Beauty vs Attitude

"A great character will always make you more attractive than someone who only has a great face but no substance."

I don't know where my friend got this. It was sent to me through SMS and I think it somehow knocked down most of my frustrations.

Indeed, a beautiful face is nothing if its owner's heart is ugly.

And I support that.

But you see, first impression is still important.

Especially nowadays that people always depend on the physical appearances of others.

Admit it or not, guys won't give a damn on ugly people like me. Hence making it impossible for them to know whether I have a nice attitude or not. 

It sucks to say this but we all live in a cruel and shallow-thinking world.

After 10 years, 7 books, and 8 films, everything has ended. Now, the chapter of my life called ‘childhood’ is closed. I have to move on, let go of my magical past and live a new life without Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the gang to look forward to every year.

My childhood has ended when the CBB of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 appeared on the screen, and up until now, a part of me is denying that I am ready to let it go. But as I cry on the bus on my way home from the cinemas, I realized that letting go does not mean forgetting everything. Because no matter what happens, I am entitled to the fact that every single day of my life that I miss my childhood, I can just look back at my life and be reminded of how it was made magical and awesome and splendid by Harry Potter and his friends.

This phenomenon actually gained me something to be proud of. For the past ten years, the Harry Potter series has become one of my best inspirations to live the life I’m living right now.

Through this series, I learned how to be brave. I learned how to stand up against the wrong and how to protect the righteous. Harry Potter taught me how to understand love as well. There are different kinds of it, and they’re greater and better than the kinds of love I knew of.

I was also taught how to value friends. Through the friendship of Harry, Hermione and Ron, I got to realize that nothing could ever equate the happiness of finding true and loyal friends who will stick with you through joy and pain. Add to that the loyalty and love of Neville, Luna, Ginny, Seamus, Dean, Cho and the rest of the Dumbledore’s Army for each other. It’s priceless.

With Harry Potter’s story, I was also put into a deep realization about the love parents have for their children. When Lily and James died for Harry that night, when Tonks and Lupin decided to keep their child even though the possibility of it becoming a werewolf is high, when Mrs. Weasley dueled Bellatrix after almost hitting Ginny with a killing curse, and when Narcissa and Lucius walked off the battle in Hogwarts to protect Draco, I was enlightened by how much sacrifices parents can give to save their children. My parents might not be a wizard and a witch, but they’ve sacrificed a lot for me too. And I should appreciate that.

By Dumbledore, I was taught how to be calm and wise all the time. His flawless judgments, his seamless opinions, his mind-boggling questions, everything gives me hope; and he will always be the greatest example of a teacher to me; together with Professor McGonagall and Hagrid.

And Snape… How could I ever forget one of the greatest fictional characters in the world of literature? Professor Severus Snape taught me the true value of loyalty. And my respect to this character will forever be as high as the heavens, that I wouldn’t even complain if the name of Harry Potter on the titles of the books will be changed to Severus Snape.

Yeah, this is how affected I am to Harry Potter’s end. But you know what? I feel proud. Sitting inside the cinema and hearing people giving a round of applause from time to time, for every scene, I knew that my childhood was not a waste as how I thought it was. Because amid the painful memories brought by school, there was one thing that kept its magic and beauty…

And as I end and start a brand new story, I’ll be proud to say to anyone who will just discover the story of the Boy Who Lived, that

I HAVE STUCK WITH HARRY UNTIL THE END.

J.K. Rowling, thank you for giving me a very meaningful childhood. Your greatness and writing prowess will forever be remembered.

Winning Over Life

Life is demanding. It requires a lot from us and it forces us to make decisions at our own risks. Too unfair, if we try to think about it; but it is from where we get honed and molded to become genuine individuals – capable of facing crossroads and equipped with the ability to think and determine which is a better road to take.

For the second time, I have come to face an inevitable situation. I had to choose between two things – a decision which would eventually lead me to fulfilling my destiny.

And I have made a decision.

I’ll be resigning from my current job as I have been accepted to another. From being a proofreader, I am not drifting back to being a writer.

You guys might be saying ‘so what?’. But to me, it’s a matter of destiny. You see, despite my rants and whines about this present company, I have learned to appreciate my job in a short week’s time. I have graciously triumphed over the long hours of work, the vast difference of my working environment from the previous one, and the challenge of doing all these with my principles at stake. Though I have just stayed here for just a short time, I know I didn’t quit. And I know I’m not a failure.

Because I know that I have chosen the right thing to do. For so long, I’ve been trying to figure out what’s really for me and for the longest time, I’ve been wanting to feel this kind of satisfaction. It came to me, and to hell with what others will think of me, I’m not letting go of this opportunity.

I’ll be a writer again.

Of course, it’s not gonna be easy. But it’s the best thing for me to do. Technical writing has never been my game but this will serve as a good starting point to reaching my goals. Another challenge, I guess.

After being employed in two companies, I think I’m sticking with this one. It got the best working conditions – I’m working from home and I’ll be receiving a 5-digit salary ever month. I’ll also be investing on my insurances since this new company offers benefits. No need to wake up early. No need to face the smog and dirt of everyday travel. No need to spend money on skyrocketing fares and commodities. No need to buy attires and deal with the dilemma of choosing which to wear for the day. No need to bother my mom and dad in packing my lunchbox every morning. No need to do what I don’t want to do anymore!

How cool is that? Doing the thing I love the most at the comfort of my own home. Exciting!

Indeed, life is unfair. But as I’ve said before, it compensates. I am just so glad that I have known how to play its game. And you know what the technique is? Listen to what your heart is telling you. It’s risky and it may cause you sleepless nights and stressful days thinking and deciphering which is really for you. But I tell you, it’s worth it.

And don’t worry if you think you cannot hear what it is telling you. You know it already. You’re just too busy looking at others’ destinies. Focus on yours. Focus on your core gift – as how Mr. Bo Sanchez had said.

I know you can do that. Because I just did.

Good luck!