Reminders for Amber #31 - Be In Love

This should have been posted for February in time for Valentine's Day but it came a bit early. Still, one of my reminders for you is to always be in love.

Amber dearest, choose to be in love. Even if you know that loving may hurt you or disappoint you, love anyway. Fall into it. Fall hard. Feel all the magical and awesome emotions that go with falling in love. But also remember that you, yourself deserve love and affection…the love and affection that comes from none other but you.

Love yourself. Love your family. Choose a job that you really love. Find your true love. Allow love to find you every day. Be open to the many and varied possibilities of loving and being loved.

Maya Angelou wrote,"First best is falling in love. Second best is being in love. Least best is falling out of love. But any of it is better than never having been in love. "

You are now at the age when you start to have crushes and preferences for people you deem special. Cherish these moments! Just know that sometimes, the one you fall for may not yet be ready to catch you. Still, fall anyway. Pick yourself up and dust yourself off and choose to fall in love again. For those who have not loved, have not really lived and for those who have truly loved, they have the bravest, strongest and fullest hearts of all. Our ordinary lives become enchanting fairytales because of love.  And remember, I and your dad will always, always love you.

Reminders For Amber #30 - Be Curious

When they said “curiosity killed the cat”, they forgot to mention that said cat probably, albeit dead, went further than the other kittens in the litter. And knew more. So never lose your curiosity, dearest Amber. Curiosity is the key to creativity. It is the spark that ignites a question, an idea, an innovation. It is the most powerful thing that you can own.

Always explore, question, dig deeper. Never accept anything at face value. Find your truths and search for the answers to your own curiosities. Science is merely a word we use to describe our own curiosity as thinking human beings. Curiosity is the wick in the candle that is learning.

Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you. You my dear Amber, must go and acquire it. Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reasons for existing.” Remain curious and keep learning for the curious will always have adventures and will never get bored.

Reminders For Amber #29 - Be Enough

Let this be one of your life’s mantras: “I am enough.” Yes, you are truly enough so never sell yourself short. Always be the first-rate version of yourself instead of trying to be a second-rate version of someone else.

Each one of us has one life to live and that should keep you busy. Whatever you are doing, do it completely and love yourself for doing it. Whatever you are feeling, know that it is the right emotion for that moment and really feel it.

Amber, you are wonderful, valuable, worthwhile, lovable and awesome. Not because others think so. Self worth comes from only one place: self. So long as you are still worried about what others think about you, you are owned by them. Only when you require no approval from outside yourself can you truly own yourself. So know who you really are and know that you are enough. You are more than enough.

Reminders for Amber #28 - Be Organized

Live a life of order. Try to organize your thoughts, your day, and your year ahead. Even if life is too uncertain, make plans, have a checklist. Things will definitely change and you will need a plan B, but that’s the operative word, to have a plan. Come up with plans, make it from A to Z, so you can prepare for any circumstance.

Make plans and follow through till you accomplish them. Organise your things, your home and your time to be more efficient. Success comes from well thought-out plans and organised actions. Start with the simplest things: organize your wardrobe, your dresser, your bag. Remember what I always tell you? That "there’s a place for everything and everything should be in its place." I know you’ve probably been sick of hearing this from me but I won’t stop reminding you. If you know where everything is, it would be easier to access them, even in the dark. Even when things are chaotic around you, so long as your person is kept orderly, you will eventually set things right.

Only when you can plan can you think things through. Only with planning will you be able to see the bigger picture. Organized people are better prepared than those who live without measures. Imagine the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Then, go ahead and achieve them. Remember the 4 D’s - De-clutter: remove unnecessary things, Delineate: assign tasks and goals, Define: know what you have to do, and Device: plan and execute what you need.  So go ahead Amber and make plans.  Plan for anything and everything!

Reminders For Amber #27 - Be In Control

No matter what you go through, always be aware of how you are able to manage anything that happens. Take control of your feelings, your thoughts, your words, how you react to others, and how you deal with any situation.

I know you cannot really plan for anything and anything can happen or change in a split second, but you can decide how you deal with it. You always have the choice to be in control of yourself. Indeed, Amber dearest, one of your biggest challenges in this life is how you will be able to control yourself.

Know when you are being manipulated into something and learn to say no. Walk away from people and events that impede you. In the same manner, do not try to control or manipulate others.  A lot of people suffer because they want or even try to control others and yet, they are unable to control themselves.

Having self-control allows you to do what matters the most and not what comes the easiest.  

Reminers For Amber #26 - Be Simple

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with living that we insist on making life complicated when in fact, the basics of life and living are simple.  As you begin this new year, know that in anything, the beauty of style and harmony, grace, and even, good rhythm depends on simplicity.

Live a simple yet full life. It is the sweet, simple things of life that are important and real: the air your breathe, the sun to keep you warm, night and day and the hours in between to keep busy, to give and receive love, to learn, to eat, sleep, share, teach, care, create, laugh, dance, sing, and grow.  Simply spend time with family, friends, people who care for you and you care about.    Remove all the frills and the frivolous and stick to the essentials.

You can achieve anything and everything by being simple and humble.  When you just aim for the things you need, not what you want; when you stick to the things in life that are meaningful to you; when you know and choose those that truly matter, then you would be able to keep everything simple, stress-free and true.

Any fool can make things grander, bigger, and fancier.  It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to stay simple.