September Seems Like a Good Place to Start

…But before I begin, here’s my obligatory Welcome-Ber-Months Sock Shot! Obviously, this year’s photo has been hipster-fied.

2011

2010

The past few months have been—if anything— trying times, for lack of a better (and less bitter) term. I think I have dealt with Letting Go, and funnily, a bit of Letting In, but they don’t zero out. In fact, I believe that I have lost more than I have gained, but losing in the sense that I will be winning in the end. I hope you get my ~slightly~ confusing drift.

My point is, I have learned to sacrifice Big Things in order to gain Bigger Things. I really hope I am starting to make sense because a.) I am speaking typing my mind and b.) I really am nervous.

So, I feel like a worm slowly inching out to get a bite of the apple. I haven’t written anything in so long just because I felt like I needed some time off to think and get lost in the world of Pathetic Loserdom: a world filled with wallowing in self-pity and moping at its most deplorable essence. Sigh. But I’m glad that time is ~kinda~ over and done with.

There’s always something special about the first day of September, and I’m not saying this just because it’s the first day of school at Hogwarts.

Perhaps it’s the comfort and warmth brought by the onset of the Ber-months. Or maybe, it’s when Christmas Carols start playing in the malls. Or the smell of paper in all forms: wrapping paper, greeting cards, money $$$, etc. But regardless of the sensations brought by the various sights, sounds and scents, September holds a lot of magic, hope, and promise for the coming months. Call me strange, but that’s how I feel about it. So I want to make this year’s September 1^st extra special.

Putting thoughts into words (more so, for the whole world to see) makes them much more real. I guess it’s finally time to place things into perspective, to put them on paper, and to you know, just frakking do those things. So, uh, I kinda made a life map-thingy. And uh, it kinda looks like this.

“I go to seek a Great Perhaps…” – François Rabelais

I am a noob when it comes to all these life-planning stuff, but in all fairness, it helped straighten things out. And oh, I also learned a few good things along the way…

 

1. The photo below is self-explanatory and slightly overrated.

Nevertheless, it speaks volumes and makes absolute sense. Yes, the world can be cruel sometimes. And yes, expectations do not always align with reality.

2. My favorite keynote speech is by J.K. Rowling in which I quote her:

…some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.

The beauty in taking risks, I believe, is the uncertainty of its outcome. It might not always be a glamorous ending, but at the very least, you have been brave. Taking that free fall will not always assure you with a safety net. You can even die. But at the end of the day, it’s ironic how everything works out for the best. The universe kind of makes me smile that way, no matter how sly and mysterious it may seem. Let go and grow.

3. And yet. 

But always remember that there are also some things that MUST be saved and salvaged, despite the risks involved. Being spontaneous and risky can be rather exciting, but I think we should also be sensible and rationalize before we jump into anything that involves great importance. I learned this the hard way, but I am glad I got a second chance. 🙂

In any case, these second chances, you never take for granted. Ever.

And I believe that can be counted as Learning #4.

5. Lastly.

It’s perfectly fine to have an immensely long book backlog…

…and still buy more.

My mother definitely disagrees with my logic.  But hey, I constantly reassure myself this is just her tender, loving way of coercing me to ~ehem~ save money. I’m just saying because you should never stop investing on things that leave you in a constant state of wonder. Whether it transports you to Hogsmeade or outer space, you should never let your imagination go stale.

My friend, Isa, shared this beautiful poem by Sarah Kay, and I love this particular excerpt. I find it exceptionally relevant at this point of my life.

There’ll be days like this, my momma said.

When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises; when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape; when your boots will fill with rain, and you’ll be up to your knees in disappointment.

And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you.

Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s swept away.

You will put the wind in winsome, lose some.

You will put the star in starting over, and over.

And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life.

I still have more things to say and so much more to think about, but I guess this will do for now. I will be busying myself with a number of personal projects (this blog being one of them), and some collaborations with my lovely friends (YAY). And, because I am feeling the groovy tunes of Earth, Wind and Fire, I will henceforth leave you with this cover by Pomplamoose that is worthy of an Epic Dance Party.