Give thanks to the person/people who nominated/awarded you!
Include a link to the nominator’s blog! How do you do that, you ask? Eh, find out for yourself! There’s more than one way to do that, you know!
Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you just found or regularly follow! As you select, ask yourself the question: Do these blogs/bloggers deserve this award?
Nominate those 15 selected blogs/bloggers!
Tell your nominator 7 things about yourself!
Right, now that the rules have been explained, it’s time for me to reveal 7 facts about myself!
I’m a Filipino university student who lives in the Philippines. The course that I’m taking up is Creative Writing.
I’ve never had a girlfriend before. For me, I don’t think that’s a big deal, though, because what matters to me is finding the right girl for me.
I studied in a Don Bosco school/a school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco all throughout high school. Studying there was freaking worth it, alright.
I’m the eldest brother among 4 siblings. My age? Not gonna reveal that to you directly…yet.
I dream of going to and living in Japan someday. I’m very much interested in Japan’s art, too.
I also dream of visiting Turin and Vatican City someday. Turin, because I want to visit Don Bosco’s oratory there, and Vatican City, because I want to visit the cultural sites there and even meet the Pope himself.
I’m a fan of the Kagerou Project and Dangan Ronpa. And by the way, I’m a fan of them because they taught me valuable life lessons in freaking beautiful ways. I’m freaking serious here, people.
Now then, it’s time to announce the 15 blogs/bloggers that I shall nominate/award!
When I was younger, I thought that getting even, as in the revenge kind of “getting even,” with other people who wronged me would bring peace to the world. I guess that’s one reason as to why I found it difficult to take the advice that was being told to me a lot by people like my parents, and that advice was: “Don’t mind the verbal insults of those who bully you,” or, to put it more simply, “Don’t let the bullies take control of your life.” Huh, I also remember both of my grandfathers, during various instances in the past, to beat up those who bully me, and I found it hard to take their advice back then, mainly because of my fear of getting hurt even more, physically and psychologically, in return.
But now…I really don’t approve of getting revenge on others, and this time, it’s because of different reasons.
I’ve seen various stories, from both fiction and reality, of people trying to get revenge, be it a villain whose plans were foiled by a hero, or a hero who wants to “deal justice” to a villain who wronged them. And to be honest, those stories–or specifically, the idea of revenge being a good solution to a problem–are pretty saddening to me. Since when did the world become better after revenge, under the label of “justice,” was dealt to a criminal? Would the world really become a better place if we insult and hurt sinners, when all of us are sinners in one way or another?
To be honest, I haven’t known of a person who was evil since birth, and I don’t think that there will ever be a person like that. I believe that all people are inherently good, you know. And with that belief, I also believe that no one deserves to be hated. I guess many people, if not everyone, want to make the world a better place to live in. What are we really wanting to eradicate? Sin? Or sinners? A sin and a sinner are two different things, and the mistake of considering a sinner to be a sin is one big common mistake that many of us have been doing. Do you know why I don’t approve of the death penalty? It’s because one, it’s murder, and two, it’s taking away the chance for a person to be good and make the world a better place. And you know what, I also don’t approve of the attitude (note: attitude, not people) of having “acceptable targets of hatred,” because that’s also discouraging the “acceptable targets” to make the world a better place.
And this would probably earn me a lot of hateful comments, but still, I prefer being honest, anyway: I don’t approve of bashing a “Public Enemy #1” like Justin Bieber.
I’ll be honest here: I’m not that interested in Bieber’s music, I’m not that interested in his everyday life, and I don’t even approve of the attitudes that he has been showing lately, but I don’t think he’ll ever change for the better if we decide to send him all our hatred and do nothing to show him what being kind and respectful really means. Same goes for all the other people that most of society has labeled “Public Enemy #1’s.” They’ll never change for the better if we send them all our hatred and do nothing to show them what being kind and respectful really means, too.
Sin has been turning us people into its puppets for a long time now, and you know, we will never be turned into its puppets if we never choose to become its puppets. Sin tries hard through to temptation, too, and it makes our lives a really difficult road for us all, so why not help each other out in choosing to avoid sin? Why not be kind and respectful to fellow sinners? Why not show them that justice and charity can go hand in hand? We should aim to stay away from the puppeteer called sin, and if we shun and hate the puppets that let themselves be controlled by sin, then I’m pretty sure that sin is already controlling us, too.
It’s your choice. Will you choose to use the key to unlock your heart, which can find true happiness, that sin tries to lock and control? Or will you let sin turn you into its puppet and drive you far away from true happiness? It’s your choice.
It’s your choice. I’m just another influence here…an influence that can’t control you. You’re free to not listen, you’re free to mock, you’re free to listen, you’re free to respect, you’re free to choose, even if I don’t want you to. I can only control myself, and I can choose to be happy and hopeful, I can choose to be calm and in control, I can choose to be sad and in despair, I can choose to be upset and in distress, even if you don’t want me to.
I’m very thankful for getting and reading this book. Thank you very much, Bridgebuilders (was that the name? I kinda forgot, so I’m not sure, but anyway…), and thank you very much, Sean Covey and the people who helped him make the book!
I first heard about Sean Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” from my principal during high school, but I only learned the names of the Habits and then eventually forgot them temporarily. Then, during last summer vacation, I learned more about them in a seminar-workshop, and from that same seminar-workshop, I even got a copy of the book, which I just finished reading a few weeks ago. And yes, I’m a teenager, but I won’t tell you my exact age yet. It will be revealed in due time…
Anyway, I’ve learned a lot from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, and I would like to show you what I’ve learned through my drawings and words!
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Tobby, you need to remember that you’re the only one who can control the Tobby-zord, or else you’ll be watching XX (Whoops, better not drop any Dangan Ronpa spoilers here) getting high on your despair multiple times, which isn’t–Wait, I think getting recruited by XX would be worse than that, so yeah, please remember that you’re the only one who can control the Tobby-zord, Tobby.
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:I can’t control others, but I only I can control myself! I can choose to be happy even if others are sad, I can choose to look for a solution to a problem even if everyone else thinks there no solution to the problem, and I can choose to do what’s right even if many people would hate me because of it! The world around me is an influence, like I am to the world, and only I can decide how the world around me will influence me!
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Tobby, you just surrendered yourself to doom. Open your eyes and flap those arm-wings back to safety already!
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:I should have a clear goal in life that I am committed to, a goal that only I should decide on, a goal that can help me become a better person, because if I don’t do this, then the world around me can easily drag me away from the right path. I should also know what my strengths and weaknesses are, because knowing them can help me in choosing the right path, too!
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Not this again, Tobby. Well, looks like it’s time to bring out the big guns…
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:I need to balance my time. I need to discipline myself. I need to gather willpower to do the more important things even if the going gets tough. Hardships and failure are things that I will definitely encounter in life, but I shouldn’t give up, and I should also learn from these hardships and failures in order to accomplish my goals.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Realization in three…two…one…
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:Everyone is equal, and it’s just that each and every one of us have different features, strengths, weaknesses, and development timetables. Still, everyone can be great. No need to worry so much about winning or losing competitions against other people, I just need to do my best and have fun! No need to compare myself to others, too. Instead of being envious of others’ success, I should use their success as inspiration to do my best and have fun, and try to help them out in things that they’re not good at, too! If I won’t be able to find a Win-Win solution with someone, then it’s better to go No Deal and stop for a while.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
I know you want to help the wall, but the wall needs cement, not a sledgehammer, Tobby.
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:I should listen carefully to people first before responding to them with what I think. I should also be constructive in giving criticism to people, too! And when listening, I shouldn’t just focus only on their words, but also on their tone and their body language, too!
Habit 6: Synergize
We’re all unique, Tobby, believe it or not. In other words, there’s something weird in each and every one of us.
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:No person is more superior or inferior to another, just different. I can also find inspiration in others’ differences, even if I don’t agree with some of those differences. I should respect others, no matter who they are, because we’re all inherently good and we all have the potential to be great, and with our differences, we can work together to find better ways to solve problems! I can’t properly go through life all alone and self-centered, too!
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Tobby, use a whetstone on your sword before XX (censored KagePro spoiler) decides to offer you as a sacrifice to XX queen.
What I learned in a freaking nutshell:I need to have balance in my life. I need to keep my body fit, keep my mind sharp, be kind to myself and to others, and keep on renewing and awakening my inner self, because if I don’t, living life happily and properly would become difficult to do.
To be honest, I’m still struggling with some of the Habits, but still, I won’t give up! Anyway, if you, dear reader, are a teen and are struggling with life, I’d like you to read Sean Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens!” It’s freaking humorous, light, and inspirational, you know! “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” is definitely worth a read!
The Overlord Bear's Den 