23 lessons and then some part two

14. You can get away with any behavior at any age. All you have to do is know when it's ideal to screw up and at what intensity mistakes are bearable. It helps, too when you work in a circle of understanding people who don't give a cow over just about anything. Then again, you'll never know when the time is right until your attention gets caught. Tough luck.

15. This world is not a perfect place. Nothing we can do can make it perfect because everything we do is not. That's what happened when Adam and Eve took the bite.

16. Love with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. If you miss one, then it's not really love.

17. Concocted by Carmela, my disciple (haha, pero technically hindi naman talaga) who discipled me...

to those who..
1. see us
2. comprehend us
3. appreciate us
4. just try to see/comprehend/appreciate us

... behold! you have just been graced with a great revelation from the omniscient, omnipotent God! not even a (really) high i.q would do, it has to be no less than supernatural.

And I live by this. Harhar. I totally understand and I fully accept that I may have to be perpetually boarding the NBSB boat. It's the way the cookie crumbles. Not too many people are keen on the 'supernatural' yahahaha.

18. The Lord is truly good. All hell may break loose, we can lose the things we hold dear, be betrayed by those whom we trust, but knowing that we have peace with a God who knows exactly what He is doing- always in His terms- means we can chill and trust that even if we suffer, we suffer in His hands. Our idea of good does not exactly have to mean comfortable or safe or convenient. It's His character. Trust His heart.

19.  At least make your subjects and verb agree.

20. Inner beauty is, sadly, not all that. It's great that you're kind and that you'll probably snag a humanitarian award but please do something about how you look. People are inclined to take you seriously depending on how pleasant your appearance is. It's not nice, I know, but deal with it. It's a fact. And when you do get their attention, scoff at them for being superficial. And laugh out loud.

21. Complaining may be fun but it only takes you so far. I've wasted half my life already on that and while I rant and rant until I'm blue in the office, nothing will get better unless I do something productive. On one hand, it's therapeutic to blame others for a change but on the other hand, other people are doing the same thing anyway. So go ahead and be one step above the rest.

22. Nobody really gives a hoot about your school when you don't let your colors show. So you're Blue, or Maroon, or Green. Who cares? It's not as if you can stamp your forehead with I'm from UP and people will respect you. Please, that's not the way it works. Whadaheck, I'm all talk. But that's about to change (and no, I won't be on the streets to lament the country's pathetic state).

23. It's all about attitude. Your mindset about your current situation dictates your responses to stimulus. I think I heard that somewhere. Hmm, though I can't be sure. Hahaha. Happiness is a choice.

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to my awesome 23rd year.

I spent the first few minutes of this day thanking God for His awesomeness. It's such a relief to know that my life is not about me. It's a crazy notion but when you surrender your all to God's Lordship, everything turns out to be okay, though sometimes not in the way you understand it. Hello, mortal. If I run my life, disaster much. I have an uncanny ability to make my life miserable. But with God, wow. I can chill.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.