Famous Last Words (as inspired by'Last Words, an episode of How I Met Your Mother)

Last words - they're a lot of pressure. They count so much that you just want to be sure that all the words you say will be worth remembering.  This is why every moment counts.

What if the one we love dies, or goes missing, or goes away for a really long time - would you want your last memories with that person to be of a moment of anger or disagreement? Would you want your last words to them be words of hatred, resentment, or spite?

But do last words even really matter? I think they do. The last words we say before we go - either through death or simply when we part ways with the people we care most about - will be the lasting memory we have with other people. That is why I like jokes, though they may be corny or the punch line isn't really funny, because I appreciate the person's effort to make me laugh or simply chuckle. Somehow, through that joke, someone shed some rays of happiness in my life. And this is also why I can't be 100% serious and business-like. I always want to put a smile on people's face or crack people up. It's because I want my memories of people to be happy memories, the same way I want their memory of me to be a happy one.

Now, think about it: what were the last words you said to your parents? To your brother or sister? What about your girlfriend or your boyfriend or spouse? To your friends? Are you sure those are the words you want to be remembered by if, God forbids, you reach the end of your life?

Last words are a lot of pressure, but don't think about it in that light. Just know that every moment counts in this life. Every second counts in the ticking clock known as Life. 

'Challenge accepted!'

In the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Barney Stinson has two words he repeatedly says which can actually be inspiring. No, I am not referring to "suit up." Those two words: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Whether it's trying to accomplish a list of things he is too old to do or trying to pick up a woman whilst talking like a little boy or by wearing overalls, Barney boldly says "challenge accepted" when people say something can't be done.

These words have me thinking that "challenge accepted" is a good way of approaching things. We can look at problems hurled our way as challenges we need to face head on and eventually accomplish. Why not look at things as 'challenges', the way they're defined in the dictionary? "Call to engage in a contest or combat."

When an instructor says "You can not pass in my class if you don't perform well in the prelims and midterms," just say CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

When somebody says "You'll never  find The One," smirk and say CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

When your family says "You won't get rich as an artist..." CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

When a friend says "I can't lose weight properly," take the thing she or he can't do and show her or him that it's possible by saying "challenge accepted."

And the phrase even applies to the smallest, sometimes funniest of things, as these comic strips from F*ck Yeah Challenge Accepted at Tumblr show:

Difficulties are inevitable in life. So the next time you find yourself in one, don't say "Why me?" Instead, just say "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!" And after that, you can simply say: CHALLENGE COMPLETED.

 

10 Most Awesome Things About 2010

Okay, so I would have to admit that 2010 isn't exactly the most awesome year for me, so creating this list was not as easy as ABC.  Despite the bad things that happened, I choose to look back on the good things that did happen, and this list counts down the 10 most awesome things about 2010.

10. Creating my Tumblr Page

- Tumblr redefined the paradigm of blogging. It brings me joy, laughter, and entertainment. I even got to meet  cool people this year because of the Tumblr Meet Up last June 25. Furthermore, the cool photos being blogged and reblogged actually inspire my inner photographer, so that's pretty awesome.

9. Rekindling the DEGRASSI fan in me

- Back when I was 12 years old, I watched the first season of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION and fell in love with the unique show. Unfortunately, though, I never got to watch the seasons that came after, but I kept myself (close to) updated through the internet. And, the internet also gave me the opportunity to actually watch the things I've missed. I even spent most of my summer vacation with Degrassi marathons.

8. Expanding my personal library

- I spent thousands of pesos this year buying numerous books for me to read. Whether it's a book for school or personal pleasure, shopping for them was my version of retail therapy. Books are my source of joy, calm... they're my safe haven.

7. Owning a laptop

- Okay, so it's not brand new. But I am thankful for having it. It's been a great convenience to me, especially when it comes to doing school work and doing something fun.

6. Discovering the photographer in me

- I'm blessed that my dad's friend lent me a DSLR camera for me to use for my Journalism class. Honestly, though, I've used the camera for discovering my personal interest in photography. I'm still a beginner, mind you, but it's something I want to develop as an interest, maybe even as a talent. Hey, who knows? I'll probably become a writer/photographer one day. 

5. Turning 19

- Here I am, an age that borders between adulthood and adolescence. Being 19 for the past six months has been quite a ride - there's the inner fear of having to leave childhood behind and face the phony world of adulthood. (Catcher in The Rye much?) I then think about the amazing possibilities life has to offer and that inner fear fleets.

4.  The release of  A THOUSAND SUNS, NIGHTMARE, and LIVE IT UP

- Linkin Park came out with an awesome album tat showcased their versatility as artists. Meanwhile, Avenged Sevenfold's highly anticipated album since the death of their drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. Lastly, American Idol season 9 winner Lee DeWyze  released his major record label debut album. The release of these albums is an awesome thing because all year long I looked forward to the new music these albums have to offer.

3.  The release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1

- Ever since the book came out in 2007 I have been looking forward to its movie adaptation. Anybody who has read my blogs on the movie will know why this is on the list.

2. Becoming a huge fan of the TV shows The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and Glee

- Prior to 2010, though, I've heard of these shows - as a matter of fact, I've been watching How I Met Your Mother before - but this year I got to truly watch these shows. In doing so, I got to appreciate them. For instance, The Big Bang Theory allowed me to appreciate my inner geek... and it's okay to be a geek. You're just being yourself. On the other hand, How I Met Your Mother allows me to be in touch with my romantic side - the side of me that fantasizes about meeting The One, falling madly in love, getting married, and telling your two children how you met the love of your life. And finally, there's Glee. It's one of the most watched television shows. It's entertaining with its humor and music. My viewing pleasure was indeed pleasing (and awesome) because of these shows.

And the most awesome thing about my 2010 is...

... becoming a staff writer for Gasera

- The last time I became a campus journalist was in senior year of high school. Freshman year I tried out for the university's official publication and the fact that I was not accepted sort of hindered me from trying again. This year, though, I threw caution to the wind and just went with the desire to share my passion for writing by showing people what I can do. I will admit: my path as a staff writer hasn't always been smooth - I've had moments where my dedication was questioned, but for the most part, I've had an awesome time doing what I do best and sharing it with others. And the best part is when people tell you that they appreciate what you like... that's the best reward.

So now I look forward to 2011. 

And I'll just let this picture I found in Tumblr speak for itself:

The Frog Prince Theory: It's gonna be a thing!

The Frog Prince Theory is loosely based on the Mermaid Theory. What's The Mermaid Theory, you ask? For men, it is when an initially unattractive woman become very attractive through time. For more details, click the link for a YouTube video of a clip from How I Met Your Mother s06e11. 

Now I've come up with a similar theory applicable for women: The Frog Prince Theory. The theory states that a guy, whom a woman finds to be unattractive at the first meeting (much like a frog) through time may become an attractive (note: handsome, hot) "prince" in her eyes. The theory works like beer goggles, only it doesn't always involve copious amounts of alcohol. The Frog Prince Theory may come into effect through a) spending plenty of time in the company of said "frog/prince", b) absence of guys that women find to be attractive, c) hormonal imbalance, or d) desperation to "get some."

Recently, The Frog Prince Theory applied to my life. For about two months, a classmate of mine suddenly appeared... what's the word?... decent-looking. To be honest, he's not really a catch. He's not a 10 with looks, he's not the brightest bulb in the room, and he's not exactly Mr. Personality. As a matter of fact, he's the kind of guy who flatters girls ("bolero" in Filipino terms) just to get their attention. I guess that's his way of compensating.

Anyway, if you ask me what caused my sudden attraction to him, I would probably say all of the above.

But if you're wondering if it's possible to go from finding the frog a prince, and finding the prince to be a frog again, I tell you that it is. Eventually, I sobered up, so to say. The beer goggles went off and I found myself not attracted to the guy again.

And now I can look back and laugh at how wrong I was. Then I can get on track with finding my actual prince.