Nuggets of Wisdom from "The Mirror Has Two Faces" Film

Photo credits to http://www.imdb.com.

It is seldom that I write about a movie because the matter of fact is I am not really a movie bum. But I guess this wisdom from a movie clip I happened to watch somewhere recently is worth sharing. It is from the film entitled The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996) starring Barbara Streisand as a teacher and the protagonist.

At the conclusion of her lesson on love, this conversation happened:

Barbara: So the final question is: Why do people want to fall in love when it can have such a short run and be so painful?

Student 1: Propagation of the species?

Student 2: We need to connect with somebody?

Student 3: Are we culturally preconditioned?

Barbara: Good, but too intellectual for me. l think it is because, as some of you may already know… while it does last, it feels fucking great.

Totsiens en Dankie, Nelson Mandela

The whole world is mourning over the recent succumb to death of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa. Once accused as a terrorist by his enemies who put him behind the bars, he became popular as a leader in his country and a world renowned statesman.

His life is an inspiration of triumph and tragedy. He is the foremost modern hero of liberation of his country from political turmoils and social crisis, giving the world an admirable inspiration. 

The world really feels like it lost a feather by his death. His presence may have gone but surely his wisdom will linger for as long as people remember his heroism. Totsiens en dankie, Nelson Mandela. Farewell and thank you for making the world a little better.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.

I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.

As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.

When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace.

Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.

Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.

Dreams and Realities

Photo credit: www.thesingingrunner.com.

As I stare at the whole of myself in the wall mirror, I can't help but wonder if I am really the one who I used to dream before. I know that life is never perfect and I must accept the reality that while I aced some of my dreams carefully, there are those that largely slipped out of my hands.

As I look eye to eye with reality, I view a sea of dreams long chased, consciously dismissed, never actualized, and surely gone. I sigh at the reality that I grow weary from reaching my dreams without making steps of achieving them but falling in slumber in the process instead.

Should I just give up my dreams this easy, succumb to simplistic ways and hook with them up later?

But I realize that I still love to dream for had I got tired of slaying more dreams I must have been far from the manifestation of my potentials. I am still the one who I used to dream and I must not bid to tarry. I need to open my eyes wide to the reality and wrestle with the challenges that awaits outside.

As a saying printed on the tarnished cover of notebook: Hold fast to dreams for if dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow. 

Rain Quote

Photo credit: physicsworld.com.

Oh, the pain.

The pain.

It always rains.

In my soul.

- John Green

Glowing Because I am Truly Happy with Everything Going on my Life

I met an old acquaintance while I was strolling in the mall this afternoon. It was a nodding meeting, so we made the most of each minute by talking about everything quickly. The first thing she noticed was my tanner look. She said that my "glow" is different.

"Maybe because you look more tan?" she asked.

"Must be my hair color?" I guessed.

"Or your weight gain perhaps?" she wondered.

Until she concluded and decided that I am in a different "glow" because I am truly happy with everything going on my life. Later I looked at myself on a large mirror twice. I couldn't help but agree with her.

I remember Alfred Tennyson who said: The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.