PUT GENIUS TO BETTER USE

I’ve met a lot of geniuses in my life – real honest to goodness brilliant people. Okay, genius per se is a big word to use everyday. But intelligence– they’re everywhere. I have so much respect for intelligence – clever brainpower. Am not speaking of the intelligence of books or mathematical acumen but rather of the kind which leads a person to do what is right and correct at the right given time and place with real understanding, zeal and compassion. One that cuts through the mumbo-jumbo of complex facade, veneer, or pretense which people oftentimes put up in many situations but for a certain reason.

Are we getting confused there?

Okay, I sort out intelligence into two kinds – the CC (cold cerebral) and the WI (warm intellect).

The first one is behind all the brilliant inventions or creations of our times then and now and in the future yet. It establishes principles, theories, formulas, systems, doctrines, ideologies, and space flights to outer space. It writes outstanding essays, books, manuscripts, and reaps oodles of recognition which our society could ever invent for them. And they deserve it all. I won’t argue over that. They have my respect and admiration.

The second one is where I would put my last money on, if I were to choose who I’d want to be marooned with on a deserted island somewhere-nowhere on the map. And I wouldn’t even care to be found or rescued or miss the companionship of my three lovely dogs…and a lazy but cuddly cat.

Hmmm, I sense a question forming in your mind now. :-)

Let's try this.

Marooned on an island with CC may assure me of an effective make-shift shelter or a regular supply of fish caught with an intelligent contraption made out of coconut trees would probably be a creative comfy and secure stay on the island until help comes along. But I’m such a big nervous wreck when things go amiss. I cope in extremes by either nagging on the issue or shutting up keeping it all inside. Now I wonder how CC would cope with something like that.

Maybe he’s going to quote me the emotional principles contained in psychology books to explain my fears, or the possibility percentage of being found and rescued, or at worst be so angry or flare up with my irregular behavior, or scoff at my efforts to want to contribute to his plans for a rescue. Duh! he's as cold as the icy wind blowing over the island.

Let’s try WI.

The shelter would still be made though but maybe not as sophisticated as the other one and the fish will still be on our menu but sometimes we may have to do with fruits if there would be some on the island or just have to go to bed without it at all.

When at times my fears get the best of me, he would be right there beside me and be such a comforting presence, explain things in a gentle genuine manner, or engage in a story to take my mind off my fears. Or if I opt to be a recluse instead, he would try to draw me out of it with gentle coaxing or maybe even with playful humor. He’s be so much in control of himself, the situation, and even of me (which I certainly wouldn’t mind lols with a genuine fella like that).

Such an environment of down-to-earth concern (which I would think is both his brains and heart working together) would succeed to calm down my fears and effectively draw me out to reciprocate in like manner towards him too. That would certainly earn my trust and confidence in his leadership in the situation to which I’d give my full support. So the situation now becomes an ‘us’ situation – where not one or the other would serve as the protector or the one being protected – but of two people working together intelligently to solve the problem.

Now isn’t that a show of good sound healthy intelligence of the right kind?! Something that warms the heart so.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against brilliant minds, nope. I admire intelligence or brilliance in any person. It’s a God-given gift. But it would help if such brilliance is tempered with a more humane approach towards life and the people around you. Genius may take you to the big time, fat paychecks, top scale jobs, and the adulation of your peers – true. But what worth is all that when there is so much lack in the other areas of your life.

- When your kids see you only on birthdays, sometimes not (why can’t you find time for that but always keep tab of your boss’s anniversary?)

- When your wife can’t even discuss some important event in the family without you muttering an obviously lame excuse and leave (are things of the home so mundane for your precious time and mind?)

- When close friends can’t do lighthearted banter around you without you brushing it all off as a waste of time (do you know that some worthwhile things are not found inside the boardroom at all?)

- When your small kid comes to you with a broken toy and you instead opt to buy him an expensive intricate brand new one as replacement (do you really think that’s what he wants from you?)

Know where you should put your brilliance. Put your genius to better use with people who mean the world to you. Okay, be the brilliant person that you are to the world, but be even a better one to your family and close friends.

"A man may be a genius but he can still do things
that practically break your heart."
–James Q. Du Pont

SOMETIMES I WANT TO BE ALONE

It’s not all the time that I want company, or listen to the noise of endless banter, or watch the chaotic human parade of other people’s lives. It’s vexing to the mind, is wearying to the heart, and tires the soul down. It leads to confusion and troubling vibrations in the air turning my world upside down. It’s startling how all these can touch your own sphere of life and leave you so drained. But don't we all feel that way some time or another?

Sometimes … I simply want to be alone. To be there in the my own moment just being - To feel the soft breeze on my face – To feel the warmth of the sun on my skin – To hear birds chirping on the trees – To feel the waters under my feet walking by the seashore – To touch the petal of a flower – To watch the sun go down on the horizon – To let the rain touch my skin – To write my dreams on clouds of flight – To be still - To hear my heartbeat.

Sometimes I simply want to be that little child on God’s lap – to tell him about how Peter and Jane have hurt me – to ask him to make Billy the Bully a good boy so that he won’t bother me again when I walk by his house – to tell my mom and dad to please know why I cry when they leave for the office – to tell him how bad I feel because Santa Claus didn’t give me a Barbie Doll for Christmas – to ask him to make grandpa well again so that we could play – to thank him for letting Mom cook my favorite spaghetti with huge meatballs every Saturday YUMMY!

Sometimes I simply want to be with my thoughts – thinking of the past and the things it has left me with – thinking of the present and how it’s forming my tomorrows – wondering what my tomorrows will be like or when I will be finally gone.

Sometimes I simply want to be – seeing my flaws, mistakes, imperfections – seeing how fragile and vulnerable I truly am – looking at my limitations, my borders, my walls – and yet understanding that I too have my own strengths, potential, and the power to dream. That everything there, good or bad, has shaped who I am. That all that I was, is, and will be is the story of my life.

Sometimes I simply want to be here – with nothing – doing nothing – yet loving everything.

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up." - Pearl Buck (1892-1973)

STAND BY ME

"No matter who you are, no matter where you go in life, at some point you will need somebody to stand by you."

That's a beautiful line from the song 'Stand By Me'. If you think that you can go through life all by your lonesome independent self, think again. Because that isn't so. You can't be all those things you want to be nor do everything you think you can do. It does not work that way. In your every thought, idea, or action lies within a special need which not even you can provide for yourself. Why? Because admittedly there are things which another person's thought, idea, or action could serve perhaps better than you - like it or not.

You can't know everything there is to know, you will need a thousand lifetimes to know or learn them all. And if mistakes are the tools for learning, you can't make all the mistakes you need to do to gather those lessons. You have to learn those from others as well. You can't be the sole reservoir of talent or skills or brilliance. Others have it too in great measure. Perhaps even more than what you know.

We all stand connected in many different ways. I need you for something in my life in the same way you need me for something you have to fill to get on with life too. Whatever it is -- intellectual, social, spiritual, physical, moral, political, business, relational -- whatever it is the bottom line is we need each other at some point or another.

And when life gets tough don't we look around for something or someone who could help us get through and out in one piece? I do. I need somebody to be here or there for me. Somebody who through thick and thin would --- stand by me. That, by the way, is also by God's design.

At this point, I'd like to say 'thank you to lovely people -- my gorgeous family, steadfast friends, strangers who were angels in disguise -- who in my small life have stood by me whenever-wherever-whatever'. And to our wonderful Father up there in His Holy Throne --Hugs, Daddy! Thank you. :-)

IMAGINATION -- A MAGICAL WORLD

The voice told us to get ready to board Philippine Air Lines flight for Kalibo, Aklan. My family and I were on the first leg of our journey to Boracay Island for our big family holiday -- all of four days! I was already running images in my mind of the sun, sea, sand feeling the excitement gurgling through my veins followed by the quick rush of anticipation of lovely times waiting for us ahead.

Inside the plane, after tucking in our backpacks in the bins overhead we then settled into our seats. My daughters understandingly let me have the window seat. But of course even if they didn't I would use my maternal authority to wrest that privilege from them and have that priced seat for myself. Selfish old lady! hahahah.. But I wouldn't miss that for the world.. and we all knew it. Lovely kids!

After the usual checking and instructions by the crew, the plane taxied on to the runway and poised itself for take-off. I took a glance at the sky above and said to it --- 'I'm coming to you, be ready for me.' Then the engines roared to life and like a huge dragon spitting out fiery energy balls it thrust us forward and lifted us up - higher and higher - and off to the gorgeous blue highway at 26,000 feet.

Clouds! In different sizes and shapes. I could also say colors but this time it was only white, pure white. And cruising at this height there was nothing for you to see but white clouds and the blue sky yonder. Taking my eyes away from the window for a bit, I looked at the long row of seats ahead. We have a full house in this flight I thought and the flight stewards were busy with serving snacks to passengers. Most of the passengers seemed to doze off apparently already bored by the sight outside.

Bored! So okay I turned back to the window and got ready to be bored too myself. But couldn't. Out there I saw bustling cities of clouds, skyscrapers of clouds, mountains hills valleys islands of clouds, and many figures and faces. I saw a horse galloping on two legs -- a child's button nose and puffy cheeks -- Casper the Ghost's adorable round head -- a pirate ship with broken sails -- an old man with long flowing beard -- a bird with one wing -- an ice cream cone of white chocolate (tho dark chocolate is healthier so they say) -- and cotton balls popping out from nowhere! And I saw this cloud which seemed like an uneven closed hand with a jagged finger pointing upwards. I followed it with my eyes expecting to be surprised again... but nothing there -- just the blue wide space... limitless border-less, timeless. Then the thought struck me -- but of course... GOD. My eyes grew misty as my cup of joy flowed over the top in my grateful heart.

Oh yes, the sky was indeed ready for me. It put up a wonderful display and extravaganza of magic and too magical memories. It took me back to places and moments of joy and happiness. It showed me wonderful treasures. It gave me back my soul. It spoke to my heart about a God so magnificent and divine.

As the plane descended gradually geared up for landing, I looked back to the clouds and whispered a soft --- "Thank you."

The plane came to a final halt. We had landed at Kalibo Airport.

WHEN MOTHER NATURE SPEAKS, PAY ATTENTION

It was just an ordinary afternoon -- warm, breezy but it felt right for a walk. So I told my daughter to stop whatever it was she was doing in the kitchen and come with me. We dressed and put on our rubbers and hied off to our one hour of escape... she from her chores and me from my reading.

Out on the street to begin our first leg of the 'journey' we looked up at the sky as we would always do to check for rain. Oh but it was such a lovely sky -- the clearest of blue and cotton-like clouds traipsing across the wide azure expanse. We literally basked in its glorious beauty.

Then we walked. Finishing one block of our huge neighborhood and rounding the first corner we were met by two barking dogs trying to run us off like we had stepped on forbidden ground -- their ground. But we paid them no mind. My daughter herself said Hi! to one which apparently was caught by surprise and left bewildered. We both caught that expression and laughed with great amusement. I'll give it to her -- she knows dogs.

Then the walk took us to higher ground and thick foliage seen lining the right side of the road while opposite it were rows of houses. Nothing new there, seen them many times before in other walks.

But not when you see Mother Nature....

Exquisite flowers wild and free. A rust colored leaf softly drifting down from a tree. The new sound of birds' song filling the air. The interplay of light and shadow on leafy branches here and there. Or the grace of a clingy vine rising up the gnarled bark of an old majestic tree. Always she gives us new reason for falling in love with her again and again you'll agree.

And my daughter saw these with her eyes. She lost no time to record each discovery with her phone-cam taking countless pictures while I stood by watching. Then I thought if she can see and appreciate beauty from ordinary settings then I know that it won't be difficult for her to see good where good can be found whatever the circumstance. It is important for her to learn this.

As it was getting close to sunset we decided to head back to the house. It was at the last incline before walking down and back to our street that my daughter called my attention and excitedly pointed to a glorious sunset on the far horizon.

Ablaze with the brilliant colors of red-orange-yellow it was one of the loveliest sunsets I have ever seen. It took our breaths away standing there gazing enthralled at such a magnificent display. Until the sun finally bid adieu and made its graceful exit home. Thus the afternoon walk came to an end. With hearts full we walked back home content and happy..... and so in love with Mother Nature once again.

(Photo courtesy of my daughter and her digicam.)

TEARS, BEST FRIEND, AND ME

This is a good piece; says it all. There are many ways to unburden ourselves of our fears or demons so to speak. One as mentioned here is to share with a close friend. And I agree. Also, there is private journal writing... and too Prayer. I resort to all three... with attention to the right place, time, person, and the weight of concern or issue at hand.

I have my close friends here, Lody particularly who knows all my cares and woes, joys and happiness. I appreciate her for standing by me through it all. As I do the same for her.

Friends I hold so dear to me. Every friendship through the years is valued and treasured. Truly they are my gold. But as life always would, some of them have gone and those who have remained are called to other directions in life thus severing the ties thru no fault of anyone. New ones have replaced them, true. But I do know that people come and go in our lives - not one meant to stay forever. Of such is life. Sadly.

So on most occasions I would rather pour out my heart in prayer. God is always there, will never leave me, and can work miracles which no human hands can do. In prayer, I find my peace... my burdens become light... my tears and fears washed away with His hand. Prayer is my help -- God my bestest friend. :-)
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Allow me then to quote:

Plunging Into The Deep - Life Can Be Scary

Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns. Even for those of us who enjoy unexpected thrills, it’s frightening to suddenly find ourselves heading for a deep plunge. Yet, it happens to all of us. At these moments, it is important to remember that you are not alone in your experiences. No matter how brave, strong, or levelheaded we are, sometimes, we all get scared.

Our fears may revolve around our physical safety, particularly if we are not feeling well, living under difficult circumstances, or doing work that exposes us to hazardous conditions. Or, we may be experiencing financial woes that are causing us to be fearful about making ends meet. We may also fear the loss of a loved one who is sick, or we may be scared of never finding someone special to spend our life with. We may be scared to start at a new school, begin a different job, move to a new town, or meet new people. Whatever our fears are, they are valid, and we do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed that we are, at times, afraid. It may be comforting to know that everyone gets scared, and it is perfectly OK. Sometimes just acknowledging our fears is enough to make us feel better. And while it sometimes takes a lot more to ease our mind, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that life can be scary at times. Giving ourselves permission to be scared lets us move through our fears so we can let it go. It also makes it alright to share our fears with others. Sharing our apprehensions with other people can make our fears less overwhelming because we are not letting them grow inside of us as pent up emotions. Sharing our fears also can lighten our burden because we are not carrying our worries all by ourselves. Remember that you are not alone.
Unquote. ----------------------

NOTE:
This piece was forwarded to me in email by a good friend today. Its author unknown. Have highlighted my favorite lines.

NEVER THINK THAT YOU CAN'T

Never think that you can't. Just because you see somebody shining brilliantly in what he does, it does not mean that you can't do just as well if not better with your own. Maybe the problem is - you haven't given it a big try. I say Big because there are admittedly small tries, feeble tries, fearful tries, and indifferent tries. What you get depends on how much you put in. Make that your first and only rule.

Humility is good. But again there is false humility, misplaced humility, fake humility, and proud humility. The genuine kind is one that honestly knows his own capacity for greatness alongside his limitations. But the latter does not worry him at all because he understands that it is not his inadequacies which define him as a person but his strength to be the best of what he can be and with this do the good he wants to see in the world.

Ordinary maybe but sometimes there lies within a miracle waiting to be born. A miracle when someone does an ordinary thing extraordinarily. And the world applauds. Never underestimate ordinary -- within its cover is potential.

So then.....

"Hide not your talents, they for use were made.
What's a sun dial in the shade:"
--- Benjamin Franklin

WE CHANGE IN LAYERS

At the mall one fine afternoon, I came across my childhood friend who I hadn’t seen for quite a long time. He was quick to recognize me and did it with a rousing bear hug ...

“Heyyy, pumpkin, great to see you!!” Ugh! He still calls me that. Seeing my grimace he laughed “Yeah pumpkin!!" and laughed so loud apparently enjoying my embarrassment. "Btw, meet my wife, Liza”.

I shrieked with surprise and delight when I saw her as she came walking towards us – Liza, my pal in school! We were buddies in our last year.

“So this is why you hadn’t been in touch all these years!” I giggled. She laughed heartily showing her familiar dimples. “We moved to San Francisco after the wedding. I didn’t know where to write you then because you were nowhere to be found, silly!”

I grimaced “Yeah, I got busy with a job in the big city.. and lots of things. Ugh! Tell you all about it.”

We then moved to a coffee shop nearby and continued with our endless chatter and updates. Time flew until Martin reluctantly and halfheartedly broke off the chat and reminded Liza that they had yet to shop for a birthday gift for his mom. So we parted ways but agreed to meet for dinner at their place the following week.

Looking at them as they walked to the parking lot, I felt a sudden twinge of sadness. They have remained the same, true; and yet have changed too in some. I remembered something I have read before —

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension; and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm; childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”

That quote brought me to this new understanding. Truly, we change unevenly, partially, in layers. We may be brilliant to one and childish to another person all in the same breath. We may be the cherished pumpkin of the past and yet also the modern career person of the present. A friend may tell me that I have changed in my perceptions about love and money. While another friend would tell me that I am still the homespun girl he always had known me to be. And all true for I have indeed changed from some old held viewpoints of long ago but have too retained and treasured the same homespun values my mother had taught me in my growing up years. On that thought, I realized that we don’t really leave the past behind even if change moves us along in time. We take it with us to the present and on to the future. This is what people see in us mixed and mingled as change does its work in bits, portions, areas, and layers of ourselves.

So as I stood there watching Martin and Liza pull away in their Chevy, I smiled to myself and bid goodbye to the sadness felt earlier. Nothing has been lost after all. More mature and changed in some ways as they appear to be now, still Martin and Liza carry with them the traces of good old friendships of long ago. We stand connected despite change. Amazing and beautiful, isn’t it?