8 months.

So it's been 8 months since I last passed by this blog and wrote something significant (significance is relative). I've actually not blogged during that whole period, save for the time when I had to put up a blog for one of my MA classes. And that does not count because I hated having to write an entry every week on that fundamental question that I was supposed to answer by the end of that semester. Anyway...

What has happened during those eight months? A lot of things. Was thinking of listing down all the stuff and learned during that time because: 1. Nobody reads this blog anymore, and 2. Just for future reference. So here's my best attempt at trying to summarize my eight month hiatus:

1. No matter how many people give you advice on any dilemma or problem that you're facing, NOTHING will happen NOT UNTIL YOU DECIDE TO ACT. The choice will always be up to you. Nobody can force you to change your mind because if you don't want to get out of that rut, you won't. Only you can pull yourself out. Nobody else. You can only save yourself.

2. That being said, sometimes all a person needs is for someone to listen to them. They don't want your unsolicited advice or your sermons; they just want someone who will listen to them and sympathize with them. More often than not, people already know what to do, they just need someone to help them along the way.

3. Nobody is worthless. I repeat, NOBODY. Everybody has a significant role to play in the universe, and everyone IS IMPORTANT. God said so Himself. WE ARE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. We are precious. We are wonderful. We are amazing.

4. But we have to realize that. It is only up to us to realize our worth. Once we know what we deserve, we won't settle for anything less. It would be difficult, yes, because some people will abuse our kindness, but nobody should be given the right to treat us like crap and make us feel like crap.

5. It's amazing (and scary) how much one can give when one loves. When I say amazing, I mean it's overwhelming how much one can give to a person when they love them - time, effort, understanding - you name it. As long as you love someone, you'd give anything to make them happy. It's also scary because when you decide to love the wrong person, all that love would go to waste. Most especially when that person won't be able to reciprocate the same intensity that you give out. It would leave you tired. I should know. I've been there.

6. I believe that everyone looks for someone who is interested in what they have to say. I fell in love with someone because he was the person who was always excited to hear how my day went; he was the first person I encountered who would look forward to stuff that I experienced, my random experiences, my realizations, EVERYTHING. And I believe that's what we look for. Don't deny it: everyone wants to feel special and wanted, no matter how "independent" you are.

7. We also want to be surrounded by people who won't judge us, no matter how weird we may get. I actually agree with the statement that "birds of the same feather flock together." It's because we also want to be accepted for who we are. After all, it's difficult to pretend to be someone we're not.

8. At the most trying time of your life, you will realize that your family will be your strongest foundation. During my lowest point, my mother's hugs would ease my restless spirit, my dad's jokes would make me smile, and it was surprising how my brothers were there to comfort me as well. I'm forever grateful that God gave me an amazing support group.

How have I been doing? I'm awesome, better than ever. I've been getting my life back on track thanks to my awesome life coach, I'm in the progress of redeeming my self-esteem, and I've never felt more beautiful than I do right now.

I'll try to start blogging again soon, if time permits it. I missed this. Hello, I'm back. :)