..To Love is To..

I have endured terrible things in my life. Some of them I have trouble moving past. Perhaps, the only thing that kept me going is the thought that we are capable of becoming better, and more, despite our afflictions, our incongruencies, our defects, our blemishes, our bends. 

Seven wonderful and unnerved years of deficiencies of writing articles and into this non-profitable passion that started one cold night of December. As an underground blogger, I always feel the need of imparting a piece of myself whenever I would start blotting words into my blogs: to encourage, to inspire and to let my readers have a reflective time not only on the words but on my experiences. Afterall, this is a collection of my life's great lessons.

As I celebrate this longest running commitment of mine, let me journey with you, in love, and to love.

..To Love is To..

Grow.

And sometimes, to grow is to endure change(s). 

And changes are directly proportionl to pain. 

I enrolled in a gym class way back college years because I would buy clothes from the largest size of kid's section. Imagine how thin I was. And imagine I'm the only one on weight-gaining program while the rest are on the other way around. First week was a breeze since I'm only lifting 1-2 kg of dumbbells. Because I'm choosing my own weights. And this didn't escape from the snaring eyes of my instructor. Succeeding weeks are pain on the *ss. Sweats are forming on my forehead I can't lift weights without the help of my instructor. This has been the lingering scenario. But slowly, my muscles were form. My butt  shaped. My arms toned. I can now say the  word "figure". 

I love this analogy. Because in life, to love is to keep on growing through changes, and through pains. 

..To Love is To..

Wait.

For single people, Waiting is a terrifying word.

Because we live in a world where sipping cappuccino in a coffee shop alone makes you appear lonely, and watching movie by yourself gives an air of assumption that something's wrong with you.  But I have high regards to these kind of people, ahem, because they know waiting for the right person to share these experiences is not only worth it, but worth their time knowing their own self.
The longer you wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives. So when she says No, you guys should honor it. Because until such time that you unveil the mystery that covers her body, only mosquito is allowed to bite =)

..To Love is To..

Listen.

Do you really know what makes her sad? Or what makes her clench her fist? Or what makes her eyes glow in amazement? How much do you know her fears? And her stream of thoughts when she is quiet? Or the dreams that make her wake up every morning to call it another day?
How much do you know her soul aside from knowing her body?

"Thank you", he said gracefully. For what? I innocently asked.

"For  l.i.s.t.e.n.i.n.g. I feel loved."


..To Love is To..

Forgive.

First, yourself.
For giving too much. For trusting too much. For believing too much.
There's no greater sorrow for someone who genuinely love to be betrayed. Sometimes, I can't understand why good people suffer. Why people with pure intentions are the ones betrayed and cheated on. The wisdom of my Uncle strike deep: "because you are a gold. Precious. And just like gold, they have to pass through the hottest fire."

Forgiving, just like taking a bath, should be an everyday habit. Because you want to free your body from toxins. You want to clear your body from impurities. Because in forgiving, you set someone else free. You protect someone else.
And yes, that is your precious yourself.



..To Love is To..

Let someone be happy.

And oftentimes, you have to step backwards from the picture.
Because no matter what you give, even that entails your soul and all, you can never take the front seat of their life.
So allow the people you love to see the world without you in it. Let them breathe the elusive air of finding themselves not on your own accord but on their own terms. Let them spread their wings freely on the direction you two can't traverse both. Because in this life, there are roads and paths we have to trudge alone. Be strong, though.
Because who said you can't love someone just by watching them from afar?

..To Love is To..

Let Go.

Of the baggage of those memories. Be thankful instead, that it was you and not someone else. Because God is intelligent enough for choosing you for this battle. Be grateful for the good times and cheer for the ones that are on queue for you. When nights are tedious, remember that the darkest night awaits the brightest day. Why do God made our feet in a way that it face forward and not backwards? And why our eyes were put on our face and not on the back of our head? Why we open our palms when we fervently pray? And why the hands of Jesus arent't close when He was on the Cross?

It is in the act of freeing that we are freed. In the act of giving that we are given. In the act of letting go that we allow good things to come in.

Perhaps, that's loving, too.


I couldn't count the times my heart was broken because of loving. But we were orchestrated to survive. There are so many sadness along our journey, but there are also so much beauty that soothed the aches from loving. We just have to keep one foot in front of the other. Every. Single. Day.
I believe this universe has ears that captured the moments when tears rolled our cheeks. It was so loud it prompted the Lord to save every drop. Same healing tears, He used it to water the broken garden of our heart. And slowly, some tiny living thing start to sprout. You looked at God and asked, "what are you doing, Lord?" With the gentle and most loving smile that He cannot hide, God answered,

"I"m preparing your heart for God's Best."