Dogs are lovable companions. We teach them discipline and tricks like "fetch!" or "shake hands", but we can learn something from them, too if we step back and really 'see' what they have to offer. Here are a few things I got from ours:
1. Simple things--like chasing your own tail--bring great pleasure
2. Be loyal to those who care for you and care about you
3. Shake your tail (-feather) when you're happy!
4. Look forward to seeing the people who love you every single day
5. A simple pat on the back shows you care
6. Food is most delicious when given to you with love
7. Be patient and you will be rewarded
8. Do what's good and there will be no punishment
9. Play and enjoy life like there's no tomorrow
10. Express joy loudly "WOOF!!!"
11. Be there when someone needs your company
12. Eat when you're hungry... Sleep when you're tired
13. Enjoy the present
14. Listen with sincere eyes
15. Sitting silently together for long periods of time means a lot more than talking for long periods of time
16. Save something for later use
17. Hide something you don't want other people to touch/play with
18. Express anger ONLY when absolutely needed
19. Be wary of strangers
20. Love the people who love YOU!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Our Mental Video Camera
This is something I wrote in Oct 27 ‘09.. I've added more to it as I share it with you through this blog...
Time and memory could easily play tricks on our minds. What seems to have happened yesterday in our minds could have had happened 10 years ago in reality. Our memories are strong and powerful, especially the cherished ones. If you really think about it, the events that happened more than 10 years ago are still fresh in your mind. Our most-cherished memories will never fade away.
My mind is filled with memories of 5-10 years ago. Once in a while they pop out of my head and an instant replay is played inside my mind. These are the few times when I suddenly go physically blank as I silently watch the deluge of images play inside my head. Somewhere between five to ten years ago, my mind had mentally captured—like a video camera on auto record—scenes from events and happenings shared with friends and loved ones. Now, my mind seems to be on auto-play as well. I often catch myself watching my mental video camera as it plays scenes from high school dances and events like it happened yesterday. Sometimes, however, it plays scenes from my days in San Francisco. Honestly, my mental video camera often catches me off-guard. I don’t know why, but most of the time, it plays even while I sleep and I watch it through my dreams.
I think one reason our brain auto-records such events is because our brain knows that we want to cherish the good memories for the rest of our lives. Like our very own video camera without having to lug around the extra equipment needed—lights, tripods, mics, etc—our brain automatically captures the highlights of our lives. However, unlike video tapes or dvds, our mental storage box never fades away, never gets scratched and the film never gets stuck to the cartridge. Most importantly, we don’t need a television set or a player to watch it.
***
I have actually caught myself staring blankly into space as I watch random memories from the past auto-play in my mind. Most of the time, I am able to select chapters of my life and usually I try replay the good stuff over and over. It's a good thing I cannot scratch it like a mere dvd!
Come to think of it, my mental playback of the past comes with a certain feeling long-forgotten by time. When I have an auto-playback of some parts of my life, I can feel the happiness, the laughter, the pain and the tears again--like reliving them one more time.
It's a good thing that, most of the time at least, my mental video camera plays back the good stuff. That first kiss with that special guy... that date at the restaurant with a really great view of the city... the way I suddenly said "HI!" to my now best girl friend... the times lounging around downtown on a lazy day... getting together with college friends and forgetting we all had financial problems... the hustle and bustle of working in a television station... getting yelled at on the very first hours of production by a director who hugged me tightly on my last day at the set and begged me not to go... graduation... first day at "real" work (ie: 9am to 5pm)... all the good stuff... just the good stuff.
This is our very special Mental Video Camera. Unique, different to each person. Special. Something we should all cherish and be careful not to delete anything! Each memory (good or bad) is something special in our lives... a lesson, perhaps? or simply a reminder of who we really are.
Time and memory could easily play tricks on our minds. What seems to have happened yesterday in our minds could have had happened 10 years ago in reality. Our memories are strong and powerful, especially the cherished ones. If you really think about it, the events that happened more than 10 years ago are still fresh in your mind. Our most-cherished memories will never fade away.
My mind is filled with memories of 5-10 years ago. Once in a while they pop out of my head and an instant replay is played inside my mind. These are the few times when I suddenly go physically blank as I silently watch the deluge of images play inside my head. Somewhere between five to ten years ago, my mind had mentally captured—like a video camera on auto record—scenes from events and happenings shared with friends and loved ones. Now, my mind seems to be on auto-play as well. I often catch myself watching my mental video camera as it plays scenes from high school dances and events like it happened yesterday. Sometimes, however, it plays scenes from my days in San Francisco. Honestly, my mental video camera often catches me off-guard. I don’t know why, but most of the time, it plays even while I sleep and I watch it through my dreams.
I think one reason our brain auto-records such events is because our brain knows that we want to cherish the good memories for the rest of our lives. Like our very own video camera without having to lug around the extra equipment needed—lights, tripods, mics, etc—our brain automatically captures the highlights of our lives. However, unlike video tapes or dvds, our mental storage box never fades away, never gets scratched and the film never gets stuck to the cartridge. Most importantly, we don’t need a television set or a player to watch it.
***
I have actually caught myself staring blankly into space as I watch random memories from the past auto-play in my mind. Most of the time, I am able to select chapters of my life and usually I try replay the good stuff over and over. It's a good thing I cannot scratch it like a mere dvd!
Come to think of it, my mental playback of the past comes with a certain feeling long-forgotten by time. When I have an auto-playback of some parts of my life, I can feel the happiness, the laughter, the pain and the tears again--like reliving them one more time.
It's a good thing that, most of the time at least, my mental video camera plays back the good stuff. That first kiss with that special guy... that date at the restaurant with a really great view of the city... the way I suddenly said "HI!" to my now best girl friend... the times lounging around downtown on a lazy day... getting together with college friends and forgetting we all had financial problems... the hustle and bustle of working in a television station... getting yelled at on the very first hours of production by a director who hugged me tightly on my last day at the set and begged me not to go... graduation... first day at "real" work (ie: 9am to 5pm)... all the good stuff... just the good stuff.
This is our very special Mental Video Camera. Unique, different to each person. Special. Something we should all cherish and be careful not to delete anything! Each memory (good or bad) is something special in our lives... a lesson, perhaps? or simply a reminder of who we really are.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Picking Up the Pieces
I can't believe it. It's been three or four years since I last saw you. I still remember that day when you simply waved as I walked away. Not even a single tear trickled down your face--a face that I have loved and known every contour of.
We have been apart this long and I still cannot accept the fact that you have moved on. It still pains me to know the fact that you were able to simply turn your back, walk away and find another woman to love. I have seen the photos posted on Facebook for the world to see. I see that you are actually smiling with her in the photos. I took a step back in my mind and a sudden gush of realization hit me--you never smiled in the photos that were taken three or four years ago--the photos of us together shows you with your lips in a tight line. That wave of realization suddenly felt like a jackhammer was forced upon my chest. I can't believe it.
I guess I should have seen the clues three or four years ago when we were still together. I now realize as another tsunami of realizations hit me that I guess you never really cared that much for me when we were together. Do you remember that night you got so drunk that I had to walk you home and plop you down on your couch while your roommates stared at you in disbelief? I had to walk home by myself at 2:00AM! More than that, you completely forgot about what you did the next morning. Though you apologized, I still felt hurt and neglected.
You never even cared about our separation after graduation. You simply had to go back home and I had to (as you told me) "toughen up" for it. What the hell did that mean anyway? You never knew how much it hurt me, like someone was ripping my raw heart out of my chest with his bare hands, when you walked away with your bags in hand.
Why was I so stupid not to see those? I guess I was just madly and crazy in love with you back then... stupid fool, now, after all these years, this realization hit me like a rock on my head. What can I do now? Nothing because the past is the past and I cannot change it. I just learn from my mistakes and hope that I never repeat it again. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I'm happy you're happy with her, but I am going to tell you this: we were not made for each other; I see that you are happy with her (you ARE actually smiling in the photos with her!) so maybe you are better suited with her in the first place.
Our meeting was by chance and we both learned something from it. I will not hold a grudge because that won't do me any good. Instead, I will accept fate with grace and be happy knowing myself more and more as I search through the damage and pick up the pieces I've left behind three or four years ago--pieces that you have left on the floor without a second glance.
We have been apart this long and I still cannot accept the fact that you have moved on. It still pains me to know the fact that you were able to simply turn your back, walk away and find another woman to love. I have seen the photos posted on Facebook for the world to see. I see that you are actually smiling with her in the photos. I took a step back in my mind and a sudden gush of realization hit me--you never smiled in the photos that were taken three or four years ago--the photos of us together shows you with your lips in a tight line. That wave of realization suddenly felt like a jackhammer was forced upon my chest. I can't believe it.
I guess I should have seen the clues three or four years ago when we were still together. I now realize as another tsunami of realizations hit me that I guess you never really cared that much for me when we were together. Do you remember that night you got so drunk that I had to walk you home and plop you down on your couch while your roommates stared at you in disbelief? I had to walk home by myself at 2:00AM! More than that, you completely forgot about what you did the next morning. Though you apologized, I still felt hurt and neglected.
You never even cared about our separation after graduation. You simply had to go back home and I had to (as you told me) "toughen up" for it. What the hell did that mean anyway? You never knew how much it hurt me, like someone was ripping my raw heart out of my chest with his bare hands, when you walked away with your bags in hand.
Why was I so stupid not to see those? I guess I was just madly and crazy in love with you back then... stupid fool, now, after all these years, this realization hit me like a rock on my head. What can I do now? Nothing because the past is the past and I cannot change it. I just learn from my mistakes and hope that I never repeat it again. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I'm happy you're happy with her, but I am going to tell you this: we were not made for each other; I see that you are happy with her (you ARE actually smiling in the photos with her!) so maybe you are better suited with her in the first place.
Our meeting was by chance and we both learned something from it. I will not hold a grudge because that won't do me any good. Instead, I will accept fate with grace and be happy knowing myself more and more as I search through the damage and pick up the pieces I've left behind three or four years ago--pieces that you have left on the floor without a second glance.
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