21 Days left

it's really coming down to the wire.
today's training: 8 km run, some hill training, and 20 mins interval cycle
feeling: ______

empty is what is left when we finish the day and have given all that we have.
well empty in a sense of our own self because we have given ourselves to others.

interesting encounter today, met with my Muslim friend
and a new Protestant friend joined us.
we discussed upon truth.
there were various thoughts and ideas-however differences between us should not divide us, but rather enrich the beauty of the world around us-that is universal brotherhood.

it can not but start with our love for our neighbour,
that is why LOVE is not my saying, rather somewhat of my doing, but more so in BEING.

BeFIRST2LOVE. Love OTHERS as yourself.

that is in essence why I'm running...

i want to share this LOVE with others.

"All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects, unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but Truth."-Gandhi

22 days left.

today's training: not sure exactly how many km's; ran for a good 2.5 hours

feeling: drenched

the weatherman was finally right this time. 90% showers. it definitely rained hard. By the end, I was pretty satisfied that it was over and done with, although you start the first hour feeling great, the next few seem much more challenging. Especially because I had lost my running group from the start, then the rain started and never stopped. I was drenched, but you know I thoroughly enjoy running...yeah RIGHT.

anyways,

last word: be the first2LOVE.

well I guess it started with the dinner I attended tonight and as always being the first2LOVE means being the last of all, which means at the service of others. So before the dinner had even started, my stomach was growling and dying of hunger. However I was helping with serving the food, so I really had to forget about myself. Finally when I was able to sit down to eat something, I had to get back up to serve the next few plates. As I mentioned, love truly means putting our own needs and desire aside to place OTHERS before ourself.  After the dinner with all the leftover food, I went home twice to grab some extra containers to share all the food with others. So I ended up staying until the very end with all the washing, cleaning and to be at the service of my brothers and sisters. Not to mention, italian exam tomorrow at 9am.

but as Mother Teresa once said, "Intense love does not measure, it just gives."

23 Days left.

with no internet access, I'm only able to write now.

last word was ...love others as yourself.

living this is definitely a challenge at times, and I would say that it is probably hardest with family.

this past weekend, I stayed at my grandma as this is my usual routine.

waking up early. swimming. cleaning bathroom. organizing her room. the same old i guess, but when we love, it's not just being nice and doing kind things, love costs. Love is putting others before yourself.

So I thought I really need to go out of myself even more to love.

so when she was telling me about her throbbing leg pain, I started to place myself in her shoes. think what she thinks and feel what she feels. So I knew if we played her favourite card game it would divert her attention away. She was laughing and smiling again. Later on when she got tired, I went out to the grocery store to buy some things she needed. Not to mention that saturday grocery shopping is a ZOO- so many people and very long lines meaning lots of patience. remember LOVE COSTS, but in the end I was left with such contentment and JOY because in the end love is all that matters.  

now it's time to be the FIRST to love.

btw, 

yesterday's training: 60 minutes on cycle ergometer doing intervals.

feeling: limitless

without limitations is the endurance of overcoming obstacles, the ultimate one being our own self. Once we put aside our needs, we can see that of OTHERS. 

24 Days left.

put others before yourself
easier said than done as it wasn't until the end of the night I was able to LIVE it.
my housemate asked me to wake her up early in the morning and as much as a little more sleep would have done some good, I thought of HER before myself and my own need.

yesterday's training: 8 km quick run
feeling: fevorous

new word-fevorous: state of feeling intense and passionate
when I finished running, I was burning inside as I ran fast and nothing stopped, not the hills, not the slopes, but only the burning flame within was fueling my energy. I ran just a few hours before my exam-stress reliever and as I ran, there was not a sense of preoccupation.

FREEDOM. when all things become secondary and what is left is LOVE. selfless LOVE.


today: LOVE OTHERS as yourself; place yourself in the shoes of the "OTHER."
-think what they think, feel what they feel, love what they...

25 Days left.

last night I couldn't seem to fall asleep right away,
it might have been the late night pasta
or just simply because the endorphins were in my system.

yesterday's training: 10 km hill-training/run and 40 mins interval training on cycle ergometer
feeling: satisfied.

satisfaction: fulfillment of one's wishes, expectations or needs,
it's something that everyone tries to find, sometimes it leaves us empty, sometimes it makes us stubble, however deep within it is something that we don't want to give up trying...

I guess that's what's kept me constantly motivated, passionate and united with those around me and the world.

To know that fulfillment of your wishes, expectations or needs in life don't merely come from the outward in the worldly things, but rather within to listen to that little voice that speaks in each PRESENT MOMENT.


That voice that calls each of us to bring about the better of ourselves
and to bring about our best to this world that suffers, that is broken, that is shattered.


but one thing is clear: LOVE. put others before yourself. I'm trying...

26 DAYS left.

so already 3 months of training,
countless hours of running, and persevering motivation

to the 26.2 mile race.

with 26 days left, there's no turning back...
it all started when my friend was telling me about doing a marathon

and I thought he was INSANE, 42 km is impossible.

There's no way I could EVER do that because I know the distance from my house in Aurora to FINCH station is 25. 7 km. But obviously I CAN'T do it...

 if my motive is to think entirely about myself. 

He is running this marathon to fundraise money for OTHERS.

But I thought, the most I have probably run is maybe 10 km? not even...and I have never signed up for even one race, how can I sign up for my first race-a marathon?
but then again, it's not all about ME, it's about OTHERS, it's about running this race for all those who like me,
believe in building a better world where it's not about ME, but about WE.
a world where brotherhood is OUR CHANGE.

and CHANGE starts within ourselves, often times we want to help the world, make it better, change the world, however it doesn't start on the outward, but rather within OURSELVES.
so that's my story, I never thought I could do this, but I know it's worth trying because

 I believe I can.

I want to help first those around me, CANADIANS, who will be going to GENFEST BUDAPEST 2012. An international youth event on Sept 1 & 2 2012 uniting 12, 500 young people of different cultures, religions, backgrounds, generations who believe that universal brotherhood is an ideal worth living for!

then those OTHERS, like me in Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, China, Korea, Vietnam, Netherlands, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Congo, Burundi, France, Paraguay, Ecuador, Australia, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Philliphines, Egypt, United States, Peru, Honduras, Israel, Nigeria, Bosnia and counting...

all with one goal: a UNITED WORLD.

but I need your support because this race isn't done alone, 

but with all of YOU!

In Canada, we have raised over $3,000 

and aiming for over $10, 000.

so please SPONSOR ME $amount or $_/km

1) in person

2) email: dling3@hotmail.com

3) mail cheque

that's PASSION.

just a few hours ago, my housemate came home and I said her name once, then twice slightly louder, then a third time and she STILL didn't hear.
that's how life goes, there's so much that pulls us, pushes us, distracts us, and drowns us away into NOISE. It seems "weird" to have silence, there's even a term for it "awkward silence."

But it's in silence that we can have peace.
don't we all long for peace?
peace in our hearts and mind?

PEACE in this world?

it is in our heart and mind that drives our being-

what we do and WHO WE ARE.

and it's not about DOING more but BEING more-

we are called human BEINGS for a reason. 

that's why I'm consumed into BEING...
being there for those in need,
being a friend to listen,
being a sister to give,
being a daughter to understand &
being LOVE to those unloved.

just a few months ago, I started a conversation with the guy beside me on the bus. Two things people do on the bus-listen to music and text on their phone. I fall into that temptation at times, but I definitely try my best not to as it didn't hurt to say Hi to the person next to me. Anyhow, we started talking about things in common, but somehow we ended speaking about our beliefs. And now we've been meeting every month to share in our experiences in how we practice the Truth in our lives to those around us- to be LOVE to those without love.
I would like to mention that he is a Muslim and I'm a Christian.
That's my passion-my thirst and hunger for...

a united world.

sounds utopic doesn't it? 

I haven't gone crazy or anything

 it's not just me but millions others share this reality.

and I'm willing to endure my body to run 42.175 kilometers-a marathon
for this passion.

if there is a will, 

there is a WAY.

and believe it or not it's called LOVE.

but it ain't easy as...

No one truly loves

until what they desire for their "brother" is what they want for themselves. 

My "brother" next to me on the bus shared this. 

Love ain't a feeling, 

but it is a sacrifice,
it is in selfless GIVING that love unites.
those that are different ...my muslim "brother,"
those that are broken...my elderly friend,
those that are alone...someone I know
those that are unloved...the person next to me.

can you 
give up your time?
                give up your way?
                                 give up your ego?
                                             give up yourSELF?
                                                      for the person next to YOU?

                                 ...without expecting anything back

without expecting anything back from a friend that I was making her lunch last week as she was overwhelmed with stress only to find that she was barely able to eat any of it. 

but as I said it's 

giving up time, 

giving up my way, 

mySELF for someone ELSE 

...without expecting anything back.