Sugar Rush

I just finished watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I know, I know. This movie is so last year. But it doesn’t matter, right? Whether I’m late in watching it or not.

I found the movie amazing. A feast to the eyes and the imagination. Good for children and adults alike. =)

The movie may be fantasy but it has a great moral in it.

As I was watching the movie intently (due to the amazing music and great visuals), a great realization hit me. Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who is the luckiest one on earth (though he didn’t know that yet), has a good heart and loves his family more than anything. What really hit me was that he gets to eat only one Wonka bar every year and that’s on his birthday. I thought it over and I can’t believe that a bar of Wonka Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight is considered a luxury. While most of us beg our parents for a new cellphone, laptop, iPod, expensive shoes, etc., Charlie is simply content with a bar of the most delicious chocolate that is worth 10 dollars.

It got me thinking that we are not contented. I think we are wired to wish for greater things in order for us to reach our full potential and succeed in life. But sometimes, this discontentment eats us whole and makes us clamor for more.

Back to Charlie. When the news that Willy Wonka placed five golden tickets in five chocolate bars that would permit five lucky children into his amazing factory, Charlie was completely hopeful. When his parents decided to give him his birthday present a day early and he found no golden ticket, he was still thankful for the candy and even split it among his family.

If we bring that situation to reality, that child would most likely throw a tantrum and keep the chocolate to himself since it’s his candy and he gets to eat it only once a year.

Then there are the brats in the movie. Brats who are selfish, proud, spoiled, and know-it-alls. But here is Charlie, simply happy to be inside the factory not keeping his eye on the prize.

In these children I saw the world. We think that we should have more. We are impatient and we think that the world owes us a living. We always wnat to seek answers to things that we don’t understand even if that thing is not meant to be understood. Because there’s the magic of life. There are simply some things that our brains can’t understand. We try to find reasons behind everything. We try so hard to see the point. But the amazing fact of life is that it doesn’t have to be certain. According to Charlie, "Candy doesn’t have to have a point." Hear hear to that!

Bottomline is, life is just like candy. It meant to be enjoyed and shared with other people. When we are confused and we try our best to figure out the meaning of every single thing, don’t. Leave it as it is. Because the magic of life is in the uncertainty and excitement in the unknown. Because just like candy, we never know if there are peanuts, nougats, sprinkles, coconuts, licorice, or marshmallow underneath. 

My realization through chocolate? Things will unfold in due time. We will understand why a thing happened in due time. So, go on! Chew that sour gum and don’t spit it out. You’ll never know if there is caramel inside. =) 

An article that I truly loved (and agreed to with all my heart) is "Writing, A Romance" written by Jessica Zafra in the March 2007 issue of Metro magazine.

She is so right when she said that a notebook should be called "medium" or "materials" or even "means of livelihood". Like her, I could live without a watch or earrings but not without a notebook and a pen. Of course, my wrist or earlobes would definitely feel naked without these accessories but I can cope without them. I have my cellphone to check the time and earrings…I could easily forget that I am not wearing a pair. But a notebook is an entirely different story.

"The fact that no idea of galactic import has actually occurred to me when I have my notebook in hand only proves that the idea will pop into my head when I am without my notebook." says Jessica.

You might suggest that I write it down on the back of a receipt or a table napkin or whatever blank surface is available. That just won’t do. Why? Because all your ideas would not fit on the back of a receipt. That’s because a single idea would not remain as it is because every single idea is made up of millions of different  points or , I’d like to call it, "atomideas" (if there is such a word). But if there isn’t (and i’m quite sure that there is no such word), I will try my very best to come up with a dictionary with new words including "atomideas".

According to Jessica, "the one thing that is never discussed in writing workshops is the actual writing–the dragging of pen across paper.  I think the true romance of writing lies not in the suffering that’s supposed to inspire it or the drinking and debauchery that are supposed to fuel it, but in the physical act of forming words with ink. The blank sheet stares at you, mocking your fear and dread. The emptiness weighs on your soul like an anvil. You take up your pen and defile that blankness. You say no to oblivion."

What I’m doing right now is writing my thoughts (and Jessica Zafra’s) in my blog, for the whole world to see. But I want to get this across, "I do not prefer the convenience of a monitor and keyboard. Though I love to hear the clicking sound of the keyboard everytime  I type, nothing beats the  flow of words from my fingertips and on to the paper.  Colored fonts would never beat watching the wet ink sink slowly into the paper, preserving my memory and ideas for eternity  (and organization’s sake). Nothing beats holding the pen between your thumb and index finger (not to mention the callous on my middle finger). "The notebook is an extension of my hand; I AM WHAT I WRITE." 

Who would’ve thought that you can actually learn something from Spongebob Squarepants? Aside from being a sponge and wearing pants that are square…he actually owns a brain (though I’m not sure if it’s a peanut or a sponge too)! What am I talking about? Read on.

Simple lesson from a children’s show…

"Why do it TODAY, if you have tomorrow?"–Squidward

"…you do it today ’cause TODAY is yesterday’s tomorrow!"–Spongebob

*applause*

There you go Garfield! A reason for you not to procrastinate…me included.

Now that school’s over, I can actually make a summer resolution and at the top of my list is to NOT procrastinate next sem. Fat chance! But I’ll do my very best to avoid this communicable disease called PROCRASTINATION.

Bottom line? Hmm…keep watching Spongebob Squarepants on Nickelodeon and learn loads of valuable lessons. Cheers to you, Spongy-boby! =)

All of us have our limits. I’d like to call this "breaking points". It’s when we feel stressed-out, burned-out, like every limb in our body needs to recharge. And that’s where stress relievers come in. But I’m not talking about pills here. I’m talking about certain activities that please me to my bones. Activities that recharge me no matter how tiring my task was. Activities that I did right after finals. hehe =p

My first stress reliever is something that I do with my friends. Window shopping for makeup! =) We find joy with every colorful cream, blush, eye shadow. Taking a whiff of different scents, planning outfits based on certain colors. *sigh* heaven! =) But at the end of the day, we end up buying a little something. Whether it’s a bottle of chocolate colored nail polish or a tube of gloss. =)

Who can forget Cafe Antonio? With it’s relaxing interior, smooth coffee blends, relaxing chill-out music…it’s practically nirvana! Well…the aroma of coffee does most of the relaxing. But everytime I go there with friends…it’s just all worth it. =)

Books and magazines also help me escape reality. But if there is an award for "MOst effective stress reliever"…the award would definitely go to…my trustworthy journal. Nothing beats the feel of smooth paper and the scratching sound of my pen. Watching the ink sink into eternity…my feelings forever etched in paper. It’s  this high that I get  whenever I write.  A blog could not beat my good old journal.

"Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips." –Dawson Trotman

So if you ever feel tired and confused, pick up your journal and start writing. If you don’t have a journal, pick the best one and buy pretty pens while you’re at it. It helps in clearing your mind (Harry Potter fans, this is the closest we can get to a Pensieve). *wink*

Oh, and there’s one more. DEBATING. I don’t know why but it’s stress relieving…and completely addicting!!! hehehe =)

I’m not supposed to do this. I’m not supposed to spend an hour mindlessly surfing the net. It’s not appropriate. Why? It’s finals week!!! The reason why I’m in front of a computer is because I need to encode my BC essay. Argh!!! I’m sooo mad at myself!!!

Why is it so easy to procrastinate? I started "studying" for Sociology and Pol. Sci. but…that’s it. I’m not really satisfied.

As much as I want to continue writing…I have to stop. I have to control myself and discipline myself (have to study Math!!!). Okay. I’m going to that. So…WHY AM I STILL IN FRONT OF THIS COMPUTER???

Waaaah!!!! I really want to watch cartoons for a whole day with chocolates and milk and chips and…wait. I’m blabbering. Whatever. Felt like it. =p Anyway, I really want to watch classic fairytales. I want to relive my carefree, childhood days when I could just watch cartoons whenever I want to. I long for the familiar songs…and the magic and rush I feel everytime I watch cartoons. This blog entry is not going anywhere. I just feel like shouting to cyberspace the longings of my heart. =) Uh…I have to stop this. Still have to rewrite my argumentation-persuaaion essay for BC12… =(