D’Arvit!

You see, The Secret is no secret.

That’s what I’ve been telling everyone ever since I’ve heard of this book’s “ingenious concept”.

“The Secret reveals the most powerful law in the universe.

“Without exception, every human being has the ability to transform any weakness or suffering into strength, power, perfect peace, health, and abundance…

“The Secret explains with simplicity the law that is governing all lives, and offers the knowledge of how to create - intentionally and effortlessly - a joyful life. This is the secret to everything - the secret to unlimited happiness, love, health and prosperity. ”
–Official Site

The book (and audiobook and movie and website and diary and lunchbox and undies) talks about the Law of Attraction. In a nutshell, when you think of something, you’ll get it. Positive thoughts attract positive outcomes, and vice-versa. I haven’t read it–I don’t think that I even plan on doing so–yet from what I have been hearing from the reviews and write-ups, I think that this is all common sense. People have been doing it for years… what’s so new about it?

Miss Jackie’s Collage

You see, back in my old university in the Philippines, UP Manila, my English professor picked me together with a friend, Essel, to join her and her other hand-picked students for some dinner and a mini get-together and party of sorts.

So he and I attended the thing (it was at Blue Frog, in Malate, Manila) just because it’s such an honor to get picked by your professor for something that sounds so exclusive. Late into the evening, we found out that our professor, Miss Lumain, is actually a Life Coach. You know, those people you pay to make your life better.

That evening, she taught us how to get our Hearts’ Desire.

How to Get Your Heart’s Desire:

1. Gather some old magazines, construction paper, scissors, and glue on a table. You are going to make a collage.
2. Browse through your magazines and pick out all the items that you desire. You may pick out these pictures and attach literal or figurative significance to them.
3. Make sure that you truly–truly, madly, deeply–desire these things.
4. Using your scissors, cut out the pictures that represent your desires and paste them on to your construction paper. Finish off your collage.
5. Admire your work. Make sure that you allow the images to seep in to your inner consciousness.
6. Wait a couple of days/months/weeks/years. One or all of your desired objects would be given to you, and your wish(es) will come true.

Simple enough, eh?

“Who is skeptical about this exercise?” she asked.

Essel and I both raised our hands.

“You don’t believe in this?”

“It’s hard to believe in it,” Essel answered. “It might not work.”

“What would you do if it did?”

Fast-forward to November 6, 2005. It was early evening of my little “going away” house party. I was leaving for the United States on the 9th. Essel wasn’t able to come, and he sent me an SMS stating his apology. Along with it, he also said that,

“pam, nagkatotoo yung isa sa mga nilagay ko kay ma’am lumain!”
(translation: “Pam, the one of the things that I placed there in Ma’am Lumain’s [collage] came true!”)

I asked him what it was, but I don’t remember receiving his reply. Whatever it was, it came true after a few weeks.

Three months after I did that exercise, I got that new car and laptop. Okay, the car may not be registered under my name ( ) though I am its primary driver anyway.

This may all seem far-fetched to you (it still seems far-fetched to me as well ), but I read something off O Magazine (okay, guilty… ) that backs up all this positivity and visualization logic.

I’ll tell you all about it on my next blog entry…

* * * *

Sorry for not posting anything in a long, long time. My sister, Andi, just came home to the Philippines right after the holidays, and school immediately began right after, so things just went busier than I had imagined. School rocks and I am having lots of fun in my classes. A particular favourite would be my Philosophy class, which I am taking under Dr. Geller whom I have met with my dad early last year, at the Honors College banquet.

So many changes are taking place for me this year, though I don’t believe that I am even ready to tell you all about it.

Earlier in life, I had thought that my life was simply like a highway: it goes on a straight, distinct path and even if I may not know what goes beyond what my eye can see, I know that it simply goes on straight and right ahead. I thought that it was all so simple: after graduating from MCHS, I’d get into my dream university, UP Diliman, then perhaps study something to become a doctor, or a writer, or be both. I would graduate and pursue higher than higher education, and just be, as what Julie referred to me back in high school: “an over-achieving biatch”.

All of that never really happened. UP Manila happened, and moving to the US had to happen. UNC happened. I chose the university closest to home, switched my majors and all that jazz… I never knew it could get that complicated. I thought that it would all be simple.

It never was.

I guess just like Anne, I’ve taken a bend on the road. Well, I’ve taken a couple of turns along the way, and all this uncertainty–all these changes–are rather overwhelming. There’s just so many sacrifices to make, so many new opportunities to take on, and so many old dreams to let go of in order to pursue, yes, the same thing, albeit through a detour.

I speak in riddles. Pardon me, I’m not ready to let it all out. Not yet.

I sure hope that this all works out. I really want it to work out.

I miss you guys….

Loving everyone from NC,

Pam

PS: For your laughter and mine, well, randomguy is BACK! I received yet another fun letter from him! More on him next time…