Our Fears are About to Meet Their Worst Nightmare, Courage

            Every single person in this world has his own set of fears whether he is open about it or not. He might know how to face them, but since not everyone is perfect, he may think that to be able to face these fears, he should just continue to run away from them avoiding their tight grasps on him. What he doesn't know is that he could have a step by step action plan on how to eliminate his fears and stop his running away from them. One could consider these actions presented by John Maxwell useful because they can be actually true and they really do work if they are tried.

            Let’s see John Maxwell’s action plan on facing fear.

Step one is to find the root of your fears.

 We fear most things because we just think and feel that something wrong for us would happen in the upcoming events in our lives. It is having the negative thinking that brings fear into us. We should consider the good possibilities too and stop clinging to the “negativeness”. Once we achieve that, we find a solution to “cut” the away from these roots of fear that cling to our thoughts.

Step two: Accept that you have fears.

            If you know Superman, then you also know you can never be one. Superman has his fears too anyway he just doesn’t want to share them with us all.  If you say you don’t fear anything and claim that you are courageous then you are so dang wrong that all those who came before you, laugh at you. Courage in John Maxwell’s blog is not the lack of fear but it is actually the resistance to fear.

            Gen. George S. Patton once said, “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all of your fears and go ahead!”

            It’s just like looking at a blueprint of your thoughts, scrutinizing every problem about them, accepting your mistakes, and then correcting them.

Next step, step 3 is admitting to yourself that life is short.

            Unless you’ve had a drink of the Elixir of Life then you’re just as mortal as me, as the person next to you, as anyone else. All of us will have his time and when the time comes, it comes and you can’t rely even on that electric shock to bring you back jumping to life.

            Not all things are in our grasp. There are things that are out of our control, but 

 there are the thing that we can control too like for example, our weight, our temper, our breath, our actions, and some other stuff like these.

Step quatro! Progress has a price and that 

is fear.

            When we do somethings, we take risks too. Some things come with a price and sometimes that price involves risking something. If we continue to play safe and stay inside our boundaries, we would never be able to get what we need if what we need would be found outside of our boundaries.

The fifth step: A burning desire is hotter

 than fear

            We sometimes want to get something for someone and that someone is really special and that something for that someone would be really, really, REALLY special to him/her. What would you do if you badly wanted to get her that thing? Wouldn’t you want to forget about you fears and just go for it? I would.

            When what we do has a reason for it to be done, that reason could be what pushes your fears off the cliff (and lets them fall into the pit of hell where they could burn off *evil laugh*) to rid you of them.

#6 is the step number when you control

 what you could control

Like I said, we can’t do everything, we can’t control everything, we can’t have everything we want, we are not God. What could you do to keep from being bitter because you can’t control something? Think of it then think more of  what you can control, what you can do.

            An example has been supplied for you.

            “I can’t control my time of death, but I can control what I do with my life to not end up dead and bitter. ”

Step number 7 is to look at what’s in front 

of you.

It’s not about looking back. It’s not about looking at what’s still far ahead. It’s about looking at what’s right there in front of you staring at your face. What’s in front of you, you ask? It’s no other than today.

You can’t go back to the past or future anyway, so why not handle things that are happening now instead. Besides, if you even get to the past of future, all you fears would just pile up on you, so just concentrate on now and take things “a wave at a time”.

The step of which number is 8 says,

“ gain yourself some wins won’t ya’.”

Fear is like a virus in your thoughts, it multiplies and spreads and grows worse if not treated immediately. Lucky for us, cause the cure for that is a tablet of courage.

We gain experience by, experiencing stuff, (duh). Every problem we pass through unscathed and every fear we face is a gain of experience. There’s the saying that supports this fact and it goes “what won’t kill you will only make you stronger.”

The last but not the very least is to go ahead, take a step forward and just DO IT.

When your fears get to the best of you

Try reading this blog so you’ll know what to do

The more and more you take action

Your fears have a certain reaction

They tend to lessen and may also disappear

When thinking comes to a stop action might cure fear

Be wise and accept fear is real

Remember, courage will break its deal

Don’t let your fears keep you frozen and paralyzed

Try a dash of hope and a dose of faith, it’s advised

A web site: www.sirvincent.com

Image Links:  http://visualphotos.com/photo/2x4162478/man_with_the_word_fear_spelled_with_letter_tiles_1830456.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000003BH0.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/h/hi/hisks/1078872_word_fear_on_the_dices.jpg

http://www.bia2.com/ramona/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/thinkpositive.gif

http://www.simplenomics.com/wp-images/courage.jpg

http://rlv.zcache.com/elixir_of_life_flyer-p2442734207827616772mcvz_400.jpg

http://thenetexperiment.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/progress222.jpg

http://timothybertowen.com/interviews/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/istock_000002099355xsmall-300x297.jpg

http://www.coderetard.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ps3_controller1.jpg

http://www.nickcannon.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Today_Logo.jpg

http://lisablake.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/experience.jpg

http://www.krepcio.com/tkdrawingblog/archives/justdoit300.jpg

The Year is New is it the same for You?

2011. Two-thousand eleven. Twenty eleven. Two-o-one-one. However you say it, to whomever you say it, where ever you say it, it would still be the same. You may be shocked by how fast time seems to pass but 2011 is here so let’s enjoy the start of the year while it’s “fresh” and while we’re all still “fresh from vacation”.

Some horoscope thingies and stuff like that

Click to view larger image

Click to view larger image

2011 is another year of the Rabbit. Wayangtimes.com says that there are more “evil stars” and less lucky ones but that’s for them. I thought Rabbits would have more luck since this is their year but I’m not good with foretelling the future anyway, so I can’t really say that I know much of these horoscope stuff. I admit that I believe in some of these horoscope thingies but not that much as my mom does [:D]. One of my mentors once said,” We shouldn’t depend much on our luck.” I agree because if one depends too much on luck, progress would be scarce on one’s part. We should instead depend on our abilities because they are what we need to survive in this world of chaos.

The one piece of advice that I’m sure would help everyone this year is: “One should save money and be thrifty to ensure budget for important future spending.” [:D] If there’s one thing I’ve learned last year, it’s that I should save more of my money because last Christmas, I ran out of it; the only things left in my wallet were the piece of papers I’ve left In there. That lesson is learned for me.

New year, new promises, more weird practices

Since it’s a new year again, people usually have their own set of resolutions. I didn’t make any complicated ones; instead I made simple ones like “exercise more” or “eat less”, you know, those kinds of stuff. I think it’s better to start with the simple things then proceeding to the more complicated things in a step by step action plan.

Because most of us celebrates the New Year, I’d like to share some weird practices that I’ve read of that are done during New Year (and I've also included my country's usual practice during New Year too).

1.       In Denmark, they break plates in front of their neighbors’ doors. The more broken plates, the more luck you have, and the more loyal friends there are for you.

2.       In Germany, they’ve been watching the same show called “Dinner for One” over and over every New Year at midnight.

3.       The Danes jump off the chairs at the stroke of midnight, believing that this act would banish bad spirits from the year to come.

4.       The Finnish believe that melting some tin into a container would spell out their future.

Some Melted Tin

5.       Here in the Philippines it is believe that wearing polka dots brings good luck. Also, jumping during at the stroke of midnight would make one taller. And the very famous tradition, having 12 round fruits and consuming them during new year (my mom usually buys 13 because she says, “masmaganda na ang sobra kaysa sa kulang.”[“it’s better to have excess than to lack some of it.”])

So since it is new

You think of what’s in store for you

But don’t think too much of the future

Think of the moments you’ll capture

Think less of the old self and try to change your mindset

Just enjoy, and think a little more of the present

A website: www.sirvincent.com

Image urls
http://www.afreemind.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/happy-new-year-2011.jpg
http://www.shwedarling.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/horoscope-wheel.gif
http://www.polatkaya.net/Zodiac_pictures.png
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/94078772.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=B53F616F4B95E5539028D3C8C6774F9E1ED63FDA56F4B4850A3A03BE20F91BD76F12EEA9B6A8E6AF
http://www.libertiny.com/libertinyfinancial3/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/piggy_bank.jpg
http://www.go2staub.ch/graphics/step_g.jpg
http://cleanbin.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/broken_plate.jpg
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/german-dvds/1485-1.jpg
http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/german-dvds/1485-1.jpg
http://images-of-elements.com/tin-2.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/356/sweetroundfruits.jpg

A One, a Two, and a Three! The Sims for You to See!

                It started as a simple simulation game, an idea actually from a not so dull Will Wright, who created the game for the many gamers that sonner loved the game (I personally loved this game; I played it as a kid and I, admittedly, became addicted to it).

Will Wright and a Sim

It gained popularity more and more because of The Sims 1’s many expansion packs that added more possibilities to the already countless ones in the base game alone. It’s basically a game where you create a family and move them into a house that you created or one that is found in the game then you control their lives from that point until your created Sims die. It seems boring right? WRONG! For the duration of your Sims’ lives you can find many interesting possibilities to bring color to the very dull life of your Sims and if you have expansion packs installed there would even be more “colors” you could bring into the life of your Sims.

                After the fun of the Sims 1, The Sims 2 was released for the Sims 1 fans and boy did that add more to the millions and millions of gamers who played the popular game. It was the same as the Sims 1 but with more, shall we say, enhancements or upgrades or new features. Included in these new features were the life goals and the turn-on’s and turn-off’s features for every Sim to help find compatible couples. Same as the first game, this game also had several expansion packs and the so called “stuff” packs.  

          

         Now it’s time for the big guns, or should I say, big gun.(I think it's a big gun 'cause it seems like the most fun of the three Sims games. It's so fun that it could kill{I'm kidding})
       

                The Sims 3. The game I’m currently playing (and, yet again, addicted to). The idea of creating a family and a home for them is still there but aside from those ideas, the whole Sims gaming experience changed greatly. Much more possibilities were added and it’s as if all the flaws of the previous Sims games were addressed in this game and with all the game updates and expansion packs, the game seems to eradicate every simple and complex problem and flaw. I would consider this Sims gaming heaven but that’s for me anyway.

                With every great Sims game comes great Sims expansion packs. The first expansion pack was the Sims 3: World Adventures (which I have and, I know you know, got me more addicted to the game) that added a travel feature to the base game where you could enjoy a vacation or complete adventures in 3 different world wonders (that were versions of the game of course)

               

                Well for some people this game would sound boring but it can’t be said for sure unless tried but if a person doesn’t find simulation games their forte in gaming then it’s different for those who do. I speak as one who loves these types of games and I could say that most simulation gamers, if not all, would easily find this game a nice one.

For a game so inviting and fun as this

It’s not a crime to enjoy in its bliss

But too much of anything would always be bad

One would just end up bitter and sad

If all would end up in a great big mess

One should never be much too careless

It’s always good to check and balance things too

To avoid a mess that can’t be fixed up with just some glue

So here’s a fact that may serve as a piece of advice

Sometimes forgotten even by those who are wise

It is nice to be hard working in jobs we all do

But some play would make one’s life easier too

A Website: www.sirvincent.com

Image sources:

http://terragame.com/cdgames/sims/the_sims_complete_collection/screen_1.jpg

http://www.designinginteractions.com/img/interviews/WillWright.jpg

http://www.eyetap.org/~samyip/home/animation/images/sims2Logo.jpg
http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu51/newmusicnlyrics/sims2.jpg
http://images1.makefive.com/images/entertainment/gaming/top-5-sims-expansion-packs/freetime-7.png
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dacrofts/balloon%20bang%20gun.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/news.bigdownload.com/media/2010/01/sims3screen.jpg
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http://images.wikia.com/sims/images/7/72/SimsLateNightArt-PC-Pack-Art.jpg
http://www.thesims3.com/content/global/images/ep2/ep2_packfront_large.jpg
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100119193907/sims/images/c/cd/Highendcover.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4754100405_34d24e0990.jpg
http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/tdomf/178935/Smiley%20=D.png

The Gifts, the Carols, the Odd Facts, the Season

Christmas is here again or, should I say, was here (but it will come again anyway).

 

 First thing that comes into my mind when I hear about it? Gifts, gifts, and more gifts. There is one gift in particular that I am thankful for and you’ll find out as you read more of this part of my blog. People say it’s not about the gifts but I’d disagree. What do we celebrate during Christmas anyway? Isn’t it the birth of Christ we celebrate? For me, Christ’s birth is a gift to Christianity. So it isn’t true that it’s not about the gifts. What’s true is that it is all about The Gift, Jesus Christ.

Anyway, aside from The Gift there are also the gifts we receive from our family and friends. There is the very famous saying that comes with the gift one gives along with the gift and that is: “It’s the tought that counts.” It may be much overused but it's true. From the simplest hug to the most extravagant gift one could ever imagine, all these come with thought whether good or bad with a catch or not, there is always that thought from the giver given to the receiver.

 

Then there are those carols. It is a famous tradition here to have people young and old alike carol in front of houses. Some do it for the spirit of Christmas, most do it for the money, and maybe they also do it for the fun. I’ve tried caroling once. It was a disaster for me but I’ve learned to always carol in groups (it would be easier).

There are many carols to be sung during this season. I could share with you my 3 favorite carols and they are:

1.       The Twelve Days of Christmas

2.       Rudolf The Red-Nose Reindeer

3.       Joy to The world

There are much more carols. In our school, we have our Christmas Carol Extravaganza where each year level sings their own set of songs.

            Some countries even have odd traditions in celebrating Christmas. Here’s a list of some I've read of.

              1. In Finland, they go to the graveyard during Christmas to pay tribute to their dearly departed.

              2. In Italy, parents tell their children that, instead of Santa Claus, the one who gives children’s gifts is a witch named La Befana. They also have wooden pyramids instead of Christmas trees.

              3. In Caracas, Valenzuela, they close off the roads so the citizens could go to church in their roller skates.

              4. Ukrainian Christmas Trees are decorated with artificial spiders and webs for luck.

              5. England’s traditional Christmas dinner includes a pig’s head served with mustard.

              6. In Japan, it is rude to send red Christmas cards because of the fact that funeral notices are printed on red paper.

              7. In Norway, people hide their brooms on Christmas trees. It was believed before that witches and evil spirits steal their brooms for riding.

              8. In Catalonia, Spain, people include among their figures of the Belen (shows the nativity scene) the El Caganer (meaning the famous defecator) it is literally defecating.

The El Caganer has other versions too

              9. In Portugal, people leave seats for their deceased relatives and served them food too when they eat               

              their Christmas feast.

              10. In Austria, young men dressed as Krampus (devil-demon creatures) and are often accompanied by a Nikolaus (their version of a Santa Claus) scare the people.

However you spend your Christmas

Whether Odd or traditions of past

Remember to share some love

If it’s cold wear a glove

Think of others too

So they too would think of you

A Website: www.sirvincent.com

Image Sources

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http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/galleries-slideshows/christmas-cheer2/golden-gifts/321345-1-eng-US/Golden-Gifts_slideshow_image.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq45abY3CfEvHbIcxTODDZgQ1G1PIZGNLP-4Ycy-P6W3eKdSYU8K8iXcByVEOKYP8U4oqr7HydiMA55dNBitfTj1Y3mzXSp9yjeTBvF0_39uhhc_iiBV2THrer4s6c_j3qu8BvdDkp78/s1600/nativity%252520scene.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3842157011_cf00e2a1f4_o.jpg

http://www.cedarheightsbaptist.com/Content/10470/christmas%20carolers.jpg

http://www.touchofeurope.net/mm5/graphics/00000001/la-befana2.gif

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http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/Ii/obama-christmas-poo-122308-lg.jpg

Mockingjay

                At last, I have read the third and final book of the series, The Hunger Games, which is Mockingjay probably named as such because that specific bird was the symbol of the rebellion in the story and probably gave a great ending to the series. I loved it. Again, many unexpected events happened and in some of the events I’m, like, close to going insane as I try to pull myself together and continue to read (XD). There are some parts that annoyed me a lot because it’s like I want this to happen and instead it becomes the opposite but, nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the book a lot. If I were to rate the whole series using a scale of 1-100, I would give it a 99 (only because some people I wish didn't die, died [lol :D]). I still seem happy after reading the book though because I like the ending (:D)… A LOT.

                So if you’re probably wondering why I’m so ecstatic, you would understand better if you read a short (?) summary of the book. (WARNING: Spoilers up ahead)

                The 2^nd book ended in Katniss learning about District 12 being obliterated and in Mockingjay, she learns more about how everything ended up in them having to live in District 13 which (up to this point) was thought to be in ruins after the Capitol destroyed it. District 13 is governed by President Coin who needs Katniss, who seems to disagree at first but later agrees to Coin, to bring all the different districts together to battle the Capitol. There is also her undying desire to rescue Peeta back from the Capitol because he was left in the arena during Katniss’s rescue because she thinks that the Capitol would be torturing him to get more information about the rebellion against the Capitol. Katniss’s idea of why Peeta was tortured changed when Peeta was finally rescued and brought to District 13 because when he saw Katniss again he strangled her. They realize that Peeta’s memories of Katniss have been altered and he now thinks that Katniss is a mutation out to kill him. District 13’s medical team does their best in rehabilitating Peeta and he seems to progress but at a slow pace.

                When all the 11 remaining districts have finally been united, District 13 sent its troops to the Capitol. Katniss was sent to the Capitol too and was part of the Star Team. A few days later in the Capitol, a member of the Star Team dies and they send Peeta, who was quite well already but not  fully recovered , to replace her. A tragedy happens and the current commander dies and transfers his power over the Holo (the device which enables the commander to know where traps are) to Katniss. Katniss, later on, wants to continue on instead of go back to the base so she makes up a whole new mission which is to kill President Snow. They advance through the Capitol and later on Peeta, who’s horrible memories of the Capitol are refreshed bringing him into a state of being crazed into the desire to kill Katniss, decides they must kill him in order to have a smooth flow through the dangers that they would be facing but Katniss doesn’t kill him and neither do the remaining members of the Star Team. They continue on, facing traps, mutations and other enemies, and also the noble deaths of members of the Star Team until they are only left with 5 members including Katniss and Peeta.

                The Star Team finds some place safe to stay for a while with the help of a Capitol citizen who is part of the rebel force but can’t stay long. After their stay, they come up with a plan to get to President Snow’s mansion. When Katniss, who seemed to be the only one to reach the mansion at that time, gets to her destination she sees that there was a bombing in the mansion already and in the process of trying to heal the wounded Katniss’s sister, Prim, gets killed in the second explosion leaving the Katniss and the other members of the Star Team injured.

                As Katniss awakes she realizes she can’t speak because of the shock from her sister’s death and realizes that the war is over and also that she would be the one to execute President Snow in front of the survivors of the war but before that, she was able to have a chat with President Snow and her talk with him reveals the true purpose of the war which was so President Coin would gain all the power so when the time came for Snow’s execution, Katniss assassinates Coin instead and was sent to trial but in the end she was not imprisoned and returned to District 12 which was currently being rebuilt and after some time, all her wounds (physical and emotional) heal with the help of Peeta and they “`grow back together” which makes Katniss realize that they are meant to be together and do end up together. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of the book and also the series.

                The ending which was the 2 main characters ending up together made me as happy as a child with a large piece of candy. I could conclude that this series is one of the best that I’ve read so far.

               

                I would also like to thank Suzanne Collins for producing the wonderful books of this series.

                I also want to share a poem with you regarding the whole series.

My Poem Regarding the Whole Series

The books were all nice

Reading them was like a vice

I enjoyed the things I’ve read

Remembering my doubt and what I’ve said

About how boring the series would be

But it wasn’t boring at all, really

Books aren’t meant to be judged by their cover

They’d have to be read before compared to another

As though I wondered how it would end

And how many broken hearts would they have to mend

It’s nice to see that they ended up happy

Even better than how I have expected it to be

The 2 stayed in love with each other too

I wish it was the same for me and… Ted (?) 

(Well… I can’t say you because you aren’t the one meant for you, get it?)

View my other blogs about the Huger Games, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire.

Image source: 

http://0.tqn.com/d/bestsellers/1/0/k/C/-/-/mockingjay.JPG

Catching Fire

   I’ve finally read the second book of the series, Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins which is Catching Fire. It is also a good one but not as good as the first book anyway but, still, it’s a good one. I really like how in this book and in the first one of the series, it would be quite hard to guess what’s going to happen next so Suzanne’s books keep most readers hanging on for more. It really is hard to stop reading because of how every chapter gets cut short which also indicates that more of the details would follow in next chapters so you probably won’t understand a chapter without reading the next ones to come. That might be the reason why each book is divided into parts which help because I think it would be like watching a movie while having LBM so you would have to take long, long breaks from watching then it would be hard to understand the movie.

   So here’s the long story made short. (Let me AGAIN warn you of spoilers up ahead)

   When Katniss and Peeta won the Hunger Games as a pair (which shouldn’t be) this was seen as the spark that spreads the flames of rebellion of the 12 districts against the Capitol so the President of Panem, President Snow, wants Katniss to put off the flame that would sooner or later grow out of her control but Katniss realizes it is too late because after their victory tour (which was the last hope of putting out the flames of rebellion) one of the districts, particularly District 8, had an uprising and showed defiance toward the Capitol.

   The next Hunger Games was one which was very surprising because the tributes were to be picked from the existing victors of each district so Katniss would have to be part of the Hunger Games again. In the Hunger Games, Katniss decides that she would do everything to make Peeta be the victor but her efforts of keeping Peeta alive were not continued because she was actually part of a bigger plan, which was to be the leader of the rebels in the war against the Capitol so before the Games even ended, Katniss was taken by a rebel hovercraft wherein her wounds from the Games were treated and where she also saw the whole picture of the rebellion that lead to the destruction of her home, District 12.

   The main reason why I think that the last book was better because this one was more of a sad book because Katniss was seen to be having a hard time to clean up a mess she think she started but was actually the act that started and helped in the war against the Capitol by fueling the rage of the people against the Capitol without her even knowing but still I liked it because of the fact that Katniss doesn’t seem to pretend to love Peeta but instead falls for him, I think (:D), because she shows that she really cares for him and she knows that he cares for her too. <3

(I think I won’t be including a poem just yet because I think that the poem I did for my previous blog,The Hunger Games, would be what I would say for this book too.) 

Coming soon, my blog on MOCKINGJAY, the last book of the series. :D

If you are interested in viewing my teacher's website, visit http://www.sirvincent.com     

Image Source:
http://heylady.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/catching-fire.jpg