Learning the Hard Way…
“Learn the hard way!”, this was the statement of my brother to me on the telephone after our mom caught me mischievously registering in an odd website for a free-trial of a fat burner last night. Funny act of mine. True statement from my brother. The truth is, I’m starting to become conscious about my body. And when I saw a blog site advertising a fat-burner (with a believable testimony)–and with a FREE-TRIAL of fat burner– it was like an opportunity for me to try it and achieve the body I want! (laughs) “Mom, I’m almost there!”, I told my mom after canceling my registration for the shipping. “No, you have to learn the hard way!”, she repeated what my brother said and continued talking to him on the phone. After this, silence struck me and those words resonated on my thoughts.
“Yes, I have to learn the hard way!”. The greatest things were achieved not through shortcuts. Often times, the most successful people are those who did the toughest works, those who hated effortlessness. Way back on my experiences before, I was more happy on the achievements that brought sweat on my skin and tears on my eyes, than on the gains that I even did not have pains. My parents, anyway, had hard times raising their four kids and working all day long (especially my mom). My widowed grandmother did not able to send her three daughters to school and let them graduate on time if she did not work with rags as a housemaid. My brother did not enter a university here in USA and take his bachelor’s degree if he did not have sleepless nights reviewing his lessons. These are just one of the good things I learned from my family and I am so proud of it. I realized that the way to success truly is not easy. There’s no easy way, only simple ways. The best thing however is to learn the hard way.
One thing I learned from this experience is about contentment. Last night, God told me that I was having the spirit of discontentment and insecurity so I let Him take them off mine through reminding me how beautiful I am on His sight. “No, I’m not fat! I may not have that sexy body but at least I’m working out my character for God’s glory. I need to excercise and lessen my food though. hehehe. :D” (Sometimes I really do need encouragements so please encourage me! hehehe.. just don’t flatter me; I’m not seeking for compliments.).
I have several goals and I want to achieve them. How is it really to achieve your goals and hold success? One point: Learn the hard way. I am, again, called to mind to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and delight in the Lord in order for my desires be given and so that everything, as in everything, shall be added unto me… and so that even the desired weight shall be achieved. (laughs out loud 
)
Success is peace of mind, a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming, and not just in a physical way: seek ye first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be yours as well.
In A Hot Desert, There Hides a Well
“And now, here’s my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” The Fox
I was thinking of writing my own novelette, when I made this late-night reading of one of my favorite books, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Actually, it was last night that I remembered it, so I drew out this tiny book from my bookshelf. Like any inspired writers, I lied on my bed–heard nothing but silence–and waited for a long hour of an apparition of words and phrases that I long to merely give ideas to my own story. I have read this book twice, yet it was just last night that I really appreciated it. I loved the plot and the important character–the Little Prince, respectfully.
On his journey, I learned several lessons. The author made use of riddles and figurative speeches, which may be really hard to understand in just one reading. Contemplating through each word and line, I discovered sweet and simple revelations from the author. Well, maybe I could use this very inspiring paradox, that was stated above, in my writings. Most likely, I want to pattern some of my ways of writing to his styles and to his points of view, until I could produce my own style that’s certainly unique! 
By the way, my favorite part was when the Little Prince tamed with the fox who revealed an indeed wonderful secret of life. His last words for the little prince (which are stated above) astonished me and led me to being marvelled to the creative imagination of the creator. I connected his saying to what the little prince said in chapter 24 of the book. Let me quote it; it’s my favorite. “What makes the desert beautiful”, said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well.” Did you see the sparking connection of both lines? If not, close your eyes and look by your heart.
What made this parable significant to my reflective thoughts is when the author just simply appreciated life–from his drawing of the boa constrictors from the inside and out, up to the simple illustration of a sad landscape of the desert– and this is the style I’ve been saying that I wanted to embrace. This means, noticing and seeking for the hidden beauty of simple and complex things in life. The real beauty of life can be seen by those who truly appreciate it… even if it looks terrible for others. Some people, they just want and believe on what they see. Unless it is seen by their naked eyes, they wont believe and understand. Unless they see a well or an oasis, they will forever curse the desert.
Today, let’s picture ourselves midst the desert of life. It is never funny to walk in a place away from any human inhabitation, where the sun rises and almost toasts our skins. But have we ever considered the nice thought of walking along with fun people, like the little prince, who will accompany us in our journey and lay with us in the sand dunes until night? Have we ever thought of moving our feet and find the hidden well somewhere of it? Well, these are only examples of appreciating the desert. I liked also how the author made similar the color of the desert into the color of the honey. Sweet!
What is essential is invisible to the eyes. We need an invisible God whom we need in our journey in the desert… so that we could have the heart of looking for a well… a well somewhere in the desert of life.
