Of Chameleons And Men

Things aren't always as they seem.

Sometimes people are concealed deep within multiple layers and it's up to you to peel them back to reveal the truth within.

That is, if you're even allowed as far.

People who are able to do that are either experienced chameleons or on their way to becoming one. Be warned though, the road to creating an unbreakable facade is like a room full of mirrors. You can easily get lost in the maze of reflections and re-reflections and the result may be more grotesque than you expect.

A chameleon only blends with the background but it's essence remains the same. If you're able to change your appearance, you better know how to get back to what's real, because sooner than you'll expect, the thin line that separates the two becomes blurred and obfuscated until it totally vanishes. A strong anchor is necessary. Otherwise you'll never know where lies end and the truth begins.

Most people say they are strong enough to withstand temptation but even the strongest can only take so much. There will always be a point when something starts to give. And then everything shatters in an infinitesimal shower of confusion.

But get this, are you even sure that what you're resisting isn't the truthful reality you're supposed to be living in?

What if the life you're trapped in now is the lie? What if the reason why you can't let go of something is because that's supposed to be your true reality? What if the reason why fate shoves you the same old crap over and over again is because it's its way of telling you, "Hey dumbass! This is what's supposed to be for you! This is your destiny! Why can't you get it into that thick skull of yours!"

Everything changes drastically then, doesn't it?

Then again, I could be wrong.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I am.

Paradigm shift.

Coffee Fix

I can't remember when I developed my steamy love affair with coffee.

All I know is that I've been drinking it forever.

There was even a time back in college when breakfast, for me, was just coffee and Marlboros. Whenever I felt like that was not enough, I'd whip up some orange juice to go with the coffee and the cigs.

I drink two mugs of coffee in the morning, a cup (since we don't have mugs) in the office by mid-morning, another cup by mid-afternoon, a mug once I get home and another mug at night while working late.

If what they say about coffee being healthy is true, then I should be in tip-top shape by now.

I wonder if my mom fed me coffee when I was a baby...

Hmmm...

I'd better go ask her.

Of Kindness

Kindness is an act of goodness stemming from the inner recesses of the heart and comes out instinctively and spontaneously like spring waters and fruits in season. It needs no reason, nor does it need motivation.

Kindness and the ability to show it when least expected is proof of man's innate goodness and superiority as a specie.

The capacity for kindness requires intellect and high understanding - such as not consciously exercised but is exuded as an aura. It is an embedded program that kicks in at the right moment and at the right instance.

Notice that when you are in a situation where you are about to show kindness, there is always a small inkling of the question, "why?" To give in to the inkling means to hesitate and to debate with oneself on the act's veracity - thus diminishing the value of the act of kindness.

For it to be pure and true and worthwhile, kindness when gushing forth like living waters should not be stemmed, nor shall it be dammed. Let it pour to quench the fire in the world's throat and in the world's belly.

September 18, 2001

It was 11:15 am on a bright Thursday.

He was administering an exam to his History class and only a few of his students were left still taking the test. He was checking the papers as they were submitted to him, not so much as to make good use of his time, but more to find something to do other than check his watch every 30 seconds, willing it to move faster.

Finally, as he was writing the score on the last paper he was checking, he chanced a quick glance at his watch. It was 11:30 am. Any second now, the bell will ring and he'll be free to go.

Moments passed by in almost deliberate slow motion until finally in a blast that shot a fresh injection of adrenaline in his veins, the bell rang.

He quickly gathered his things and cleared his desk, fumbling with the test papers as he went.

He noticed his hand shaking and he sheepishly smiled to himself.

Damn, he was nervous.

He has never felt this giddy since the first time he went out on a date back in high school.

It was a strange but welcome feeling.

He half ran, half walked to the faculty room which was, fortunately, empty. He wasn't exactly in the mood for answering questions why he's heading off in such a hurry and why he has been fidgetty all morning.  Most of his coleagues were probably already in the cafeteria enjoying their lunch and so he quickly, deposited the exam papers on his locker, slammed it shut and headed out.

In 10 minutes flat, he was at the City Hall where his lady love was waiting along with her mother, some family members and a few close friends.

"Did you get the papers?" he asked as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek, kissed her mother's hand and greeted the rest of the group with a bright smile.

"Yes it's already here. Let's go." she answered as she gave his arm a gentle squeeze.

He was about to ask everyone to wait when his "Tatay" arrived just in time. He made the customary introductions and amidst smiles and handshakes, he said, "I think we're all set to go."

They all boarded the jeep his lady love's brother lent them for the day and sped through the streets to the other side of town - the Justice Hall.

"How was the exam?" she attempted at small talk as she slipped her hand between his.

"It was okay. I finished checking the papers already." he replied smiling.

Both fell silent for the next few minutes and the only sound was the roar of the jeep's engine and the drone of conversation of the other passengers with them. They both just looked at their intertwined fingers holding on to each other like life depended on it.

As they both lifted their gaze to each others' face, their eyes met. Their meaningful smiles belied the silence of their lips and they settled on each others warm company for the rest of the trip.

After a few more minutes, they arrived at the Justice Hall.

Everyone alighted and tried their best to straighten their clothes and look their best.

"The judge's office is at the end of the hall. He should already be there waiting for us." he announced to everyone and they took to follow him.

He took her lady's hand and led her inside the hall and they walked hand in hand towards the judge's office while everyone else walked and talked behind them.

True to his words, the judge was already there waiting and he smiled at them amiably as they entered.

"Well, it's almost noon so I guess it'd have to be 'good afternoon'." he said good naturedly as he reached out to shake the elderly man's hand.

"Well, good afternoon to all of you as well." the judge replied with a big smile and added, "Are we all here? Shall we begin?"

Everyone nodded in approval.

He held her hand tightly and she responded by squeezing his hand back as the short and simple ceremony went underway.

And as the judge finished the rites saying, "Well young man, you may kiss your bride!" he looked straight at her eyes and said in the simplest yet most profound way, "I love you" to which she coyly answered, "I love you more".

And they kissed.

Random Thoughts

Attitude affects learning as much as intelligence does. Those who are willing to learn will learn and those who think they know enough are doomed to mediocrity.

The best thing about loving and being hurt is that you get to know what true love really is. For as gold is tested in fire, and so will love be perfected in pain.

Perfection lies in being one with nature. Since man is, by nature, imperfect, his perfection then lies in his imperfection.

The biggest mistake that an intelligent person can make is the hasty assumption that he is better than the person next to him.

Man marches for victory. His mind justifies war. Payback must come, thus, leave him back. Tests loom. Cares rise. Be unswayed.

Of Things Out Of Reach

In that movie "Men of Honor" with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert De Niro, Cuba's character was asked what made him so determined to succeed in anything he set his mind to, and he said, "Because they told me I couldn't have it..."

That perhaps is the kind of character we need to be cultivating in ourselves.

When things just seem out of reach, outrightly impossible to achieve and when odds simply tell you, "You can't have it", that's the time we should silently recollect and ask ourselves, "How much do I want it?"

And if you want it bad enough, then go get it. as long as it is within the bounds of morality and ethics, then go ahead and get it. Own it. Live it. Enjoy it.

There is a sense of pure joy and victory here; when you're being discouraged right off the bat and you simply shake off the discouragement and set out to accomplish that which they say you cannot have. That's character.

But there simply are things that can not be had - and no measure of determination and character can make you have them.

But then again, sometimes, impossible just takes a little longer.

You just gotta have faith.

The Boss

Once all body parts assembled and decided to elect a boss for the entire body. 

Many parts applied.

The brain said, “I should be the boss because I am the one who thinks, recognizes and makes the decisions”. 

The heart said, “I should be the boss because without my continuous pumping of blood all of you are dead”. 

The eye said, “I give vision, and without vision all of you are as good as dead”. 

The legs said, “I should be the boss because without me you can’t go anywhere”.

Then the asshole also decided to apply. 

All other body parts laughed so hard at the asshole's desire to be the boss.

They could not stop laughing for a long time. 

This made the asshole upset and so he closed up in silent protest.

After a while, the entire body was feeling the effects of the asshole’s rebellion.

Soon the brain clouded up and was no longer as sharp. The eyes blurred and had difficulty focusing. The heart started to palpitate and beat erratically. The legs grew wobbly and did not have enough strength to stand, much less go anywhere.  

They realized the importance of the asshole and so they unanimously decided to make him the boss.

The asshole was so happy, he immediately opened up, let go of all the crap and the body went back to normal.

The moral of the story: 

You don’t have to be a brain to be the boss…

…An asshole can do the job.

Author’s Note: I read this somewhere but I can’t remember where. I just tried to re-tell the story the best I could.