I was fortunate enough to have read something other than my law books this summer. Since I particularly enjoy reading non-fiction of the biographical/memoir type, it was easy for me to pick Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love and get into all the hype surrounding it and even its movie counterpart starring Julia Roberts. I also felt like it could be a fitting summer read. Amazingly, it turned out to be so much more than leisure reading. I could rave about it and go into the more beautiful details but I really don’t know where to begin. Ultimately, the book fueled my desire to travel, reflect and indulge on more life-talks. Now if only I had the luxury of time…

There are a lot of quote-worthy lines and insights from the author, but it’s so much better if you guys just buy the book and find yourself in it. However in the spirit of sharing, I would like to share this short excerpt that I found particularly special (there are A LOT in the book, honestly).

In one chapter, the author, Elizabeth Gilbert is at an ashram in India. She is instructed to go to the roof of the ashram, watch the stars come out, and to come back down again when she can let go of her marriage.

Instructions For Freedom

• Life’s metaphors are God’s instructions.
• You have just climbed up and and above the roof. There is nothing between you and the Infinite. Now, let go.
• The day is ending. It’s time for something that was beautiful to turn into something else that is beautiful. Now, let go.
• Your wish for resolution was a prayer. Your being here is God’s response. Let go, watch the stars come out — on the outside and on the inside.
• With all your heart, ask for grace, and let go.
• With all your heart, forgive him, FORGIVE YOURSELF, and let him go.
• Let your intention be freedom from useless suffering. Then, let go.
• ...

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• 6:00AM: My first alarm rings. My first alarm is usually a party song. Currently, it's Freeze by Chris Brown and T-Pain. I wake up. Fighting the urge to lie back down, I pray, get up and go to the bathroom. I turn my laptop on and read the emails I missed last night.
• 7:00AM: My second alarm rings at 7AM. It's usually a mellow, sunny song. Currently, it's Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles. It just somehow cheers me up. If I'm still sleepy sometime during these hours (practically everytime), I ask for coffee. Then, I just study non-stop. I do have occasional Twitter, Facebook, RSS feeds break. I'm very productive in the morning. Focus and concentration is usually in the zone. My brain actually works like a sponge until I get distracted by the internet.
• 10:30AM: I eat my breakfast/lunch (aka brunch). It's usually pretty heavy or most of the time fattening because I really mix breakfast food with lunch. Haha. Like fruit, all sorts of bread and ulam. Yeah. I won't be eating till after class, so I need brain food. Most of the time, I'll be craving for food by this hour.
• 10:50AM: I continue studying. I always finish just somewhere in between this time.
• 11:30AM: I take a bath, dress-up, fix myself and my things. Sometimes, I even recite all the articles/sections or provisions in the shower for recall. I really don't like hurrying up to do all these things. I usually enjoy taking my time, relaxing for a bit while watching CNN. I love World News. I leave for school as soon I finish.
• 12:45PM: I arrive in school and head to our room. Most of the time, everyone's just studying or discussing. I prefer going there for the discussions. It really feels like High School all over again. Only a million times harder.
• 1:00PM: Class time. It's either...

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If there is one word that describes this year, it would have to be love. NOT purely in the romantic sense of the word, but in every way possible that it can mean to anyone. The year before, 2007 was a defining one – difficult, challenging and emotional. It may sound corny, but 2008 and I felt more like a whirlwind romance, with grandiose and modest stories to share and cherish. I took the plunge and found myself in an incredibly exciting ride. Allow me to be my corny, sappy self as I look back into the wonderful relationship I had with 2008. Because I have nothing but love to share as this year draws to a close.

Here’s to falling a few times more with 2008…

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The year 2007 has been such a defining year for me. Perhaps even that is an understatement considering everything that has happened. There are no regrets whatsoever, only memories, realizations and lessons to live by.

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Because exhaustion has taken hold of me at this moment, I shall update in list form. These are random and not-so-random thoughts of the past few days.

1. I’m in for a whole lot of workload and stress this sem. If last sem was killer enough, I think I have it three-fold this sem. Help me, Lord.
2. For one thing, I have Dacanay for Theo131. If you’re from Ateneo, I guess that speaks for itself. To add to that, my PolSci majors are more demanding than ever. Talk about weekly quizzes, an average of at least 200 pages worth of readings per week, and final papers that could total 20,000 words (both individual and group). I also have group works for all. Of course, these are rough estimates, but I’m pretty sure it’s close.
3. This is my first time to have a class that ends at 6PM. The fact that it ends at nightfall reminds me of late-night BlueREP rehearsals for Sweet Charity in the SEC classrooms. BTW, my last class is also at SEC. It’s not really a problem just as long as the roads of EDSA will be good to me.
4. Six hour breaks are no joke. I am not used to it, and it’s going to be interesting what things I’d end up doing by the end of the semester.
5. I have tough teachers with tough standards this sem. I’m not actually that worried about them, because most are pretty good. And if I am able to learn a lot from them, it will be worth itThe inhumane number of readings PER WEEK is unbelievable though!!!
6. Discussions during my POS classes are always a treat. There are no dull moments.
7. I still have my PolSci elective on Saturday. It still hasn’t sunk in yet that I have Saturday classes. Mostly because I keep scheduling late night events on Fridays. Let’s just hope this will be a good class to wake up early and travel to...

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