Smile!

"If you have a hundred reasons to cry, then you have a thousand reasons to smile!"

The first time I heard this quote was from a friend of mine, and that was back when I was 16. Only, at the time, I really did not understand what it really means. In a straightforward kind of way, it really means that if I have a hundred reasons to cry, then I have many more reasons to smile. But, indirectly, this quote only makes full sense now.

You know, everyone has their own secret in life. A past that no one knows, a past in which they keep secret, just between them and Allah. Some may call it 'unfinished business' or some may even call it 'unresolved issues'. Call it whatever you want, the definition is just the same. I am not excluded in this matter. In fact, if I were to recall about many things in my life, I have a few unresolved issues myself. To many people, talking about these so-called 'unresolved issues' can ease the pain and suffering. I agree; Talking does help. That's why talk-therapy or couseling exists. But, to me, in my own life, talking makes me feel indifferent.

Because you see, despite knowing that I have a lot of reasons to be vengeful, angry, and sad, I am fully aware that I have many more other reasons to be happy and to keep on smiling. Well, yeah, my life isn't perfect, but unlike before, I don't want to mope about it. Compare to what others have to suffer and endure, my problems and tribulations are really very minuscule. There are times where I think I deliberately exaggerate on my own problems when in reality, the part exaggerated are really non-existent.

Keep on smiling!

You know, we were created in a life that is filled with black and white. There's a positive and negative element in our lives. No one lives life without hardship, may it be small, may it be big, but no one goes through life stagnant. To be honest, I grew up as a pessimist. I did not believe in anything positive because, well, to me, positive auras never last. But ever since I came into college, slowly, my views changed. And believe me, that process of changing was very challenging! In order for me to keep on being positive, I have to wake up, forcing myself to think only positive thoughts and to try and keep on smiling no matter what the situation is. The journey had been a struggle for me, and this is also a struggle for those who are currently in a rough patch. But, you know something? The transition from the negative to positive is a transition that will forever change our lives!

You know, I have many reasons to be sad, but the reasons to my happiness can outnumber the reasons for my sadness and pain. And so it can be for you, too. Your fiance left you? Well, you still have a family that has your back! Your parents just got divorced? Be thankful that they are still alive! You failed your exams? Failure only opens up new doors for your success! You're financially troubled? Well, there are others who can live without money! Change our views towards problems. Rather than let it control our thoughts, why not WE control our problems?

We are all positive. The only difference is that, some of us haven't found the positive values in our lives, and some of us has. The people who we label as 'pessimists' are just people who are searching for their positive values in life. Once they find it, inner peace comes. Positive vibes and all things positive are easy to acquire -- we just have to find them at the right places! Once we find them, spread them. Share them! My teacher once told me :

"Sometimes the only way to heal your heart is by helping others heal theirs!"

So, why not share the happiness and positivity that we have with others? It makes them feel good, but what's most important is that it makes US feel good. =)

PS : Keep on smiling, my dears. Life without obstacles ain't really life. Experience every emotion there is in life, and learn from each one of it! Ganbatte kudasai, minna! Oy oy oy~ And oh, I hope this post makes sense -- somehow. Le sad face. Ugh. Au revoir!

Reminder

To think back about many things, I think that life is really wonderful.

I remember my trademark when I was just fifteen : Life is full of wonders.

At the time, I really believed that life is full of wonders - and I still do!

This particular post is just a reminder for myself. Why?

You know, as a normal human being, there are times where I am truly happy and there are times where I get sucked into a phase of deep depression. It's normal you know to feel happy and to feel sad. We were given emotions for a reason. But, it is never normal to dwell and linger on the negative part of life that long. (Refer : HERE)

Sometimes I myself forget that feeling down is normal. All I have to do is just get back up and start walking again. But somehow lately that isn't as easy as how it used to be -- and maybe that's my own fault. I had always believed that everyone is positive. Each and every single one of us was born as positive. No one came into this world as an evil baby now, did they? We came into the world whiter than a sheet of paper, and as we grow, that white sheet of paper begins to color itself depending on how we want to color it and there are times where our environment and upbringing helps to color it here and there; Nevertheless, we were all once just a white sheet of paper.

This is my memo board, and that magnet was a gift from my best friend. =)

Carl Ransom Rogers believed so too, and I can't help but to agree with him. The difference between each and every single one of us is the fact that some people were brought up knowing and having full awareness regarding the positive value in themselves and in their lives, and some just don't. Not many realize this and I want to be someone who can help others to be aware of this matter and realize just how much positive and how much wonders there are in this life.

Once upon a time, I used to be a pessimist. I used to be someone who looks at life VERY negatively. People had often told me that I seldom smile and I always looked like someone who gave up on life - maybe I did. To smile was hard, what more to say to laugh. I guess it felt like a great surge of depression at the time. The world seemed so dark and lonely. It may be in the past, but I still remember how it felt like at those times - it was scary! But, as I grow older, I begin to change my perspective towards life and towards myself slowly - I began to see the world and light seemed to seep through slowly into my life, and because of that, I want others to be able to feel that surge of positivism in their lives as well. The positive energy that I felt from all the journeys and paths that I walked through is really amazing, more than words can ever describe. Maybe that is why I am so into the counseling and psychology field. Because I want to keep on learning about how the human mind works and how I can help others see the positivism that life has to offer. I want them to be in full awareness that they are able to be positive and to grab success first-hand on their own with their own specialty and everything!

I want to be that kind of counselor.

I want to be that kind of psychologist.
I want to be that kind of person.

And this is why I create this particular blog post. To remind myself that I have a dream to achieve. Not just A dream, but MANY dreams! I won't quit. Never.

And now I am always reminded. Always. Zutto. Siempre! =)

PS : By the way, do you know that I have a special book that I always carry in my bag where ever I go? I fill that book with poetry, words of wisdom, positive reminders and so on. If you're looking for a way to always stay positive, I recommend you buy a small notebook (or in my case, an exercise book. Eheh!) and WRITE a positive reminder or everything that is positive in the book EVERY DAY. Not just a certain day, but EVERY DAY. It may be in the form of a short essay, or an excerpt from a book, or even some poetry that you find anywhere. It worked well for me -- and I hope it does so to you too! =D

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Languages.

Not many know the fact that I am a language enthusiast. Learning new languages always excite me. People had often labelled me as a 'weirdo' for liking languages. People had also often asked me why do I love languages and yet I still fail to master the many languages that I always tried to learn? There are also people who had asked me why do I use English more rather than to use Malay. Ah! The questions and disapproval of many people regarding this part of me, but that doesn't bother me.

You see, to me, the variety of languages spoken in the world makes me happy. To be able to listen (even though I don't know the meaning of the words or phrases) makes me happy, makes me have butterflies in my stomach! Erm. Okay. That's a bit exaggerating, but that's how it is -- for me. The first third language that I ever learn was Chinese (Mandarin), and it was like 6 to 7 years ago. I didn't even finish my Chinese course due to some personal reasons, but because of that weekly course, I grew to love languages.

Languages are not hard to learn -- it is, if you think it is!

The thing is, my passion towards languages is what intrigues me to write this particular post -- to spread my love for languages to others. To tell them why I love languages, and why I love learning new languages (despite not having to master any one of them! Eheh!)! I always find it interesting that during our Prophet's time, many of his sahabah (companions) were able to grasp many languages into their lives. They were able to master many languages in just a short amount of time. The fact that they are able to not only just speak the language, but to also master the writings of the language is what truly amaze me. And ever since the day that I grew to know of their specialty in the field of languages, I grew to envy and want to be exactly like them ie to be able to master many languages.

It's not a matter of popularity or to show people that I am good, but it's a matter of my own self-worth. It is because this is what I want and what I know I can do. The many different languages spoken in the world makes the world a better place to live in, with its variety of people, with its colorful colors. Languages makes it even more awesome -- because without languages, how do we even communicate? Even sign language is a language - and I also find sign language interesting to be learned! Aha!

And yes, currently I am improving my Malay, my English, re-learning my Chinese, began to study a bit of Arabic, Spanish and Latin, and I am thinking of learning Japanese. Maybe with persistent reading and studying, maybe one day I can master these languages. Maybe one day I can show the world what the power of languages can do to change the world -- just like how my passions towards counseling and psychology, I will show everyone that all my desires and all my likings are able to change the world. Maybe not wholly, but slowly and surely.

The sun will always shine brightly.

Everyone has their ups and downs in life. It's normal. But what's not normal is the fact that we can't brush the downs of our lives off and move on. That's not normal. Why?

Well, you see, just like how time never moves backward and how time never go astern, that is how it should be to us also.

Let go and move on

True, there are times where our hardships gets into our mind greatly and devouring the last bit of rationality that ever once exists in our mind, but that doesn't mean that the sun won't shine tomorrow. Life can get a little cloudy now and then. There might also be a storm, a tsunami, an earthquake, a volcano eruption, et cetra... But, that doesn't mean that the disaster will occur every second. Here's something cliche : There's always a rainbow after every rainstorm!

And isn't that a proven fact -- even scientifically proven!?

I know, life can be a bit of a dumb-dumb at times. Especially when you're given so many unresolved issues from the past, but the sun still shines.. Yeah, the sun still shines. So, why fret or why give up? As long as the sun still shines, we should also move forward and stay strong. I learn through experience that the more I get hit, the stronger I get.

So your fiance left you, so what? Your career hit rock bottom, so what? Your family's falling apart, so what? There's always a better occurrence in the future laid in store for us! All we just have to do is to just believe, because Allah SWT always gives His best tests to His best servants. Through these challenges, we are building ourselves, increasing our capability to an extent where we can withstand even the toughest of all disasters. Through these disappointments, disenchantment, disapproval and all these dismissive forms of trials, we are actually creating a better self for us in the future. Who ever said that crying isn't strength? It is. So, cry if you must but never give up!

Life isn't all joy and glee

Life can get a little cloudy.

But don't you worry,

Allah SWT is always there for you and me.

So put on a smiley,

and hold my hand tightly.

The sun still shine ever so brightly,

and with Allah SWT, we will never get lonely.

This is our reality,

so please face this strongly.

The future holds a handful of beauty

if you keep walking carefully.

Don't tread on the path of eternal quandary.

You'll get lost so easily,

so go back to Him and He'll end your misery

because His love is ever so Mighty.

He'll exchange strength for your vulnerability

and help you heal with time, surely.

Yeah, life gets a little cloudy,

but the sun will still shine brightly.

Just wait patiently,

because that's a promise from me:

The sun will always shine brightly,

even if it gets cloudy.

Yes, Mardyati.

The sun will always shine brightly, so please believe and have faith.

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