Chronicles of the Daily Grind

all we remember are his stats:

six-time nba champion (1991-1993, 1996-1998)
mvp (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
ten-time all nba first-team designation
ten scoring tiles, three steals titles
a finalist to be inducted in the basketball hall of fame
and many others...

yet, nobody remembers or cared about the number of times he failed, just what he achieved.

while people are driven by success, and employ the necessary means to get there, this drive would seem to blind us of the fact that we are not born perfect. and so comes the shattering feelings when failures and disappointments surface.

we are either consumed by it...
feeling wrecked and hopeless, viewing life as difficult, harsh and unfair.

or, we get up from it...
and see that mistakes and failures are means of improvement, stepping stones for success. michael jordan would surpass "himself" each day by constant practice, a.k.a. self discipline.

this example leads us to a particular attitude in this season of lent: self discipline.

we don't view the lenten season as a schedule of the Church, nor just a reminder of the paschal mystery. it is an opportunity for us to reflect, to look upon our weaknesses, our failures, our sinfulness, and develop in us that self-discipline; to overcome our failures in order to share into the success of Christ, His resurrection.

Labels: challenge, gospel reflection, insights, inspirational, interesting, life, reflection

Posted by brodiz at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

this evening i sort-of attended the graduating students of don bosco canlubang's high school department. as the gradutaing ceremonies unfold, flashes of memories from my own high school graduation play before my mind. i've been discussing to one of my confreres how ceremonies differ now in reference to our experiences. i could feel from our graduating students the ambience of gratefulness and great pride of having been formed in this institution. seeing this rewinds in me the similar feeling i have felt before when i was there, wearing my barong, seated among the group of gentlemen eager to reach the apex of high school life.

indeed, high school life is a treasure worth to keep. though a delicate stage of formation, it highlights our initial youthful enthusiasm as we face life as human person. more than the lessons learned, it's a journey worthy to look back into as we trace the path and the state of where we are right now. God indeed has a hand in this.

for this experience, i get to be all the more proud to be a bosconian. yet, what's even more amazing is that i am not only proud of being a bosconian, i feel all the more proud and relevant as a salesian. and as a salesian, i now take part in the formation of these young people, as i did take part in the formation of our recent graduating class. i pray that God may maximally use me in this mission of touching lives.

Labels: events, graduation, insights, life, reminiscing, salesians, youth

Posted by brodiz at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

“life is about change.
sometimes it’s painful. sometimes it’s beautiful.
but most of the time it’s both.”

- Lana Lang (Smallville)

it's a reality i find a difficulty...
...of accepting.
days from now, life is about to change.
this seeming monotony which i first found to be deafening will soon break its silence.
and i find it a great weight in my heart.
change...
at times i want it, welcome it...
at times i shun it, abhor it, especially when i seem to like the balance.
yet it's the most objective reality there is.
things, people and experiences, even structures, i hate to admit, i would surely miss.
yet they would remain to be a part of me wherever i go.
change...
it comes in various forms.
either you change or i change or situations change,
many times it's the interplay of two or all.
either people leave...
or you leave...
either people grow...
or you grow...
change...
see there's both pain and beauty in it...
'coz that's life...
and this is the life i have come to embrace,
along with it are pain and beauty
... an inexplicable combination or a paradoxical twin.

Labels: insights, introspection, life, personal, random thoughts, reflection, talking within

Posted by brodiz at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments

(please wait for the music to load...)



just sharing one beautiful song of jose mari chan.
it stresses the point of treasuring "the moment,"
for the moment fleets so fast,
and soon you'll realize that it's gone...

the fact is...
there's no rewinding,
there's no replay.

cherish the moment,
and as the song would tell us,
"make these moments last right now."

No Rewind, No Replay
Jose Mari Chan

It’s 2am we’re lying in bed
Stillness all around there’s not a sound except in my head
Of happy songs children laughing
Kids celebrating youth like it never would end

Not long ago they sat on our knees
We drew cartoons, flew to the moon, trimmed christmas trees
But time has flown look how they’ve grown
Soon she’ll be you, and soon he’ll be.. like me..

There’s no rewinding no replay
The chance you lose today will be gone when it’s gone
We’ll never be quite as strong nor as young as this again
Make them last, make these moments last right now.

But time has flown look how they’ve grown
We’ll never be quite as strong nor as young as this again
Make them last, make these moments last right now.

Labels: joy and optimism, life, lyrics, song

Posted by brodiz at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments