I recently graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Master of Arts in Communication and Law Mediation. As I look back at these past two years of grad school, I've made so many sacrifices to complete my program. I don't regret anything because I've grown into a better person because of those sacrifices. However without the people that were willing to come along for the ride during my journey, I would not be here writing this blog.
My family. My large Filipino family. Even though I hardly saw them and missed out on family events, they were the very ones that would save me a plate of food after a long day of work and made sure that I never lost track of my goals. I wish my papa were here to see how far I've come because he was the very one that sent my mom to the U.S., he was the very one that told me that education was key and was the very one that told me that nothing is ever handed, that you have to work hard to get to where you want to be in life. One year of research doing a thesis and working well over 40 hours a week, during those sleepless night and early mornings those words stuck with me. Iya-iya ten ka pa.
My friends. My crazy but well grounded friends. I neglected them from time to time and often traded nights of quality catch up time with nights at home hitting the books or working. However the ones that truly understood where I wanted to be encouraged me as much as they could and I love them for that. I've learned that in this world, you learn who to trust and learn that people come and go but every person teaches you something. To all of my friends, thank you for the lessons of patience, strength, and friendship.
Then there are my "Lama Girls." We are all now out of college, are living all over the world, are getting engaged/are married and are now career-oriented professionals. No matter what we all go through in life, I know that I can rely on these girls to always be there for me. We have this impeccable way of understanding each other. These are my sisters from multiple misters. Many guys are scared of us because when we are together, we are a force that can't be reckoned with. We have so many nights where we cried, laughed, and drank. Then there is my BFF since the 1st grade, Chan-chan. Even though we are thousands of miles away, I don't think I could have kept sane without our weekly recaps. lol. love you sis! When I think of my girls, I think of that Drake line, "I got a small circle, I’m not with different crews. We walk the same path, but got on different shoes. Live in the same building, but we got different views."
"If you aint been a part of it at least you got to witness"
Now that this year is over, time to close this chapter and start another. Let's go!
..."It may not mean nothing to yall, understand nothing was done for me. So I don't plan on stopping at all"...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
..."Guys are sometimes like bottles of wine. the first taste may not be all that great. So you leave it and let it age. When the time is right, you go back to open that same bottle, to find out if that wine is a perfect pairing to what you have on your table."...
Recently, several friends have ask me what I look for in a guy and some laughed at me because it doesn't surprise them that my list never changes. Besides the obvious of a person being faithful, here are the traits that I adore when dealing with the opposite sex:
5. Humor
I've always said that if a guy can make me laugh then he is a keeper. Life has its serious moments and humor during those moments helps ease the tension and establishes some sort of comfort. Someone that has a sense of humor shows me that they are optimistic. In life, you need to surround yourself with people like that because who likes debbie downers? Good things happen. Bad things happen. Life happens. If that one person can laugh with me when we've both said or have done something foolish, then that means hours of fun just being in each other's company.
4. Adventurous
I've sky dived. I love the outdoors. I love trying all sorts of food. I love to travel. I feel that life is too short and that we should be crossing everything off of our bucket lists while having the time of our lives. I dislike boring. I dislike not being challenged. So every so once in a while, I seek out adventures to conquer. What makes these adventures a lot more memorable are the people that you do them with. I know that many people have phobias but if you hold my hand while I conquer a fear of mine, I promise that I will do the same. Life should be an adventure. There are many things that may scare us but the one thing that I've always tried to tell myself is this: "Being afraid got no one anywhere."
3. Ambition/Dreams
My guy has to be ambitious because ambition means drive. My guy can't be all talk and no implementation because the ladies can agree with me when I say that an ambitious man with a plan is sexy. The thing is that I have dreams and ambitions too. Things happen for a reason and in this life, sometimes you only have one shot. There is nothing that I love more about a person than their will to support me to help reach my dreams. Get it straight, I will support my man in any way that I can as well, even if it means distance between us or time taken away from us. Why do you say? Because like Wale said, "I like the person that you are but I’m in love with the person that you have potential to be."
2. Family
I come from two huge Filipino families. On top of that, being born and raised here in the islands, family is everything to me. To me, family means foundation. If you don't get along with my families or vice versa then I'm sorry honey, it's just not going to work. I can also tell a lot about a guy by the way he talks and treats his family. Meeting a significant other's family gives me a sneak peak of how he was brought up and how it may be if we were to ever settle down. Like what they say, you are marrying "into the family."
1. Intellect
I wear many different hats and I inter-mingle with all sorts of people. I have the career-girl hat, the school-girl hat, the fun girl hat, the protective sister hat and more. So my guy needs to know how to converse with all types of people and needs to have endurance to keep up with me. I need to be able to bring my boy out to a friends bbq but at the same time, he needs to dress-up clean too. My boy needs to have a personality that can adapt. The reason why intellect is #1 is because no matter what my guy and I may go through, he needs to respect my mind and must have the ability to bring new things to my table. He and I may not agree on a lot of things but at the same time, I love a person that can hold their ground and explain their reasoning. Nothing intrigues me more than a person that can hold a conversation while enhancing my mind set.
So I don't care if you can't buy me a house with a white-picked fence and I don't care if you aren't tall, dark or handsome. Money doesn't buy my happiness and looks eventually fade with age. So you can throw out those pick up lines and screw those dating rules...because on the real, you need to find someone that compliments you.
I know that in this world, people are not perfect but I'd like to think that there is someone out there for everyone.
..."Oh baby, bring it all to me but I don't need no fancy cars or diamond rings. Oh baby, bring it all to me. Give me your time, your love, your space, your energy."...
"You see, I don’t want to l-o-v-e you but I do want to take those letters and flip them backwards so that they could be used to spell the beginning of the word evolve because I want us to grow into something indescribable by just one word."
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
“Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.”
As she got busier and busier, I started to see less of her. I understood that she needed to work, had family priorities and wanted to kick it with her girls from time to time but where did that leave me? I'd call and no response. Voicemail left but no call back. Text sent but no reply. Maybe she was busy.
It got to a point where I didn't hear from her for days. It hurt a little but when she did call, I'd tell her how I felt neglected. She'd apologize and we'd be ok for a few. Although the cycle would start up again and I thought that maybe she was acting like this because I was getting too comfortable.
So I would surprise her with lunch one day, chocolates the next and flowers the week after. I tried my best to keep her on her toes. However, all the efforts still left me in the same position, without the girl that I wanted.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Where have you been?"
"You know, busy as always. These projects just seem to be piling up."
"What are you doing tonight? Let me help ease off your stress."
"It's okay, I've been spending so much time pleasing other people. I need time for myself."
"Okay, I understand. Well, have a good night. I miss you."
"Aww, I miss you too. I'll talk to you later."
As we hung up the phone, I just couldn't help but let out a sigh. The boys called and they wanted to hit downtown. All hung up on her, they convinced me that a night out would take my mind off of it all. From bar to bar, we'd take a swig and bounce to the next. However, when I got out of the bar at the end of 6th Ave., from across the street there was a girl that looked familiar. It was her. As her girls walked ahead, she chatted with a dude in the back of the pack. I didn't care if that dude was a stranger, one of her girls' boys or even one of her homies...my heart ached a little because she said she wanted time to herself but there she was. Then I began to think that I've been....
..."making a mistake I never learn from. I swear, I always fall for your type. Tell me why I always fall for your type. I just can't explain this ish at all"...
(continued from Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
At 3:45am my phone rings and I don't mind picking it up because her name is on the display screen. She had another wild night with her girlfriends and wanted to come home to me. Tired as hell, I walked to open the door. She walked straight in, put on one of my shirts, and curled up under the covers. This girl was for sure sipping on the alk but she had a reason too, she just got a promotion at work. She was coming off of her buzz and had a confession.
"I'm sorry that it's late but I just wanted to be with you tonight."
"It's okay, as long as you are safe..that's all that matters."
I turned over and held her in my arms. I brushed the hair off of her face so that I could gaze into her starlight eyes and then it came....
"I care about you a lot. I just want you to know that."
"I know. I care about you too."
"I know that we have pasts but I'm telling you now, I'm not going to hurt you."
"Okay baby. Just sleep. You're just drunk."
"No, I know what I'm saying. I'm serious."
And as I held her in my arms, I kissed her forehead and continued to stroke her hair. At that very moment..I knew that I wanted her forever when she said...
"I won't do you wrong like all them other girls. The difference between me and them is that...I love you completley for who you are."
..."you say that you’re nothing like the last girl. I just pray that you don’t let me down right now."...
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble makers. Theround pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
This girl was unbelievable, I tell you. With her I can be completley honest and open without judgement. She respected my fast pace life, could keep up with me drink for drink and was the type that I could bring home to meet mom, all rolled into one. This girl was nothing less than amazing. Even my friends saw what her love was doing to me and they weren't afraid to call me out on it.
"Dude, this new girl got you acting mad different."
"Seriously though guys, she is different. So with that I got to do things differently."
"You're doing things that we have never seen you do."
"You better watch yourself. Girls like that look out for themselves. I mean look at all of your exs."
"Nah, she is not like that."
"Well we all just saying. You better ask her what the deal is and you guys better figure it out quick."
"Trust me, I got a good one on my hands."
"Ok, just don't say that we didn't warn you."
I mean I love my boys, they've always look out for me but they just didn't get it. This girl was everything and more. I thought that maybe they were on the offense because they haven't met her. So I decided to bring her to a friend's bbq. I mean, if she didn't get along with my friends then I knew that it wasn't going to work out. She had to meet my second family.
"Hey dude, what's up! Haven't seen you in a while dude."
"Yeah, I know. I've been working a lot."
"It's all good. Glad you made it out."
As she entered the room, everyone turned to the door. She grabbed their attention like a magnetic field. So while I had everyone's attention...
"Hey everyone, this is my girl."
She drank with the guys, played with the kiddies and conversed with the ladies. The night seemed like it was going well until her phone rang. I haven't seen some of these fellas in a while since many of them started having families of their own but she needed to leave because she was assigned an early shift. As we got to the car, she apologized for having to cut it short. I started to approach her exit on the freeway but had to re-route to my pad when she said..
"If you don't mind, I don't want to go home tonight. I don't want to spend the night alone."
..."I’mma take you anywhere you wanna go. Let you meet my friends so they can lecture me again about how reckless I have been"...
Being that she was different, she had big dreams and had this determination like no one that I have ever met. She understood me in ways that no one could grasp and for that I supported her in all of her aspirations.
Out of all of the guys that I knew were trying to get at her, I would always be the last one she connected with at the end of the night. She had the presence of a lady but acted like a boss down right. Having an attitude that thought like a boss, she started to have agendas that took time away from us. I respected that though. I knew that she had a lot to deal with but I knew that there was something missing.
"Are you really into me?"
"What kind of a question is that? Of course I'am."
"I just feel that I'm into you more than you are into me."
She put her phone down and gave off this uneasy vibe. I braced myself for what she was about to tell me.
"I've had my heart broken so many times and I just want to take things slow."
"We can go at any pace you want but is your heart in this?"
"Yeah, but I just want to be making the right decisions."
We've been keeping this relationship on the down low for too long. I just want to tell the world about this girl and how she makes me want to be a better man. However, I knew that I had to respect her space and her decisions. I knew if I did the opposite, I would risk losing her and there would be another guy quick to swoop in.
"So who am I to judge you on the past girl? I think there’s a reason for it all."
One of my favorite bloggers, Abi, talked about having a happily ever after in your own way. As I think about it, I was never the type to believe in fairy tales. Yeah, Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were my favorite Disney movies but I as I grew up, I knew that there was no prince charming waiting in the midst to save me.
After overcoming one big conflict, fairy tales end happily. However, what about the follow-up? Relationships are never as seamless as it seems in movies. There are more hurdles down the road then what they play it out to be. I know for damn sure that I've never been a princess. Okay, so maybe I have been treated like one before but I obviously did not get into that white pumpkin carriage in the end to be wifed up.
I've never waited for a knight in shining armor to rescue me. If a wolf came running full force toward me, I will notbe that little damsel in distress. No running away here because my fist would be waiting to knock that beast in the face. If I got myself in a hot mess, I had to woman-up and climb over those stone walls in my stilettos if I wanted to save myself. You may think that I'm being an anti-relationship critic right now but I'm just saying....
For every person in this world, there is someone out there that was meant for you, I believe that. I know that I won't find a prince that will just give me everything that my heart desires because relationships mean work and collaboration. A relationship will only be as good as the hearts you both hold for each other through the roughest of times.
Like Abi said...there is "a Wil to my Jada." Because with tireless effort there is a Jay-Z to my Beyonce. A David to my Victoria. A Kekoa to my Makana.
I don't believe in fairy tales but I do believe in
LOVE.
..."don’t need the stilettos, I’m not cinderella. I don’t need a knight so baby take off all your amor….I don’t believe in fairy tales but I believe in you and me"...
I knew that I had something good. She was a girl with a good head on her shoulders. An uncanning spunk that gave her an edge. I knew that I had to spend more time to get to know this girl. Although my mind was hestiant, my heart felt like I had nothing to lose.
"Promise me that you won't fall in love," she said.
Puzzled but dead locked into her eyes, "Don't be too confident girl."
"It's weird how we got to this point because you are usually not my type."
Unsure of whether to take it as an insult or compliment I asked,
"Well tell me, what is your type?"
"Everything opposite of you...Tell me, what is your type?"
"I don't have a type but I'll tell you this much, you're special. You 're different."
As much as I didn't want to unveil my softer side to her, I just knew that I had to say something because if I didn't I'd regret not saying a damn thing. I didn't want to stop something that hasn't reached it's full potential yet.
She got closer, clasped her hands in mine. The taste of her sweet lips compensated for the sneak peak of my heart. Floating on cloud nine, I asked myself...Is this really happening? Is this girl really feeling me? This girl was not my typical type, she was in a class all on her own. Her voice got me feeling like a school kid and just the sight of her, I swear she can hear my heartbeat over the speakers.
As I held her close, she kissed my neck and softly whispered, "You're special too. You are for sure something else."
"Cause man, it's been a while but I swear this one is different."
Tell me what it really means to you. I often tell my family that I love them but that is always a given. I tell my friends that I love them as well. With acquaintances that I meet, sometimes I tell them that I "love" their ideas, their persona, and their actions. However someone told me that I use that word too freely and it got me thinking.
Love can mean so many things. Time, circumstances and the person itself all comes together to bring a different meaning to the word. When it comes down to it, love to me means appreciation. However that one specific person once told me that when I tell other people that I love them, they feel like the love I have for them are equal with everyone else. I told that specific person that just because I use that word with other people, that does not mean that the amount or depth of love that I have for everyone is the same. I've never used that word to lead people on or to give them the wrong intentions. I use the word love because I'm a very expressive person. Don't you like hearing the words love and having it associate with you? Because I for sure love it. It makes your heart tingle, it heightens your spirits and it makes you smile.
You may never know what may happen to you or the people that you care about. I feel that it is important to express those feelings with the people that are in your life while you are in the present moment. Remind them how much they mean to you. You will be surprised at the reactions you will get.
If I've told you that I loved you, I meant it.
If you are confused with the meaning, I can clarify my intentions and meaning for you.
If I've told you I love you before and I don't say it anymore, maybe it is because I've lost the meaning of those words when it comes to you or I'm waiting for you to say those words back to me.
I know that actions may speak louder than words and I'm suppose to already know how you feel...
but maybe you should just say something just so that I know that the feelings are mutual and so that I'm reminded of how much I still mean to you.
..."every time is the first time so I pretend it's the last time that I'mma ever hear you say those words"...
You can find more of my work at Hawaii's premiere lifestyle website, Nonstop Honolulu. My California adventure started in the Bay and then I worked my way down south. I hit these three cities:
Dear Babygirl,
I know that you feel like you have been to hell and back but trust me when I say that you are not alone. I know that your heart is shattered, hope no longer existent, and you feel like you've sold your soul to the devil but trust me when I say that things are going to get better. You see babe, I've been where you have been and I'm here to tell you that you will get through this.
I know that he said that he loved you but his actions spoke otherwise. I know that you bent over backwards and he wasn't even willing to lift a finger for you. I know honey...I know. I know that you'd rather cry yourself to sleep and not wake up because the pain has penetrated through your skin, has intoxicated your bloodstream and now has reached your heart. You'd rather stay motionless and senseless than to feel that pain within the seconds that you awake.
I know that it may hurt to see him love another the same way that he loved you. You thought you were his one and only when really you were just one of many. Those very words, those gestures and those promises, he made to someone else as well. I know that you feel like nothing in this world matters now but what matters is that you are still living. I know that you feel lonely. You feel as if a part of your heart is missing and you feel that tingle that just makes you want to breakdown but you have people like me to lean on, to tell you that things are going to be alright.
You see, you are an amazing woman. He took you for granted and was so possesive of you because he knew deep down that you were a good thing. Although babe as much as you try to excuse his disrespectful actions, ask yourself this...why am I protecting someone that is hurting me in return? You deserve better than this. I know that it's hard and it will be hard for a while but you need to stop looking out for him and start being selfish for once. Do this for you and no one else. Put your foot down and say that you've had enough because why rely on someone to make you happy when you need to be happy and content with youself first. Trust me when I say that things happen for a reason and be that strong girl that don't crap from no none that I know you can be because babygirl, things will get better..just wait and see...but in the meantime babe, share your fireworks with the people that really love you.
Always here,
jerm
..."even brighter than the moon, moon, moon. It's always been inside of you and now it's time to let it through. Cause baby you're a firework. Come on show 'em what your worth"...
Friday, October 29, 2010
"When someone walks out of your life, let them. There is no use in wasting your time on people that leave you. What you make of yourself and your future is no longer tied to them. Yeah, you may miss them but remember...you weren't the one that gave up."
We study so hard reading them books.
And what for?
The grades.
We break our backs working countless hours.
And what for?
To pay the plastic.
To provide us shelter.
Clothes piled in this corner.
Shoes stacked up to the nines.
A library filled with words of stories that we wish we could have.
A happily ever after means what to you?
Living comfortably?
To raise a family?
Or is it walking in the latest trends or driving the hottest rides?
Maybe it is living in a house with a pool and a basketball court.
No piked fence you say, you'd rather have a stone wall with them big steel center gates.
Why do you need gates like that? For security?
Although, how could you feel secure with metal around you when the true intruder resides within yourself.
Or with your dreams.
So tell me why are you living your life the way that you are.
What in the heck for?
What purpose do you believe you fulfill?
You see everything has a purpose.
Everything that is currently at your grasp.
The people that walk in and our of your life.
The experiences that you have endured or glorified.
So when you ask yourself why you are doing the things that you are doing or are saying the things you speak of, ask yourself what for?
Is it to hurt your competitors or to improve your game?
It is all for a bigger purpose for a bigger picture.
So it is easier said than done. When your friends come to you with a dilemma, you often find yourself giving them advice. Telling people what you would do if you were in the same exact situation. However let's be real. Sometimes we can't take our own advice. I believe it is because when we are not in the situation ourselves, we think with our heads. Then when we are actually facing the dilemma in our own lives, we think with our hearts.
Many of us can be hypocrites. I'm not perfect and know for fact that I'm a walking contradiction. We give in and we break promises. We go back when we are suppose to go forward. We ponder when we are suppose to be forgetting.
However this time, let's start all over and start keeping our words.
Let us mean what we say.
We need to stop talking and start doing because on a real tip, keeping our word is what gives us our credibility.
She told you that if you left her for me that you would be unhappy. She told you that it was only a matter of time until you would be running back to her. You disagreed. She wanted us to fail and she thought we were not made for each other. You told her that you were in love, that we were in love. Although maybe she was right because look where we are now.
We've been trying to beat everything that has come our way but I guess this time, we are unrepairable. You left her for me and when I couldn't give you what you wanted, you ran back to her. Then when she was getting attached again, you came back to me. You said she didn't make you happy but then why did you go back all those times?
Even though you weren't in love with her, she was in love with you. She went crazy saying that she deserved better and that she wasn't going to allow you to come back. Although after every arguement with me, she still picked up your phone calls and still invited you over to her house. You finally told me that there was no more fooling around, that it would just be you and I forever. Of course she was angry because she thought that you were the one. She tried everything to tear us apart and we relentlessly wanted to prove her wrong.
Now that she has someone new you say that you are off the hook but at the same time, we are done as well so who you gonna run to now? We often blamed her for our problems but the reason we are not together anymore had nothing to do with her. This break-up was all on us.
I guess we are the fools now because we didn't see what she did. I wonder if she knows that we are no longer together because if she did she would say, "I told you so."
..."Baby yes you said, said you were in love. 'Cause when you left me you said that you wouldn't be comin' back, remember that but I never agreed. I hate to say it but I told you so."...
Even though we are blood, from the time we were of age where we knew what was going around us..we never really got along. I remember being 4 years old and always fighting with you. Pulling hair and secretly pinching each other. However who knew that later down the road that we would become as close as we are today. You know all of my best qualities and my flaws yet still love me for everything that I'am. You have been there to see me rise and you have seen me get back on my feet during all those times I've fallen. You know all my secrets and I know yours. You have always been there to keep me in check and tell me the straight facts like a warm shot of dark Henn.
We are a month apart and I often feel that you are the sister that I've never had. We tricked so many people in high school making them believe that we were really blood sisters with different dads. LOL. We have similar birth marks on our thighs for god sakes. I appreciate that you take care of my brother, you help mom from time and to time, and you are always looking out for me. You've always been willing to go to concerts with me, to hike with me, to shop with me, to try new things with me, travel with me and most importantly you have always been down for me. They say that blood is thicker than water and with the trials/tribulations that we have been through, this blood line will only get thicker and will be flowing stronger than ever. Love you sis.
your sister from another mister,
em-mel
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
"I can say I made a lot of mistakes, but I don’t regret things. Because at least I didn’t spend a life standing outside, wondering what living would be like."
because there are so many reason why I love you. because of you I love the way you are and the person you want to become. because of you I'm fearless of where this uncertain road will take me. because of you I feel beautiful with no make-up and just your t-shirt on. because of you I feel like anything is possible. because of you I look at my imperfections as trademarks of my unique soul. because of you I react off of compassion as a way to help better our surroundings, our world. because of you I don't need security, when our hands clasp reassurance is evident. because of you when we lay at night, your warmth is all I need in this cold world. because of you I push myself to the ends of the earth because I know you won't let me quit on life. because of you words can't define our love, I can simply see it in your eyes and feel it in my heart. because of you material things don't compare to your selfless love, it is priceless. because of you I'm the person that I'am today.
and when I make my mark in this world...it was all because of you.
"you mean so much to me, I want the world to see it's because of you. because of you my life has changed."
Monday, September 27, 2010
"I was never your friend nor did I ever plan to become your friend. I guess right now that is not an option to the both of us but I would not want to erase all the greatest moments with you because of anger. You can delete all the pictures we have taken. You can throw away all the presents I have given you. You can delete all our emails and text messages BUT one thing is for sure, you cannot erase all the memories we have had. This is something that we will carry in our hearts forever."
I'm sorry homie but I'm not a convenient store.
You can't just come all up in here whenever you want because my doors do not say 24/7.
The outside can be cold and cruel but that does not mean that you will find security and warmth here. You know that around here, you have to earn your keep.
You can't just loiter around, afraid that other fellas gonna buy up the whole store.
I understand your sincerity but at the same time, you messing up with prospective buyers.
And no I'm not a gold digger because you obviously see that I've got a strong foundation but at the same time, a girl wants stability and baby we both know that love does not pay the bills.
You can't just come around here and expect me to give free goods. I understand that you were a loyal customer but at the same time, you got bad credit with a long overdue tab.
You know that I've got all that you need right here but you can't just take what you want at no cost. I've got surveillance cameras all up and down this block.
Besides, we both know you have been a returning customer elsewhere so why don't you pay them a visit.
So please stop impersonating, don't come here like you own the place.
Sell your broken promises to someone that will hear them out cause your lame sales pitches has plummeted my cash flow.
Bring your faulty business somewhere else because this ain't no mom and pop spot.
This is a corporation in the making and is looking for one lucky person that will man up to be the owner.
You think that this time around you can just conveniently walk back in..Well, I'm sorry handsome because I'm just gonna have to ask you nicely to leave the premises because again, this ain't no convenient store.
I know that we are not in the right state of mind and that our conversations have been a little stale but I just want to tell you that you have changed my life. It's because of you I've learned so much about myself and what type of person I want to eventually become. You have encouraged me in all that I have wanted to do in life and I thank you for that. It takes a patient individual to understand where another person has been and where their dreams may lead them. I just hope that no matter where our hearts guide us that we still have one another in each other's lives.
Our chemistry is undeniable and the way we inspire one another gives us motivation to be that much better. We've always said that we could not be where we are today without one another. However, you never needed me. I may have inspired/motivated you to do things but that will power has always lived within you, you just needed someone to help you realize your potential. There are no words that can transcript how wonderful your love has been when life and time were not on my side. You always knew what to do. It makes me smile just thinking about how everything makes sense when we are together.
I feel like all the recent events have pushed us farther when we both thought that we were on the same page. This pain that I feel...tell me when does it goes away? They say that time heals everything but tell me why does this distance feel so cold? and why does time taunt me by making the seconds feel like hours? Is that the way love goes?
You are a great person with a great heart and with such a musically inclined soul...you just need to keep finding ways to share your gift with the rest of the world. So prepare as much as you can for all of the worst case scenarios, create various back-up plans and create meaningful relationships with whomever you meet...because the world is just waiting for your arrival. I just hope that I will be there to witness it all.
If you need me, you know where to find me because I'm never leaving. Let me know when you want to revisit the place where love first found us. "I promise. Forever"
Love,
Your Runaway
..."I wont give up. I'm too much in love and I want you to know that. Just take my hand, fall in love with me again"....
Monday, September 6, 2010
"It's weird to think about how different your life would be if you never met the people who changed it."
I have to admit. When I first booked my ticket, I did not know what to expect. I've been talking about flying over to your side of the country for quite sometime now. Everyone is afraid of the unknown and I just did not know what you had in store for me. Little did I know, you had great things lined up.
There was never a dull moment. There were so many places to go, people to see and things to eat. You truly live up to the name of "the city that never sleeps" because I hardly got too but at the same time who wanted to? Waking up at the crack of dawn and beating the sun home had to be best because rain or shine, I wanted to soak you in. Although I was extremely exhausted, I just could not get enough. You understood my life and showed me how I could fit in. Your lights inspired me, your landmarks made me more appreciative, your music lifted my spirits and your locals left me hopeful.
I love my home but there is just so much more to see in this world. I've dreamed of stepping foot on your grounds and now that I finally have, you've opened my eyes to much more. I've grown up in a place that's rich of culture. However New York, you are wealthy as well. Not only are you financially wealthy but are wealthy of culture that is statured to your own history and are wealthy of a population blend that's hard to deny. My favorite part had to be Brooklyn. It made me feel at home and I felt like I belonged there, like I understood the life stories of the neighbors. Many of the mothers that I've bumped into there, I can tell that they are working hard to set food on the table. I can tell that the fathers are trying to work extra shifts just to make ends meet and I know that the kids there are trying to strive in school so that their parents' sacrifices are not going unnoticed. How can I tell that you ask? Because I was one of those kids. If I ever have a daughter, I'm seriously naming her Brooke because Brooklyn is where I fell in love with you.
Jay-Z was not lying when he said that you were the "concrete jungle were dreams are made of" because being there with you made me realize my dreams and where I want to be in life. I'm young with big dreams and I hope to return at your doorstep to make them come true. I had to empty out my luggage the other day and it was bittersweet. I may have had to empty out my luggage but there are so many things that I have learned on that trip that I could never empty out of my heart. I love you and miss you NYC and a piece of me is still with you. So keep that piece of me safe, don't wait up for me and don't dim those lights because I'll be back and I'll be ready for all of the other things that you will have ready for me.
With love,
Your Hawaii Girl
..."I said hello BROOKLYN but baby I hope you neva say goodbye to me. I said Hello Brooklyn. Baby you're so damn fine to me and I remember the time, place, & the weather ON THE DAY YOU SAID HI TO ME"...
I've been meaning to create a website for my business but never got around to it. However, since my friend Kevin and I have been meaning to do this project 365 for for months now and have been personally wanting to do it for years...I got to it. So with my project in effect, I decided to start my website layout. I've started it on wordpress and will eventually turn it into a domain. So when you have the time, go and check it out. :)
"No matter how much we wanna put a f*cker on blast, no matter how much a b*tch needs to be put in her place, no matter how we feel the need to get something off our chest...usually the best thing to say is nothing at all."
The New York Best Seller has finally become a motion picture and is based on Elizabeth Gilbert's real life after her divorce. Trying to find substance in her newly single life, Gilbert found herself unhappy after what she thought would be a decision that will help her find peace. On a venture to find herself, she decides to take a year off and spend her time between Italy, India and Bali.
I've read the book twice and I love it when my favorite books are put on the big screen. It's been a while since I've familiarized myself with the book and at the movie's premiere, it helped shed light onto some things that I have experienced. I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone that did not watch it but here are some things that I learned.
EAT:
"I am a better person when I have less on my plate."
I'm a food lover but the consequences of eating good food means buying new clothes. hehe. Sometimes I feel that people in this modern society try to fit a mold that is advertised as being perfect or "in" which then translates into constantly being obsessed to follow that trend. We often follow that trend because we want to be accepted like everyone else instead of being an outcast. However what I tend to find is that food is an outlet of learning culture. On the rooftop of your mouth, you can taste the grain of salt that makes that recipe that much better. Because who knows how many trial and error sessions had to be overcome to get that recipe just right. Food is such a big part of every culture. Why not learn the depth of international cultures by tasting it?
Not only does food satisfy your cravings but I often find myself enjoying great conversations over great food. You eat to satisfy your body. If your body isn't satisfied, your mind will not be either.
PRAY:
"You were given life; it is your duty and also your entitlement as a human being to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."
Being raised in a Catholic household, you often pray to either give thanks or to ask for help. As long as I can remember, I prayed most of the time for the blessings in my life because I didn't know how to ask for help. Wait, let's scratch that. It's not that I didn't know how to ask for help, I think it's because when you ask for help...you are sort of confessing that you have either done wrong or have lost your way over a decision that you may have known was not right.
I'm not afraid to ask for help but I have a lot of pride. To pray for help to me can be summed in one word: admittance. I don't like admitting that I need help, I don't like admitting that I'm hurt, I don't like to admit that I'm weak. However as much as you don't want to admit it, even if it is to yourself...you become the opposite of what you say you are not. When it comes to anything for spiritual balance, you must surrender yourself completely. Once you admit to something, you past through the fluff and reach the core. You must work from the inside first then work your way out. To admit to something does not mean revealing how vulnerable you are, admitting shows how committed you are to work towards something better.
LOVE:
"A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life."
The four letter words that has no concrete definition gets me every time. It holds different meanings to different people in different situations that can be used at different times. Like many people, past relationships revises a persons list of what they want in a significant other and teaches a person of what to do better in the current or next relationship. I on one hand have often drowned myself not in the love of a man but in the love of my work. Then just when I find that the water is slowly draining out of my love life, I try to take a deep plunge back in order to refill it. Although, sometimes it's not that easy because when you take a plunge or drown yourself in anything for the love of it, you sometimes lose yourself. Sometimes you are just too far from shore and are stuck in the current, you find yourself alone with no one to rescue you and you find yourself thinking that drowning is the only option you have. When it comes to love of anything, don't drown yourself in it but soak in it. Things are not meant to consume you, they are merely meant to be additions to your life.
I know that love is tricky for everyone because everyone has their own reasons of why they haven't reached their happily ever after yet...but what I realized from watching the movie is that when it comes to love, many people are afraid. They withhold themselves to become emotionally involved because they don't want to set themselves for heartbreak, they believe that by being cautious...it will prevent them from being hurt. However not only do you withhold your heart and self, you withhold yourself from other possibilities...like lessons, people, and life. Sooner or later, you will learn that without love, you'll have no depth in life. The love for something is all in the risk and being hurt is just one of them. To be hurt is a part of love and love is a part of life. Gilbert has said in the book, "this is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something." I'd rather to have tried for something then accept the fact of the what ifs because I did nothing.
The movie had really taught me more about myself and what I need to do in order to be who I want to become. With all that said, go and watch the movie and be inspired. I hope that it will help you see things in a better perspective.
"People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly."
Let me just start off by saying that you were everything I knew for so long and even though we are not together anymore, a part of me still loves you. I look back at the time that we were given and it amazes me how much we have been through. Sometimes I feel that the things that we have experienced were granted too early and we tended to not be so appreciative. Since we've parted, I feel like I have nothing left to give. I feel like a tin man wishing for something to return my ability to feel.
We fought, we made up, and had such great love. You were the first person that I could ever see myself marrying. We talked about how we were going to save for a house and how we were going to to have a family. How we were going to raise our kids around sports and academics and how it would just be us...till death do us part. You were the love of my life.
The day that I decided to walk away from you completely, the one thing that I was so grateful for was learning how to love unconditionally. Through all the mistakes that I have committed and with everything you have put me through, we stuck it out and we blew people away by surviving as long as we did. Although we don't talk, I hope that if we ever bump into each other down the road that you can acknowledge me. You know that all you have to do is shoot me a glance and I'll know what your heart is trying to say. After all, we were a big part of each other's lives.
You are a great man and I hope that you find what you were looking for. I wish nothing but happiness and success in all that you do. We have different lives now and we often believed that things happened for a reason. I think that we needed each other in order to learn about life and in order to grow up. Without you, I could not be the strong person that I'am today. I hope that the next girl that you fall for treats you better than I did and loves you for all that you are.
The part of me that still loves you is a part that loves you for the relationship because it taught me how love should feel. I love you for the heartache because it taught me how to mend a broken heart. Last but not least...I love you most of all for the memories...some of my best ones were only great because I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else but you.
I guess what they say is true, the hottest love also has the coldest ending.
Because here I'am.
As my my mind is racing faster than established thoughts,
My body is tired yet my heart is breaking.
Slowly. But surely it is.
I feel as if I'm screaming at the top of my lungs yet no ones bothers to lift their head to look.
To look at the girl that once helped people up after a fall
She thought that she was cautious...
But she too
Had.
Fallen.
Yet no one bothers to care to see if she will be able to get back on her feet.
Fragile to words.
Sensitive to touch.
This girl does not want sympathy.
Don't you dare say that you feel sorry for her.
She is not playing a victim to anything.
She just wants self-assurance.
Assurance that this pain that she feels is only temporary.
Assurance that things will get better.
Assurance that her hard work will pay off.
Assurance that she is worthy of someones love.
Yet no one can assure her of all this but herself.
What is left of my heart?
I think it's still beating.
It beats slowly.
Trying it's best to keep moving.
No! Get off of me.
I don't need resuscitation.
Because my soul knows my life chapters by heart.
It reads:
She had gotten this far without any handouts.
She made something of herself when everyone thought she was nothing.
She has been humble enough to take criticism.
She has taken initiative when everyone else was afraid.
Females rooted for her to fail.
Men underestimated her strength.
The industry slammed its doors in her face.
Yet.....
She has dusted herself off, just to try again.
So although her spirit is a little broken
And there are only fragments left of her heart...
It still beats.
Slowly but surely it still beats. Slowly but steadily, it still beats.
Sara and Chris had a chemistry that was unbeatable, total opposites on the exterior but in sync on the inner. They accepted each others differences because they felt that its was a good thing, that they balanced each other out. However from one disagreement to another, Sara felt that it was just beginning to be too much. Yeah they weren’t official but Chris wanted to have that title.
Sara didn’t want to make such a big commitment because she knew that she wasn’t ready. She did not to make a commitment that she knew she could not fulfill. It was just not fair to the both of them. The rules of dating for Sara and Chris were not structured. Sara felt that she should not restrict Chris from dating other people, after all they did not discuss being exclusive. She on the other hand was not looking to date anyone else because she was too busy trying to get ahead at her job.
One day when Sara was hanging out with Chris, she noticed that his phone kept ringing and beeping. She was never the type to invade someone’s privacy and thought nothing of it. Maybe it’s one of the boys just trying to get him to come out to the bar or maybe his homegirl got some man issues and needs his advice. The beeps and rings just became too obvious when they hung out time and time again. She felt it cut away from their quality time. She finally asked Chris why his phone was blowing up off the hook and he told her that it was just a friend but she knew that he was lying because his eyes were so transparent.
Chris finally confessed to Sara one night that he was seeing some other girl, Tina. She put two and two together, it was the same girl that was blowing up his facebook. She knew that she could not hold anything against him because she knew that they weren’t official and Chris was a grown man, he knew what was right from wrong. However as the months went on, it just became too much. Tina started to make it obvious, she wanted something more and Sara did not want to give Chris an ultimatum because if he knew what he wanted, she did not have to persuade him to continue things with her. Sara became frustrated after a while because she felt as if she was being attacked by Tina. Tina had voiced that she wanted to kill Sara because Chris was spending so much time with her. As Sara threw her bag she said, “Did you sleep with her?” Chris never saw this side of Sara but couldn’t blame her for being angry. “Yes, I did but only once and I swear it didn’t mean anything. I promise.” Sara walked out of Chris’ apartment because she needed to think things through to avoid acting irrational.
“Don’t leave me, I don’t want to lose you,” Chris said. Sara stared at the car floor as they discussed the issue, “But Chris, you can’t have the both of us and if you really know what you want, you’ll make your decision and I’ll totally support it.” It was not fair to anyone because emotions were already involved. “You’re all I want. I don’t care about her because I’m in love with you.” Sara looked over and told him that he should not use the four letter word unless he knew the true meaning of it. “Sara, I’m the one that wants a commitment from you; I’m in love with you. I think you are the one for me.” Sara felt that she needed to put her guard down and let this love happen. She believed that he meant what he said and that they could finally work towards being a real item.
"But I need to stop thinkin', contemplatin', be a man and get it over with."
Lawmakers were in downtown Honolulu Monday morning, talking with some of Hawaii’s homeless to find viable solutions to reduce homeless numbers in Hawaii. They are suggesting several ways to help Hawaii’s homeless get back on their feet.
Some lawmakers believe that a designated safe zone for the homeless would provide a safe supervised night area. Representative Rida Cabanilla believes that the Aala Park should be considered as one of the safe zones since it previously used as one during the Fasi administration.
Cabanilla thinks that homeless that are mentally ill or battling drug problems are at the most risk. She and other lawmakers are looking to adopt other successful programs from cities like New York and Chicago to help chronic homelessness.
“Just because they are saying no or they have this attitude the first time, that doesn’t mean that you abandon them. You put out more social workers and you give more resources so that you can eventually get to them because some of them have mental issues or drug addictions and they are not going to be convinced overnight,” said Senator Wil Espero.
Lisa Beth Roberts has been homeless for a couple of years. She has tried to get back on her feet several times. She said that she has experienced corruption in shelters and thinks that there aren’t enough government resources to turn to.
“You can’t box anyone into a single you know form or format. Everybody is different. Everybody comes from different walks of life but we are all the same. We are all human beings and we just need help. Sometimes it’s hard to ask for help and sometimes you have to humble yourself but then a lot of times when you do ask, nobody hears and that’s what’s frustrating,” said Roberts.
Espero said that not only are lawmakers looking at safe zones but are also looking at other innovative ways to help house the homeless.
“We are still going to be pushing for tent cities and safe zones…If a land owner has a rental for example and we identify a working homeless family...if they can rent that to the working homeless family, we may be able to give a tax break where they don't have to pay the general excise tax on that rental,” said Espero.
Representative Cabanilla said that lawmakers have suggested affordable housing to be built in places such as Mililani and Hawaii Kai but have received negative community feedback. Another option that lawmakers have considered is reuniting homeless people with family members on the mainland. Many of these options will be proposed and discussed at the next legislative session.
“If we properly address the homeless situation in our state, everyone wins,” said Representative John Mizuno. “This will reduce the costs to our taxpayers and reduce the number of homeless in our state.”
This is my work and you can see additional coverage of this story at Hawaii News Now.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
"Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive."
I swear that trash talking has elevated since social networking has been a way of communication. People that can’t say things to your face create post status updates for their whole social network to see. Have you ever experienced that? Where you know that it’s targeted towards you because who else would be their ex? or who else have they been dating? or who else have they been having disagreements with? Some say that they keep their stuff generic and then people take it personal. However, how can it be generic when there is a connotation or a word that has your name written all over it?
What’s worse is that there are friends that comment on that status update only to add to the bulk of trash talk yet they only know one-side of the story. People like that just have no class because even though as we get older, we are suppose to know better—those people still have the mentality of a grade school kid because they want to tell everyone their personal business. Who talks smack about their ex? About their baby mama? About their baby daddy? About an ex friend? About an enemy? If the incident happened so long ago and that person says that they have moved on then why these posts? Maybe they need some support to justify their actions or maybe they want to shed the light of them being the "better" person. Some may say that this blog is a contradiction of this post. However, I have never named anyone and I simply keep it generic to the point where anyone can relate to the posts. That is the difference.
So what if you see status updates of: “He didn’t pay child support today,” “She was late to pick up our baby,” “She is a psycho ex, I want to delete her out of my life,” “He is such a bad boyfriend, he treats me so bad.” Before you go agreeing on someone’s post because you know the logistics of the dilemma why don’t you step back and not be the naïve person that you will be when you comment on that status. Because did you know he used to hit her? That she called his new girl because someone anonymously texted her? That he up and left her after she lost their baby? That she was caught up in an over-time shift? That maybe it’s because he was saving up to buy the bike that your son has always wanted? Just remember that there are always two-sides to a story so don’t be so quick to jump the gun.
Unlike some people, my friends tell me straight when I’ll be acting a fool, when I have given someone more chances than deserved and tell me what’s best for both people in the conflicted situation even if it means not getting what I thought was suitable. Just remember you cannot control what a person does but you can control how you react. So when someone has something bad to say about you on the internet or to your face, let them do what they have to do to make them feel adequate with their lives.
Let them tell their entire friends list of the wrongs that you have done or lies about you. You know the truth, you know what happened and you don’t need to parade around for anyone because you don’t owe anyone anything, you only owe it to yourself to be the better person. Let them call you names because people that spend so much time talking about situations that don’t directly involve them, just shows you that they love concentrating on other people’s faults instead of trying to improve their own personal demons. Let them say that you are pulling the victim card because the true meaning of acting like a victim, seem to fit the criteria of telling the whole world that they were done wrong by a person's actions just so that they can receive sympathy from the people that are willing to listen. We are too old to be pointing fingers and to be playing the blame game. Come on now. Accept what has happened and move on because the more you talk about it, the more you concentrate on it, the more it shows that you are not over it.
I don't know all the lessons of life but I know this: Life is too short to be concentrating on the bad things that has happened to you in life or the people that have betrayed you. You shouldn't be concentrating on something that is counter-productive. Ignore the noise so that you can concentrate on the melody. People come and go while life shifts you up and down. Things happen for a reason and it is all up to you on how you adjust.
..."I been through the storm. Had dirt on my name. I'm still holding on, champion of the game.Whatever don't kill you make you stronger...See I done a whole lotta growin'. You can bet your last that my head won't hit the floor. never, and I'm still standing"...
Over 300 incoming freshmen at Roosevelt High School were greeted with a special program on their first day of school. The high school started a mentoring program called Ignition. It's used to help incoming freshmen into high school.
Roosevelt High School counselor, Terry Malterre says the program has been used in other states and has shown a high success rate. It not only helps with the high school transition but has also increased a school's overall academic performance.
"We really want them to make a connection with somebody at school and usually if they come to high school, they don't know anybody. So if we can hook them up with one upperclassman through the year then at least they'll have one connection and if they have any other referrals they have to go to, mentors can tell them go to the counselor, go talk to so and so. So it's making a connection with the school and being a part of Roosevelt instead of just being one person," said Malterre
An upperclassman voluntarily signs up to be a mentor and is assigned to a freshmen homeroom class. This group meets twice a week throughout the school year discussing issues ranging from academics to social conflicts. The mentor earns half a credit while being in the program. Knowing how it feels be a freshman, Roosevelt High School senior, Ruth Taketa signed up for the mentorship program to learn leadership skills.
"I hope to teach them you know to get involved in school activities. Don't be shy. Just do a lot of extra-curricular. Don't just be nothing in high school. Do a lot of sports, clubs because that's what's really fun you know. High school's really short. The more activities you do, the more fun you'll have," said Taketa.
The first day of the program kicked off with a ropes course, school tour, and scavenger hunt. As a way to engage the entire high school, the obstacle course was created by Roosevelt's building and construction academy. Incoming freshman, Jordan Montalbo said that one of the things that she was scared of was not being able to fit in.
"All of these activities have to do with diversity, respect, working together, teamwork. As a freshman, I really think that [the program] really does help. This program will help all the students to know that there are a lot of different students and everything…how to get along with each other no matter how different everyone is," said Taketa
Montalbo said that being shy, walking into the wrong classroom and having other students not liking her would be one of the many things that she would have to encounter as a new student on campus. Thanks to her mentor, she is looking forward to her first year of high school.
"The activities and the mentors, they are like really sweet and they helped me get through a lot of things today…they just made me feel normal," said Montalbo
Malterre hopes that this program will increase the school's attendance, graduation rate and will also encourage more students to attend college.
This is my work and you can see additional coverage of this story at Hawaii News Now.
"They just leave. They always leave. Without any trace, without any explanation. & in turn, we make all of these silly excuses for them. Maybe they’re just too busy. Maybe they’re going through too much to make any kind of commitment. Maybe it’s just part of their nature… that they’re all like this. They lie. They cheat. They need excitement all of the time because the chase is all they ever really wanted & they’re just too easily attracted to the things that catch their eyes so they move on without any regret or second thought. We instill these thoughts into our minds because anger is the only way to get over them. Yet, we research them, observe their every move, look for any kind of sign that maybe, just maybe they’ve had a single thought of us & if we’re lucky, they’ll come back.
But more than anything we do all of these things because our biggest fear is that we were never good enough & that there was nothing we could do to fulfill the things that they wanted. It was our nature, it was my nature, not theirs… to be left behind.
I can’t wait for the day one of them proves me wrong."
A high-school champion swimmer is sitting up and smiling after his horrific fall in June. Hawaii News Now caught up with the swimmer of what he could remember when he was injured in Samoa and about his rehabilitation progress.
16-year-old Daren Choi flew to Western Samoa to compete in the 8th annual Oceania Swimming Championships. He earned three medals and was the most decorated individual Hawaii swimmer among competitors from 13 different countries. He and the rest of the Kamehameha Swim Club wanted to enjoy the rest of their stay in Samoa and sailed to Savaii Island on a sightseeing tour.
Choi remembers climbing among rocks with some of his team members to reach a freshwater cave. Just when they knew that they were too high up from the ground and were going the wrong way, he placed all of his weight on a dead tree trunk, giving way to his 15-foot fall.
“I saw the water when I flipped so I immediately knew that I had to cover my head, because I knew there was coral down there. I thought that I covered my head and then when I was in the water, I like tried to move but I couldn’t move my whole body so I was like freaking out. I thought that I was going to die right there and drown but luckily my friends were there to help me and pull me back out,” said Choi.
Tired from all of the transporting and scared that he could not move his body, Choi’s heart dropped and was devastated when he found out that the daily boat that travels from Savaii to Samoa had already left for the day, leaving Choi overnight on the island without a proper medical facility.
Back at home Daren’s father, Derrick, remembers when he heard that Daren had fractured sections of his spine. Doctors told Derrick that his son may have to stay in New Zealand for a month or two, forcing him and his wife to relentlessly think of ways to travel overseas. In tremendous pain, Daren yearned to talk to his family for some support.
“I think the first time I talked to my dad was when they transported me back to Western Samoa and I got on the phone with him and immediately, I broke out in tears because I couldn't hold it in,” he said.
Derrick remembers saying hello and hearing his son cry. Since Daren was advised not to move, Derrick remembers trying to comfort his son while being thousands of miles away. The news about the accident spread to family and friends the Chois were overwhelmed by the love and support.
Still wearing a steel halo, Daren says that he could not have made it this far without his support system of family, friends, coaches and swim team family. Hawaii’s state swimming championships were in June and the entire team wore a special cap in spirit of their recovering team mate. In Japanese tradition, it is said that by folding a thousand origami cranes it helps a person’s recovery process. His team mates folded and framed a thousand cranes, arranging the cranes to form the swim clubs symbol. Daren sees it every day in his rehabilitation room as a reminder to keep pushing.
One doctor told Daren that he may never walk again and Daren says he has used the doctor’s scary diagnosis as motivation.
“I try not to think of him because it kind of brings me down but I always keep it as motivation, you know like to prove him wrong. I want to go back [to him] and like shake his hand and say what now.”
As hard as it is to continue his rehab exercises, Daren says that he is continuing to keep his head up in order to get back in the water to swim.
“It’s pretty much my life you know. I love it. I love the sport. I love to race, you know just getting back out there with my friends. Racing against the big dogs and everything, I love it.”
Photo Courtesy of Daren Choi
Daren’s medical bills has exceeded more than $100,000. Choi’s family and friends have organized fundraiser benefits to help alleviate the costs. A Zippy’s fundraiser on behalf of Daren will start on August 15th. Several swimmers will be out in front of Don Quijote selling $7 tickets. To reserve to tickets, you can email Dane Kawamoto at swimmersfordarenchoi@yahoo.com. A family fun day will be held on August 21st at the Momilani Community Center from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Kamehameha Swim Club have also set up an account, “KSC Friends of Daren Choi” at First Hawaiian Bank.
This is my work and you can see additional coverage of this story at Hawaii News Now.
The Ohana at Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hotdogs invites you to help celebrate
10 YEARS
Sunday, August 1, 2010
10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Waikiki Town Center 2301 Kuhio Avenue, #2
11:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. – Prize giveaways from Island Tat Clothing
11:30 a.m. – Live performance by contemporary group, Easy Street
12:45 p.m. – Live performance by pop singer, Sheila Marie
1:15 p.m. – Live performance by rock band, Ogle Tree
2:30 p.m. – Hip Hop dance performance by 808 Breakers
Photo Courtesy of Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hotdogs
Puka Dog owner, Dominique Quinette is inviting the public to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Puka Dog Hawaii. As a way to give back to the community that has helped her business, Quinette will be donating 100% of the proceeds from Sunday's event to the Hawaii Foodbank. Annually the Hawaii Foodbank helps more 183,000 people statewide.
Happy 10th Anniversary Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hotdogs! For more information about Puka Dogs visit pukadog.com
I'm that girl that will be the only one kicking with the boys. A curious mind constantly trying to find things to be enlightened. With eyes like a camera’s shutter and a thought process of a journalist. A girl that swears her life is way more exciting away from her little island of paradise they call Hawaii Nei’ yet knows that there are no other destinations that will never ever compare. A free spirit that tries to look for constant positives in this inconsistent world of ours. A girl that dances to this weird off-tempo beat and loving every second of it.
