Posted on

t’ mo ra

Few weeks ago, a colleague gave me a lil sticky-note (post-it) with this word:

I asked what that was and she told me that’s how I should pronounce the word ‘tomorrow’.

I have been in the UK for more than two years and I must say that I still struggle in listening and pronouncing some English words in the way British people will understand and not laugh at me.

While I couldn’t possibly defy the teachings of my grade school teachers who patiently taught me how to read and pronounce every vowel and consonant in the alphabet, for purposes of having some fun and to make my colleague happy, would you like to practice with me?

Try this (am sure most of you know this song from the Broadway musical, Annie) :

The sun’ll come out
t’ mo ra
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til t’ mo ra
Come what may

t’ mo ra
t’ mo ra
I love ya
t’ mo ra

You’re always
A day
A way!

t’ mo ra
t’ mo ra
I love ya
t’ mo ra

You’re always
A day
A way!

Posted on

Happiness

In one of the research articles I have read, it stated that the meaning of happiness differs for younger versus older adults and the key driver that causes this shift is an increased feeling of connectedness both interpersonally (connected to the people) and temporally (connected to present moment).

There comes a point in one’s life when it becomes more and more difficult to know what happiness means. I think this is due to the weakening feeling of ‘connectedness’ to reality, to other people, to the present moment and to one’s self. Happiness is not something that we should constantly chase. It is something that’s already within and around us. You just simply need to allow your heart to remember… ‘for happiness, is anything and anyone at all, that’s loved by you. – (Charlie Brown)’.

Posted on

Hiatus

I was reading a news article this morning about President-apparent Benigno Aquino III who is currently taking a week long hiatus after months of grueling campaign schedule so he can recharge and be ready as he takes his oath as the new President of the Philippines on June 30.

Hiatus – defined as a gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity. In linguistics, it is a slight pause that occurs when two immediately adjacent vowels in consecutive syllables are pronounced (ie naïve, reality). In Latin, a hiatus is “an opening, gaping mouth, or chasm.” It is derived from the verb “hiare” meaning “to gape or yawn.” Therefore, a “hiatus” is a gaping opening in anything, such as the opening in a cliff leading into a cave or a break in the conversation in which nothing happens or is said.

Most of us go through different forms of hiatus. For those seeking for spiritual solace, hiatus can be equated to a retreat – where one withdraws from the grind of daily work and take time to reflect, rest and pray. Between two people in a relationship, it is oftentimes called the ‘cool-off’ period. People who work and want a period of rest, it is called sabbatical. Students taking a year off to do something else, it is called gap year. It can be as long as hundreds of days or can be as short as 20-seconds stillness – both will lead us to a different dimension of personal awareness.
There are times when we don’t even realise that our lives are suspended in mid-air, floating, allowing just the wind and circumstances to blow our tired and weary souls either to oblivion or to the next possible chapter of our life story.  Hiatus can be a physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual state – or it can be all at the same time.

How we fill the gap or what we do during the break is one thing. What we have learned during the break is another thing. But, how well we come to understand ourselves, knowing better what we want in life is the most important thing. Only then, can we love deeper, serve our society better and ultimately, be happier.

Posted on

Tuesdays @ FFI – Last 4 seconds

I posted this photo in Facebook last week. It was taken when our department’s basketball team won the company-sponsored sportsfest finals almost 10 years ago.

Minutes after posting it, the following comments were posted:

RC: This gave me goose bumps! Unforgettable 4 seconds of my life!

AV: Is that the reason why you’re the one holding the trophy? (coz I couldn’t remember)

RC: Indeed! SM Mega leading by 1 point. Both teams in penalty. I shot the first free throw to tie it for overtime! Missed the second shot but got the ball for a follow-up, it went thru! We won!

AV: Brilliant! And that explains my big smiles in the photo!

I then thought, do I have my own ‘last 4 seconds’ story? A story that will be a defining moment not just for me but people around me as well. A story that I can remember over and over again with great joy and pride. A story that will allow me to hold in my hands the trophy of success.

I believe we all have numerous ‘last 4 seconds’ story. Some known to us, some just skip our consciousness without even realising how it makes us a better person. There are ‘4 seconds’ moments when a bold ‘Yes’ can change the course of our lives. There are ‘4 seconds’ moments when choosing to tell the truth over lying can gain us a good night sleep. There are ‘4 seconds’ moments when saying I am sorry will not make us less of a person but a fuller one. There are ‘4 seconds’ moments when giving forgiveness is not a favour we do to the other but a way for us to heal our own woundedness. There are ‘4 seconds’ moments when we can judge a person or we can simply embrace and accept the other as who he/she is.

We always say, ‘time is gold’ or ‘every minute counts’ but let us also be conscious of those  ‘4 seconds’ moments in our lives that will turn into cornerstones of who we will become.