there is always…

Life has changed, but not ended.

It's a line that's recited at all Catholic funeral services. It's a good reminder especially when things don't go as planned or we find ourselves in great despair or just overwhelming situations.

I guess that's the thing about anything challenging, draining, humbling, or difficult. We will definitely be changed by these experiences. But it could be for the worse, if we keep acting like it is the end; acting like there's no hope.

The way I see it, if hope is lost, so goes the will to make life worth living. I guess it comes down to a couple of things. Of course it always comes down to the individual to choose hope over despair. Secondly, it's those who care for the person to not just remind them to hope, but to be a concrete example of what hope is. Something tangible, real and just as human as they are.

I do know that a lot of people out there need hope. There just might not be as many people to bring it.

Acquainted

I'd like to think I have a very good relationship with myself. That I've taken (and continue to take) a good amount of time to understand my quirks, my fears, my strengths, my insecurities and my demeanour.

It hasn't been a pretty journey to understand all of these things. Sadly, a lot of people have had to deal with the stuff I didn't realize I was doing. I didn't have a grasp of who I was, or the person I wanted to be.

The way I figure it, at the end of day I'm the one who has to go to bed with myself (so to speak). I think it's a good rule of thumb to know who you're getting into bed with.

all things considered

A thought occurred to me last night during our family prayer time. It's simply this:

Love is responsibility.

In the giving, in the receiving, in the nurturing of it, there should be a deep sense of accountability.

Things fall apart, when all we do is point fingers at everybody else but ourselves.

take a bow

Required Reading: "Dear Drama Queens (male & female)"
Posted: March 25, 2004

We all have it within us to be a Drama Queen. Some more than others of course. And over the years, I've seen (a few) people change from"Best Dramatic Actor/Actress in a Leading Role" to "Best Director (of their emotions)." The one thing that helped the growth was humility, which would eventually lead to Self-Awareness.

Through my profession I've dealt with teenagers, young adults, young adults who still think they're teenagers and teenagers that think they're adults. I've realized that some people unknowingly through their actions, attitudes and choices, really put themselves in positions of victimhood. This ultimately of course leads to the drama in their life. The longer you choose to be a victim, the more you prolong the drama. It's a simple equation.

I've spent so many of my years being in the audience watching these drama-filled situations unfold. Some for the better and some for the worse. I've seen good hearted people become jaded but not wiser. I've seen insecure people compensate in the most heinous ways.

Like I mentioned earlier, the solution is simple for those wishing to end their reign as Drama Queen (in whatever area of your life.) You just need HUMILITY. When you have a large dose of this bitter pie, you begin to find out that you can't control every situation. That most sometimes you are to blame as well. That emo attitude, really doesn't do anyone good (especially yourself), and lastly and most importantly is that you need to be honest with the choices you've made. People choose drama. Be it the situations they put themselves in, the people they surround themselves with, and the attitudes/emotions/habits that they don't put in check.

So please... if you are a drama queen, we're waiting on you to Take a bow. Close the curtains. Take off the make-up and costumes and let the show be over with. Let's stop acting, and let's live life for real.

around the edges

One of the greatest things about being dad is... I'm learning to be a more well-rounded man.

Thank You Audrey Stella.