The sentiments of the Sun

Something I wrote for a good friend and colleague :)

Sometimes it is only human to feel that despite our best efforts,

the world does not seem to recognize it
At times, even words forsake us as we struggle to try

and explain our thoughts and feelings to this world,
And still, we feel that the world just won’t listen to us…

But consider the Sun for a moment…
It never fails to shine its very best for the world every day
Yet, mostly the world does not sit up and take notice of the Sun’s efforts;
If you are anything like me, most of us simply take our Sun for granted

On some days, our dear Sun shines with a little extra vigor – hoping that by doing so, someone may finally start to take notice and maybe even look up to say ‘hi’ or ‘thank you’
But mostly, despite the Sun’s efforts to try and get a little attention,

hopefully affection and maybe a little praise
What it really gets, are curses and grumblings about how

‘the silly Sun has made it so maddeningly hot!’

On some days, we might feel a little like what the Sun must feel
And the Sun probably understands how we feel too

To take a leaf from our dear Sun’s book, our darling Sun continues to rise diligently

day after day, dawn after dawn
Warming this world with its rays, giving light to man and bringing harvest to the fields
It may not receive its due thanks and appreciation today
But nevertheless, it continues in its good works

Consider the spirit of the Sun; let us too take faith and labor to produce good fruit for our world, knowing that our labors at the end of the day will not be in vain!

Dedicated to the one I love

If my forever was just today... I would give thanks for you.

I would spend my last hour looking into your eyes...

for there I would see the meaning of my life unfold.

Like the simple beauty of the morning glory that is made possible only by the warmth of the morning sun; your love has caressed the depths of my soul, making me complete in the knowledge of your complete and unselfish love.

In you, I am fulfilled, content and satisfied. No more shall my spirit be in want,

no more shall my soul thirst for the futile pleasures of this world.

With you, loneliness is a stranger that shall never cross my path, so will tears be foreign to my eyes... with you, my laughter is true and my smile content,

because I love you; I am complete, I am whole.

While rains may fall and clouds may gather, I shall not fear, for the knowledge of your love,

accords me immeasurable strength to counter the uncertainties of this world.

A simple affirmation of your affection is like the most beautiful song;

to know that you love me, is more than I could ever ask for.

Even if my forever was just today.

Thoughts on Life, Love and Goodbye

When I first read this letter, I did not give much thought to what it was really saying as I was reading it in the office... yet today I read it again and deliberated upon its words and I realize the depth of its meaning in the nuances of the words...

I was touched most by:

'I would give merit to things not for what they are worth... but for what they mean to express'
- More often than not, consciously or otherwise, we might evaluate gifts presented to us by the price tags that they carry, yet this reminded me that the best gifts in life are not to be evaluated or weighed as such... the best gifts in life come from the heart... like the gift of my parents' love is a gift that no price tag could ever be attached too... like the gift of love from the one whom I have now lost through my own foolish actions...

'Give wings to children but leave them to learn how to fly themselves' ~ I thank my parents and my mentors in life, who have equipped me with knowledge and the tools necessary for the accomplishment of my dreams, but have not insisted that they know the best way for me to achieve my dreams...

'Everybody wants to live on top of a mountain, without realizing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken and the form used to reach the top of the hill' - we all want to be at the top of our game, to be rich, successful, to be atop the mountain, to arrive so to speak... our eyes are focused so much on getting there... 'there' where we think we will be most happy, finally fulfilled and contented... but such is the fallacy of the journey... it is unexpectedly the simply joys shared with close friends and loved ones through the journey that gives meaning to our existence to begin with. How often have we been consumed with a game, a book or a movie... willing ourselves to go faster, read faster, play faster to reach the end of the journey... yet upon reaching... experience a haunting sadness, a newfound emptiness that what has kept us going and alive if for awhile has reached its last chapter... I would be happier if I could be constantly reminded that happiness is in daily living, it is not in the next increment, not in the year-end bonuses, not in the new IT bag acquisition to be looked forward to... but the simple smile and a hug given by those who truly love us...

For now, at this moment, I am humbled... for the many times when I was thinking of just 'ME', for my own creature comforts... for the hurts and tears that I have brought to those who have cared enough for me to have shed tears for me... I am sorry and I love you

Love, Life and Goodbye

GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ, a famous writer from Colombia, and Nobel Prize winner for literature, has retired from public life for reasons of health.
He has a form of cancer, which is terminal. He has sent a farewell letter to his friends.
It is recommended reading because it is moving to see how one of the best and most brilliant of writers expresses himself & with sorrow.
(even as I'm sure this would have sounded twice as good in Spanish, let us enjoy the English version nonetheless. ....)

> ====================================<

A GENIUS SAYS GOODBYE FOR GOOD, he says:
If God, for a second, forgot what I have become and granted me a little bit more of life,

I would use it to the best of my ability.
I wouldn't, possibly, say everything that is in my mind, but I would be more thoughtful of all I say. I would give merit to things not for what they are worth, but for what they mean to express.

I would sleep little, I would dream more, because I know that minute that we close our eyes,

we waste 60 seconds of light.

I would walk while others stop; I would awake while others sleep.

If God would give me a little bit more of life, I would dress in a simple manner, I would place myself in front of the sun, leaving not only my body, but my soul naked at its mercy.

To all men, I would say how mistaken they are when they think that they stop falling in love when they grow old, without knowing that they grow old when they stop falling in love.

I would give wings to children, but I would leave it to them to learn how to fly by themselves.

To old people I would say that death doesn't arrive when they grow old, but with forgetfulness.

I have learned so much with you all, I have learned that everybody wants to live on top of the mountain, without knowing that true happiness is obtained in the journey taken & the form used to reach the top of the hill.

I have learned that when a newborn baby holds, with its little hand, his father's finger, it has trapped him for the rest of his life.

I have learned that a man has the right and obligation to look down at another man, only when that man needs help to get up from the ground.

Say always what you feel, not what you think. If I knew that today is the last time that that I am going to see you asleep, I would hug you with all my strength and I would pray to the Lord to let me be the guardian angel of your soul.

If I knew that these are the last moments to see you, I would say 'I love you'.

There is always tomorrow, and life gives us another opportunity to do things right,

but in case I am wrong, and today is all that is left to me,

I would love to tell you how much I love you & that I will never forget you.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone, young or old. Today could be the last time to see your loved ones, which is why you mustn't wait; Do it today, in case tomorrow never arrives.

I am sure you will be sorry you wasted the opportunity today to give a smile, a hug, a kiss, and that you were too busy to grant them their last wish.

Keep your loved ones near you; tell them in their ears and to their faces how much you need them and love them. Love them and treat them well; take your time to tell them 'I am sorry';' forgive me', 'please', 'thank you', and all those loving words you know.
Nobody will know you for your secret thought.

Ask the Lord for wisdom and strength to express them.
Show your friends and loved ones how important they are to you.
Send this letter to those you love. If you don't do it today...tomorrow will be like yesterday, and if you never do it, it doesn't matter either, the moment to do it is now.

For you, With much love, Your Friend,
Gabriel Garcia Marquez