[#1] So Connected...

At the young age, I was taught of the importance of optimism, that is despite my family's difficult state, I was always confident that someday, somehow everything will make sense. Being optimistic has helped me get back up and this is why I also want to get connected with others, even just an audience or two, so that I can also share my experiences/learnings which are relatable, more so, connectable - for them to be reminded that they are not alone, that might be sailing on the same boat, that there is still hope and that there is more to life.

I have always been convinced that my teacher was right. I believed her not because she was one of my favourites, but for the reason that she backed her claim with interesting facts like the life cycle, food chain, the cause and effect of everything in a theoretical/scientific approach, etc. And, as I grow older, I have witnessed the interrelatedness of each living thing, particularly humans, in a much deeper sense. We can all be linked by blood, occupation, the music we listen to, the faith we share, the ideologies and advocacies we campaign for, the planet we live in and a lot more.

This connection we have is just one of the many reasons why I blog. I do not know why. It is just, that I see it as something fascinating to reflect on. As I type these words, I am hoping to get to you. I want to get connected to and with you through the gifts we already possess, yet unrecognized, at times. I consider these "gifts" because they are absolutely free.

I am talking here about inner peace and inner joy.

In case you do not know, I grew up in a land prone to war and chaos. As someone who works away from home, my thoughts are always with my family. I think of their security, health and needs. My parents always tell me not to worry, but it is hard not to. Have you experienced going to work unfocused? Have you had sleepless nights due to overthinking? Well, congrats! You are not alone. Moreover, these are just a proof that you are not cold-hearted. It is because you connect, you care, you empathize and love. Still, we also need to realize that before anything else, we have ourselves. We sometimes tend to fail to connect with our own, worse, we forget to look after our physical/mental and spiritual health. Have you ever asked yourself, "how am I?"

It is good to know that for one to be able to create a bond with others, he has to strengthen, first, that bond between him and himself, for an individual is incapable of sharing what he does not have. First and foremost, we have to secure ourselves with the joy that is true, one that cannot be bought by money or fame; the kind of joy which comes from within and cannot be tampered. We also must let inner peace reign over our minds and hearts; the best kind of peace - unshaken and unbothered. If we have learned to embrace these gifts, we can always come out on top of whatever storm life brings. Or, if circumstances allow us to falter, these two will surely assist us in our healing process reminding us of a rainbow after the rain. With these, we can conquer the world and understand in depth the essence of life. When this happens, you are now then in a fit state to connect with others, to love them genuinely allowing us to accompany them in their road to healing.

You might see yourself now as someone who is broke, imperfect, sinful, filthy, incapable, weak, fragile or hopeless...but take note that you already possess the gifts that could help you to get out of that prison. We already have these treasures within us, we just need to unearth and develop them. Yes, it is a process, but be comforted in the fact that we already equipped. We only have to discover and acknowledge the blessings personally poured on us, for by learning to be at home with the self, we radiate goodness and positivity. Benignity is contagious and even through your most innocent ways, you already are making a difference.

Dealing with our existence is art. Just like in the movie "Hunger Games", life is a battlefield and I would like to pick the tributes "attitude as an example". They befriend themselves, take risks and fight in order to survive. May we be like them and that in our quest for inner peace/joy and other factors necessary to overcome fear, or any form of adversity and to be competent in building a strong connection with the rest of the world, may I also say, "may the odds be ever in our favour".