Take a Risk, Take a Chance, Make a Change, and Break Away

Good news to me last Sunday --- I already got my orange VV bag back! It's home at last, after almost a month of repair. Super thanks to Via Venetto for the huge help. The bag looked sad in faded orange after I had to wash it (about five times I think) because Ondoy soaked it in its dirty flood waters. Now, it's back to its original grandeur; I'd say it looks even better than new (if there's such a thing). Thank you Ms. Ging for going out of the way to bring back my beloved Orange (my bag's pet name) and for making me so happy!

Speaking of Orange which I got after falling in love and dreaming about it for months, I came across another infatuation. I saw the beautiful MacBook Pro 13" last Tuesday...and I fell in love. It is SUPER expensive for me though. I'll try to save for half its price and pay the rest in 0% installment. The MAC guy was very helpful in answering my queries and said that this payment option plan is allowed. I asked my best friend Shirley if it is a good buy, and I definitely agree with her advice that I should give this "dream" of mine enough time to settle. I'd say (like in all my dream purchases - at least 30 days) that I'll give it about three months. If I still think about it and I have enough cash by then, it's my green light.

Speaking of Green Light and saving up for a dream, I'm taken back to my first big dream to freedom and independence (sob). Kelly Clarkson's Break Away (lyrics reprinted below) may be the perfect "thinking song" at that moment when I was leaving for the first time to be completely on my own (no dorm, no monthly allowance; just my starting money and my bag-load of stuff in my "heirloom" luggage) immediately after Valentine's Day of 2003. Well, the song wasn't popularized then, I guess. I believe it's perfect for us - probinsiyanos and probinsiyanas (provincial folks) - who crossed seas, left our comfort zones, and ventured to new worlds. It was a stage of Dreams, possibly Hope. At that time, everything looked new, fresh and exciting.

Now I'm in the Homecoming stage. Ready to break away from the norm and pursue my Personal Legend (yes, in the words of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist). Might be a coincidence - I read the book (The Alchemist) when I was first setting out for this Adventure, and it's the same book that I re-read now that I'm retracing back my steps to Home.

In whatever stage of our lives we may be, I'd say it still counts that we "...take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and break away", whether in our personal goals or to make a difference in other people's lives.

P.S. I don't know what is it with me that I tend to reflect on previously popular songs. I just believe that there's no such thing as "trendy" or "pop" when you listen to what's inside you. I feel that my "thinking songs" just pop in when I need to hear the message from a quiet side of myself.

Take care dears!

Break Away (by Kelly Clarkson)
Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

I'd trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I'd pray
I could break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
Make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.

Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jetplane
Far away
And break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky.
And I'll make a wish, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.

Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget all the ones that I love.
I'll gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging with revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
But gotta keep movin' on movin' on
Fly away
Break away

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly.
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
Gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away.
Out of the darkness and into the sun.
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk, take a chance,
Make a change, and break away

Breakaway
Breakaway