Do a FULL OUT

Ever been awaken in the middle of night and restless? Am of the same state right now. I’ve awaken, can’t go back to sleep, so I watched a movie. A movie I thought is just another mainstream “motivational” sports related movie, but in so many ways, the movie got into me and here I am now writing about it and the spirit that gave me.

* * * * *

The movie is based on a true story about a life of Gymnast, who is on it’s way to the peak of its athletic career and suddenly life gave her lemons and fell rock bottom. Her name by the way is Ariana Berlin. Her life story’s been dramatized in a movie Full Out: The Ariana Berlin Movie.

Here is the Trailer of the movie:

 

In connection to my previous post, here is another life story that inspires me to pick myself up from my downhill drive. I was once a competing athlete, a martial artist specifically, that’s why these kinds of life story gets me, pumps my spirit. Like Bethany Hamilton, Ariana Berlin stood up from her being wiped-out, conquered her waves, and was able to ride with waves she is ought to ride. I am hoping these life stories could also pump your spirits up as much as how it is pumping my spirit now.

And to make the long story short, and a little bit of spoiler, Ariana Berlin did conquer her obstacle and was able to move forward, pushed her limit and made a Full Out. Let us all together push ourselves to our limit, push ourselves to paddle on, and move forward to whatever delays we have in our lives right now. I am hoping that through this inspiration I got from the movie, this may not just be beneficial and encouraging for me, but to you too. That later on with my lifetime and your lifetime, you’d look back and remember these personas who were placed in the pedestal just to encourage, to remind us to never give up.

Before leaving everything from this blog post, here is good quote,

Look at what you want to change, gather a few people who believe in it like you do, and start moving forward. It’s important to remember that you don’t always need a destination. Sometimes, you just have to make forward motion. And you absolutely can.

Debby Ryan

 

 

 

The Fictional Mr. Crick

Of all the certain things, seeing your life starting to get better, having a secured job, a fancy apartment, a love story who is starting to blossom but came to the point that the book has to end, and the sequence of the great life needs a period. How will you react?

I, being always wanting to be in control, can relate to not-so fictional Mr. Crick; felt so threatened that you’ll do anything– plead if you must just to correct things. Life is full of uncertainties and I’m not good in playing this game. I am already thinking of giving up and taking a leave of absence– leave the ties, family and friends, a secure job and responsibilities, and just disappear. This is my primary reaction to the uncertainty.

I wonder how would you respond to things that you are already certain of– a safe, certain and calculated life. And suddenly one Wednesday Morning, everything becomes uncertain, you’ve become unsure.

How will you respond when you are no longer of control? How will you respond to a life that now depends on an author who is having a writer’s block, narrating your story day-by-day, and trying to think of a plot on how’d you’ll meet your end.

Would you dive into life of an adventure? Or choose to live the life of auto-pilot?

“….Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
Robert Frost

The Hundred-Foot Journey

“Every bite takes you home”

That was the quote that gave me reasons to shed a bucket-full of tears. For me, it was the climax of the movie: The Hundred-Foot Journey. This movie was just another favorite among my circle of friends, but this was the movie that was a “spot-on”, a direct-to-the-point, and as per the reviews, the movie was “an excellent characterization of the type of globalization our society has come to bear”. 

Others may have seen it differently, in another set of eyes, another set of points of view. And I have my different eye on the movie. Why is “Every bite takes you home” significant to me?

A: It was on the verge of success that Hassan (the main lead actor) almost lost his soul in “Innovation, innovation” and of getting what others thought of the “Greatest” accomplishment any french chef could ever dream of: the Mischelin Stars. He is passionate, and delighted with culinary and has been looking for a sense of purpose. Not so different to everyone else, not so different from you and me. We aim for a purpose of living, we ponder on our purpose of existence. Hassan has found his purpose, and the best part of it was that his dad and his family supported him all through out. He has a village, a family who pushes him to his best. And he gladly took the challenge and journey with full heart, going out from his comfort zone (which by the way, the training haute cuisine restaurant was just across his family’s established restaurant).

For those who were able to watched the movie (and for those who hasn’t watched it yet, THIS IS A SPOILER ALERT), just a question for us to ponder.

What makes a Hassan, different from his peers? from Marguerite?

For me, he has the culture, he has something to tell, he has a heart. I don’t say Marguerite doesn’t any of what I’ve mentioned, but Hassan can do all those innovative dishes because he dared to do what was expected. He didn’t entirely lost his Indian background of culinary, but instead he fused it with French “classical” cuisine. He never was scared to learn new things, and never was scared of the risk. He never was scared what other may have think, and he never forgot the role of family in every decisions he made. Remember, everyone else may come and go, but it is always the family who always got our back.

It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.

– Jose Rizal

My only dream for everyone is  we pursue the greater pursuits, never give up on your ideals, don’t give up on your dreams. Failing is just a setback. Remember, even the great Thomas Edison failed a thousand times to perfect the light bulb.

But then again…

“Every dish is a memory..”

So what’s your story? what’s your dish?

You Know Better

I’m employed to a firm for almost two months now, and last night I’ve talked and whining to a great friend about work. I don’t know if I’ve reached the burnt out level. I don’t know. Or maybe I was just tired and things came out of hand.

Then this morning, I read today’s devotion article of Bread of Life. The song reminded me and rebuked me. I want to share the song (which is on repeat now), maybe, just maybe, you’ve come to the burnt out level, or just tired. This might urge you, remind you that things has purposes and all we do is trust and offer the burden to the Dream Giver.

 

Better Than I

I thought I did what’s right
I thought I had the answers
I thought I chose the surest road
But that road brought me here

So I put up a fight
And told you how to help me
Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear

You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
For you know better than I

If this has been a test
I cannot see the reason
But maybe knowing I don’t know
Is part of getting through

I try to do what’s best
And faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do
Is put my trust in you

For You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
For you know better than I

I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky
I saw a bird and thought that I could follow
But it was you who taught that bird to fly
If I let you reach me will you teach me

For You know better than I
You know the way
I’ve let go the need to know why
I’ll take what answers you supply
You know better than I

To anyone who is battling the same battle I am facing, know that you’re not the only one. And Soldier On! Padayon!

Invictus

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7

How many of us can die now and say those words? How many of us have lived our lives to its full potential? Will we able to live behind a great legacy? Can people say that we have taught them that “to live is to die”?

We all can say that we have lived out lives selfishly and cunningly for ourselves.  I have lived a selfish life; I have lived for my own.

Not just the South Africans mourned over the passing of their great leader, but the world does. We have mourned for the passing of a leader, who lived his life to die for his people. We learned from him of what forgiveness can do to a long separated country. The whole world mourned for the passing of Nelson Mandela.

What did we really learned from his life?

In all accounts of Nelson Mandela, the movie Invictus, gave us a very summary of what he is as a leader. He has a calling, he knew he needs to lead his people to reconciliation, to forgiveness; to bury what was the past and start a new future.

How did he start?

It all started when all he had were the 4 walls of the prison cell, when everything seems hopeless he remained hopeful. When everything seems useless, he make use of his time to study his “enemy” , he learned that the only enemy he has is himself.

 

 

Even the Springbok’s Captain can’t fathom how Mandela was able to forgive the “people” who put him into prison. But the reconciliation and forgiveness didn’t come easy. They have a Jonah Lomu they still have to face, but they were ready, they all are ready for it. They have all been inspired and are willing to give it all.

 

 

Let the life of Nelson Mandela be a lesson for us, for our dear Philippines. Let be Mandela’s consistency be our inspiration to aspire great for our country, and let’s keep on hoping for our country. Redemption for Philippines will come, it may not be in our lifetime, but let our lives speak, be an example.

 

It matters not how strait the gate

How charged with punishment the scroll

I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

-Invictus, William Ernest Henley

but we hasn’t tried HOBBIT-ses before

The year 2012 comes to its end and here comes another chapter! My 2012’s been a roller coaster; an emotional yet an exciting one! For the upcoming year, I do wish for more adventure, it may be uncomfortable to set another adventure,

We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”
– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Ch. 1

Yet just like Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit, an adventure would definitely wake up my “took-ish”  inside of me. It will not hurt to get into an adventure. An adventure  we found ourselves doing and saying  things altogether unexpected. 

For Bilbo Baggins, he really found himself an adventure, quite an unexpected one. He embraced it and took chances.

We will find a lot of lesson from this hobbit, may be just a hobbit but I say we can find unexpected from these little people. From Bilbo Baggins to his nephew Frodo Baggins, and some friends, like Sam.

So, don’t be an ordinary Hobbit-ses! Go look for an adventure and make life more worthwhile and exciting! Happy New Year everyone!

Eighth of the Ten: Films

Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.

Walt Disney

I never miss an opportunity to bring a lesson from any movie. I always get inspired from movies, and my favorite past time is watching films. Movies tends to distress me from a day/a week/ a month of stress. For this blog post, I only need my top three (3) films. I rated my top list of movies into one ultimate criteria: The degree of impact the movie gave me.

3 Films.

1. 3 Idiots (2009). Ranchhoddas “Rancho” Shamaldas Chhanchad inspired me to do good in whatever I do, that I should pursue whatever makes me happy, for the rest of my life. Whenever I’m down or  hopeless for the time being, I go directly to my movies list and watch it all over again.

Farhan Qureshi: Today my respect for that idiot shot up. Most of us went to college just for a degree. No degree meant no plum job, no pretty wife, no credit card, no social status. But none of this mattered to him, he was in college for the joy of learning, he never cared if he was first or last.

2. Ip Man (2008 and 2010). You find a true heart of a teacher and of a Chinese, willing to sacrifice one’s life for the Country, for the race and for the dignity of his people. Preservation of the true spirit of the Chinese Martial Arts whatever kind of (Chinese) martial art it is. I highly look up to how Chinese redeemed themselves (their dignity) from their oppressors. They were once oppressed by the Japanese (for the first film) and of the American (for the second film). Redemption and Respect. That’s what Master Yip Man‘s life made me realized and taught me.

Sometimes it’s nice to be oppressed because we’ll be able to have a grip of ourselves and we have that broken spirit that will push us to fight and acquire that redemption of our people, redemption of our name, and the redemption of our country.

3. The Last Samurai (2003). Fighting for the preservation of the race and of the Spirit of the Samurai, the tradition and practices of the Samurai’s that deeply honed the character and the way of life of the Japanese, even up until now. It’s been a battle of cultural identity versus “globalization”, and it’s a great story that a westerner would be able to see and experience the true battle of identity. And of the Battle cries of the Samurai’s. Once again a preservation of the culture and of the battle of identity.

I dreamed of a unified Japan. Of a country strong and independent and modern… Now we have railroads and cannon and Western clothing. But we cannot forget who we are. Or where we come from.

Emperor Meiji

What’s your Center?

Christmas is really in the air! In Philippine time, it’s already December!!!

Days/Hours/Minutes left before Christmas

 and DreamWorks has a timely movie, The Rise of the Guardian. According to the rottentomatoes.com The Rise of the Guardian is an epic adventure about a group of “Guardians” who protects the beliefs of hopes specifically, the beliefs representing hope for the kids, young at heart. It’s an extraordinary film that I really want to write about it.  And I think I’ll do a huge spoiler about the movie, so please forgive me. 

The Rise of the Guardian

One of the many lessons from the movie and what I really liked, was the search of identity and center of Jack Frost, a newly appointed Guardian. He doesn’t know his identity, he doesn’t know why he existed and what he really was before. He can’t learn to be what he was expected because he doesn’t know himself, he doesn’t know what he was made of.  And what interests me most is what Santa Claus told Jack Frost, that that’s why he’s like the way he is (as Santa Claus) because his center is he finds wonder in every little things, and he (Santa Claus) is curious of Jack Frosts’ center, which eventually Jack finally founds out.

 And the emphasis on the “community” in the movie during Jack Frost’s search of his identity. He was helped by his fellow guardians in his search. Before he (Jack Frost) was chosen to be one of the guardians, he was a lone ranger. He doesn’t like to be with somebody or anybody. He thinks he can live alone but he was wrong. He could not have learned his center without the help of The Sandman, Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and the Tooth fairy.

A General can never perform his duty without the help of his soldiers. A King will never become a king without his Kingdom. You can never survive from anything, anywhere without a family, without a fellow guardian, without a community.

Community cannot for long feed on itself; it can only flourish with the coming of others from beyond, their unknown and undiscovered brothers.

Howard Thurman

No Mind

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.

– Bruce Lee

                    We always have tendencies to over think, over analyze things, or sometimes we chose not to relearn and unlearn things because it will hur our pride, because we are afraid to go down from our ladder and afraid to realize things that we still have things to learn from things and people we never thought they could know more. Like Tom Cruise of the “Last Samurai”, he got beaten and defeated time and time again during his capture because he was too rigid, too aggressive, and there’s too much in his head, he refuses to unlearn everything he learned; refuses to relearn things and learn the Way of the Samurai.One of the villagers who was watching Tom train against the best Samurai warriors told him “Too much mind. No mind”.

One of the comment from a viewer of the Youtube video commented that.. its [No Mind] a state a warrior enters where they stop thinking. They simply act. Its primal and fearsome, and required. Its not a Buddhist ideal, its just something all warriors, regardless of nationality, must do. A battle trance if you will.

                      The villager was old and wise, and knew that the only way to truly become a great warrior is to get out of your head. He wanted Tom to stop thinking and analyzing. Rather feel and react to what is. Let everything flow. To stop over thinking and just flow and let nature be and everything will just go with what you hoped for.

 

Sometimes it’s good not to over-analyze something and just go with what feels right.

Lesson from a Wooden Sword

Wooden swords are commonly used for training in Kendo, the way of the sword.  Kendo, like any other martial arts, provides a medium through which we can learn about ourselves, learn to control and discipline our body and emotions.

Looking to the history of Japan, during the mid 14th century, the bow was replaced by the sword as the primary weapon of the samurai. It gained its utmost status that there was a need to propagate and disseminate the techniques. Many people developed their own techniques, and taught these to eager pupils keen to enhance their chances of battlefield survival.

Because of Japan’s influence to other Asian countries, the way of the sword spread all around the world and today, it is  gaining interest all around the world, and more and more international practitioners are joining.

And some parable actually was made, and again it helped me and encouraged me once more as I was looking for wisdom for my thesis. Funny that, I’ve been digging a lot of old articles and books these days for inspiration.

These parable/lesson is again not of my own but another article written by Mr. Edwin Franz Arcellana. The Article was written for our camp Journal who actually was published by More Than Medals.

Google Image Result for Kendo

Once there was an eager young man in medieval Korea who wanted to learn swordsmanship and martial arts. He approached a master swordsman and asked to be accepted as a disciple. “I’ll train ceaselessly and do my best in the art of swordsmanship! I’ll be your best student and all of Korea will be proud of you and me! How long will it take for me to learn everything?” the student asked.

“At least ten years,” the master replied.

“That’s too long!” the young man objected. “I will work twice as hard as any student and train more than anyone! How long will it take for me to learn?”

“Thirty years.” the masted said calmly.

“What?!” the student protested. “I can’t wait that long. I don’t have that long a time! I’ll do anything to master the art and learn swordsmanship as quickly as possible.”

“In that case,” the master said sternly, “You will need fifty years. A person with no patience and keeps rushing is definitely a poor student.”

The young man was humbled and agreed to do whatever the master told him to do. The master gave him only one rule to follow: he was not allowed to ask about or even touch a sword. For three long years, what the boy has done was to cook, clean the house, wash the dishes, and do errands for the master.

Do you somehow recognize these scenes? I don’t know if you’ve watched Karate Kid but the story is just too similar. For 20 year ago film, it was the wax-in and wax-out I remember. But for the recent movie with Jackie Chan, it was put the jacket unto the holder, drop it, put the jacket unto the holder again, then drop it again. I mean, If I was the student I’d be extremely impatient too, but as what the master said. A person with no patience and keeps rushing is definitely a poor student. 

During these years, there were days when the master would approach the boy secretly and hit him with a wooden sword. Over the course of time, the student developed a keen sense of preparedness. As time went by, he knew and sensed when an impending attack or blow was coming.

Only when he had developed this heightened awareness, or sixth sense, did the master proceed to teach him the art of swordsmanship and the martial arts. The student then made rapid progress, for now he was not in a hurry. He had learned to make friends with time. He became a better person and a better student.

 

The prevalent spirit of the 21st century is doing great things fast, achieving more in lesser time. yet becoming a master swordsman, engineer, architects, designers, musician or doctor requires more than foresight or even passion. Patience and submission are essential prerequisites to greatness.

 

[To my classmates and myself, don’t be in a hurry, be patient. Out time to earn that degree will come (sooner, a few months left) Let’s just relearn everything. We may have less than a week before our deadline, let’s just push our selves more and quitting is not in our option]