Lines. Curves. Colors. Confidence.

When I was a child, I had always wanted to become a painter, like Picasso, or an artist who uses a wonderful medium, say paper (or other scraps), to create aesthetic works of the hands. Twenty years later, I'm still holding on to that dream.

Aside from my affinity for writing, I also yearned to explore the magic of arts. Whenever I had an ample time, I drew. Some of my drawings went unfinished and turned to a wad of paper. I was always dissatisfied with myself. I knew I was not good enough but I kept on trying. Until now, I'm still pushing myself to try more. But over time, I have learned something precious. I have learned that talents come naturally and effortlessly, and I don't have to be the best nor be perfectly talented to enjoy and appreciate my hobbies. Talents can bring us places, but happiness is just around the corner. Passion takes us there for free. I know now that my works are not perfect nor competent, but I am glad I didn't hesitate to try my best and nurture my desire over and over again.

"Don't doubt yourself. If your creation isn't as good as you what you wanted it to be, don't lose hope. After all, we are the first admirers of our own works." 

Here's my latest drawing, Gon, from Hunter X Hunter. I drew it on a whim, so I didn't have the chance to prepare a decent art set. I used colored pencils instead. It's originally colorful but I uploaded it using Sepia effect. It's not that impressive but I put my pride in it. I just wish I have had more materials to make it even better.

LITTLE ROUND SOUL

I am a dot.

I am small.

I am a fumbling creation.

I am one in the billions.

I am a dot.

I am belittled.

I am inconsequential.

I am a nonessential.

But I am a dot.

I am a part of the line.

I am within a space.

I am a part of His grace.

We are the dots.

We fill a gap no dots can fill.

And I tell you, little round soul,

There's a reason we're here.

THE NTH TIME RESURRECTION

I started blogging many years ago. I created several accounts, most of which I did not sustain for some reasons—busy schedules, lack of commitment, and reluctance to wield my pen. Sometimes, my mind was not in the mood. It was in limbo. I felt so unproductive. Or it was like I had an idea about what I would write but I just can’t write it down clearly and effectively. In my opinion, other people have had the same experience. When you write, you do not expect days of consistent rate of energy and excitement. There comes a time when you would get tired, you would stop, and you would even doubt if what you’re doing really makes you happy or if it will provide a long sense of satisfaction over time.

However, a passion couldn’t be faked. A passion is a burning fire that doesn’t die down. This is why there are frustrated writers. They are clueless if writing is really for them, but they carry on because of the passion. I guess I belong to this category. I don’t know if this is pure talent or a raw ambition. But there’s a driving force within me that spurs me on writing.

Write. Write. Write. It tells me.

And the Mountains Echoed: A Book Review

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

And the Mountains Echoed is the first book I have read from the bestselling author Khaled Hosseini. It's a masterpiece so beautifully crafted that giving a good review would be a hard task. It’s a reality check replete with noteworthy lessons scattered throughout its pages.

Mr. Hosseini knows how to paint a vivid picture of life through this work. There are good points embued with this book that I would be guilty if I will let the chance to share them fly by.

Firstly, do not expect that this is your ordinary novel that follows a beginning-middle-ending pattern because it’s not. It was written differently. It jumps from the past into the present and into the future and goes back again, like an echo that ricochets from one point towards another in an unpredictable manner.

Reading through And the Mountains Echoed made me realize and remember some universal truth about life and most especially about us, as human beings.

THERE’S A FLAW IN ALL OF US.

No one is perfect. No one is good enough. Fictitious characters are no exception. However, read some novels and their authors would do their best to give us an imagery of the main characters—too good to be true, amazing, righteous, heroic, perfect.

Hosseini did otherwise. He exposed even the littlest hint of imperfection humans possess. He did it in an amazing, convincing way. He did it in a way you won’t hate the characters but understand them. I loved how he emphasized our propensity to make mistakes in different angles of life and in everything we do. We could be a model of uprightness at certain times, but it doesn't mean we don’t make stupid moves. We could be selfless for the sake of our love for the people we truly care for, but it doesn’t mean that never in our life had we done something utterly selfish. We could be a reason or inspiration for others to live longer and make the most out of their lives, but it doesn't mean we can’t do the opposite, because we can also be their killer. After all, there are thousands of ways to kill and there are countless elements vital to an individual that can be knocked dead.

OUR FATES ARE INTERTWINED.

Our choices definitely affect us and all the people around us. Our choices affect us wherever we go and we can’t escape from the good and bad consequences. We have no idea how far our decisions would flap its wings of influence. The book shows how crucial decisions make or break a family, friendship, and even the whole generation. It shows how we can enjoy the benefits of our choices while we devastate the life of others, or vice versa, where we can suffer from it and see how the others dance with happiness.

OUR LOVED ONES CAN MAKE OR BREAK US

Do we agree that our family and loved ones are the last bunch of people to stay when the rest of the world walks away? The book shows that it is true. The happiest moment comes when our loved ones do the best things to make us whole, and whether we are grateful or not for it, our final peace can be found by being with them. When we go home, we always look for a family.

However, Hosseini did not shy away from the exact opposite. The most painful experience is when our loved ones, of all people, are the ones who betray us, tear us apart, and deprive us of hope for the future. This novel also explores this critical dark truth about our souls.

WE’RE INSECURE AND WE ALWAYS SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS.

No matter who, where, and what we are, there’s something that we always look for—a form of happiness that we don’t have but we can find in other people—like we’d wish we were them, like we’d wish we have the privilege they naturally enjoy. Surprisingly, these people we envy feel the same way. They have their own share of incompleteness. No one is satisfied with life. We always want more and we always do all means to fill the depthless hollow that is stuck within our hearts.

And the Mountains Echoed will be remembered not for the story, but for the many intricate ways it teaches us how to be aware about life, how we understand who we really are, and how we start to accept all the good and bad things that make us all.