Easter Sunday Reflection

On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. I didn't imagine that I'll be able to put away my mask and reveal who truly I am. At different situations, I pretend to be somebody. I try to escape from the reality of who truly I am today.

Since the fall of our business, I needed to adjust to a new lifestyle. I don't go home to a big house anymore. I don't have maids to do the chores for me or even get me a glass of water. I don't have people to run errands for me.

Before, I used to be so proud of myself since I know that my dad is one of the richest in our clan and in the neighborhood. But after the bankruptcy, everybody witnessed how we went down.

But after all, that fall became my motivation to be a better person right now. That fall motivated me to study harder and be the best in every situation. That fall taught me to be a grateful person.

I used to be a brat. I had everything I wanted. I was never deprived of the things that I liked. I was used to instants --- because all i have to do is utter what i need and like a genie everything i wished for are all in front of me.

Sometimes I miss the life that I used to live. Sometimes, I reminisce about those good times that I was on top. But being on top is nothing without God.

Now I graduated from College and with this armor, I could battle through life's adversities. Amidst all, one thing will remain constant. There is a loving God who through all my ups and downs, never abandoned me and continues to love me despite everything.

May this Easter be a reminder for me to strive to be the best that I can be and live my life being a good example of God's love and providence.

10 Secrets to Fulfilling Relationships

10 Secrets to Fulfilling Relationships

The first secret? the power of THOUGHT.
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what
we think about. Loving thoughts create loving
experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations
can change our beliefs and thoughts about
ourselves and others. If we want to love someone,
we need to consider their needs and desires.

The second secret? the power of GIVING.
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is
give it! The more love you give, the more you will
receive. To love is to give of yourself, freely and
unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness.
Before committing to a relationship, ask not what
the other person will be able to give to you, but
rather what will you be able to give them. The
secret formula of a happy, lifelong, loving
relationship is to always focus on what you can
give instead of what you can take.

The third secret? the power of RESPECT.
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you
first
respect them. The first person you need to
respect
is yourself. To begin to gain self-respect ask
yourself, "What do I respect about myself?" To
gain respect for others, even those you may
dislike, ask yourself "What do I respect about
them?"

The fourth secret? the power of FRIENDSHIP.
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend.
Love does not consist of gazing into each other's
eyes, but rather looking outward together in the
same direction. To love someone completely you
must love them for who they are, not what they
look
like. Friendship is the soil through which love's
seeds grow. If you want to bring love into a
relationship, you must first bring friendship.

The fifth secret? the power of LETTING GO.
If you love something, let it free. If it comes back to
you, it's yours; if it doesn't, it never was. Even in a
loving relationship, people need their own space.
If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to
forgive and let go of past hurts and grievances.
Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices,
egos and conditions. "Today I let go of all my
fears, the past has no power over me - today is
the beginning of a new life."

The sixth secret? the power of COMMUNICATION.
When we learn to communicate openly and
honestly, life changes. To love someone is to
communicate with them. Let the people you love
know that you love them and appreciate them.
Never be afraid to say those three magic words: "I
Love You." Never let an opportunity pass to praise
someone. Always leave someone you love with a
loving word - it could be the last time you see
them! If you were about to die but could make
telephone calls to the people you loved, who
would
you call, what would you say and ... why are you
waiting?

The seventh secret? the power of COMMITMENT.
If you want to have love in abundance, you must
be
committed to it, and that commitment will be
reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to
have loving relationships, you must be committed
to loving relationships. When you are committed
to
someone or something, quitting is never an
option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile
relationship from a strong one.

The eighth secret? the power of PASSION.
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting
passion does not come through physical
attraction
alone, it comes from deep commitment,
enthusiasm, interest and excitement. Passion can
be recreated by recreating past experiences
when
you felt passionate. Spontaneity and surprises
produce passion. The essence of love and
happiness are the same; all we need to do is to
live each day with passion.

The ninth secret? the power of TOUCH.
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of
love, breaking down barriers and bonding
relationships. Touch changes our physical and
emotional states and makes us more receptive to
love.

The tenth secret? the power of TRUST.
Trust is essential in all loving relationships.
Without it, one person becomes suspicious,
anxious and fearful and the other person feels
trapped and emotionally suffocated. You cannot
love someone completely unless you trust them
completely. Act as if your relationship with the
person you love will never end. One of the ways
you can tell whether a person is right for you is to
ask yourself, "Do I trust them completely and
unreservedly?" If the answer is "no", think carefully
before making a commitment.