Chronicles of Nami

 That's just it. A steep fall. Plunge. Collapse. Plummet. Slump. There's nothing new about this, not to me. If you ever catch me saying my life is full of ups and downs, be rest assured I'm not talking about challenges. I'm talking about feeling . Two weeks ago, I was on top of my game. Effective and efficient, ticking almost every box at the end of the day. I always had a plan and I always followed through. My dopamine levels were soaring. Now, I'm stressed and frustrated for no reason. I've spent the last few days trying and failing to get back into a productive routine. If I had to sum up how I felt right now, I'd simply say life sucks. I know it doesn't but it definitely feels like it. It feels like I can't do anything right. And as I type this, I'm smiling to myself because I just remembered a sermon I listened to about not cursing the darkness.  Deep down, I'm fine. I know I am. And I know it's stupid to be more in touch with my fe...

"Show me your battle scars." she said. He tilted his head to the side, confused. "Show me your battle scars." He moved up the sleeve of his shirt and pointed to a darkened patch of skin. "Hot water burn. I think I was nine." He pointed to the long horizontal scar line on his shin. "My brother accidentally cut me with a knife. I must have been thirteen." He rubbed the scar absentmindedly as if remembering how it hurt. "Do you see this?" he inquired, point to a mark on his head, close to his ear. "I hit my head that day. A really nasty gash." She smiled fondly and took his hand in hers. "Now show me your battle scars." "But I just did." "No." She took the hand she held and placed it on his chest, where his heart was. "Your battle scars." He stared at her, teary eyed. He finally understood.

When I read self-help books, I get energized and inspired. I want to do more and be more. I want to change my life. But more often than not, the determination I feel fizzles out before I can make lasting changes in my life.  If you read books like that (or a lot of motivational quotes), it's almost always about how you have to work hard and be disciplined. You need to do more than everyone else to get results better than everyone else.  But after the first few books, all I can think about is how it's easier said than done. God in His infinite wisdom created a world designed to operate on laws and principles. And in this century, it really shouldn't be that hard. All the philosophers of old have already discovered all the laws and all the successful people have already implemented them and written books about it so we know exactly what to do to become like them.  The limitations One word - endless. It differs for all, and it's more for some than for others but everyone h...

 A short story. Anastasia stood proudly with the rest of the noble family, smiling her perfect smile and waving perfectly as always. Clothed in a stunning long sleeved dress made of the finest silk in royal green (yes she did see the irony) and equally expensive heels, she looked every bit of the exquisite, luxurious lady that she was.  “Lady Anastasia!” “Lady Anastasia, over here!” “You look absolutely gorgeous today, Lady.” “Who are you wearing?” She was bombarded with questions when she got to the edge of the platform where the news reporters stood, held at bay by the security detail. She smiled politely, posed for some pictures and answered a few questions before leaving. Her parents were just about to get into their limousine when she got to the parking lot. “Anastasia, dear.” Her mother called her fondly. She smiled at the term of endearment. “We have a prior engagement that we cannot be late for. Be a dear and take the other car back to the hotel.” Her mother gave her a...

If you don't hear High School Musical in your head, I don't really know what to say to you. I thought long and hard before starting this blog. Even as I write this, I'm not sure. But they say courage is acting not in the absence of doubt, but acting despite the doubt. (Actually, I don't know whether anyone says that, but it's true). I feel like my greatest setback is doubt and a sometimes crippling fear of failure. I don't even like to participate in small competitions because I don't want to lose, I hate to. But apparently, failure is a learning curve or something like that. So I've been trying to take risks and give myself the opportunity to learn this past month. Besides, what's a success story without a couple of failures?  I've been reading Talent is Never Enough by John C. Maxwell and I'm trying my best to implement what I'm learning. This blog is a product of that. I've realized that I ironically do the same things the same wa...