Carpe Diem!
It was already noontime when I finished checking my emails.
So I hurriedly grabbed my car keys, and quickly tucked my phone and hand sanitizer into my jeans pockets. I was going to the hospital to get myself tested. I had some weird symptoms that started a week back, so my doctor suggested that I go and get tested.
While in the queue and seeing more and more patients coming in, it dawned on me how life can just be taken away anytime.
Have I lived my life to the fullest? Am I living my purpose? How many of the things that I have always wanted to do have I already done?
Each new day is our second chance to look at life through a different lens. To live a life of purpose.
To create ripples not just in our own lives but also in other people’s lives.
As I walked past the medical staff’s station through to the testing room and witnessed how they were selflessly serving others despite the risks, I realized even more that we all need to seize the day (carpe diem!) no matter what.
Before it’s too late.
(As I write this, I carry the happy news that my test is negative…thank You, God!)
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WHAT’S YOUR happy TODAY?
Reminisce about your happy thank-God moments (and your realizations too…are you living your purpose?) ü.
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Your happiness quote:
“True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” – Helen Keller
*This excerpt is taken from “My Happy“, an inspirational book from PreciousBooks.* (Preview & buy Books for a Cause here.)
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Wild River
As we were inching our way through the Star City parking lot one April summer night, I saw the Wild River glowing and shivering in excitement a few meters away from where I was seated inside the car.
I’ve always wanted to try that exciting-but-you’ll-surely-get-wet ride but never got the chance. The place was so full of people. Shouts of excitement and the smell of newly-popped popcorns were everywhere. Wow this is fun, I thought.
It was past eleven when we took our place at the end of the long queue to the Wild River ride, our last stop. As I watched the log cars move up and down the tracks (gosh, they were so high and steep!), I suddenly felt unsure if I still wanted to do it.
But I lingered. I’ve always wanted this. I’ve never tried any rides before, and this shall be the great ride of my life!
And so I thought. I took a deep breath as our log car started to move through the tracks. And there it was…as we were going down the final and highest track, I heard myself letting out a super loud, head-splitting aaaaahhhhhh! It felt like falling from midair to nowhere!
And it seemed like everything around had stopped moving, except me! I closed my eyes for a moment. Then suddenly, I felt a splash of water on my skin. We were at the bottom at last! The ‘falling’ was over!
Journeying through life is not devoid of troubles. When difficulties come, many times, we lose the heart to keep going. We feel like falling into a bottomless pit.
But if only we keep still and let Him be God (Psalms 46:11), then like a splash of refreshing water, God shall restore us.
He shall lead us from the wild river of our life to the quiet streams of His love.
Through the bare heights of my life, God is my river of hope (Psalms 114:8). He opens up for me springs of water amid my trials and falling.
And no matter how unworthy I am, He embraces me. And gives me new beginnings. Because He loves me.
My God, in You alone, I put my hope. To safe waters, You lead me. You restore my strength. I may not understand all the plans You have for me, but I let You be God and surrender to You all my tomorrows. My source of hope and joy is You alone, my God!
*This excerpt is taken from “Musings of a Sinner“, an inspirational book from PreciousBooks.* (Preview & buy Books for a Cause here.)
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I Am Wondefully Made!
*This excerpt is taken from “Precious“, an inspirational book from PreciousBooks.* (Preview & buy Books for a Cause here.)
Fairy Tales
As a little girl, I loved reading fairy tales.
Why not, they always have happy endings! I’m a happy ending addict. Even to this day.
In every situation I’m in, I want the endings to be happy. Even in any movie I watch, novel I read, image I paint, or story I write.
They give me hope. They give me wings to fly and see the happy side of things!
As I grew out of my little girl fairy stories, I learned that in life, not all things have happy endings.
But as I live my life each day, I just try my best to find or create the happy in the things I can control and then leave the rest to God.
It is no child’s play. But if I learn to just let go, think happy and live one day at a time, then I believe there will be gazillions of joyful moments to enjoy and happy endings to keep in my heart.
Happy endings. What’s not to love about them?
So I still read those old fairy tales sometimes. Relish the “and they lived happily ever after” moments (haha ü). And believe that God is writing beautiful stories of hope and joy in my life.
*This excerpt is taken from “My Happy“, an inspirational book from PreciousBooks.* (Preview & buy Books for a Cause here.)
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