Life as it is

I have decided to post a blog every Tuesday for ALL my followers. Too bad it is at best one reader and if I am really lucky a big total of 3 readers.

After putting that out, I like the title for this blog: Life as it is.
Today it was relatively normal school day, but after my classes I watched my beloved Lakers play. There were mediocre (Kobe was hot) in the first half, horrible in the beginning of the 3rd and magnificent to end the quarter and open the fourth. After that it was horrendous. The score was at one point 86-84 Pacers. The next thing I know its 101-86 Lakers advantage. Just as quickly the game was 116-115 in favor of the Pacers. Kobe comes down the court and drains a jumper just inside the arc. Clutch. 117-116. The Pacers come down the other end and end up empty. Kobe again with the ball on the left side and clanks one. He is mortal after all. Then a hectic play where the ball ends up near the basket and Troy Murphy--TROY MURPHY?! ARE YOU SERIOUS--tips in the ball which dramatically bounces and falls in once the buzzer sounded. Mr. Murphy with the heroic play. After the game I was bitter because the Lakers lost for the second time this season.
This game causes so much passion, exhilaration, anger, disgust, pleasure, enjoyment, and dissappointment. At my current moment in life the Lakers are my vain desire, my futile passion. There is no doubt I bleed purple and gold but in reality the Lakers, win or lose, do not affect my way of life, of thinking.
This past thursday it was Thanksgiving. So it is appropriate for me to give thanks, but before I do so I would like to share an experience this past prolonged weekend.
My mother had asked me to drive her to a hospital in Santa Monica, a quick trip up the 405 freeway--the freeway I hate the most. I thought my mom has asked me so many time to take her but never do so I said sure. My mother is in charge of the visitation ministry in my church and she wanted to visit Evelyn, an elderly women eroded by cancer, who was in her last moments in this world. I had planned to read a book in my car while she was up but then at last second went with my mother, my sister, and another lady from church. As I entered the room I was shooked at the person I saw. It was my first and only encounter with Evelyn. I did not talk to her and she did not know who I was. What I saw was a skeleton with thin layer of meat and muscle and wrinkly skin. Her feet were swollen and purple. She was literly skin and bones. My mother and the lady sang hyms and songs and told her that she should not worry about anything and can die in peace.
Evelyn made me realize that myself and everyone else is mortal. In each path each of us make there is an end. Once you make the end, how would you analyze your path taken? What legacy or influence did you leave the world? Was your impact positive or negative or none at all? As a young man nearing 19 years of age, I do not think enjoying my youth is partying and other activies with peers. No. Friends have their time. I think to enjoy in my robust and youthful yet limited years, is to appreciate what you have. Enjoy your parents before they are succumbed by age or maybe even, God forbid, illness such as cancer. Enjoy your siblings, if you have any, before you regret it because you embark into your own voyage. Use your talents, abilities, and assets to benefit others. Do all these today. Tomorrow is not certain. You may not be. alive tomorrow. Be the light for others today. Dr. Jorge H. Lopez stated "En vida," "In life." In life give flowers to your love ones. In life thank those who has helped you. In life is when you are able to set your pebbles to make your road, a road of excellence and charity. A road of love and helpfulness. A road in which others can follow suit and make theirs parallel to yours. A line of Kanye West's Big Brother states: "If you admire somebody, you should go 'head and tell 'em/ People never the flowers while they can still smell 'em." These lines are very true.
Remember that every endeavor possible is in your grasp, but grasp them today. Grasp your achievements in the very moment you are in. The moments in life are the opportunity to leave your legacy. The moments and steps you live is Life as it is. Maybe your current worries are the Laker's record, the financial crisis, faith in a God, social oppression, Mr. Obama's presidency, or whatever it is, these worries form your path. You define your legacy how you deal with these obstacles and your ability to overcome them. Thank God, or to whomever you wish to believe in, for the life you have. The best way to show your gratefulness is to take advantage of your life and use it to leave an impact in this world, or the world of one person for the better.

Song: Changes--Tupac
Quote: "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam"--Latin Phrase
Actual quote of the photo: http://www.worldprayers.org/frameit.cgi?/archive/prayers/meditations/our_deepest_fear_is_not.html