I am "The One That Got Away"

Just reposting an article i read in a website: 

The One That Got Away
(Mark J. Macapagal, The Manila Times)

In your life, you’ll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special and ones who will always mean something. There’s the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you’re with…and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it’s that person with whom everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person nor flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn’t fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you’re not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn’t matter who you’re with, it just doesn’t work. Small problems become big; inconsequential become deal breakers simply because you’re not ready and it shows. It’s not that you and the person you’re with are no good; it’s just that it’s not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you’re ready. You really are. And when this happens you’ll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it’ll work because you’re ready. It’ll work because it’s the right time and you’ll make it work. And it’ll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you’re finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want and you’ve become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there’s no telling when this day will come. Hopefully, you’re single or be in a long-term relationship, or be married with three kids…it doesn’t matter. All you know is that you have changed. And for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You’ll think about them because you’ll wonder, “What if they were here today?” , “What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?” .The one that got away is– the biggest “What if?” you’ll have in your life.

If you’re married, you’ll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you’re mature enough to realize that you’re already with the one you’re with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you’ll think about him/her every so often, but it’s alright. It’s never nice to live with a “might have been,” but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who’s already married. In which case it’s the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you’re old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it’s different. What do you do if it’s not yet too late? Simple –find him or find her. The very existence of a “one that got away” means that you’ll always wonder…what if you got that one? Ask him out to coffee. Ask her out to a movie. It doesn’t matter if you’ve dropped in from out of nowhere. You’d be surprised, you just might be “the one that got away” as well for the person who is your “the one that got away.” You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won’t make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it’ll all just fall into place somehow. It would be a great feeling in the end, to be able to say to someone, “Hey you, you’re the one that almost got away.”

i miss you.

Inspirational Quotes from 'SOUL SURFER"

So I have watched this Soul Surfer movie which is a true story of Bethany Hamilton, played by AnnaSophia Robb.  Hamilton was a teenage surfing champion who lost her left arm in a shark attack but worked her way back to champion status once again.  It is a great movie that I recommend for everyone, especially people dealing with self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy.

Here are the most memorable lines from the movie which really feeds the soul:

1. “It’s hard to look at things that are too close.” - Those are the words of Hamilton’s Youth Minister Sarah Hill played by Carrie Underwood.  Often we don’t understand why we face the struggles in our life.  We only understand them with perspective that comes with time.  
2. “A small step in a good direction.”  Bethany was struggling with a decision she made to participate in a competition rather than fulfilling a previous commitment to Hill to go on a Mexican mission trip.  Her mother Cheri, played by the marvelous Helen Hunt, communicates that often our internal struggles point us in positive directions.  If you are currently struggling with a decision in your life, press into that and don’t simply dismiss the struggle. 
3. "Peace" – What ultimately saved Bethany’s life during the shark attack was staying calm.  If you are feeling attacked in your life, one of the most important things you can do is stay calm.
4. “I don’t need easy.  I just need possible.” Leaders and champions just want a chance.
5. “Compassion can drive us to do amazing things and give us perspective.” - The turning point in the movie for Bethany was a relief trip to tsunami-ravaged Thailand with World Vision.  It was there that she received the perspective needed to move forward.  If you are feeling down or hopeless, the best remedy is often serving someone less fortunate than yourself.
6. “Normal is overrated.” - If you don’t fit in, that is a good thing.  You are uniquely and wonderfully made.
7. “Love is bigger than any tidal wave or fear.” – The Hamiltons are a great example of what a loving and supportive family can do in a child’s life.  Conversely, it also occurred to me that often dysfunctional families are more dangerous than sharks are.
8. “Why would they want me to compete?” asks Bethany to her father Tom played by Dennis Quaid.  This was asked after a difficult first competition back but also after receiving hundreds of letters from people inspired by her.  “(Because) You tried” he answers.  Effort and a desire to compete in spite of our circumstances honors God and inspires people.
9. “When you get in the Impact Zone, get back up because you never know what’s over the next wave.” – Surfing has a period of time called “The Impact Zone” when things can get very difficult.  Like life, often the difference between a champion surfer and everyone else is when the Impact Zone knocks them down, they simply choose to get back up.  Some of you reading this simply need to get back up!
10. “I could never have embraced this many people with two arms.” – Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted in the movie and states “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Often what you think is one of your greatest defeats or challenges is something that God is using to give you more blessing and influence than you ever imagined.

I encourage everyone to see this movie.  We all face things that seem impossible either currently or in the future.  It’s inevitable and no one is immune.  The principles contained in this movie will help carry you through that difficult time.

"If you Have Faith, anything is possible -- anything at all!"

-Brian Dodd