This year, I revisit the memorable classes and specifically, interactions, that I had in UPOU. In Comm1, we were asked, for a writing exercise, to describe our atypical partner in relation to the Newman Essay about the “Atypical Gentleman.”
Just before the course site deletes all my precious thoughts there, I am posting my atypical partner here:
Even if I write a long list of qualities for my atypical person, like what Kristina said, the first requirement is that that person has to have a relationship with one’s Creator.
And since I am a hopeless romantic, I want my partner to wipe my tears when the only defense mechanism that I have to all my problems is to cry. Someone whose hands I can hold when we watch the sequel of World War Z (if there’s any) and someone whose shoulder I could lay my arms on while walking on the shores of Caramoan Island. Someone whose achievements for humanity I would be very proud of (By discovering a vaccine for AIDS or developing a computer program that would keep track of the times a person felt sadness and would alert that person to do things that would make him happy, or just by simply inventing a new flavor of Aspirin. But I would be really happy and proud of this someone just by creating a new and revolutionary recipe for scrambled eggs).
culled from http://www.getinvolved.ca
Love is universal
Someone whom I can talk to about Khaled Hosseini’s books and would understand the weight of emotions that one would feel in chapters 6-7 of The Kite Runner. Someone who would squeeze my hand whenever I feel breathless in a crowded place and then I’d feel okay. Someone who knows how to cook sunny side ups and scrambled eggs. Someone who knows how to sing the middle C. Someone who would accompany me for MRT and bus rides when I feel depressed and then after reaching SM North, would ask “Okay ka na? Tara DQ tayo.”
Several of my favorite parts in John Henry Newman’s essay which I can relate to my atypical person are:
“He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, (Someone who takes the high road.)
he is too well employed to remember injuries, (Someone who is passionate and too busy with career that one has no time to think of harboring grudges and hatred.)
and too indolent to bear malice. (Someone who focuses on the good things rather than the non-essentials.)
He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; (Someone who waits for me to think and does not nag while I decide.)
he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny. (Someone who views life as fallible, imperfect and someone who believes that life is meant to be lived fully.)
If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps, but less educated minds; who, like blunt weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting clean, who mistake the point in argument, waste their strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary, and leave the question more involved than they find it.” (Someone who forgives first; knows when to drive a point and would still emerge as decent and educated.)
And yet no matter if I’ve found this atypical person but I don’t love this person, then all be a waste.
culled from wildwallawallawinewoman.blogspot.com
The heart never forgets
Let me share one of my favorite lines from the movie A Beautiful Mind. This was the speech of John Nash played by Russel Crowe when he accepted the Nobel Prize for Economics.
“What truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me to the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. I have made the most important discovery of my career – the most important discovery of my life. It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic or reasons can be found. I am only here tonight because of you. You are the only reason I am. You are all my reasons. Thank you.“
The Prodigal Kid 