Huff and Puff

It doesn't take a gale to blow off a candle. A simple puff would do the trick just fine. I've just lost a friend yesterday. We weren't that close, but I felt that he has helped me a lot. Nobody expect him to pass so early, we expect he would still be here for many years to come. But in an instant, just like that, he perished when he was doing his daily job. Many people cried, most important, everybody was shocked.

We never know when someone we hold so dear would leave us. Most of the times we wouldn't have the time to prepare ourselves for their passing. The best thing we could do to anticipate is by showing everyone we care every single day. It doesn't take a grand gesture. A simple hi is often enough.

At The Crossroad

After a prolonged procrastination I finally manage to get my undergraduate degree. And now came the next step: jobseeking. Jobseeking is a tedious, time-consuming, and energy-draining phase must faced by all fresh graduates. Unless of course, they are filthy rich. Whether you want to work for someone else, make a business of your own, or indulge yourself in the artistic expression; the fact is you will unavoidably face that moment where you wonder what you want to do after this.

Truth is, you'll never know what you want to do unless you do it. Other than that, it is more likely that your beautifully arranged plan to take a slightly different course. If this happen, don't sulk. Just do. Oh yeah, and believe that what you are doing is exactly what you need to do at the moment. Whatever it is, it will enrich you as a person. Anyway, my jobseeking days are almost over. And the fact is it didn't go as I planned. It went better. I can now confidently say that even though people told me what I wanted was impossible, God shook my hand and gave me even more.

Achieving Goals and Fulfilling Dreams

A while ago I received a message from Melanie Bowen, a contributor of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog. She asked me whether she could be a contributor for this blog, and immediately I jumped to this idea. I hope through this blog I could help her writing reach wider audience and inspire more and more people in being proactive in fulfilling their dreams. I also add a link to the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog all over this post and soon, this blog. Here's a link to Melanie's writings in that blog. Enjoy! And don't forget to share! ~Agnimaya

Everyone has goals they hope to achieve in their lifetime. Some people are simply more proactive about achieving their goals, while some take the "if it happens, it happens" approach. The good news is that everyone is capable of taking steps in fulfilling their hopes and dreams. For those who have been diagnosed with an illness--such as mesothelioma or other cancers to more acute chronic illnesses like arthritis--having goals and motivation is extremely important. No matter their prognosis, many patients feel an urge to get busy achieving life goals and fulfilling their hopes and dreams.

Personal life goals can be as simple as a new look or wardrobe, or as complex as living abroad for a year. No matter the details, all goals require focus and determination. A good way to gain that focus is to write down those goals, either in a journal, a blog or a "dream or "vision" board. Seeing your goals on paper or online will serve as a constant source of motivation, and will help you keep sight of all you hope to accomplish.

Blogging is a great way to log your goals and achievements. Posting your hopes and dreams online is a way to hold you accountable for fulfilling them. Blogs also offer an enormous source of support from online friends and fellow bloggers. Don't forget to post the steps you plan to take in achieving your goals, as well as all the small victories you celebrate on the way.

Journals are another way to log your goals, hopes and dreams. Create a journal not only of hopes and dreams, but of practical ways to achieve them. For example, if it's always been your goal to learn how to play the guitar, begin by looking at your schedule and setting aside time for weekly lessons.

Another great idea is making a "dream board." A dream board is simply a place to list your goals. You can also post pictures of things you'd like to accomplish or places you'd like to visit. For example, if your goals include visiting Paris and someday owning your own home, your dream board could showcase a picture of the Eiffel Tower and a drawing of your dream home. Dream boards should placed somewhere you'll see them on a regular basis: like above your desk or bed, or beside your bathroom mirror. Check out the instruction on Oprah's website for inspiration.

Whichever way you decide to record your goals for the future, be it blogging, writing them in a journal, making a dream board, etc, having that tangible reminder will help you to stay proactive about achieving your hopes and dreams. Don't forget to celebrate each small victory along the way. This will give you the confidence need to stay motivated on your path to realizing all your hopes and dreams.

Melanie Bowen

Part-time Blog Contributor:Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

Blog: Milady Knows