Listicle 20 Things Women Do More And Better Than Men 7:22 PM 20 Things Women Do More And Better Than Men Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.-Timothy Leary Whether women are better than men or vice versa has always been an argument. But today, let’s celebrate the gentle force that makes the world more beautiful, colorful, and fun...Women! Here are 20 things women can do more and better than men.This post contains affiliate links, so we’d get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. 1. Women have more taste buds than men.Women tend to have more sensitive palates than men, which is why more women are in the sensory panels (Sensory Value).Our sense of smell and taste are closely linked, and the olfactory bulb in women has 43% more cells than in men. Giphy 2. Women can multitask better than men.A study was conducted to see who’s really better at multitasking - men or women. When the tasks were mixed up, both men and women made mistakes and slowed down.But men were significantly slower - taking 77% longer to respond, whereas women took 69% longer.We don’t need experiments to prove this, though. How many men do you know who can multitask better than women? Virality 3. Women live longer than men.Women outlive their male counterparts by about 5.5 years. According to Eurostat, life expectancy at birth for women was 84 years and 78.5 for men. Women’s sex hormone estrogen can combat heart disease, which according to the CDC, killed 357,761 men in the US in 2019.Women are also believed to have a stronger immune system. Giphy 4. Women talk more than men.Generally, women talk more than men. (Although in some cases relationships, it’s the opposite).Women speak about 20,000 words daily, while men speak only 7,000. Giphy 5. Women cry more than men.On average, women cry 30-64 times a year, while men cry 6-17 times yearly.Could it be because the patriarchal society has made us believe that crying is a sign of weakness for men?Or are men more discreet in showing their emotions? Giphy 6. Women’s hearts beat more than men’s.A woman’s heart can beat as many as six beats per minute faster than a man’s.According to the Cardiology Associates of Michigan, a woman’s heart and some of its chambers are smaller, the walls that divide some are thinner, and the veins are finer.Though a woman’s heart pumps faster than a man’s, a man’s heart ejects more blood with each pump. Tumblr 7. Women blink twice as often as men do.In an optoelectronic study of eyelid motion, the blink rate was significantly larger in women than in men.Women blink 19 times per minute vs. men, who blink 11 times per minute. During eyelid closure and opening, women moved faster than men.Batting eyelashes look better in women than men, don’t you think? 😁 Giphy 8. Women orgasm better than men.Though men orgasm in 95% of encounters compared to women’s 69%, their orgasm only lasts 3 to 10 seconds.Women’s orgasms can last as long as around 20 seconds to 2 minutes.The nerve endings in a woman’s clitoris are approximately more than 8,000. That’s double the number of nerve endings in a man’s penis.Women would have the best sex when they turn 28, while men reach their peak at 33.Yeah, women may fake it more often to please the man, but when they do orgasm, it’s better. 9. Women are more attentive and organized than men.Study shows that women’s brains were significantly more active in many areas than men’s, especially where focus and impulse control are involved.Women are more on top of things when it comes to meeting deadlines.In terms of home organization, women do it better than men. Gfycat 10. Women have higher IQs than men.Marilyn Vos Savant is not only the most brilliant woman but the smartest person in history, with an IQ of 228 (Guinness Book of World Records).In the men category, Christopher Michael Langan has an IQ score between 195 and 210. Giphy 11. Women are more likely to graduate from college compared to men.US Department of Education data shows that 65% of women who matriculated at a US four-year university in 2012 had graduated by 2018, compared with 59% of their male counterparts.Men who enrolled in a four-year college in 2013 were 10% less likely to graduate within 4 years.There are many factors to consider. As a woman, I say women are more committed to graduating because of the limited opportunity available after college than men. We want to achieve more and feel more accomplished; a college degree is one way to do it. Giphy 12. Women have higher investment returns than men.Women are better investors outperforming their male counterparts by 40 basis points or 0.4%.Women are more cautious when taking risks, which shows in their investments. Giphy 13. Women can handle job interviews better than men.Women show that they can manage stress better, which helps them handle job interviews. Although HR managers click the male profile more, according to LinkedIn, women are 16% more successful in landing a job. Giphy 14. Women are most likely to survive car accidents compared to men.In a car crash, women are more likely to get injured (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) because a car’s safety features are designed for male drivers. Crash dummies, for instance, are modeled after an average man. Nevertheless, as of this writing, reports show that women are more likely to survive car accidents than men. Giphy 15. Daughters are more likely to care for their parents.Probably because women are naturally more nurturing and caring, daughters are found to care for their aging parents more than their sons.The University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study shows that daughters give an average of 12.3 hours of elder care per month, while sons provide just 5.6. Giphy 16. Women are better communicators than men.Women’s brains are wired in a way that they excel in verbal tasks.Communication is a two-way street. Women are found to be better listeners and are more polite and empathetic than men, which makes them more effective communicators. Giphy 17. Women outperform men in memory tests.It’s normal for both men and women to get more forgetful, especially aging.Menopaused women experienced brain fog and continued memory depletion.Still, women outperform men in memory tests from childhood to adulthood.Here’s what they found out in a test conducted:Females generally access their memories faster than males and date them more precisely Women use more emotional terms when describing memoriesSuperior verbal memory for females appears to be independent of intelligence levelFemales also have greater specificity for events imagined to occur in the futureBe careful what you say because a woman remembers everything.And they may forget where they put their keys or phone, but they remember what you said 4 years ago at 3:27 PM.I wish I’m just kidding. Giphy 18. Women are more adept in languages compared to men. Girls’ language ability develop earlier compared to boys.In the early stage, girls, on average, acquire language faster than boys and have a more extensive vocabulary.Estrogen was found to promote the growth of language centers and related areas in the brain, while testosterone had the opposite effect.Women show superior verbal performance not only for first language acquisition but also for acquiring a foreign language. Giphy 19. Women can sustain relationships better than men. It’s no secret that women are more emotional than men.Women show more emotions, listen emphatically, and are more open in sharing their stories, so they build stronger relationships with their peers.These traits come in handy at work or in business. Giphy 20. Companies with women bosses perform better than those led by men.Because they’re more organized and attentive to details...Able to multitask better and be more productive...Are better communicators...Have sharper memories and a higher IQ...Can build better relationships at work...It’s no surprise that companies with female bosses perform better.Here’s what The Pipeline report says:“London-listed companies with no women on their executive committees have a net profit of 1.5%, whereas those with more than one in three women at that level reach a 15.2% net profit margin.” Giphy How amazing it is to be a woman.It’s not always fun, but oh, the things a woman can do!And they do it better. In high heels even! Hug a superwoman in your life today! Sources:Medical NewsHarvard Business NewsDaily MailPubmedGeorgetown UniversityBrookingsCNBCNBC NewsNCBIBBC
Listicle I'm Never Too Old For This 1:30 AM Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. -Franz Kafka I've always been an old soul, but there are things I will never be too old for. I'm Never Too Old For This Cotton candies, chocolates and ice cream How can you say no to these sweet sinful treats? Harry Potter I solemnly swear that I will never get tired of watching the films and reading the books again and again. I will pass on the magic, the legacy, the story and the kind of life forever changed by Harry to my children, and my children's children. Mischief managed. Christmas Am I the only one around here who feels a sudden rush of nostalgia and excitement at the sight of a lighted Christmas tree and when Christmas songs start to play? Fangirling I'm never too old to be a fan girl. I actively follow amazing fandoms online. I research on the lives of people I admire. I'm exhilarated when I see or get a response from the celebrities I follow. Disney movies I will always, always be a Disney kid. Chick Lits and Chick Flicks Eleanor & Park got me into a giddy overdrive. Flipped and Julie & Julia are two of my comfort movies to date. Playing Board games, hide and seek, hopscotch, skipping rope, or playing pretend with my young cousins, nieces, nephews and friends' kids. You name it, I'm all for it. Dreaming Some people stopped dreaming when they became adults. Sad really because our dreams fire us up, keep us going, and needless to say, keep us young. What to do if your dreams already came true? Dream new dreams. Dream not only for yourself but for those around you. Set new goals. Don't stop dreaming. Curfews I don't have one when I'm in my place. But every time I come home for a vacation or a visit, I always stick to the curfew my parents have set since time immemorial. No matter how old we get, we will always be their children. Childlike Faith Depending on God's grace. I know some people don't believe in God or have other gods, and I respect that. But for me, I can't and won't survive a day without asking for His grace and mercy. He's my Dadda. Zac Efron Seriously. I'm forever under his spell. (Previous Zac Efron posts: Dear Zac, That Awkward Moment, Lessons Learned From Charlie) Call it Peter Pan syndrome or quirks. I just can't give up these things. What are things that make you say "I'm never too old for this"? Gifs from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons A Letter From My Future Self 8:00 AM A Letter From My Future Self A Letter from My Future Self Hey Gorgeous, Guess who's writing to you? Yep, it's your future self – way stronger, way happier, and bursting with pride at the amazing woman you've become.Seriously, you're crushing it! Remember all those doubts, all those times you felt lost? Look how far you've come.Listen, there were some rough patches. That toxic relationship? Yeah, girl, good riddance! Walking away was the bravest thing you ever did, even if it felt like your heart was shattering. But trust me, it opened the door to so much better.Remember that heartbreak quote by Eric Ludy? Still applies."Many a young woman has spent nights crying over a broken heart-not from an ended relationship, but from the FALSE HOPE of a relationship that never began." Sometimes, letting go of something that wasn't meant to be frees you up for something incredible.Wonderful things are coming your way. There will be stumbles, but there's also a whole stormcloud full of God's blessings ready to pour down on you. So keep the faith.Speaking of faith, hold onto the people who lift you up, the ones who celebrate your quirks and believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself. Life is a million times better with those cheerleaders by your side.Remember all that time you wasted chasing after things you thought you needed? We can laugh about that now, right? You've learned a powerful lesson: your worth doesn't depend on what you have. It comes from who you are.You are a good person, beautiful inside and out. Don't ever forget that. Let go of anyone who tries to dim your light, and forgive freely, even if they don't deserve it. It's about your peace, not theirs.The best part? You haven't even seen the good stuff yet! God has amazing plans for you. And trust me, the surprises He has in store are beyond anything you could dream up.So hang tight, lovely.Keep loving yourself, keep loving God, and enjoy the ride. Your future self is waiting for you with the biggest smile, ready to celebrate the incredible woman you've become.With endless love and pride,Your Future YouP.S. You're gonna have a blast!This post contains affiliate links, so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Lux Thinking Aloud I'm Taking Charge 5:33 PM We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance. -Benjamin Disraeli I'm taking charge. I have allowed circumstances to take charge of my life for a long time. I have let myself get away with excuses and blaming. I have let myself suffer from other people's wrong decisions and shortcomings. Not anymore. I have decided that I have enough. No more excuses. I'm not taking any bullshit anymore. I will not let obstacles intimidate and discourage me from getting the life I have always wanted. I will use them as my stepping stones instead. I will not wallow in self-pity. It's normal to get hurt, to grieve for a while, to rest. But, quitting is not an option. Everybody gets hurt. Everyone has had their fair share of betrayal, abuse, heartaches and failures. Those are all parts of growing and living. But all those are temporary. They are not the end of my story. I refuse to accept them as the end of my story. That's why I'm taking charge. I will not let lack of knowledge or experience about certain things kill my dreams. No more blaming. Yes, some people in my life should have treated me better, should have known better than use and abuse my kindness and generosity. They should not have dragged me into their mess. But what good does it do to keep on pointing fingers? If I would really analyze it, I have contributed to the situation no matter how small. I have cooperated. If I didn't, things would have been different. I have let myself get pushed around by life. It's time to push back. I refuse to get stuck. I'm taking charge. If you like this blog post on rants about life, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Listicle 10 Gifts Of A Romantic Relationship 6:34 AM The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. -Moulin Rouge Being single is awesome. But, there are days when it really sucks too. People misunderstand you, and just like any normal human being, you fear a lot of things. I know the ups and downs of being single, and I also know what it's like to be in a relationship. There are things only single people can get to enjoy, but there are also perks of being in a romantic relationship. 10 Gifts Of A Romantic Relationship The gift of having a partner. You've got a partner in crime. In all your whimsical adventures, in all your misadventures, in every place you want to go to and things you want to try, you always have someone beside you, ready to explore the world with you. Even in simple things as having Sunday brunches or staying up late to watch reruns, there's always someone to share a moment with. The gift of having a backup. You know not all your decisions are wise, but you have an assurance that no matter what, someone always got your back. Someone will always be there to defend you when you feel weak or vulnerable. The gift of having a catcher. Someone's always ready to catch you when you fall. You may be a strong person, but there are times when you just want to raise the white flag. Family and friends will always be there, but having someone special to lean on is another thing. The gift of care. You've got someone to take care of you, and if you're lucky, someone to take care of you forever. You can open your own door, you can carry your things, you can pay your bills. But, if someone does all these little thoughtful things for you, can life get any better? The gift of affirmation. Constant shower of gifts, hugs and mushy lines. You get your daily dose of sweet messages and frequent surprises. The sweet life. The gift of having a 3 am person. No matter how late, no matter how crazy the reason may be, no matter how inconvenient, there's always someone you can call when you need or want to. The gift of intimacy. You are practically sharing your life and this other person is sharing his/her life with you. You are two souls becoming one. Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. -Swedish Proverb The gift of a beautiful story. Every story has an ending. When you're in a relationship, there are only two possible endings for you; you either end up together or you break up. Sometimes you decide mutually, sometimes you have no other choice but to accept what your partner has chosen for you. However it ends, trust that the purpose for the ending is always for the best, though it may take some time for that to sink in. No matter how your story would end, trust that it's been beautifully written. The gift of lessons. With the story or experience comes the lessons. Lessons that will wake you, change you, break and rebuild you. Lessons that will make you realize what you really want, what you really need and what you really deserve. The gift of love. Because really, isn't that what romantic relationships are all about? Photos from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks!
Love and Relationship Love Is Not Just An Emotion 12:28 AM Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you. -Unknown Love is not just an emotion. Love is a decision. Love is when that giddy feeling of being on cloud 9 disappears, and you still decide to stay and love the other person anyway. Love is when you see the other side of your partner---the undesirable, unlovable one, but you still stick around no matter what. Love is when you don't feel like kissing, hugging, or saying, "I love you," but you still do. Because honoring, loving, and giving your 100% is a commitment you made. Love is more than just your libido on an all-time high. Love is when you see past her dazzling eyes, sweet smile, adorable face, and everything physical, and you still see beauty. Love is not a walk in the park. It is hard work. Love is getting your hands dirty to serve the person you love. Love is working on things together. It's a partnership and teamwork. It's not a one-way street. It's not a solo act. Love is a mutual effort. Love is work---a lot of work. Love is when you decide to hold on against all odds. Love is not for the lazy.Love is more than empty promises and poetry to flatter. Love is saying the truth, knowing that a little discomfort at the beginning will save you from future conflicts. Love is a decision. It's not for the fickle-minded. Love is not for the weak or the complacent. Love is a decision. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. Love is a conscious effort. Love is a deliberate action. Love is not just based on emotions. Love is a decision.
Rants The One Who Got Away 9:53 PM There’s the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you’re with, and the one who got away. How often do you think about the one that got away? I always say I'd rather be the one who got away than the one who let go and forever lives in regrets. Things don't always end up the way we want them to, and there's nothing we can do but accept it. Let go and move on, so they say. I don't know about you, but sometimes I still find myself wondering about the what-ifs. What if I tried again? What if I believed the story, accepted the apology, and gave it another chance? What if I stretched my patience a little bit more? What if I tried to understand more? What if we fought harder for each other? What if I didn't give up? I'll never know. I guess it will always stay that way. I think it's better to stay that way. I know that once in our lives, we meet someone we thought we'd spend our happily ever after with before life took over and changed everything. The plans we carefully made for our future with this person ended. Reality cut like a knife and woke us from our beautiful dreams, forcing us to return to the real world and deal with the pain we thought would never stop. Maybe for another person, you are the one who got away. I believe it's part of the plan; to meet someone whose memories we'll forever cherish but whom we NEED to let go of. It's not my kind of plan, but what can we do? Life's a bitch. A friend of a friend posted this on Facebook (we don't know who the author is), and it's too good not to share. It speaks a lot about the one who got away---something most people can relate to.Everyone has their own Robin. We Know Memes We all have someone that got away. For all of us, here's one good read: The One Who Got Away(Author Unknown) In your life, you’ll make a note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special and ones who will always mean something. There’s the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you’re with...and the one who got away. Who is the one who got away? I guess it’s that person with whom everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. I suppose there was no fault in the person nor flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way. I believe in the fact that ending up with someone and finding a longtime partner, that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance. How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you’re not ready to commit maturely, it doesn't matter who you’re with. It just doesn’t work. Small problems become big; inconsequential ones become deal breakers simply because you’re not ready, and it shows. It’s not that you and the person you’re with are no good; it’s just that it’s not yet right, and little things become the flash point of that fact. Then one day, you’re ready. You really are. And when this happens, you’ll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, or they or she might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it’ll work because you’re ready. It’ll work because it’s the right time, and you’ll make it work. And it’ll make sense. It really will. So that day comes when you’re finally making sense of things, and you find yourself different. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there’s no telling when this day will come. Hopefully, you’re single, in a long-term relationship, or married with three kids…it doesn't matter. All you know is that you have changed. And for some reason, the one who got away is the first person you think about. You’ll think about them because you’ll wonder, “What if they were here today?” “What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?” The one who got away is– the biggest “What if?” you’ll have in your life. If you’re married, you’ll just have to accept the fact that the one who got away got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us.But hopefully, you’re mature enough to realize that you’re already with the one you’re with, and this is just another test of your commitment, which will strengthen your marriage when you get past it. You’ll think about him/her occasionally, but it’s alright. It’s never nice to live with a “might have been,” but it happens. Maybe the one who got away is the one who’s already married. In which case, it’s the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips when you’re old and gray and reminiscing. But if neither of that is the case, then it’s different. What do you do if it’s not yet too late? Simple –find him or find her. The existence of the “one that got away” means that you’ll always wonder…what if you got that one? Ask him out to coffee. Ask her out to a movie. It doesn't matter if you’ve dropped in from out of nowhere. You’d be surprised. You just might be “the one who got away” as well for the person who is your “the one who got away.” You might drop in from nowhere, which won’t make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it’ll fall into place somehow. It would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, “Hey you, you’re the one who almost got away.” Is there someone in your life who got away?
Faith God Is Not Fair 8:25 PM He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers. -Matthew 5:45 God is not fair. We say that God is a just Judge, but I also believe that He could be unfair. Why? God plays favorite. I know because I’m one of them. Instead of punishing me, He shows me mercy. When I run away from Him, instead of erasing my name on the palm of His hand, He runs after me. I could not escape His love. When I want Him to leave me alone, He patiently waits for my return. Because He knows no matter how long, I will always come back home to Him. He is a Lover who does not carry a grudge despite all the pain and the heartache I give Him. He does not keep a record of my wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). I lost count of the times He showed me that I am highly favored. Now, how can you say He is just? When all I do is disappoint Him and do wrong and all He does is forgive me every time, love me lavishly and unconditionally. Care for me patiently. Provide for me generously. God is not fair. God loves everybody, but I’m His favorite. Tee hee. Linked to:
Life Lessons 4 Ways To Silence Your Own Critic 3:13 AM Listening to the voice of discouragement makes us deaf to the Voice of Truth. Every day we deal with the voices in our heads. We can't choose what people tell us, but we can definitely choose what we keep inside our heads. We can choose what we will believe in. We can choose what to validate, accept and reject. We are our own worst critic. Worst because we live with the voices in our heads 24/7, and because when we believe what we tell ourselves, no one can tell us otherwise. Often, this voice is the echo of what the people around us say; our parents' constant reminder or comment while we were growing up, our friends who have different views from us, what the media or the society projects. Listening to the voice of discouragement makes us deaf to the Voice of Truth. It makes us forget that we are anointed to be great. We have a purpose. We can. How do you silence your own critic? 4 Ways To Silence Your Own Critic Know who you are. Know that you're not here by accident. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are a child of God and God does not make mistakes. If you have self-awareness, no one can change your identity for you. Take destructive criticisms constructively. Be objective in receiving comments. Understand that the person saying it has a different point of view. Sometimes they may mean differently but because we are also dealing with other personal issues, we take it negatively. Remember that not everyone will agree with you or support you. No one can offend you unless you let them. Don't be too harsh on yourself. Sometimes we are kind with others but we are mean with ourselves. Forgive yourself if you've failed. Give yourself the chance to correct the mistake you've done. Let go of the things and issues that are weighing you down. The voice of guilt is your loudest critic. It will tell you that you are no longer capable or qualified because of what you did in the past. Don't let one mistake define your whole life. Do not condemn yourself for one mess that you've made. Take a moment of silence and go with what your heart tells you. Go with whatever it is that will give you peace of mind. You were born with goodness planted in your heart so you feel off if something is not right. Don't numb your conscience. Don't justify the means by the end. It's important to stay connected with your inner self. Listen to your body because it manifests what you really need. It will be difficult at first to silence your own critic. It will take a lot of practice to know which voice to listen to. Just remember this, the Voice of Truth will never ask you to compromise your dignity. Tweet It will never tell you to do something that will violate you or others. The Voice of Truth will leave you pumped up and inspired. The Voice of Truth will remind you of your greatness and of your purpose and will not lead you away from it. So silence your own critic to hear The Voice of Truth more clearly. Gifs from Google images. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Single Life This Single Is Ready To Mingle 10:30 PM Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time. -Maya Angelou This single is ready to mingle. That didn't sound fabulous, did it? I felt douchey and juvenile saying that. But before you judge me, know my story: I have been single for a long time now. It was a choice I deliberately made. I allowed myself to feel ALL the emotions that bitter ending brought. Grief, disappointment, frustration, pain of betrayal, confusion, unforgiveness, grudge, angst, wrath, denial, depression, and what-have-yous were my constant companions. You see, I believe that all people were born good. So everyone for me deserves a chance. It's disappointing and frustrating to be yet again proven wrong. What's left to believe in? I closed my door to everyone who tried to woo me. I thought I would be unfair to them. I wanted to heal myself completely first. All throughout that roller coaster of emotions, I was battling to forgive. Difficult is an understatement. Imagine feeling vindictive while telling yourself, "I want to forgive. This is not me; angry, bitter, unforgiving. I want to be me again; happy, optimistic, hopeful. So today, I decide to forgive," at the same time? It got kind of bipolar-ish for a while there. My emotions was the tale of the two wolves for some time. But it was so difficult because as much as I wanted to feed the good wolf, the evil wolf was quicker and stronger. Most of the time, I lost the battle and succumbed to the evil one. I allowed it to consume me. It was becoming a cycle. But the stubborn kid in me won't allow one heartbreak to destroy my entire life. That was not who I was born to be. I deserve more than that. It got easier through time. Or maybe I just got stronger. Either way, I learned to love myself in the truest sense. I allowed myself to be happy again. I helped myself. Because let's face it. No matter how many books you read, no matter how wise the advice you receive from people, if you won't help yourself, no one else would. So I smartened up. I shifted the energy and attention I spent unleashing anger into fulfilling activities. I tried new things that I never thought I would dare do. I spent more time with the people who value and appreciate me, drinking up all the love they offer to fill up my emptying love tank. I allowed myself to be angry with God because I felt He did not protect me enough. Then again, it was not His decision in the first place. It was my recklessness which I so shamelessly blame on Him. I came to my senses and made my peace with Him. After all the blaming, the questioning and the hating, guess what He did? He didn't even make me take all the steps towards Him. He ran towards me when He saw me approaching. He embraced me. No questions, no reprimanding, no "I told you so". He accepted me back and loved me as if I have never sinned. He is a prodigal Father. I got so busy being happy again. I got preoccupied thinking, planning and acting to show my love to myself. I am terribly at peace with myself and with everything that's happening around me I forgot that I must share this love and this beautiful life with someone. Sure, there is no need for that if I am already okay with how my life is turning out. But somehow, I feel a nudge, a pull towards this path again. I feel like I have to continue the quest of finding the elusive one---the one. I think I've given myself more than enough room to breathe, to grow and to bounce back. I think my love tank is full enough that I won't be putting myself and the other person's life in misery by acting like a selfish, hungry, demanding toddler. I feel like I'm whole enough and ready to share my wholeness with another whole person. Because I believe that a happy relationship is made of two happy individuals, not by two miserable souls seeking for someone to make them happy. I don't know what surprises this year holds for me. I have plans but I know that God's plans will still prevail. I'm wise enough now to accept it whatever it will be because never had I proven that my plans are better than His. I'm putting everything on His caring hands as I step out the doors I once closed...single and ready to mingle. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Faith Where Is Your Arrow Pointing 9:30 AM True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. -C. S. Lewis Where Is Your Arrow Pointing When people compliment us for achieving something laudable, it is so tempting to take all the credit. When people look up to us, it is easy to feel superior and forget where we came from. That's why I like John the Baptist. People follow him and some even regard him as the Messiah. It would have been easy to take the credit, grab the opportunity and play god. But, he remained humble. When people look up to him, he always points the direction towards Jesus. Even when Jesus came to him to be baptized, he was hesitant because he knows where his place is at. Some people choose to play small and use humility as an excuse. That is selfishness and laziness disguising as humility. When you play big, you bless more people. Tweet Ultimately, it boils down to your intentions. True humility is not forgetting where you came from and the people who helped you to get where you are. True humility is knowing you are special, and helping others discover their gifts and self-worth, not flaunting what you have and making others feel less. True humility is recognizing your greatness knowing you were created by The Greatest of All, but giving back to Him all the glory He deserves. It's rejoicing over your achievements but not being arrogant about it. When you achieve something big, when you are recognized for your talent, when people put you on a pedestal, do you revel in your fame and claim all the glory? Or do you magnify The Force behind you? Do you remember the people who has helped you along the way? When people look at you and see how blessed you are, do they see the Blesser working in your life? Where is your arrow pointing? Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Never Settle For Second Best 9:33 AM I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -John 10:10 Never Settle For Second Best We have always planned and wanted what's best for us. Nobody wakes up in the morning and seeks to make the worst decision and make his life as miserable as he could. We all have dreams. We all have aspirations. Remember when you were a kid full of dreams, and believed that you will live in that 3-story house you drew on a paper? Why most people cannot and will not turn their aspirations and goals into reality, I could enumerate a few reasons. But, the most common mistake we subconsciously make is that we settle. We settle for second best. We settle for what is comfortable. We settle for what is easy. We settle for what we think is best for us and what other people say we deserve. We choose not to pursue that dream we have always wanted; to be a renowned chef, to travel or perform, because we have settled to just dream. We have become too content. We have settled for what is good enough. Or maybe we have changed priorities along the way. Or we have lost hope after five rejections. Or we think we're too old or too late to pursue a certain dream. Or maybe the people close to us discouraged us and made us believe that we will not amount to it. And we believed them more than we believe ourselves. Or maybe, we have better reasons to sacrifice our own dreams to give way to the dreams of those we love. In that case, I'd like to salute you for your selflessness. You are an unsung hero. The wind beneath their wings. via GIPHY It is okay to be thankful for what is there. Contentment is key to achieving peace of mind. It is not okay however, to settle for what is there knowing that you can do more, give more and be more. If I could give my younger self a piece of advice when it comes to chasing dreams, it is this: You were made to do great things. Never settle for second best. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
