because sometimes i need to be reminded.

dear claudiopoi,

how are you? i know that things are not so rosy in your life right now, but always remember that you have vowed to personify desiderata in your life — so take everything in stride, ride with the wind, and always take care of your heart.

i have been meaning to write you a letter, if only to remind you (yet again) that you need to temper your over-indulgent exploits and lessen your propensity for hurting other people’s hearts.

do not be afraid if you feel that the daredevil in you is silently spiriting away — youth, after all, commences.

and when it does, do not be afraid, because the universe will realign for you, for it progresses with your progression. so stop wasting your time fretting and worrying. it will do you no good.

claudiopoi, you are not getting any younger, and no matter how much the world seems to create the impression that you do not belong here, you know deep in your heart that you do.

so embrace the trappings of the world: be pleasant with all people, rekindle long lost friendships, and smile when your heart needs to breathe.

yes, breathing seems to be a luxury these days. with the world filled with so much clutter, noise, and garbage, a breather from it all will surely do wonders for you.

listen to a good song and reconnect with your affinity to movies that warm your heart and pick your brain. notice the melody in the pitter-patter of rain, inhale the earthy musk of newly-drenched soil, and smell the enthralling beauty of crimson sunsets.

these passions, I believe, will never be extinguished — you just need to make sure that you take the time to revisit them, because this is what feeds your soul.

more importantly, always remember what you are: to yourself and to people who matter to you.

know, most especially, that your family is always your shield when the world you try to create starts to crumble down. in a sea of strangers, and in the turbulent tide of life and living, they are what keeps you afloat at all times.

affirm them everyday. make them feel the genuinity of your gestures, never give them false expectations, and always be a reason for their happiness. you have to make always a possibility.

your friends, particularly, are your strength when your heart has had too much of the world’s vicissitudes. they can provide the electric impulses in the right part of your heart when your emotions get intense, and your heart’s congenital condition cannot fathom the depth and breadth of sadness.

and most importantly, be comforted by your knowledge that whether it is clear to you or not, the universe is unfolding as it should.

you might not comprehend the immediacy of grief nor the inevitability of mourning, but the universe is slowly but silently preparing you for your eventual emancipation.

love yourself more.

sincerely yours, claudiopoi