Never Settle for Second Best!

I am a guest speaker addressing a hall full of university graduates.

I feel privileged to be invited to one of the most prestigious universities that planet Earth has to offer. I’m not really sure if another planet has a better university, but I’m willing to risk my reputation on that.

With all the speeches that I have heard throughout all the years I have been in the education system, most if not all, have been complete rambles of big words that didn’t make any sense and had little, if not, any purpose to me. I never really remembered a single word they said.

Could it be that they had a fear inside to really tell students and graduates what the real world is like outside of the education system? Were they bound by a set of rules that they had to deliver a speech according to the legislation that had been written using a black ink pen? I never really found out the reason, I never got a set of rules, so it couldn’t be that exactly. I thought about this and what wandered inside my mind were thoughts that, maybe they didn’t really care to address points of realism or they never really wanted you to know their secrets of success. I’m a blunt person who never lies, I should say, I don’t lie that often. I would imagine that is why this university thought I would be the ideal person for the job. That could be their biggest mistake, perhaps, with modesty aside, they chose the best option.

I’m not going to use big fancy words or use flowery phrases and quotes from past inspirational icons. I’m going to tell you how life is and how to focus your thinking so you’re ready to take on what lies ahead.

You’re all about to leave your comfort zones and go into the workforce not knowing exactly what is going to happen. That’s alright; there is nothing wrong with not knowing what you’re doing. The only way to get there is by hard work and trusting that gut feeling you have inside. It’s all a risk; after all, it’s no different than picking your subjects in high school and choosing which degree to do at university. It’s all picking something that will hopefully work out in the end. Many people have plans and hopes; don’t be surprised if plans don’t go according to plan. You have to trust in yourself, trust a feeling, something that tells you what is right and go with it. You won’t be able to look into the future and pick what exactly you want. However, when you do get there, you can look back and see how it all worked out. You never knew what you were really doing, you picked and chose and you put in the hard work which got you there in the end.

I never knew what I was doing, but that’s not a bad thing. If I look back now, I can see how the choices I made got me to where I am today. If I didn’t make that particular choice, it would have affected every other choice and I probably wouldn’t be giving this speech to you now.

As you move along in life and you have taken the first steps to start and assemble your career, no doubt, you might or how I would like to put it, fall in love. This could come up at anytime and affect any situation you might have. If you’re anything like me in terms of relationships, you wouldn’t settle for second best. Sorry, I used the wrong word in there, NEVER settle for second best. I really can’t stress this enough! You would only ever get into a relationship where feelings and emotions are maximised. It’s very rare, but it exists and finding it will be the most fulfilling thing you could ever do in your life. The sad part is, most never really find it, let alone experience the feeling. The best advice you can ever receive is to search for it and the only place you can is if you look inside yourself and trust your heart. It sounds clichéd and sentimental, but don’t be surprised when you find that person, you suddenly feel a rush of emotion and you start to become dazed. You will know it’s because you belong with them. If you feel like you belong, you know its right. You will feel it, because it’s right!

Like anything in life, you will need to love everything you do, the same way you will feel like you love and belong with the person you’re with. Remembering never settling for second best, it only gets better knowing you’re with someone you love and in a career you love. It’s basically your whole life, so you wouldn’t settle for the second prize. It will not come on your first shot, it might not even come in several chances that you do get, and sometimes I would even imagine that the chance will never come. I don’t say this to cast a dark shadow on your hopes and what you want to accomplish, it’s just a little introduction to the next part of what I’m going to tell you. ‘Never’, ‘come’ are strong use of words and you mentality would justify this and it will only be yourself and no one else that would change it.

Through all the lessons in life you have come to learn and receive and through the losses and the trials you have been through, they have all given you invaluable life experiences. When you fail, no one else is paying as much attention as you are. You must learn from your failures and move on. Nothing comes from sitting in the corner wishing for some miracle that will never come. Don’t take failure as the higher power above is trying to make your life miserable, were not even sure if a higher power exists, so really, you’re talking to yourself. You just need to realise that with all failures comes lessons that need to be learned. With all failures comes with alternative pathways that is most likely much better than the path you were on before. Sometimes, failing re-directs your mind and puts you on a path that was better than before and opens more opportunities for you. You might never really make it or you move on and see which other doors that are hiding have left for you. You’re bound to open a door that’s right. Always account for variable change, you just might not know what opens up for you when something doesn’t quite work out.

I took a slightly different approach when diving into the depths of the numerous areas life has to offer and the layers of problems that can be found. I’m not giving you anecdotes to these situations; I’m merely pressing what it is and what there is to be found. Anecdotes are used to persuade you that these moments in life do happen.  With every story you’re going to hear, there is always going to be what didn’t work out and abruptly how everything came together again. You don’t want to hear this, at the end of the day, you just want to know the message it brings and the moral of the story. The most successful people in the world have amazing stories to tell you and of course you will hear about their fairytale ending. Truth be told, not everyone has that fairytale ending and mostly some people will eventually break down trying to get there. They’re those people who are not successful and you will never get to hear their story, it will never be told because it’s seen as a complete and utter failure and does no good to graduates entering a new phrase of their life. If you have never failed, how can you measure your impending success? Through other people’s failures?

I can assure you, those successful people at one time or another had no idea what they were doing as well. They were hoping for the best and they stuck to what they trusted inside. They put in the hard work and they experienced failure more times than once. Some failures even got them their fairytale ending; it opens their eyes and other paths that lead them in the right direction. They chose to go with what they loved and never settled for anything less. Most people never really realise how close they were to success, because when they had failed, they stopped. Who would have known? They would have needed just one more step to succeed. Sometimes the sacrifice is an overwhelming concept.

With all that I have said, does it even matter if you all were going to live forever? It probably wouldn’t matter. Since you would have all eternity to succeed in anything you choose to do, you could do whatever you want, at your convenience. But, the reality of it is, that is not quite true. We all will have to face death, one way or another, even if we run away, our joints will get arthritis or something like that to put us at a disadvantage. Not really fair when death doesn’t get old! With all jokes aside, if everyone in the world has to deal with this reality, why not use death on our side? What does anyone have to lose? You’re put on this life and you’re taken away from this life just as you were put in it. Understanding that someday this reality will hit us, why not make the most of the time we have? Does it really matter if you failed in something you did in your life when death comes knocking? Does it matter that you were afraid to speak to that girl or boy you liked from across the room? Death has no limitations; it just takes what it wants, when it wants. It’s not embarrassed that it might fail, it’s not fearful of anything; it has no expectations but one goal in mind. We don’t have to be any different towards that mindset. If it’s certain that death is going to knock on our doors, then what is the delay from doing whatever you want, to achieve what you want to do, with what your heart tells you to?

Life can be given as fast as it can be taken away, with that in mind, you learn to appreciate every detail in life and all of a sudden, appreciation is something you will grow to love in the end.

It’s better to look at death as a concept more than anything else. This is my exit strategy to get out of the depressing mess I got myself into. In all truth, no one wants to let go of the world, even if heaven is the next destination, I’m sure many people would rather take another route than death. Unfortunately, there isn’t another route and if you look towards the sunset, there is only one road. So, if we have time ticking away life in the corner there, we should never waste it on trivial matters and what other people think when they try to put you down. Learn to pave your own way and go head on towards what you want to achieve. What have you got to lose? We are all going on that same route to one destination, go there with style.

I don’t really know if I saved myself with that exist strategy, but even if it didn’t, am I going to let that bother me with what I know now? Of course not, well, maybe a little.

I have learnt to live with three key words that have made my mind at ease to allow me to continue going forward. If you can find respect, trust and loyalty in relationships you develop or with that special someone, you will find that true happiness will become your being. Learn to appreciate life itself and when they say to love truly, you better believe it! I hope you all have great lives and achieve wonderful things.

Remember, never settle for second best!


Thank you all very much!

Nightfall

The Sun was once so bright it lit up the clouds, it was so bright, it seemed happy… only for a while. Until one day, it vanished from the sky. There was no sign, no movement, not even a single shift from the celestial world could detect what happened. No one could understand.

“It was happy sir! It seemed… happy.”

The seraphim from afar said, “Perhaps it didn’t feel like it belonged anymore? It’s not impossible for these consequences to happen.”

The ruler of the celestial world was indeed bewildered.

“How could it just disappear from our orbit? We made it according to the plan, bright and happy!”

The seraphim turned its back on the celestial world and said, “You MADE it happy. It was never happy for its own purpose. You gave it something it didn’t have. Left the Sun wondering… and now, it’s gone. Something had changed.”

“WAIT SERAPHIM! WAIT!”

The days turned into night, the black clouds roamed the bleak lands and established their authority on a once vibrant place.

The seraphim whispered to the world, “A storm is being born. You have no comprehension or the ability to understand the pain brewing at the core of the Sun. The suffering… you took comfort to suit your needs. The storm is a reflection of how the Sun feels now. It will sweep all the continents and oceans will rise; nothing will be of equal power.”

The savage onslaught had begun and the storm’s eye had no mercy. The rain poured until all that had been forged had fallen to ruin.

By the wake of the next morning, the Sun had risen again.

The seraphim greeted the Sun.

“This is all that’s left.”

“How could it have ended like this?” Said the Sun.

The seraphim extended his hands towards the ground, “It was always going to end like this. The true meaning of happiness is not within its definition, happiness isn’t given and it’s not even earned. Happiness is pure, truly genuine and to experience the definitive feeling is to let go of all you have.”

“Let go?”

“Only if you let go, you have nothing left that can make you unhappy. Nothing can hold on. Not being dependent on anything, living free, floating and no burdens infecting your mind”

The Sun slowly levitated towards the darkened sky, the black clouds withered away.

“I wake up each day and shine a new light. I am noticed and unnoticed at the same time. I shine in times when those whom inhabit Earth are cold. They would look up into the sky to reach the warmness and I unselfishly gave and would not ask for anything in return. I had loved the Earth and with all the beauty it had nurtured for so long. For eons, I wanted to fly away into the Milky Way with the Moon. The thought of jumping into orbit with new planets and witness new comets is enchanting. When nightfall is upon the world for one last time, I shall say goodbye and find a place where I can truly thrive and be happy.”

Absent Grave

Long ago in a time where the Sun would always set upon my horizon, I made a promise that was almost broken. I didn’t try to break it, nor would I let anything in life break it, but it was the last time I saw the Sun rise again.

I never cared about promises, not like it made any impact in the way I would go about my day to day living; a promise was just that, made of words. My promise had to do with the one I loved, like any sad story, she was the only reason I would wake up and lead a life of purpose. I could say she was my lifeline; a machine that would let my heart beat even when it wouldn’t in a time where it never felt like beating. My heart did beat, I wouldn’t want it to stop for one reason and one reason only, and that was for her. 

I had nothing to live for, not that I had anyone to care about. I couldn’t find a job or keep one. I survived purely on the benefits provided from the government. I try my hardest to find work and they pay me just enough to get by. Not that I needed money, all I ever needed was her. I never cared about anything in life until she came along.

My promise to her was that I’ll see her everyday, no matter what. She smiled, just like I knew she would. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I found comfort in that I knew I would be able to see her smile every day, just like I knew the Sun would rise every time I woke up.  Until one day, I noticed that the Sun didn’t rise. I thought it was strange and went to turn on the TV, but nothing but static seemed to flow through each channel. Maybe it’s interference somewhere, so I tried the radio. I couldn’t seem to get reception from where I was standing. I tried adjusting the antenna, but still, nothing but a rushing noise. I started to feel uneasy, and anxious.

I changed and went for a walk outside. The surprising light out there hit my eyes like a migraine of nostalgic memories, even though there was no Sun. Maybe the Sun is hiding between the clouds, but no clouds were floating by. I was starting to worry and started to replay apocalyptic end of the world scenarios in my head on repeat.

I tried calling her, but there was no answer. I made my way to her place, like I do everyday. I arrived at her door. It was opened. The room was clean and packed as if she was going to move apartments.

I read the note that had my name on it laying there on the table. I felt my heart slowly sink, leaving behind a trail of broken hope.

“I don’t know what happened, but I’m not coming back. I didn’t make it, so they put me beneath the ground. You made me a promise that you will see me every day. I told them to build me a grave if I didn’t make it just so you could be with me for the last time. I never told you I was leaving you for good; I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t tell you, I couldn’t see your heart break. I didn’t want to let go, but my health didn’t share the same view …”

By the time I got towards the end of the note, my stomach was heavy from the flood of blood left from my heart.

I managed to arrive at her grave and stood there. Days went by and weeks evaporated into the night. I had been curled up for quite a long time here, but I eventually came to read the rest of the note.

“Although you thought I kept your heart beating, just remember, it was you who kept mine beating.

I love you.”

There I stood, too weak to accept and too stubborn to move on.

I still sit here beside her grave.

That day my Sun never rose again and the warmth I felt disappeared. Without warning, they took her away from me.

Today, I woke up in a dream of where she was still smiling, I told her that I would see her everyday. I chose to keep the promise I made.

Unnoticed Series of Events

The busy mind has the tendency to ride along the events of life unnoticed. The mind ignores the most obvious privileges given by the nature and processes of biological fusions of human development.

The mere motion of breathing, swallowing and all movement goes unnoticed until it has been taken away. Taken away is an idea, a conception the human mind wants to brush aside to the corner of its eyes. It doesn’t want to know about it. It is a given we have the freedom to breath, to move and to be granted the notions that makes us normal; it gives us a normal life. Normal is quite broad. Broad are the definitions that no longer mean what they had been created for. The concept of creation is interpreted in the same respect that life has been created to live within an unnoticed series of events. These events are beyond our control and control is something we are never really capable of ever controlling.

Makes sense? You can’t control.

The world is our bubble that we get to experience an endless TV show that might or might not receive such high ratings. We explore so many avenues to find and attract so many people to watch in hope they will always tune in at prime time for the 30 or so minutes we have for attention.

Huh? Sorry, I already changed the channel.

Our minds lurk in places not for the noticed. You take away one or more of those essentials and all of a sudden something has disturbed your ride in life.

What is this strange feeling I am feeling right now? Is it that time again that I noticed I have a privilege that has been taken away from me that I didn’t notice before? It is not a familiar feeling for the busy mind who encounters a series of fortune that only fate and destiny are to blame for. Blame comes when the minds that never experience such luck curse the day when those other minds win the lottery.

“Curse them! Why couldn’t it be ME?! I despise your good fortune! I NEEED that MONEY moreee!”

Now we have an unnoticed series of fortune, events and emotion, relationships and never ending amnesia of the unnoticed knocking on your mind. The feeling of losing privileges of life and the cliché of not knowing what you had until it is gone establishes tinnitus inside your ears. “Life is unfair”, rings the sounds of words inside your head.

What happened? You have lost your movement? You’re having trouble breathing? Are you finding it hard to swallow? Are you in hospital now? I can’t believe it.

“Gone, just like that. I was fine yesterday. I was perfectly healthy and fine. What the hell is this? Bullshit! This is …”

You’re experiencing an epiphany? You have gone through your life riding along the events and fortunes given to you by fate and destiny.

“Fate and destiny, you’re tripping on something mate, no such things, these are made up fantasies mate!”

If you had a creator or believed in one you will start to disbelieve and curse the day you were born and abuse some God above.

“Why do I deserve this? Why?”

Why are you repeating the words that are trying to find you a means of comfort? Why are you starting to realise the feeling is not so familiar now?

It had to take a series of unnoticed events to show you what is behind the veil of life. You feel so overwhelmed and you need to tell everyone about your story.

You yell out, “Everyone, you have NOO idea what you are taking for granted!! NO IDEA!! Stop, look around you. Feel how you breathe so freely and not knowing what it feels like not to breathe. Think about losing it, think about … death.”

You have this unbelievable desire to let everyone know. Post it everywhere, “You don’t know what you’re taking for granted.”

You remember back in the hospital, no one came to visit, you didn’t get a single message of concern and you experience another epiphany. Your mind is rushing and thinking about who is close to you, trying to fill in the blank canvases of those who have not asked about you so far. This feeling is not familiar to you any longer, it’s normal. Friends are not as close as they seem anymore and some don’t even know you’re in hospital, you go unnoticed.

The cliché is clichéd and yet, only through these times of unfortunate consequences, your mind feels like it has an obligation to tell the other minds of the world who are riding life’s unnoticed series of events of what they are taking for granted. That, and you notice you might not have many true friends that have been exposed in your baptism of fire.

The River Scene in Reverse: Tainted (Part 1) and Serene (Part 2)


Tainted River (Part 1)

The river used to sparkle across the lands and the sunshine was able to mend its rays through the water causing many marine life to leap for joy with a noticeable smile across there opening. I used to call this river side home, but now it looks like a burial ground.

While I walk along the dry fainted brown grass, I notice the large natural stream of water chokes to flow as its reflection is tainted with transparent, green, deadly, bloodsucking parasites.

The thick, burnt scent of toxic oil drums tickles the tip of my nose just seconds before I cough in disgust.

A seagull fell from the heavens, I tilt my head towards the darkened sky and I observed the hazy discoloured thin mist of fog that seems to have poisoned the air. The accumulation of gas that seems to fill the river shows no mercy as it sucks the life out like a vacuum from living organisms which used to consume the river ends.

Everywhere I turn, all I see is contamination. Fish that once had the colour of the clear sky in the daytime now have rotted from within. Chairs that had been beautifully painted like a piece done by Michel Angelo looks much like it had been lit in flames. I can see the river’s empty soul like looking through a window; I can hear a faint echo of desperation and struggle which sounded more like demons screams through the depths of hell. It’s as if the river is drying up, the water drowning and the sense of existence is fading away.

I walk along the river’s path, my feet sinking into the glutinous mud; I approach an old rusty shed, like an old man, that’s about to die and crumble. I walk across the wretched place to find a creature. It has no eyes and it doesn’t breath. It has massive jaws and armoured shell. It makes sounds, but would not speak. Surely this must be madness. I close my eyes and my world falls into darkness. I release my eyes from their slumber and the creature is gone. I hastily rush back outside to only see the same creature dead, to think something so evil, killed by an environment so sinister.

As I continue to wonder, a dark spider like animal arises from the deep ends of a hollow wood stump. Eyes are blazing vividly like the colour of crimson that runs vigorously in our body. This spider seems shy; it feels as if the river reflects its own heart of wickedness. The spider vanishes into the mist, like a magician covered in smoke.

Piles of worthless discarded material and infestations swallow the river as if it was a welcoming ground for a rubbish tip. Animal lives become trapped as they struggle to discharge themselves from all sorts of plastic and inferior aluminium cans. Much of the sea life suffocate and crave the thirst for air as other beasts wander and many die.

I have seen many disturbing images in this river today as I continue to hear the screams that plague the waters. I move along to where the Sun used to shine. Whenever I felt cold, I would stand in front of the Sun and reach out to it’s warmth like a mother’s touch when you’re alone and scared.

The river no longer smiles, but its echo will still linger, as will its soul.


River Serene (Part 2)

There is one place, not too far from my heart, where I feel completely at home with nature, it’s like the river reflects the sunlight as if diamonds were reflecting hope to my world. This charming spot lies at the river sight. The water stream is crystal clear, and it reflects the colour of the vibrant blue sky.

The river is cold in any season and makes me shiver only by looking at it. However, that coldness makes the place even more special. The calm body of water makes almost no sound, like a sea of stars in space where no one can hear them burn.

When the light breeze comes, I can open my mouth and taste the purity of life. It emits from the air that causes the gentle lapping waves, which form across the river side. Animals run freely across the burning essence of the green, soft grass where an old, oak tree lies. The tree drinks the cleansing water like a child that is breast fed by her mother, for never ending life of nourishment.

If I sit on the rocky banks of the river, I can catch a glimpse of schools of fish, soundlessly passing by. Many kinds of fish make this water full of life, especially trout, with their acrobatic jumps above the tranquil surface. I lean over and touch the silky clear water, the water is poise and energising, ripples erupt around my finger as the mesmerising flow of small rings speed away from my hand like a nuclear blast as if I was the enemy.

In the deepest parts of the serene river, a heron proudly waltzes around the edges of the water in silence. Its swift and perfect movements sent sedating melodies throughout my consciousness and felt pulsating shivers down my spine. The fresh dynamic air glides right under my nose with every flap of its wings and the scent of the heron revitalises my heart and soul.

I made my way along the river side and from far ahead, found a vision of beauty, a dazzlingly gorgeous young lady. The Sun aroused by this rare sight increased its intensity hoping the young lady would shed parts of her clothing. The road ahead seemed long for her, she was alone and tired. No matter how hard the Sun tried to burn, she didn’t seem to mind. A rare innocence gifted from such rare beauty. Perspiration made its way to her lips and her mouth opened, it made the Sun’s heartbeat, as if the hearts make the river flow.

The water is calm as The Moon decides to admire its appearance from the reflection. The water blushes as the angels send auroras throughout the evening sky. Numerous amounts of colours charge around The Moon gently kissing its cheeks.

A flock of geese made its way to catch some food, and ducks quack and chat while oiling their feathers in the river. Together with the orchestra of birds, the soaring eagles, the greenery and the majestic mountain peak, this river is surely a masterpiece of the creator.




Update 20/02/2012: Part 2 has been re-written in parts due to errors from the original work.

An Unread Letter

To my lost love,
 
I write you this letter knowing that you will never read it, but I feel that it’s something that I have to do. I know it’s over between us and that there is nothing left. I hate each day because I will never relive what we once shared.
 
I cycle through the memories of us and try to believe that everything is the same. Although deep down inside, I know that the memories will fade away and will one day become so grey and colourless as if they never existed.
 
Do you remember when we used to lay down together and you used to stare me in the eyes? You would tell me, “For the first time in my life, I am happy”, and I would look at you and smile. I never appreciated those words until you were gone. I never acknowledged what that meant to you. For one moment in time, when I held you in my arms, you were at peace and didn’t want to be anywhere else. I took that for granted.
 
I dwell on the time when you once said, “You mean a lot to me and I miss you so much. You make everything pleasurable and nice … and sparkly, glittery, shimmery and sickeningly colourful like a Disney movie. I hope that one day I can make you as happy as you have made me.”
 
Your face used to glow at the first thought of me. Even when I was not around, just knowing that you were going to see me made the day worthwhile and gave you something to look forward to. When I would finally arrive at your doorstep, your smile would say it all and your eyes would light up. How I miss that so much. Yet the last memory I have of you is one deflated and cold, as if I never meant anything to you. You couldn’t even look at me as I walked away.
 
I never gave you the commitment that you deserved. In protecting myself I kept you at a distance and pushed you too far away. These words still linger in my mind, “Once upon a time you used to like hearing from me. You used to like my long messages and my mundane talkative crap. Then something changed. You no longer enjoyed my ramblings. You lived happily ever after and I pondered why you never showed me how much you really loved me.”
 
I’m sorry that I didn’t do enough, but I want you to know that each day hurts without you. I feel you fading away from my mind, but not from my heart. My heart won’t let you go and it holds on to you in hope that you will come back to me and we can start again. But you are gone, you are truly gone. Those feelings that you once had, those words that you once spoke, will no longer be felt or said to me by you. And it’s sad, so damn sad, because I still love you and wish that my bleeding heart will be healed by your hands.
 
An emptiness now resides, that no matter what I do, I cannot seem to fill. It’s a constant void that reminds me of the experiences that I will never share with you again, the happy memories that we will never make. I know it’s goodbye, but I don’t want to accept it, because if I do then I know that I have truly lost you. For now, it’s just easier to pretend that I still have you and that I am still everything to you … even though it’s pretend.
 

Always yours,

xox
 

P.S. – Remember how you used to dream of building that house together and wishing that you could come home to me every night? I wish for that too …



Written by Charles Daaboul

A Letter To My Son

As a child I took many situations as they came. I picked up a lot of life’s messages and lessons.

As I grew up between the ages of thirteen to seventeen, I realised in my teenage years that I went though a lot of negative dilemmas and quite a few of positives as well. I learnt lots of things in my years as a teenager and I went through obstacles that were in my way. These obstacles were a challenge but I managed to overcome them. You go through insecurities and stages where you get depressed quite a lot.

When you reach the ages of eighteen to twenty-eight, you might realise that the good things in life are coming to you. These are the stages in life where you sit down and think about where the next step in life is. Think about finishing university, getting a new house, getting married and maybe having children and buying a car. There are many things to work out and that’s when your life really starts.

Once you have settled down around the age of thirty-eight and beyond you start to look back on the things in life that you remembered, the things that you have done that were so great. You tend to look back at your accomplishments and pride yourself on them.

If things don’t go so well, don’t have a sad grim on your face forever. Remember, there will be times that will upset you and you have to try to work yourself around it. Always try to seek help if you can’t solve the problem yourself. 

If you want to become a man and make use of your time on Earth, then be wise! Learn from your mistakes and find your weaknesses and strengthen them.

Don’t have the macho look; be yourself. The only thing in life that will make you succeed in everything you do is your mind. Use it for it is the only thing that will guide you every step of the way! The big macho man was left in the past. In today’s society knowledge is power.

If you’re having trouble at school for any reason, bullies or homework, make sure you talk to your teachers or people that you feel comfortable with. They will help you.

Don’t be influenced by your peers too much. I know it’s hard and sometimes popularity is at stake, but you got to take control. If you think about it, proving that you’re worthy of something to your friends doesn’t count in the long run. They won’t remember it; they will forget it, they might never be there again and you will suffer from the effects. So be smart and know what you have to do. Don’t do what you don’t want to do because of what others tell you. Listen to the right people. Watch out for the minority of people that try to put you down and make you sink. After all, there is nothing more they would like than to see you fail and become miserable.

If you notice something about your health, find out what it is, be curious about these things, read about it and if it is nothing serious, don’t worry about it. But if it needs attention son, don’t be a chicken to go to the doctor.

If you are having relationship issues, with a girl you like, don’t be afraid to go up to her and tell her how you feel. If you don’t, she will eventually be taken. I have the same taste as you, and I know how quick these girls get boyfriends.

Don’t hesitate. Have the courage and bravery to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t be pushed by other people and have the guts to say ‘no’ sometimes.

If you’re a ‘yes’ man then people will just take advantage of you. Don’t let that happen and don’t make yourself feel used.

Listen to people when they are giving you advice. These are hidden pearls that you can add to your growing knowledge of wisdom.

Be sure to have a sense of humour and take certain things as a joke and don’t take offence to them. There is nothing more ordinary and embarrassing than making a scene because you couldn’t recognise a joke that was being made. However with that being said, if you feel that it’s more than a joke and it is really pissing you off then have the courage to say, “Wait a second, you’re going a bit too far here!” Don’t be afraid of anyone because that shows you’re weak, and you’re not. It’s okay to be afraid, but not when you’re living in fear.

Learn to have fun at the right times and know when to be serious and give it your max. You can have your little shenanigans and mischievous moments but know when to stop son.

Life is about having fun and being happy, it’s all about the experiences you have and make sure you pick up the messages in life that’s been shown to you. Don’t miss them because your ignorance can affect you pretty bad so get into the know. Learn to help people. If someone is seeking your help give them the helpful hand and show them the door, but let them open it.

Son, I want you to remember three things, ‘intelligence’, ‘wisdom’ & ‘honour’. With these three things, you my son can be a man that will be respected, trusted and remembered. Now be good, and good luck!


Love your Dad.

The Destroyer

Looking far across the sea with a single thought that has been paralysed by deep pondering, thinking at no pace, irregular, but frequent, about what our destiny could be.

We seem to like the idea of having some importance about existing, some purpose important enough, but don’t know anything but feel as if it’s important. That’s all we are good for, thinking that we are important.

Off into that distance, life ends up looking a little pale. Not as bright as it could be and the wonder, we like to wonder all the time about how our life should be.

With our thinking, we destroy everything. We burn any life left in us by thinking. It’s madness. Deep depression, and slowly the darkness solaces you and you think again, always thinking, always destroying, and destroying yourself.

We want to run into a forest we have never been to, but to run into this forest, we need to know where it is for us to run through it. We can’t do that. We start to think about this forest and what we intend to do and we don’t want to do it anymore because we destroyed it. We thought too much and killed the idea. We don’t want to run in the forest anymore. It’s done, we destroyed it. The idea is gone, not interested.

Then dawn sets and we have no direction anymore. Liberated ourselves, satisfied another day is gone and we have destroyed any idea we had, everything destroyed. With that idea and single thought now paralysed because in that state of wonder we liked the idea of almost catching the purpose of why we exist, even running the risk of looking like a stunned corpse. The sea almost looks empty enough, like your thoughts, and you can see your eye lids frown and drop down and think about that you’re existing because everything else in the universe forgot to think.

If the universe did decide to think about what it was doing, it will destroy itself and collapse. Every planet will explode and implode together, orchestrated beautifully, big bang after another because everything decided to think for itself and destroy itself. Then, no life left to destroy itself, no life left to start destroying beautiful ideas and thoughts because of judgements made by thinking which destroyed beauty.

Beauty never had to be thought, it was just there, always looking beautiful, but thinking it was beautiful made it ugly enough to be dreadful looking to the eyes, disgusting enough because of that single thought of doubting its beauty we destroyed it. Along with every other notion of purpose and with no purpose comes no notion of anything important.

And then we are all back at the cliff looking out towards the sea, remembering we have no purpose and now knowing we also have no notion of anything that made us not important. Looking like a stunned corpse and suddenly music plays in the background as if you’re the star of your own movie and you become scared to think too much about your current situation because you realise it’s now very beautiful and you don’t want to destroy it anymore.

‘trust’ - “Trust is ‘endangered’. When it is used, it will lie. We believed in your lies, slowly, as the truth started to die. Trust was the only word we had confidence in before it started to rust. We never knew what it was like to know the truth, before the truth was extinct.”

‘trust’ is the final wallpaper at #7.

This will end the series of human emotions that I have been creating. However, expect to see one last post that farewells the series.

I hope you have enjoyed them.

‘surprise’ - “You covered my eyes and you put me in a disguise. I looked up far into the skies without peaking. After that I didn’t hear your voice. I opened my eyes and read a letter with your goodbyes. You entitled it, ‘Surprise.’”

‘surprise’ is #6.