diary of your life

"The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can." Oh, I love this quote from Douglas Pagels! It tells us that we can make our own story of success! Isn't that great?

The photo is an early morning scene of the mountains in Cordillera, here in the Philippines.

participate in your dreams

Every new day presents the possibility of realizing our dreams. Thus, Steve Maraboli is so inspiring when he exhorts us to take action on our dreams. It's the only way to make them come true!

The photo is taken through a lamp shade. I just added a layer of sun to achieve this golden effect.

unlock your potential

Winston Churchill is someone who really walks his talk. He applies to himself what he talks about. So he embodies what "continuous effort" can achieve.

The photo is a young man who kept on repeating what he is shown doing here. He just kept on diving, then going back up and diving again. I actually titled this as "I believe I can fly" when I posted this photo in my RedBubble site.

criticism should be gentle

Frank Howard Clark shows his understanding and love for people in this quote. Criticism is something that should "nourish a man's growth" and not destroy "his roots." I like best the line, it should be gentle like rain. 

The photo is a Mimosa flower wet with raindrops.

rain is grace

I love this quote from John Updike. I find it so lyrical. Indeed, "rain is grace." I always love it after the rain, the kind of rain that is not destructive of course.

This photo was taken from our backyard during a rainy day.

the function of prayer

I like this quote from SorenKierkegaard. Just reminds us that when we pray, we are changed.

The photo is a macro shot of a portion of a leaf.

of success and failures

Thomas Edison sure knows what he is talking about when he says that failures are those who gave up too soon. He also has another quote that I like. It's about saying that he knows a 10,000 ways that don't work rather that saying that he failed.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Thomas A. Edison
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_edison.html#r3e9iXOcvtMS3eKd.99

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_edison.html#r3e9iXOcvtMS3eKd.99

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_edison.html#r3e9iXOcvtMS3eKd.99

The photo is a man practicing on his board a thousand times, maybe? I took this in my favorite island, Boracay.

There is no substitute for hard work.
Thomas A. Edison
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_a_edison.html#r3e9iXOcvtMS3eKd.99

Life is a process

Never give up is what Richard Carlson implies in this quote. There is always room for a new beginning.

The photo used here is a leaf beginning to uncurl.

pray with all your heart

This maxim from Blessed Maria Domenica is really meant for the sisters in her congregation. However, I think that it can also apply to us. We really need to pray all the time even if only for a little bit as long as we take it to heart.

The photo is a bunch of Dianthus flowers.

Build community

I like this reminder from Jean Vanier about building community. We really need to build community wherever we are. It's the only way to live a healthy and happy life.

The photo is a bunch of bougainvillea flower.

create many ripples

This quote from Mother Teresa once again emphasizes the need for interaction even in just small ways, so we can produce change.

The photo shows a boy preparing to "take off".

a flower blooms in adversity

This quote from "Mulan" of Walt Disney Co., is so true and inspiring. Adversity usually hones us and strengthens our character. The same is true for a flower. If it blooms under the most adverse conditions, then it is most beautiful.

The photo is a flower of the mickey mouse plant or Ochna wightiana.

hope for a better world

Jim Henson, the creator of "The Muppets", is such an inspiring person. I love this quote from him. If only we can all share in his hope, then we will leave a better world after us.

This is a sunset scene from my hometown here in the Philippines. The sky was really unbelievable that day!

Stand firm

I find this quote from Francine Rivers as a good reminder for us to trust in the Lord. We must always do all we can but we have to learn to "stand firm in the Lord."

The photo is a half-opened gold mum, standing firm.

riding a bicycle

Albert Einstein is not only a great scientist, he also has a wonderful grasp on life and human behavior.

This man was riding a bicycle along the beach in Boracay, my favorite island here in the Philippines. I could not help but take a shot as I find it rather unusual - a bike along the beach. 

leitmotif

Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of my idols in photography. I just love this quote from him about "the smallest thing can be a great subject." It's because I love taking photos of small things, small details!The smaller, the more challenging for me!

The photo is a wall decor in a restaurant.

beauty is a light in the heart

I love this quote from Kahlil Gibran. I am reminded that true beauty is really goodness in the heart and not something external.

The photo I used here is a yellow gold mum. I love how the early morning light created a luminous effect.

greatest glory

This quote has been attributed both to Ralph Waldo Emerson and to Confucius. I am not sure who is the real author. I just attributed it here to Ralph Waldo Emerson. Anyway, I really like this quote because it's so positive.

This view is along the road to Batangas, here in the Philippines. I took this from the car because I could not ask the driver to stop.

the quality of bees

Leo Tolstoy has a nice way of reminding us how to approach people. I actually approach bees with caution because I am allergic to their sting, but approaching people in the same manner might also be a good idea. Of course, as Leo Tolstoy reminded us, it must be with love.

The photo is a bee feeding on the flower of Euphorbia milii.

change begins in you

Gary Zukov said it so well. We can't really hope to change the world unless we begin the change in ourselves. And the best time to begin is NOW!

The photo is a golden Zinnia flower that I found in a resort.

perfectly imperfect

I like the term used by Steve Maraboli in this quote, - "perfectly imperfect." Somehow I am reassured of my own worth even if I am "perfectly imperfect!"

The photo is a bi-colored Gerbera daisy.

purpose of life

Eleanor Roosevelt is surely inspiring in this quote. I especially like the line "...to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

The photo is a snail I found roaming in the garden, searching for new experience perhaps?

Enough

Enough is the keyword in this quote from an unknown author. I find this as a very good wish for anybody. Enough should really keep us happy, human and hopeful. If we have less, then we will always be wanting for more while if we have more than enough, then we usually fail to appreciate what we have.

I created a soft effect for this rose in Photoshop.

Do not fear the unknown

This quote from Pope John Paul II exhorts us to keep our faith and not be afraid of the unknown. I find this so reassuring.

The photo is that of a leaf that I converted into a kind of abstract art. I'm having fun playing around with Photoshop.

become a miracle

I am really in awe of Nick Vujicic. He is so inspiring and amazing. He does not believe in limitations at all. So I love this quote from him.

The photo is the Adelfa or Nerium indicum flower.

think out of the box

Just thinking of new ways to make a card or poster. No quote here this time.

The photo is a red Euphorbia milii flower. I created this "out of frame" effect in Photoshop.

Mercy is a double blessing

This is inspired by the lines of Portia in "Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare. The lines are:

"The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth then show like God's
When mercy seasons justice."

                          - William Shakespeare

The photo I used here is that of red mums. I created the dual effect in Photoshop.

Courage

I like this quote from Winston Churchill. It teaches us that courage is not only standing up and speaking, but also sitting down and listening. We usually think of courage is speaking up for what we believe in and rarely as just listening and being quiet.

The photo is a dark pink mum which I took while at a resort. There are so many flowers in this resort and I really had fun taking photos.

all souls day

Prayer by St. Gertrude for the  souls in Purgatory.
We must always pray for the souls in Purgatory until they find their place in heaven.

The background photo is the calla lily.

all saints day

A prayer we usually say for the faithful departed whom we remember and honor during All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

The background photo was created through layers and blending in Photoshop.