Life lessons, part 2

Humans love to build.

Within each of us resonates the yearning to leave something behind to remember us by, and what better and lasting way is there than to leave a solid building?

And the bigger, the better.

Which explains why since we are still in our diapers, our parents had told us to play with building blocks, lego, and the likes. Also, I'm kinda sure it's all based in the vain hope that someday, we'll build and leave something of ourselves that will last longer than the battery in that pink bunny.

To tell the truth, I still like playing with lego and kits even until now.  :D  There's something calming and cathartic in the process of building a structure, even if it's just a miniature version of it. Of course this holds true if and only if we can find all the parts to complete the whole thing. Missing parts will more often be chaotic and catastrophic rather than cathartic.

And if you think about it, in building things, there also lies our unique approaches. If the thing we are building is big, then we go for solidity, everlasting and the whoa effect. But if it's small, then it's the details and wtf complexity that we're after.

Sometimes we build something with meticulous attention to details while also taking great care to weave in the mind-blowing intricacies, but choose the wrong materials altogether. Like sand, for example.

There are many levels to building a sand castle, from downright simple and plain up to impossibru Asian. Still, although they all differ in the complexities of their details, they still share a basic aspect of being constructed from sand. Not the most trustworthy and solid material out there on their own, I'm afraid.

So you put in the time, effort, heart and mind into constructing a sand castle to the best of your ability, when suddenly comes along an unpredictable rogue wave that pretty much lay waste to the structure that was to be your masterpiece. And you feel a little sad, but realize that there's not much you can really do to prevent what happened because wave control is just slightly beyond your skill mastery.

That leaves you with at least two options: move away from the beach to avoid the waves, or rebuild and redesign your sand castle, this time around perhaps by equipping it with deep moats and flood channels.

Well, personally, I kinda like the beach, so I'll stick around. And I'll work on that damn moat with whatever I can get.

*image courtesy of John Hartman

A sample...

Remember that I said 9gag sometimes gives you practical instructional tips? Well, this is one of them, but bear in mind that this is a not safe for work material, so open at your discretion...  :D

And not only this tip is useful, it's seriously fun and pleasurable too. Bonus points!

Wazzzaaaaaaaaappp???

Whassup? Whaddup? Wazzup?

It started as a catchy little phrase we say to greet each other when we happen to meet.

Then there was a series of ads from Budweiser running from 1999 - 2002 that shot this phrase back to stardom and reaching cult status, significantly marked by the dragging of its pronunciation as long as possible.

In 2005, Agnes used it to name her album.

The phrase and ads have also received homage in the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother".

Now, there's even a cross-platforms application for cellphones named after a form of the phrase, called WhatsApp. Many would say it's just an imitation of BlackBerry's BBM, and in some ways it is, but to be fair, the app is not without its own merits.

The similarities start from their instant message delivery, of course. After all, both are instant messaging applications to begin with. Then there's the file sharing feature. And also the use of emoticons. And the group system. Then you have the message notifications system, or the stalker mode as I would call it. Both provide icons that let their users know whether or not a message has been delivered and read. So let's say you are reminding someone to meet you somewhere at some time, then you see the read notification is activated. Later on, that someone wouldn't be able to say that he/she didn't get the message without being implicated as lying.

And WhatsApp even takes it one step further by adding the "last seen" and "online" notifications, enabling its user to check when was the last time another user has used WhatsApp, or is in fact currently using it as per the checking time.

Or maybe a few steps further. And backward at that, perhaps. Because in BlackBerry, you have to at least exchange pin approvals before you can start messaging others, whereas in WhatsApp, all you need is the phone number of a user, no exchange of approvals needed.

Kinda perfect set up for stalking and spamming.

Regrets, and reliefs...

This piece was originally titled "Regrets, in having done it my way" if I'm not mistaken. And this was written first 5 years ago in my friendster blog, before I copied it to vox. Sadly, both site met their demise, and for awhile, I sort of lost this post.

I believe this was one of the first heartfelt post that I wrote. Mostly, I tend to count on my brain to write and my heart rarely takes part, so this post really meant a lot.

I did try to search my files for it, from the office to the ones at home, but got nothing.

And although I believe that anything you put on the net will stay on the net for all eternity, I've almost given up all hope in retrieving this, since googling it proved to be futile.

But then, by some cosmic occurrences, I received the whole thing in my e-mail. And now, here it is...


Regret.

A bitter-tasting pill indeed.

Not something you would choose to swallow on your own, but in the end, you are forced to anyway.

And that’s just the thing about regret, there’s no going around it. And there’s not a damn thing you can do to change the situation, because by the time regret comes knocking, then it’s already too late.

My father passed away 2 weeks ago, just 2 weeks after his 74th birthday.

We used to be so close, he and I. And I still remember how I used to look up to him and depend on him a lot.

But as the years went by, ‘I grew up’ and we began to talk less and less, although we were still living together under the same roof (as the youngest child, the ‘task’ of ‘being there’ for my parents is left to me). And with the hectic schedule of my line of work, plus the fact that I have a wife that owns the right to most of my time and availability, the time that I and Dad ended up spending together was somewhat…lacking.

We never actually talked anymore. You know, the kind that lasts longer than 15 minutes. And we used to do that. Talking, I mean. About everything and anything. Man… We used to be so close, he passed down his antique porn magazines collection to me. But all that had somehow changed. A lot. Until the only kind of talking we had was the "how are you", "where are you going", "hi" and "bye" stuff.

And now that I couldn’t talk to him anymore, ever; thinking back of how it had come to this made me… Regretful..?

I regret the fact that he had asked me oh so long ago to treat him to a fancy steak dinner, and I had agreed to it, but just couldn’t slip in the time. And now there’s no way I could make good on that promise.

I regret that I didn’t spend more time with him when I was home. Just watching TV together and having small talks would’ve been more than enough for him. But now I couldn’t do any of that anymore.

I regret that I didn’t offer myself more often to take him to places. He’s the type that dislikes to bother others much, and thus never asked for much of others, not even from his own children. He’d rather take the bus than ask me or my siblings to take him to the mall. And he wouldn’t even require much of us at the mall, just a simple stroll through the aisles of a supermarket, do a little sight-seeing, that would’ve been enough. And now, I wouldn’t be able to accompany him anywhere or to do any of those things at all, even if I have all the time and the best of intentions.

And I regret in postponing too long to have children and give him a grandchild. Now that my wife is pregnant, my future children won’t be able to get to know their grandfather in person. And I won’t be able to hold my first-born proudly and offer it to Dad to be held.

There are plenty more that I regret not having done with Dad while I still had the chance, and now that I lost that, the regret just got worse.

And you know what’s so damn bloody ironic? I’m currently working on an ad campaign, aptly themed as “No Regret”.

I’m so sorry, Dad.

Lost and found

I lost my berry last Friday.

For the second time around. Meaning, until today, I have successfully lost a total of 2 berries so far. I just pray that number is already fixed and ain't counting still.

And "strangely" enough, the berry I lost that Friday was already almost lost previously in a similar event held by the exact same organizer. Coincidence? Perhaps... But I highly doubt it.

I felt sorta disoriented and lost at first. And for those of you who laughed at that, c'mon, admit it, we live in a society that thinks there's something not quite right when you leave the house without having any gadget on your person.

But then I adapt, and in that gadget-less state, I found peace.

Of course, once in awhile my mind strayed to wonder whether anyone is looking for, calling or messaging me. And I also wonder, among those fantasy calls/messages, was there any that's meant to offer me extra money on the side? Or want to take me out for a night of fun, all expenses paid? And at times I would also think of what's happening in twitterverse, but above all else, I thought about the pain it's gonna be to update my contact list...  >.<

A point is proven though. That it's doable, and it's possible for me to survive it.

Still, for a person making a living in an industry that's all about communicating messages, I fully realized that I can't stay this way for too long. Got things to do and people I should get in touch with for those things to be done.

So, I'll be getting a replacement one of these days. I've yet to decide on what, but I guess I can always use that "yet to decide" excuse to extend this gadget-less existence.

Until then, I'll be enjoying this new-found tranquility...

Mind what you're having

To those of you who have watched Limitless, you will know what I'll be talking about here. And for those who haven't, go watch it. Seriously, it's pretty decent, and the idea of what a certain drug can do to you will blow your mind.

Especially since the drug we are going to talk about is a mind-altering one. Hell, forget about mind-altering, it's bloody mind-enhancing. Downright mind-blowing even, for lack of a better phrase.

And I'm talking about NZT, or thallanylzirconio-methyl-tetrahydro-triazatriphenylene. Perhaps it is more familiarly known by its street name, the clear pill.

And before you go on quoting about humans only using 10% of their brain, well, I'm here to set you straight and say: that's nonsense. All parts, if not 100% of our brain, are active and being used most of the time, to keep us alive and functioning. Pretty fair, since the brain uses up to 20% of the body's energy for an organ that makes up only 2% of the whole body in mass.

What is most probably true is that we only use 10 - 20% of our brains' full ability. And this wonder pill enables you to use 100% of your brain's true potential. With certain risky side effects, I admit, but the trade-off is pretty fair, right?

Imagine what you can do in life you can learn to master foreign language in a few hours? Or make a million dollar profit from the stock market in days? Or pick up details and information to practically charm the pants off the opposite sex (or same sex, depending on how you choose to roll). Who wouldn't want that, really?

Of course I'm not really sure how it's gonna go if everyone is on NZT, but supposedly the drug works even better if the person taking it is already intelligent to begin with.

Still, I guess not everything in life can be solved with NZT. But worry not, for those particular problems, I have another pill for you.

Or you can stay off these imaginary drugs and just have crazy sex to enjoy the serotonin, oxytocin and vasopressin cocktail afterwards.

At least that's the real deal.

Yo dawg!

This was originally posted early last December on my other blog. Well, since the content is kinda good, I think this blog should share it too, and here it is then:

So I was cruising through 9gag when I stumbled upon this post. And as I read it, I thought the post deserves to be re-shared. But since the 9gag's one is in picture format, I decided to google it for the text version, and true enough, google didn't disappoint me by giving me this link: http://www.upgradereality.com/a-dogs-purpose-from-a-6-year-old

Inside, the owner of the site had further added to the post some equally nice reminder of what dogs can teach their owner, or humans in general, a better way to live. I believe we all can take a hint or two from the following, and here they are, retyped (because the spacing got all weird if I simply copy paste) and edited slightly:

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane would learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt a familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"

The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was your teacher, you'll learn things like:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. 
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. 
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. 
• Take naps. 
• Stretch before rising. 
• Run, romp and play daily. 
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. 
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass. 
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. 
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. 
• Never pretend to be something you're not. 
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. 
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. 
• And most importantly, enjoy every moment of every day! 

Woof!

It's ok...

I used to think of 9gag as a place to find jokes and wtf stuffs almost exclusively. But as I get more familiar with its inner workings, especially since 9gag changed its archive system, I started to find little gems of stuffs outside of the general wacky norms.

Like instructional stuffs for example. Mostly about sex positions -- which goes straight into my library for future perusals if the pic is big and clear enough -- but not just limited to that, of course. For example, a few days back I found instructions on how to make knots, and also the various ways you can tie your shoe laces in. All of which might have just come in handy in the future.

I think.

What I wasn't expecting to find was the self-realization/life observation/motivational/enlightenment posts, because some of them are actually good and pretty 'deep', even quote-worthy. Of course I'll stash the best stuffs in my library in case I need to wow people some other time. As Einstein have said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources" and if you can't trust him on that, who can you trust, really?

Still, don't worry, for I won't leave you all hanging, high and dry, scratching the wall from curiosity. What I will do is show you one such example of an interesting life observation, at least according to me. Fair enough? Well, here it is then:

Seriously, it is.