🌿 𝓖𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮 & 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓽𝓱 🌿

Life is a mix of highs and lows, joys and struggles. Today, I pause to reflect on the beauty of it all—the good moments that warm my soul and the challenges that test my spirit.

Every triumph teaches me gratitude.

Every setback builds my strength.

I am thankful for the lessons hidden in pain and the blessings wrapped in love. Both have shaped who I am and continue to guide me toward becoming better, stronger, and more resilient.

Let’s embrace every chapter, every twist, and every turn with a heart full of gratitude and unwavering strength. 💪

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?

A pocketful of sunshine and 

 

The Waiting Grief

 

Image credit: sun_art

The truth may take time, but it will eventually come, as long as you keep your heart open to it.

There is a grief that never quiets,

not with time, not with tears.

It sits like stone within the heart,

waiting patiently for years.

A life left empty, words unspoken,

truths that hide behind the dark.

I carry memories, frayed and broken,

and bear this hollow, aching mark.

They call it “moving on”—but I remain

rooted in moments left unclear.

Though I’ve forgiven, though I’ve grown,

the echo of injustice lingers here.

I wait for answers, watch and listen,

as shadows shift, as truths arise.

For what goes around returns again,

and all that’s hidden meets the light.

There’s no revenge in this quiet strength,

no joy in watching others fall.

Only a hope that peace will come,

and lay its hands upon us all.

A pocketful of sunshine and 

This Too Shall Pass

 

Life’s toughest moments may feel endless, but every shadow fades as light returns. Trust in the journey; change is already on its way.

We all face moments when life feels heavy, days when it seems like the weight of our burdens is too much to carry. I’ve had my share of those days, those seasons. There’s a phrase that’s carried me through some of the hardest times: This too shall pass. It’s simple, yet holds a profound truth about life’s impermanence.

When you’re in the midst of hardship, it can feel like the struggle will last forever. I know what it’s like to be in that space, wondering if the pain will ever ease. But slowly, with time, the hurt fades, and you find yourself in a new season — a little different, a little wiser. You realize that every challenge, no matter how difficult, has an end. Just as the joy and beauty of life are fleeting, so too are the hard times.

There’s something deeply comforting about knowing that everything is temporary. Even in moments of profound loss or injustice, we can trust that life has its rhythms, that sorrow and struggle eventually make way for healing and light. It doesn’t erase the difficulty of what we’re facing, but it gives us hope. Every storm runs out of rain, every night turns into dawn.

In moments of struggle, remind yourself: This too shall pass. It may not feel that way now, but hold onto the thought, breathe, and take it one day at a time. One day, you’ll look back, and what feels all-consuming now will be just a memory, a chapter you’ve lived through. And through it all, you’ll find a quiet strength you never knew you had.

A pocketful of sunshine and 

When Life Suddenly Turns Uncertain

 

𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓋𝓎, 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇: 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓼 𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼.

We go about our lives assuming a certain rhythm, a sense of continuity in our daily routines. In our minds, we know that life is unpredictable, but for the most part, it feels steady. And then, something happens—a moment that catches us completely off guard, making us realize just how delicate that stability truly is. When life takes an unexpected turn, it can feel like the ground beneath us shifts, leaving us unsettled and searching for our footing. These moments often bring waves of complex emotions: vulnerability, a heightened sense of awareness, and a reminder of how much we hold dear. They make us consider things we usually push to the back of our minds—the preciousness of each moment, the importance of the people we love, and the strength we may need to summon from within. Through it all, though, we discover a resilience we didn’t realize we had. We lean on the people who support us, find solace in their presence, and draw on the quiet strength that carries us through. Sometimes, we have to take it one day at a time, finding small comforts in routines, in laughter, in shared moments that remind us of life’s warmth. In facing the unexpected, we’re reminded of the value in living fully and honestly. We find a deeper appreciation for life’s joys, a gratitude for its beauty, and a courage that comes only from facing the unknown. These are moments that shape us, helping us see the world with fresh eyes, even if they come from a place of challenge. And through it all, we carry on, grounded in the hope and love that surround us, stronger for the journey.

A pocketful of sunshine and 

Perseverance: Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Strength

Perseverance is a powerful force that enables us to overcome obstacles and discover our true strength. It teaches us that challenges are not roadblocks but opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Through the process of confronting difficulties, we build resilience, learn valuable life lessons, and inspire others along the way. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us embrace perseverance, knowing that with each obstacle we overcome, we become stronger, more capable individuals ready to face whatever comes our way. In the end, it is not the absence of obstacles that defines our journey, but our unwavering determination to rise above them that truly shapes who we are.

A pocketful of sunshine and 

 

Remembering James… 9 Years Later...

JAMES LAO YAP (JIMMY)

September 11, 1965 - January 25, 2005

I can’t believe how fast time flies. Today, we commemorate the 9th year of our loss. It all seems like yesterday- the panic, the frantic search, the grief, the anger and bitterness, the confusion, that excruciating inner pain… They are still clear in my mind. 

9 years ago, our world was covered in darkness. A dark nebula hovered above us- day by day, week by week, month by month that turned into years. 

But we (my kids and I) refused to live in murky existence. One day at a time, we took baby steps towards finding the Light again. We resolved that our own lives were not going to end miserably. We decided that having each other was more than enough blessing to keep us going. And so, our journey towards the path of gratitude began…

Yes, it’s true. Happiness is a choice. For us, it was a decision we had to make each day of our existence until such time that it became a habit. The last 9 years have opened our eyes even to the smallest manna from heaven. In everything, we learned to give thanks. Because now we know, everything that happens- whether good or bad- HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

December 2013

Back in 2007

A pocketful of sunshine and 

Musical Monday: Through The Rain (Mariah Carey)

What’s Moving you? Let us know, play along…

Grab the button, post a video and link it back  to Musical Monday at Bloggin' with Amanda. Sign the linky and visit the other players cuz they need love too …. Simple!

What moves me now is an empowering song from Mariah Carey entitled "Through The Rain." For those who need encouragement and want to get back on their feet, this song's for you.

Posted for Musical Monday... What Moves You?

Stress (Sensational Haiku Wednesday)

half our lives we rush

there's always not enough time

until time runs out

♥♥♥

stop for a minute
feel the breeze, inhale deeply
 that moment is yours

♥♥♥

seize the day, they say
but we let the day seize us
we live on the edge

♥♥♥ 

one day at a time
that's how it should always be
take control of LIFE

© Bing (PinkLady) 2010

Image by David Roberts
Posted for Sensational Haiku Wednesday

which is hosted by Jenn of You know... that Blog? 

Next week’s theme:WAVES

Happiness From Within

"Happiness will never come
to those who fail to appreciate what they already have."

A good friend of mine sent me this text message yesterday:

"I never search my happiness in others... it will make me feel alone when they are not around. I search it in myself... then I will be happy even if I am alone."

Indeed, true happiness comes from within. Easier said than done, right?

If only people would stop whining about what they do NOT have and start counting what they have...

If only people would see the goodness in every person instead of looking at his/her flaws...

If only people made good of what they have right now instead of pining for a better deal which might never come anyway...

If only...

After all, happiness is a state of mind... it's a matter of choice. But why is it easier to choose misery? Why is it an effort to break into a smile?

If you find yourself unhappy and miserable, remember this: look at the people around you and you will see that you have attracted the same negativity in your life. It's true that misery loves company.

So next time you catch yourself feeling so negative about everything, try asking yourself where your discontentment is coming from... Is it something you can't live without? Is it going to kill you? Is it even worth wasting your time on?

I Am Letting Go Of Worries

"There is nothing that wastes the body like worry,

and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed
to worry about anything whatsoever."
-Mahatma Gandhi-

I have wasted too many hours of too many days worrying about bills and bank account balances, time and deadlines, teenage kids, sleep, stress, work... about the future and life itself. But then I realized that worrying about whatever difficulty I faced never got me anywhere.

And so, I decided to unwind the nerves in my mind, took a deep breath and let it all go. I quietly reminded myself that everything will be okay. I also resolved that--

If I catch myself worrying again about something that doesn't matter, I will just STOP worrying about it.

If I catch myself worrying about something that DOES matter, I will stop worrying about it -- and START TRYING to fix it.

After all, I deserve a life where, even if some people are insensitive and unkind, I am not going to mind because the blessings in my life far, far outweigh the burdens.

I will never again let a single thing rain on my parade.

Think of what we have and NOT of what we don't have...

Have a Great Christmas!

The Butterfly Story ~ A Lesson In Life... A Christmas Message

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it had and it could go no further.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

This story has been retold so many times. But since it is Christmas season already, it pays to remind everyone that the only way to live a truly meaningful and satisfying life is by learning how to count your blessings despite the hardships, adversities and struggles that you are going through. Remember, no one is spared from them.

"I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet."

It is all a matter of attitude (the right one at that).

"If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul."

By looking at your challenges as blessings in disguise, you get to act positively and more objectively. However, if you continue to dwell on the hard knocks, wallow in self-pity and get on the blame game, not only would you NOT be able to get your act together but you will also end up with long-term deleterious effects on your mind and body.

So when the going gets rough, remember (and never forget!) that you are made of tougher stuff that can keep you going.

Think of what we have and NOT of what we don't have...

Have a Great Christmas!