I SEE IT AS ICE COLD TALL CARAMEL MACCHIATO, THEY SEE IT AS FOOD FOR A WEEK

disclaimer: no, i haven't had one of those drinks recently. i just can't think of any other good comparison that people could relate to.

my professor in RELSFOR [yeah, that subject] said that people wouldn't lay a finger in any issue unless they are directly affected by it.

and i think yeah, people sympathize and shake their heads in dismay and it ends with just that. no further action, just plain old sympathy.

"Sometimes I wondered if I was seeing the same things through my eyes that the rest of the world as seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain."

i'm not being a superhero advocating sustainable projects for the poor and the needy. i've got to have bundles of cash to do that. well, 70% of the population might think i do but i can't feed them all, can i? so it starts with little things.

like giving extra coins to that old lady sitting on the street barely able to lift her hand. i don't believe in giving coins to kids who just ask for it though. call it self-righteousness but i don't want to breed kids who don't know what working hard for money really is.

or maybe you could even give food. leftovers, snacks or even a full meal it doesn't really matter cause for them, food is food. period. honestly, most of the time it's better than giving money.

overall, apathy and lack of awareness are the real issues. i mean, people are panicking from all over the world cause the effects of global warming are becoming evident by the second. haven't we had warnings from about three years back that this would happen? and what? people are so focused on juicy gossips about it girl for the month. pfht.

"Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them - if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry."

so this is the usual after-finals-slash-term-entry.

i could finally feel the summer coming in now, with its waves of sunlight and light blue skies. i could smell it in the air, like the unbelievable dry heat of late mornings and early afternoon hours. i could taste it from the ice cold milk teas i buy every now and then, hear it from people talking about roadtrips and getaways to somewhere entirely new and refreshing. somewhere better than last year of big adventures or many years ago of first loves and heartbreaks.

and as i see it from their eyes sparkling with excitement of memories they'll never forget, i remember mine of three months back and i begin to smile. for it was then i realized that i have been given circumstances which made me believe in a profound thing called fate. there have been obstacles that i fought and conquered for there were people who reminded me to never give up. and though there were times of hurt and doubt, i feel the love emanating more than i could ever imagine. there was you, and friends and family and a higher being i could only assume to be God who were guiding me step by step. there were plenty of reasons for me to smile and not a single one for me to even feel despair. there was life in full abundance.

so this is actually a tribute to unbelievable happiness and future memories. this is me telling you that i'm thankful, grateful and blessed to have you--each and everyone of you--in my life.<3