie treats. I know that it’s such a superficial way of showing him how I love him but for me, it’s more of a promise to him and mostly to myself that I will always, always make sure that he is well taken care of and very much loved because he deserves nothing less.
http://iamcathie.tumblr.com/post/11569485887/to-my-little-fluffy-giant-furbaby-you-will
On a not-that-lighter note, I remember coming across a very nice article for dog lovers. This is why I have no respect for anyone who treats animals badly. I think that everyone (not just dog lovers) should read it so I’m posting it here.
As Sydney Jeanne Seward ones said, “Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” So please, spend more time with your dog & give them the love that these sweet little angels deserve.
10 Things Your Dog Wants You To Know
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me. So not break my spirit with your temper though I will always forgive you. Your patience will teach me more effectively.
3. Please have me spayed or neutered if you don’t want puppies from me.
4. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your kindness than mind. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. After all, you have your job, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you.
5. Speak to me often. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when it’s speaking to me. Your voice is the sweetest sound I ever hear, as you must know by my enthusiasm whenever I hear your footsteps.
6. Take me in when it’s cold and wet. I’m a domestic animal and am no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me. Keep my bowl filled with water. Feed me good food so that I may stay well to romp and play and do your bidding. By your side, I stand ready, willing and able to share my life with you, for that is what I live for. I’ll never forget how well you’ve treated me.
7. Don’t hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I’ve been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting weak.
9. Take care of me when I get old for you will grow old, too.
10. When I am old or when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my trusting life is taken gently and be with me on that difficult journey when it’s time to say goodbye. Never say, “I just can’t bear to watch.” Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands. I know that number 10 on my list will be very hard for you and I may not at that time be able to say anything to you, but with my eyes. So when that day comes, I would like you to remember the words of my little poem I wrote just for you my loving owner! I call it:
My Last Battle A poem from your loving Shih Tzu .
If it should be that I grow frail and weak, and pain should keep me from my sleep, Then will you do what must be done, for this — my last battle — can’t be won. You will be sad I understand, but don’t let grief then stay your hand, For on this day, more than the rest, your love and friendship must stand the test. We have had so many happy years, you wouldn’t want me to suffer so. When the time comes, please, let me go. Take me to where to my needs they’ll tend, only, stay with me till the end And hold me firm and speak to me, until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree, it is a kindness you do to me. Although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I have been saved. Don’t grieve that it must be you, who has to decide this thing to do; We’ve been so close — we two — these years, don’t let your heart hold any tears.
Remember that there are no bad pets, only bad and irresponsible owners. Let’s not be one of them.
Source: iamcathie
“When I was younger I thought success was something different. I thought, “When I grow up, I want to be famous. I want to be a star. I want to be in movies. When I grow up I want to see the world, drive nice cars. I want to have groupies.” But my idea of success is different today. For me, the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give into peer pressure, to try to be something that you’re not. To live your life as an honest and compassionate person. To contribute in some way.”
—Ellen Degeneres
Source: iamcathie
What Really Matters Most
Sometimes we need a reminder. We need to set apart the insignificant things from the things that really matter the most in our lives and in our relationships. Oftentimes, we lose focus and neglect the things that are of utmost importance.
Love, although they say is the greatest of them all, will not sustain a relationship by itself. I’ve come up with my own list of things which are necessary for building and nurturing healthy and happy relationships. Life has a harsh way of teaching us a lesson but our own values and beliefs are formed because of it.
1. Respect
I’ve always believed that respect is not something that is asked for, it is earned. It doesn’t necessarily mean tolerance or a state of recognizing who’s in power. It just means that you treat the person as an equal and give them a great deal of consideration in all your actions. When you are with someone, this means that you acknowledge his individual qualities, values, and character. More importantly, this means understanding that you may not agree on everything and that sometimes, it’s good to just agree to disagree and leave it at that.
2. Acceptance
In relationships, the first few months may all be of bliss and infatuation but as you both go along, that’s when you get to see the imperfections of the person you once regarded as “close to perfection”. Acceptance means knowing the things you can change and cannot change.. and accepting the hard truth that a person can never change for any other person but himself. This means that even after realizing that the person you have don’t necessarily match your set of ideals, you accept him with gratitude and consider him as more than enough.
3. Pick your battles
Know when its best to argue or discuss and compromise. If it’s something you cannot change, then it’s probably best to try to read the first two things on the list before even bringing up the issue. If it’s something you can change, then talk things out and work together to reach middle ground. Yes, it requires a great deal of understanding but it will save both of you from wasting time without getting the result you want anyway.
4. Listen
In communication, no one admits to being a bad listener but come heated conversations, our ears seem to lose its proper function and we do all the talking instead. We might say that we are listening but at the back of our minds, we are already thinking of our next comeback to defend our sides. Probably one of the hardest things to do is to really listen with an open mind and extract the meaning of the conversation and why it’s being said rather than the actual words itself.
5.Forgive and Resolve
Let go of pride and the need to always be right. It doesn’t mean that you have to deny the hurt and pretend that everything’s okay- it just means that because your love is greater than that hurt, you are willing to work things out with that person. It also means that although making up might be an easier choice, you are willing to go through the harder path of solving the root of the problem. Ignoring an issue is just delaying it until you both aren’t able to take it any longer. Don’t wait for that time. I’ve always believed that disagreements can either kill a relationship or make it stronger. How well you handle these things together will determine whether it’s heading towards the former, or the latter.
6. Forget
It’s always, always good to forget the feeling of being hurt but not what it taught you. If you didn’t learn anything from it, then it means that it’s bound to hurt you again.. until you finally learn. If you dont let go of past hurt, it’ll occupy your mind and little by little, eat up all the space in your heart that could have been used for loving the person instead. When too much time is spent with hurt feelings, there is little time left for love.
7. Appreciate
The greatest form of compliment is appreciation. It may be the little things, or the occasional grand gestures of sincere kindness. Appreciating means that you are always aware of the things that made you love the person. It means that, even in times of disagreements, these things are never forgotten or set aside. It is also knowing that something is great when you have them, and not realizing it later when it’s gone. Mostly, it means never ever taking things for granted.
8. Trust
I cannot be in a relationship without 100% trust. When doubt enters a relationship, it ruins it. The moment you feel insecure about anything means that something is lacking- either self-esteem or affection. Trust that you are enough and trust that you have shown enough love to have security. You have to have complete trust that the person you’re with will never mean to hurt you. In reality, they may hurt you at some point but it will never be deliberately done. You have to trust that the relationship itself will never be destroyed because of what it is, and because of what it has.
9. Support
A major advantage of being in a relationship is knowing that there is always someone to turn to during the best and worst days. It’s knowing that someone always has your back and is willing to be there when you need them most- either celebrating a victory or mourning over defeat. A healthy relationship should help you and not hurt you. This person will not tolerate you if you’re truly wrong, but will work with you instead and make you a better version of who you were.
10. Quality Time
In this fast-paced world with people preoccupied by wealth and technology, it is important to remember that one can never have enough time, one has to make it. There will always be something to do or something to attend to. What sets apart quality time is that despite however busy you are, you are happiest whenever you are spending time with that person. It means that you regard this happiness as something that is more important than all of the other things that make up your busy schedule. It means that every time spent is never wasted because it is something that you will always enjoy and cherish. Having quality time is a proof of how important it is for you to make that person a part you no matter what. Without a doubt, the greatest gift you could ever give is your time because when you give time, you give them a part of your life as well.
They say relationships are hard work but it should never feel forced. It isn’t supposed to be that hard if you are both sincerely willing to be together and stay together. It’s only hard when you’re going through everything alone, or when you are in a wrong relationship with the wrong person to begin with. True, it’s not all bliss and butterflies- both of you will go through trying times.. but trying times are not times to stop trying because no matter how difficult it may be, you know that you have something that is worth all of it.
I shall read this now and again to serve as my own reminder and I hope that in one way or another, it will help you, my readers, too. - Cathie
P.S. Hi babe! I love you :)
Source: iamcathie
