- Writers will romance you with words. Dating a writer means that you will receive love letters. Quirky notes will turn up in your pockets. Flowery descriptions of everything great about you will be shared on special occasions. See my recent post on things to write someone…
Raising a good human being is a mother’s job description. There’s no degree necessary, because it takes so much more than a regular degree to do this job. No Ivy League university has the sterling curriculum to produce the best moms.
Mothers should be very skilled at selflessness. They must have above-average patience. Their resilience should be incredible: the kind that endures tantrums, whims, angst, “I hate you’s” and the most painful words, and mindless actions of a self-absorbed child.
Children unleash emotional warfare with their parents, most especially to mothers.
How a mother stays intact in the midst of all these is a heavenly wonder. To be graciously loving and divinely forgiving—these are what make a mother.
Lullabies don’t grow old. Moms soothe their children in various ways even as their children grow older. Once, I remember a wailing heartbreak that was hushed by my Mom’s look of concern.
I still do not understand how it’s done. Perhaps I will never know until I become a mother myself.
For now, I sit still to write about Mommy, and the many things I learned from her.
1. Love never runs out.
2. If you must love, be strong.
3. There is courage in crying.
4. Touch can be magical.
5. Do not despair. Pray.
6. Be ready. Love hurts.
7. Yet again, forgive.
8. Love always tries.
9. If someone thinks the world of you, you give the world to him.
10. Hope. Do not tire of it.
11. Listening. It’s a life-changing skill.
12. You cannot rank love. It always comes first.
13. Teach your lesson. Then let go.
14. Setting free is a must.
15. Love is planted and grown through sunny and rainy days.
16. I told you so’s can be minced. In favor of compassion.
17. Values are shown, not spoken.
18. Give. And give more.
19. Kindness has a language all its own.
20. Miracles can happen everyday. Have faith.
1. Mornings – I want the feeling of summer mornings when I was a child; waking up to the sunniest possibilities no other time of the year could give. Please. Give me my mornings.
2. Miracles – I always believe that life gets better. That dreams come true. That surprises are infinite. I want a miracle to move me and make me believe in these even more.
3. Motion – Transits. How do I survive without these? Get me somewhere. Surprise me. I want to fly!
4. Madness – Ahh, I’ve had too much and too long a time for sobriety. The season for madness is about. Summer, eh?
5. Match – I want a summer crush. A summer fling. A summer craze. But in the end, I want to see my “eternal sunshine.” I can only frolic long enough.
6. Mojo – No, not the Austin Powers hormonal mojo. I want a mojo that keeps me alive. A driving force that smiles minute after minute, always leading me back to me.
7. Metaphors – I want debates, discoveries and books that leave me in panting excitement. I want to keep proving myself to myself. I want deep conversations but loud laughter. I want new perspectives. In metaphors.
8. Magic – The most beautiful moonlight while I tread in bikinis over soft white sand. An unexpected kindness. A growing love. The feeling that something good is coming my way. A fulfilled secret longing. A stranger’s smile. In other words, magic.
9. Memories – I want moments, the type that exhilarates me enough to say, “This one will get me through the rest of my life. And if lucky, I’m bringing this with me to heaven.”
10. More – It’s never really enough, isn’t it? After all, summer only lasts two months. The other half of the year entails a longer, madder list.
Being a teacher is about extending my being a student. I perpetuate the feeling—and bring back the moments when discoveries, new ideas and discussions would spin my mind. Learning is breathtaking! Discourses excite my senses.
Dreams are born and processed here. Imagination is shared here. Life becomes both real and surreal here. Sad realities are suspended here. Feelings are easier to talk about here. Stimulating conversations and the growing of passions—-they’re here!
For as long as I live, I am a student. An ageless teacher. A lover of academia. :)
