Right now (well, as I'm writing this), it's Tuesday. I'm looking at someone important. 

He used to be someone who's so busy. But now, comparing to the version of him that I forever remember, there’s a huge difference.

He was the one who gave me one of my favorite books, and a huge penguin plushie that takes so much space in my bed. He loves small talks and cracking jokes with a serious tone. 

Whenever we come and see him, I notice the little habits, some actions and some stories... he reminds me so much of my grandma.

And speaking of, can you believe that it has already been four years since I lost both of my grandmas? Where has the time gone to?

I sometimes can't believe how long ago it was. But if we were to pay attention to the days that they weren't in their bedroom, either playing solitaire or watching tv, or how many holidays had passed that they weren't around... man.

I got so lost in my thoughts earlier that somehow reminded me of a certain part from a book I finished earlier last month (July). It was Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. 

Sometimes, I get these little moments wherein I feel like I need to sit down for a few minutes - to acknowledge or grieve over some memories, some people, some paths we can no longer cross, some old versions and ideas. 

The pain doesn't really go away, no? 

Maybe we learned to handle our emotions or maybe we learned to accept it (which could be even better).

Time goes on, and so do we.

We can't really stay and keep holding on to the past, right? How can we live in the present? 

But don't get me wrong though. That doesn't mean we should pack it up and forget about everything. Like I've said, acknowledge. 

Ah, wait wait. Lightbulb moment.

This reminds me of another part of the book. Let me drop it here. 

While I was reading, I couldn’t help but write a few notes under these lines, hence the little circles and highlighted chunks. This was one of the chapters that made me stop reading to let it sink in. 

Anyway, like Morrie said, “Detach.”

But before that, you must experience everything that needs (or demands) to be felt. You can’t detach if that thought/feeling is something foreign or something you never wanted to dive deeply into. 

How will you know and be able to move forward if in the first place, you didn’t give it enough attention?

It's alright to give in. 

Go on, recognize the heavy emotions.

Treat these feelings as visitors paying a quick visit to drop a gift - it could be an answer, a chance to cherish a certain event, another realization, a challenge or maybe it could be something that may come in handy in the future. 

Acknowledge then move forward.

***

The originally “quick update” for my blog became another lengthy read.

I think I could go on and talk about how much Tuesdays with Morrie had struck me. I can actually see myself reading this again in the future. Not only because it’s my current favorite, but because of the lessons. 

I had my hands on this book when I was in eighth grade but I never got to actually finish it. (Now that I think of it, the author had visited the PH a couple of times. There were also book signings held. 😭 Ahhh!)

My bad. I guess I was more interested in sci-fi and romance novels when I was younger. (I also had a copy of chicken soup for the soul for teens... which I also never got to read much back then.) (And yes, I regret that.)

And while we're on the topic, I have also finished Five People You Meet in Heaven (also by Mitch Albom), Strange Pictures, and Strange Houses (both by Uketsu.)

From self-help, to devotional, then non-fiction, then exploring Japanese lit and somehow falling back to chicklit. I’m planning to read Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston now. 💛 

Happy August! 🩶