The Long Way Up

"The state of great comfort and extravagant living." This is how luxury is defined. And this is how I would have wanted to live the rest of my life if I had it all my way. I mean, come on! Who wouldn't want to live in physical and material comfort and abundance in a world that entices us to get all that we can get out of it. At one point in my life I had desired to live the ultimate luxuriant life : have a high-paying, white collar job; live in an expensive mansion with acres and acres of nature surrounding it; have a pool and my own home theater inside the house; travel the world on a regular basis. This would then signify to me and to others that "I have made it" ! At another point in my life I tried to live a semi-luxurious kind of life by buying fancy clothes at full price, getting stylish shoes, dining at nice restaurants, collecting music and movie CDs and feeling like a connoisseur while doing so. It felt like I was trending with the Joneses wa...

This old gem of a blog post came from ten years ago when a slew of major life changes started taking place. Change is the only constant. The sooner we learn to adjust, the better will we be at adapting, adjusting, and innovating. - - - - - December 9, 2008 I had a conversation with my mother last week about my brother and sister-in-law starting a new life in New Zealand. We talked about them getting involved in the church there and how my sister-in-law has been saying that their fledgling congregation could use someone like me [down pride!]. I told my ma that my brother is the one who is needed in ministry there, that's why he's there. And she replies, "Well, he's still adjusting to life there." This got me to thinking last night while showering. "Isn't our life here on earth about adjustments anyway?" No matter how old or young we are, no matter how comfortable or uncomfortable our life situation may be, no matter how far ...

There is a need to state a few things more For a host of feelings and musings sore I'll say them soberly though not quite covertly I'm glad that we met until you tried to subvert me Ms. Understand, we couldn't see eye to eye My hands extended kindness but you went for a lie Not all affinities are subterfuge for some huge thing Now all's been drowned by a deluge of fawning Ms. Communicate, please think before you speak Your voice is too loud but your argument is weak The goodwill you've painstakingly tried to convey Came off rather sour as with all else you say Ms. Guided, you should have really thought first Look before you leap, or else get into more hurt No one made you a promise or gave you their heart You rolled the dice, missed a ladder, slid back to the start Ms. Interpret, you read me all wrong I had no secret agenda, but your game was strong Insisted there was something in my actions and words...

Six months into an exciting, engaging, and exhilarating romantic relationship with my then-best-friend-now-girlfriend, my initial belief in the utmost significance of communication in fostering honesty, openness, and strong bonds of the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual kind has been gradually but steadily reinforced, applied, and lived out. From talking about the spiritual (faith and the rule of God) to the physical (health and food choices) to the musical (Scarypoolparty and Songland) to the extra special (travel plans and future goals), J and I have had awesome hours talking to each other, exchanging ideas and points of view as we both have a particular knack for meaningful dialogue and clever conversations. One major factor for our robust discussions is our ability to listen attentively while the other is talking . We both do love to talk -- a lot -- but we've come to a realization that in order to have effective communication in a relationship, we have to use our e...

You are enough You do not need the superfluous trappings of fame Or the glare of a spotlight zeroed in on you You do not need thunderous applause to prop you up Because once that's gone, silence is all that's left You are enough You do not need people to hang on to your every word Or have droves at your beck and call; what for? You do not need the backing of the masses Just a few who truly want to walk and run with you You are enough You do not need to always be in control, or at all Or to know every single thing that happens around you You do not need to have your say in every situation Sometimes innocence and ignorance truly lead to bliss You are enough You do not need the fattest bank account in Zurich Or have five villas in Panchgani or Tamtattouchte You do not need to run after Aston Martins Because you are much more inestimable than that You are enough You do not need to have the highest paying job Or the m...

On the bus In my brain When the sun's out When it rains In the dark In the light Whether near or Out of sight On my desk In my phone At the outdoors All alone At the park By the sea On my mind still Do you see? On two feet With such fun It's the same thought Overrun Sitting down Standing up Sipping coffee Off a cup Walking fast Walking slow You in my head Overflow Whether full Whether free You on my mind Do you see? Elevate Or descend Round and round now There's no end Write with pen Type online All your stories Merge with mine Just a thought Makes me smile Keeps me going Makes my while Mountain high Valley deep Overcoming Do you see? On my bed On my back No clue just how To react Your visage Or your voice Makes me simply Lose my poise Every word Nuances Every faux pas Interests Permeate All of me That's what you do Do you see?

X roll it and see what you get throw the dice in don't live with regret roulette just spin it around drop that ball in where chances abound rule it but don't be a god weave in and out to even the odds O sensor for treason and rhyme don't numb yourself and you'll be just fine censor and edit the mess no need to fret there will be success censer you burn from within yearning, fuming emitting through skin X thicket some things do hinder some a mirage others for tinder ticket paper for passage ready to leave no excess baggage take it prep for departure no time to waste move like a marcher O holey so inconsistent they drown you out just be persistent wholly keep your heart intact don't draw first blood wait for first contact holy the ultimate goal stay low, go slow take care of your soul X palette every shade and hue vi...

Everyone has preferences. As unique and varied as every individual is from one another, so are the many inclinations each of us have. That's just a given in life. It's as inescapable as the air we breathe or the rising and setting of the sun. Preferences are a fixed part of our existence. The assortment of our favorites and fancies, however, have become either a cause for coalescing in the interest of unity in diversity and appreciation of prevalent differences, or a reason for rejecting oneness for fear of inviting chaos into our personal spaces and possibly falling flat on our faces. One particular predilection that would usually have an unfavorable response from others is our preference for a specific set of qualities by which we might consider forming a romantic relationship with a certain person. We know this aptitude more personally -- and popularly -- by the term TYPE. Everyone has a type. Whether it's an affinity for smart, laid-back, athletic, or funny...

If you're eagle-eyed you're sure to notice From miles away with certainty There's no way that you'd be fooled by all this You've unwrapped all the mystery You see a player on top of his game Go scoff at all the fun he's had His method besmirches every man's name You just want to bury this cad Perhaps he's one who's nestled in her arms Feigning much sensitivity She is obviously smitten by his charms So sly, smooth, so velvety You say, "Hey, pal! I know what you're doing! Heartbreaker's what you really are! To you she's just fiery pleasure brewing To her she's a fragile, bright star!" Another one on the horizon far Looks like he's running, on the take Maybe he left a trail of lover scars You should tell him to have a break Tell this dude to quit while he is ahead Before the bitter overflows Or the dark comes and chokes the sweet instead What that looks like, only...

T-3 hours and counting Body fully parallel to the ground Almost eerily quiet; no sound Thoughts come flooding in; they're profound Of how I'd oft be lost and oft be found Recollections of cords that had me bound There was plenty of that to go around Errors were hammers; my soul to pound Their residue to this day still hounds For now allay them on this mound The others have in teardrops drowned Where once my smile was I have frowned But hope and promise now abound T-20 minutes and holding Eager to leave the world behind; this earthly blue The solid sphere of life that we all made of you A mix of good and bad and false and true Needing to live and breathe and thrive anew My mind meanders on someone that I formerly knew On things that we'd say and things that we'd do On how it all started and how it was all misconstrued On where it all led to and how we bid adieu Emotio...

So... aside from being bloggers, writers, film buffs, and music lovers, my girlfriend and I are also travel junkies. Like crazily-addicted-to-road-trips-and-sightseeing travel junkies. Between the two of us, we've been to, toured, and/or set foot on 14 countries of the world's 195 territories. That pretty much leaves us with 181 more nations to visit. During one of our daily phone conversations, she and I ended up talking about the places that would be awesome to travel to and the different relatives and friends living in each territory (for potential free accommodation). Our thoughts wandered through the varied exotic and popular tourist destinations that we wished to see with our own eyes and tread upon with our peripatetic feet. We virtually went around the world during our two-hour phone call. I mentioned to her that I came across a Facebook article detailing an intricate, 48-state road trip throughout the continental United States and our imaginations just lit u...

Sit and listen, then listen and wait Two years ago you were only eight Back then just colors, so little care Your life so simple, from here to there Opened to music both of your ears Heart full of wonder, mind filled with fears Hindsight would say you were wide-eyed still Decades from now you will have your fill Five years on down you will be fifteen Taking the path of somebody's dream Not yet prepared for choosing a path Never prepared for Science and Math In over your head, drowning at best Trying to swim, yearning to find rest Be not afraid when failures betide They soon will to your own dreams be guide Eleven more years ahead in time You first heartbreak will not be sublime Gave all your heart, you were quite naive Emotions misled, feelings deceived Teardrops you shed will teach what you need Relationships hurt, bring pain indeed Yet you become wise from here on in Every end is a chance to begin And furt...

If you ask me one more time I'll bite your head off In the nicest way possible I won't be overtly mean Instead, you'll just see me fade from the background Instantly sometimes In increments otherwise Insisting that I should be involved Is the quickest way to seal your fate Impatience as well Initiates the self-destruct sequence In what little explosive we have left Instead, learn to wait Investigate other champions, please Identify the nature of your conundrum Intensify your search and soul surrender Inwardly sort your mess, don't air dirty laundry or stress I implore: give others a break or more strands will be broken Inch your way to light at the end of the tunnel I've had to do that myself -- you'll be better for it Invite resistance to let others always scratch your itch I'm not always going to be a staunch stalwart I flip and peter out too Impetuousness, you must learn to subdue If you don't want it ...

In 2018, the Philippines had its fourth privilege of claiming the title of Miss Universe through the beauty, brains and boldness of Catriona Gray. Viewers of the pageant -- and the judges for sure -- were not only enamored by her looks and poise, but were also amazed by her wit and eloquence. In particular, Ms. Gray's answer to the competition's final question earned her the coveted crown as well as the admiration of most everyone who witnessed her speak her heart out with grace under pressure. "What is the most important lesson you've learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?" was the ultimate poser thrown at the three finalists of the beauty pageant. My girlfriend and I -- both writers and bloggers -- decided to take on this question as the topic we would write about for the month of April, albeit with a little amendment: "What is the most important lesson you've learned in your life and how would you appl...

Scrape the bottom of the barrel and run Look at the stars but don't stare at the sun Feel the gravel and the stones underfoot  Gaze at the planets and where they've been put Wade in the currents, in ripples, and silt Ponder the clouds and then how they were built Sink in the moment of silicone sand Fly through the sky, to the things that are grand Walk on the dust under heat, in the cold Under the light of the pulsars of old Travel across on terrain unexplored Wonder about all the quasars adored Stand on a hill, then look out up above Nebulae, black holes: space dust, they're made of Lowered you are, but their greatness looks down You are more majestic; you are the crown